I looked out at the crowd. Ignoring the kitsunes and their mates who had come to watch the show, I scanned the row of guards behind the guests.
There was no way I’d get past them.
When I looked around, my throat sank into my stomach.
More guards surrounded us.
Even if I could somehow escape the alpha, I wasn’t getting out of the ceremony.
“Madison.” My fiance’s voice was calm, but the threat behind it wasn’t subtle.
I should’ve talked someone into mating with me while I was on vacation.
I should’ve run faster. Harder.
Sooner.
So much sooner.
But I didn’t.
Now, there was no getting out of my situation.
I let a slow breath out through my clenched jaw.
And I shoved my hands into the alpha’s.
My heart beat so loudly, I could hear it pounding in my skull.
The alpha opened his mouth to speak, but a loud crashing sound in the mansion cut him off.
Everyone’s attention jerked back to the doors I’d just come through. Including mine.
There was a beat of silence before the doors flung open.
My eyes widened in…
Horror?
Hope?
Thrill?
I didn’t fucking know.
But Ambrose Stevenson was at the front of a group of gigantic men who were clearly bear shifters. There were a dozen of them. We had plenty of male kitsunes, but not enough to take down a dozen grizzlies.
There was blood on Bo’s hands.
He was shirtless and wearing the same sweats he’d had on when the alpha found me at his cabin the day before. His hair stuck out at every angle, and the circles under his eyes were darker and deeper than I’d seen them before.
He was a mess, but somehow, the sexiest thing I’d ever seen.
“Let go of my mate or I’ll fucking kill you,” Bo snarled at the alpha. His chest heaved, and my gaze was locked on him.
One of the guys behind him put a hand on his shoulder, as if trying to calm him down. It wouldn’t work. Artie had done thesame thing a handful of times when we were kids, and it had never helped.
It took me an embarrassingly long time to realize Bo was talking aboutme.
