Page 29 of Fated Alpha Protector

Weapons they struggle to get a grip on as I smack my head against one’s arm. The other reaches for the shotgun on the ground, but I’m quick to grab it between my sharp canines.

Crushing the weapon is like child’s play before turning to the man with a venomous snarl. My lips peel back to flash him my distended canines, ready to puncture him to the bone.

Panicked screams fill the empty expanse between the river and the forest. Using the slightest power, a flick of my head knocks the men out cold.

When they’re taken care of, I exhale deeply before lifting my head. I’d crossed over the Nightwalker border to fight the humans who now lie unconscious. And now that the danger is gone, I search for Mia.

She emerges from behind a bush, appearing ruffled up. Her eyes are teary, fear flashing across the brown depths as her knees quiver.

Much like the first time I met her – only more frightened.

‘Mia…’ I breathe in relief as I rush forward. Crossing the river and ignoring how drenched I am, I climb up the riverbed to where she awaits me.

‘You h-heard me?’ her voice quivers as she takes a trembling step forward. I get closer too, pressing my nuzzle to hers.

Our eyelids close in unison as we keep our lips pressed as one, breathing in each other’s scents. It’s heady and intoxicating.

‘Of course, I heard you, mate of mine. I heard you.’

But most of all, it’s relieving to feel her presence enveloped in mine. Her aura – so petite and vulnerable – immersed by the protection the Alpha provides.

Because that’s all I was created to do. I was placed here by The Moon Goddess’s own hand to protect my fated mate.

Mia Alverez, who demands my undivided attention, is the fated mate I will protect and serve until my last breath. Even if it scares her.

Truthfully, it scares me too. A huge responsibility is attached to the fated mate bond. Unwavering loyalty is what the rest of my life will consist of.

With that inner acknowledgment of my duties, I shift into human form. It’s as if Mia reads my mind – which is quite possible – and shifts into her human.

When my arms can wrap around her, I pull her close. Chest to chest, flesh to flesh. Our heartbeats flow as one living entity as my lips seek her kisses.

Soft and slow, it’s a perfect vow for the rest of our lives. Like sealing a contract between two souls already tethered by fate itself.

Holding Mia in my arms, I make a heartfelt mental prayer to the Moon Goddess for keeping her safe in my absence. Now that I’m here at last, I’ll never allow anything to harm her.

“They’re humans…?” Jarrod makes the obvious observation as he leans into one’s face. As if inspecting him like he’d never seen a human before.

“No shit, dude!” Liam playfully slaps Jarrod’s arm on his way into the dungeon.

Having brought the hunters to the dungeon under the pack bunker, we’ve been on high alert. An additional crew had been sent out to patrol the perimeter. While a group of new recruits guards the surveillance screens upstairs.

“The real question is…” I begin as I inspect the arm of the man who wielded a crossbow. Just beneath his leather sleeve, he has a tattoo of a pistol with the number “78” inked across his wrist.

I check the other man, discovering the same thing.

“It’s a symbol for a group of them,” I say as I drop his hand on the ground. Getting to my feet, I turn to my two right-hand men and nod. “Find out if it belongs to a gang of some sort.”

My Beta and Delta both nod, Liam placing his hand on his temple when he receives a mind link.

He opens his eyes then and sets his darkened eyes on me.

“The ammo was all silver,” he informs me.

A shiver runs down my spine as all the possibilities come to the surface. If a silver bullet touched Mia–

I gulp to swallow the anger that threatens to boil over. Instead, I curl my fists and turn to the human hunters I found at the river. ‘Hunters’, because they carried ammunition meant to harm us.

Unlike humans, ordinary ammunition doesn't pierce our skin. Our fur protects us from this. It's only silver that can pierce the protective layer.

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