Page 39 of Eclipsed Heart

Bodey and I ran between two large firs, and then we could see the fight. There were twenty gray wolves of varying shades in a circle, which I’d expected, but they weren’t protecting each other. They were protecting the witch in the center.

Her dark hair levitated around her, and her skin appeared unnaturally pale. She held her hands up as her light-blue eyes focused on the ten wolves she was using her magic to keep away.

The enemy moved in a jog as one, completely in tune with one another. They were retreating farther away from our neighborhood, and they weren’t harming anyone…except Samuel.

I focused on my brother.

Five of the wolves pulled away from the main circle, and six others filled in their spaces. Two of them attacked Samuel, while the other three kept Lucas, Miles, and Michael preoccupied.

One wolf jumped on Samuel’s back, and as my brother tried to buck him off, a light-gray wolf clawed him all the way down his snout.

He jerked back, keening as the wolf on his back dug his nails into Samuel’s sides.

This endednow.

I kicked up bits of the ground as I pushed myself toward my brother.

My brother tried to throw the prick off his back just as the lighter gray one struck at his face again.

The light-gray one’s gaze darted toward me, and she raised her leg to swipe at my brother once more. I leapt and sank my teeth into her paw.

She yelped, jerking her paw back, tearing her skin as my teeth sliced through it.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed the witch jerk her head in our direction. I expected her to focus on me, but instead, she homed in on my mate.

Knowing I had to end the gray wolf’s attack on my brother, I diverted my attention to the immediate threat.

A cry behind me wasn’t from Samuel, which told me Bodey was handling the dark-gray wolf on Samuel’s back.

The light-gray wolf tried to put pressure on her foot, but it gave out under her weight, which gavemethe opportunity I needed. I stood on my hind legs and shoved her shoulders, causing her to stumble into a fir tree and crack her head.

Pivoting, the witch said, “Stop his heart.” Then lifted her hand toward my mate.

My wolf raged like never before, and my body moved of its own accord. With every ounce of strength I could muster, I lunged.

Callie!Bodey linked, his fear palpable.No!

The witch’s eyes widened as my body soared in front of her hands. She gasped and quickly lowered them, and a charcoal-gray wolf standing right in front of her whined as it dropped to its knees.

The rival wolves froze at the death of their own but then jumped into action as ten of our wolves arrived and attacked the other side of the circle.

Chaos descended, and the witch remained stock-still, staring at the dead charcoal wolf that had been protecting her.

Finally, we were gaining an advantage, their circle broken. We were no longer the ones outnumbered.

The witch shook her head, tearing her gaze from the wolf and taking in the battle.

This was my chance. I had to reach her.

Turning around, I saw Bodey rip out the darker gray wolf’s throat. Immediately, his gaze met mine, but I looked away, determined to end this now that I knew both he and Samuel were okay.

As I ran toward the witch, she raised her hands. “Immobilize—”

I jumped over the dead wolf right at her. My teeth sank into her shoulder, and she gasped. She turned with my momentum and flung me away, and my back hit the ground with athud. My bite marks marred her body, and her eyes were ice.

“You’re going to pay for that,” she vowed.

Rolling onto all fours, I leapt up to finish her off. If we took her out, the wolves would be easier to detain.

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