Page 23 of Gabe's Lone Wolf

I took a running start then leaped, changing from skin to fur mid-air and landing on all fours. I turned my head, expecting to see Eliza in her fur, too, but she stood there looking at me. I padded over, and she dropped to her knees beside me, running her fingers through my fur.

“I knew you’d be beautiful,” she whispered, and I licked over her face, yipping as she laughed.

I nudged her with my nose, and she gave me a squeeze before letting go and stepping back. I trotted a few steps further then turned back to glance at her.

“I’m coming,” she promised then began shifting.

It wasn’t as easy as mine had been, but then she hadn’t really been in touch with her wolf in years. Hell, maybe, I should have asked if she’d ever had a chance to run with her pack. She’d been young when her mom died and her dad got lost in a bottle. Had she ever been able to fully embrace her wolf? Going forward, I’d make sure we went for a run every day.

She landed on all fours before me, shaking out a glossy gray coat as she padded over to me. Gorgeous. She was fucking gorgeous, and I fought my wolf’s desire to mount and take her. She didn’t need that. Eventually we would, but right now, she needed this more. Her senses were coming alive in animal form. The world around us grew brighter and sharper as our senses expanded.

The way she took to her wolf form let me know she’d once been well-acquainted with it, which had probably made the last few years all the harder. She’d known what she was missing, had probably longed for it and had to repress the urge to shift. She’d enjoy our next pack run. I’d make damn sure of it.

She took off at a sprint. Heading into the woods and leaving me to chase after her. I knew some of the guys were already out here, watching and waiting in case Lockhart decided to do something stupid.

“This is amazing!”

Eliza’s voice filled my head, the mating bond already strong between us.

“The woods seem to go on forever and forever, and I just want to keep running,” she admitted. “To keep going until my legs give out.”

Her laugh filled my head, her joy infectious.

“We’ll run as long as you want,” I promised. Even if we had to go in circles.

The woods behind the house ended at the edge of dirt road. There were several old dirt roads around Rigton County where we lived. During pack runs we’d block them off so we could cross them and keep going into the next heavily wooded section. For today, I’d keep Eliza on this side.

I was focused on Eliza when I caught a streak of white out of the corner of my eye. I was already turning when we collided, tumbling head-over-tail through the foliage. I screamed through our bond for Eliza to run back toward the house, even as I gained my feet and faced off with the other wolf. He wasn’t alone, though. Five more quickly joined him, forming a semi-circle around me and cutting me off from Eliza.

They all charged me at the same time, and it took all I had to avoid all those sharp teeth and claws. I knew what it was, though. A distraction so they could take Eliza. Hopefully, Simon, Taylor, and the others were already in place, ready to step in and intervene before my mate could be hurt. Then I heard her snarl and turned my head to see her sink her teeth into the back leg of one of the wolves around me. She shredded his leg, using her hold to jerk him away from the others.

My distraction cost me. I felt the burn along my side as claws found purchased shredding through fur to hit muscle. They took advantage as I staggered under the hit. Four mouths snapped at me, and I went down under a tangle of them. I fought, clawing and snapping, causing more damage than I took as I worked to free myself, so I could get to Eliza.

Where the hell was my pack?

Even as the thought entered my mind, they were there. Simon streaked in followed by Taylor and Han. Anthony was there along with Donovan. Michael followed with Belinda and Rebbie at his heels. And others spilled around them. My friends. My pack. Proof that Eliza would never be alone again. She was one of us now, and we stood together.

More wolves flooded in, too many, and many of them weren’t friendly. This was why the two wolves had left town. They’d gathered reinforcements for Lockhart. I scanned the woods but didn’t see sign of the bastard. I didn’t see Eliza, either. I’d lost her in the chaos. Which was probably exactly what Lockhart had planned. Did any of the people fighting for him even realize how disposable they were to him? How little he cared for them? Did they know who they were up against? I doubted Lockhart had given any of them the complete story.

I darted through the fighting, searching for my mate. I’d tried calling through our link, but it was silent. Where was she? I met Taylor’s gaze, and I knew he read my panic loud and clear as his head swiveled around. Where the hell was my mate?

I was ready to blow when a loud growl echoed and everything stopped. Bas stood there, Simon snarling in front of him still in wolf form.

“Enough!” Bas roared. “Lockhart!”

One of the wolves shifted, rising on his legs and looking around.

“You’re Bastion James,” he whispered, holding up his hands in surrender. “I didn’t know. The wolf came and said his alpha’s mate had been taken. Asked for help getting her back. He didn’t say anything about the James Pack.”

I shifted then, charging up to the man and grabbing him by the neck.

“Where is he? Where did he take my mate?” I demanded.

“I don’t know,” he rasped, face purpling as he struggled to breath. I shoved him away and turned to face the others. “Where is he?”

A female stepped forward. Her arm was injured, the skin shredded by her shoulder and blood pouring down, dripping from her elbow.

“He had a truck waiting on the road. He took her while everyone was fighting here. I tried to stop him, but someone attacked me from behind. She came to our pack for help, and my father turned her away. I wasn’t able to stand for her then, but when that wolf showed up and ask for people to help get her back, I came. To warn her and help her get away. No woman deserves to be hunted the way she has been.”

---