Page 113 of Heart of the Rebel Mate

Then I hear it.

A low, predatory growl that makes my fur bristle. I spin just in time to see a blur of motion—an enforcer charging straight for Adrian's exposed back.

"Adrian—!"

But before I can move, Cassian is there.

His massive silver-and-white wolf collides with the enforcer mid-leap, the impact sending them both tumbling across the blood-soaked ground. A snarl of pure fury rips from Cassian's throat. His teeth clamp onto the enforcer's leg, and with one savage jerk, he snaps bone.

The enforcer howls, but Cassian doesn't stop. He's feral, relentless, fighting with the kind of fury that doesn't care about survival.

A second enforcer lunges for him.

He turns, too slow.

I see the flash of claws, the gleam of bared teeth, and I move on instinct.

My body collides with the attacker. We hit the ground hard, rolling, snapping, tearing. Blood sprays as I sink my fangs into their throat, but the enforcer twists violently, breaking free.

They slash at my flank.

Pain flares, white-hot and searing, but I don't let it stop me.

I lash out, knocking them off-balance, and as they stumble?—

Adrian descends like a goddamn executioner.

His massive black wolf slams into them, fangs closing around their skull. A single, sickening crack—and the enforcer goes still.

We barely have time to catch our breath before another wave surges toward us.

Cassian is still fighting, but something is wrong.

His movements are slowing, his attacks reckless—too reckless.

Adrian sees it too.

"He's trying to get himself killed," Adrian growls, shifting back to human form in a blink. His voice is raw, edged with something I don't want to name.

I force myself to shift, stumbling slightly as my injured leg protests. "Cassian!" I shout, but he doesn't hear me.

Or maybe he doesn't care.

He's bleeding heavily, fresh wounds joining old scars. But he keeps going, tearing through enemies like a man possessed.

Then I see them.

Four enforcers closing in behind him, moving in perfect formation. A trap.

Cassian doesn't see it.

But he knows.

And he doesn't run.

He lunges.

Straight into the trap.

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