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She surged to her feet as his leg kicked out and with a little push, she jumped and backflipped away from him.

Kai flashed from her left and this time, she was able to reach for his forearm.With a quick twist, she flung him toward Drew, who flinched when he spotted Kai barreling toward him.Kai tucked at the last minute and landed on his feet a few inches from Drew.

Without taking her eyes off him, Jade flipped over Axel, pushing off his head and vaulted into the nearest tree.She made sure Noah was safe before she turned to Ara.She felt more than saw the branch underneath her break off, with her ricocheting from branch to branch as Ara snapped them cleanly from the tree.Jade laughed when Ara danced out of the way as she threw a large stick like a javelin.

Drew, thinking it would be a good idea to go after Noah, learned that going after mates was a big no.Knowing Noah could handle himself didn’t prevent the low but deadly growl from escaping her throat.

“Don’t…touch…him.”

Drew backed away with his hands up in a placating manner, but it was only when Noah spoke to her did she calm down.

He didn’t mean anything by it, baby.I’m okay.

The red haze dissipated as she blinked at Noah’s calming words.“Sorry.”

“Since I’ve never had a mate, I didn’t fully understand.It’s okay, I’ll remember from now on.”

She shook her head and cleared the rest of her anger away, but she’d been too distracted and felt the impact of Reaper tackling her from the trees.She managed to push him off and land on her feet, just in time for Hunter to jump on her in panther form and try to lick the skin off her face.She rolled over before he could get a hold on her and pinned him to the ground.

“Ah, ah, watch the claws.”

The panther growled, but Jade laughed and pushed off.

Then Kane managed to sneak up on her, but she spotted him at the last minute and flipped over his head, tagging him along his carotid with her finger, indicating he would be dead.

As she landed, Ghost cleared his throat to get their attention.

“We’re leaving here in a few hours so we can strike during the early morning hours.Meet here at eleven tonight.We’ll take Kai’s two Suburbans and Xander’s SUV.”

“Where should I crash until we leave?” Drew asked.

Xander spoke up before Jade could.“Why don’t you come over and get to know Silas?He wants to ask you what you’ve been doing since you transitioned and probably what you remember about Jade when she was younger.”

“Sounds good.I can’t believe he’s already growing on me.”

Xander laughed, along with the rest of them.“Yeah, he pretty much has us all wrapped around his fingers.He’s a special baby who is getting stronger as he ages.I’m partially excited to see what is to come, but the other half is completely terrified.”

The group separated, some going to get food, and as Jade watched Drew, already deep in conversation with Xander, she felt Noah’s arms wrap around her waist.

“Ready to head home?”

“Yes, I’ve missed you.”

Noah turned her around and kissed her.When he broke the kiss, they were breathless.He pulled away and soon shifted into his tiger form.Jade’s mouth popped open as she gazed over Noah’s beautiful tiger form.His coat was bright orange surrounded by black and white swirls.There were concentric-looking black circles around both eyes, drawing your eyes to his face.She sucked in a breath when his dark-blue eyes glittered as he looked at her.

Jade stepped forward and without thinking about her actions, she reached and threaded her fingers through his fur.He felt downy soft and when he growled and butted his head against her stomach, she felt a shiver a desire wash through her.

Ready to go home?

Fuck, yes.

Jade quickly shifted and led the way home.She needed Noah, more than she could express aloud.But they had hours to spare, and she would spend every moment showing Noah how much she loved him.