Callie, recognition showing on her face as she began to understand, begged them. “Please, don’t let them hurt him.”
He’d do anything for her, but could he do this? He glanced up to find Wesley hunkering down, ready to pounce.
Yes, I can.
The world shifted and took on an amber hue. The familiar pain rushed through his body as he changed. His inner wolf howled with relief mixed with exhilaration as he transformed then crooked his head to stare at his brothers.
Blue grumbled another curse then shifted, too. But Raine stood fast, shaking his head. “She doesn’t understand about them. Maybe this is the way to make her get it.”
Callie whirled and grabbed Scrunch’s arm. Together, they huddled against the dirt wall, trying to get into a protective position. Not that it would help. Wesley and his mates would tear them apart with one swipe of their claws, then take their lives with a crunch of their massive jaws on their necks.
But Pete wasn’t about to let that happen. Snarling, he rushed at Mikea. Hurling his body at his friend, he knocked the wolf over. They rolled several yards before each of them got to their feet.
Mikea’s eyes burned with anger. Although he didn’t have to say anything, Pete knew his friend felt betrayed. No one had ever chosen one of The Cursed over their own.
Snarls and growls erupted behind them, telling him that Blue had joined in the fight. But he couldn’t take a chance to see. Instead, he had to watch for Mikea’s next move. If he didn’t, he’d leave himself open for attack.
Mikea jumped at him, his jaws open to sink into Pete’s flesh. Pete didn’t want to hurt his friend, but he couldn’t allow Mikea to harm Callie even if it meant protecting one of The Cursed. He tried to duck, but Mikea struck him in the side, knocking him down.
Desperation swamped him as the big wolf pounced on top. Fighting from the bottom was never a good thing, but he bit and clawed at the wolf’s underbelly until, at last, Mikea jumped off. He scrambled to his feet, coming up a foot from his friend’s face.
“Callie, now!”
Raine’s voice proved he was still in his human form, leaving him vulnerable to the wolves’ attacks. Had he stayed that way to help her out of the hole? He wanted to see, but couldn’t take his eyes from his opponent.
Mikea gazed past Pete and a howl ripped from his throat. He started to get around Pete, but he stopped him, using his body as a wall. He’d give Raine and Callie the time they needed.
“Shit! Shit!”
Raine’s curses didn’t make him feel any better. Come on, bro, get it done.
Mikea backed up, snarling, his focus clearly on what Raine and Callie were doing. With Mikea far enough away, Pete dared to look.
Blue was playing guard against the two other werewolves while Raine held Callie close to him. Scrunch crouched at the edge of the forest, his red eyes blazing, then, with a low growl, he scurried into the trees.
Mikea and the others reverted to their human forms. Pete and Blue did the same after getting closer to Raine and Callie.
“You chose that thing over your own kind.” Mikea spit out the accusation.
“You gave us no choice. We chose the safety of our mate. If you’d tried to hurt it, then she would’ve tried to defend it.” He doubted his argument would change their minds.
Wesley shook his head, but it was the way he regarded them, his face a mask of disdain, that hurt the most. “The Council will hear about this.”
Blue stood tall next to him with a trickle of blood running down his chest. “We don’t doubt it. And when they call for us, we’ll come.”
Shira narrowed her eyes at Callie. “I don’t understand how any woman could do this to her mates. You brought shame to yourself as well as to your men.”
Pete was proud of Callie as she held her head high and didn’t cower under Shira’s criticism. He could smell the fear wafting off her body, but she wouldn’t buckle under. “That’s not how I see it. I didn’t want anyone hurt. Not Scrunch, not us, and not you.”
“Scrunch? You gave it a name? It’s a fucking animal.”
Wesley spat on the ground at Pete’s feet, but Pete ignored the disrespectful gesture. He couldn’t blame his friend for being upset. If Callie hadn’t gotten involved, he would’ve stepped aside and let Wesley and his mates kill Scrunch.
Aw, hell. She’s got me calling him by his name.
Callie’s curt laugh surprised him. “He’s an animal? You’re werewolves.” She clutched at Raine’s arm. “Every last one of you.” Her accusatory eyes landed first on Blue, then him.
“Callie, we meant to tell you.” Blue blew out a breath. “Just not this way.”