Cadoc sways. He’s hurt. Anrik, scrambles away, using the time to recuperate. He circles Cadoc like a shark with blood in the water.
Rushing forward he takes a swipe at his injury site. Cadoc is put on the defensive. Anrik carves a gouge in Cadoc’s shoulder. Returning a blow, Cadoc blinds him on the left side.
Blood coats the grass. Both wolves are moving slower. Anrik goes on the attack, launching toward Cadoc. Rolling over, he extends his claw, returning the wound to Anrik’s belly.
The young wolf hits the ground, and Cad attacks. Burying his teeth into his neck, he shakes him like a rag doll. An audible snap is deafening.
The light leaves Anrik’s eyes and he lays still. Releasing him, Cadoc howls. Bo, Kirk, Fell, and I tilt our heads back, joining our voice with his, sending a powerful message. We are one and we won’t be separated.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
“He did what?” Cadoc roars. I leap across the pale blue couch and hold a hand over his mouth.
“Shh.” I glance toward the thick wooden door.
Bo turns the music on his phone and cranks it up.
Fell rises from the couch. “What the hell was he hoping to do?”
“Control me.” I croak remembering the loss of autonomy. “And get rid of you, Cadoc. He’s angry you left the enforcers.”
Cadoc rubs the back of his head. “A man can’t serve two masters.”
I study him. “I’m not your master.”
“No, but you deserve my full devotion,” Cadoc squeezes my hand.
“Why would he be so worried about losing power? We’re here to help save the pack.” Kirk stands front of the fireplace.
“He knows more than he’s letting on,” Bo says.
“Obviously,” Fell walks over to the window.
“Who was the other mate he wanted to get rid of, me?” Kirk smiles sadly.
I confirm his guess. “Yes.”
“That might depend on who he wanted to replace us with.” Bo leans back into the corner of the couch.
“Anrik was meant to be a lackey. He’d be a plant and a puppet.” Cadoc looks down. “Dumb kid was doing what his father instructed him to.”
I hear the remorse in his voice.
“That wasn’t your fault. You gave him the option to yield.”
“I knew he never would. Not in front of his father and the Alpha.” Cadoc leans heavily against his chair, still recovering.
“What are we going to do once we get through the mating ceremony? Separating us won’t be possible. Killing us would mean risking Ylva.” Fell turns away from the window.
Sooner than I anticipated, we’ll be as good as married. Our souls will begin the process of linking. The thought unnerves me.
“He’ll try a new tactic then.” Bo’s voice is full of confidence and certainty. “We’ll have to stay a step ahead of him.”
“It’ll provide us with a bit of safety for a while,” Fell says.
“We have two and a half days until we’re bound. We can hold the line until then,” Cadoc places his large, warm hand over mine.
“We don’t have a choice.” Bo holds up a finger. “Someone’s coming.”
The light changes under the door darkens with a shadow. A piece of paper is slipped under the crack.
“Go,” Cadoc gestures. The shadow disappears and Bo runs across the room, yanking the knob.
“Damnit, they’re gone.” He sticks his head out into the hallway and inhales. “They had scent blockers.”
Kirk joins him, stooping to pick up the parchment. Five words make my world explode. I choke, swallowing down the sick that threatens to overwhelm me. The fire wasn’t an accident. Legs weak, I stumble to the side and fall.
“Whoa.” Bo grabs my shoulder to keep me upright.
“Brat?” Cadoc kneels before me.
Kirk picks up the discarded paper.
“The hell is this?” Fell joins him, reading it.
Bo brushes the hair back from my face. “A message to shake her up.”
“Or the truth,” Kirk suggests.
