Page 81 of Wolf Touched

Adrenaline pumped through my veins, taking the edge off my pain.

I’m coming with you two,Adam linked and caught up to us on my other side.

The three of us pushed through the woods, Raffe taking the lead and using his alpha connection to lead us to Keith.

Then I heard the bobcat hiss just as I passed a thick tree.

The bobcat was crouched, ready to pounce, and Keith stood in front of it.

He’s with me,I connected with the light fizz of my power. I wasn’t sure how long I could hold onto the connection with the animals now that it was fading. I could only pray it wasn’t too late.

I’m not trying to hurt him,the bobcat replied.It’s what he’s protecting, but I will attack if he doesn’t get out of the way.

What? I stopped in my tracks … and then noticed what the bobcat meant.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Iblinked, struggling to understand what I was seeing, but each time my eyes opened, the scene didn’t change.

Keith stood in front of the younger witch who had almost killed me. She had a large bite mark on her forearm. Blood poured down her light-brown skin, a crimson stain soaking through her black dress, where she held the arm against her stomach. Her hair, darkened from the rain, looked like strands of blood as well.

What the fuck do you think you’re doing?Raffe linked, his anger mixing with mine, putting both of us more on edge.That bitch tried to kill Skylar.

Head lowering, Keith moaned.I … know, but I can’t make myself move from this spot. I have to protect her.I don’t even understand it myself.

I swallowed hard, processing his words. I wanted to run across the clearing and rip out her throat. Of all the coven members I’d come up against, she’d come closest to killing me.

Then I’ll take care of her for you.Raffe charged throughthe clearing, heading straight for the witch, who bowed over in agony.

A low growl came from Keith as he braced himself for Raffe’s attack. When Raffe got within striking distance, Keith slammed into Raffe’s burned side and knocked him into a tree. My mate yelped, and my stomach churned. Everything inside me wanted to hurt Keith, but the longer the woman stayed here, the longer this fight would carry on. She must have spelled Keith in some way.

Kill her,I pushed toward the bobcat, hoping he could still understand me since my power had dulled to a high jolt.

The bobcat didn’t hesitate and growled, following my command now that Keith and Raffe were out of the way.

“No!” the witch screamed, throwing her uninjured hand high. “Please, don’t. I respect the animals of the forest. I don’t want to harm you.”

Keith backed away from Raffe, spun around, and leaped onto the bobcat’s back.

He linked,Sky, please. Spare her. I think she’s my fated mate.

Even though I couldn’t feel his emotions like I could Raffe’s, I sensed the fear and heartbreak in his words.

Fated mate.

If that was true and we killed her, Keith would never be the same. The idea of him experiencing a loss like that caused all the anger to leave me.Raffe, if that’s his fated mate—

I don’t give a damn.Raffe pivoted, readying to attack her once more.

“Don’t hurt him,” the witch gritted, lifting her uninjured hand.

I had to stall them.

Give me a second before you hurt her,I pleaded, pulling on my connection with the bobcat and Raffe.

To my shock, they paused. I pulled my wolf inward, needing to be human again.

Then get your wolf off my back,the bobcat responded.Or I will kill him.

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