Page 35 of Stolen By the Alpha Hunter (Moonbound Mates #3)

Javi shoots out from under my grip like he was never drugged at all, shadow and fur and fury.

He barrels into my father with a guttural roar, sending them both crashing against a crate stacked high with rusting chains.

Gideon shifts mid-air, his wolf bursting forth in a violent explosion of grey, the blind eye glowing like a beacon in the dark.

They tangle. Teeth. Claws. Blood.

But I can see it—Javi is still weak. His limbs shake. He stumbles as he fights. He’s not at full strength, not after what they did to him.

And Gideon knows it.

He takes advantage of the stagger and lunges, knocking Javi down with a heavy slam. His jaws go straight for my mate’s throat.

I move without thinking.

My claws come out mid-sprint, my body half-shifted as I launch myself at Gideon’s back and rake down his spine. He howls and throws me off easily, stronger than I remember, and I slam into the deck with a cry. Pain shoots up my ribs, but I’m already scrambling back up, blood pounding in my ears.

Javi's back on his feet, but just barely. His eyes are unfocused. He’s swaying. Gideon snarls and circles him, low and cruel.

This is a fight Javi can’t win.

Until he does.

He lashes out with a burst of impossible speed, his jaws snapping around Gideon’s throat before the Prime can react. They crash to the ground and roll, locked together in a whirl of fur and flashing teeth. Then—suddenly—it’s over.

Blood floods the space between them.

Javi rises slowly.

Gideon does not.

The Prime lies still, his blind eye staring, mouth slack. A thick pool of blood spreads under his neck, soaking into the wood. He doesn’t move. He won’t move again.

I don’t breathe until I see Javi—still shifted, still panting, still here—shuddering from nose to tail. He turns toward me, his eyes wild and glassy, and I rush to him.

I throw myself over him, running my hands through his thick fur, searching for wounds. He’s shaking violently, not from pain, but from the aftershock of adrenaline and kraken.

“Javi,” I whisper, holding his face between my hands.

He meets my gaze, eyes spinning but focused for the briefest second.

His lips barely move, and his voice is slurred but certain.

“Promised,” he says.

A howl goes up from the dock and I look at Tilda, begging her with my gaze to help.

She doesn’t try to fight me on it—just drops her gun long enough to crouch beside me and lift. But Javi is too big for the two of us. I drag on him with everything I’ve got, managing only a few feet before more hands close in to help.

Will grabs him under the shoulders, Reyes taking the other side. Frankie’s already scoping out the descent, barking directions into the dark.

“This way—there’s a cargo ladder rigged down the south side. Colt’s waiting in the boat.”

I blink. “A ladder?”

“It’s either that or jump,” she says grimly. “And we all know how well that would go.”

We stagger toward the edge together, Javi’s weight distributed between the four of us. The Rig groans beneath us as wolves scramble at the other end of the deck, howls ringing out louder and closer. I don’t dare look back.

The cargo ladder is old, rusted, bolted to the side of the platform. It disappears into the shadows below—long, steep, and swinging ever so slightly with the wind and motion of the waves. Colt’s boat is visible at the bottom, lights low, engine humming. He’s got it steady, waiting for us.

Two’s already climbing down fast, Ephraim right above her. Tilda goes next, moving with surprising grace. Will and Reyes pause to coordinate, then start lowering Javi between them, one rung at a time.

I go last.

I keep one hand on Javi’s leg the whole way, whispering encouragements even though he probably can’t hear me, even though I’m shaking so hard I almost lose my grip.

Frankie’s just above me, pistol slung across her back, muttering about how if one more man causes her this much trouble, she’s gonna open a bar and only serve women.

By the time our feet hit the deck of the fishing boat, we’re all breathless—sweaty, salt-slick, shaking. But we’re off the Rig. We’re off.

I stay behind with Will and Reyes as they ease Javi onto a padded bench, and I find myself grateful—overwhelmed with gratitude—for the family that came for me.

