Page 53 of The Wolf's Kidnapped Mate

I watched that smile slowly spread over her lips, feeling the triumph of it in my soul as I reflected it right back to her. Maybe I didn’t have everything figured out. I didn’t truly know how to handle this right now, or whether the next hour would get us past the four wolves barreling toward the cabin.

But I did know one thing.

When I was next to Kylie, life didn’t seem bleak. Life didn’t feel boring or elusive. It felt rich with potential—and I wanted to see what might be waiting for us on the other side of this fight.

With her hand in mine, I went to the door. I dropped my sweatpants to the ground and stepped out of them as she peeled off her clothes. After cracking the door open, we stepped away from each other and shifted into our wolf forms, each of us barking to warn the wolves outside of what was to come.

We’ll run out together, I instructed as I nosed the door open the rest of the way.Run around the left side of the house. I’ll run around the right.

Kylie nudged me with her nose.We’ll meet around back. And then?

I trotted onto the porch, growling as I lowered my head into a defense position.Then we’ll lead them to a mineshaft.

My eyes swept over the approaching line of enemies with a massive black wolf in tow who had a scar running down his snout. The fucker had recovered decently from our last encounter, and he looked enraged enough to send chills down my spine. My hackles rose as I hopped into the yard with Kylie.

Fifteen feet separated us from the oncoming storm. Ten feet. Five.

I barked at our enemies, and then shouted through my mind,Run!

Kylie darted left as I rushed right. The morning air was crisp against my face, a strangely invigorating feeling compared to the knowledge of us being pursued. Sunlight flooded me, illuminating a gaping yard that expanded into a slope that would take us up the mountain to the right.

Once Kylie was in view, I raced toward her, nudging her with my shoulder with a mixture of excitement and fear. Weren’t those two feelings the same in these situations? Hadn’t I missed this action during my forced retirement?

Behind us came a storm of growls and snarls, a signal of the damage that would soon come. We’d spotted a mineshaft when we came up the hill. More entrances were bound to be spread out around here.

Trees dotted the incline. Glistening leaves and verdant bushes clung to the tree line ahead of us. Thick brush would soon encase us, and that would be an advantage for us against the massive wolf.

I doubled down on my speed, encouraging Kylie to follow suit.The big wolf won’t be able to fight in a tight spot.

She nudged into me.Good thinking, baby.

Hope rushed through me again, like the way adrenaline shot through my body. It motivated me to slam my body into overdrive, carrying me between the trunks and weaving past Kylie. We sailed elegantly over fallen logs, under low branches, and through dense vegetation.

Already, our enemies were fussing and whining over their inability to keep up. Once the path ahead broke open, Kylie barked.

This way, she instructed as she veered right.I see something.

The hill sloped downward, sending us skittering over broken rocks and dirt toward a wooden structure carved into the dip below us. I yipped with excitement as we raced toward it. As soon as we dropped into the dip, we rushed inside the shaft, sniffing our way forward to find quick access through the remainder of the mountain.

Expansive cave systems existed throughout these eastern states. It was a fair assumption to think we could find a shallow exit while fooling our enemies. Though the darkness was heavy, my eyes adjusted quickly, and I stopped next to Kylie near a huge drop. Rocks tumbled over the edge.

I couldn’t hear them hit the bottom.

Kylie nosed my side.Here. We should wait for them here and then run to your right.

I gazed in that direction, noticing a strip of sunlight shining at the other end of the dark tunnel. It was a bold and risky plan—but it was the best plan we had to lose our enemies a lot more permanently than we had the last time we faced them.

As I spun around, I heard the four wolves clatter around the entrance. Dust kicked up in the dim light pouring through the entrance, clouding around the four figures that snarled while edging their way into the tunnel. Kylie barked, drawing their attention right to us.

The moment we were spotted, the wolves dove into action, barreling toward us in hot pursuit. I assumed the black wolf had gotten stuck somewhere in the dense woods or had to turn around to find a different way. His absence was noted as a possible threat for later.

While holding my ground, I felt the earth beat with the oncoming tidal wave of danger. The wolves ran in a nearly perfect line until two of them shot forward at the narrower part of the tunnel. Right as they reached the ten-foot mark, Kylie rushed to my side and shoved me into the spare tunnel that was now on my left.

I heard the rocks spatter the side of the shaft, paws digging desperately into the dirt, the sickening crunch of bones and then a helpless whine that dissipated into the distance. That sounded like defeated wolves to me.

Halfway down the tunnel, I turned to check, noticing only one shadow whimpering while circling the shaft, turning its head in our direction when it couldn’t find a way down. A growl echoed through the tunnel. Kylie nipped my shoulder to get me to run after her. We raced for the strip of sunlight that eventually turned into a round bulb.

Gravel dug into my paws. My muscles ached from sprinting in long bursts and my head was starting to throb. Coffee was on my mind—and Kylie too. The memory of my mouth at her throat and her delicious lifeforce flowing over my lips returned at once, encouraging me to press on.

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