Page 78 of The Runaway Mate

Ryan.

I sought out the bond that connected Ryan and me. I howled, calling to him.

It was now a race against time. I saw the moment Seth realized he would soon have two werewolves to fight against. His eyes focused on me, and he let out a savage growl.

Chapter fifty-one

Mai

Seth lunged at me with newfound ferocity, his teeth aiming for my throat. I danced away, making him overshoot. He swung around, barreling toward me again. I kept moving, evading, and herding him in the direction Ryan would come from. My legs trembled beneath me.

I realized I’d been here before, Seth attacking me. Me, weak and helpless.

Not this time.

My bond flared to life, and a warm rush of energy flooded me, washing over me like a calming wave. It was the essence of Ryan—his courage, his resolve, his love. The connection pulsed in rhythm with my heart, its strength surprising me. I’d been resisting this bond for so long, afraid of what it might mean, afraid of what I might lose. But now, I realized its true potential. This bond didn’t bind me; it empowered me. It wasn’t a chain; it was a lifeline.

I felt rather than saw Seth tower above me. Then Ryan, my Ryan, his massive wolf form, larger and more imposing than any of us, barreled into Seth, sending them both snarling and snapping across the forest floor. I yipped in alarm for Ryan, then raced after them. I was no longer just Mai Parker of the Three Rivers Pack; I was a part of something much more significant. I was part of a mated pair, a force to be reckoned with, and Seth had no idea what was coming his way.

We attacked Seth from both sides, our movements perfectly in sync through our bond. Seth fought with a desperate ferocity, but he was tiring. Ryan moved with a lethal grace full of his power and fury. I felt a tug in our bond, a silent signal, and I moved, darting in from one side as Ryan leaped, his body a blur of motion, and in a fraction of a second, he was on Seth.

Ryan’s jaws snapped shut on Seth’s throat. There was a sickening crunch, followed by a choked-off yelp. I watched as Seth’s eyes widened in shock, his body spasming under the force of Ryan’s deadly grip. He struggled for a moment, his body writhing in an effort to free himself. Ryan’s jaws tightened. Seth’s movements slowed, his eyes starting to glaze. His body twitched one last time before finally going still.

Chapter fifty-two

Mai

Before I could go to Ryan, my legs collapsed under me. Each breath was a struggle. I was a mess of cuts and bruises, my pelt matted with dirt and blood.

Immediately, Ryan was there, nuzzling my face. I could feel his relief surge through the bond. He started licking my wounds and whining. He nudged me, urging me to get up, but I just needed a moment to rest.

A twig snapped to our left. My body tensed, my eyes scanning for the source of the noise. Isaac stepped out from the undergrowth.

I saw him take in the scene and the moment when his eyes landed on Seth’s body. He took a step toward it, but stopped when Ryan growled a warning.

Isaac backed up, hands raised. “I don’t mean you harm. I’m sorry, Mai,” Isaac said, his gaze moving from me to Ryan and back again. His voice held a note of regret, of sadness. “Seth loved you. But what he did was wrong. I knew it then, and I know it now. I thought he’d come to his senses. See what he was doing to you and realize his mistakes. But I’m done covering for him. I wish you hadn’t killed him,” his eyes flicked over my injuries before continuing, “but I understand why.”

I got a warning before it happened, a slight pull on our bond, then Ryan Shifted. Bones crunched and realigned, limbs stretched and lengthened. Then he stood as a man, a beautiful, completely naked man.

“You couldn’t have had this epiphany when Seth was beating the living shit out of her?” Ryan growled.

Isaac hung his head. “I—”

I whined, telling Ryan to let it go. We had no time for this.

“I’ll take care of Seth,” Isaac said, his voice barely above a whisper. “You both need to leave. Korrin will want revenge for this.”

His words stirred a fresh wave of fear within me. We weren’t safe yet. Exhaustion pulled at me, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to shift into my human form, not now. My body was at its limit.

Without another word, Ryan walked over and gently picked me up, cradling me in his arms. The last thing I remember was seeing Isaac weeping beside Seth’s body. Then I closed my eyes, and everything went black.

My eyelids felt heavy, exhaustion coursing through my veins. Everything was sore, even the soles of my feet. I was back in human form. The familiar scent of Ryan surrounded me, as soothing as a lullaby. My eyes fluttered open. I was in Ryan’s car. Leather seats, Ryan’s mix of cologne and wolf. I was safe.

“You’re awake,” Ryan said. It wasn’t a question. He glanced my way, his gaze sweeping over me in a quick but thorough examination. His eyes were tired. I didn’t need our bond to tell me he was just as worn out as I was.

“Yeah. How are you doing?” I managed to ask, my voice hoarse. Ryan squeezed my hand lightly.

“I’m alright. We’re on our way back to the Pack,” he said softly, his voice almost drowned out by the hum of the car.

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