Page 7 of Wolves in Love

Anders looked at Misti. Even in wolf form, he could see the determination settling into her features.

Let’s go.

So they plunged ahead, fighting their old packs but not quite one with the remaining pack engaged in the fray.

Anders fought every wolf that attacked him, wounding some, killing most, and it wasn’t until he bit out the throat of a werewolf that he noticed that this one had been a Wild Shade. The werewolf had initiated the fight. Had he not realized he was fighting Anders, an ally?

Or had Kastner told his men to kill him during the melee? He wouldn’t put it past the alpha.

5

The sheer number of foes during this battle told Misti one thing—that this was meant to be the final battle. Whenever she was faced with more werewolves than she could handle, Anders came to her rescue, but she noticed that few Wild Shades even bothered to look her way. She was still an outsider to them, and now, with Talon dead, she would never be one of the Wild Shades.

Unless she was to marry another one.

But she couldn’t think about that. Her body appreciated her wolf form, the pain in her back lessening some, and so far, at least, she hadn’t gained too many other fresh injuries. It was only a matter of time, though.

In the chaotic nature of the battle, she attacked any werewolf who fought her, not bothering to see if they were Red Nightwalkers or Shadowed Stars. But when she spied the white tuff of hair on the chest that every Wild Shade boasted, she hesitated. His mouth was snapping toward her, looming closer and closer—

Anders jumped in front of her, pushing her to the side, and slashing at the Wild Shade. The other werewolf whimpered and turned aside to fight someone else.

What the…

Look out!

Anders’s warning howl allowed her time enough to jerk to the left. A gust of air blew past her. Her reaction time was slow—the reason why she hadn’t turned around to face her opponent—but she had managed to avoid the blow.

The werewolf halted and jumped around, stalking toward her. He was Jed. Jed Wright. The Red Nightwalker her father had wished for her to marry.

Heard you got married, Jed howled. His claw pointed toward Anders. That worthless bum?

She didn’t bother to reply. Although she had never felt much for the Red Nightwalker, she didn’t wish to fight him. Not here. Not ever.

Your father is here. He’s looking for you.

Oh, no. The moon crash into the earth, that wasn’t good. Yes, this battle would either be the end of her or her father, and considering her injuries, there was no way she could possibly go against her father. She might as well be already dead.

Shall I bring him here? Jed stalked around her in a circle, his howls low so only she could hear him. Anders was fighting off two werewolves, but he kept glancing at her. If he didn’t start concentrating, he’d get injured or worse.

Should she care if Anders lived or die?

Jed, I have no quarrel with you.

No, just with the entire pack. He barked a sound that might’ve been a laugh if he’d been in human form. You mocked us. Left us for what? Him? A pathetic excuse of a werewolf, so weak even the Shadowed Stars didn’t want him.

Anders was suddenly on Jed’s back, and the two wrestled around, first Anders on top then Jed. The two were biting each other’s throats.

No! Misti entered into their fray, clawing at Jed’s back, trying to throw him away. Claws dug into her own back, reopening her wounds, and Misti shrieked out a howl.

She had no choice but to leave Anders and Jed to their fight to face the newcomer. This werewolf she had never seen before. On his back was the tattoo of stars. In both forms, wolf and human, the Shadowed Stars bore their mark.

This werewolf was a big one, especially so for a female. Her eyes were shockingly black, and she was missing one fang. Blood dripped from her claws—Misti’s blood.

Come and fight, the werewolf howled, her voice high-pitched, almost whiny. Or are you too beat up? Should I just put you out of your misery?

Misti’s response was nonverbal—a swat that only just missed the werewolf’s snout.

The werewolf growled and lunged, and Misti jerked to the right. The grass beneath her feet was slick. Her blood, Jed’s, Anders’s, maybe other’s too. The entire field was becoming washed with blood. The scent of death was all around them. Combined with the shrills of the dying, and the place felt like a massive graveyard.

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