“Baby, please,” Bass begged as the tips of his fingers brushed her skin. Adrenaline surged through her, her legs finding extra strength from some hidden reserve, but it was useless — Bass was an alpha. She had no hope of out racing him.
The ground disappeared below her feet as Bass lifted her into the air, bringing them both to a halt. Twisting in his hold, Katalina lashed out, a growl so unlike her punching through the air.
“Just leave me alone!” The hurt on his face, sucked the life right out of her. Collapsing to the forest floor, Katalina buried her head in her hands and cried. “I’m sorry.” Katalina sobbed. “I didn’t mean that. I’m just… tired.”
She was tired of waiting, of wondering whether she would let down all the people she loved. If death was coming for her, then Katalina wished it would make its move. Yet as she’d stood beside John, waiting to fight an enemy that sought to destroy all she’d worked for, she’d begged for one more day, one more week.
“Katalina,” Bass breathed, joining her on the ground. “Please talk to me. Please tell me what Anna saw.”
Looking up, tears caught like crystals on her lashes, Katalina faced the man she loved beyond words and realized she had to tell him something, because not knowing was killing him as much as knowing was for her.
“Castor wants me, Bass. I started this, and I must end it.”
He shook his head and gritted his jaw. “He won’t get near you.”
As she smiled sadly, she took his hand. “It’s not as simple as that, and you know it. There are some things we simply can’t avoid.”
“You didn’t start this, Kat. I did, and I started it long before we ever met.”
Taking a deep breath, Katalina brushed the tears from her face, resolve settling on her chest. She had to make him understand. She had to help him see her through their enemy’s eyes.
“You see me as a gift, Bass, but others see me as power. I’m a single pawn, holding up the chessboard. Remove me, and the game crumbles. I know it. You know it. So we can either keep pretending that I’m not a weakness, or we can accept the fact that this destiny was always mine.”
“You have never been weak, Katalina. Never. And you’re certainly no pawn. You are a queen. My queen.” His gaze hardened, his pain morphing into determination.
“Then why do you try to wrap me up in cotton wool?” She laughed sadly, shaking her head.
Cupping her face, Bass drew her lips to his, showing her his answer before speaking it. “Because I love you.”
“Then train me, Bass. If Castor wants me, he can have me, but I won’t go like a lamb to slaughter.”
“You are training.”
She shook her head. “It’s not enough, Bass. Everyone who spars with me holds back. I’m a treasure no one wants to break, but Bass, our enemy wants to smash me into a thousand pieces.”
“Get up,” Bass ordered, eyes flashing wolf. “You want to train, then let’s train.”
“Now?” Her eyes widened.
“No mate of mine will be a pawn for fate to use. You’re not weak, Katalina. You’re the strongest of us all, and it’s time you realized that.” His claws slipped free, his smile cunning. “Scared, little wolf?”
Katalina laughed. “Of you?” She crooked her finger, eyes shining. “Never.”
Chapter 23
John
When he couldn’t find Eva in the pack kitchen or her cabin, John began to panic
“Looking for your girl?” Regan asked, a smirk on her face. His eyes traveled down her body, pausing on the injury that was causing her to limp slightly. “Eva patched me up. Did a good job too. I fully expected her to freak out at the blood.” She nodded toward the infirmary. “She’s helping Oliver.”
“Thanks.” John eyed her leg. “Need a hand?”
She waved him off. “For this tiny scratch?” She rolled her eyes. “Don’t insult me, John.”
“I’m guessing you made him or her pay?”
Regan grinned. “Of course. I might be late to the game, but I’m making up for lost time. I think Ty was pissed that I didn’t give him a chance to get payback.” She laughed.
“I can imagine. Take care, Regan.”
After jogging over to the infirmary, John paused on the threshold, mesmerized by what he saw. A smear of blood ran across Eva’s cheek, her clothes stained and splattered, and though John had never pictured her in such a way, Eva looked the most natural he’d ever seen her. She was the calm within a storm. With a warm smile for those in pain, she moved with the efficiency of someone who’d been trained.
The casualty rate had been low, mostly bullet grazes and gashes made by claws. Nothing a few stitches, a bandage, and some rest wouldn’t fix. The exception being Nico, who’d taken a bullet through the shoulder, but the man would live and most likely be up on his feet in a few days, complaining to be put back on patrol.
Looking up from her task of cleaning Evan’s shoulder wound, Eva’s gaze found his. John’s chest tightened, his lungs momentarily forgetting how to breathe.
“Hi,” she mouthed, smiling.
As his lips lifted in return, John pushed off the door and entered the building.
“John.” Oliver lifted his gaze from his task. “Everything quiet out their now?”
“Yeah. You shouldn’t have any more casualties tonight.”
“Good,” Oliver said. His eyes flicked to Eva and back, voice lowering. “You should keep that one, John.”
“I’m working on it.” Leaving Oliver with a nod, John made his way across the room to Eva. “Skipping vet school?”
Eva laughed softly. “No, but it’s reminded me why I want to go to vet school.”
There
