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The giant wolf wasn’t after us though as he locked his heavy jaws on the Hanley wolf about to attack me. I stared in awe as he shook the smaller wolf, slinging him into a tree and then darting after him.

“Is that?” I gasped, glancing at Monster for confirmation. He nodded, looking impressed as Dylan ripped into the Hanley wolf. “Whoa, okay, I see why Wren didn’t want him to shift.” I dropped back onto the ground, the gun securely in my hand now, as wolves continued to fight around us. I dragged Monster next to me, protecting him with my body as we crawled to Payne and Nicky.

A wet nose nudged me and I barely kept myself from shrieking as Dom mentally pushed, It’s me.

“Next time, mention that before you sneak up,” I told him, my voice shaky.

We have to move, he continued, ignoring my words as he pushed his heavy head against my back.

Dylan, I protested as I got to my feet. Anna and Trent.

They can take care of themselves, Dom answered harshly. The Hanleys know we’re here. We have to cross back over to Navarre land.

I urged Monster to move but he fought me, his eyes locked on Dylan. “Dylan,” he cried and the massive wolf with the unusually rounded eyes swung his head toward him. The other wolf used the opening to attack Dylan and Monster gave a sharp cry. “Follow us,” he shouted desperately as I lifted him in my arms, almost running to keep up with Dom and Payne as they jogged through the tangled undergrowth of forest.

My lungs burned as I pushed my body past its limits, Monster’s tears soaking my shirt as we left Dylan and the others behind to fend for themselves. I spared a single glance over my shoulder but couldn’t see anything in the dark woods. I stumbled over tree roots, almost hitting the ground once but Payne’s quick reflexes saved me. Dom was a shadow next to us, constantly urging us forward, and I trusted him to get us home.

Finally, he stopped, placing himself behind us as I collapsed against a tree, my stomach rolling as I tried to get air into my burning lungs. Monster dropped to the ground, his fingers curling into Dom’s dense fur as he stared back the way we’d come. I could only assume we were back on Navarre land and that was why Dom had risked stopping.

The others? I questioned, taking advantage of the mental bond Dom kept open.

They’re coming, he replied tersely and relief shot through me. But Hanleys are chasing them, he continued and terror replaced my relief. They won’t come onto our land, he promised.

How can you be sure? I asked desperately, my fingers clutching the back of Monster’s shirt as if I held him tightly enough then no one could ever take him again.

The others are coming, he answered right as several long howls pierced the air from all around us, the sound almost bringing me to my knees as tears leaked from my eyes. Trent and Anna just need to cross the border.

Dylan? I asked frantically, not missing the fact that Dom hadn’t mentioned him.

He was hurt, Dom replied tersely. I can’t hear him anymore.

He’s dead? I could barely think the words but Dom picked up on them and I felt his uncertainty.

Not necessarily. He’s a powerful wolf, Dom admitted with wary surprise. He could be blocking the Pack link.

Wren admitted he doesn’t communicate in wolf form, I mentioned, desperately hoping that was the case and Dylan would follow us back. I didn’t want to face Wren if he didn’t come home.

Maybe, Dom’s single word reply wasn’t encouraging and I clung to Monster as we waited. Dom’s ears swiveled forward and a moment later, I heard something moving fast through the trees. Incoming, he shouted and I jerked Monster back as Dom took a defensive position in front of us.

Two wolves flew over us, one multicolored, the other a lighter blonde, before slamming to a halt and spinning around. They took up position next to Dom as snarls met our ears.

“Dylan,” Monster whispered brokenly, and all I could do was shake my head. I’d left him behind when I promised to protect him, and I wasn’t sure I could live with that knowledge. I stood up, not entirely sure what I planned to do, when Monster tore away from me, screaming, “Dylan,” as he headed straight for the Hanley line.

Dom reacted before I could even move, his teeth catching the back of Monster’s shirt before he’d gone two feet. Monster struggled, still screaming Dylan’s name, as I locked my arms around him. Tears ran down my cheeks as I met Dom’s golden gaze.

Hold him, Dom ordered, right before he raced to the Hanley border. Anna moved to go after him but Trent knocked her sideways, his stance clearly stating he wasn’t going to let her follow. She snapped at him, growling deep in her throat but he didn’t budge, using his larger size to his advantage.