A roar rocked the woods around them. Primal and filled with anger. She swore she heard him calling her name in her head.
The man who had been holding her backed away, and she could see the fear on his face as another lion’s roar sounded, this one much closer.
“Grab the girl, you idiot,” Harlan screamed, as she did her best to move away. “She’s our insurance. Spread out. Shoot anything that comes at us.”
The man grabbed her again, jerked her to her feet by her hair. His arms locked around her, and this time she didn’t hold back.
She let a scream rip from her lungs to fill the air. She called to the one person she had no doubt would save her.
“Tah!”
Chapter Sixteen
From the journal of Uriah Blane
I killed a man today. It wasn’t as hard as I’d feared. I find the human is the most challenging of prey. My father has always stressed the importance of hunting, but until today, I didn’t fully understand why he thought it important. Not until I captured my first human prey. Father is sure he is one of the shifters my grandfather told him about. He is training me just as his father did him, just as I will train my son one day.
I was afraid I’d embarrass myself when father gave me the knife and told me to finish the man off. He’d begged for his life, never once admitting what he was. It sickens me to know such abominations live within this world, but I am comforted by my father’s promise that there are more like us, sent to rid the world of these creatures.
The man begged me to spare him. He was barely able to speak; that’s how swollen his face was from the beating my father had given him. But I proved I am my father’s son. I slid the blade across his throat and never even flinched as the blood sprayed across me, hot and smelling metallic. I tasted it on my lips and my father laughed.
I am a man today. I have tasted the blood of my first kill, and I find comfort in my father’s assurance there will be many more.
* * * *
Tah was focused on Cody’s words, trying to center himself with his lion when he felt the world shift under his feet. It felt like he was in Abby’s head, and she was hurt. There were men around her; he could smell the stink of their sweat and lust. He could feel her pain and fear. His mate and child were threatened. He yelled out to her with his mind, and he swore she felt him.
One minute he was trying to find the beast inside and the next moment he was on fire. His clothes ripped as his body changed, taking him to his hands and knees. Doubt and fear were gone as he become one with his lion. It wasn’t the seamless shift of one of the wolf pack, but Tah had done it. He was one with his spirit guide. His roar rocked the woods as he took off back toward the cabin. He knew Cody and the other alphas would heed his call and come to help him should he need them.
Then all thought left his mind when Abby’s scream pierced the air as she called to him. He let another roar loose as he headed at full run to his mate. He could hear people screaming around him, and it finally clicked in his head that he could hear the wolf pack speaking in his mind.#p#分页标题#e#
Slow down! Don’t run in half-cocked! Derrick was yelling at him.
You finally learned to shift. Don’t get yourself killed now. This was Cody, urging him to be cautious.
But Tah didn’t want to slow down. He wanted to get to Abby. And he wanted her now.
Tah. Fuck. Adrian’s attitude carried through clearly as the other man raced toward him. He lowered his head and knocked into Tah’s side, throwing him off his feet. They rolled then got back up.
Tah bared his teeth at Adrian but kept running toward the house and Abby. Adrian drilled into him again, shoving him over once more. This time Tah surged back to his feet with a roar of challenge.
Use your head, kitty cat, Adrian ordered. Otherwise, you’re going to get you and your mate killed.
Tah shook his head, another roar slipping out as he fought instinct and tried to listen to what Adrian was saying. He knew it was dangerous, but right now, Abby was the one in the heart of that danger, Abby and his unborn child. And all that mattered to him was getting her to safety, regardless of the danger to himself.
I’ll draw them to me. He tried to communicate with the wolves as they were with him. Get to Abby.
With that, he hit the edge of the clearing where four men stood with rifles aimed toward the woods. He let out a roar and moved quick, falling back on the instincts of the animal as he weaved in and out of the trees in an attempt to get the shooters to move, making them easier for the wolf pack to get too. Divide and conquer was his motto.
Fuck. Here comes the pup. He’s going to get himself killed. Michael’s voice filled Tah’s mind, and Tah lifted his head just in time to see Logan run in, screaming something about laughing in the face of danger and then proceeding to do so in a crazy manner.