Page 33 of Mated By the Pack
We reach a ridge and drop low. Vance wasn’t exaggerating. The slavers didn’t just bring backup, they brought a war party. At least a dozen men, armed, armored, and itching for blood.They’re not the problem. Bullets sting, but we can kill them all before they can get clean shots due to our speed.
The Gen-Lion is the problem. He moves behind them, slow and silent, but he’s clearly the one directing them toward the girls.
“We have no choice but to attack them directly,”Gideon says across our mental link.“We’ll take out the men first, then we’ll deal with the Gen-Lion.”
“New Chicago is sounding really good about now,”Caleb transmits, but only to me.
This is going to be brutal. Our parents were Class-2 hybrids. Weaker than Class-1 hybrids, but that was by design. Once the scientists realized how much stronger the offspring were than the parents, they started with a lower baseline. We were supposed to be the bridge, not the weapon. Our grandchildren and great-grandchildren were what they were after, but when the world was plunged into war, they had no choice but to send us into battle.
We blended in with the other soldiers, fought by their side, and most never knew what was simmering below the surface. We didn’t fully understand it back then, either. Still don’t—not entirely. The scientists certainly never intended for the beasts inside us to roar to life, like they did after the solar flare decimated the world.
“He’s catching our scent,”Jace growls across our mental link.“We have to move now!”
The time for pack silence is over.
We explode from the underbrush, fanning out like shadows with fangs. No warning. No mercy. Before the Gen-Lion even turnshis head, five men are dead—throats torn, chests shredded, hot blood spraying across our muzzles. We spit out hunks of twitching meat and let their bodies crumble into the dirt.
The rest panic, stumbling over each other to draw weapons. Dirt kicks up in a choking haze. Screams rip through the air.
“Frank! Deal with these wolves!” one of the men shouts, voice cracking as he raises his rifle.
We move too fast for him to aim.
The Gen-Lion is in motion now. He leaps in a blur of muscle and purpose. His heavy frame slams down onto the cart, metal and ironwood groaning under his weight. He scans the scene with cold efficiency—then sprints into the fray, landing directly between Gideon and the rest of us.
We sever our way through several men on our way to our brother, dodging the bullets that are finally starting to fly as we weave through leaves and dust. A few rounds graze fur, but none of them draw blood.
“Wait!” Frank roars. “They’re not feral. They’re attacking us for a reason!”
A few more shots ring out, but then the remaining men retreat, clustering behind the Gen-Lion like cubs.
Caleb and I each take a side, leaving Gideon, Jace, and Vance in front. We’ve used this tactic before. As soon as the Gen-Lion makes a move toward one of us, we’ll encircle him. He’s faster than the last one we fought—we’re a little faster, but there’s a good chance most of us won’t survive this fight, no matter how fast we move.
I sure as fuck hope she’s worth it, because I’ll be burying more of my brothers today, if I’m not in the ground beside them.
“You’re protecting them, aren’t you?” Frank deduces, still not making the aggressive move we’re waiting for. “You were following us to The Outpost. I thought I caught the scent of wolves, but yours is different.”
Gideon glances at the rest of us, then he shifts. I growl angrily. What the fuck is he doing? Now isn’t the time for talk. If the Gen-Lion attacks before Gideon can shift back, my brother won’t survive long enough to regret it.
“Wearedifferent,” Gideon says, his golden hair shimmering down his shoulders.
“Holy shit!” one of the men yells. “Did that wolf just turn into a man?”
“Shifters,” Frank grinds out. “I’ve heard of your kind. Rumors on the wind. But if the rumors are true, then your pack is much smaller than it used to be, and you don’t have the numbers to take me down without paying a heavy price.”
“It’s a price we’re willing to pay,” Gideon replies.
“For her?” Frank asks. “Do you even know what she is?”
“Our mate,” Gideon growls, taking a step forward. “The one who can save our pack.”
“She is my property!” a man yells. “They all are! Frank, stop wasting time! Kill these fucking wolves or whatever they are so we can catch up to them before you lose their scent.”
Frank looks conflicted. He glances at the man giving orders and then turns his attention back to us. A guttural growl echoes like he’s readying himself, so we do the same.
Everyone except Gideon, at least.
“Shift, Gideon!”I yell, even though our mental link doesn’t work when he’s in human form.“Now!”
