Page 67 of Brutal Alpha's Forced Mate

“Move!” I shout.

They scatter just in time for me to shift and lunge at the demon’s side, claws slicing through its armor-like hide. It roars, spinning to face me, but I don’t give it the chance to retaliate. My teeth find its throat, and with a vicious shake, I tear through the vulnerable spot beneath its jaw.

The demon collapses in a heap of foul-smelling ichor. I spit the taste of it from my mouth as the others gather around me.

“Where are the others?” I demand, shifting back just enough to speak.

“By the east perimeter,” one of the younger wolves stammers. “Two more demons. Theo’s leading the charge.”

I’m already running before he finishes, my wolf surging forward as I shift again. The east perimeter isn’t far, but every second feels like an eternity. Two more demons. That makes three tonight. Three too many after we thought we’d sealed the last portal.

When I arrive, the scene is a blur of snarling wolves and the stench of demon blood. Theo’s massive wolf form is clamped onto a demon’s arm while another shifter goes for its legs. The second demon is still standing, but it’s badly injured. Its movements are sluggish as a group of warriors forces it back toward the tree line.

I don’t hesitate. I charge the closer demon, crashing into its side with enough force to send it flying. It lets out a roar, clawing at me, but I keep moving, tearing into its hide with my teeth and claws until it stops thrashing. I whirl toward the second demon just as Theo delivers the killing blow, his jaws snapping its neck with a sickening crunch.

For a moment, there’s only the sound of heavy breathing and the distant echo of the alarm bell. The warriors exchange uneasy glances, and my wolf bristles with the need to do something—anything—but the words catch in my throat when Theo shifts back.

“There’s another one,” he says, his voice grim. “Southwest. Near the old trails.”

My stomach drops. Jaslyn.

I’m sprinting toward the southwest edge of the territory without a second thought. My mind races with possibilities, none of them good. If she’s there, if she’s hurt…

I force the thought away and push harder.

The scent of a demon hits me before I reach the clearing, and I hear the sounds of a fight—magic crackling, snarls, and the rasping roars of a demon.

When I break through the trees, the sight stops me cold. Jaslyn stands at the center of the chaos, her hands glowing as she blasts the demon back with a force that sends it skidding. Isadora is beside her, chanting under her breath.

The demon recovers quickly, lunging for Jaslyn with claws outstretched, but I’m faster. I crash into its side, and the force of the impact sends us both tumbling to the ground. My claws tear into its chest. It screeches, its foul breath washing over me as it thrashes wildly.

“Jaslyn, now!” I roar, pinning the demon just long enough for her to unleash another burst of magic. It slams into the creature’s head, and it lets out one final, ear-piercing shriek before collapsing in a heap and dissolving.

I shift back, breathing hard as I turn to face her. She’s pale, sweat glistening on her skin, but her green eyes burn with determination. Isadora is already moving toward me, and her expression as grim as I’ve ever seen it.

“There’s more,” she states. “The energy is stronger here. It’s pulling them in.”

I glance at Jaslyn, and she nods, already knowing what I’m about to say. “We have to go to the source.”

“No,” I growl, stepping closer to her. “You’re exhausted. Both of you are. Let me handle this—”

“It’s not up for debate,” Jaslyn cuts in. “You need us, Gray. This isn’t just a shifter fight. It’s magic, and we’re the only ones who can deal with it.”

She’s right. I hate that she’s right, but there’s no time to argue. The demon’s corpse is already dissolving into blackened ash, and the energy in the air is growing stronger by the second.

“Fine,” I grit out. “But you stay close to me. Both of you.”

Jaslyn smirks, and her magic sparks as she lifts her hands. “You’re not the boss of me, Alpha.”

“Like hell I’m not,” I snap back, but there’s no heat in my voice. Just fear. Fear of losing her. Fear of what’s waiting for us at the source of this nightmare.

The energy pulls us forward like a beacon, growing stronger with every step. I can feel it thrumming through the earth beneath my feet, a vibration that sets my wolf on edge. Jaslyn walks beside me while Isadora and the rest of the group fan out behind us. Every nerve in my body is on high alert, anticipating another attack, but so far, the woods are silent.

The closer we get, the more familiar the terrain becomes. My stomach twists with a strange sense of foreboding, and when the trees open up to reveal the glint of moonlight on water, the realization hits me like a punch to the chest.

The lake.

Jaslyn freezes beside me, her green eyes wide as she stares at the expanse of dark, rippling water. “No way,” she whispers.

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