Page 13 of Fractured Mates

She glances over at me, lets the heart drop to the ground next to the dead shifter, and shrugs. “He tried to kill me first.”

“Right,” is all I say, since I’m at a loss for words. Until I hear my wolf speak.

More are coming, he says gruffly. Get her out of here.

Easier said than done. Considering our previous encounter, I act without bothering to ask for her permission. My wolf’s warning means more to me than however pissed she’s about to be.

I charge forward and grab Sophie around the waist, lifting her over my shoulder and holding tightly to her legs as she attempts to get away.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” she screeches, and I nearly smack her ass to shut her up but manage to refrain at the last second.

“More wolves are coming,” I say gruffly as I head for the bedroom window that we both came through. “You’re getting out of this house.”

Her fists pound against my back, and she reaches back toward her boot, but I keep my palm secure over where I can feel her knife. In no scenario am I letting this she-wolf get a weapon. At least not yet. Her hands are already dangerous enough, as I’ve just witnessed.

I nearly have her out the window when she digs her claws into my skin. “Put me down or I’ll rip out your spine.”

My head shakes. “You asked for it.”

I throw her out the window. Hard.

Not only does she hit her head on the way through, but she lands with her legs and arms twisted together. Before she can untangle her body, I have her in my arms again, this time cradled in front of me, and I’m running back to the tree line as fast as possible.

The sound of wolves getting closer is clear, even over my pounding heart while the adrenaline surges through me, but before any of them can make it to the back side of the house, we’re out of sight. Though, that doesn’t mean they’re not capable of following our scent.

Sophie tries to hit me, but I have her body boxed in on itself. When she realizes she can’t move, she resorts to trying to bite me, but one sharp growl from me, telling her to look back, has her finally acting like a normal adult.

Her eyes glance over my shoulder and back toward the house, then her body rumbles within my grasp. “What the hell are they doing?”

The words are spoken quietly and filled with menace.

“I don’t know,” I say honestly since I haven’t bothered to look back. “But you need to let me get you out of here.”

She flinches against me, fighting my hold again. “I’m not going anywhere with you. I need to find my family.”

“And if they’re already dead and you’re next?” I say harshly. “What then, Sophie? You’re strong, but you can’t beat all those men on your own. Not even for family.”

She glares at me. “Put me down.”

“Give me your word that you won’t run,” I counter, even as her nails begin to turn into claws again.

Her lips form into a hard line. “Fine.”

“Your word, Sophie,” I repeat. “If you’re the wolf shifter I think you are, then that means something to you.” At least I assume she’s honorable if she’s been welcome with the East Texas pack all these years.

The rumble that leaves her chest vibrates through her whole body and right into mine, causing me to hold her tighter, but not because I’m worried that she’s going to escape.

“I give you my word that I won’t run from you,” she concedes with a glare that seems permanently etched into her face.

I let her down and glance back at the house. “They’re going to sense us soon if they haven’t already. We need to shift and get the hell out of here. If you’re going to honor your word, then you’ll follow me.”

“I said I wouldn’t run from you. I didn’t promise to stay with you,” she says, crossing her arms and leveling her hard stare on me.

“Sophie, I just saved your life.” I sigh. “Don’t be fucking difficult.”

That has her smirking, and dread fills me as she pats my chest. “Oh, you haven’t seen difficult yet. I promise you that.”

Unfortunately, I believe her.

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