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Left!

I twist, but it catches my thigh. The silver head burns as I stumble. I tear it free. Blood runs down my leg and drips from my fingers.

“Arlene?”

I'm holding it back.

“How much?”

All of it. NOW FOCUS!

I feel him working through the pain, keeping my thoughts clear while trying to shield our mate from the worst of it.

You need to stay on your feet.

“I’m standing.”

That’s my human. Keep moving.

Ahead, an elder rides on the back of one of our wolves. A hunter raises his gun toward them. “Move!” The warrior carrying the elder tries to turn. Another warrior leaps into the line of fire. The shot strikes him. Blood splatters across the wolf carrying the elder.

The wounded warrior lands hard, but he forces himself up long enough to drive the hunter back. “Go!” Joshua shouts. The elder's wolf keeps running. The wounded warrior turns to follow. Another shot catches him. He falls and doesn't rise. Fourth pack warrior lost.

My jaw tightens. The hunters are getting closer. We reach a shallow ravine. Three injured pack members struggle to cross while the warriors help them down the slope. “Get them across!” Joshua shouts.

Michael moves to the other side, helping pull them up. I turn toward the hunters. An arrow strikes my injured shoulder. I stagger.

Darian!

I force myself forward and slam into the hunter before he can draw another. A second comes at me with a silver dagger. I catch his wrist, but the blade cuts across my side. Blood runs over my fingers as I shove him away. The silver burns. I turn toward the ravine.

“Move! Keep moving!”

A warrior stays beside me, holding the hunters back while the last injured pack member reaches the other side.

“Go!” I shout.

He looks toward the pack. A gunshot strikes him. Blood splatters across the rocks. He drops to one knee, then forces himself upright and lunges at the hunter, buying us another few seconds. The last injured pack member reaches Michael.

“Clear!” Michael shouts.

I turn back. The warrior is still fighting. Another shot strikes him. He falls. Fifth pack warrior lost.

I grab the edge of the ravine and pull myself across. My injured leg nearly gives out when I reach the other side.

Stay with me.

“I'm here.”

You're losing blood.

“I know.”

You cannot protect them if you die.

I look ahead. A child is crying on the back of one of our wolves. Behind her, an elder is limping with his arm around a younger male. Paige runs with Milo and Piper, Michael beside them.

“Then don't let me collapse.”