Page 69 of Stargazer

Not on my watch.

I bolted towards it, tapping into the speed that my hunter powers provided. Adrenaline fuelling me further.

This was what I was made for.

My sword came down on its neck before it had the chance to snap down on Zander’s.

I wasn’t at all phased by the soft thud followed by the tumbling sound of its grey head rolling along the pine needle bed of the forest floor.

Zander’s light orange eyes seemed to widen and then he looked at me with what could only be interpreted as the lupine version of relief before he rested his head back down to regain his breath.

I turned back to the magnificent girl with us. She was also catching her breath.

She hadn’t killed the wolf we had both done damage to. Although her other sai was also plunged into its side, much to my delight. But instead of putting it down, she opted for the purple powder again, knocking it out cold.

At the silence that once again surrounded us, her gaze fell to the head that lay on the floor behind me and her hazel eyes filled with horror. I stalked up to her, wiping the blood that had splashed onto my hands on my pants as I did so.

She didn’t look my way. Her eyes were glued to the creature sitting deathly still in what I knew would be a puddle of its own blood.

Grabbing her face, I guided her gaze away from the wolf and trapped her with my own. I brushed the hair off her face and smoothed down the sides in an act of comfort I’d only ever reserve for her. Then I cupped that beautiful face in my palms once again.

I knew that the silver had taken over the natural greyish-brown of my eyes as I said in a husky, fatigued voice, “Don’t look, baby girl.”

CHAPTER 23

RIVER

She was safe.

I knew that was what mattered. But I had learnt something tonight: no matter how much I tried to push aside the desire to protect her with every fibre of my being, I just couldn’t.

I was a protector. An Alpha.

I looked after what was mine.

And I could promise her the world, but I wasn’t sure I could promise her that I could be okay with letting her look after herself.

It tore me apart. Not knowing if she was okay during the patrol. Not knowing if she was alive.

I was constantly checking in with Zander through the mind-link like some sort of over-protective parent.

Not having her around these past few months … maybe a part of me was actually relieved.

It made me sound horrible. Made me feel horrible. But I was relieved to be able to deal with these rogues—putting myself in danger—knowing she wasn’t around to be caught in the crossfire.

If the rogues wanted to get to me, wanted to really hit me, all they needed to do was go for her.

When I’d promised her the honesty and freedom she so desired in the few weeks she’d been back, I didn’t realise how much harder that would be to give her when she was actually caught in the middle of it all.

With her out on the battlefield, risking her life for me, I became all too aware of that reality.

Tonight was proof.

A test that I failed.

Though I didn’t think I could tell her that.

The second Zander had informed me of their situation with the wolves, of how bleak it was looking for those few painful moments, and how close she had been to harm's way, I had bolted.

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