Ethan heaved a sigh. “I didn’t mean to upset him.” And then Ethan rested his head on her shoulder. “I’m sorry he kidnapped you, too, but I’m glad you’re here with me.”
And her heart melted.I will get you out of here, she swore to herself. She just prayed that it would happen before Michael Coffman led an army of lion shifters to bathe the valley in blood.
And they sat there in the cool darkness until Krista heard a distant, faraway sound that froze her heart.
The sound of bears bellowing in rage, answered by the howl of a wolf.
Blake
The wood reeked of bear and wolf and fox. The rushing wind mixed up the scents, distorted their direction.
An enormous male bear towered overhead, the afternoon sun blazing behind him. The bear had a very faint scent. It wasn’t Percy—Blake would have recognized that reek. So it must be Gummi.
Hattie and two of her friends stood next to Blake, all in a row, their bodies impossibly tiny next to the colossal bear who faced them. They didn’t seem to notice. They showed no fear, muzzles wrinkling back and baring their small, sharp white teeth.
This would no doubt be their last stand, but that was shifters for you. They would die for their kin. All Blake could hope for was that Krista and Ethan would escape—and that he could tell her he loved her before he died.
Hattie had sent Ethel to the winter cabin to get Blake’s team, but he doubted they’d get here in time. Pearl and Marigold had come with her to fight, and they stood there with her, side-by-side.
Then, from behind Blake came a terrible sound.
Many more bears, a wolf, and the smell of Bo Durien and that bitch Dawnie.
The bears and wolf burst into the clearing. They paused, and Dawnie shifted to human form. She stood there, big and pale and sweaty, her eyes blazing with fury. Percy and Eva-Jo followed suit, their fur melting into their bodies until they stood there naked, fists clenched, teeth bared.
“Gummi!” Dawnie shouted at him. “Change back!”
Gummi lowered his head and roared at them.
“I’mma whip your hide, boy!” Percy screamed in fury. “I’mma shove a red-hot poker up your ass! ‘Member what I used to do to you when Mamma was away? That warn’t nothing! I’mma—”
“Shut your hole!” Dawnie bellowed at him, but it was too late.
Gummi was bigger than any of the other bears, and the fear and rage boiling off of him reeked through the air. He ran right towards Percy, and Percy barely had time to shift back before Gummi reached him.
In a flash, Eva-Jo and her mother were bears again.
Gummi slammed into his brother, and the two of them went down with a thud that shook the Earth. Blake whirled to see the foxes running past him, past where Gummi had come from, towards the hillside—and bursting through a wall of vines that hid an entrance to the old collapsed mine. They were following Krista’s scent. With luck, maybe they’d be able to lead Krista and the boy out of there—if Ethan was even still alive.
But he had no more time to think. Bo Durien came flying at him, and the two of them smashed into each other, all snapping jaws and rage. Bo sank his teeth into Blake’s flank, and Blake shook himself, dislodging Bo. He barely felt the burn of ripped flesh.
Dawnie’s bears just stood and watched. Blake knew that if he managed to kill Bo, they’d kill him. He’d have to pray that Krista could run really, really fast.
The two of them circled each other, crouching low, ears flattened back. Then Bo made his move, launching himself at Blake again, and they rolled on the forest floor, tearing at each other. The air was filled with the sound of howls and inhuman screams of pain and rage.
Bo went for Blake’s throat, jaws clamping down, and Blake just barely managed to move in time. Bo’s jaws clamped on Blake’s shoulder instead. Blake tried to shake him off, but Bo’s jaws sank in, tearing muscle, rending flesh.
He heard a shrill, furious yipping sound. His mate. He felt it, felther… she was close. Her fear flowed through him, calling out to him, lending him strength.
Krista. Must save Krista.
Blake twisted around, and his jaws snapped shut on Bo’s throat. With one quick shake of his head, he ripped his throat out. Bo’s mouth fell open, releasing Blake’s shoulder, and he fell limply to the ground. Blood gushed from Blake’s wound, matting his fur, splashing into the dirt, but he barely registered the many wounds Bo had opened.
Blake leaped to his feet and looked around. There was a giant pile of bears trying to pull Gummi off his brother.
Gummi’s dark fur was wet with blood, but he was insane with terror and rage, and he kept slashing Percy with his claws and tearing at him with his enormous snout.
For the moment, the bears were distracted by the fight; they were trying to break it up and save Percy. That was good.
