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“You don’t know what you’re dealing with!” I snarl, even though I’m pretty sure he knows exactly what I am. His next words confirm it.
“Think I’m stupid, wolf? We know how to control the likes of you.” He taps the barrel. “Silver. If I get one of these slugs in you, you’re toast. Won’t be the first time I’ve seen one of you freaks go down.”
Ice rushes through my veins as I stare at him.
“Hah, you wolves make good sport, don’t you?” He’s laughing, taunting me as he lines up another shot. There’s nowhere for me to run, nowhere to hide. It’s only a matter of time before…
The door explodes inward in a shower of splinters. Barrett is there, his face twisted with rage as he takes in the scene. Part of me wants to cry with relief at the sight of him. But mostly, I’m just frozen, caught between the two predators like a helpless rabbit.
I scream as the man whips around, his gun leveled at Barrett. Time slows as he squeezes the trigger. The shot rings out like a thunderclap, and I watch in horror as the bullet grazes Barrett’s arm, tearing through his shirtsleeve and drawing a line of crimson.
“Barrett!” The anguished cry rips from my throat, but he doesn’t even flinch. With an enraged howl, he charges forward, heedless of the danger.
The man tries to bring his weapon up again, but Barrett is on him in a blur of movement. They collide with bone-jarring force, the gun clattering across the floor as they grapple viciously. I can only watch, frozen, as they roll over the ground in a flurry of limbs and grunts.
Barrett is clearly stronger, but the man fights with the desperation of a cornered animal. He claws and bites, trying to reach for the fallen gun. His fingers reach for the grip of the weapon and close around it. I see a flash of silver and hear the gunshot, the sound making me flinch.
“No!” I scream again, terror gripping me. But then Barrett rises, hovering over the man’s prone form. A gaping hole mars the man’s throat where the bullet struck home – his own silver round.
With a gurgling rattle, he draws one last breath before going still. Barrett turns towards me, his eyes burning with urgency and concern. He rushes to the cell door, gripping the bars as his gaze rakes over me.
“Cedara…” His voice is rough, tinged with relief and lingering fury.
I swallow hard, trying to find my own voice. “It’s locked. The key broke off…”
Barrett doesn’t hesitate. He steps back, snatching up a fallen metal bar from the floor. With a roar of exertion, he wedges it between the door and frame, muscles straining as he pries with every ounce of his strength.
The reinforced metal groans in protest, but inch by inch, Barrett forces it open, fueled by sheer desperation to reach me. I stare in awe at the display of raw power, overcome by a profound sense of love and gratitude for this remarkable man – my mate.
Finally, with one last heave, the door wrenches free from its hinges, crashing to the floor. Barrett doesn’t even pause, crossing the threshold in two long strides to sweep me into his embrace.
Barrett crushes me to his chest, his strong arms encircling me in a protective embrace. I cling to him, my face buried in his neck, inhaling his scent deeply. For a moment, I let myself get lost in his warmth, his solidity. He’s here.
I’m safe.
After a long moment, Barrett pulls back slightly, his hands coming up to cradle my face. His dark eyes search mine intently, roving over my features as if assessing for any sign of injury or distress.
“Are you okay?” His deep voice is laced with concern.
I nod, not trusting myself to speak past the lump in my throat. Emotion crashes over me in waves, leaving me lightheaded and shaky.
Apparently satisfied that I’m unharmed, Barrett lowers his head, his lips grazing mine.
“God…I thought I was going to lose you again.” His throat works as he swallows.
“Never. I’d come back from hell to be with you.” Our eyes lock for a moment, a thousand unspoken promises within that look. And then my breath flutters out in a sigh as he claims my mouth in a searing kiss. It’s a kiss that pours every ounce of his love, his desperation, his fierce protectiveness into the press of his lips against mine. I respond with equal fervor, my hands fisting in his shirt as I pull him impossibly closer.
His tongue sweeps into my mouth, tangling with mine in a dance of passion and promise. It’s a kiss that brands my soul, a kiss that says I’m here, I’ve got you, I’ll never let you go. My heart swells with the depth of feelings threatening to burst from me.
When Barrett finally raises his head, we’re both panting heavily. He rests his forehead against mine, his breath mingling with my own.
“I’ll always protect you, Cedara,” he vows, his voice rough with emotion. “With my life, if I have to.”
I swallow hard, tears pricking at the backs of my eyes. “I hope it never comes to that,” I whisper. “We deserve to have our time together after everything we’ve been through. I’m just afraid of…”
“Afraid of what?”
“Her, Barrett. My wolf. What if she—?”
