Page 87 of Wicked Fate

There were none. The vampires had already surrounded us once more.

The vehicles skidded to a halt just a few feet away. The truck in front’s door flew open before it had fully stopped. Reid leaped out in one fluid motion, gun raised. Sun emerged from the passenger side simultaneously, her weapon steady in her hands as she scanned the battlefield.

Reid's eyes glowed, no doubt giving instructions as he began firing. Three SUVs and an additional truck screeched to a halt behind him.

The Blackwood pack and Bruce and a few of his pack members poured from the vehicles—four, eight, twelve, sixteen in total—fanning out and firing at the vampires.

"Get down," Sun shouted, her eyes never leaving the vampires circling the witches.

Bullets ripped through the air, most hitting vampire targets. Vampires shrieked as their bodies jerked and convulsed before dropping to the ground. One by one, the vampires removed the guns they had hidden around their ankles and returned fire, ignoring the blood pooling under them.

"Everyone get to cover," Ryker yelled and grabbed my arm, yanking me toward the vehicles as bullets whizzed past my head.

I ducked low, heart hammering as we scrambled for cover. The little witch girl released my hand and dove behind a large oak tree, her white dress billowing like a ghost in the darkness.

Briar stumbled beside me, her face pale. Together, we crouched behind Reid's truck, the metal frame vibrating with each impact as bullets pinged against it. Cassi slid in beside us, breathing heavily, her eyes wide with panic.

Kendric limped toward us, face ashen with pain. Gage ran over, too, and threw Kendric’s arm over his shoulder, helping him get to us, while Ryker stood at the end of the truck, looking for an opportunity to help. Just as he tensed to move, Xander popped out from behind a tree, firing his gun methodically to cover them.

Several more witches were taken down. I had to dosomethingto help them. Casting my gaze around, I saw some large rocks a few feet away. If I got them, I could use them as a weapon.

I lunged, but suddenly a strong arm circled my waist and pulled me back against a brick wall. The jolt of the fated-mate connection sprang to life, alerting me it wasn’t a wall… it was Ryker’s muscular chest.

"Stay down," Ryker ordered, pushing me against a truck tire and positioning his body protectively in front of me.

I peered around Ryker's shoulder, trying to see what was happening. More Blackwood pack members had arrived, providing fresh firepower against the vampires.

A blur of movement caught my eye as a stocky wolf darted between two trees with his mouth wide open. A vampire appeared and tackled him to the ground. The wolf's whimper cut through the chaos as the vampire's teeth tore into his throat, ripping and shredding until the wolf shifter gurgled into silence.

"No," Sun shouted, emptying her clip at the vampire.

My stomach lurched as the wolf's body went limp, blood pooling beneath him. Another life taken because of a vengeful bitch. Who would’ve thought I’d find someone I despised more than Fate?

The swollen-eyed witch collapsed next, a bullet meant for a vampire catching her in the shoulder. She crumpled to the ground, her magic dissipating. Three more witches fell in quick succession—one with her throat torn out by a vampire, another shot through the chest, the third simply collapsing from magical exhaustion.

"They're dying because of... us." My voice broke as guilt weighed down my entire body.

The little girl now stood alone, her tiny frame trembling as a vampire stalked toward her.

Rage exploded inside me. These women—these witches who'd been imprisoned and tortured—had come to save us, and now they were dying for it. Because of me. Because I'd asked them to choose sides.

The rapid-fire gunshots that had filled the night began to taper off. Vampires retreated into the woods. Bodies—vampire, shifter, and witch—littered the ground, and the acrid scent of gunpowder and the stench of copper from blood hung in the air.

"They're pulling back," Reid called out, removing an empty magazine and reaching for another, only to find his pocket empty.

Sun’s gun clicked uselessly as she tried to fire at a fleeing vampire.

Several of the Blackwood pack members checked their weapons, shaking their heads. We'd spent everything we had, and by some miracle, it had been enough to turn the tide.

But not completely.

The vampire stalking the little girl wasn’t deterred.

The little girl stood still as the vampire approached, his lips curled in a feral grin. Everyone else was either reloading or tending to the wounded. No one was watching her except me.

I moved before Ryker could stop me.

His hand grabbed for my wrist.Ember, don't—

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