Page 7 of Charged By the Razorbacks

Jarek stilled for half a second not physically, because he was pissed and these things tried to hurt his mate, so he was still swinging, but his head stilled.

Because—she wasn’t surprised.

Not even a little.

No confusion. No question. Just—timing.

Like she’d known they’d get there. His grin came slow. Dangerous.

“Yeah?” he shot back, taking down another hybrid. “You send an invite?”

Her eyes flashed. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

But it didn’t land like dismissal. It landed like deflection. Jarek filed that away for later. The fight closed in again. Another hybrid lunged for Aleksy—fast, angled—Jarek moved—too late.

But she wasn’t. Tamsin stepped in, fast and precise, her blade driving clean through the hybrid before it could make contact.

It dropped. Aleksy didn’t even break stride.

Jarek huffed a sharp breath.

“Careful,” he muttered, glancing at him. “Almost got yourself killed.”

Aleksy didn’t look at him. “I had it.”

“Sure you did.”

Another one came in—Jarek took it. Aleksy cut it down.

Tamsin pivoted through the gap they created—and just like that—it was over.

Silence hit.

Jarek’s breathing slowed, control settling back in as he rolled his shoulders once, gaze shifting back to her.

Still standing. Still steady. Still not backing down.

And now—now the fight was done. They finally had her.

Not a shadow. Not a trail. Not a ghost.

Her.

And this time—she wasn’t getting away.

Chapter Two

Silence settled after the fight.

Aleksy stood still for half a second longer than necessary, breath controlled, gaze tracking the space out of habit even though there was nothing left moving. All threats down. All variables accounted for.

Except—her.

His attention shifted to her. Locked. Tamsin stood a few feet away, shoulders squared like she hadn’t just come out of a fight that should have dropped her, her breathing just a fraction too tight to pass as controlled.

And there—her side.

The way she held it just slightly off. The blood.