Page 49 of Chosen Destiny

Jack.

Acid burned my throat, and I stopped short. I lifted the gun and tried to ignore how uncomfortable it was to fight with it. I’d taken a few shooting lessons with Theo since Zeke was an avid hunter and had made Theo into one as well, but I’d never fired something like this.

I aimed at the center of the wolves on top of Jack and pulled the trigger.

My heart stopped, and time slowed. Within a millisecond, the bullet hit the back of a light-gray wolf at the end of the pileup. The enemy yelped and turned in my direction.

Not exactly where I’d been aiming, but hell, at least I’d hit one of them.

The attack on Jack and the Mercedes halted as the ten of them locked on me.

Great. If I missed, they’d know I was a piss-poor shot, but I couldn’t stand here and not fire at them again.

The five who’d been attacking the Mercedes ran toward me. The other five stayed close to Jack and the injured pack member.

I swallowed and aimed again. Even though I pretty much knew Fate hated me, I still prayed to her.Please, please, let me save the person you chose for me and my people.Then I fired.

The bullet missed a dark-gray wolf racing toward me. The enemy stumbled out of the way. The other four slowed warily.

I blew out a breath and steadied my hand.

I aimed at the wolves on Jack. I needed to split my time between both groups so they didn’t think they weren’t at risk.

Michael, Samuel, and Carl were getting close. I had to make do until they joined me, inflicting enough damage so the enemy wolves feared my shooting.

After a few more shots, I ran out of bullets.

A wolf made a sound like it was choking, which was how we sounded when we laughed in animal form. They knew I was no longer a threat.

The edges of my vision darkened.

As the ten got into position, Michael, Samuel, and Carl appeared through the trees. All three of them lifted their weapons and fired. Of course, they were all better shots than me, each hitting a mark.

The enemy backed up, realizing they were now in danger.

That wasn’t good enough. I needed each and every one of them dead to keep my loved ones from getting injured and dying. I was so sick and tired of Kel attacking us. But I couldn’t run toward them without risking getting shot.

When the wolves scattered into the trees, the three of them stopped firing. I ran toward the Mercedes just as Jasmine’s head popped up from the front passenger-side door. Her gaze landed on us, and relief filtered through me.

Are you okay?I linked as I ran to the back door and glanced at Jack.

He had bite marks all over his chest and face, but when his cobalt eyes found me, he linked,It’s about damn time you got here.

That was when I knew he’d be all right, but our entire group had taken a beating.You said it was always Bodey and me taking the brunt of things—you sorta asked for it.I shrugged, but I couldn’t help but feel grateful. I yanked open the car door as I said,Thank you for protecting him.

My eyes focused on my mate, and my heart felt sick all over again. Kel had beaten him senseless, and he needed healing, like most of the people in our party. First, we had to get out of there. I touched his face, the comforting buzz of our connection bringing tears to my eyes.

I’d almost believed I would never touch him again. A tear dripped off my chin before I realized I was crying.

“He’ll be okay, right?” Jasmine’s voice broke. “He hasn’t stirred. Not even when the wolves almost knocked us over.”

A lump lodged in my throat, and I wasn’t sure how to respond, so I said the only thing I could. “He’s a fighter. He’ll hang on, but we need to get him and several others to a healer. We’re all pretty bad off.”

I looked out the back window. Carl and Samuel were racing toward Jack just as Michael hurried to the front passenger door and opened it. He pulled Jasmine into his arms and glanced into the back seat to examine his son, then frowned, which almost broke me.

He normally emanated a sense of calm, but worry was written all over his face, and it rattled me. Fear coiled tightly in my chest.

“Jasmine, can you drive?” Michael asked.

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