Page 84 of Lone Wolf

Rage billowed in my body when I shoved my paw onto Cesar’s face and applied my weight. His face disappeared into the mud along with his cries, limbs flailing as bubbles broke the mud around his head. White light flashed through the sky accompanied by booming explosions, the smell of burning rubber joining the other medley of scents in the area.

Once Cesar stopped flailing, I turned to his friend, swatting the still-healing vampire fifty yards toward the fortress. I stood on my hind legs and bellowed, pain shattering the sound barrier and causing the earth to tremble. Everyone within ten miles heard that.

I had made sure of it.

Adrenaline rushed through my body as I flipped around, searching the cliff again for Rose. it was useless to look for her body, but I had to do it. I had to retrieve her. I had to get something back to her sisters that would—

Matty?

My eyes widened as I replied,Rose! Where are you?

Down here, she responded weakly.Closer…

Mud stuck to my paws and made it difficult to walk. Or maybe that was sheer relief that she wasn’t dead. She had gone over the edge. I saw it happen.

Was I losing my mind?

A ledge sat just below where the cliff ended. Rose peered up at me with those hazel-yellow eyes, her tan yellow fur streaked with rose gold and stained with mud, blood, all sorts of grime.

I dropped to my belly and extended my snout.I told you not to listen to him, little boxer.

Thanks, I’m glad you’re alive, too, she retorted.Would you please get me out of here? I can’t stand.

Ideas drifted in and out of my brain. It was too slippery for me to hop down and it was possible that my weight would cause the ledge to break. Both of us tumbling into the ocean below wouldn’t do any good, not after how far we had come.

But I had to get to her. I had to save her. I couldn’t let her go.

She was my mate.

Two wolves barked behind me. A reddish-brown wolf and an almond-brown wolf darted up beside me. After scoping the scene, the reddish-brown wolf grabbed a long branch and lowered it over the edge. Determination kicked in. They had the right idea. Now I just needed to help.

The almond-brown wolf grabbed the tail of the reddish-brown wolf, whimpering repeatedly as it tried to help. Furious and impatient, I snatched the branch and hauled it up, launching Rose into the air with a squealingyelp. She cried out when she hit the ground, staying on her side as the other two ran to her.

Charlotte!she cried.Adam, you two have to run.

The almond-brown wolf nuzzled her.We’re not leaving without you.

The other two are holding off the clan, the reddish-brown wolf said. I assumed it was Adam.Let’s get you to safety.

I stepped forward and said,It’s alright. I can carry her on my back.

The two wolves looked almost frightened.

Yeah, we can talk, Rose said weakly.We can discuss it later. Let’s get the hell out of here, please.

Satisfied by her response, the two wolves flanked me as I shimmied under Rose and situated her on my back. But because of the rain and the mud, she kept sliding off my fur. Grunts of frustration echoed between us. Adam darted toward the house despite Charlotte’s furious barks, disappearing beyond the great sheet of rain separating us from the fortress.

When he returned, he carried rope in his teeth. Charlotte snapped affectionately at him and then shifted into her human form, urging him to do the same.

“Get on your belly, Matéo,” Adam instructed. “We’ll fasten her as best we can.”

Charlotte whimpered. “She’s fading, Adam. We have to move quickly.”

“That’s it, sweetheart. Mind her head. You’re doing great.”

They slid Rose onto my back, keeping her steady while looping the rope over and under my body. Adam yanked on the ropes to tighten them. He patted my shoulder.

“Good?” he asked.

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