29. Maddox
Maddox
One moment, I’m watching Cherry play a game with her friend, thinking how she’s finally starting to look relaxed, the next moment, dozens of rogues spring from the treeline toward us.
How the hell didn’t we smell them? I can literally smell our bear neighbor three houses away and yet these rogues are completely scentless.
It must be magic.
The moment I see them, I yell, “Cherry!” loud enough to get everyone’s attention. I shift, ripping my clothes as I snarl and charge. Why is there nobody between her and the forest?
It’s a stupid mistake. I should have been at her side, but I wanted to give her a little sense of freedom with her friend.
Before I can reach her, I see a wolf lunge for Lexi. Cherry sees it too, and she shifts, tackling the wolf, which sends her rolling in the other direction. Finn suddenly appears before Lexi, grabbing the wolf and ripping into its neck with his fangs.
I turn my attention back to Cherry, reaching her just as Bain and Chase do. We quickly place ourselves between her and the surrounding wolves. At least they don’t seem to be targeting her specifically, they seem to be attacking everyone.
After taking out two rogues, I glance around, seeing Hunter and Gage in their wolf forms on either side of Cherry. Behind them, I see the mages ushering Erica inside. Good, at least they’ll be safe. As far as I know, they didn’t have any sort of casting ability that would help in a fight.
As I take out another wolf, another wave of wolves comes through the treeline.
“Fuck!” Chase hisses through the bond as Gage and Hunter move up to join us and fight them.
“Go inside!” I yell at Cherry through the bond. If she’s inside the protective wards of the house, it would be easier to take care of all these rogues.
“They’re blocking the house!” she yells back, making me curse as I try to move to her. But everywhere I turn, there’s another rogue blocking my way that I have to get through.
“Where the hell did all of these rogues come from?” Hunter asks.
“It has to be Blaze,” Gage replies.
“Hold on, we’re coming!” Bain tells Cherry as we simultaneously take out another rogue, finally giving us a clear view of the house.
“Where is she?” Bain asks, as our heads whip side to side, looking for her. She had been right behind us!
“I’m in the forest!” Cherry suddenly cries out.
The forest? Shit. “We’re coming!” I yell as we pivot and charge in that direction.
The rogues are thinning, but there are still a lot out here.
Luckily, our shifter friends are easily holding their own.
Finn probably could have taken out most of them on his own, but it’s clear he won’t leave Lexi’s side.
I can’t fault him for that. I never should have left Cherry’s side.
“Blaze!” Cherry suddenly yells through the bond.
“Run!” I tell her as I try to peer past the cluttered yard to catch a glimpse of her or Blaze.
I start to run toward the forest, but am tackled from behind by a rogue. Snarling, I manage to get the upper hand, pinning him beneath me before I sink my teeth into his neck and end him.
I hate all this carnage. These rogues probably aren’t even acting of their own free will, but we can’t exactly sedate them, tie them up, and interrogate them. Especially not while my mate is out here, running from the man that’s determined to claim her.
A howl escapes me, then I turn toward the forest and start running. Being bonded to Cherry has made me faster, stronger, sharper, and there is no way I’m going to let Blaze lay a single filthy finger on her.
Not this time. Not ever again. When I finally catch him… He’s dead.