Page 46 of August

August ignored the banter between the males and raced for the paddock. He found Tank the moose between Ginny and four males. There was a male on the ground, groaning. Tank had cloth hanging from one of his antlers.

“Fucking take him out, he’s a damn deer!” one of the males yelled.

“He’s a moose and he’ll kick your ass!” Ginny taunted. She had some visible bruises but otherwise looked okay.

August ran to the group and took out two of the males by cracking their heads together. As the others turned to him, he shouted for Ginny.

“You okay, babe?”

He ducked a fist and then kicked out, shoving the male toward Tank, who lowered his head and shoved the male to the side like he was throwing a toy.

“I’m okay. You’re bleeding.”

“I am?” he asked.

“Uh, yeah.”

August ducked away from the remaining male and swung behind him, slamming a fist into the center of his back. As the male went down, Tank reared onto his hind legs and landed solidly on the male with a loud crack.

“I’m good,” August replied smoothly.

He looked at the five males. The one he’d thrown was trying to crawl away. August and Ginny both ran for him while Tank stamped his hooves on the ground and lifted his head in a loud snort.

August reached the male first, tossing him to his back and planting his foot on his chest.

“Speak,” August said, voice filled with venom.

The male snarled and clamped his lips together.

Ginny looked at August. “We should call Tank back over. His hooves are harder than your boot.”

The male’s eyes went wide for a moment, and then he bared his teeth. “You’re dead, you bitch. The minute he’s done with you, your grandfather is going to slit your throat just like he did your parents.”

Ginny shouted out an angry curse and kicked the male in the side of the head. He went limp, his eyes closed, as blood trickled from the wound on his head.

She looked at August across the unconscious male and her eyes were shining, her cheeks wet with tears.

He stepped over the male and wrapped his arms around her.

“I’ve got you.”

She sobbed in his arms, her hands gripping his shirt. “I was so s-scared.”

“You? Scared?” He chuckled. “You’re the fucking strongest, most fearless female I’ve ever known. You stood against a handful of males and, good news, sweetheart, you’re still standing and they’re not.”

He tilted her face and smiled

She blinked and tears rolled from her eyes again. When she smiled, her split lip cracked and bled, and she winced.

“Ouch.”

He kissed the corner of her mouth. “Something weird is happening out there.”

“Weirder than Tank coming to my rescue or the jackals that infiltrated the park?”

“Yeah. Your grandfather attacked me and said something about needing you to flush someone out.”

She frowned. “What?”

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