The albino wolf was heading in the direction of the circle of mages. It let out a long howl and leapt toward them, but it froze in midair. The wolf’s limp body remained floating in the air as a mage stretched his arms over him. The mages were still chanting surrounding that yellow light, which had not diminished but now grew so bright, it was like daylight around them.
Adrenaline mixed with fear pumped through her, and she knew what she had to do. If she didn’t, then this whole thing was pointless. She had to do this. For Evan. For Ransom.
He must have sensed that she’d stopped following him, because he turned around. “Isabelle? What’s wrong?”
“Ransom … I … I love you!” she blurted out. “I always have.” Her lungs squeezed tight.
“Isabelle?” Gold-green eyes grew large. “Isabelle … no!”
Spinning on her heel, she sprinted away from him. He screamed her name again, but she kept pushing herself until she reached the group of mages.
“Our master is nearly here!”
Her wolf burst out of her and then lunged at the first mage it could reach, breaking the circle and sending them tumbling forward.
“Bitch!” Krogan screamed. “You’re too late.” He cackled with glee, raising his hands up, dagger in one hand. In the middle of the broken circle was what looked like a translucent figure, its features not quite fully formed, but it was obviously human. It reminded Isabelle of those anatomy mannequins that showed what the inside of the body looked like.
The she-wolf scrambled to its feet. Oh no, she cried. Before their eyes, the figure was materializing into solid flesh. The man who stood before them was tall and imposing, and surprisingly, young and healthy-looking, except for his ashen gray skin.
Magus Aurelius opened his eyes—they were pure red and filled with hate—and zeroed in on Isabelle. “You’ve done well, my followers.” The voice made her blood freeze in her veins. “Bring me that dirty dog.”
A large gray wolf suddenly burst in from behind Krogen, tackling the mage to the ground. Ransom! The dagger skittered across the ground, landing at Magus Aurelius’s feet.
“Ah, my old friend,” he said, picking it up. “I can’t wait to be reunited with the powers you contain. But first …” He strode toward Ransom’s wolf, whose back was turned as he continued to maul Krogen, and raised the dagger.
Isabelle’s wolf burst forward, and reached the master mage before it plunged the dagger into the wolf’s head. They tumbled together in a heap of limbs and fur.
“No!” Magus Aurelius cried. His grip on the dagger didn’t loosen, and he plunged it straight into the wolf’s neck.
Pain shot through her, but her wolf didn’t relent. Its large jaw opened up and went for the jugular, sharp teeth piercing through skin, flesh, and bone. Sticky, warm blood flooded its mouth, and it bit harder as Magus Aurelius screamed in agony.
When lightheadedness was setting in, the she-wolf finally let go and then rolled over on the ground, shifting back to human form. It’s all right, she told her wolf. Rest now. You did good. We’ll be okay. Her wolf yipped gratefully and nodded in thanks.
Unfortunately, the master mage was still breathing and got up to his knees, a smile on his blood-stained face, his hand clutching at the gaping hole in his shoulder. “Damn dog …” he gurgled. “You’ll have to do better than that.”
A black blur leapt from behind him and tackled the mage down, its massive claws raking down Magus Aurelius’s back, sending him to the ground as he howled in pain. Raising its head, the wolf chomped down on the master mage’s head. Isabelle recognized the markings on the wolf’s body—black with brown patches, just like her own. It was her mother.
“No, no, no, no!” It was Ransom’s voice she heard as she felt her head being cradled on his lap.
His scent—oh his wonderful scent—dispelled the chill from her body.
“Isabelle.” Tears were running down his cheeks. “Why … please … don’t die.”
She laughed, but it came out in a gurgle. “No … Ransom … I won’t.” Oh, it was so warm everywhere. She knew that sensation, so familiar with it. But Ransom didn’t know yet. She hadn’t told him.
“You can’t! I won’t let you die, not now,” he shouted. “Not now when you love me.”
“I’ve always loved you,” she said. “I … help me get this damn thing out.” She reached for the dagger stuck in her neck.
“Don’t touch it,” he said. “It’ll make it worse.”
“But it’s starting to itch.”
“Shh … that’s the blood loss talking. Conserve your energy until—”
“Oh, for Christ’s sake!” Gritting her teeth through the pain, she sat up, yanked the dagger out of her neck, and threw it aside. “I’m fine, you dense idiot!” The wound immediately sealed up. “You got me pregnant. Again.”
Ransom’s expression was one of pure disbelief. “Y-you’re okay. And you’re pregnant?”
“I’m your True Mate, of course I’m okay,” she said, exasperated.
“Then why the hell did you tell me you loved me?” he shouted.
“Because I love you?” she screamed back.
“Are you guys mad at each other or in love?” It was Julianna, who had come up from behind them.
“Both,” they said at the same time.
Rolling her eyes, she walked over to the black and brown wolf, who was still standing guard over its victim. Or what was left of him. “I’m gonna go check on Mama.”
Isabelle turned back to Ransom. “By the way, I told you to go and take Reed to safety! Why—Oomph!” Suddenly, she was pressed against his hard, muscled chest.
“I love you,” he whispered against her temple, his voice croaking. “I don’t know what I would have done if something happened to you. Forgive me, please. For not telling you the truth.”
“I understand,” she said. “It can’t have been easy for you growing up. And Joanie …”
“She’s going away,” he said, resigned. “To Siberia.”
“We’ll … we’ll get through this,” she said. “Together. That is …
