Page 31 of Billionaire Wolf Needs a Maid

Sean sneered. "Don't be impressed, sweetheart. He's still the same weak loser." He held a gun up to her temple.

Nina's glare could have cut him to pieces. "The only weak one here is the coward who had to kidnap someone because of his shady business dealings."

With a roar that shook the cabin's walls, I lunged for my brother's throat.

Chapter 13

NINA

The cabin trembled around me as the two massive wolves collided. Each impact between the massive wolves sent tremors through the floorboards beneath my feet, making the rustic light fixtures overhead swing wildly.

Dean's silver coat shimmered in the dim light, rippling over muscles that could tear a man apart. His massive form moved with a deadly grace that seemed impossible for something so large. Amber eyes blazed with an otherworldly intelligence that marked him as far more than mere beast.

The sickening crack of bodies colliding echoed off the walls. Rafe's midnight black fur bristled as he snapped and snarled, his teeth flashing like daggers. Dean dodged, but not fast enough. Rafe's fangs found purchase, tearing into muscle. My stomach lurched at the wet sound of flesh rending. The metallic scent of blood was so strong I could taste it on my tongue, making bile rise in my throat. Each new wound opened with a wet, tearing sound that would haunt my nightmares. Blood sprayed in arcs with every shake of their massive heads, painting grotesquepatterns across the cabin's rough-hewn walls. My heart stopped as Rafe's massive jaws clamped onto Dean's throat, threatening to tear out his jugular. Dean twisted, barely escaping, but Rafe's teeth left deep puncture wounds that matted his silver fur crimson.

"See that?" Sean pressed the gun harder against my temple, his breath hot on my ear. "Your precious protector's about to die. Just like you."

I worked desperately at the ropes, feeling skin tear as the fibers bit deeper. Every crash and snarl made me flinch. Through our mate bond, Dean's pain lanced through me like lightning. A particularly vicious bite from Rafe tore into Dean's flank, making him stumble. My wolf was losing.

"Stop!" I screamed as Rafe's claws raked Dean's face, barely missing his eye. "You're killing him!"

"That's the point." Sean grabbed my hair, yanking my head back. "Watch carefully. This is what happens to those who defy the Nightfang family."

Dean slammed into the fireplace, stones cracking under the impact. He tried to rise, but his leg gave out. Something was broken. Rafe's darker form loomed over him, victory gleaming in his cruel eyes.

The rope finally gave way with a sharp snap that sent hope surging through my chest. Don't think, just move. I channeled every self-defense class I'd ever taken, every warning Maggie had drilled into my head about staying safe in the city. My elbow shot backward, finding its target with a solid crunch that vibrated up my arm. Sean's howl of pain sent a vindictive thrill through me.

"You little bitch!" he sputtered, warm blood spraying from his ruined nose.

His grip on the gun loosened just enough. Now or never. The cold metal scraped against my palm as I made my grab. The barrel swung wildly as we grappled.

BANG!

The shot deafened me. White-hot pain blazed across my ribs as the bullet grazed me. Sean used my shock to slam me into the wall. Stars exploded behind my eyes.

His hands closed around my throat. "I'm going to enjoy this," he snarled, squeezing.

His fingers dug in like steel bands, each desperate breath I sucked in burning like fire in my chest. Black spots danced at the edges of my vision. My pulse pounded in my ears, a frantic drumbeat growing fainter with each passing second. My vision blurred and darkened, the world narrowing to pinpricks of light as consciousness began to slip away. Through our bond, I felt Dean's desperation. He tried to reach me, but Rafe blocked his path.

With fading strength, I groped blindly along the wall. My fingers brushed cold metal - one of the iron fireplace pokers that scattered when Dean slammed into it. I grabbed it and swung. The points caught Sean's face, opening deep gashes. He howled, releasing me.

I collapsed, gasping for air. The gun lay between us. We both lunged for it. Sean's fingers closed around the grip first. I grabbed his wrist, forcing the barrel up as he pulled the trigger. The shot punched through the ceiling, sending splinters raining down.

Dean's agonized yelp split the air. Rafe had him pinned, jaws closing on his exposed throat. No no no. Through our bond, I felt Dean's strength failing.

"Say goodbye to your mate," Sean laughed, wrestling the gun toward my head.

Something inside me snapped. With strength born of pure desperation, I slammed my forehead into Sean's broken nose. He screamed. The gun clattered free. I snatched it up and pulled the trigger without hesitation.

The bullet took Sean in the chest. His eyes widened in shock as he staggered back. But he wasn't finished. His hand went to his ankle holster, drawing another weapon.

Dean roared. He lunged at Sean and swiped his claws. Before Sean could even turn around, Dean has shredded him to ribbons. Blood dripped on the floor into a pool, before Sean collapsed on his knees and fell face first onto the floor.

A terrible cry of pain drew my attention back to the wolves. Rafe had Dean's throat in his jaws, ready for the killing bite. Without thinking, I aimed the gun at Rafe's massive form.

"Let him go or you're next!"

Rafe's eyes found mine, calculating. The gun shook in my blood-slick hands but my voice was steel. "I said let him go!"

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