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I felt her pain like it was a living, breathing thing. Like it was a part of me. Maybe it was the mating bond, or maybe it was simply the power of Wren. Whatever it was, I knew the instant she was wounded.

A red haze slipped over my vision, my wolf fully taking the reins as I let out a howl I knew could be heard for miles. That mage had hurt her. Spilled her blood. My mate .

Now, he would die for it.

I leapt across the creek, flying toward the robed figure. His dark eyes went wide, and he screamed for help. But they were no match for my rage.

One stepped into my path. I seized him by the shoulder, shaking him so hard his neck snapped in the blink of an eye. Mages might be magical beings, but they were humans at the heart of it. They needed their spinal columns just like everyone else.

A second lifted a sword to bring down on my neck. I dodged his blow, leapt into the air, and sank my teeth into his carotid. I ripped his throat out, the taste of his blood coating my tongue.

The mage who had hurt my mate backed up in panic, calling for more aid as he raised his blade in defense. A coward, believing everyone else should die for his sins. But his sycophants were only too happy to do it.

Two more mages stepped between us. I curled my lip and bared my teeth, letting out a low growl.

One tried to throw a ball of black magic at me, but it turned to nothing but air, Wren’s shield still in place. Panic lit in the female mage’s eyes as she unsheathed her sword, but it was too late for her.

I charged at the male, teeth sinking into his side as I whipped him into her. His sword sliced at her skin, making her howl in pain the way Wren had. But it wasn’t enough, not even the feel of the male’s neck snapping was.

My beast craved every last ounce of their blood. He wanted to drown in it—until there was no longer a threat to his mate.

I dropped the male to the forest floor, the female writhing in pain next to him. I didn’t wait. My paw punched through her chest, claws digging into her still-beating heart and ripping it from her body with a snarl.

The mage who had hurt my mate glanced around in panic, realizing no one was left to help. I prowled forward. I would take my time with this one. I would make him hurt for days. I was poised to attack, but there was an explosion of smoke, and the mage vanished in front of my eyes.

I growled in fury. I’d heard stories of dark mages with enough strength to do such a thing, but I’d never seen it with my own eyes. Rage flooded my system as I snapped at the remnants of smoke.

Shouts sounded, and I moved on instinct, placing myself between the voices and Wren. No one else would hurt her. No one would cause her pain.

Four figures burst through the trees, weapons raised. Some part of my brain recognized them as pack mates, but I still couldn’t get myself to back down. The urge to protect Wren at any cost was too strong.

Kingston scanned our surroundings. “What the hell happened? Where are they?”

I shoved my wolf down as hard as I could, bringing on the change with more pain than usual. My bones cracked, and muscles rearranged as my fur receded and turned to skin.

All four of my pack mates stared at me, gaping. Puck scanned me from head to toe. “I’m pretty sure Brix is currently taking a bath in their blood.”

I could feel it then, the sticky substance coating my skin. Memories of Wren’s cries of pain filled my mind, and I struggled to keep from shifting again. “They. Hurt. Her,” I snarled.

Kingston instantly moved then, trying to approach Wren. A snarl left my throat as I bared my teeth at my alpha.

“It’s okay,” Wren’s soft voice said. “I’m okay.”

Her hand gently landed on my back, and the feeling of it brought a sense of peace I’d never known. My eyes fell closed for the briefest moment as I soaked in the feel of her.

Then Puck’s voice cut into my peace. “Holy fuck. Is she touching him?”