The question ricocheted around her dazed brain. Would he shoot her? Or worse, would he take her out of the Boundarylands?
Wait.
When did that become the worse option?
Mia had no idea. All she knew was that it was true. Either way, she wouldn't survive. Not with a bullet in her head. And not without Ty by her side.
The only mercy was that a bullet would be faster.
Suddenly, Mia knew with perfect clarity what she wanted.
To stay here in the Boundarylands. With Ty.
That was her choice.
Her choice.
And this son of a bitch was trying to take it away from her. She wasn't about to let that happen. Not without a fight.
Fighting through waves of nausea and pain, Mia began to struggle, kicking her legs and pummeling the soldier's back with her fists, but he didn't show any signs of feeling the blows.
Of course, he didn't. She doubted he could feel a thing through all his body armor.
Mia zeroed in on the arm that wasn't wrapped around her legs. The one that pumped at his side with each step. It didn't look like it had any protective padding.
On the next step, Mia twisted herself hard to the side and seized his bicep. Wrenching her head over, she brought her mouth down and bit as hard as she could. His flesh split under the fabric of his shirt, and the sharp tang of blood filled her mouth. Mia fought through the waves of disgust and willed herself to bite even harder.
A howling scream filled her ears, and her captor stumbled. Momentum took hold, and he crashed to the ground.
Mia went right along with him, slamming into the forest floor. The second she was free, she tried to scramble to her feet, but her head spun. Her vision spun, growing black along the edges, and a second later, she found herself back on her hands and knees, retching into a pile of leaves.
"You little bitch," an angry voice snarled close to her ear. "You'll pay for that. We were supposed to make it look one of these rabid dogs tore you apart, but fuck that. I'll just tell them there wasn't enough of you left to drag home."
She heard the metallic click of a pistol hammer locking. Then the unforgiving pressure of the barrel pressing against her scalp. Then…
The massive force came out of nowhere. She heard the rush of wind, felt the concussive wave of pressure, and then it was gone.
He was gone.
There was no more soldier. No more gun pressed against her head. No more threat of immediate death.
Mia tried to right herself, but her legs refused to comply. Weakly, she turned her head to focus on a blur dark colors and shapes rushing in front of her. Slowly her vision came into focus. She was able to make out the shape of a giant man—an alpha—crouching with his muscles coiled, his body radiating pure animal rage.
Ty.
He'd come for her. He'd made it in time. He'd saved her life.
The soldier lay before him, groaning with his eyes rolling up into his head. His limbs were splayed at awkward angles. The force of Ty's body crashing into him must have broken several of his bones.
"No one trespasses on my land," Ty snarled at him. "No one touches my omega."
"I had orders," her captor tried, his voice now sniveling and desperate. "I was only following them."
Ty sat back on his haunches and let out a roar, making it clear what he thought of the beta's orders. "Who told you to kill her?"
The soldier cowered, tears leaking from his eyes, unable to speak.
Ty grabbed him by the collar of his flak jacket. Without any apparent effort, he lifted him up with one hand. The beta's broken legs dangled helplessly below.
"Who?" Ty demanded again.
"Th-the senator. Senator Baird."
Mia sucked in a breath and found herself retching again, bringing up nothing but bile.
Her own father gave the order to have her killed.
Not just killed—torn apart.
Deep down, Mia knew she shouldn't be shocked. After a week in the Boundarylands, he no doubt considered her a lost cause.
But to give his men the order to kill her? To put her down like a dog? Stupidly, she had held onto hope that there were lines her father wouldn't cross. That there was some shred of decency left inside him.
The knowledge that he really was a monster hurt worse than his fists ever had.
Ty let the soldier fall from his grip. The beta cried out in pain as his limbs snapped anew when they hit the ground.
Ty ignored the man's screams and turned his attention to Mia. His gorgeous face was distorted with rage and worry. In his eyes, Mia could see the truth behind Paige's words—the agony Ty felt seeing her like this, battered and weak.
It wasn't figurative pain. He was in real, physical agony. Mia could the evidence in his face, feel it in the energy pouring off his body.
"Mia…" His voice broke.
"I'm all right," she tried to tell him, struggling to stand, only to teeter and fall again.
He rushed to her side.
"You're hurt." He ran his fingers down the curve of her cheek. His hand was so big, but his touch was tender. Far gentler than any touch she'd ever known. "Again."
"I'm fine," she assured him. "Everything's fine now that you're here."
Ty grimaced, baring his teeth as something rustled behind them. They both turned to find the beta had managed to prop himself up on his one good elbow. In his hand, he held the pistol he'd whipped Mia with. The one he'd pressed into the back of her skull.
Ty roared, making the soldier's already shaky hand tremble even more as his finger squeezed the trigger. The shot went wide, and a spray of sawdust burst from a tree trunk several feet to the side.
Mia winced, knowing the man would not get another chance.
Ty took one step forward and pulled the man off the ground by the neck. He twisted his fingers around hard, and an
