Page 339 of Warlords, Witches & Wolves

Chapter 15

Mia

“You mated with one,” the guy sneered. His tone filled with so much disgust and hatred it made my knees shake.

I bit down hard on my bottom lip to prevent from making a sound.

Mated?More questions flooded my mind. All I knew for sure was that I needed to remain hidden. If I didn’t, I had no doubt this guy would kill me.

As quietly as I could, I snuck backward, bracing myself on the bottom shelf of a workbench. My fingers landed on something long and sharp. A knife?

“You’re a traitor,” he roared, slamming something hard against the outside of the shed. “Just like your grandmother.”

I bit my lip again to prevent crying out.

This creep wasn’t just someone who knew Joan. He was a hunter. Most likely the one who killed her for betraying their disgusting so-called legacy.

A wolf howled again, the same one as before, closer this time. Another joined the call, coming from the opposite direction.

Noah’s brothers? Were they coming here?

I hoped not.If the wolves came, the hunter would slaughter them. He’d kill all of us. Everything Joan did to protect me, to protect the Cole family, would be for nothing.

I frantically tried to figure a way out of this. A way for all of us to make it out alive.

My stomach rolled, swishing around until I thought I’d vomit. I couldn’t just hide in the shed all night and do nothing. I needed to help.

I curled my fingers around the knife. A strange wave of adrenaline coursed through my blood while I familiarized myself with its length and weight. Longer and thicker than a kitchen knife but more jagged with a heavier handle. A knife wasn’t as effective as a shotgun, but let’s face it, I had no experience fighting with either.

Distracting the hunter bought the wolves valuable time.

With the knife gripped tight in my hand, I straightened my legs slowly and quietly, peeling myself off the ground. Hunching over at the waist so the hunter didn’t spot me, I snuck around the workbench and halted by the door.

The rolling in my stomach solidified, forming a massive lead weight. Even with my heart lodged firmly at the base of my throat, the hand clutching the knife remained calm and steady. Was it because of the hunter curse? Was part of me subconsciously prepared and conditioned to fight even though I’d only just discovered my heritage?

I hoped so.

I inhaled several slow, deep breaths until my heart rate leveled. The wolves silenced. I guessed they were closer now, stalking through the forest, preparing to strike. I just needed to keep the hunter distracted.

I could do this.

I peeked my head around the workbench to spot where the hunter—

All at once, the hunter lunged at me. Deep orange light erupted inside the shed. A translucent shield flared in the doorway. I screamed, falling on my ass, scurrying backward. The knife skidded across the floor.

Some badass fighter I was.

The hunter shrieked, his arm caught between layers of pulsing light in the doorway. The sickening smell of burning flesh made me gag.

The hunter jerked his arm free from the magical shield.

“You bitch,” he roared with so much menace it made my bones rattle. “I’ll gut you along with your wolf.”

Then, as if he’d never been there, the hunter spun and dashed around the side of the shed.

What. The. Hell?

How did a magical shield prevent the hunter from entering the shed, but not me?

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