Page 75 of His Mate

The new wolf was enormous, its coat dark as coal, the muscles rippling beneath its fur with every step. Its eyes, a searing amber, locked onto us with an intensity that sent a prickle down my spine. It was clear from the way the other wolves obeyed that this was no ordinary wolf; this was a leader, a ruthless alpha who wouldn’t leave until every last one of us was dead.

Beside me, Kendra’s body went rigid, her own eyes narrowing with recognition. She shifted closer, her fur brushing against mine, a silent promise that whatever came next, we’d face it together.

The alpha let out a low growl, and the other wolves around him sprang into action, lunging forward with renewed ferocity. Sorin and the Resistance opened fire again, their shots precise, but the wolves were faster now, more coordinated. They tore through the line, closing in on us with brutal efficiency.

I locked eyes with Kendra, a silent understanding passing between us. We couldn’t let this alpha regroup his pack or rally them further. He had to go down.

With a nod, we broke into a run, charging straight toward him, our bodies low to the ground, muscles coiled and ready. The alpha’s gaze snapped to us, his lips peeling back in a snarl, his massive form bracing as we closed the distance.

Kendra reached him first, leaping at his side with the grace of a shadow. She aimed for his neck, her jaws snapping, but the alpha twisted, dodging her strike. He was fast, unnaturally so, and his claws raked across her shoulder as she landed, sending her skidding across the ground.

A snarl ripped from my throat as I lunged at him, my claws slashing through the air. I caught him across the chest, but he barely flinched, his focus shifting to me, his eyes cold and calculating. He lowered himself, his gaze locked onto mine as he prowled in a slow circle, his posture challenging, daring me to strike again.

I didn’t give him the satisfaction of waiting.

With a surge of power, I leapt at him, aiming for his exposed flank. My teeth sank into his shoulder, tearing through flesh, and he let out a furious roar, his body twisting as he threw me off. I landed hard, rolling to my feet just in time to see Kendra darting forward again, her movements sharp and relentless. She was a streak of black as she went for his hind leg, her jaws clamping down with brutal force.

The alpha’s snarl turned into a growl of pain, but he didn’t back down. He reared back, his massive paw striking Kendra in the side, throwing her off balance. She staggered, but before he could go in for the kill, I was on him, crashing into his side with all the force I could muster.

We collided, teeth snapping, claws raking, every ounce of strength and fury pouring into the fight. He was powerful, his blows landing with enough force to bruise, to tear, but I wasn’t going to let him win. Not here, not while Kendra was in the line of fire.

Kendra regained her footing, her gaze fierce, and together we moved in sync, circling him, taking turns lunging in, striking, then retreating. His movements grew sluggish, the blows we landed starting to take their toll, but he fought on, his snarl growing more desperate, more savage.

He surged toward me, his claws ripping into my side. A fierce tearing pain made my vision go white. His claws sank deep, cutting through fur and flesh like blades. I staggered, my breath catching, but I held my ground, refusing to back down. The blood was hot as it soaked my coat, matting the fur along my ribs, and each breath burned as if fire was spreading through my veins.

The alpha took advantage of my momentary weakness, lunging forward with a snarl, his teeth snapping inches from my throat. I managed to twist away, but the pain intensified, sharp and brutal, nearly blinding me. For a heartbeat, the world spun, the sounds of the battle muffled by the pounding in my ears.

Kendra darted forward, low to the ground, slipping beneath his guard, her jaws closing around his throat in a vise grip. He let out a strangled roar, thrashing beneath her hold, but she held firm, her body taut with determination.

I surged forward, sinking my teeth into his side, adding my weight to hers as we dragged him down. His struggles weakened, his growls fading to whimpers as we held him there, pinning him, refusing to let him escape.

With one last shudder, his body went still, his eyes losing their fire as the life drained from him. Kendra released him, stepping back, her chest heaving, her gaze hard as she looked down at the fallen alpha.

That should have been the end of it.

The wolves, leaderless and scattered, hesitated only a moment before surging forward again, pressing onward like animals possessed.

The Resistance forces, caught off guard by the sudden, frantic surge, reloaded and fired, but the wolves were already closing in. They darted forward in a wave, pushing toward the courthouse steps, reckless now, driven by rage and desperation rather than order. The building’s dark windows loomed like empty eyes over the scene, and every human still standing tensed, readying for a fight that wouldn’t end easily.

Beside me, Sorin’s hand moved to her belt, her fingers finding a small black device she’d shown me earlier, something she’d kept reserved as a last line of defense. Her eyes were narrowed, and her lips were set in a grim line as she watched the wolves funnel into the courthouse, single-minded in their rage. She met my gaze briefly, a flicker of iron-hard resolve in her eyes.

Then she pressed the button.

The explosion shook the ground with a force that reverberated in my bones, a shockwave that spread out in every direction, and in an instant, the night was torn apart by fire and heat. The windows of the courthouse shattered, flames erupting from the building’s doors and blasting out through the roof. The wolves inside had no time to react, their snarls drowned out by the roar of fire and crumbling stone.

I shielded Kendra, my shoulder burning with pain as debris rained down around us, the bright light of the flames casting shadows across the compound. The explosion echoed through the night, the smell of charred earth and smoke thick in theair. We watched as the fire engulfed the building, its shining tendrils reaching high into the sky, illuminating the faces of those around us—faces etched with a mixture of relief and grim understanding.

The few remaining wolves outside the courthouse staggered, their eyes wide with terror as they backed away from the inferno, their retreating forms disappearing into the shadows. The Resistance soldiers held their ground, weapons still at the ready, but there was no need. Whoever remained fled, their howls fading as they vanished into the darkness.

The battle was over. We had won.

But as I looked out over the broken compound, seeing the fallen bodies and the smoldering remains of the courthouse, I knew this victory was only a temporary reprieve. The wolves would regroup, rebuild, come back with greater force. The Resistance had won this battle, but as I looked to Kendra, Silas, Sorin, and those who stood beside us, I knew with grim certainty that the war was just beginning.

CHAPTER 24

One week later

Kendra

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