Page 13 of Billionaire Wolf Needs a Maid (My Grumpy Werewolf Boss #6)

NINA

The cabin trembled around me as the two massive wolves collided. Each impact between the massive wolves sent tremors through the floorboards beneath my feet, making the rustic light fixtures overhead swing wildly.

Dean's silver coat shimmered in the dim light, rippling over muscles that could tear a man apart. His massive form moved with a deadly grace that seemed impossible for something so large. Amber eyes blazed with an otherworldly intelligence that marked him as far more than mere beast.

The sickening crack of bodies colliding echoed off the walls. Rafe's midnight black fur bristled as he snapped and snarled, his teeth flashing like daggers. Dean dodged, but not fast enough. Rafe's fangs found purchase, tearing into muscle. My stomach lurched at the wet sound of flesh rending. The metallic scent of blood was so strong I could taste it on my tongue, making bile rise in my throat. Each new wound opened with a wet, tearing sound that would haunt my nightmares. Blood sprayed in arcs with every shake of their massive heads, painting grotesque patterns across the cabin's rough-hewn walls. My heart stopped as Rafe's massive jaws clamped onto Dean's throat, threatening to tear out his jugular. Dean twisted, barely escaping, but Rafe's teeth left deep puncture wounds that matted his silver fur crimson.

"See that?" Sean pressed the gun harder against my temple, his breath hot on my ear. "Your precious protector's about to die. Just like you."

I worked desperately at the ropes, feeling skin tear as the fibers bit deeper. Every crash and snarl made me flinch. Through our mate bond, Dean's pain lanced through me like lightning. A particularly vicious bite from Rafe tore into Dean's flank, making him stumble. My wolf was losing.

"Stop!" I screamed as Rafe's claws raked Dean's face, barely missing his eye. "You're killing him!"

"That's the point." Sean grabbed my hair, yanking my head back. "Watch carefully. This is what happens to those who defy the Nightfang family."

Dean slammed into the fireplace, stones cracking under the impact. He tried to rise, but his leg gave out. Something was broken. Rafe's darker form loomed over him, victory gleaming in his cruel eyes.

The rope finally gave way with a sharp snap that sent hope surging through my chest. Don't think, just move. I channeled every self-defense class I'd ever taken, every warning Maggie had drilled into my head about staying safe in the city. My elbow shot backward, finding its target with a solid crunch that vibrated up my arm. Sean's howl of pain sent a vindictive thrill through me.

"You little bitch!" he sputtered, warm blood spraying from his ruined nose.

His grip on the gun loosened just enough. Now or never. The cold metal scraped against my palm as I made my grab. The barrel swung wildly as we grappled.

BANG!

The shot deafened me. White-hot pain blazed across my ribs as the bullet grazed me. Sean used my shock to slam me into the wall. Stars exploded behind my eyes.

His hands closed around my throat. "I'm going to enjoy this," he snarled, squeezing.

His fingers dug in like steel bands, each desperate breath I sucked in burning like fire in my chest. Black spots danced at the edges of my vision. My pulse pounded in my ears, a frantic drumbeat growing fainter with each passing second. My vision blurred and darkened, the world narrowing to pinpricks of light as consciousness began to slip away. Through our bond, I felt Dean's desperation. He tried to reach me, but Rafe blocked his path.

With fading strength, I groped blindly along the wall. My fingers brushed cold metal - one of the iron fireplace pokers that scattered when Dean slammed into it. I grabbed it and swung. The points caught Sean's face, opening deep gashes. He howled, releasing me.

I collapsed, gasping for air. The gun lay between us. We both lunged for it. Sean's fingers closed around the grip first. I grabbed his wrist, forcing the barrel up as he pulled the trigger. The shot punched through the ceiling, sending splinters raining down.

Dean's agonized yelp split the air. Rafe had him pinned, jaws closing on his exposed throat. No no no. Through our bond, I felt Dean's strength failing.

"Say goodbye to your mate," Sean laughed, wrestling the gun toward my head.

Something inside me snapped. With strength born of pure desperation, I slammed my forehead into Sean's broken nose. He screamed. The gun clattered free. I snatched it up and pulled the trigger without hesitation.

The bullet took Sean in the chest. His eyes widened in shock as he staggered back. But he wasn't finished. His hand went to his ankle holster, drawing another weapon.

Dean roared. He lunged at Sean and swiped his claws. Before Sean could even turn around, Dean has shredded him to ribbons. Blood dripped on the floor into a pool, before Sean collapsed on his knees and fell face first onto the floor.

A terrible cry of pain drew my attention back to the wolves. Rafe had Dean's throat in his jaws, ready for the killing bite. Without thinking, I aimed the gun at Rafe's massive form.

"Let him go or you're next!"

Rafe's eyes found mine, calculating. The gun shook in my blood-slick hands but my voice was steel. "I said let him go!"

