Page 74 of Betrayed Alpha Bride

I spin back around, blood dripping from my jaws as I fix my eyes on the other wolf. He’s starting to back away, but that isn’t going to save him.

Tried to take my son! I’ll kill you!

A shudder runs through the other wolf as he flattens his ears and tries to spring away. I leap at him, crashing into his shoulder so hard we both roll across the ground, snapping at each other and growling as I try to grab his ruff.

The other wolf tries to slither away, but I manage to get on top and pin him to the ground. I can hear the pattering of paws all around me, and I know my pack has come. I glare into the other wolf’s yellow eyes, enjoying the fear I see in them. He yelps and wriggles, trying to get away, but I have no mercy in me.

With one sharp jerk of my head, I rip open his throat. Blood sprays across my face, but I pay no attention to it as I spin around and shift, running towards Nico.

“Nico!”

“Dad!” my son screams, running to me and throwing his arms around me. I pick him up, spinning him around and holding him tightly against my chest.

“Oh my God, son,” I pant. “I thought I lost you.”

“I’m okay, Dad, I’m okay! It was really scary, but they didn’t hurt me.”

“Thank God.”

“Galen,” Sherman speaks from behind me. “We’ve cleared the area. Were there any others? It looks like we missed some.”

“There were two others,” I say, putting Nico down and running to Sherman. “I knocked them out. Each on the west and south corners.”

“They aren’t there now, alpha.”

“Shit! They got away?”

“Looks like it.”

“Fuck!” I run a hand through my hair, berating myself for doing a poor job of this. They got too close, and now I can’t find out who they are, or why they’re here.

A faint trickle of unease runs through me. At first, I can’t place it, but then, while I’m looking at Nico, the realization hits me like a blow to the face.

Where’s Clara? Why isn’t she here comforting her son?

“No,” I mutter, turning to run towards the house. “No, no. This can’t be happening!”

I slam the back door open, hoping to see her standing by the counter, drawn, worried, but safe.

The kitchen is empty.

“Clara!” I scream, running through the house. Her scent is all around me, so thick that it feels like she must be here, somewhere, but all I find is empty space.

Finally, I run to the front door, looking out over the lawn. Pain and loss open up inside me, dropping me into a well of despair—and sparking a desperate, burning rage against those who would hurt my mate.

“What happened?” Sherman asks from behind me. “Are we secure?”

“No, we’re not,” I growl. “They took her. They took my mate. And now I’m going to kill every last one of them.”

Chapter 23 - Clara

When Galen races from the kitchen, Nico is hot on his heels. I grab his arms, desperately trying to pull him back into the room.

“No, Mom, let me go! I have to help Dad!”

“Your father would want you to stay here with me, where it’s safe!”

“But he needs help!”

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