Page 2 of The Alpha's Stolen Mate

That’s for making her scream, you bastard.

Before I could clamp my jaw down, the Rogue spun around, ripping away from me. He was quick in a way that could only be learned from years of fighting in your wolf form. My father had been teaching me hand-to-hand combat since I was six, but he hadn't started my lessons in fighting in my wolf form yet. Even though my opponent was weak with hunger, he was a more experienced fighter than me.

The Rogue retaliated by springing forward and slamming into my side, knocking me to the ground with a loud thud. All the wind was knocked out of me, and I couldn't catch my breath. In the back of my mind, I registered Summer screaming.

Hurry! You have to get up! She needs you.

Even though my mind was screaming at my body, I physically couldn't move.

The force of my opponent's blow had stolen all the air from my lungs. Try as I might, I couldn't force my body back up. A dull buzzing started in my ears, and cold devastation swept through me as the Rogue lunged for Summer,who was trying to scramble off the large rock and run for safety.

But that bastard was determined to get to her. Even though the Rogue was slightly limping on the side where I bit his shoulder, he was still quick as he pounced on top of Summer and tore into her arm.

Her blood curdling scream hit me harder than the Rogue had.

I tried to get back on all fours, but I still didn't have any breath.

Get up! You have to save her!

Using every ounce of willpower I possessed, I struggled to stand, trying like hell to force air into my lungs. Summer continued to scream in agony, spurring me on even more.

You are the future Alpha of the WaterLock Pack. You can beat this bastard who is trying to hurt a member of your pack on your territory. You have to protect Summer at all costs. If anything happens to her, you won't be able to live with yourself.

With shaking legs, I managed to propel myself at the bastard who was still biting Summer's arm. He didn't hear my pursuit, focused entirely on his prey.

You're about to become my prey, you monster.

When I was only ten feet away, I leaped into the air, aiming myself at the Rogue. Thankfully, he turned his head at the last second, unclamping his jaw from her arm. Summer's blood dripping off his teeth made my insides blister with rage. I let out a low, guttural growl. The Rogue's eyes widened with fear right before I slammed into him, knocking him to the ground and tearing into his throat. He tried to fight me off, but there wasn't much he could do while on his back. My wolf took over, and instinct drove me to violently shake my head, ripping apart his throat.

After only a few moments, the Rogue stopped struggling. His body went limp, and his eyes were blank, expressionless.

He was dead.

I didn’t linger over my first kill. I spun around, and my eyes zeroed in on Summer. She was still lying on the rock. Her eyelashes were fluttering, and soft groans were escaping her lips. She had a large bite wound on her arm that was gushing blood. The book she had been reading had fallen to the ground, and some of the pages were flecked with dark blood.

My fear for her safety skyrocketed.

I swallowed past my terror, knowing that I had to act fast. She was losing too much blood. If she didn’t see our pack healer soon, she would die.

Breathing deeply in and out, I centered myself enough to change back into my human form. I wouldn’t be able to carry her as a wolf.

My hands shook slightly as I gently picked her up, making sure to support her head. As I started running, my stomach churned.

“You’re going to be all right, Summer. I promise,” I muttered as I left the sunny clearing, the stream still bubbling behind us.

As I sprinted through the forest, trees blurred past me and branches cracked under my quick feet. The woods continued to play their melodic sounds, but all I could hear was the faint thud of Summer's heartbeat against my chest—a sound I'd do anything to keep hearing.

***

Please wake up. Please wake up.

Summer was lying in a hospital bed, her beautiful face troubled, even in sleep. It had been hours since the attack, and Healer Elijah stopped her sedatives an hour ago. Our pack's healer was standing over her now, waiting for her to wake up.

The knot in my chest loosened a little when Summer’s eyes blinked open, and she raised her head.

Her gaze went straight to mine.

Oh…

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