Kirsty mumbled aloud, before letting out a growl of anger. Knowing she would meet the same end as her parents chilled her to the bone but she would not go down without a fight, her Nan’s fighting spirit surging inside her, and with it came other problems.
She couldn’t help but cry out as her hands started to shake, adrenalin coursing through her and causing her to tremble from head to toe. Kirsty fought it, tamped it down, tightening her grip on the gun and holding it steady. No way would she miss the opportunity to take one, or more, of these filthy bampots out.
Kirsty took a deep breath in, eyes focused on the area to the front, as that was where the noise was coming from. She could hear nothing whatsoever behind her, where Leia had disappeared, so she hoped to goodness that there were no rogues sneaking up on her. If there were, then it was “game over” as her dad would say.
Her father’s face flashed in front of her, and with it came a calm peace, her heart slowing, her hands steady as the first Wolf burst free, heading straight for her.
Her keen eyes took in every detail, the dull brown fur, wild dark eyes, foam dripping from its open mouth. Its jaws widening to give her a clear view of razor sharp teeth capable of ripping her leg clean off in one go. Kirsty raised the gun, getting the beast in her sights, then waiting for a moment until it was just a little closer.
She didn’t want to waste a shot and this thing was huge, so large that if she waited just a second, she was certain she could get it . . . she fired. The recoil a bitch but one she was used to and her reward was seeing the Wolf rear up then collapse to the ground as the large caliber shot hit its mark, smack bang in the middle of its chest.
She hoped that was where its heart was. If so then maybe, just maybe, it wouldn’t get up again. Surely even one of these loathsome creatures couldn’t withstand a shotgun shot to the heart.
Kirsty couldn’t stare at it to find out, not when two more Wolves rushed toward her, and then she glimpsed at least one more of the beasts from hell. Fuck! This was it, her last moments on earth, and she stood alone in the face of ferocious beasts hell-bent on ripping her apart.
Her finger tightened on the trigger, praying that her end would be quick. A flash of images searing across her irises: her parents after the Wolves had finished with them.
She’d be lucky if anyone found her remains, far less identified her, and she doubted she’d be laid to rest next to her mum and dad. No. She would be torn to shreds and nobody would ever know what had happened to her.
A scream tore from her throat as she fired, hitting the lead Wolf in the shoulder. It yelped, but didn’t slow, rampaging toward her as she fired again and again until she heard the gun clicking empty. Holding the heavy barrel up in front of her to fend off the beast as it leapt toward her.
“No!” she yelled a moment before blackness took over.
Kade’s beast led the way, seeming to know where to go, heading toward the neck of their glen. Lennox and Dara in hot pursuit as Kade’s beast ran over their land in pursuit of . . . what? His mate?
Kade was still unconvinced. A mate wasn’t on his agenda and how could that be the cause of the problems he’d been having? He doubted all of it. This was a fool’s errand, and that eejit Fraser was sending them on this wild goose chase to teach him some kind of lesson.
He’d get his revenge on the auld fart, no mistake about it. For now, he’d allow his beast free rein and see where it took them.
Another hour passed, and Kade was getting annoyed, angry even, as the miles fell away. How much longer before his Wolf would realize the folly of this so-called mate hunt.
“Hey, can we go home now?” he asked sarcastically.
There was no response, none. That was a first. His Wolf was ignoring him. Totally and absolutely refusing to answer. Well, damn.
Another ten minutes, and Kade was just about to force a transformation when his beast slowed, raising its snout, sniffing, ears twitching, listening. Then it hit.
Kade felt as if he’d been knocked down by a loose caber at their spring Wolf Games. His chest tightened, he couldn’t catch a breath, and a flash of a red-haired lassie stepping onto his land flashed in his mind.
“Ours!” his Wolf growled triumphantly, taking off like a bullet through the forest.
“Holy crap, it’s true. That’s my mate.” Kade could not stop the feelings growing inside him, first and foremost was one of protection. He couldn’t tell how he knew but he was certain she was in trouble and he had to reach her, protect her, keep her safe and . . . so much more.
Opening his link to Lennox and Dara, he filled them in. “It’s fecking true. She’s here on my land and I’m sure she’s in danger. We have to hurry.”
“What? Are ye kidding?” Dara was the first to respond, every syllable full of disbelief.
“If this is a joke, I won’t be amused,” Lennox cut back shortly.
Kade glanced behind him, pulling his lips back and snarling viciously. “Move your fucking arses now!”
“Hells bells, he means it,” Lennox replied, his Wolf speeding up, hampered by the pack he was carrying. “Dara, drop the packs, we can get them later.”
Dara and Lennox opened their jaws, their loads dropped to the ground as they nimbly pounced over them, not even breaking stride. Kade felt the urgency build inside him as they ran on, knowing they
