The need to have the other man’s blood coating my throat consumed me. My world narrowed to ripping Blake limb from limb, before I’d ever allow him to touch what was mine.
The other wolf’s lips seemed to quirk into a sneer. His haunches bunched, preparing to attack again. Powerful jaws chomped down on my side, and I howled in pain, but I shrugged him off, striking out with a vicious twist and the need to get to my mate.
I broke away from the wolf, clamped down on the exposed neck, and with one bite, ended the battle. Dark blood, thick like a river, poured out of the wound. I kept hold until the last bit of life reflected back at me, seeing the hate that had been bred in the other being go out like a lightbulb. As I released him, I wanted to wash my mouth out. I’d never relished the taste of killing another wolf. However, I wouldn’t regret this one.
“I’m coming, Breezy.”
The silence that met my announcement ate at me. The minutes I’d spent fighting seemed like an eternity, and I wondered if Breezy’s mother had caught up with her. Our link was still there. I knew in my heart she was alive. Now, I needed to reach her before the woman who birthed her changed that fact.
Chapter Twelve
“Fuck a duck. Sorry, Kellen. I’ll fix it or make Xan.” I grabbed an empty flower pot and broke one of the little square windows next to the front door. Reaching my hand into the small opening, I quickly unlocked and raised the window, then climbed inside. Kellen hadn’t been lying about fixing up the place, I noticed. He’d had new furniture installed, along with a door that had a deadbolt.
I heard the sound of claws scraping over the wooden porch. A loud crash near the back had me spinning in a circle, and my heart pounding. Standing naked in the middle of Kellen’s cabin was not where I wanted to be found by strangers.
“Ah, so the little bitch is finally alone.”
I turned to see a woman I wished I’d never have to see again. Wished with all my might I’d never have laid eyes on. “Well, if it isn’t mommy dearest.” I looked the older woman up and down. “My, time has not been good to you. Or is it that when you’re bad, it makes you ugly?” I tapped my finger on my lips, pretending to think.
Sandy’s eyes flared. “You think you’re so cute. Always did with your hair in pigtails, and your big eyes. You had your father and brothers falling at your feet. I should have killed you when you were born. My mistake. I am here to correct that error. You can make it easy and give me your throat, or we can do it the hard way. We both know you’re a submissive wolf.”
The woman I’d known as my mother. The person who should have loved and cared for me sneered, truly thinking I should show her my throat and allow her to snuff my life out.
“You are certifiable, aren’t you?” Of course, we were two grown women standing around in the buff talking about killing. Crazy is as crazy does. I was thinking I may need therapy after this was over.
A grating laugh was her answer, followed by my mother shifting. Kellen wasn’t going to be happy if they destroyed his new fuck palace. I decided I wouldn’t face a wolf in human form, and shifted faster than my mother, obviously surprising the other wolf. The enclosed space of the cabin would hinder us, so I turned on my hind legs and launched through the same window I’d broken, silently apologizing to Kellen again.
Glass cut my sides as I flew out and hit the wooden deck. I shook my fur to remove debris.
In the small front yard, I turned and waited for the woman who birthed me. The larger she-wolf jumped out of the window, glass also cutting her as she too made it onto the decking. Shock had the wolf stopping to stare.
I dove out of the way, my mother’s growl of fury echoing in my ears when she missed. For the last twenty years, the Mattice men had made sure I could protect myself in all situations, even an attack from a crazed wolf. My world narrowed to the wolf bearing down on me. I felt the hot breath, and what would happen if I allowed her to get the upper fang. The memories of being a helpless child and all the anger from those years welled up, giving me strength.
As Sandy jumped, I met her in the air. We clashed, two wolves snarling, plummeting back to the hard ground. I didn’t register the hard hit on the dirt floor, rolling to stay on top. My wolf demanded I make the other pay with blood.
The maw of the wolf came at me, conjuring up nightmares from my past. I let it feed me, let it bubble through my veins, and charged the wolf. I took my mom’s wolf form down, giving no quarter, my teeth locked down tight on the exposed throat, while I dug my legs with their sharp claws into any available body part I came into contact with. The metallic taste had me gagging, but I shook my wolven head back and forth, feeling the claws of my mom’s own digging into my flanks. Searing pain cut through me. My body jerked as I felt the claws penetrate through fur and tissue, ribs cracking. And still I hung on.
The body below relaxed, ceased to fight. Eyes so like my own stared up at me. I jumped back as I felt my mother begin to shift.
Blood-streaked and dirty, Sandy Mattice lay on the ground. Each breath came out in raspy inhales and exhales. “Breezy. Help...me.” One hand lifted.
I allowed my own body to shift back to human, shaking in the aftermath. “Mama?” I covered my lips with my fingers.
A cackle came from Sandy. “Such a stupid girl.” Sandy rolled onto her knees.
I narrowed my eyes. “You know what. I’m not the stupid one, you old bitch. Look at you. On all fours like a dog. Broken and bleeding, begging me to help you.” I stalked to where my mother was crawling away. I inhaled, and the fresh scent of fear hit me. “You hate me so fucking much. Want me dead so badly. Well, let’s end it here. Come on, mama. Get up and let’s end it.” I grabbed Sandy by the back of the hair, pulling the taller woman up to her feet. Already, our shifter abilities were helping her to heal, but the large gash in my mother’s throat was almost a killing wound. I should’ve listened to Xan. Don’t let the enemy up until they are dead.
Sandy swiped out with a partially shifted fist, aiming for my belly, but I’d anticipated the move and jumped back. I punched with my left arm, making the other woman stumble, followed bya swift kick to her stomach. I would no longer refer to her as mom or mother. The other woman was Sandy. My mother was dead to me.
The nurse in me looked at the torn and bloody body before me and went on the attack. Circling wasn’t going to be the best defense, so I went on the offense even though I was outweighed by about fifty pounds.
Clearly, I’d surprised Sandy again, taking aim at the ribs with the deepest gouges, my own partially shifted hands raked through the torn flesh.
The sound of something approaching drew my attention to the woods, costing me precious moments and giving Sandy an opening. I cried out, my body jerked back as I fell to the ground with the woman on top of me.
Spittle falling from her mouth, Sandy glared down at me. “You thought you could defeat me?”
I tried to wiggle out from under her, my arms trapped beneath Sandy’s knees, had me screaming in frustration. “You’re a fucking psycho. You may kill me. But my mate will hunt you down and make you pay. I will watch from the heavens and cackle with glee,” I spat.
