With a low growl, I placed myself in front of Flynn as I heard Tyr chuckle and get to his feet.

“So, you did come running,” he said with a tone of surprise. “The bond with a human should be weak… how did you know where he was?”

The shift rolled over my body quickly and I stood up, my feet planted firmly on the ground as I growled in Tyr’s direction.

“The bond isn’t weak between us,” I said. “He’s my mate, chosen by the moon goddess herself.”

“Fated mates?” Tyr laughed. “You still believe in that fairy tale bullshit?”

“I know it’s real,” I spat. “That’s how I found him.”

“Or he just told you where he was going like the meddling little piece of shit he is.” Tyr snarled at Flynn, and I threw my arms wide, blocking him from sight. “It doesn’t matter, anyway. He’s a worthless fighter, his grandmother is on the edge of death anyway, and you… You’re too much of a coward to face me.”

My hackles raised at that. “I didn’t go after you to protect my pack! The last thing I want are wolves dying because of a personal feud between us.”

“How noble,” Tyr sneered. “And fucking stupid. An Alpha is the leader of his pack. It’s his duty to use pack resources to make life better for everyone.”

“People aren’t resources,” I shot back. “And is that why the Skoll pack is so prolific and prosperous? Because you’re doing such a good job leading them?”

Tyr snarled at me, his pride clearly wounded. He knew exactly what he’d done to that pack. They’d once been large, happy, and well off despite their solitude. But ever since Tyr had taken over, everything from their resources to their numbers had dwindled. The Skoll pack was nothing more than a shadow of its former self.

“You’ll pay for that comment with your life!” Tyr snapped, stepping toward me.

“Better think again, Tyr,” I replied with a confident grin. “Baldr, Loki, and the entire pack know where I am and they’re on their way. You have only minutes to escape before all of the Hati pack is upon you.” I lowered my voice, glaring at him with bright golden eyes. “And let me tell you, it’s taken every ounce of power I have to keep them at bay. They want you dead more than even I do.”

He paused, a twinge of fear pulling at his eyebrows. “You’re bluffing.”

“Stick around and find out. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Tyr seemed to hesitate for a moment. However, as he glanced down at Flynn crawling over to check his grandmother, a wicked smile split his face.

“A minute or two is more than I need to do permanent damage.”

With that, he sprang into action, diving toward Flynn. The wolf inside me took over so fast I didn’t know what had hit me. My white fur covered body collided with Tyr, throwing him to the floor. He snarled at me, fangs dropping down from his upper jaw. I saw fur grow and claws form, but his body remained mostly human. The form was monstrous, but being an Alpha, I knew how much power he could draw from it. I could take on a similar form too, but I’d never used it except for mating with Flynn. I didn’t know how to use it for fighting. My father had never gotten the chance to teach me that before he died.

I was in trouble.

So, I did the only thing I could think of. I put myself between Tyr and Flynn and I held my ground, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. All I could hope for was the aid of my brothers and that they would arrive quickly. If not, there was a very real chance I was not going to leave the cabin alive. Digging my claws into the wooden floor and tensing my muscles, I waited.

But one thing was for certain. I would die before I ever let Tyr lay a hand on my mate.

A long silent moment stretched out as the pair of us stared one another down. Tyr took a couple steps to the right, then back to the left, trying to find a way around me. He wanted Flynn, but he wasn’t going to get there without going through me first. When he finally realized that his lips peeled back, showing his fangs as a menacing growl filled his throat. That was all the warning I got before he leaped forward.

My body was ready. Releasing the tension from all my muscles at once, I soared through the air, crashing into Tyr with my fangs bared. His claws raked across my body as I sank my fangs into his shoulder. He tore at me, whipping side to side as he howled with pain. But I didn’t let go. In fact, my fangs only sank in deeper, wrapping around his clavicle until the bone crunched. The taste of his stinking blood filled my mouth, and I had to fight back a gag. He continued to slash at me, but no matter how much damage he did, I wasn’t going to let go. I had to protect Flynn.

However, that only lasted for a few seconds until Tyr grabbed me around the hips and ripped me from his body. A large chunk of flesh and bone came away with me, still clenched between my teeth. Tyr threw me with all his might, and I crashed into the wall, yelping loudly as I felt at least three bones in my body snap all at once.

I hit the hard wooden floor, my world spinning from the dizzying pain flashing through my body. Blinking hard, I pushed myself up on two paws, searching the room for Tyr as I braced myself for his next attack.

But he wasn’t coming for me. No. He was going after Flynn.

He’d already backed him into a corner. Tyr snarled and snapped, inching closer to Flynn. A pair of golden eyes flicked my way and he smiled, blood dripping down his hands and arms. He gave me one last chuckle and raised a clawed hand, intending on spilling Flynn’s entrails all over the floor.

Fire burned in my belly and despite the pain, I found myself sailing through the air. My jaws opened and in a blur of fur and pain, I felt them connect with flesh. Clamping down, I hit the floor, falling to my side as my world turned brilliant white from the sheer agony coursing through my body.

“A useless gesture,” Tyr snarled, his hand firmly clamped between my jaws. “You’re already half dead and this isn’t going to stop me.”

He tried to pull his hand away, but I remained attached. I glanced up at Flynn, my eyes apologetic. I never wanted him to see me like this and I especially never wanted him to watch me die. But I was going to. I knew it. My brothers weren’t going to make it in time to save me. But I wasn’t going to let Tyr touch Flynn. Not while I still drew breath.