Page 40 of Nanny's Mate

Beatriz chased after Wallis, who got to her while mumbling something incoherently and then pushed open the front door. Once outside, Wallis shifted into her wolf form at a speed that, to Beatriz, once again felt like a devilish possession.

It was different compared to the first time they’d fought. And the first time that they’d met at the Indulge Wine and Tapas bar. What had happened to her was like a mutation had grabbed hold of her brain stem and sunk its head in deep. But she had done it of her own volition. Beatriz could feel it.

She shifted as well in the bright daylight, a streak of thought passing through her mind about Mike. How far away was he from what was going on? Was having Wallis here all part of the ploy to take out the Wolfe family?

There wasn’t a lot of time to ruminate because Wallis was coming for her. She charged Beatriz, slobbering and foaming at the mouth, her eyes crimson with the madness of her infection. Beatriz quivered for a fraction of a second, wishing she had held on tighter to Mike before he left.

Or even better, not allowing him to leave at all.

Strength coursed through Beatriz like a live wire. Her muscles inflated, and her blood pumped like water through a fire hose. Her bond with Mike had made her far more powerful than she could ever dream of. It was one of the many benefits of making a sacred bond with one's mate.

Beatriz was no longer afraid. It melted off her like ice in the sun. She had Mike. She had her beloved. Nothing else in the entire universe meant more or felt more precious than that.

She stood her ground on all fours while Wallis launched her entire body at her. Beatriz rose on her hind legs, letting Wallis collide with her exposed torso. It knocked her off her feet, sending them backward and tumbling down the hill, but Beatriz didn’t feel out of control for a second.

They rolled entangled as rocks and uneven ground clamored past them, the two wolves sinking their claws deeper into the other as they tried to find stability. Eventually, they stopped in the valley with Beatriz using her back legs to catapult Wallis off her body.

Wallis sailed through the air, wincing as she went. She landed hard, away from Beatriz, who was on her feet in a flash. She felt she was glowing, an invisible barrier of her cosmic connection pushing her to previously unimaginable heights.

Wallis snarled and scrambled to her feet, realization washing over her messy wolf face. But then Wallis looked over her shoulder.

The Wolfe estate loomed in the background.

Wallis gave Beatriz an insidious look that made the wolf feel sickly.

Wallis whipped around and shot off like a bullet in the direction of the estate. Beatriz raced after her, fear returning like a noose wrapped tightly around her neck.

She hurdled through the forest, ignoring a stitch as it threaded its way down her side. Her vision began to blur, but that didn’t matter. Wallis was going to exact her vengeance on someone, anyone. If it couldn’t be her, then it could be Tristan, Barbara., or hell, even the sweet little triplets.

Beatriz was willing to die before she let any of that happen.

Wallis curled around the corner of the house toward the commotion that both of them heard. They arrived to chaos. The sight of both Mike and Barbara in their wolf forms, exhausted, and the dead body of another lying dormant on the ground was petrifying.

Beatriz saw blood had stained Barbara’s fur. Wallis was coming up behind the alpha, and Beatriz was still a good five or six feet behind. Beatriz pounded the ground, then sent a shrill scream to the matriarch that she prayed would make it in time.

Barbara! Watch out!

Barbara took heed of the warning and twirled around just before Wallis clamped down on the matriarch’s spine. Barbara was a force to be reckoned with. She began hissing and slashing her paws relentlessly, swiping at Wallis until the wolf’s face became nothing but a mask of blood. Beatriz popped Wallis in the head with a booming kick, rendering her unconscious as she fell to her back and stared up toward the clear blue sky.

Beatriz leapt onto her unmoving body and pinned her shoulders to the ground. All three of them heaved as an eerie silence took over, the threat having arrived so quickly and vanished just as fast.

Are you okay? Barbara asked, nuzzling Beatriz.

I’m as okay as you. Is that your blood?

Barbara chuckled, out of breath still. She turned to Mike and motioned at the house, where glass appeared to be shattered.

Get a rope and tie her up. Tristan will want to question her. Let’s get this place cleaned up.

Mike did as Barbara asked, but not before giving Beatriz a long, evocative stare. She felt it wrap around her like a warm blanket.

There was no way she could leave.

TWENTY-THREE

MIKE

Mike was floored by the sight of his beloved, Beatriz, as she launched into the scene to protect Barbara. Watching the two women, the one practiced and seasoned with the other youthful and fresh, dominate Wallis was quite something. He barely had time to react before Beatriz had Wallis pinned to the ground, the three of them panting with quiet surprise.

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