Page 38 of The Hunt: Emerald

“Emerald…”I ’old ’er tight jus’ as a figure rises from the trees. A ginger-’aired wolf wit’ dull yellow eyes. “GARVEN?!”

“Litt’l brother,”he sneers.“Fancy seein’ yu ’ere,”Garven smirks an’ I growl, crouchin’ low, snarlin’.

“Yu fecker,”I murmur.“Wat the feck are yu duin’ ’ere?”

“Wat am I duin ’ere? Why, I’vealwaysbeen ’ere. Yu were jus’ tu mad tu know… I’ve jus’ been sittin’ idly by, watchin’ me dear wee brother lose ’is mind day by feckin’ glorious day. So imagine me surprise wen I see him ruttin’ a bi—”Aball o’ fire shoots from me ’and, blastin’ ’im in the face, singin’ off half his fur.“AHHHHHH!!!! YU SON O’ A BITCH!”

“YER SPEAKIN’ ABOUT ME MATE… WATCH YER FECKIN’ MOUTH,BROTHER!”I snarl, huffin’, tryin’ tu t’ink o’ the best way out wit’out fightin’. I know Emerald is strong, but from how much I knotted her… t’ere’s a small chance she’s pregnant wit’ me pups. The Banes root ’as a side effect o’ causin’ infertility… so the chances are slim, but…I gently caress ’er belly…I dinna want ’er fightin’.Shite…me heart knocks me chest an’ the bond between Emerald an’ me flares, ’er power risin’ as she gears tu drop from me arms, but I ’old ’er steady.I’m not lettin’ ’er down. No matter wat, I need tu keep ’er next tu me.

An’ I’m glad o’ me foresight wen I hear growls an’ peek from the corner o’ me eye tu see a gang o’ some o’ the other Alpha’s from the hunt move.

Feck!

Emerald’s arm brushes mine, ’er scent sharp an’ ripe wit’ determination.

Let me down, Murdoch…

No.I voice wit’ equaldetermination.

But…

We’re surrounded, precious one. It’s better fer yu tu stick tu me.

I inform ’er t’rough our bond link as the branches around us crack, an’ the scent of fur an’ blood rise thick in the air as wolves, dragons, ghouls, an’ any otha Alphas who’d been in the Hunt stalk in from evera side.

T’ere are hundreds… four tu five hundred at least, by me quick count.

Fer me… I can take ’em… but wit’ me precious one?

“YER GOIN’ TU REGRET THAT!”Garven paws off the last o’ the embers t’at were still burnin’ on ’is face as ’e sends up a signal, an’ the earth begins tu shake beneath the weight o’ their charge.

A savage growl rips from me chest as I erupt a fire around us an’ Emerald uses the vines from the trees an’ pulls ’erself from me arms, yankin’ ’em down as the as they entwine up ’er arm an’ she grasps ’em, crouchin’, snappin ’’em against the ground like the makeshift whips t’ey are.

“Dinnaeven try… run,” I order. “I’ll ’old t’em back. Run now!” I’ve experienced me precious one run… she can go an’ win…

“Never!” the stubborn, fierce litt’l minx shakes ’er ’ead, glarin’ at our enemies “I won’t leave you.”

“Emerald, yu c—”It’s too late.The first wave ’its, bargin’ against the fire barrier I’ve created, an’ I can tell it will’na hold up long. While the Banes root ’as faded in me body, I ’ave not been able tu fully regain control o’ me full power.Feck!

Me ’eart races as I glance from me precious one tu the crackin’ barrier.I need tu get ’er an’ our baren out o’ ’ere.

But the barrier breaks, an’ like a pourin’ wave o’ viciousness, the Alphas attack me an’ Emerald. We counterattack jus’ as fiercely, back tu back. I light ’er whips on fire an’ she swings ’em t’in’s around, smackin’ mother feckers out o’ the way left an’ righ’ while she uses ’er vines tu tie me fire swords tu me ’ands as I slice an’ dice anyone who dares approach us.

Murdoch! Another wave is coming!

Emerald urgently shouts in me mind an’ I glance back tu see t’ey’re attackin’ ’er side more t’an mine, causin’ me tu wrap around ’er waist wit’ me tail an’ swing ’er around on me side as I take on ’er side. Howeva, thesons o’ bitches follow ’er movements, ovawhelmin’ ’er.

Emerald, I’m goin’ tu t’row yu. Use the vine an’ swin’ ova t’em an’ run! Get tu the finish line a?—

No! Don’t you dare tell me to leave you when I just got you! Don’t y?—

I AM YER MAN! YER ALPHA! YER KING! DINNA QUESTION ME AN’ RUN!

I grasp ’er again an’ I whip ’er around tu the top o’ the trees where she glances down at me jus’ as fangs tear intu me arms, claws rake me back, an’ I use me fire tu smite ’em all while keepin’ an eye on me precious one as she dance on the tree leaves.

I roar, flingin’ feckers off me left an’ righ’, me beast’s madness surgin’ tu the surface as I start tu ovawhelm ’em. I push forward toward me brother, teeth snappin’, limbs breakin’, though I heal me wounds beneath me fury. But t’ere are tu many. Fer evera ten alphas I t’row, t’irty more take t’eir place, an’ the worst part… t’ey are’na fightin’ tu kill… t’ey are fightin’ tu ’old me off… tu keep me from ’er an’ Garven.

I can barely see t’rough the mass o’ bodies pilin’ on, butme gaze stays locked on Emerald, me brave, foolish girl, fightin’ like ’ell, claws bared, blood streakin’ ’er cheek.

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