Page 89 of Destined Mate

The wolf whimpered as it tried to swipe at my legs with its claws, but I pivoted out of range. I reached down and slid my shoe heel from its eye socket. The sickening suction had acid roiling in my stomach. I bit the inside of my cheek, using my common coping mechanism to ground myself.

It was her or me. I stabbed the heel into the wolf’s other eye.

She snarled and tried to bite my hand, missing only by millimeters.

I stumbled back just as Dina appeared at my side. Her hair swirled around her as she stared at the wolf, her forehead creased. The wolf stood and sniffed, trying to locate me, but Dina lifted her hands and chanted, “Force the attacker to the ground once again.”

The wind picked up with so much force that the wolf’s legs bowed under the pressure. I blinked, not believing my eyes. I’d known most witches were connected to an element, and the strongest were capable of healing and mind manipulation.

Dina held her hand out and channeled the wind to keep pummeling it.

“Do you have a weapon?” I asked, desperate to end this.

She shook her head, her focus entirely on the wolf.

Lovely. There was one thing Icoulddo, though the thought made my stomach more upset.

I walked over, ready to break the wolf’s neck. She snapped at me again. Between that and the wind, there was no way I could end her without getting injured.

To the right, Bodey was fighting the ash wolf. He was on top, his teeth sinking into its throat. Samuel was finishing off his second attacker.

We needed to leave. If we got Samuel out of here, maybe the fight would end. That was the best way to save more lives.

Zeke, Michael, and Theo were still fighting their opponents but weren’t at a disadvantage. They were stronger than the Southwest wolves…but the Southwesterners could have reinforcements coming at any second.

A chill ran down my spine. Gingerly, I removed the keys from my bra and pressed the button to unlock the vehicle. Bodey and Samuel jumped toward the Jeep, and I stepped over the ash wolf, which Bodey had just killed, and opened the back door.

Samuel climbed into the back seat while Bodey stood by the door, waiting for me. He nodded to the driver’s seat, indicating I should climb in.

“I have to shut the door,” I said, flustered. I understood he wanted to protect me, but something had to give.

“I’ll get it,” Dina said as she raced around the vehicle, still holding the blinded wolf down. Apparently, she was coming with us. That was more than fine with me.

Snarls caught my attention. A wolf broke away from Theo, Zeke, and Michael and charged toward us.

Shit. Bodey and I jumped into the car, and Dina’s wind moved from the slate wolf’s body to our doors, slamming them shut. Dina ran toward the passenger side as I started the car.

The three wolves lunged against the Jeep’s side. It rocked hard, and my stomach sank. They were going to push it onto its side if we didn’t get out of there.

Dina got in and slammed the door, and I punched the gas. Gravel spewed everywhere, hitting every vehicle and wolf close by and creating a huge dust cloud.

Before the dust obscured everything, I saw the other wolves attacking our people, and my body tensed. Twenty more shifters had left the patio to defend Samuel, so we weren’t as grossly outnumbered, but dead wolves littered the ground. There was no doubt lives had been lost on both sides.

Wolves raced to follow our Jeep. My shoulder throbbed, but I kept both hands on the wheel and maintained control. I couldn’t drive as fast as I wanted, but the wolves couldn’t catch up. As we drove around the trees, twenty more wolves raced toward us. Every few seconds, more joined them.

Pressing the pedal, I increased our speed, aiming straight for the onslaught of wolves. They didn’t hesitate, racing straight toward us. They either had a death wish or thought I’d stop.

Dina leaned forward, bracing her hands on the dashboard. “If you need my help, let me know. I need to conserve as much of my magic as possible for Samuel’s coronation.”

I stayed focused on keeping the Jeep upright. I didn’t drive often.

Bodey’s big wolfy head appeared between my seat and Dina’s, staring out the windshield.

Wanting to prove a point, I pressed the gas harder. The car swerved a little, but I maintained control. I never took my gaze off our aggressors. These assholes wouldn’t see me flinch or hesitate. I’d take out every single one if it meant saving the people I loved.

I gritted my teeth, prepared for the inevitable impact. “Everyone, hunker down.” There were only fifty feet between us and them, and more were running in front of me.

They weren’t going to move.

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