Page 79 of The Alpha's Chosen Fate

We tumbled to the ground, snapping teeth and slashing claws.Turner's claws raked down my side, drawing a yelp of pain from my throat.

I struck fast, jaws clamping down on his shoulder, my teeth sinking deep into flesh and bone.The Alpha roared, thrashing beneath me.

I held on with grim determination and shook my head viciously from side to side.I would tear his throat out if it was the last thing I did!

Muffled voices called for my attention, making my ears twitch.They got louder and louder until one reached through my bloodlust.

"Ivy!"Emery's voice rang clear."Damn it, Ivy!We need to get Briggs to the healer, now!"

I released Phelps, shoving him back.He stumbled back, his eyes wide with shock and pain, his hand clutching at his mangled shoulder.

My paw stepped on something.The knife.

I shifted back and seized the discarded weapon.

As Phelps struggled to get to his feet, I drove the blade deep into his throat.Satisfaction filled me as he fell to the ground with a choked whimper, gurgling blood pooling under him.

I lifted my arm to stab him again when a large body grabbed me from behind.

“Come on, killer.Your mate is going to murder us both if he lives.”

The fog lifted from my head.I broke free and ran for Briggs, who was barely hanging on.

I wasn’t sure I was enough to hold him to this world.

Chapter 24

Ivy

Perched on the edge of the rough-hewn chair beside Briggs's bed, I watched his chest rise and fall with shallow breaths.

The weight of exhaustion pressed on my eyelids, but I willed them open.I didn’t want to miss any sign of him rousing.

Or some terrible complication arising.

My gaze roamed his form, noting how the lines and angles of his face softened in slumber.He was still the intimidating Alpha, just somewhat diffused.

Even now, stripped of his usual vigor, he commanded the space around him.I leaned forward, my heart hitching as his brows twitched.

"Briggs?"I whispered.

He stirred for a moment before his eyes fluttered open.Pale blue irises, clouded and confused, struggled to focus.

The lines of pain eased from his face as he locked onto me.Colors swirled until recognition ignited within the blue and amber.

Breath stalled in my lungs.An exhale of relief quickly followed.

"Hey," he rasped.

The corners of my mouth lifted.“Hey.”

We held each other's gaze.Undercurrents of our bond traveled back and forth between us.

My guard was down and putting it back up felt like it would take too much effort.Leaving it down felt like it would cut my legs out from under me.

"Was it a dream?"he murmured.

My head tilted.“Was what a dream?”

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