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Her small body was knocked off the ground from the force, and then she flew backward. I heard the sound of her tiny form hitting something hard enough a crack echoed off the trees.
My wolf pushed out, and I felt myself start to turn. I couldn’t help it. My mate was hurt, and my Lycan wanted blood.
No. Keep it together. Keep sane. Get her out of here. Take her far from the threat.
I shook my head, pushing my wolf down, and then was running headlong toward Banner. I bent low right before I got to him and slammed my shoulder into his abdomen, a war cry leaving my mouth. The big bastard flew backward.
I turned instantly and charged for Ainslee’s limp, still form. My panic was seizing, sucking the very air from my lungs, but I’d worry about her injuries as soon as I got her to safety.
I wanted to fall to my knees and examine her injuries before I moved her, damn near did that, because I had no control over my protective instincts to tend to her. But I had no time for that. Banner, Caelan, and the other males would rouse, would shake off their injuries.
But then I felt something shift in the air, a reckoning, an awakening. I held Ainslee gently but tightly against the protectiveness of my body and looked over my shoulder. I saw Caelan in a crouched position looking deep into the woods. His eyes glowed fiercely, and I sucked in a breath when I recognized what that aroma was in the air.
It was the scent of his Linked Connection filling the forest.
Everyone seemed frozen in place, unable to move, each shocked at the revelation that was currently in play.
Apparently, Caelan had just found his mate.
And then as fast as a match getting struck, Caelan was growling low then roaring out, “Mine!” And then I saw what—who—he was so focused on.
A small human female stood between the trees, her eyes as wide as saucers, her mouth parted in shock. She was shaking her head, tears streaming down her cheeks as she started backing away, her hands in front of her in a purely submissive move. And then she turned and started running. Caelan took off into the forest, and she’d find out soon enough her mate reveled in the chase.
The haze was broken, and Lycans started shouting at Caelan about the situation. I didn’t stop to see if Banner or the others would follow the Scottish heir, or if they’d come after me. I didn’t give a shit about anything but getting Ainslee to safety.
And as I looked down at my little mate, pain squeezed me so tightly all I felt was agony. “Oh, îngera?.” I took off, using my preternatural speed to race through the woods, my eyesight on point, my speed unmatched.
I had a vehicle miles away, one I secured as soon as I landed in Scotland just last week. I also had a piece of property under an alias, a home I bought decades ago—just another gift to my mate so she knew how well hers could provide for her.
And as I clutched Ainslee to my chest, I prayed to whoever was merciful, whoever would grant me this one wish, that despite her being more fragile and weak than any Otherworld creature alive, she’d heal so she could be with me.
17
Ainslee
It was a sharp, jarring motion that awoke me, causing a hard gasp to leave my mouth, followed by a deep inhale of breath to fill my lungs.
The pain was intense. Instant.
It encompassed my entire side, a burning heat like my body was on fire. I cried out before I could stop myself, clutching my ribs, tears streaking down my cheeks before I felt them falling.
I knew I was in a car despite my eyes being closed. I didn’t dare open them, not when my head swam and the threat of throwing up was right there.
I could hear Luca swearing in Romanian, then felt the heavy presence of his warm palm on my thigh. His touch was tentative, as if he were afraid to lay his hand on me, as if he worried it would cause me more pain.
“Luca,” I whispered, but my voice was nothing more than a croak of noise. My head swam, bile rising in my throat as my stomach churned.
Another lurch of the vehicle, another stabbing pain. Another cry of agony that I couldn't stop, even though I wanted—needed—to be strong.
“Oh,” I murmured but wasn’t sure if I said the words out loud. “Luca. Luca, it hurts.” I gritted my teeth, convinced I was screaming in my head, that I was alone, that no one would hear me.
And then I inhaled, smelled his scent, my mate, and I felt a little of the pressure leave me, felt this calm try to move over me, through me, to ease the discomfort.
