Page 84 of The Unwanted Mate of the Lycan Kings
Tossing me back the other way, I hit a tree, and the hatchet flies from my hand.Shaking my head, I try to feel for the other elements, but the bear’s teeth and claws coming toward me make me rush to my feet.Only the moment I put pressure on that foot, my leg gives way at the pain.I choke on it and move toward the river.
“Zeke, call Hunter!”I groan as I am tackled by the bear.It rips through me and Zeke roars.
“Hold on, Regan and Lyon are on their way!”Zeke yells out while I am being mauled.Its teeth sink through my jacket, and my hands fumble for anything.Finding a jagged rock, I frantically smash it in the head.I can hear Zeke ripping apart the vines, trying to get free, and I wonder if this is when he’ll leave me for dead.
The bear makes a pained groan, and I smash it again, this time on the nose.It rears back, clutching its face, and adrenaline shoots through me.I take off for the river as quickly as possible with my hurt ankle.Blood gushes from my shoulder, and my pants are saturatedwith blood—just like the rest of me.
I am nearly at the water’s edge when I am hit from behind.My body surges forward as claws slice through the arms of my jacket, and all the air escapes my lungs as I am plunged into the icy water.The bear lands on top of me, and my hands flail as I try to get back to the surface, breaching it only momentarily when the bear’s paws are pulling me back under.I scream, and bubbles rise to the surface, and I try to think, but in my panic, I can’t keep a straight thought.
Seconds feel like hours as I thrash, trying to kick and hit it, anything to make it let go, when I feel teeth sink into my abdomen, making me choke and swallow more water.Placing my hands out, I try to feel for the vibration of the water, the energy, its essence.The water suddenly turns still, and I nearly gasp realizing Granny’s water magic is working.The rune on my back burns fiercely, and I stare up at the bear, which is staring at the stilled water with its paw on my chest.
When it drops its head beneath the surface to eat me, I push as much energy as I can at it, blasting it in its face.The bear roars and bucks, and I escape its sharp claws and swim for the surface while feeling the rune burn out.Crap, I now only have two more chances, and I wasted one of them saving Zeke’s dumb ass.
Swimming to the surface, I suck in a huge gasping breath of air and try to swim for the bank.The river flows fiercely again, and my fingertips brush a reed.I grasp it when I feel weight shove me back under, and my fingers lose grip.
Kicking my legs, I stare through the murky water to the surface above, convinced this is how I will die.Bubbles rise to the surface, and I choke, the bear’s weight crushing me.I’m staring at the light above when I see huge furry black feet stomp on the rocks near my head.
I blink, feeling the water filling my lungs.It burns at first, but then I feel no pain.Some strange, bizarre tranquility moves through me as I drown.My eyes flutter shut when suddenly, the crushing weight on top of me lifts, and clawed hands grab me.I wait for the bear to rip me to pieces as air brushes my face.
I gasp, sputtering on water, my lungs burning as the pain quickly returns.When I open my eyes, I find myself in the clutches of a huge black Lycan.My hands grab his shoulders, and my legs kickwhen I see Zeke’s Lycan body pummeling the bear that is trying to kill him.
Turning my attention back to the Lycan clutching me, I wonder who it is, when another gray lycan bursts through the trees.My eyes and nose burn from the water as the new gray lycan jumps in to help Zeke.The lycan clutching me moves to the river’s edge and climbs out.
I am set on the muddy bank, and as the lycan turns to watch the others fight, I see the huge claw marks carved into his back and the blood coating his fur.I turn my gaze to the fight, and the bear backs off, moving to the edge of the woods.
The loss of blood has made me dizzy and lightheaded.When I feel something touch me, I shriek and jump, thinking it’s another bear.Only when its tongue mauls me, I realize it is Gnash.Fur and slobbery tongues hit me from the other side, and I look over to find Shadow and Hunter whimpering and whining.
“Gnash, Hunter, Shadow!Enough, sit!”Regan snaps, and I realize he is the huge black one who saved me.I should have known given Zeke and Lyon are twins, and not only that, but Regan is the biggest, and his Lycan form is no different as he towers over his brothers by a good foot in height.The wolves jump off me, but they don’t leave my side as Regan comes over to me.
He scoops me up and trudges through the woods.I clutch his furry shoulders, nearly toppling back in his arms.“You got here fast?”I murmur, giving in to the exhaustion and resting my head on his shoulder.If he kills me, at least I will get some rest.
“Because I was already looking for you,” he murmurs, and I look up at him.His eyes meet mine briefly then dart away, and his tongue slips across my cheek.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers, and I glance over his shoulder to see Zeke and Lyon climbing out of the river.
“Regan!”Zeke calls, and he tenses but stops.Zeke moves toward us, and my heart races as he approaches.His eyes go to me, but I am much too weak to fight now.
“You could have left me,” Zeke growls.The sound is sinister, and I wait for him to kill me like he promised.Instead, he shifts back, bites the side of his hand, and grabs the back of my head, pressing hisbleeding hand to my lips.
“Drink it!”he orders, and my lips part at his command.Regan’s grip on me tightens, and Zeke’s blood floods my mouth.Lyon looks away, and I pull back, feeling my wounds healing, and a whimper escapes me as the pain leaves.
“Now we’re even!”Zeke growls, storming off.
Chapter 40
My entire body is freezing, and the walk back seems to stretchon forever.The buzz from using Granny’s power has left me paralyzed with exhaustion.After the adrenaline fades, there’s a rock-bottom feeling that is soul deep.Yet, the closer we get to the castle, the more worried I become.I will once again be alone with Zeke.Only this time, I am in no position to fight him.
Using far too much energy than fathomable, I try to sit up in Regan’s arms, his fur tickling my skin as I grip his shoulders.“I can walk,” I tell him.I can’t afford to be lazing around while we walk back.I need to move and get the feeling back in my limbs.Instead of letting me go, Regan just adjusts his grip, one hand sliding under my butt as he wraps my legs around his waist.My face heats when I come face to face with him, and he licks my cheek.I stare at him, thoroughly grossed out, and wipe my face with the back of my hand.
“That’s nasty.God knows where your tongue has been.You could have been licking your ass for all I know!”
He laughs.“I’m not a dog.”
“You look like one walking on two legs to me.”Instead of answering, he does it again, and I swat him with my hand.
“Stop being disgusting!”He laughs, tugging me closer, but when I try to get out of his arms, he growls, nipping my cheek and chin with his sharp teeth.I hiss at the sting of it, wondering what he isdoing and why he is biting me.
“Do that again and I will bite you back!”I snap.When he does it again, I shriek, only this time he nipped my neck.Having had enough of his biting, I bite him back.Only when I do, he shifts, and instead of biting his shoulder like intended, I bite his neck.
