Page 39 of Brick
And then she hit the ground, gasping in a ragged breath as she struggled to see what was going on. She slumped to the ground as darkness fully encompassed her. The last thing on her mind was that Brick was outnumbered and she’d failed to get help.
The fight was chaos. Brick and Malrick were well-matched in size and skill, but Brick had an edge over the male. Malrick might be fighting to take Jade because he felt like he owned her due to some arranged mating, but Brick was fighting for Jade’s right to choose who she wanted to mate.
And she wanted to mate Brick.
He was damn well certain to make sure that happened.
Malrick dodged out of the downward swing of Brick’s claws just as a feminine howl echoed around them. He checked to see his sweetheart howling for help and then promptly getting caught by the throat and lifted off her feet.
Hell no!
He ducked away from Malrick and raced to her aide but was caught by the back leg and yanked backward. His claws dug into the road for purchase as Malrick pulled him away from helping his mate, but Brick wasn’t about to leave her on her own.
He rolled to the side, pulling out of Malrick’s jaws. His sharp teeth shredded Brick’s leg, but he didn’t let that stop him from twisting sharply and sinking his front claws into the male’s side. Hot blood poured over his paws and Malrick yipped and jerked away. Brick leaped to his paws and raced toward his struggling mate, taking the male out at the knees and knocking her from his grip.
He heard the pounding of feet and knew his pack had answered her howl for help.
Letting out a deep and furious growl, Brick stalked back to the injured Malrick, who was limping away, blood dripping from the deep gashes in his side.
Brick slammed into him, his jaws closing around his throat. Malrick writhed beneath him, his claws scraping on the pavement, but Brick didn’t let go.
He’d seen it in the male’s eyes when he came for Jade. He was never going to stop, so Brick needed to stop him.
With a violent shake, Brick ended it, Malrick’s body falling limp.
Brick released his grip on Malrick’s throat and lifted his head in a victorious howl.
Then he spun and looked for his mate and the other males, who’d retreated, bolting toward the vehicles.
Brick rushed to her side and nudged her with his nose.
She let out a whimper and opened her eyes, rolling to her side.
Her gaze was unfocused for a moment and then she shook her head and blinked rapidly a few times.
“Oh, Brick!” she whispered roughly.
Solan stopped next to them. “Holy shit! Are you both okay?”
She tried to speak but grimaced and he was sure her throat hurt from being manhandled. He wanted to kill the male who’d put his hands on her.
Brick settled back on his haunches and nodded. Jade nodded and sat up, leaning on Brick for help.
“Malrick’s dead?” Solan asked.
Brick nodded.
“The others fled in their vehicles. I’ve got our people following them to make sure they actually leave town this time. I’ll handle getting the wolf to the clearing to burn the body. You guys want to come or do you want to go to your parents’ place?”
Jade pressed her hand lightly to her reddened throat and whispered, “I want to go to the clearing.”
“Yeah, sure.”
She leaned on Brick again, her arm around his neck, and watched as Solan and another security team member picked up the dead wolf and carried him into the woods.
“You’re okay?” she whispered.
He nodded. His wounds would heal either in his shift or as he returned to human. The important thing was that they were both alive.
