Chapter 12
Raffe groaned, and his agony churned in my chest. Nausea roiled inside me, and Raffe dropped to his knees. He grasped his shoulder wound, pressing over the bleeding.
No!I shouted to myself. Raffe can’t die. Something has to save him.
My wolf took control. I threw my head back and howled, then took off toward him. The sound was so loud and strong that it echoed all around, even over the sound of the burning house behind us.
I kept my eyes on Cade, using hatred to push me forward as my power sang and radiated from my body.
In that moment, there was only one thing I knew for certain.
Cade was going to die.
Stay back, Raffe linked, his icy fear contrasting with my blazing anger. You need to get out of here. Take the car and run. Their perimeter won’t stop you if you can figure out how to get through it like you did the last one.
His love and concern spurred me faster.
Cade paused, enjoying the moment. “Not so strong and princely now, are you?” He chuckled then winked at me cruelly. “Hope you got to say goodbye.”
Dammit, I was still twenty feet from him. I wouldn’t make it.
He swung, but Raffe rolled out of his way. The agony of his injured shoulder hitting the ground sheared through me. Cade must not have thought that Raffe would move to his injured side because Raffe was still breathing.
Rolling onto his back, Raffe kicked Cade in the stomach, and the warlock stumbled back into the woods.
As I reached my mate’s side, a hiss came from the woods. I snarled, ready to protect my mate, but a bobcat leaped from the darkness and landed on Cade’s back. It wrapped its front paws around his neck and jerked him backward. Cade stumbled and dropped his knife as his hands grasped the bobcat’s paws.
Realization of what my magic had been calling slammed through me.
Animals.
The very ones who lived in the woods here.
That must be why the raccoons and foxes had been out here earlier. They’d been drawn to me and my power, and now nature was responding to my call for help.
My vision turned red as I locked on Cade. I would make the lily ass pay for everything he’d done to my mate and then some.
Move back, I commanded, hoping like hell the bobcat would understand.
The bobcat indeed dropped away, and my teeth sank into Cade’s flesh. Blood poured into my mouth and down my snout as I clenched my jaw, making sure I killed this asshole. No one hurt my mate and got to walk away to tell the story.
He gurgled, and I jerked my head, ripping out his throat. Cade clasped his hands around his neck as if that would help. Then he dropped to the ground, and his eyes went glassy.
I spun around, ready to attack the next person who tried to hurt my mate, but what I found stopped me in my tracks.
Animals were everywhere.
Bobcats, coyotes, raccoons, foxes, and skunks were taking on the witches in the yard, and I could hear snarls and cries in the woods, where I assumed more animals were attacking the witches who’d been hiding.
Supreme Priestess Olwyn had sent at least fifty coven members here to fight us. I swallowed. None of us had been meant to survive. She’d wanted to make sure of that.
Raffe growled from beside me. He clenched his jaw, taking in the sight. Beads of sweat dripped down his face, streaking the soot. I wanted to cry, but we weren’t free yet.
Even with the animals’ help, Keith and Adam were still engaged in battle. Josie and Octavia had flanked Dave. Octavia held a long piece of wood from the fence in her hands, ready to use it as a weapon. That must be why she’d run toward the house earlier—to get something for protection.
This fight had to end before nearby humans realized what was happening. It would be hard enough to explain without the cops showing up.
My attention turned to three skunks fighting a warlock ten feet away. The skunks had their tails lifted, circling the warlock, hitting him all around. The warlock held out his palms, and fire blazed from them. The skunk spray lit up, and the fire rushed to the skunks’ back sides. The three creatures screamed and took off running to the woods, away from the source of pain.
Chest constricting, I dug my paws into the ground and ran toward the warlock.
Sky, wait! Raffe called. Let me come with you.
I swallowed my laugh, not wanting to hurt his feelings. His injury was deep, and the last thing he needed to do was protect me. I’ll be fine.
The warlock rubbed his eyes, the spray still affecting him.
I smirked inside. Water would’ve been a better power to have against skunks.
The smell grew worse the closer I got. When I reached him, I held my breath. Even my wolf didn’t want to put my mouth on him. As I readied to knock him out, a woman shouted, “Leath, in front of you!”
I crouched, and he aimed his hand at my chest. Fire erupted from his palms.
Shit.
“Skylar!” Raffe shouted, his terror adding to mine.
