Page 24 of Wolf Heart

One wolf lunges at him, teeth bared. He catches and rips out its throat.

Another snarls and charges. Raven’s nostrils flare and he kicks it hard in the head, sending it skittering sideways. But it comes back around joined with two more.

I move faster than my thoughts. I’m almost there. Just a few more seconds.

I throw myself at the closest wolf. It turns and lunges at me. I duck, wrap my arms around its neck, and pull Juniper up, using the wolf as a shield.

“Climb,” I command. It’s the only way she’s going to survive this.

The wolf growls and tries to throw me off, but I manage to hold on. I dig my heels into the dirt and fight against its weight. My thighs burn as I pull as hard as I can, yanking it away from Juniper and Raven.

Raven leaps onto a wolf’s back. He locks his arm around its lower jaw and rips bone and tissue.

The wolf shrieks then falls to the ground.

I run to Juniper, who is crying, shaking with wolves surrounding her. Dex and Raven are fighting as many as they can, but they’re swarming her.

Her arms are shaking as she slowly climbs up the tree, but the limbs are too high for her to reach. I nuzzle her up and she climbs on my back, wobbling as she stands to reach the lowest branch.

A wolf crashes into me, knocking me off my paws.

Juniper yells, hanging onto the tree with one hand.

I dive into the horde of undead wolves. My teeth find necks, ripping them open and taking out chunks of flesh. My claws swipe and tear. The air grows thick with the sound of snarls and barks.

Juniper's scent fills the air. Her fear fills me and I can't get to her. Her pain pulses through me and I start to run when Raven suddenly grabs me by the scruff of the neck. I struggle against him, but he’s just too fucking strong. He throws me backward at Juniper who is at the base of the tree, the branch she’d been holding onto cracked. She swings the branch around like it can protect her against the wolves.

Brave, but foolish.

“Get her the fuck out of here,” Raven growls.

Blood fills the air in a thick, metallic scent.

If I was in my human form, I’d throttle him with my bare hands. But I’m not and there’s no time.

If we don’t do something soon, the undead wolves will tear us all apart.

Raven is a blur of fur and teeth, moving as if he’s everywhere at once. I am too. We’re everywhere, but not enough to stop the undead wolves from gaining ground closer to Juniper. Dex roars, enraged, but he’s not enough. Not nearly enough.

The wolves circle us, closing in. Baring their teeth.

I’m not going to let them get her.

I crouch, ready to spring. A black wolf leaps toward Juniper, but I’m faster. I throw myself at it, bringing it down to the ground with me. I bite down hard, shaking it like a ragdoll before I toss it away.

Its head lolls to the side, but it keeps coming, clawing at the dirt.

Fuck!

Juniper looks at me, her gray eyes filled with fear. Both her hands hold the broken branch and as determined as she looks, she’s no match for these.

I need to get her away from here, but I can't leave Dex and Raven.

Dex growls and circles around the wolves, defending the spot where he dropped two of them. Blood leaks from his shoulder. His fur is covered with mud and blood. He looks like the undead wolves except he doesn't have the red glow they do. Raven is still in his human form, but even he can't hold up forever. We have to do something now.

“Run,” Raven commands, his voice harsh and angry. “Fucking run.”

Fear slices through me. Shit. I can't leave or I know it will be the last time I’m ever going to see him.

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