Page 15 of Soul of the Chaos

The woman. What had happened to the woman?!

My veins turned to ice as my gaze shot back to the bar, fearing the worst.

As if summoned by the same magic stirring deep in my blood, her eyes locked onto my own. The breath held in my lungs exploded in a gust of relief to see that she was, as yet, untouched by the feeding frenzy surrounding her.

The promise of gasoline curled through the air, followed by the faintest hint of smoke. Ah, our resident firebug had joined the party. I trusted Silver to time his unique contribution to perfection.

Filled with deadly purpose, I fought my way to the woman’s feet as the first Molotov cocktail sailed through the air and exploded at a shifter’s feet. Fiery licks of gasoline and glass embedded themselves in his stomach and flank.

The wolf yelped in pain, scrabbling to escape the melee. The beast’s panic was palpable, ratcheting up the violence of the mob around him.

I barely saw the enemies I cleared from my path. Their bodies toppled in the face of my building rage like toothpicks scattered by an impossible storm. Ignoring the explosions, I stepped over my enemies, uninterested in anything but reaching the ethereal beauty before me. I was compelled by the Goddess to go to her. Any who stood in my way would die. Simple.

The world stopped spinning on its axis. The raving beast inside me was—for a moment—completely still as it took in the beautiful sight of our fierce mate. Unbroken, despite the ordeal that had been hell-bent on ravaging her soul.

Every atom of my wolf’s predator instincts were tuned completely and utterly into her. His ultimate prey. Then, he snapped.

Mine.

Emerald green—an ocean made from endless evergreens—held me transfixed. A cool balm to the bloody tide left in my wake. I was drowning in the regal power of this woman’s gaze which summoned me to her side, urging me on as I carried out my macabre purpose.

I knew with absolutely certainty I would fight to the death on this woman’s behalf.

For she was my mate.

The Bone Crushers had been well and truly caught with their dick in their hands as their pathetic plans went up in flames. Their alpha stood frozen, watching my brothers rip through their clubhouse with ferocious abandon from his puny stage. Even his own men and their guests were turning on one another.

I didn’t give a flying fuck about any of that. My field of vision had reduced to a single detail. The idiot was still holding a leash in his limp hand, tying himself to my mate’s freedom.

A vicious snarl tore from my throat.

All I could see, all I could focus on, was getting that fucking abomination off her neck.

Chains was going to experience a humiliating and painfully drawn out death for putting my woman through such suffering. But first, I would pull her free from this savagery.

Arriving at the base of the bar, I held out my arms in supplication, not really knowing what I was asking for. My mate knew. With a fierce yank, she pulled herself free from Chains and leapt into my arms.

My wolf howled in pride as the woman’s instinct for survival overcame her understandable hesitation. She landed in my embrace, arms and legs wrapping straight around my body despite my battle-splattered flesh. I must have looked like a wild berserker, covered in gore, yet she sagged in relief at the contact.

Could the magic be infecting her too? Did she sense that she was safe in my arms?

Without a word, I turned and strode for the door while the roar of destruction echoed in our wake.

Already one step ahead, Carbon led the charge. We skirted around a fallen Bone Crusher as he rolled and burned on the ground. My brothers effortlessly surrounded my mate and I on every side, guarding our backs and clearing the way.

I could feel that wretched dog collar digging into her collarbone, causing my wolf to let loose a feral growl. He wanted to tear that disgusting thing from her neck and I was right there with him. However, despite my bloody visage and no doubt fierce countenance, there was no tension riding my mate’s body. It was strong yet fluid in my arms, silently trusting me to carry her to safety as her head rested gratefully on my shoulder.

No fear, only beating certainty met my glance down to ensure I was reading her signals correctly.

My mate stared up at me as if trying to convince herself that I was real. One hand lifted up to cup my rough cheek, thumb stroking my coarse stubble briefly before it found its way to the back of my neck to twist itself into my hair. Holding on like her life depended upon yanking on my roots.

A small, private smile curled her lips—lodging itself like an arrow in my heart—while I carried her from the burning clubhouse. And, for one blinding moment of happiness, I allowed myself to believe in the notion that I was the lucky bastard who’d caught a falling star.

NEED A LIFT?

Mongrel

The fire breathed down my neck as if it were a voracious beast fueled by the Blood Moon Goddess herself. I was alone as I slipped out of the brawl and up the staircase closest to the clubhouse bar, careful not to draw any unnecessary attention. So far, my path had gone unchallenged.

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