Page 57 of Pack to the Wall
No!
Time seemed to slow, dragging like an eternity, until I finally reached the small clearing. My gaze locked on Jane’s wolf, her beautiful form hunkered low, growling, and covered in blood. Shards of glass were still stuck in her sides, her right rear leg had been brutally mauled, and there was far too much blood staining her snout.
And yet, she refused to back down, confronting these two vicious predators with unwavering bravery.Thiswas the woman who’d faced Harley and killed him.
I may have been fated for her — my love inevitable — but my heart still surged with devotion and admiration for her stalwart bravery in the face of overwhelming odds.
Brick charged her.
I was faster and he was too focused on her to notice me. I hit him side-long and sunk my teeth into his flank, tearing away flesh as I tackled him to the ground.
But he wasn’t the only threat. Ginny charged at Jane. Jane shifted to face the new threat, but Ginny caught Jane’s neck. Luckily, it was the back, not the throat. Ginny thrashed and Jane — weakened as she was — was tossed to the ground. Ginny released Jane, going for her throat, but I was already leaping. I caught Ginny’s snout and bit deep, drawing a yelp and whine. I released her and she quickly backed off.
Snarling, I stood over Jane, waiting for the two of them to come at me.
Brick rose, clearly hesitating now that he was wounded. That chunk I’d taken out of his side wasn’t going to kill him, but it would hurt like hell and hinder him in this fight. Ginny, however, wasn’t dissuaded by her pain. She came at me, even as Brick barked to call her off.
We both went for the other’s neck and the result was our jaws clacking together in a mash of teeth.
Ginny backed away.
Brick repeated his bark for her to stop.
She growled at me again before she swung her head to look at Brick. Then the two of them slowly backed away. Perhaps they thought they’d done enough damage to Jane already.
In truth, they might have.
There came a broken and half-hearted whine below me, but I stayed where I was, keeping Brick and Ginny in sight until they’d faded into the forest. My keen ears caught them circling us, staying close, but another whine drew my attention down to see Jane’s yellow eyes pleading with me. That last attack from Ginny had been brutal, deep rents scoring Jane’s neck and welling with blood.
Jane gave a huffing whine then barked softly,Mate?
Somehow, even though she’d only been a wolf for a short time — and never seen me as a wolf — she knew me.
I barked my reply,Yes, mate. I licked her snout.
She licked me back, a thank you, then whined again.So much pain.
I gave a comforting whuff.I know. I’m here now. I’ll help you.
She laid her head on the ground, her eyes fluttering shut. With me here, she felt safe enough to rest, but I feared she might never wake. I needed to get her help. Now.
Except Brick and Ginny were still out there, and I couldn’t leave her alone to fetch help. I couldn’t do anything for her. My wolf form could protect her, but not help her. Perhaps, if I shifted back to human, I could carry her to safety.
Except I’d be naked and vulnerable.
My only option was my hybrid form.
I shifted, praying it would be enough to keep Brick and Ginny away. Though if they decided to take their hybrid forms…
Then I’d do what I had to.
The transformation was taxing, draining my already weakened body, but I had no other choice. My instincts screamed at me to protect Jane at any cost.
Thankfully, Brick and Ginny didn’t attack. I could only guess they were waiting for me to falter since it wasn’t easy to sustain a mid-form. It required a lot of high emotions. Luckily, I had those in spades: fear for my fated, hatred for Brick and the others. Most of all, I had my boundless affection for this fierce and caring woman who had turned my life upside down in the best possible way.
Carefully, I lifted Jane’s limp wolf, being mindful of my long sharp claws. A soft, breathy whine escaped her, and relief washed over me. She was still breathing, still alive. That was all that mattered.
Holding her close to my chest, I started the long walk through the woods.
I didn’t know what I’d do once I was out of the forest and back on the street. Walking around like this was asking for trouble. But I couldn’t think about that. For now, I held my love close and forged ahead…
…as wolves howled around me.
To be continued…
