Page 45 of Chosen Destiny

Damn them and their logic.

As soon as I touched my knife, someone grabbed my arm and yanked my hand away.

Kel.

She dragged me forward, and my feet slipped on the rocks. Even my wolf couldn’t keep me upright, and my bottom hit the riverbed. Freezing water rushed over my jeans and the bottom half of my sweater.

Miles flashed past me and jumped on the queen, causing her to release me. Her back hit the dirty path as Miles wrapped his hand around her neck and squeezed.

Running past me, Samuel lifted his knife high.

I couldn’t see his or Miles’s face, but I could see the hatred and rage in Kel’s eyes as she curled her legs underneath him and pushed him off.

A hand grabbed my ankle to swipe my feet out from under me. I glanced over to find Hank there, his nostrils flared, just as Michael appeared and stabbed Hank in the arm. Hank grunted and rolled over to fight Michael.

Kel yelled, and I climbed to my feet, ready for war. I reached down, finally removed the knife from my ankle, and gripped it in my hand.

Samuel had just clutched Kel’s arm and dragged her toward him when someone fired a gun. I watched in horror as Samuel whimpered and dropped his knife.

Knife in hand, Miles raced back to Kel and Samuel.

I ran toward them, needing to help protect my people.

A slender guard in the center raised a gun, pointing it right at Miles.

My heart dropped. How many of them had guns?

The slender guard fired, and Miles stumbled back as the seven other enemy wolves turned their attention to me, Samuel, and the former advisors. The sounds of battle rang out behind me, and I glimpsed Lucas still fighting Lynerd.

Howls pierced the silence as Russell and his men approached. I needed their asses here. We must have underestimated the distance they’d have to travel since the queen had been here when we’d arrived.

One of the queen’s wolves found me,Jasmine linked, her fear coming through.I’m on the run, but he’s chasing me.

Four of Kel’s men focused on me, and I jumped out of the water, ready to take them head-on. I replied,Why you? Are you alone?

Yeah. Lynerd’s men took off after Russell’s. This wolf found me alone, heading to the vehicles. I had to shift to outrun him. And luckily, he isn’t gaining fast.

This wasn’t going according to plan in any way. If we didn’t get out of here, they’d overtake us.

The queen coughed, recovering from being strangled. She stood several feet away from me, her focus on my brother, who was clutching his arm.

“Donottouch him,” I snarled as I wrapped my arm around her neck, placing the knife at her throat.

She snarled and turned her head in my direction. “Breaking you will be more painful than I planned.” She jerked her head back, hitting my nose.

There was a sickening crack, and I let her go as warm blood flowed down my face and onto my shirt. Dammit, I hadn’t thought that through.

Gunfire pelted through the darkness, and I watched as Phil and Carl got hit. Miles was back on his feet, just in time to get shot again in the other side of his chest, and Samuel was bent over, holding his arm.

We had to retreat.

I couldn’t allow my people to die because of me.It’s not up for debate. Everyone, head back to the vehicles and leave.

Trying not to focus on my injury, I straightened to find the queen smirking in front of me.

“You’ll never beat me.” She laughed as more howls rose from the opposite direction of Russell. “I thought you might do something foolish, youstupid girl.”

My heart dropped. I’d been counting on her keeping her word and not having any backup, but I’d been wrong… again.

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