Page 2 of Their Mate
It spun quicker than should have been possible, claws raking across my chest, slicing open my shirt and tearing deep grooves in my skin. Pain exploded through my nerves, so vivid it stole my breath away, but there was no time to feel it. At least not now, not with death circling mere inches away.
The wolf lunged, its teeth bared, aiming straight for my throat.
I moved on pure adrenaline, grabbing its thick fur in my fist and using its own momentum against it to drive the blade deep into the side of its neck. It roared, thrashing violently, but I held on, blade buried to the hilt, blood spurting over my hand, dark and slick.
The creature twisted one last time, jaws wide, and sank its teeth deep into my shoulder. A hoarse shriek ripped from me. My vision blurred, and my body screamed, every inch aflame with pain. For a moment, we remained locked in a violent, bloody embrace—hunter and prey, both unwilling to yield, until the wolf shuddered one last time and slumped heavily to the ground.
The clearing fell silent, save for the pounding of my heart and my own ragged breaths. I lay sprawled next to the beast, blood mingling in a shared crimson pool beneath us. My shoulder burned where its fangs had pierced my skin, the sensation radiating through my chest and down my arm like liquid fire.
Somewhere nearby, a soft whimper broke the silence.
With the last strength I had, I pushed myself upright, dragging my battered body toward the little girl. She stared at me wide-eyed, terrified but unharmed, clutching the oak tree behind her for support.
“Are you hurt?” I managed, my voice hoarse.
She shook her head quickly, her eyes darting to the fallen beast behind me. “Is—is it dead?”
I nodded, pain radiating from my shoulder and ribs as I forced a weak smile. “It won’t hurt you. I promise.”
I glanced quickly down at my shoulder, the blood oozing from the deep punctures left by the beast’s fangs. Panic surged through me, and I clenched my jaw tight against the sudden flood of dread.
The bite.
I knew what it meant, but right now, I couldn’t afford to let the little girl see. With a grimace, I yanked up the shredded remains of my shirt, pulling it tight around my wounded shoulder and ignoring the deep, throbbing pain that pulsed beneath the makeshift bandage.
“You’re alright now,” I told her gently, forcing a steadiness into my voice I didn’t feel. “What’s your name?”
She kept staring and trembling, still clutching the oak tree as if she feared to let go.
“C-Claire,” she whispered. “My name is Claire.”
“Okay, Claire,” I said softly, crouching down so I was at eye level with her. I forced a reassuring smile, even though the effort made my ribs ache. “I’m Logan. I’m gonna get you back home. But I need you to be brave and do exactly what I say. Can you do that for me?”
She hesitated for just a heartbeat before nodding, her little face solemn. “I-I’ll try.”
“That’s all I need.” I offered her my good hand, and after another moment’s hesitation, she slipped her tiny, trembling fingers into mine.
The walk back to London was slow and agonizing, every step sending fresh waves of torment through my battered body. I couldn’t stop though. I wouldn’t. Not until she was safe.
By the time the walls of London loomed into view, my body felt like it had been torn apart and put back together again. Sweat soaked my skin, mingling with dirt and blood, but I clenched my jaw and kept moving, focusing on the gates and on getting Claire safely home.
When we finally reached the gates, a handful of guards rushed forward, their faces etched with surprise and concern.
“What happened here?” one demanded, taking in my torn clothing and bloodied body, his eyes lingering on the improvised bandage on my shoulder.
“Wolf attack,” I said simply, my voice tight. “Claire was in the woods. She’s unharmed, but she needs to get back inside.”
The guard nodded, reaching down to help Claire, guiding her gently toward the gates. She hesitated, glancing back at me over her shoulder.
“What about you?” she asked softly, her voice wavering.
I forced another reassuring smile. “I’ve got some hunting left to do,” I lied smoothly, even as I felt my pulse quicken. “I’ll be back soon enough.”
Claire’s eyes widened, uncertainty flickering there, but she nodded and allowed herself to be led back into the city.
I stood there, rooted in place as the gates slowly swung shut. Only then did I let the facade crumble. Pain and exhaustion swept through me, mixing with the dread that coiled deep in my gut. I slowly turned away from the city gates and began walking back toward the woods, each step an impossible effort.
I glanced down at the bite, now searing with a strange heat I knew wasn’t natural. A chill ran down my spine, and I swallowed hard, trying to fight down the sickening certainty building within me.
