Page 92 of His Temporary Alpha Mate
“We’re too close to portal out. There’s something blocking us here,” Farryn yelled.
Running as fast as we could, we moved away from the more populated areas. There was more chance of creating a portal outside of the business district and fewer bystanders who could be caught up in a fight.
Dalton was gasping for breath, his fear heavy as we got further away from the offices.
“Not much further,” I said, taking his hand and pulling him along. “Nearly there. It’s going to be fine.”
I wasn’t sure who I was trying to kid. Dalton was rightly terrified. My knees were like jelly and all my training felt like a distant memory. This was my family under threat and I was useless.
My nightmares were coming true and I felt powerless to stop them. The babies were awake and crying, confined as they were in the carriers, they couldn’t shift, leaving them more vulnerable. I needed to get them home and calm them down. Our enemies were gaining on us fast!
Lark! Get it together. Babies first. You are a dad today. Keep Raiden safe!Deke’s order brought me back to myself just in time for a tiger to come crashing through the streets, hot on our tail.
Farryn let out a shout and formed a portal in a blink. In a move I’d never thought was possible, she shoved the portal over Dalton and Ingal, then me. Immediately, we were in Sweetwater, surrounded by our pack.
“An attack!” I called out. It felt like the entire pack was there waiting to send help.
Kade ran forward to take Raiden from me. He unclipped the carrier so quickly and cradled my screaming child to his chest. Raiden calmed.
The portal dropped over Farryn and closed, leaving Deke, Melody and Hakeem behind.
“We need to go back!” I yelled, running for Farryn. She was handing off a wailing Bima to Dakota.
“And we will, with reinforcements. They’re greatly outnumbered. Let’s follow Deke’s orders and go. You’ll need to shift.”
My eyes caught Dalton’s, asking for permission to get Deke, Hakeem, and Melody home. He was going around to our friends, desperately trying to check and soothe the babies.
“Please be careful and bring them back.” I felt his determination through our bond.
They’d risked their lives for us. The registration was a bunch of bullshit. If any of my friends were hurt, the mayor would pay.
Farryn gathered enforcers, fae and shifters, in a circle. “Shift if you can. Form a ring around our friends. No one will be left behind.”
She was powerful. I bet she had an important role in their military.
We returned to chaos.
Deke was being circled by a tiger, a bird high above him. He and the tiger were darting closer to snap at each other, with the tiger gaining more injuries each time Deke got a swipe at him. Deke was clearly tiring though. Hakeem was battling in the air with some of the aviary shifters. He was fast and deadly. I was glad he was on our side.
When he saw the portal open, he took the chance and returned to Sweetwater. I didn’t blame him. He had a son and a baby daughter to think of. Candace, his mate, was likely frantic.
Overpowering the other shifters sent to attack us took less than a minute. They hadn’t expected us to return so quickly and to be ready to fight. We’d made sure to have people ready just in case.
Melody was trying to get closer to Deke to have his back as he faced off with the tiger. He was so similar to Hiroshi, this had to be Jared, the only unmated adult alpha Japanese tiger we knew of. Mel hadn’t shifted, as her raccoon form wasn’t the best to fight in. She wasbetter for stealth in that form. She was a formidable fighter as a human.
All she managed to do was get a kick in before the tiger snapped his massive jaws at her. It was all the distraction Deke needed. He leaped onto the tiger, biting his throat.
It all happened in seconds, barely giving me time to get closer as I subdued the last of the shifters for the human police to deal with. Sirens drew closer.
We needed the fight between Jared and Deke to end. Jared wasn’t giving up. I hated him, he was the same one who had hurt Hiroshi. I wanted to be the one to fight him but Deke seemed to have this in hand.
Jared tried to dislodge Deke from his back. He clearly wasn’t a fighter. Instead of any skilled moves, he tripped over his massive paws and rolled several times, using his immense bulk to crush Deke under him.
Deke yelped and let go. He lay still. Too still.
Jared took advantage and snapped at Deke’s leg, mouth coming away bloody. Fucking coward, biting a helpless shifter.
I broke, seeing my friend lying so damaged. Running at full speed, I butted Jared away from Deke and tore into his vulnerable underbelly with sharp teeth and claws.
