Page 90 of Shadow Bound

Jax is the first one to break, shaking his head like he’s trying to clear it from the fog they’re under as he blinks at her. He refocuses on Remington as if he’s just now remembering it’s her who stands before him and who he’s still touching, he drops her arm like it burned him and takes a healthy step away from her. His eyes turn from mesmerized to standoffish in less than a second.

I don’t miss the flash of hurt in Remi’s eyes as she watches him walk away.

“Remi…” Ranger starts, but with one threatening look Remi silences him.

“I’m fine,” she snaps, tone full of fury.

“Liar, liar, pants on…hellfire?” I joke, unable to stop myself.

“I hate you,” she seethes before storming away toward Beau and Winslow. And guns and knives… so many, many guns and knives.Shit.

Watching her approach Beau, who gives my sister a simple nod in greeting, I wait for my girl to meet my eyes. Sensing my gaze on her, Tink turns her head and looks at me. Needing to have her close, I crook my finger at her and mouth,“Come here.”

The corners of her mouth quirk, but the smile breaks free. She tries to hide it by ducking her head, but I catch it. Taking the knives she’s been skillfully twisting and spinning in her hands, she sheaths them in their holsters before slinking my way. The way she moves still makes me think of a panther. Sleek and deadly. And all mine.

Not able to take my eyes off her as she moves toward me, I don’t miss it when her spine snaps straight and she whirls around, her long hair flying around her at the speed at which she moves.

When she spins back around, her eyes are wide and fear is written across her beautiful face. Something is terribly wrong if it’s got Isabeau looking like this. The last time she looked at me this way, an avalanche was headed our way. While I know for a fact it’s not another avalanche, it’s something else equally bad. I don’t have to be a mind reader to know what she’s not saying with words.It’s time. They’re here.

Looking behind her, she quickly turns back and sprints to me at full speed. I’m not sure what her intentions are, but I brace my body anyway. She slams into me like a fucking freight train, taking me and Ranger to the ground with her. As we fall to the ground, I’m aware of the softwhizzingnoise above us. Above Isabeau’s head, something flies over us.

At this angle, I can’t see the explosion, but I sure as hell hear it and even feel it as the trees behind us are struck with whatever explosive was just shot at us. The wood splinters and crashes down all around us. Without even thinking about it, I’m gripping Beau and turning our bodies so I’m shielding her from getting hurt.

I feel pieces embed in my skin, but it’s nothing concerning. More of a nuisance than anything.

When the debris stops falling and the world quiets again, I roll off Beau and we sit up, taking in the scene in front of us. My family and pack are scrambling, jumping into action. We knew Noah and Nessa were coming, we’d gone through contingency plans all week, but none of them involved a fucking… missal rocket? Did they really just shoot a missal at us? God, I fucking hate them.

This explosive has Nessa written all over it.

Looking behind us, I find that pile of wood I’d been working on all day is obliterated. If Isabeau hadn’t heard the impending missal, Ranger and I would be nothing but a grotesque smudge on the landscaping right now.

Ranger is the first one to his feet, he sways a bit on his feet as he rushes toward his mate. Winslow is already grabbing weapons off the table Beau had been working at, a rifle with a scope already slung over her shoulder. In our plans, we had planned for Winslow to be sitting up in one of the rooms of her house acting as our sniper. She’s a decent shot, not Isabeau good, but she’ll be a lot of help to us if she’s able to at least pick off some of the rogue wolves and vampires headed our way.

We thought we would have a better warning of the enemy’s arrival having upped security on pack territory, but it appears we were wrong.

As if reading my mind, Isabeau jumps to her feet, offering her hand to help pull me to my feet. “This was a distraction,” she explains. “They’re buying time to get into the territory while all the pack enforcers are rushing here to make sure everyone is okay. Everyone in a ten-mile radius heard that blast and will be leaving their posts. Meaning Nessa and Noah are simply waltzing onto your land as we speak.”And letting a hoard of cooped up, belligerent rogue wolves loose.She doesn’t say that part, but we’re both thinking it.

Jumping into action, I start giving out orders. “Winnie, get to the window. Some of our own will be shifting into their wolf forms too. For the love of God, don’t shoot one of ours.”

“How will I know who’s who?” Winslow asks.

“The rogues will look mangy, unkept, and skinny. They’ve been kept in storage containers for weeks if not months.” I give her the quickest and simplest description I can. “When in doubt, just don’t shoot. Only shoot if you’re positive it’s a rogue.”

She nods in understanding, anyone else would look terrified right now, but not Winnie. She’s as calm and brave as ever.

Howls in the distance have all of us turning. It’s not the rogues, yet, nor Noah—he wouldn’t announce himself like that. It’s a howl we all recognize.Dad. And he’s bringing the fucking calvary.

“This is our home,” Pruitt tells everyone who’s gathered around. “These are our people and we will protect both. They’ve shown us no mercy and we will return the favor. If you have the opportunity to go for the kill, take it, don’t hesitate.”

“No one goes after Nessa,” Isabeau adds in, her tone oddly calm, like she’s simply talking about something as mundane as her grocery list. “She’s mine, she’ll kill you before you even know what’s happening. If you’re dumb enough to try, don’t do it alone. Your odds, while still shitty, will be increased if you work as a team.” She checks the clip on one of the guns she holds. I know without a doubt it’s full of silver bullets. Silver is the one thing that affects both vampires and shifters, the metal toxic to each species. It makes shifters weak, infecting the blood.

The idea that Nessa and Isabeau are no doubt about to finally meet, sends a bucket of cold fear down my spine. My body goes rigid, my muscles and bones stiff. The need to take Isabeau far away from the danger that looms is strong. It’s an overwhelming need to keep her safe and away from things that can hurt her.

Sensing my shift in mood, she turns her head to the side, looking at me. “I’ll be fine, Ransom.” Her hand snakes between us and grabs hold of my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “This was what I was trained for, remember?”

I do remember and that’s the problem. The same person who trained her is the one she’s going to fight. How is she supposed to get the upper hand over Nessa?

The pack stands around in the eerily quiet clearing behind Winnie’s house, the anticipation of the incoming enemy makes the air buzz with tense energy. The sun is starting to fall below the trees, the lack of light added to the ominous vibe.

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