The darker wolf hesitated a crucial second too long. My finger tightened on the trigger just as Dean's massive paw caught Rafe's underbelly, throwing him off. The bullet caught Rafe's shoulder instead of his heart. He howled in rage and pain.

Dean's jaws closed on his brother's throat, forcing him down. Blood matted both of their coats, turning the floor into a sticky red lake. But this time, Dean didn't let go until Rafe's struggles weakened into submission.

"Jenkins!" I shouted, praying Dean's AI could hear through my phone. "Call the police!"

"Already done, Ms. Sorenson." Jenkins's calm voice emerged from my pocket. "Local authorities are six minutes out."

When it was over, Dean stood over Sean's broken body, his silver fur stained crimson. His amber eyes found mine, glowing with otherworldly intensity. I felt his fear of how I'd react to his lethal violence.

I crossed the bloody floor without hesitation, burying my face in his thick scruff. His fur was impossibly soft despite the blood, his massive body trembling slightly as he curled protectively around me. Through the bond, I sent all my love, acceptance, and gratitude.

You saved me. You're not a monster. You're mine.

Rafe whimpered from his corner, still in wolf form but thoroughly subdued. Police sirens wailed in the distance, growing closer. Dean's massive form shuddered against me, muscle and bone beginning their brutal reformation. His shoulders contracted under my hands, bones grinding as they shifted from wolf to man. I could feel every crack and pop beneath my palms as his body fought to reshape itself. The silver fur rippled like mercury before sinking back into human skin, leaving goosebumps in its wake. I held him tighter, trying to steady him through the change that I knew caused him such agony. I felt echoes of his pain pulse into my mind, but I refused to let go. I had to let him feel my strength, my acceptance. Let him know he never had to hide this part of himself from me.

A low groan escaped him. The sound was caught between a growl and a human cry. I pressed my forehead to his temple, my fingers threading through hair that moments ago had been fur.

"I'm here," I whispered. "I've got you."

"Nina." His voice was rough, pained. "I'm sorry you had to see me like that."

I silenced him with a kiss, tasting blood and wolf and man. "Never apologize for protecting me."

Blue and red lights flooded the cabin as police cars surrounded us. Dean pulled me closer, his body still thrumming with protective energy.

"Mr. Nightfang?" A woman's calm, authoritative voice called from the doorway. An elegant Asian woman in her forties stepped through the splintered door, medical bag in hand. Her sharp eyes took in the scene with clinical detachment. "Jenkins alerted me. Is everyone okay.?"

"Dr. Wu," Dean acknowledged, his posture relaxing slightly though he kept me tucked against him. "Nina's hurt."

"I can see that." Dr. Wu's expression sharpened as she took in my injuries. "Let's get her stabilized."

I tried to protest but swayed on my feet, the adrenaline crash hitting hard. Dean caught me, easing me down onto a relatively clean patch of floor.

"I need to examine her properly," Dr. Wu said firmly. "Dean, give us some space."

Dean growled low in his throat, his wolf still too close to the surface to accept separation.

"Your mate needs medical attention," Dr. Wu said, unprovoked by his display. "The sooner you let me work, the sooner I can ensure she's properly cared for."

Dean reluctantly stepped back, though he remained within arm's reach, his eyes never leaving me.

"The bullet wound first," Dr. Wu murmured, cutting away the fabric around my ribs. I hissed as she cleaned the graze. "Thankfully it's superficial, but it'll need stitches. The throat bruising concerns me more. Any difficulty breathing?"

"A little," I admitted, wincing as she probed the tender skin.

Dean's growl deepened. I felt his fury at my pain warring with his trust in Dr. Wu.

"I'll need to monitor you for potential swelling," she said, shining a light in my eyes. "The head wound isn't serious but you may have a concussion. And these rope burns will need treatment to prevent infection."

She worked efficiently, stitching the bullet graze and applying antiseptic to my various wounds. When she pressed on my ribs, I couldn't suppress a gasp of pain.

"Bruised, possibly cracked ribs," she diagnosed. "We'll need X-rays to be certain."

The sound that escaped Dean was barely human. Dr. Wu shot him a quelling look.

"She'll heal," she assured him. "But she needs rest and careful monitoring. I'm admitting her to my private clinic where I can keep an eye on her."

I started to object but Dean's hand found mine, squeezing gently.

"Okay," I whispered, too exhausted to argue. "But you stay with me."

"Wild wolves couldn't drag me away," he promised, and I felt the truth of it in my bones.

As the police swarmed the scene, I leaned into Dean's chest, feeling his heart beat against my cheek. The violence should have changed how I saw him. Instead, it only confirmed what I already knew, that I loved all of him, wolf and man, protector and predator.

His lips brushed my hair. "I thought I'd lose you."

"Never." I turned to face him, touched his blood stained cheek. "We're bound now, remember? Where you go, I go. No matter what form you take."

The last of his tension melted away as he pulled me into a fierce kiss. His chest rumbled as he purred in contentment. We were safe. We were together. We were whole.