Page 81 of Corbin
Corbin said,I felt that hit too. Move. Don’t stand still.
Without replying, Ares started pacing around the back of the bear, who turned to protect his backside. This would not last long.
Ares walked on shaky legs. Corbin had no advice. Warm liquid poured down his wolf’s face. They were bleeding profusely.
If the grizzly simply waited, Ares would lose consciousness, and this would end immediately.
A high-pitched growl interrupted Corbin’s thought.
Oh, no. No, no, no. Pixie had come to help.
The grizzly huffed in surprise, then turned to the reddish-golden wolf, forgetting Ares.
A rush of panic exploded inside Ares, almost blinding Corbin with so much power at once.
Pixie started barking.
That bear kept walking upright toward her. He would try the same thing he’d tried on Ares. To crush her.
Ares lunged at the ankle he’d started tearing into before, this time with claws slashing fast. When blood and tendons broke free, Ares grabbed a chunk and dragged them out.
Pixie quieted, staring up at her death. She had to be in shock, unable to move.
Ares growled at her.
She jumped back then spun around and ran twenty feet.
Good thing, because the grizzly fell face-first in her direction. Its long arms came down beyond the head, reaching for Pixie.
Ares ran around and clawed the second ankle, destroying it. Any other time, he and Ares would agree to take off to live another day. Not this time. Ares would not leave until he ensured the bear could not get up and reach Pixie.
The bear’s outstretched body had landed outside the woods, not far from the destroyed motorcycle and Mitch’s mangledcorpse. While the bear lay there whining in pain, Ares sat down hard. He fought for breath after breath.
Corbin gave the words his wolf deserved.That was the most powerful fight I’ve ever seen you execute. You are one hell of a wolf, and I am honored to share my life with you.
Ares had nothing to say, which was encouraging for Corbin. Maybe his wolf really heard him this time.
Pixie waited beyond the bear’s reach. It would take a while for this one to die, but Ares had done his best to end it quickly. He could not risk getting close enough to rip out the bear’s throat.
Adrenaline could push the monster to kill Ares with one slap.
Besides, this bear did not live in this park. Someone had brought him.
Corbin told Ares,We should leave as soon as we can before whoever brought this bear shows up with weapons and titanium rounds. They’ll see the bear the minute they get into this clearing.
Ares stood, sidestepped, then shook off the dizziness. He made a wide circle around the bear and exited the woods on the left of where Pixie stood. He gave a huff, and she came running to nuzzle his neck.
Corbin had never seen Ares smile since the attempted drowning, but he could swear his wolf was happy now. Ares licked Pixie’s muzzle then angled his head away from the bear.
She nodded and followed him. When they reached the woods beyond where Corbin and Eirene had picnicked, Ares froze.
Water roared far below them.
Corbin said,We’re out of sight of the bike explosion and the bear. Take a moment to rest, and we’ll figure out what to do next.
Turning until he had a spot shielded by underbrush, Ares dropped all the way down with his front legs extended as he faced the carnage.
Corbin would like to talk to Eirene, but Pixie was being a trooper. She dropped to the ground next to Ares.
