Page 89 of Brandon’s Mate

Something in her shoulder snapped, and agony shot through her. The beam wasn’t on fire, but she couldn’t lift it up. If she crawled out from underneath, Callie would be crushed.

Worse, there was now a pile of flaming wreckage between her and Brandon, and his little fire extinguisher wasn’t enough to fight it. The dizziness threatened to take her over, and Monster Wolf snarled.

Kitty! Somehow, Brandon’s voice was in her head. Change!

No! The monster…

Let it out! It will heal you!

It will kill Callie!

I won’t let it. CHANGE!

The word vibrated in her mind like a gong, all the way back to something primal that she could barely remember.

But Monster Wolf remembered. The day they came into the world. The voice that had saved their lives.

CHANGE, MONSTER! AND STOP FIGHTING HER, DAMMIT! SAVE THEM BOTH!

Monster Wolf ripped out of her body like a storm of fur and fangs and claws.

She could feel its power surging through her, healing her wounds. The monster grew, and grew, shrugging the beam off their back and preparing to bound through the flames to safety.

NO! Brandon thundered. SAVE CALLIE!

Monster Wolf growled, frozen between survival and obedience. Then they grabbed Callie’s shirt in their teeth and battered through the wreckage, Brandon using the last dregs of the fire extinguisher to help clear a path. They dragged Callie forward until Brandon could get to them, carrying Callie out of the fire into the soft cool night.

Brandon staggered away from the building and laid Callie on the ground. Then he reached over and grabbed Monster Wolf around the neck, hugging it fiercely. It. Them. Her. For the first time in her life, Monster Wolf merged with Kitty, becoming part of her.

Brandon had his face buried in the thick white fur. “Good wolf,” he muttered. “Awesome wolf. Remind me to give you a biscuit.”

She leaned on him, panting. They were safe. They were finally safe…

Until the crows attacked.

Chapter 40

Winged fury poured out of the sky, descending on Brandon and Kitty—slashing with their talons, gouging at them with their sharp beaks.

Brandon could feel Monster Wolf surging through Kitty once more. She was powerful, unstoppable. She wanted kill every crow that dared to attack Brandon.

But she didn’t get the chance.

The crows kept their distance, darting in to take a swipe at them and then veering off. Every time they tried to fight free, tried to make a break for it, the crows converged, driving them back.

They’re keeping us here, Brandon realized. Keeping us busy. But why?

Then he heard the roar of engines, and three black military troop transports pulled into the parking lot, lights blazing. The tailgates dropped, and panthers poured out.

They ranged themselves around the perimeter of the fight, the dancing flames turning their eyes demonic red. The door to the final vehicle opened, and a man stepped out.

Even through the smoke and the darkness, Brandon could see him clearly. Austin Raines.

The panther who was supposed to be raised as his brother, until the day came that they fought each other to the death for control of the Broken Hill clan.

Brandon’s dad had fought Austin’s father to the death instead, to keep that from happening. And yet, here they were. There was some irony for you.

Raines was dressed in black combat gear, but he didn’t carry a weapon. Instead, he was flanked by Jax and another soldier with assault rifles.