Page 101 of The Delta’s Rogue (Crescent Lake #4)

Warriors pour out of every building. They race out the doors and jump through the windows, kept safe from the shards of glass by the combined magic of the witches we have on our side—Maya, Rune, and their mothers.

The traffickers pause their attack, taken aback by the warriors heading towards them—warriors who are prepared for a fight and not caught by surprise.

But they don’t stop for long. They double down on their tactics and relentlessly focus their energies on the groups we used to separate them.

They try to wear them down and get in as many hits as they can before the rest of us join.

I stay close to Sebastian’s side as we head towards Nolan and Cassandra—and Cavalier—who are already deep in the fray, fighting the wolves who followed them towards the packhouse.

“They’re definitely boosted by witches,” Nolan informs everyone through the mindlink as he punches a trafficker in the throat. “Just like Pierce was when Wesley fought him.”

“We need someone to take the witches out,” Wesley replies as we reach them. “A small group. Two or maybe three. They’re probably hiding in the trees.”

“I’ll go,” Dominic volunteers, backing around the edges of the fight, leaving before he gets drawn in too far.

“So will I.” Harrison follows him.

“Maddie, go with them,” Wesley orders, throwing a wolf off his back and to the ground. “Take Cav with you.”

Maddie glares at Wes, but she doesn’t argue or resist. She lands one final blow on the wolf she’s fighting, and once it’s down, she sprints after her dad and Dominic. She whistles for Cav to follow, and he streaks after her, pausing here and there to bite at the ankles and tails of our enemies.

“Keep your eyes peeled for Amara,” I remind everyone. “That puta is probably waiting to show her face until we’re weakened, but she won’t stay away for long. She enjoys pain too much.”

“Watch for Nuncio too,” Sebastian adds. “He has a gold tooth. If you see him, save him for Sarina and me.”

The mindlink goes silent, and we all focus on the battle.

The wolves we fight are unyielding, driven by cruelty and the magic boost provided by their witches. But we fight back just as hard, and our driving force—protecting the innocent and putting an end to this once and for all—is stronger than theirs.

The battle becomes a blur of teeth, fur, claws, and blood.

Sebastian and I stay in human form as we make our way across the battlefield, leaving destruction and death in our wake.

Around us, the combined warriors of Crescent Lake and the royal guard shift in and out of their human and wolf forms as needed, their clothes remaining intact thanks to a potion Rune, Maya, and their moms made for everyone.

I lose count of how many wolves I take out, and I lose track of how much time passes.

The sky transitions from sunset to twilight.

Stars dot the sky. I’m unsure if it’s been minutes or hours since the fight began.

Fear exists at the edge of my conscience, weaving between the primal, bloodthirsty need to exact revenge.

It threatens my rhythm, pulsing and then retreating.

It’s the fear that this will end like it began—with me in chains, strapped to a gurney, as they deliver me back to the hellhole that almost killed me.

And this time, Sebastian won’t be able to save me.

I grit my teeth and shove it away, snarling in rage as I swipe my claws through the throat of the male in front of me.

Sebastian’s darkness embraces me, laced with pride and encouragement, and I cling to it.

I cling to our bond, my eyes flicking once towards the scars on my wrists before focusing on the fight again.

It’s the boost I need to keep going, to keep the waking nightmares from dragging me down into their depths and rendering me completely helpless .

This is real. This bloody, brutal, endless battle is what’s real. It’s terrible. It’s exhausting. But I’m in control. I’m a weapon, honed and sharpened by the torture these pieces of shit put me through.

I’m unstoppable.

“Nice one,” Sebastian praises as the male’s head hits the ground and his eyes roll in their sockets.

Sebastian shoots me a grin as he snaps the neck of the wolf he fights, and my heart skips a beat. He’s bloody, sweaty, and covered in filth, but watching him like this…

I spin my back to him before my thoughts distract me from the fight. But his sensual, dark laugh echoes through our mindlink. My nostrils flare, and I send him an image of me naked on my knees in front of him, with my thighs spread and my hands tied behind my back and—

“Okay, okay,” he surrenders, growling with a mixture of desire and annoyance. “I’ll stop distracting you.”

“Unfortunately, I don’t think you’ll be able to stop completely,” I reply. “You distract me by existing.”

He winks at me. “I’ll stop distracting you intentionally then.”

