Page 26 of Clash of Kings

Dakota pulled on Sebastian’s arm, and he angled his body so he could see her, knowing his cousins wouldn’t let King get to him. “Sebastian, please,” Dakota begged.

Bas retracted his claws, then pressed a palm to her cheek. “Wolves might not have fated mates, but Gargoyles do.” Bas pulled the front of his shirt from his jeans and lifted it. Pointing at the scars, he said, “Your brother did this to me ten years ago in Utah.”

Dakota stretched out her hand, but before she could touch his skin, King said, “Dakota Young, as your Alpha, I command you to step away.”

Sebastian wrapped his hands around her wrists, hating the way she trembled. Dakota closed her eyes and whined. The sound was mournful, yet angry. It kicked Sebastian in the nuts. A low growl sounded behind him just as Anthony yelled, “Bas, watch out!” Sebastian released Dakota and called forth his claws again as he faced the wolf from his dreams. Anthony phased, his T-shirt shredding and floating in tatters to the floor. The room was crowded with beasts and furniture. People shouted as a multitude of feet pounded up the staircase.

He and his cousins were outnumbered, but Sebastian would fight to the death to protect Dakota. King snarled at Dakota who was now lying on her side, whimpering. King must have thought he was stronger than Sebastian, because he tried to rush past him to get to Dakota. Just as King pounced, Sebastian unfurled his wings and sent King flying with one swipe.

The door flew open, and Phoenix froze when he caught sight of Sebastian’s wings. “What the fuck?” Sebastian’s beast forgot about the male being Dakota’s brother. In that moment, he was the one who’d left Bas for dead.

Before he could attack, Lydia yelled, “Let me go, Asshole!” Sloane had Lydia by the throat, his claws digging into her skin.

“You motherfucker. I will gut you where you stand,” Anthony growled. Sebastian’s focus was torn, but he had to trust Anthony to take care of Lydia. Sebastian had his hands full between a furious Alpha and his own beast ready to rip Phoenix to shreds. Dakota pushed to her feet and raced past her brother out the door. Phoenix took off after her, but Sebastian had to deal with King first.

The large wolf was on his paws again, the hair on his back standing on end. Sebastian braced himself for another attack, but King raised his head and howled. Sebastian didn’t have to be a wolf to know King was calling his pack.

“You fucking bitch!” Sloane yelled. Lydia was holding a pair of knives, blood dripping from one and the other shrouded in blue flames. That was new. Before Sloane could attack Lydia again, Anthony punched the large male who staggered back. Anthony took advantage of Sloane being off balance and placed a snap kick to the center of his chest. Sloane flew into the window, glass shattering as he broke through, falling to whatever lay beneath. As a shifter, the fall wouldn’t kill him unless it broke his neck. Sebastian couldn’t worry about that now. He had a larger, deadlier problem.

“Bas, go after your mate. We’ve got this,” Anthony urged, but Sebastian wouldn’t leave him and Lydia to fight a pack by themselves. He once again faced King, who shifted back to his skin.

“I will fucking kill you,” a naked King snarled, his chest heaving. Several of King’s pack joined him; some in their fur and some on two legs. The latter gawked at Sebastian’s wings.

“You can try,” Sebastian countered. “But I am a Gargoyle. Phoenix couldn’t kill me as a teen, and you can’t kill me now. My cousins and I can rip your whole pack apart. Is that what you wish? All for a female who doesn’t want you? Stand down now, and we’ll leave you whole. Test me? And I’ll kill you where you stand, taking over as Alpha of your pack. Your choice.”

King’s eyes flashed amber. “You would challenge me in my own home?”

“I would. Dakota is my fated mate, and I’d burn the fucking world to ash for her.” Sebastian flapped his wings, the force knocking King backward. The pack members who had joined their Alpha took a step back. “I don’t want to kill you. I don’t want to be Alpha of your pack. I have my own Clan to lead, but if you do not step aside and let us leave in peace, taking Dakota with us, Iwillkill you.” Sebastian gestured to the other wolves. “It’s no disgrace if your Alpha backs down. It’s self-preservation, because not only will I kill Kingston, but my cousins and I will take out as many of you as we need to get the point across. That point being there is always someone stronger and more lethal waiting in the shadows.”

King retracted his claws. “Get the fuck out of my home, and take that bitch with you if you can find her. Dakota Young is no longer part of the Bridgewater pack.” King howled again, and those wolves in the room shifted to their skin, stepping out of the room, followed by the others who hadn’t shifted.

Sebastian nodded once, then turned to his cousins. “Let’s go find my mate.” He and Anthony retracted their wings, picked up their tattered shirts, and Bas led the way out of the room. Anthony took up the rear, keeping Lydia between them. At some point, she had returned the knives to her arms in the form of bracelets. When they reached the front door, a howl sounded in the distance. One that called to Sebastian’s Goyle.

“Fuck! That’s Dakota. Anthony, you two get the vehicles and head out of town past the Depot,” he whispered, so the surrounding wolves wouldn’t easily hear him. “Go to the station where we got gas, and I’ll call you for pick up.” Sebastian tossed his shirt to his cousin, then unfurled his wings, launching into the sky. Now that he had Dakota’s scent, his Gargoyle was able to track it. Bas flew faster than ever before, skimming the tops of trees while scanning the ground. His heart beat double time with fear and anticipation. If Pheonix or whoever was after Dakota put one scratch on his mate, they would pay dearly. The sound of snarls and paws pounding dirt came from his right, and Bas veered that direction. He saw a flash of fur, but it disappeared beneath the thick foliage. When he caught sight of his mate, she wasn’t running in a straight line. No, his little wolf was making it hard for whoever was chasing to catch her.

Finally, she broke from the cover of trees when she headed for a creek. That was Sebastian’s chance. He pulled his wings back and dove toward the ground. Just as Dakota leapt toward the water, Sebastian closed his arms around his mate’s furry body, then quickly flapped his wings to change trajectory.

“I’ve got you,” he promised as he shot above the trees once more. Dakota shifted to her skin, and Sebastian groaned when he had his arms full of a naked female. The wolf on the ground let out a long howl, but there was no answering call.

“Fuck you, Phoenix,” Dakota yelled.

“Are you okay? Did he hurt you?” Sebastian asked as he moved his mate so he was carrying her bridal style.

Dakota crossed her arms over her breasts. “Nah. He might be bigger, but I’m faster.” She looked down at the ground as Sebastian took her farther away from her brother. “This is so cool,” she whispered.

“We need to find you some clothes.”

“What? You don’t like naked women? Am I not appealing to you, Mr. Stone?” Dakotasassed with a wink.

Gods, this female was going to kill him before they ever mated. Sebastian growled low in his chest.“Appealing? No. I find you exquisite, Dakota. And I promise to show you just how much later, but for now, we need to get out of here and meet my cousins. That is if you want to go with me.” Dakota didn’t answer straightaway, and Sebastian held his breath.

“Am I really your fated mate?” she asked, searching his eyes.

“Yes, you are. I’ll tell you all about it once we’re somewhere other than Bridgewater pack land.”

Dakota pointed west. “My cabin isn’t far, and I can grab some clothes there. What happened with King?”

Sebastian angled his wings to change course. “I told him I’d kill him and take over the pack if he didn’t stand down. He listened to reason.”

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