A loud howl hurt my ears as I watched Griffin attack one of the enemies who was holding a gun. The weapon fell, and when the guy reached down to get it, Griffin lunged, slashing his teeth through the back of the guy's neck with a sickening cracking noise. The guy crumbled.
Goatee used my distraction against me as his finger connected with my eye. As the pressure increased, my heart sank, and I realized that I could lose my eye.
Killian attacked another man with a gun while Griffin ran toward me.
I hated that he was running to me instead of attacking the other guard, but right now, I was at a huge disadvantage, and theguard seemed confused as to whether he should help Goatee or fight Griffin.
The boat motor grew louder, and the pungent smell of gas wafted around us. It was that damn close.
"Shoot her other leg before she kills me." Goatee cried as his voice began to slur from blood loss. His finger’s pressure reduced on my eye as his strength finally began to fade. "Now!"
The gun clicked as it was cocked, and I braced for the pain. I only hoped that the guy missed his mark and killed me.
Death would be more welcome than living through whatever they planned to do to me.
A loud, heartbreaking howl pummeled my ears as Griffin jumped in front of me.
No, what was he doing? The guy was going to shoot!
As the gun fired, I jerked away from Goatee, desperate to get Griffin out of the way. Considering the angle at which the enemy guard was trying to shoot me and the way Griffin landed in front of me, it would be a kill shot for him.
But my legs fell out from under me, and Griffin's wolfish body took the bullet in his chest. The momentum knocked him backward, and he fell hard next to my legs.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
This hadto be some crazy dream. A horrible nightmare that I could wake from. I couldn't have lost Griffin before we even had a chance to embrace our relationship.
Watching him bleed out forced me to realize my biggest regret.
Being too scared to bond with him.
A loud howl vibrated all around us, and it took a moment to realize that the cry was coming from me. My heartbreak shattered my soul, and hatred flowed through my body.
I'd be damned if I left with these assholes. After everything they’d taken away from me, I'd rather die than give them what they wanted.
The thrumming of the boat engine indicated it was almost upon us. We were running out of time, no one more than Griffin.
"Ssseee," Goatee slurred, barely able to keep his eyes open. "We will always wiiinnnn."
Not if I have anything to do with it.
Anger fueled my body, and I gathered enough resolve to put weight on my front paws and reach his neck to rip out his throat. For the first time ever, I didn't feel remorse. Numbness took over.
Large black wings rushed past me, helping rage ward off the strange haze I was locked in.
That damn bird topped my shit list, seeing as he’d probably been watching me for longer than I'd ever realized. I'd pluck him feather by feather until he couldn't handle it and turned back to his human form.
I turned to attack before the crow could hurt Griffin more but stopped short when my gaze landed on Rosemary instead. All of the enemy guards lay dead on the ground except two. One was engaged in battle with Killian while the other swung his gun in the dark wolf's direction, ready to shoot.
No. I can't lose him too.
I tried to stand on both legs but fell hard on my stomach. Whether I wanted to admit it or not, Goatee had done a number on me. All I could do was lie there in agony as the last man got ready to shoot Killian.
As the gun fired, Rosemary circled her wings, making her feathers blend together and surround her. She stepped between the bullet and Killian.
Did she have a death wish? I watched in horror as the bullet hit her…and bounced off her wings.
"What the—" the guy stuttered as he dropped his gun.