Page 48 of Kodiak's Heart

“Are you?” Emersyn asked.

“Of course not,” Natalie snapped. “I plan on mating Titus and being the female alpha. Do you know how much it pissed me off that he wanted you? Always you. Emory’s perfect daughter. Even though you’re a fucking human. Why the fuck would Titus want a human for a mate when he could have me? I can give him strong sons, shifter sons.”

“I’m not interested in Titus,” Emersyn said as she edged even closer.

“No, anyone can see you’ve got eyes for the Holloway alpha. It’s perfect. This alpha having a human mate and human kids will make it easier to take over here. The plan will work.”

“What plan?” Emersyn asked.

Natalie closed her mouth as if she’d said too much so Emersyn tried a different route. Jemma and Xandra were both close. She needed to keep Natalie focused on her.

“Is that what Titus wants? To take over this den?” Emersyn would kill the other woman for the way she held Ruby and for the terror in the little girl’s eyes.

“He will when I tell him to. It won’t matter that Malachi is sending members of our pack here. They’ll think of something, and we’ll take over. I’ll use the brat to get to Malachi. He’ll be easy to control. Then after I kill him, I’ll kill her. Stupid brat never should have lived anyway. When I left Amber at the cabin, I made sure no one knew where she was. Malachi was supposed to die. It seemed fitting that Amber and her brat die, too.”

“You were there?” Rage filled Emersyn. “You left her to die?”

Ruby started crying, tugging at her arm as she fought to get to Emersyn.

“Shut up and hold still, you fucking brat!” Natalie screamed, grabbing Ruby by both arms and giving her a hard shake.

A red haze came over Emersyn. A roar rocked the woods, and Natalie’s eyes grew wide, her hold slacking enough that Xandra was able to charge in, scoop up Ruby, and get her out of the way. Jemma stood slightly behind Natalie, but her gaze was on Emersyn. Eyes wide, mouth slack with shock.

“What the hell?” Natalie backpedaled away from Emersyn, hands out in front of her as if trying to ward her away.

Another roar filled the air, and this time, Emersyn realized it came from her. Natalie turned and took off running, shoving Jemma out of the way. Emersyn gave chase. She caught up to Natalie in a clearing, tackling her to the ground and slamming her face first into the hard earth. Natalie threw her off, but Emersyn quickly regained her footing. She caught movement and saw she and Natalie were surrounded by the Holloways and several members of Emersyn’s old den. Jemma was there, gaze hard on Natalie. Looked like she and Emersyn had settled the differences between them. Laramie moved to step toward Emersyn, and she held up her hand.

“No one steps foot in this circle,” she snapped. Her teeth felt almost too big for her mouth. She turned toward Natalie, who was just getting to her feet. “Just you and me.”

“I’ll kill you, you bitch,” Natalie swore and growled, her bones snapping as she shifted into her bear.

Emersyn merely smiled. She was more than ready for this battle. Trusting her bear, she gave the animal control, letting the powerful animal inside her take over. There was burning and pain as her bones and muscles changed. She embraced each sensation. Natalie’s black bear was nothing compared to the pissed off Kodiak that emerged from within Emersyn.

“Holy fucking shit!” someone muttered, and there were several murmured agreements along with other sentiments that were much the same. Emersyn ignored them all as she focused in on her enemy.

She and Natalie met in a clash of snarls and flying paws. Emersyn felt the burn as Natalie caught her side, then she sent the other woman flying with a hard hit to the face. Natalie got back up, shaking her head. Emersyn waited for her to charge, but the other woman was more cautious this time, circling Emersyn, looking for an opening. Emersyn dropped to all fours and roared with all she had. Natalie came at her again, and she sent her flying. This time, Natalie hit a tree and was much slower to get up. Blood trickled from her snout.

Emersyn didn’t wait this time. She went for Natalie, knocking the bear to the ground and shredding skin and fur with her claws. She’d hurt Ruby, terrified her and threatened to kill her. Then she’d confessed to leaving Amber alone, hoping the other woman would die. Blood for blood. Natalie would die. Tired of toying with her prey, Emersyn leaned closer, locking her jaws around the other woman’s throat and yanking. Blood sprayed, coating her fur as well as her mouth, but Emersyn didn’t care. No one would ever touch her family and think they could walk away. She rose up on her hind legs and let her gaze scan the people surrounding her. She let out another roar before falling to all fours again.

Around her the members of her father’s den, fell to their knees, bowing to her, claiming her as their alpha. Even Laramie’s pack bowed toward her, though they remained standing. All of his brothers were there, along with Holt, Fletch and three other males she hadn’t met yet. Jemma went to her knees, as well, accepting Emersyn as the dominant female. Laramie alone stepped toward her, completely unafraid. If anything, he appeared pissed. And, going by the bulge in his jeans and the scent spilling off him, aroused.

“You lied to me,” he snarled, getting right in her face.

She butted against him, but he stood strong and firm.

“You want to fight me, too?” he asked softly, too softly.

She shuddered and shifted without thought to what she was doing. It merely happened. One moment, she was a bear. Then next, she was human. And naked, very naked. His shirt was jerked over her head, then she was hauled up against him.

“I want the fucking words.” He growled the command at her, one fist in her hair, tilting back her head, the other hand splayed across her ass, holding her against his erection.

She growled back at him. Laramie bent and nipped her chin, his sharp teeth leaving a sting behind.

“Now,” he ordered. “Make the claim here and now, in front of everyone, or so help me, they’ll get even more of a show when I take you to the ground and fuck you until you scream my name.”

She glared at him. Her body still shook from the animal adrenaline. They needed to talk. She needed him to understand the danger she’d bring. He didn’t look concerned though. He reached for the hem of the shirt he’d forced onto her.

“Will you protect me?” She fired off the words, snapping each one like a bullet from a gun.

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