Page 38 of Deception

Fight with your head, not with your heart.That’s what his father had always said. And he’d always listened.

But now… His whole body shook with rage, and power flowed through him the way it flowed through mighty rivers or in explosive bursts of wind. The way thunderclouds flowed over mountain ridges and swept over a valley, drowning it.

He flexed one paw then the other. This was a fight like no other, and hell yeah, he was going to fight with his heart. How could he not? This was for Summer.

Summer, who was all heart and soul.

“Drew,” she said, putting a hand on the coarse fur of his back. And hell, if that didn’t prove how gutsy she was, what did? She’d never seen him in bear form before, and even his own kind backed away when he stepped into battle mode.

The river of power pulsed harder, and he unleashed another roar.

You will not hurt my woman. You will die.

He hadn’t done a lot of killing in his life, and he had certainly never relished it. But he’d never been so provoked, either, so blind with rage.

Summer. They wanted to kill Summer.

He roared again, and two of the wolves tucked their tails between their legs, ready to flee.

“Hold your ground, idiots.” If the woman who came up behind them had been holding a whip, he’d bet anything she’d have cracked it at them. “Get him.”

The wolves snarled and spread out, trying to outflank him. And shit, there was nothing to back up against to keep Summer out of harm’s way. No rocky outcrop, no tree. No buildings. Just gently sloping hills that didn’t help one bit.

He sidestepped one way then the other, trying to keep them all in sight. A dozen wolves against one bear. If only he had some backup — but he’d left the meeting without a word, hoping to catch up with Summer and celebrate. But, crap. There wasn’t much to celebrate — other than the fact that he’d sensed her cry for help and arrived before they killed her.

“You have backup, all right,” Summer said, reading his mind. She sounded fiercer than ever. She looked it, too — even more fierce and determined than when she’d spoken up in the meeting.

Run, Summer. Run.He insisted.Get someplace safe.

She shook her head in a vehement no.I’m not leaving you. I’ll never leave you.

Her deep brown eyes locked on his, and the wave of power inside him surged.

I love you,she said.

It should have been an occasion for him to dance and sing. Instead, he whispered,I love you,then whipped his head around and roared.

A wolf leaped at him, setting off the fight, and everything was a blur from there. Growls exploded, filling the gully, and the rushing sound of scattering gravel came from all sides.

He battered an oncoming wolf with one outstretched paw and dashed it to the ground. Then he turned and shouldered two more aside.

Drew! Watch out!A deeper version of Summer’s voice filled his mind. She’d shifted too and stood her ground at his side.

Another wolf barreled out of nowhere, jaws spread wide, aiming for his neck. Drew backed up quickly and swatted it aside. But that left Summer exposed, and two wolves leaped at her.

“Get her! Get her!” that witch, Gretchen, cried.

His vision went red as he hurried forward to help, and a moment later, two wolves were flying through the air. One landed against a rock and went limp, while the other rolled to its feet and scurried out of range. Summer snarled and snapped at yet another wolf who’d been sneaking up on Drew from behind.

Blood pounded in his ears as the rest of the wolves surged forward, attacking from every direction at the same time. He clawed the two in front of him, but another two landed on his back and made him stumble. Their teeth sank into his flesh, making him roar in fury.

Drew!

He couldn’t tell whether Summer was shouting for help or in alarm. He swiped at his own back then rolled, crushing his attackers and following up with his fangs. Bone snapped, blood flowed, and the wolves yelped in pain.

Serves you right,he wanted to shout as he lumbered back to his feet. He raked his claws against the nearest wolf, leaving a wound not even a shifter could recover from.

Drew!

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