Page 68 of The Mating Need
Chapter 14
Troy felt morethan ready to kick ass, with or without the wizards. From what they had told him and Aiden, this particular ass kicking was longoverdue.
Knew his instincts were right, damnit. He blamed himself until Aiden told him to forgetit.
“I’m the alpha,” Aiden said as he drove his pickup toward their destination. “Protecting the pack and knowing what is going on in my turf is my responsibility. I had a feeling, but I didn’t want to believe it. Not from one of mypeople.”
Sandwiched between Aiden and Troy, Jenny said nothing, only clung to Troy’s hand. He felt her tremble a little. Felt her slight fear that this test could let down the father she’d justmet.
“You okay? You’ve been through a hell of a lot today, Jenny. If you need to back out of this and let the wizards handle it, they’ll understand,” Aiden toldher.
Jenny shook her head. Troy understood. She needed to find out exactly how much power she had, and how to use it. What better teacher than her own birthfather?
“You’ll do fine. What did I tell you before, sweetheart? Let her rip. You have all this wonderful power for apurpose.”
Tension seemed to flee her. Jennynodded.
Troy kissed her hand. “I always knew you were special. This provesit.”
They arrived at the scene Tristan had directed them to find just as the five wizardsmaterialized.
At first he couldn’t believe it, and then cold, hard anger replaced thedisbelief.
In a pasture close to where the cattle grazed, a dead cow lay in the field. Snake was sprawled out on theground.
Unconscious.
“Oh no! Troy, help her,” Jennypleaded.
Screams rippled through the air as Aiden pulled to a stop, parked and swore, throwing open the door. Troy was out before he was, tearing across the field. Half naked beneath him, her breasts exposed, Zoe beat at Ellison as he straddled her, fumbling with his jeanszipper.
Blood ringed Ellison’s mouth, evidence they’d found the one who had killed and eviscerated all the cattle over the pastmonth.
Using all his power, Troy ran across the field, leaving dust in his wake and pulled Ellison off Zoe, throwing him to theground.
“What the hell did you do to her?” heroared.
Nearby a fire burned, a branding iron resting against the rocks ringing it. Evidence of a burn showed on Zoe’s exposedbreast.
D.L.
Zoe crawled away, sobbing, struggling to cover herself. Aiden, tending to Snake, shrugged out of his shirt and tossed it to Jenny, who ran to Zoe, coveringher.
Troy darted close, punched Ellison as the Lupine rose and went after him, his bloody mouth grinning. Ellison didn’t evenflinch.
“She’s mine, and no one will ever have her. I marked her for my master and Zoe will turn, just as my master turned me months ago.” Ellison’s smile was filled with contempt. “You can’t stop us. No one can. Our numbers aregrowing.”
Troy tried again, using his super speed, but even his charging kick and punches didnothing.
Not a Lupine. Demon. Whatever mortality inside of Ellison had faded long ago when he started drinking the cattleblood.
“Thank you for saving Zoe, Troy. Please step aside,” Tristan ordered, flexing his hands. “I do not wish you to gethurt.”
Not needing an engraved invitation, Troy put several feet between himself and Ellison . Tristan stretched out a hand glowing with power. He aimed the power at Ellison, who dropped to the ground unconscious from the energy bolt slamming intohim.
Tristan blew at his finger. “That will suffice for now. When he awakens, Jenny will be ready for her first lesson from her father. First, we must see to Snake and Zoe’ssafety.”
Gideon knelt at Snake’s side, touching his head. The shifter sat up, rubbing his temples. Seeing Ellison, Snake growled and lunged to hisfeet.
