Page 74 of Warlander Grizzly

Silver bear.

It wasn’t Lucia though.

Beaston was helping.

Landon seized the moment and charged Gunner, flew right into the cage with him and got caught in a vicious battle.

There was screaming behind him.

Shut the door!

More screaming, but he didn’t hear the iron doors shut.

Shut it! He grunted as Gunner’s claws wrapped around him.

The cage filled with the presence of another predator, but where he’d expected to see Beaston, his daughter was in his place. Lucia went insane on Gunner, detached the bear completely from Landon and hit Landon hard enough with her back that he slid out of the open cage door.

Lucia! He roared as he moved to charge back in there, because the fight before him was the most violent thing he’d ever witnessed, but a giant silver bear cut him off. Beaston’s green eyes glowed as he shook his head slowly. Let her.

He could hear Beaston’s voice so clearly in his mind.

Let her do this.

Landon Changed back. He didn’t mean to. His animal just retreated, and he buckled in on himself. The pain was like nothing he’d ever felt before.

The gong of the iron door rattled his brain. When he ripped his gaze upward, Lucia wasn’t in there with Gunner anymore.

It was Gunner alone trapped inside the cage.

Landon was on his hands and knees, gasping for breath as his open gashes painted the grass beneath him in crimson.

Lucia was in her human form again, covered in cuts, her dark tresses hanging wild over her shoulders.

Beaston was nowhere to be seen. Had Landon imagined him?

Behind him, Lucas was yelling for the others to Change back.

Smoke filled the air.

Smoke.

Landon looked at the horror in Lucia’s glowing green eyes. He could see the flames reflected in her gaze.

No.

He rocked back on his bent legs and twisted around to see the trailer park on fire.

Lucia’s vision…

A sob escaped her as she stumbled forward. “I’m so sorry,” she cried. “I’m sorry!”

She pitched forward and Landon launched for her, caught her up.

“It’s not your fault,” he murmured against her ear, over and over and over again as she cried uncontrollably.

He turned back to check on the others. “Are you okay?” he demanded of Lucas.

“Yes. I broke the bond.” He turned to Gunner, and the veins of his neck popped as he roared, “I broke your fucking bond!”

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