Page 121 of The Wolf in My Tavern

There is only one outcome before me, and that is his death.

I charge him, slashing, drawing blood at his hind quarter, and sending him sprawling. He lashes back, jaws snapping and missing me by an inch.

Snarling, I whip around, taking him by the throat.

The killing blow would be so easy, but my wolf wants to play… to make Rufus pay. So instead, I toss him, sending him tumbling over until his paws can find purchase.

Indecision enters his eyes before the coward turns and flees.

I am on him, snatching him up by the scruff of the neck and tossing him into the center again. The rage within my wolf will not be easily calmed. He toys with his prey, and I give him free rein. I take Rufus to a dark place with every slash and blow—a place he will not escape from nor survive. Only when Rufus has been slashed, beaten, and savaged and is too weak to crawl do I finally stand over him in my beast, savoring the pain I see in his eyes.

“For my father and for my pack.” I take him by the throat… and rip it out. Tossing his broken remains to the floor, I lift my bloody snout and howl.

Around the chamber, those loyal to me take up the call as the Canis pack lowers their heads in subjugation and defeat.

Wolves are vicious and unflinching when killing is to be done—barbarians are much the same. Some of Rufus’s lieutenants make a break for it, and some try to fight.

All are torn to pieces as they meet swift justice until only the beta wolves are left cowering.

If I must sacrifice every member of this godless pack to find and free our women and mates, I won’t hesitate.

“Callum! Gray!”

My head swings around, hearing a voice both familiar and dear to me.

Ada!

Ada

Blood. There is so much blood. It splatters over the floor of the great cavern and is smeared over fur and human flesh alike.

I stand, chest heaving. To my right, Lizbeth is in wolf form. To my left, Gwen stands, bloody sword in her hand. Behind us are yet more wolves and pups, all of us having fought our way out.

We didn’t do so alone. A few of the beta shifters here offered help. It seems those living here in servitude made friends among the women and children. Emboldened by what was happening, they helped us at great risk had our pack not prevailed.

And so we arrive at the central cavern in time to see Gray defeat Rufus.

The dead shifter lies in human form. His body is barely recognizable after Gray has savaged him. Watching over them, like the lord that he is, stands Callum in his mighty beast form.

Lizbeth darts forward, breaking the shocked silence. Two wolves emerge from the crowd, charging toward her with equal enthusiasm. All three of them yap and lap at one another before they shift as one into their human forms: Drake, Arlo, and Lizbeth.

A great warrior with blonde hair likewise pushes through the crowd, three more warriors flanking him. I sense these fearsome barbarians are Gwen’s mates, even before they break out in grins.

But I forget about everyone else as I run toward my mates.

They shift to human.

Callum is nearest and swings me into his arms, crushing me against his chest. Then Gray is there behind me, his warm body blanketing me. I wrap one arm around Callum’s neck and reach back to do the same to Gray.

I feel the tremble in their hands, and where we press together.

Or perhaps it is me.

“I love you,” I say. “I love you both. Gods, I have been so terrified.”

“Are you hurt anywhere?” Callum demands.

“No, nothing new. Gwen is very determined when she has a mind to do something,” I say. “She killed any guards who stood in her way.”

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