Then, dread settles in my gut.
They aren’t ours, and they aren’t safe.
Alarms ring through my system, and I’m on my feet before realizing it.
“Stay here, honey,” I breathe out, already heading for the door. “Don’t move.”
She nods, clutching the blanket as I leave the room.
Moving quickly, I try to creep closer to the window to sneak a look, but I don’t need to. Not when the windows are already open, and at least six wolves are looking in at me, three of them shifted. My heart stops.
Wraith Peak. Hayes.
Of course, they would come now, right when I’m already in pieces.
His grin pulls when our eyes lock, and I freeze.
Before I can back out of the room and get back to Astrid, he rushes to the door, pushing it open with a swift kick before he and the others pool in.
Everything in my body goes frigid, and it takes everything in my power not to lose my footing.
“Where’s the girl?” Hayes asks, surrounded by his fellow wolves, as they glance around the house.
I take a slow step back, silently praying that Caleb isn’t far. That if I delay long enough, he might have the chance to get here.
“Don’t even think about it,” I say, voice colder than ever. “If you touch her, I swear—”
“You don’t swear anything,” he returns, voice rough and eyes wild from the chase. “You’re weak, and you always have been. I can smell it on you.”
Weak.
That word strikes something in me, but not like before. After years of being dismissed, ignored, and belittled… I won’t take it anymore.
“Come anywhere near her, and I’ll tear your throat out.”
They laugh, then one of them lunges while they surround me.
Ducking just in time, I kick with all the strength I have, fueled by the thought of keeping Astrid safe despite the odds being stacked against me. My foot connects with his ribs, and he stumbles back with an irritated grunt.
Hayes laughs again, amused by it all.
I stand my ground, glancing between them, but there are too many. Way too many for me to take on alone.
Another grabs my arm, yanking me back so hard that my shoulder pops, feeling far too close to being torn from the socket.I cry out, twisting and kicking despite it. I fight as hard as I can, not knowing who I’m hitting or what my plan is.
“Don’t touch her!” I scream at them, clipping a jaw before both my arms are pinned behind my back.
They swoop in like true predators, and one darts by me, moving down the hall.
“No!” I shout, attempting to lunge after him, only to feel a hand clamped over my mouth as I’m dragged back. I thrash, bite, and kick, but the man’s grip is like iron.
From the bedroom, Astrid screams, high-pitched and terrified, sending both dread and rage rippling through me.
When she calls out to me, my blood runs cold, and I feel my inner wolf grow inside me, pushing at the seams.
I welcome it, willing myself to shift.
But before I can, something heavy slams against the side of my head, sending roaring pain shooting through my head. White light explodes behind my eyes, and I stagger.
