Chapter 65

Chapter 65
LYRA

I watched in horror as Rick launched toward the porch, rushing at the innocent children.

“Damn it! Hell no, not the kids,” I snarled, racing toward the porch—it was a battle between who would reach the youngsters first. It would be impossible to aim at this speed with the sniper’s rifle. I whipped out my handgun and fired at Rick. He slowed somewhat as he tried to evade my bullets. It was enough, and I reached the children first. I spun around and hefted my rifle and raised the scope to my eye. A clawed paw knocked the weapon out of my arms.

The children screamed. Rick’s claws caught my shoulder. I cried out, falling back against the porch railing—my gun flying out of my grasp. Rick reared onto his hind legs, looming above me, and let out a deafening roar, spittle flying from his maw.

More wails from the children sounded behind me. A quick glance told me they scurried further beneath the porch steps. They cried out to me, one voice peaking above the rest.

“Alpha, please save us!”

Melody…

Fangs went straight for my throat. And my being ignited, thinking about the terrified children. I can’t let them die! I won’t let them die or allow him to harm them!

My inner wolf threw its head back and howled. All the cells inside my body fired off and lightning whipped through my veins like an electrical storm. Then, a tearing sensation assaulted my limbs. Brilliant white light flared, and I slammed my eyes shut.

I heard the snarling sound. Yet, I felt no pain. No flesh tearing from my throat. I cracked my eyelids open. An audible gasp ripped from my lungs.

An enormous wolf made of light tackled Rick, its hooked fangs in the bear’s throat. I gaped at the wolf and Rick twisting over each other. Rick tried to slam the wolf under his weight, crushing it to the earth. Yet, the wolf remained in its position. Its translucent body held on with grim determination.

A shield of light erupted from the ground at my feet like a wave as it ascended. It moved fast and enveloped me and the children. I reached out with a hesitant hand and tapped on the massive bubble. Electric pulses fanned outward from where my hand made contact, but no shock zapped me.

Rick tore away from the wolf, and a heartbeat later, the bear leaped toward us. I threw my arms out to shield the children. An ear-rupturing bang pierced the air as Rick collided with the barrier. His body ricocheted off it and went sailing into the air. He hit the ground hard, his sides heaving as vibrations of electricity swept over his massive frame.

With widened eyes, I stared at Rick before eyeing the shield.

It’s a barrier… but where did it come from? What is it made out of?

The hairs on the back of my neck prickled. I was being watched. My gaze snagged on the lighted wolf. It stood not too far away from where Rick had landed. The wolf stared back at me, its tail lifted, ears pricked as if it felt proud. Waves of pure light radiated from its body, like the solar flares from the sun.

Is it waiting for me to do something?

My memory rushed to the surface of my mind. Ryker Steelheart recounting events to me I did not know of, back in the forest when I had fled the rampaging werebear.

You were dying from a fatal wound, and then you stood up, Ryker had said. A wolf glowing of light erupted from you. Your eyes blazed with energy that you controlled with a flick of your hand.

I blinked back at the wolf. It watched and waited, but I raised my arm, staring through to its soul. Then I extended my hand toward the lighted wolf. Fight with me. Protect the pack! I thought, trying to channel my mental request to the wolf.

The wolf paused. Its eyes flashed in acknowledgment, then she dipped her head.

I turned to face a group of my sentinels cornered and outnumbered by four werebears. My face twisted in a snarl. I flipped my hand in their direction toward the light wolf. She rocketed across the ground. With a powerful leap, it slammed into the nearest bear, bringing the beast to the ground.

The bear roared in agony as the lighted wolf tore at its flesh in a frenzy. The bears roared their outrage, advancing on the glowing wolf. I outstretched my fingers, a silent bid, willing her to engage. The gigantic wolf whirled around and snarled before leaping onto one of the bears—tearing out its throat before bringing down its partner.

More gunfire erupted to my right. I breathed a sigh of relief upon sighting my warriors advancing on the bears, hemming them in. Shots rang out from above, leaving bears falling where they stood. I glanced over my shoulder and noticed the snipers up on the roof.

Hope renewed, I sent my light, shining wolf after a pair of bears that were mauling some of my submissive pack mates.

Movement stirred out of my periphery. My upper lip twisted. Rick pushed to his paws. A low growl punched up from his throat. Hate bled from his glowing eyes. With claws extended, he lunged. The barrier rippled as he launched himself at it.

He bounced off the shield once more, buffeted by the swirling arcs of light. He howled while rising on his hind legs and slashed at the barrier. Again and again, he ripped at the shield. Sweat beaded my brow. My limbs trembled and mounting pain speared my stomach, branching out across my body. Rick slammed against the barrier again, and a fresh wave of pain lanced through me.

Shit! This shield connects my powers. The idea hit me like a light going off inside my head.

My eyes snapped wide as a thin crack lined across the shield. Rick scraped his claws over the shield again. More fault-lines appeared. They veined together—spreading like spider’s webbing.

The shield is breaking and I can’t allow that!

I strained in desperation, trying to push whatever energy I had into the shield. Rick’s attacks only intensified. I yelped in pain as the blows against the shield radiated to me in agonizing waves. By that time, the children were wailing in panic, for they too saw the shield buckling. By the gleam in Rick’s eyes, so did he. A few more well-aimed strikes and it would shatter.

Heartbeats passed until the shield exploded in a shattering array of light.

Rick leaned back, his lip contorted in wicked satisfaction. With my heartbeat pounding in my ears, I swallowed before diving for my handgun that lay on the ground. Rick’s paw flew out, pinning me to the hard ground. My ribs cracked in protest against his massive weight. I cried out, blood spewing from my mouth.

Rick’s thoughts entered my mind, using his telepathic ability that the Werekind possessed.

I’m gonna enjoy this, you useless little latent. After I rip you limb from limb, I’ll focus on the children. Hell, maybe I’ll let you watch as I tear their throats out. One. By. One.

Melody’s lower lip trembled. The children whimpered and pressed in closer together. Their bodies seemed too frozen in terror to run.

I felt his heated breath fan across the nape of my neck and a graze of fangs. Then nothing.

His weight disappeared off me, and a roaring noise followed. I coughed and heaved for breath while scrambling to my hands and knees. I turned around. My brows shot up. Rick battled with another bear.

The newcomer was bigger than Rick—taller and wider. He slashed Rick’s brow. Deep gouges raked the smaller bear’s head and muzzle. Then the new bear latched his fangs around Rick’s shoulder and tore a huge chunk of flesh out. Hot blood sprayed the air.

The bear groaned in agony and, after several poor attempts, broke from the bigger grizzly’s hold and wheeled around. He fled. The enormous grizzly snarled and raced a couple of paces in pursuit of Rick. Then he paused and faced us. He began lumbering our way.