Page 7

A low growl vibrates in my chest. Beside me, Selena stands perfectly still.

Let them look, she tells me.

I hold my position, watching them watch my mate. They’ve had an hour to study our patrol. Now they have our attention. I intend to learn why.

1

Darian'S POV

My claws rip through the feral rogue's throat. Blood sprays across my chest as I tear my hand free and let the body drop. Another feral rogue lunges before it hits the ground.

I duck beneath snapping jaws and slash upward. My claws open its throat. Poisonous saliva flies from its fangs as it crashes beside me. More feral rogues rush through the trees.

Twenty when this started. Not anymore.

Three attack me at once.

Left.

I spin and tear through the first rogue's throat. My hand closes around the second one's neck, and I drive its head into the ground. The earth cracks beneath us. I slam it down again. Its skull caves in, leaving a crater in the dirt.

The third lands on my back, fangs snapping beside my ear. I grab the head and twist. Bone cracks. I throw the body into another charging rogue hard enough to send both crashing through a tree.

Behind.

I turn and punch my claws through a feral rogue's chest. Another leaps before I can rip them free.

My wolf surges beneath my skin. Kill.

"Gladly."

I catch the feral by the throat and rip it out. Blood pours over my fingers as the remaining feral rogues circle me. Red eyes glow between the trees. Poison drips from their fangs.

I roll my shoulders. “Come on.”

They charge.

I move.

Claws tear through a throat. I smash another rogue into a tree hard enough to splinter the trunk. One comes from my right. I grab its skull and drive its head into the ground. Dirt explodes around my hand.

Another lunges.

I sidestep the feral’s jaws and rip its throat open.

Enough.

My Alpha aura explodes through the forest. The remaining feral rogues freeze.

My wolf pushes forward. Run.

They run.

I pull the blood soaked cloth from my face and drop onto the grass. My mate is a better fighter than me. More lethal too. That's exactly why I come out here. If I'm going to protect Arlene and our pups, I need to stay strong.

I close my eyes and listen to the trees as my heartbeat slows.

The mindlink hits me like a punch to the chest. “HELP!” Just one word. Arlene’s wolf. Desperate. Terrified.Mate is in danger. Return. Now. My wolf surges forward, claws raking at the inside of my skin. If you won’t save her, I will.