Page 87 of Destined Mate

Theo spun around. I smelled blood and heard a whine. After a second, Theo put me down. My legs almost gave out.

The world swirled, but not so much that I couldn’t make out the attack. Wolves from the patio had arrived, and my gaze landed on a large, strong, dark wolf I instantly recognized.

Bodey.

He ripped out the throat of the dark-gray wolf. Then his gorgeous eyes locked on me, and he raced toward me.

My eyes flitted back to the other wolves who were defending us—Jack, Lucas, Zeke, and ten others I didn’t recognize.

Theo, Samuel, and I weren’t at a large disadvantage, and all but five of the attackers were still on their feet, overtaken due to how strong my friends and allies were.

A hand touched my arm, and I spun around, ready to use my heel as a weapon, but I stopped short when I realized it was Samuel. Of course it’d be him or Theo. They were the only two still in human form, other than me.

“Jeep,” he rasped, tugging me toward the tree line twenty feet away. In a short time, Theo had gotten us far.

I glanced back. Bodey and the others were taking care of the remaining Southwestern wolves, which meant Samuel needed to get out of there. The thought of leaving Bodey behind was unbearable. I couldn’t leave him, but he was safe. I could see that.

Samuel and I took off together. I glanced at him, noticing blood spatter on his navy jacket. I suspected he hadn’t shifted so he could still communicate with me. Once again, my weakness was causing problems.

Theo’s caramel wolf ran up beside me. He must have shifted while I was distracted by Bodey.

Figured.

As we reached the bend in the road, some stress fell from my shoulders. The wolves behind us had been neutralized; Bodey and the others wouldn’t allow them to get near us.

But when the parking lot with over seventy-five cars in it appeared, my stomach roiled. Fifty wolf shifters were spread out across the lot. Bodey’s car was close to us, but ten wolves stood between us and the vehicle.

The three of us stopped, taking in our enemy.

I rasped, “They planned this.”

All fifty of them raised their hackles as they took us in. They knew we’d hurt their allies, but they’d maintained their positions.

“Stay here until the advisers come,” Samuel said and placed a hand on my arm.

I wasn’t sure if he meant to comfort me or make sure I didn’t run headfirst into battle, but I wouldn’t stand by and let them injure anyone I loved.

I stepped forward, and a sharp pain stabbed my feet. A large charcoal wolf in front of the Jeep tilted its head at me.

Yeah, I was wearing a dress, and I was barefoot with my heels in my hands. I didn’t look intimidating, but I’d be damned if I didn’t at least bruise some of them before I went down.

“Bodey’s coming,” Samuel informed me just as Theo stepped in front of me.

The two of them wouldn’t let me get very far, so I’d bide my time.

The forty wolves not surrounding Bodey’s car charged at us.

“Do you have your knife?” I asked, gripping my shoes.

Samuel bent and retrieved it. “Maybe I should shift.”

Considering how strong of a wolf he was, that would be hugely beneficial. “You need to. Give me the keys, and I’ll get the Jeep in position so everyone can jump in.”

“Take this, too,” he said, handing me the knife and keys.

I happily dropped one shoe and took them. I kept the knife in hand and tucked the keys into my bra so I wouldn’t drop them.

Bodey and more of our wolves ran by as Samuel shifted, his clothes ripping off his body. The forty wolves were almost on us, and he needed a few seconds to shift. They’d want to attack him while he was vulnerable, so I ran after the others, Theo at my side.

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