Goddess, I needed proper fight training so they’d stop seeing me as this vulnerable little cupcake. “You saw Talon in thebunker,” I said with a snap. “He’s protective. He considers me to be part of his clan, or his possession… whatever concept dragons use. He’s not going to kill me, especially not when we’re newly bonded, which would possibly kill him as well.”
Finley’s stubborn expression didn’t soften, and Hunter’s hold only tightened.
Yeah, we were all shocked.
“Baby,” Kellan breathed, still sounding so devastated, it felt like that word stabbed through my heart. “We can’t lose you. Not even to save Slade.”
I couldn’t see him around Hunter’s hold, but he’d hear me just fine. “It’s going to be okay, Golden. After living through almost losing you, I’m not willing to accept any of us not surviving and having our happily-ever-afters. There’s a way to fix this, I’m sure of it, and if not… well, we’ll be the first sextet or whatever the hell you call a pack of six. Even if Talon has to stay locked in the basement for the rest of eternity. He was raised in isolation by Fletcher Davenport, so I have no idea if he’s redeemable or not, but for now he’s part of our pack.”
There was a choked growl from Hunter, reminding me he was raised by the same male. “You’re one of the best alphas I’ve ever known,” I said, meaning every word. “Slade too. Which means there’s a chance for Talon, and I’m willing to bet on that chance.” I shot him my most pleading stare. “Now I just need you to bet on me. Please, Alpha.”
As Hunter contemplated my request, his breaths even and deep, Finley pushed closer to me. “They’re heading right for us.” His body swelled like he wanted to shift, though he didn’t make the final change. “What do you want to do?”
Even though I was angry at him, I wanted to assure him that if he shifted and couldn’t get back, I wouldn’t leave him to deal with it alone.
We would always be a pack, even if that was all we ever had.
CHAPTER 14
EMME
“You can shift,” I said softly, and though I wasn’t looking at him, he knew that statement was for him.
“It’s too big of a risk,” he said. “The bear is useful in a physical fight but not against dragons. To win this, we’ll need words and negotiations.”
Hunter broke in with a rasp. “You said no rape, outside of the violation of the bite, so the bond isn’t completely sealed… We will find a way to break it, little omega. Whatever it takes.”
The forced bondingwasa violation, which was why I’d initially assumed my wolf had retreated from the trauma. Now, though, it appeared likely that her withdrawal was to protect me from the repercussions of new mate bonds and distance.
The violation was my human side’s trauma, and once I was safely back home, I’d let myself feel the full extent of the pain. Until then, we were in crisis mode.
The ground thundered as the dragons raced towards us, and there was an innate fear that came when facing terrifying beasts, even from those of us in their pack. Dragons were mystical creatures, and their sheer size alone had me near peeing my pants.
Ancient energy sparked between their giant bodies, but there were no more flames. Talon’s wings remained slightly aloft as he ran, their darkness standing out starkly against the sunlight. While Slade’s green glowed brightly in comparison.
They were both beyond breathtaking.
“I know we’re supposed to be terrified right now,” Kellan murmured as he moved to stand beside Finley, “but have you ever seen anything this spectacular before? It’d be a shame if they fried our asses before we got to brag about watching two dragons run across the desert.”
Hunter grunted, and Finley released a strangled laugh. “Too soon, bro,” the bear said, “You can’t joke about our impending death untilafterit has passed. At this stage, we’re still right in the line of fire.”
Kellan’s laughter was lighter. “Nah, Slade would never fry us. Or at least not Emme… not that any of us will be using her as a human shield. Fuck no. She needs to get behind us right this instant.” Getting behind them would not help. I needed to be out in front.
Struggling once more against Hunter’s hold, I racked my brain for the self-defense moves Slade had been trying to teach me to use against a larger opponent. There’d been a step where I dropped my weight into my attacker and then twisted to break his hold…
“I don’t like that look on her face,” Finley said, drawing everyone’s attention to me. “She’s plotting.”
Wrinkling my nose, I let my annoyance spill free. “Kellan, can you please remind Finley that he doesn’t know me well enough to make comments like that.”
Finley just laughed, the arrogant bear completely untroubled by my comment. “I know you, Ice Queen. I know you better than you think.”
Kellan cleared his throat, and when I looked his way, his expression was calmly amused.
“You should also ask Finley about his balls,” I suggested with a smirk, and before I could continue, Kellan’s chuckle cut me off.
We were probably about to be stampeded to death by dragons, but of course now was the right time for laughter.
“My balls are also fine,” Finley replied in his chilled-out rumble. “If you glance down, you’ll see for yourself. It’d take more than your impressive right knee to keep me down for long. I’m… used to pain.”
