Page 19 of Corbin
Power flooded around Corbin, causing his wolf to sit up fast. If he’d been in animal form, the scruff on his neck would be standing.
Jaz walked up to the group. Tall and athletically muscular with short, scattered black hair, she moved with fluid motions. Nothing about her outward appearance warned of what she hid inside.
Corbin hadn’t realized she was anywhere near them. That burst of power had been deliberate. She and Adrian had made it clear they were a different type of shifter from the rest of them.
Would her mystical power be enough to back Badger down?
When she spoke to Badger, her words were clear and firm. “You would have to challengemeto be alpha. You must be suffering from short-term memory loss. It wasn’t that long ago when you were present when Adrian’s red wolf destroyed five of the Blood King’s pack with zero help. Red would break his own record in how fast he could rip out your wolf’s throat. Since you’re about as sharp as a bowling ball, I feel the need to put this in even simpler words. If you choose to shift into your wolf and challenge me to be alpha, I’ll accommodate you. Attacking me will prove you have lost your ability to control your wolf and manage your emotions, as well as possess any sense of survival. As a healer, I prefer to offer sick wolves mercy, but in this instance, I will call up my wolf to put yours down. She will do it without hesitation. Choose wisely.”
Corbin spoke telepathically to Ares.I hope you heard every word she said and felt the rush of power she barely released.
Ares made a grumbling sound, but for once had no comeback.
The other three shifters moved back in anticipation of the battle. Corbin cut a quick look at Adrian, who seemed content to allow the silence to force Badger into withdrawing.
A minute passed.
Badger had stilled the moment Jaz’s power swept through the opening. A tiny muscle flicked in his jaw that had shrunk back to normal. Then his eyes changed from a dull gray to the unholy white silver that had to be his wolf.
Adrian and Jaz exchanged looks filled with silent dialogue. Corbin figured the others had become as accustomed to those two speaking telepathically as he had, even though no one asked about it.
This was about to turn bloody.
Badger’s breathing kicked up. His heartbeat pounded loud enough for every shifter to hear. A sure sign of fight-or-flight mode. The mad shifter’s gaze flicked between Jaz and Adrian. He spoke softly in a voice turning more guttural by the second. “Gonna let a woman fight your battles, non-alpha?”
Was that his wolf driving his tongue?
Shrugging, Adrian said, “This is Jaz’s circus and her monkeys. As her mate, I will kill anyone who harms her, but she doesn’t need my help to put down a wolf with a death wish. If you’re still determined to spend the last minute of your life posturing, go right ahead. Nothing will be left of you but a fleeting memory.”
Corbin angled his body slightly between Jaz and the pack dumbass. Even as he did it, he questioned what he thought he was going to do.
Ares didn’t leave him confused for long.He is not a friend. You interfere when no one wants your help.
Jaz made a grumbling sound. “I’m cooking dinner. If you want to eat good food and drink beer, go get cleaned up. If youwant a spot in our new cemetery, let’s do it so the rest of us won’t have to eat late.”
She tended to have even less patience than Adrian when it came to dealing with stupid people. Badger’s intelligence had been smothered beneath a pile of shit for brains.
He stomped around, mumbling in a low voice, “Don’t want to die. No! Stay put!No!” Then some less discernible words. “No killingtonight.”
Corbin’s eyebrows lifted. Was Badger arguing with his wolf and trying to keep the animal from breaking free? About time. Corbin grinned at the change until he glanced at Adrian and Jaz.
Neither one appeared convinced this was over.
Badger clamped his hands over his head as it began to change shape. “No! Stop!”
Jaz told Adrian, “He’s had enough chances.”
“I hear ya, babe.”
She started unbuttoning her shirt.
Panic ran through Corbin cold as an icy river. Hell. This can’t happen. If Badger’s wolf came out now, Ares would not be stopped. Jaz and Adrian would finally know what a screwed-up wolf he harbored. The minute Ares lunged into mindless attacks on everyone, Adrian’s big red wolf would rip Ares apart while Jaz handled Badger.
Ares had never been bested, but Adrian and Jaz did not brag about their wolves.
They merely warned the pack of what an out-of-control wolf would face.
Badger’s jaw warped out of shape. He took a step toward Jaz.
