Frame in the doorway with the sunlight glinting off its russet fur, a wolf the size of a goddamn bear lowered its massive head and bared its fangs. The growl that rumbled up from its throat vibrated deep down in Cade’s bones and sent a shiver of dread rippling along his spine.
At first, the Ravagers seemed just as stunned as he felt, but it didn’t take long for them to come out of their stupor. Clearly seeing the wolf as the bigger threat, they abandoned their assault on him and rushed at the animal. Some prowled around it, mouths open and fangs bared, while others leapt onto its back, tearing and ripping with their jagged claws.
Even their superior numbers were no match for the beast.
One swipe of its enormous paw sent three Ravagers to the ground. Only one got back up. Whipping its head around, the wolf snapped at the two Ravagers on its back, catching one by the thigh and sending him sailing across the room. A sharp twist and a powerful kick of its hind legs dislodged the other Ravager, sending him flying into the air where the wolf caught the male by the neck, easily dispatching him with a single bite.
Filled with the illogical rage of the young, the remaining four rushed forward, heedless of the danger. Without leadership, they lacked the skill and discipline to take on such a challenger. They pounced when they should have retreated. They lunged when they should have feinted. Instead of working together, they attacked without coordination or strategy.
They never stood a chance.
When it was all over, when every Ravager sprawled bleeding and unmoving on the ground, the wolf shook out its long coat and limped forward. Cade took a step back and lifted his knife, pointing the tip of the blade at the creature. He’d seen with his own eyes what the animal could do, the violence it had meted to men and women far stronger and faster than him. If it wanted to hurt him, he could do nothing to stop it.
Seeing his reaction, the wolf lowered its head with a whine. Then, it crept forward, head still down, until it stood mere inches from him. Hot breath tinged with the smell of copper fanned over his face as the wolf butted its wet nose against his chin.
Damn, the thing was even bigger up close, standing at least six feet from the ground at the shoulders with a head the size of a boulder. The beast whined again. Against his better judgment, Cade lowered his knife and reached out slowly to stroke the fur on the side of its neck. The coat felt soft and silky between his fingers, and far too clean for that of a wild animal.
“Who are you?” While he didn’t know the difference between a wolf shifter and a werewolf—or why the thing was so damn big—shifter was the only conclusion that made sense.
With a soft whimper, the wolf backed away from him and lowered itself to the ground. The air around the beast shimmered like the haze over asphalt on a hot summer day. Fur receded. The snout shortened. Bones realigned, and muscles stretched. It was the shortest transition he’d ever witnessed, and when it was complete, his mate knelt before him, naked, shivering, and covered in blood.
“So,” she said, lifting her head to meet his gaze. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
Chapter Thirteen
“What the hell, Mack?”
Wincing at Cade’s harsh tone, Mackenna bit her lower lip as she rose to her feet. “I wanted to tell you. I was going to tell you. I just—”
“I don’t give a fuck that you can shift.” Sheathing the blade in his hand, he dragged the other through his hair and snorted. “Oh, don’t get it twisted, we are definitely going to talk—” He waved his hand up and down in a vague sort of way that somehow encompassed all of her. “—about this later.”
Her eyebrows drew together, and her lips curved downward at the corners. “Then, why are you mad?”
“Why am I mad?” He staggered over to the nearest Ravager and nudged the male with his boot. “You’re kidding, right?”
“They would have killed you.”
“They could have killed you,” Cade roared at her. “What the hell were you thinking?”
“I was thinking that I couldn’t just sit there and watch you die,” she snapped back. “Cade, I’m okay.” She held her hands up in a conciliatory way as she took a step toward him. “See? I’m fine.”
“Fine? You’re bleeding everywhere.” He pointed an accusatory finger at her. “You have a goddamn hole in the side of your neck. What the fuck about that is fine?”
Even though the danger had passed now, he was still frightened for her. Not only could she hear it in his voice, but she could smell the stench of terror all over him. So, instead of reacting with anger, she took a deep breath and smiled at him.
“My neck is healing.” It itched like crazy where the skin was already fusing itself together. “I’m a lot more worried about your injuries.” She wasn’t the only one covered in blood, but she was the only one who could heal herself. Cade appeared far too pale for her liking. “Look, you can keep yelling at me, or you can let me help you back to the house so I can clean you up.”
“I’m fine.”
Mackenna arched an eyebrow at him. “Is that really how you want to play this?”
They stood there for a long time, just glaring at each other, but eventually, Cade blew out a long breath and bobbed his head. “Okay, but don’t think this means I’m not still pissed at you.”
“Duly noted.”
He held his arms
