Chapter 25

Using my left hand, I dug my phone out of my right pocket. I quickly rang Gabby and pressed the phone to my ear.

"Gabby, I have a problem," I said as soon as she answered.

Before I could say more, a chunk of wood came flying at me and hit the phone from my hand. The device flew over my shoulder and tumbled down my back.

A mutt closing in on our right growled as Bethi snatched up the phone.

When she started shouting, I knew she'd redialed Gabby.

"No," she said. "Bethi. We need help. There are too many. They can't take me. If they do, we all die. Please!"

She shouted the name of the road, which pushed the mutts to try harder to reach the bike. One closed the distance to within a few yards. The bike didn't have any more to give. Then, in front of us, more wolves started pouring from the trees.

"Don't let go!" I shouted as I swerved to miss the first of them.

I had to let up on the throttle or dump the bike. When I cleared that wave, I opened the throttle again.

The mass of wolves chasing us had gained too much ground when we'd slowed. One caught Bethi's jacket. She clutched her arms around my waist, locking her hands to secure her hold. The jacket tore. That wolf fell back with his empty prize, and another moved in to take his place running beside the bike. Bethi caught him by surprise by kicking him in the face. The blow tripped him back into his followers, causing several of them to fall back.

Ahead of us, a group of six wolves burst from the woods and raced toward us. The sight of a familiar grey wolf almost relieved me. At least one Elder had arrived. But, who was he helping? Us or them?

"If you get us out of this alive, I swear I'll stop trying to ambush-Claim you," Bethi said.

She cringed behind me, and I braced myself as the oncoming wolves ran at us. At the last second, they jumped, sailing over our heads and into the pack of wolves following us.

We have you, son, Grey said in my mind as four of their number surrounded us and two remained behind to fight.

In the mirror, I watched the attackers surround Grey and the other wolf. Bodies flew. The two were obviously Elders and could do ten times the damage I could do. Yet, I couldn't let them face those numbers alone, and I couldn't bring this fight to the women and children at the Compound. Before we reached the final bend, I skidded to a sideways stop, severed the strap connecting Bethi to me, and leapt from the bike, already transforming.

The four newcomers protectively surrounded Bethi and the bike, facing off with our attackers. I joined their protective circle, clawing and biting to take down as many as I could. The odds were more favorable this time, giving me hope.

Behind me, Bethi moved from the bike. The scent of her fresh blood washed the immediate area, distracting our attackers. And me. Without thinking, I turned to look at her and watched her stumble back against the bike.

I would have gone to her, but a random fist clipped my collarbone. Facing the attacker, I sank my teeth into a partially shifted flank until I could get a better hold on his throat. Tossing him aside, I glanced up and noted the Elders fighting their way toward us. No doubt they'd smelled Bethi's blood, too.

Focusing on the mutts before me, I shifted my arm and swung wide, racking my claws across the middles of the closest three. They growled, and while two of them swung in return, the third one grabbed me and pulled me out of the defensive circle we'd formed around Bethi. Like in the woods, I used my teeth and claws to cut down those trying to get to her. When one tried to jump over us, I jumped as well, blocking him.

As much as I gave out damage, I also took some. Claws and teeth ripped into my hide. Some reopened wounds that had started to heal. I didn't let the pain distract me, though. Nothing was more important than keeping these bloody asses from Bethi and the Compound.

Then, teeth sank into the back side of my neck and stayed there. Right where the other chap had nipped me. In the midst of the snarls, grunts, and yips, Bethi's voice rose above the chaos. Rage filled her words.

"I have run…I have bled…I have remembered."

I wanted to check on her but couldn't. A swarm of attackers seemed determined to bring me to the ground.

"I am the Wisdom of the Judgements, and I will not fail again!"

The wolf attached to my neck suddenly screamed and released me.

"Bite him again, and I will rip your tongue from your mouth!"

The mass of bodies trying to bring me down didn't ease up with the release of the one on my neck. If anything, they intensified. I blocked what blows I could, but so many were pressed too close, I'd lost the room I needed to fight back. I growled and used my teeth. Blood poured into my mouth.

"Now," Bethi yelled above the chaos.

The weight on my back bore me down to one knee. However, the pain and injuries inflicted by the mutts faded to the background as the scent of Bethi's blood grew stronger. Fear gripped me, and I looked back for her. The space beside the bike within the circle of safety was empty.

Where is she? I sent to Grey, the Elder who'd first communicated with me.

She's coming to you.

A wolf beside me had his face tipped up. I followed his gaze and saw Bethi tumbling through the air above us. My heart nearly stopped as she started to fall. She opened her arms and eyes, and I saw vengeance there. I swore.

Claws raked my side, bringing my focus back to the fight. Some of the wolves who had been on me, moved toward Bethi, who landed a few yards away. My stomach twisted seeing her once again surrounded by mutts.

With more room, I fought harder. Bodies fell to the ground as I tried to make my way to her side. She moved fluidly, slicing any wolf who dared move within range of her blade.

A horn blared long and loud a moment before a white wolf landed in the fray. If I'd thought the other two Elders impressive, Winifred stunned me. She moved so quickly, I could barely focus as bodies fell around me.

A partially shifted brown wolf landed beside Bethi, picked her up, and jumped back into the center of the circle. He told her to stay then joined Winifred. Each body she brought down, he lifted and tossed to the tree line.

Panting, I took a moment to catch my breath. We were winning. The attackers' numbers had halved. As if they too suddenly realized it, as one, they turned and fled. No one gave chase.

With the road cleared of attackers, I heard the engines of two cars racing our way. I looked up the road and watched as the two cars sped past toward the curve that led to the Compound.

The man driving the first car was easily recognizable, and I grinned as he looked at the bike. Thomas' son, Emmitt, glanced at me, anger in his eyes while I looked at the woman and the two little children in the back seat. Was that the other human Mate I'd heard about?

The coppery tang of blood called my attention back to Bethi. Turning, I watched her fold an arm around her waist, her face twisted in pain and exhaustion. Blood dripped down to the road at her feet.

"She needs help," I said, releasing the transformation and moving toward her. Someone tossed Tinker Bell pants at my chest. I quickly tugged them on and put an arm around Bethi's shoulder.

She leaned into me, sobbing.

"We're almost there, sweetheart. Hang in there."

I quickly got on the bike and Jim, Thomas' second son, set her on behind me.

"Mom's ready," he said.

I nodded and started the engine as Bethi leaned against me.

"There's no bag, so stay awake," I said, easing the bike forward.

She pressed her lips to my back and held on to me.