The family I chose.

The family that never once thought I wasn’t worth saving.

The ship hums as it comes to life, old engines rattling with effort, golden lights flickering across the floorboards. It smells like oil and rust and sea spray, the air humming with motion and adrenaline and grief.

Tilda kneels near the stern, checking the ammo on a spare pistol. Will lingers nearby, watching Javi with the wary tension of someone who’s seen too many things go wrong too fast.

I stay curled against my mate, brushing my fingers through his fur, whispering quiet things into the dark. Begging the bond to hold. Praying his breathing stays steady.

The deck rocks with the tide. The hum of the engine vibrates through my bones.

A boot scuffs beside me. I look up—and it’s Reyes.

He crouches down, brows knit, his shadow cast over both of us.

“How is he?” he asks.

“I don’t know,” I whisper. “He’s breathing, but…”

But he’s not here . Not really. Just the shape of him, the shell.

Reyes nods slowly. His voice is steady but softer than usual when he says, “You’re safe now. We’ll keep him safe too.”

That breaks me a little.

I press my forehead to Javi’s side, blinking fast, and Reyes reaches out and puts a strong hand on my shoulder. Grounding me. Reminding me that I’m not alone.

From the helm, Colt’s voice calls over the engine. “Magnolia’s gonna lose her damn mind when she sees you,” he says, a faint grin in his voice. “Better brace yourself, Peaches.”

I manage a breath of laughter. Barely.

Then I feel it.

That shift in the air. Like ozone before a storm.

I lift my head in time to see Ephraim striding across the deck, his scent unmistakable. His gaze locks on the omega sitting near the hatch, the one we rescued from the Citadel.

“Well now,” he drawls. “Didn’t think you’d be joining us, Two.”

She startles, stiffening on instinct. Her hands twitch toward the collar still locked around her neck.

“That’s not my name,” she says, her voice low and trembling.

Ephraim tilts his head. Smiles that awful smile. “Hm…I think it is. Dad’s gone now. Makes me Prime. Makes you mine.”

“My name is Evangeline, and I’m not yours ,” she says, voice tight, terrified.

That’s when Frankie appears.

She doesn’t announce herself. Doesn’t posture. Just materializes behind Ephraim like a stormcloud.

He doesn’t even register the danger at first.

“I mean—someone oughta take care of you,” Ephraim says. “I’d be doin’ you a favor.”

“You’d better step away from her,” Reyes says sharply, rising to his full height.

Ephraim barely glances at him. “I don’t take orders from you.”

“No,” Frankie murmurs. “But you’ll take this.”

And before anyone can so much as ask her not to, her claws flash.

In one fluid, terrifying motion, she steps in and rakes her hand across Ephraim’s throat. Blood spurts, his breath hitching in a wet gurgle. He grabs his neck, eyes wide, and staggers backward.

I could see it in her eyes the moment I caught sight of her back on the Rig…she wasn’t going to let him come with us. And…it’s probably a good thing. She follows him backward, eyes narrowed, and then she just…pushes him.

The splash is loud and final.

No one breathes.

Frankie turns around slowly, blood dripping from her hand. “Men like him don’t deserve second chances,” she says. “I won’t apologize.”

“You won’t have to,” Reyes says.

Will grunts in agreement. Tilda just nods.

Colt lets out a hiss. “Remind me to never get on your bad side again.”

The girl—no, Evangeline—rises slowly to her feet, blinking like she can’t believe what just happened. She touches her neck again, and then looks at Frankie like she’s just seen a goddess walk out of legend.

“Thank you,” she says.

Frankie gives her a nod. “No need. I enjoyed it.” She turns to the rest of us. “Let’s get the hell back to Austin.”

I bury my face in Javi’s fur again, my tears soaking into his coat.

The Rig is behind us.

My brother is gone.

My father is dead.

But I’m alive.

Javi’s still breathing.

And the family I chose is all around me.

I just hope we can keep holding on long enough to bring him back.