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I gently eased Cerise backward another step. “I’m going to shift,” I warned her.

Cerise’s hand went to my arm. “Alaric, don’t…”

“We have only moments,” I hissed. “If we run, he will follow. We can’t risk taking him through the portal. I have to let Tavik out so he can kill him.”

“Tavik?” she repeated.

Tavik let out a low groan, as if the sound of her uttering his name tugged on his awareness.

“Are you well?” I asked.

“Fine,” he ground out. “Just do it.”

Cerise was saying something, but I ignored her, shoving her backward as I let the shift take over. My body hunched over, sprouting fur and claws. My spine quivered, my bones realigning. My awareness receded to a small corner of my mind, my vision narrowing as Tavik’s consciousness pulled forward. The transformation only took seconds. Right as the white wolf leapt, Tavik lunged, intercepting him and tackling him to the ground.

Cerise cried out as Tavik pinned the Rogue to the ground, paws pressing into his chest. The white wolf roared, using his hind legs to kick Tavik off. In a blur of white, he bounded toward Cerise, but Tavik was faster. He brought him down again and tore into the Rogue’s throat. The other wolf’s claws struck out, drawing blood. I felt a dull throb, an echo of Tavik’s pain. But he was undeterred. His jaws clamped tighter, and the Rogue thrashed underneath his grip. Blood flowed, filling Tavik’s mouth and burning against his throat.

Cerise screamed again, and I felt another distant jab of pain. The Rogue’s claws were ripping into Tavik again and again in a desperate attempt to get him to release his fangs.

“Tavik!” I bellowed. He was going to get himself killed. If the Rogue tore him apart, we would both die.

“I have him,” Tavik said, his fangs burrowing deeper. But I could feel the blood loss wearing on him. His thoughts were muddied and incoherent. “I… have… him…”

A crackle of energy split the air, powerful enough to make my awareness tingle. Tavik stiffened but kept his hold on the Rogue’s throat.

But the white wolf had stopped moving. At first, I thought he was dead, but then his body twitched slightly. A low, keening moan escaped him. He jerked again, as if thrashing against invisible restraints.

Behind us, Cerise grunted, her breathing strained.

Holy shit. She was helping us. Her magic had frozen the wolf.

“Finish him, Tavik!” I urged.

But Tavik’s wounds were too severe. His jaw was locked, but his consciousness was fading.

“Tavik!” I roared.

Smoke filled the air. The smell of burning flesh surrounded us.

Gods’ breath, it was happening.

“Give control to me!” I shouted. “Now!”

With a dazed moan, Tavik went limp, and we shifted. I took over, screaming in agony as I took on Tavik’s wounds. Blood ran in rivulets down my abdomen, but there was no time.

“Keep hold of him!” I told Cerise as I wrapped my hands around the Rogue’s legs and began to drag him. “He can’t be near the portal when he ruptures!”

If the force of the rupture was too intense, it could tear the portal apart.

And then I would never be able to get home.

More smoke churned from the white wolf. He was quivering again, his eyes entirely red now. His fur felt hot in my grip, but I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to keep going as I tugged him deeper into the woods.

A bit farther. A bit farther.

The wolf’s legs started to thrum in my grip. An ethereal ringing noise burned against my ears.

“Alaric!” Cerise warned.