Page 63 of The Wolf's Kidnapped Mate

I glanced at my brother. His wolf form was slightly bigger than Fred’s with dark crimson fur that hosted a few white puddles. Eyes like mine stared back at me. Eyes like my mother’s.

Emotions tore through me, one after the other, causing greater turmoil inside than what was waiting outside. I went to the door and whipped it open, daring to step onto the porch while Fred tried to stop me. This was absolutely insane. I was sick of facing battle after battle, running from one cave to another, breaking into cabins and tucking my tail between my legs out of fear.

I didn’t want to run anymore. I didn’t want to hide.

I just wanted to feel like I wasn’t lost.

Liam trotted up to my side and nudged my hand. I patted his head just the way he liked. Because no matter how much he made me angry, he was my brother. He was a protective sibling and a strong provider. He did everything in his power to protect me.

I understood that now.

But I would still have words for him later.

A wide line of wolves trampled through the moonlit meadow. Haunting howls sounded through the air while guns cocked in the cabin behind me. A dusty white wolf joined my left side—Fred had chosen to shift. I appreciated that they wanted to protect me, but I wanted to protect them too.

It was my turn to take care of my family.

I dropped the towel from around my shoulders, tore my clothes from my body, and shifted into my wolf form. Finally getting back into my animal was like tapping into the correct radio wave.

Kylie,Liam instructed,stay in the middle, and take the tan wolf. I’ll take the two black ones over here while Fred takes the two on the right.

I growled long and low, baring my teeth at the fast-approaching line of assholes who had been pursuing us for days.

Fred nudged my shoulder.I’ve got your back.

And I’ve got yours, I promised him.

Not once did I lose sight of our enemy. Even though it looked like we were about to get mowed down, our usual defense was to stand still and let our enemies come to us. Battles were easier to control when the landscape was predictable. These wolves were going right into the open meadow where we could circle them and corner them into each other.

Just like Fred and I had done earlier with that giant black wolf.

As expected, the black wolf stood like a spectral shadow on the other side of the meadow. He didn’t howl. He didn’t move. He just seemed to stare us down—in particular, he seemed to stareat me.

My heart shuddered in my chest. Chills raced along my flesh, causing me to shake out my fur. Behind us, the sapphics were shouting orders. At the rear of the cabin, two wolves were coming at Karla. She shouted something else and thenboom, her shotgun blared through the night, andpow, Cora’s rifle snapped through the air.

All hell broke loose from there.

Liam snarled as he launched forward, cuing me to join him along with Fred. We met our enemies about fifteen feet from the porch, clashing with them in a show of teeth and sharp nails. I pounced on the tan wolf and sent him rolling backward, pinning him with my paws as I dug through the dense fur around his throat.

He snapped and snarled while trying to kick me off, injuring my belly as I tried to keep hold of him. Shots echoed around me like bombs exploding. I ducked my head, half-expecting shrapnel to fly directly at me. The tan wolf head-butted me and knocked me back, sending me whining to my side.

I pawed my snout, pretending to be injured while the tan wolf marched triumphantly toward me. As he nosed my side, I whined again, wincing away from the spot he pushed. He huffed and growled, opening his jaws wide to prepare for a bite. I wiggled my body around and kicked him square in his jaw and then hopped to my feet, diving directly for his throat again.

More thick fur blocked my path. I grabbed a chunk of it and rattled him around, weakening his stance with a sharp tug and another shake. He cringed but kept pulling against my strong jaws, trying to dig his nails into my shoulders.

Anger fueled me as I tightened my grip on him. The tan wolf kept pawing, kept digging, kept trying to skitter back. I loosened my grip, letting him fall back with surprise onto his rump where he scrambled to get back up. I wouldn’t let him recover. I wouldn’t let him win. I had to make sure that my family was protected.

One more bite to his throat made it through the fur—and my sharp teeth obliterated his skin, sending a rush of hot blood into my mouth. I yanked him sideways and threw him down,slowly advancing on him as he shimmied back. My peripheral view revealed Liam marching at his opponent. Fred was doing the same with his enemy.

We were trapping them in place.

The tan wolf whimpered while bowing his head. It appeared to be a last-ditch effort at surrender as the gunfire ceased behind me. Cora and Karlayippedvictoriously from inside the house. It sounded like our enemies were quickly falling.

Save for one.

The black wolf trudged toward us with a ground-shaking stride that sent fearful shocks through my body. I stood in place while he approached, his remaining three wolves scampering to hide behind him. Great shadowy fur bore the marks and dried blood from our previous fight. Regardless of Fred injuring him greatly, practically tearing the flesh right out of his neck, he was still standing.

Somehow. Some way. He was still here.

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