Page 87 of Bonded Through Bite

“All right.”

I almost hurry outside before I realize she’s only wearing a torn shirt. Cursing, I blur upstairs and grab another shirt and pull it over the torn one, then head back downstairs. There are clothes at the bunker, we just need to get her there.

Santiago is waiting by the door with the wolf and I smell blood in the air. Apparently, he didn’t wait until they got out of the house. I try to ignore the stab in my heart and head outside with Samantha cradled close in my arms. I make it to the bottom stair when a cold voice stops me in my tracks.

“And what do we have here?” Patricia asks as she steps out of the trees.

Chapter Thirty

Santiago

Everyone freezes. Even Zack is holding his breath by my side.

Patricia strolls closer and my gut clenches. She looks just the same as the last time I saw her, long blond hair trailing down her back in waves and red lips that I know don’t need any cosmetics. Her dark green eyes are glued on Rafael and Samantha.

“How can she walk with those heels in the forest?” Zack mumbles under his breath. He sounds disgusted, like it personally offends him that Patricia is not appropriately dressed for the terrain.

I have to bite the inside of my cheek to hold in the laughter. If Patricia even owns a pair of sneakers, I’m willing to swear off blood for a year.

“Rafael, explain,” she says and doesn’t pay any attention to me or Zack.

Rafe is so tense that I fear a strong gust of wind will set him off. Samantha chooses that moment to regain consciousness and her head slowly turns toward Patricia. She sniffs the air and her forehead wrinkles.

Rafael is already backing up and I take a step forward to set myself between Patricia and them. I can still feel the thing’s poison burning in my veins, but it’s fading, thanks to the alpha’s blood. It was just a quick sip for now, but it helps.

Samantha’s arm shoots out and she stops me from moving farther. She sniffs the air again and I pray that she’ll keep her mouth shut.

“Rafael.” There’s warning in Patricia’s tone. She doesn’t like to be denied. Samantha’s eyes turn icy blue. I’ve never seen her look like that. When she’s mad at us, her eyes look like blue flame.

“Patty, isn’t it?” she asks.

Both Rafael and I gasp. Patricia responds to Patricia and nothing else. Ever. She turns her full attention to Samantha, who doesn’t seem to be bothered in the slightest.

“Now, could you move downwind, Patty? You quite positively stink,” Samantha continues and I regret not knocking her unconscious again. But her eyes are clear and so is her voice. Zack inhales deeply and scents the air; a low growl escapes from him.

“The bitch smells like Alyssa. Now why would she smell like Alyssa?” he grumbles low enough for only me to hear.

My eyes turn back to Patricia and I take a deep breath too. Now that I know what I’m looking for, I get a tiny drift, not enough to be sure, but I don’t doubt Zack's nose. Patricia’s patience is at an end and she moves closer. Samantha tries to struggle free, but Rafael holds her tight.

“Get rid of her, Rafael, now,” Patricia demands. I’m certain that the moment Rafael lets go, she will attack Samantha. What I don’t count on is Samantha having the strength to break free from Rafael’s hold and lunge at Patricia.

“Samantha, no!” I shout. Zack roars and Rafael leaps forward. Too late. Samantha lands a jab at Patricia, who looks stunned. They attack each other without any hesitation.

“Bitch,” Samantha snarls when Patricia rakes her nails over her cheek.

“I’ll kill you,” Patricia shrieks.

“You can try,” Samantha pants. They are moving so fast, it’s a blur, impossible to find an opening to get in between without risking knocking out the wrong woman.

“Oh hell,” Zack curses.

“What?” I snap, not willing to tear my eyes away. If there is even the tiniest opening, I’m jumping in.

“She’s fighting like the thing. I know those moves.” He limps forward and holds up three fingers. One by one, he folds them and when he makes a fist, Samantha drops and tears into Patricia’s leg.

“I knew it,” Zack says and then curses again when Samantha cries out. Rafael and I jump at the same time and tear Samantha away from a shrieking Patricia.

It takes only a second before Samantha is vomiting blood. She goes from ferocious to pitiful so fast, it staggers my mind. Rafael is barely holding Patricia back and I crouch next to Samantha, holding her shuddering body. Tires screech as someone drives up the driveway and I mutter a few chosen words.