Page 26 of The Alpha's Bullied Rejected Mate

He pressed deeper as more Images bled through in fragments—the cold wind, rushing water, and the faint tremble of iron beneath footsteps.

A bridge. They were headed toward a bridge.

His eyes snapped open,

“Found you,” he muttered.

Marcus assessed the situation. There were no civilians in sight. He wasted no time and went in the direction to catch up with them using his supernatural speed.

He arrived at the bridge in three minutes but stopped mid-stride when he felt the air shift around him.

It was subtle—but unmistakable. Like the forest exhaled something foul. The leaves above rustled with no wind. The temperature dropped a degree.

He turned his head slowly.

That was when he heard it.

A low hiss. Then a screech.

Demons.

Marcus drew his blade out, cursing under his breath.

Things were getting shitty.

But the demons weren’t the only ones he sensed now.

Ava stood one yard ahead, clutching Riley close to her chest. The boy’s arms wrapped around her neck, his face buried in her shoulder.

Had she summoned them to attack him for her? Of course, he knew he wasn’t wrong about her.

Her head whipped toward Marcus the moment she heard him.

But it wasn’t him she was bracing for.

What?

The tear in the air behind her crackled open with a burst of dark smoke, and from it spilled three demons—tall, gnarled things with flesh like oil and eyes that pulsed red with hunger. Their limbs twitched with too many joints in the wrong places. One of them sniffed the air and shrieked.

Aza spurned fast, lifting one hand. Marcus saw her gather power, but she was cradling Riley with the other arm, and the demon was too fast.

“No—!” she screamed.

He reached them just as the first one lunged toward them, shoving her and the boy to the side with his shoulder.

His wolf growled at the surface.

Protect them.

His blade arced clean through the creature’s neck. The demon screamed and splattered black blood that sizzled as it hit the earth.

But the second demon wasn’t finished. It clawed forward, relentless.

“Run!” Marcus barked, grabbing Athena’s arm and dragging her toward the trees.

He sprinted, but he couldn’t move at full speed while dragging both of them. His breath came ragged as the demons’ snarls faded behind them.

Branches whipped past them as he veered them toward the cabin, which was their safe location.