Page 42 of The Alpha's Bullied Mate

“Get out!” Hayden bellowed.

Echo shifted smoothly to wolf form. Ryder raced for Mica as she stood frozen in place. Echo lunged. Her jaws clamped around Ryder’s neck, and Mica screamed. Hayden rammed into her side, taking his wolf form as he did so. The demon whirled on him, tossing Ryder aside as she did so.

Tess rushed to Ryder, but Hayden couldn’t spare a thought to his state. He faced the demon. Red bled into her eyes as her tail swished back and forth, her mouth open. She licked blood off her teeth and growled in what sounded like laughter.

They didn’t have room to fight. Mica would get hurt. Hayden shoved his body against Echo’s, trying to push her toward the window. Maverick came at her from behind while Blayke and Finn used their bodies to help push her back away from Mica. Echo’s teeth tore into Hayden’s side. She rolled, throwing herself backward. Chunks of fur ripped from Hayden, but she slipped between them all as he lunged for Echo again.

She howled, darting toward Mica. Derek threw himself between them as Hayden wheeled around. Echo’s jaws locked around Derek’s shoulder, and she barrel rolled, ripping flesh.

The rest came at her again, but once more, she slipped between them, moving like a shadow. She danced closer to Ryder. Tess knelt over him; she’d ripped off her shirt and packed the fabric against his neck, pressing down on it. Ryder spasmed, and Tess straddled him to hold him in place.

Echo turned toward them. Finn rushed forward to stop her, but she leaped in the opposite direction. Her path was open to Mica and Hayden was barely able to catch her. His jaws clenched over her back flank, dragging her back as she snapped at Mica’s face.

Mica stumbled backward. She fell to the floor, one hand over the pebble on the mirror, keeping it in place. Why hadn’t she gotten out of here? Hayden snarled as the rest of the team closed in around Echo. She tore at them, evading their fangs and claws, even if they were pinned as she was.

Hayden had never fought someone possessed by a demon as strong as this before.

“I command you out,” Mica shouted. She grabbed a handful of salt from the circle and threw it into Echo’s face.

Echo went rigid. She started to shake as the team piled on her. Mica started speaking again, in that broken Latin once more. She hurried around the circle of candles, righting them and lighting them again. She pushed the mirror and pebble into the middle of them.

A hazy red light burst from Echo’s eyes and mouth. An inhuman screech ripped through the room. The hair on Hayden’s neck stood on end. The red light funneled in the air like a twister, then suddenly it was sucked into the rock. The screaming grew louder. The windows shattered, the glass exploding inwards.

Hayden released Echo’s leg and threw himself over the circle of candles, knocking Mica back. He covered her with his body. Her hands dug into his fur. Darkness seemed to close in around them, then suddenly, all was still.

Hayden stayed crouched protectively over Mica as he looked up. Echo’s body was limp, the rest of the team standing ready over her. Finn’s reddish-brown wolf backed away. He retook his human form, his clothes still perfectly intact.

“The demon’s out of her,” he rasped. Cautiously, he approached the pebble and picked it up. He shuddered and put it back. “The ritual worked.”

Hayden got off Mica. He shifted back to human form and pulled her to her feet. There were scratches on her face, and her lip bled, but she seemed otherwise unharmed.

“He’s still bleeding,” Tess shrieked. “He’s going to bleed out!”

Hayden rushed to Ryder’s side. His throat was nearly torn out—too much damage to heal from. He’d bleed out before he healed. Unless—

“Blood transfusion,” Hayden barked. “Maverick!”

Maverick dashed out the door.

“What about Echo?” Elin cried.

Blayke had taken human form. He checked Echo’s pulse as she slowly shifted back to human form. Her eyes were partially open, and her jaw was slack. Her chest was barely moving.

“Erratic pulse. Unresponsive,” Blayke said.

“Treat her for shock and give her IV fluids,” Mica cried, starting forward.

“Finn’s in charge,” Hayden barked. He grabbed Mica around the waist and carried her out of the room. She slammed her fist into his arm, then stopped instantly. Once they were in the hall, Hayden glared at her. “My team knows what to do. You’ll only get in the way.”

“I have more medical experience—”

“You have experience treating yourself. Not other shifters.” Hayden blocked her. “You’re too close. You’ll get in the way.”

Mica opened her mouth.

“For fuck’s sake, listen to me!” Hayden exploded. “This wouldn’t have happened if you’d just do as I tell you!”

Mica’s eyes widened.

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