Flames reached me, and I tried to stumble out of the way before I got too burned. Then I realized all I felt was the tingle of magic. I froze, my breath catching, and watched the flames dance around me without burning my skin.
What the hell…?
Octavia appeared behind the warlock, shouting, “No one hurts my daughter!” She nailed him over the head with the wooden panel. A sickening thwack followed, and the warlock crumpled with the wood stuck to his head.
Acid burned my throat. For it to stick like that, there had to be a nail involved.
Then, aside from the crackle of the burning house, there was silence.
I looked around. Thirty bodies littered the ground, as well as twelve animals—mainly skunks, with a few raccoons and a bobcat. Hurried footsteps sounded in the distance.
The witches were retreating.
Good.
Let them go back to Olwyn and tell her they’d failed.
Raffe dropped to his knees and pulled me into his arms. His agony intensified, but he didn’t loosen his hold as relief and anger fought for dominance. He linked, Are you trying to give me a heart attack? I thought you were going to die. Why do you keep running into danger?
I stepped out of his grip, trying not to miss the buzz of our connection, and shook my fur. I don’t run into danger. It finds me. What am I supposed to do? Hide? Those animals came here to protect us, and anyone willing to do that deserves to have the favor returned. Those skunks hadn’t stood a chance against the warlock’s fire magic. And who’s the one hurt? I pointed my snout at his right injured shoulder. Not me.
By a fucking miracle. Raffe growled, his eyes glowing. They were going to kill us all, including you. That’s not an option.
But you dying is? I understood he loved me and wanted to protect me, but that went both ways. I don’t want to live without you either, but I’m not telling you not to do what you think is right.
“Why are they staring at each other like that?” Octavia huffed. “We need to get going. The neighbors are turning on their lights, and the animals are a problem.”
I snapped back to reality. This argument could come later. Raffe required medical attention, and the animals needed to disperse.
They all stood a few feet away, staring at me. Keith, Adam, and Lucy made their way back to Josie and Dave, their eyes wide as they took in the bobcats, coyotes, skunks, raccoons, and foxes.
I wasn’t sure what to do, but there was one thing I wanted to say. Thank you. I’m sorry for the lives that were lost and anyone who got injured, but I appreciate your help. Because of you, we survived, and I’m not sure how to repay you.
The coyote and bobcat lowered their heads, making me feel nervous. But they felt my power, and I understood their intention—they were happy to help me the same way I would them.
I swallowed, my power swirling in a different way. Even though I wanted them to stay, they all needed to go back into the woods. The barrier would come down any second if it hadn’t already. Thank you again. Good night.
They all melted into the woods, and their magic stopped responding to my power. My blood and power ebbed. My eyes were heavier than normal, sleep wanting to descend, but it was nothing like it had been before Raffe and I completed our bond and I’d become a wolf.
That wasn’t fucking weird at all, Keith deadpanned. Hell, maybe we should have stuck to calling her Bambi, though Cinderella or Aurora may be more fitting.
Laughter bubbled in my stomach, and I remembered the first time I met the three of them. Keith had made fun of me because I’d mentioned seeing a deer in the woods.
The front door of the house to our left opened. Fortunately, there was a gate still up, so they couldn’t see me in wolf form, but there was no hiding what had happened to the house.
“Barbara! Call 9-1-1!” a man yelled. “I’m going to make sure no one’s hurt or stuck in there.”
Of all the times to find a Good Samaritan, it’d be now.
We all froze then burst into action. Josie bent down and smacked Dave in the face. His eyes fluttered open. She muttered, “We’ve got to go.” She and Octavia helped the vampire to his feet.
Raffe stood and held his shoulder. We’ve gotta get out of here before they see you three in wolf form.
I hadn’t even thought about that. We needed to shift, but our clothes had been destroyed.
Raffe jogged across the yard to open the gate at the side of the house.
Keith, Adam, and I kept up with him, but I worried it wasn’t just because we were in wolf form. Raffe kept stumbling, and his face blanched even more. Blood had soaked through his shirt, and the top of his sweats was crimson. We needed to dress his wound and quickly.
As we ran out of the backyard, the older man was at the halfway point between his house and this one. He froze, taking in Raffe’s horrible condition. Then his gaze flicked down to the three wolves. The man clutched his chest, spun around, and raced back to his front door.
