She wanted her mate.
Continuing through the house, she nearly stumbled over a warm body.Mina fell to her knees and rolled him over, gasping when she saw the bruise over Simon’s eye.Whoever had taken him out must have not played fair.Her older brother was bookish, but he also knew how to defend himself.If Simon was down, were the others as well?She tiptoed through the lower level of the house, stumbling upon her other two brothers and her father, all unconscious on the floor.
A sour feeling rolled through her stomach as she thought about Spark being at Striker’s mercy.If the wolf thought for one moment that Spark and Mina had mated, he would lose what little sanity he had left.Mina feared for her mate more than herself.At least she knew what Striker wanted from her, but if he got his hands on Spark, it could get bloody fast.
As she crept through the kitchen, she paused long enough to ease a butcher knife from the block on the counter.Gripping it tightly, she held it in front of her as she neared the back door.It was wide open, a gentle breeze blowing in, bringing with it the stink of insane wolf and her mate.Mina didn’t know what to expect when she entered the backyard, but her heart stuttered in her chest as she saw Spark lying on the ground, a knife wound to his side, his arms cut to hell, and a slice across one cheek.
His eyes were closed and she prayed that he still lived.She watched intently, not daring to breathe until she saw his chest rise and fall, albeit in shallow breaths.Mina looked around but didn’t see Striker anywhere.She nearly ran to Spark and fell on her knees beside him.The knife clattered to the ground as her hands fluttered over him, not sure where to touch him, yet wanting to assure herself he was all right.
“He’s alive.For now.”Striker stepped out of the shadows, not three feet from her.
Mina reached for her knife, but he was too quick and kicked it away.Her nails bit into her palms as she closed her hands into tight fists and rose to her feet.She knew that one on one, she was no match for the crazy wolf, but she wouldn’t back down and leave her mate to die.No matter what Striker said, she knew he had no intention of leaving Spark alive.
“Why did you attack my family and my mate?”
“Mate,” he sneered.“You were supposed to be mine!My rightful place is beside your father, and you took that from me by mating with this…this…creature.He isn’t even a wolf, Mina!How could you think to dilute the pack blood like that?You’re the pack princess and you deserve a prince, not some commoner you picked up along the way.He was your bodyguard.That alone should tell you his status isn’t anywhere near good enough to be with you.”
“Whether you like it or not, heismy mate.”She lifted her chin.“And we’re having a baby.My father already knows and he’s thrilled about becoming a grandfather, despite the fact this child may not be a wolf.Do you think my father really cares about bloodlines?”
“No, but he does care about power, and that pathetic excuse of a man at your feet doesn’t have any.”
Mina scoffed.“As if you do.The only thing you have is a few screws loose.No one would ever want you as a mate, much less me.You think you’re worthy of me?You aren’t fit to lick my feet.”
Striker growled and backhanded her across the face, knocking her to the ground.Mina knew it was a gamble, that there was a chance she could lose the baby, but if she didn’t protect Spark and save her own life, the baby would be dead anyway.Lucky for her, Striker didn’t realize he’d knocked her close to the knife he’d kicked away.Her hand wrapped around the handle and she hid it with her body.
Striker wasn’t done with her though and gripped a handful of her hair, dragging her to her feet.When he wasn’t paying attention, she slammed the knife back and into his thigh, giving it a twist after she buried it to the hilt, and then she jerked it free.
He screamed and tossed her aside.“Bitch!”
“I’ll never willingly go with you, Striker.My place is by my mate’s side.”
“Have it your way, princess.You want to be by your mate?”He brandished a knife.“Then let’s put you beside him…in a grave.When Shadow comes to, he’ll have two graves to dig.Assuming he even bothers burying that stupid maned wolf.I’d just let him rot in the sun.”
He lunged at her and Mina watched, waiting until the last moment to dance away.She twisted her body and slammed her knife into Striker’s back, then pulled it free so she could attack again.He spun toward her and charged again, waving his knife like a madman.Mina ducked under his slashing arm and shoved her knife upward between his ribs.Striker stumbled back and she attacked again, slamming the knife into him over and over, until he fell to the ground, blood bubbling from his lips.
“I’m not some weak wolf you can impose your will on,” Mina panted.“I’m the princess of this motherfucking pack and you’d best not forget it, asshole.”
As Striker slumped, his eyes staring up at the moon, glassy and vacant, Mina gave a cry and ran to Spark.She cradled his head in her lap and wished she had a phone to call for an ambulance.Howls could be heard on the front side of the property and moments later she was surrounded by her father’s most trusted men.She fought as they tried to take Spark from her, but eventually they pulled her away and tended to his wounds.
The wail of a siren pierced the night air and Mina gave a sob, covering her face with her hands.She gasped for breath, suddenly unable to take in enough oxygen, and then the world began to fade.Someone slapped her across the cheek, jolting her and bringing her back to reality.She scrambled across the patio to Spark and cradled his body in her arms, not letting go until the paramedics arrived.
She started to climb into the ambulance with her mate, but her father held her back.
“Give them some time to work on him,” Shadow said.“You’ll only be in the way.Besides, you need to get cleaned up before he sees you.I doubt that Spark wants to see his pregnant mate covered in another wolf’s blood.”
She looked down at her blood splattered robe and rubbed her fingers together.The slickness she’d felt on her hands finally registered and she winced.Perhaps a shower was in order.She didn’t want Spark to worry when he woke, and seeing her looking like a mass murderer might do it.
Mina allowed her father to lead her through the house and up to her room.As she shampooed her hair, she realized there was a slight tremor running through her body.Now that the adrenaline was leaving, the fact she’d killed someone was finally sinking in.Mina knew it had been a matter of Striker or them, but it didn’t lessen the queasy feeling.She’d never taken a life before unless you counted the deer she hunted as a wolf.Even knowing that Striker was going to kill her didn’t make it any easier.
She finished washing, dried off, and pulled on the first outfit she grabbed.When she went downstairs, wet hair trailing down her back, she found her father sitting at the kitchen table.The look on his face said it was business as usual, but she noticed a tenseness to his shoulders that wasn’t normally there.
“Did the hospital call?”she asked, suddenly worried that something had happened to Spark.
“No, honey.No one called.I’m sure Spark arrived and is being taken care of.I thought we’d head that way in just a moment.But first, I’d like to talk to you.Come have a seat.”He used his booted foot to shove a chair out for her.
Mina sat and faced her father.She didn’t know what he wanted to discuss, but she didn’t like the fact they weren’t rushing off to the hospital.Spark needed her!What if he woke and she wasn’t there?
“You know I wasn’t too happy about the idea of you taking a mate without permission,” Shadow said.“But I think I need to tell you what happened tonight before you ventured out of bed.The only mistakes Spark made were underestimating Striker and not locking you in your bedroom.Then again, if he’d locked you in, who would have saved our asses?”
