Page 87 of Alpha Exile

Then I hear my name, and turn my head as Bastian calls to me telepathically.

She's coming this way.He jerks his muzzle towards Delphine, who's stalking directly towards us with wind in her hair, strange energy whipping around her like a maelstrom.That can't be good.

My eyes land on a spot in the sand between our position and her feet, and I realize with dismay that Finn has bled out enough to leave a large pool in the ground. Delphine is coming for it, her fingers clutched around a glowing blue object that's no doubt a pair of Spirit Eyes.

I won't let her steal another one of us.

Nodding to Bastian, I leap out onto the sand, his large shaggy form at my side. Kieran falls in behind us, turning to the side to block the tunnel's entrance with his bulk. Delilah and Roarke need a few more minutes to heal Finn before they can re-enter the battle; Bastian and I will buy that for them.

Gathering all my strength, I press my paws into the ground and race directly at her.

I make sure to disturb the pool of blood as I do so, leaping over it and kicking sand behind me. Delphine snarls, whipping out her hand and sending a whip-thin finger of black energy in my direction. I dodge it, rolling and leaping to my feet, then judge the distance between us.

A hundred feet.

It wouldn't be a jump I could make from flat land before, but now the strength of the caverns runs through my veins. So does the weave of the mating tapestry, which has connected me to the land and the sky, the air and the water, in a way I wasn't before.

Flank her from the side and the back,I tell Bastian, falling down to a crouch.I'm going to tear that smile off her ragged face.

Got it.

He peels away, and I dodge another whip of black energy, then race forward three steps and leap.

I push all my power and energy into it, shoving off from my haunches and stretching my forelegs out.

Delphine throws a black energy attack at me, winding it around my middle. I feel it wrap around my chest like a rope. Twisting in midair, I rip through it with my fangs, then twist around to attack her as I land.

My claws dig into her chest. I rip at her flesh, snapping my fangs in her neck and tearing. She laughs, throwing me off with a flick of her wrist. Sliding on my back, I flip around and to my feet again, watching as Bastian attacks her from behind—only to get thrown as well.

Her skin is already healed, faster than the fastest werewolf healing. She still has a tight grip on that glowing blue object in her right hand, and a smug, superior smile on her face.

"Even with all your power, you'll never be able to kill me." Rolling her wrist, she yanks threads of black energy from the clouds that whips around her body, and reaches out to grab a whip-like portion of it. "Just lay back and let it happen."

Seeing her attack before it leaves her wrist, I dodge, running and leaping in a circle around her. Bastian does as well, his fur flying as she flicks the whip towards him, then me. It leaves gouges in the sand where it hits, smoke and black ooze hissing in the air.

As I circle around her, I glance towards the tunnels once more. I can feel Delilah's concentration, can sense that she's almost to the end of her task. She needs more time.

I intend to buy it for her.

So as Delphine turns the whip towards Bastian with a lazy flick of her wrist, I focus on her right hand, the one that holds the gemstones. And I gather down into a deep crouch, narrowing in on it. Bastian senses my intentions and changes directions in front of Delphine, drawing her eye back towards him.

As soon as I'm sure her back is to me, I leap, opening my jaw to snap around her wrist.

She drops the glowing gemstones with a jerk of surprise.

I feel a surge of triumph as I kick them away from her, burying them in inches of sand.

Then her eyes land on me, and she snarls. Twisting the whip around, she flicks it at me—and my entire side bursts into an agony of pain as my flesh melts open wherever the whip touches my fur and flesh.

"You'll pay for that, you beautiful white-furred beast." Digging her fingers into my side, Delphine brings them back coated in blood, and raises her fingertips to her mouth. I twist away from her, alarmed—too late. "Thank you, though, for the offering."

Then I feel it as my will is tugged away from me, replaced with an ever-tightening leash.

I fight it, slowing my body down, resisting the impulse that floods my senses.

I reach for the mating bonds, needing their strength.

I can feel them resist the possession inside me.

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