Page 28 of Craved By the Werewolf
Malrik appeared in their path, his presence striking like a wall of heat and shadow. "Not tonight," he growled, voice edged with something older than the Ridge itself.
The attackers shifted, splitting — one for him, one for the gap he'd left open. It was fast.
And Vala was right in their path.
I didn't think. My wolf ripped free enough to twist my body into a half-shift, claws catching the light as I lunged. Chairs crashed out of my way, startled guests scattering.
The fae was three strides from her when I hit, the force of my shoulder sending him sprawling into a table with enough momentum to splinter wood. He snarled, rolling to his feet with a blade in hand.
"Stay behind me," I yelled to her, keeping my body between her and the threat.
She stepped back toward the safety of the tent, eyes locked on me.
The fae lunged, blade flashing. I caught his wrist mid-swing, claws digging deep until the weapon clattered to the ground. His glamour flickered under the stage lights, revealing pale, sharp-boned features twisted in fury.
I drove my knee into his gut, following with a shove that sent him crashing back into the table again. He was quick — but I was quicker, and my wolf was in full control.
Out of the corner of my eye, Malrik's opponent didn't last long. A pulse of heat rolled through the tent, the air shimmering like it might catch fire, and the fae crumpled to the floor in a heap.
"Yours?" Malrik called over, like we were discussing borrowed tools.
"Mine," I growled.
The fae in front of me slashed upward with a hidden blade, but I caught his arm, twisting until I heard the sharp pop of a dislocated shoulder. He hissed, teeth bared — and then he spat the words at me like a curse.
"This place is a sickness. You think peace makes you strong. It only rots the blood."
His voice was low but carried a weight you couldn't ignore. My wolf bristled, not just at the insult but at the conviction behind it.
Before I could demand more, Raina slid in, fast and efficient. "Want me to take out the trash?"
"Do it," I said, already turning back toward Vala.
She was still where I'd left her, half in the shadow of the tent, eyes locked on me. Safe.
By the time I reached her, Raina and Malrik had the intruders out of sight, the music from the stage still pounding like nothing had happened. Most of the crowd hadn't even noticed — and those who had were quickly distracted by Malrik's glamour haze, a subtle push to forget what they'd seen.
Vala's voice was steady, but her eyes gave her away. "I've never seen fae like that. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." I took her arm, guiding her toward the deeper cover of the tent. My wolf wasn't settling down anytime soon.
Malrik emerged from the shadows, the last wisps of his magic curling away. "Ashen Accord," he said flatly. "Old fae bloodlines. They don't tolerate interspecies ties. They'll be back."
I had no doubt — shadow plays, disappearances — but never targeting Mystic Ridge. Until tonight.
I locked eyes with him. "Not if I find them first."
The rest of the night went on without another incident, but my wolf stayed restless. Security tightened, the crowd never knowing how close the night came to shattering. Vala kept her composure, moving through the event like nothing had happened. I stayed close enough to reach her in one breath.
By the time the last song of the set faded, Lana hurried in, flushed with triumph. "We crushed last year's numbers—record fundraiser before the finale."
That got Vala hugging her. And for a moment, the tension in my chest eased.
We stepped back on stage for the last act, crowd still roaring. Vala leaned into the mic. "Thank you, Mystic Ridge, for making this a night to remember. This is Nightingale... and the Alpha... slipping into the mist."
The crowd exploded.
We left the stage for the wings and cut through the VIP tent. Mika was waiting, phone glowing. "You're all over Glitter," she said. "Hashtag AlphaGoals is blowing up. And there's fan art. A lot of fan art."