I rolled my eyes. He should’ve been thankful we weren’t vampires because there was no doubt I’d be chasing his ass down with the fear in his eyes.
Raffe unlocked the BMW and waved for me to get in the back seat. I did, trying not to claw up the leather, as Keith and Adam raced to the other vehicles. I huffed when Cat-Keith hissed and pushed by me then jumped into the front passenger seat. The saying about nine lives must be true, and I was grateful.
Josie and Lucy are driving as well, Raffe linked, starting his car.
You’re hurt, I linked to him. You shouldn’t be driving.
We need to leave and get you all some clothes. Then you can drive.
What about your bike? With Adam, Keith, and me in animal form, no one could drive Raffe’s favorite vehicle.
Fuck it. We’ll get a new one when shit settles down. He waved a hand.
I swallowed. We have no money.
Babe, it’s fine. As long as I have you, a bike is just a thing. He tried to turn around and groaned.
Sirens sounded in the distance, but thankfully, Lucy, Josie, Octavia, and Dave made it through the gate.
My heartbeat quickened, and my power fizzed. I feared we wouldn’t get away in time.
As they helped Dave into the vehicle behind us, the entire situation came crashing down over me.
My mate was badly injured, and the place we’d rented for a week was gone, along with the food in it. We had no clothes, no money, no fucking place to go, and a ton of enemies. What the hell were we going to do?
I lay on the floorboard, not wanting to chance humans seeing me again, and the world spun. I’d thought I understood what being the underdog was like, but I’d had no clue.
Octavia pushed Cat-Keith to the floor and climbed into the front passenger seat, and then all three vehicles took off.
The sirens grew louder, the sound making my head pound as we sped away.
Lights flashed, and we passed three police cars. They were heading toward the house. My stomach churned. I couldn’t believe the shit we’d gotten ourselves into.
“Raffe,” Octavia said. “You need to pull over.”
“I’m fine,” Raffe slurred.
Shit. My stomach wasn’t upset due to the police cars and where they were heading. Raffe wasn’t feeling well.
He was losing too much blood.
“Let me drive,” Octavia pushed. “You need to rest.”
“Like hell you will,” he snapped.
His nausea and pain increased, making me feel ill.
There was only one way to handle this. I linked to everyone but Raffe, Josie and Lucy, head to the Walmart down the street and grab Keith, Adam, and me the cheapest clothes you can find. Park far enough away that no one can see Adam and Keith, then come back this way, and I’ll tell you where we are.
It was either early in the morning or super late at night, depending on perspective. Either way, the local twenty-four-hour Walmart wouldn’t be busy. At least, we had that going for us. Raffe, turn off as soon as you can.
No, I’ll be fi—
If you don’t, you’re going to wreck. He had to realize how bad off he was. And if you wreck, that means I get hurt too.
His resistance melted, and my chest tightened with his newfound concern.
Good. I’d thought that would get him to hear me. You’ve lost too much blood, and I refuse to sit back here and hide while you bleed out. Pull the fuck over so I can shift back into human form and help you.
The car swerved, and then there was a slap.
“Pull over before you pass out,” Octavia said with so much authority some might have thought she was a wolf. “There’s a turnoff right there!”
The car slowed, and I felt it turn. I lifted my head to see where we were.
There was a small parking lot off the road for a campground. Luckily, it was winter and closed, so the place was empty. Gravel crunched under the tires, and when the car stopped, Octavia got out.
I snarled while Raffe said, “Get your ass back in here.” Or that’s what I thought he said because he was slurring his words horribly.
The back car door opened, surprising me, and Octavia waved a hand. “Hurry, I need your help. I’m not sure what to do, so let’s figure it out together.”
That was more than okay with me.
I jumped out of the back seat and stood by the car. I didn’t even have to ask my wolf to recede. She was already leaving my mind and heading back into the center of my chest.
My bones snapped, and my fur vanished, and within seconds, I was in human form, albeit naked. But the cold chill that brushed my skin didn’t matter.
I had to help Raffe.
I spun to find Octavia’s eyes wide. She must have watched me shift. The way she was staring at me while I was naked made me super uncomfortable.
Then I heard a thump from inside the car, and Raffe’s connection went colder.
My pulse pounded in my ears. He’d passed out. If I didn’t stop the bleeding, he’d die.