“How’s it coming with those witches?” Wesley’s voice rings through our minds, interrupting our ill-timed flirting.

“We’ve taken a few of them out, but they’re spread through the forest,” Dominic replies.

“Don’t kill them unless you have to,” Sebastian reminds him. “Remember, we don’t know for sure if they’re all willing participants.”

Dominic exhales. “I know.”

We dive back into the fighting. We take out wolf after wolf, but more take their place as a second and even a third wave of fighters exit the forest.

“Should we send another group to find where they’re camped out?” Reid asks.

“No,” Wesley replies. “The rest of us fight as one so we can draw them all here, onto our turf.”

“Sarina.” Micah’s voice cuts through Wesley’s, overlapping the end of his orders. “I found him. Nuncio.”

I inhale sharply, but I resist the urge to whirl around and search for him. I can’t risk the distraction .

“Where are you?” I ask.

“By the cells.”

“We’re coming,” Sebastian says. “Reid. Nolan. Wes.” He breaks the nose of the male he’s fighting as he grabs his friends’ attention. “And anyone else who can help. Cover us as best you can so we can get to him.”

Cassandra attacks the wolf I’m fighting from behind, ripping into its back with her claws and giving me a way out. I flash her a grin of thanks and take off after Sebastian.

We sprint through the melee, weaving through the throng of fighting werewolves.

“I’m on my way too,” Rune mindlinks us. “I’ll wait for your signal, Sebastian.”

Neither of us respond. Our minds are on one thing—taking Nuncio down.

Sebastian’s friends—our friends—clear the way for us, leaving our path to Nuncio enemy free. When we’re close to the cells, Sebastian heads to the left and I head to the right. We promised to stay together during the fight, but for this to work the way we planned, we have to separate for a moment.

I smell Nuncio before I see him. The stench of cigarettes permeates from within him. My leg muscles fight against me. My steps slow, and I almost stop running.

The dark alley flashes into my vision. Three males taunt and circle me, and one of them pins me to a wall. His hands wander and grope and—

“I’ve got you, Sarina,” Sebastian croons into my mind. “Forever. Para siempre. Te lo prometo, ” he promises.

I grab my left wrist with my right hand, tracing the circle of scars.

I may be bait again, but he’s here this time.

There is a plan instead of me running and dodging through dark alleys, hoping for the best. I have my full strength, and more, instead of a weakened system from the drinks at the club that they likely spiked to ensure the females were at their most vulnerable.

The wolf Nuncio fights—Mason, one of Maya’s mates from Wesley’s pack—catches my eye and backs away from the fight. Which leaves Nuncio alone.

Nuncio cackles and turns to find his next foe, his next victim. When his beady eyes land on me, he stops all movement. He blinks three times, and then a wicked, ugly smile spreads across his face, flashing his gold tooth at me.

Pinche maldito asqueroso cabrón. Fucking disgusting bastard.

“Well, well, well.” Nuncio rubs his hands together in excitement and stalks towards me, licking his lips. “My little rogue. All alone again.”

Sebastian’s roar in my mind is so loud it rattles my brain and sets my teeth on edge. “I’ll fucking kill him,” he bellows. “I’ll kill him for calling you that.”

“Soon.” I send a calming wave of love down the bond to him. “We’ll kill him soon. Just let him think he’s won for a little longer.”

Sebastian’s answering growl spreads warmth to my fingertips and puts a small smile on my face.

Nuncio’s eyes catch on that smile, and he preens. “What’s that smile for? Did you miss me?”

He chuckles and walks closer. I clench my teeth and hold my ground.

“That’s it, isn’t it? You missed me. You had a taste of what I could give you, and you want more.”

Bile rises in my throat. I breathe through it.

I keep my eyes on him and my feet planted, but beneath my facade I’m a terrified, quivering rabbit cornered by a fox.

The only thing keeping me from bolting is the murderous rage flooding towards me from my mate.

It strengthens me, because I know that once I give Sebastian permission to give in to it, this piece-of-shit male in front of me will beg for our mercy.

We won’t give it to him. Not one ounce. Not one shred.

“That desire is mutual, Little Rogue,” he whispers when he’s within arm’s reach of me.

“The taste of you I had before? When you were unconscious and tied up in the back of the van? Unconscious, completely helpless, and unable to do anything?” He groans, and it’s like a bucket of ice water was poured over me.

“Well, let’s just say I’ve been dying for another taste ever since. ”