Page 73 of X-Clan The Origin

I would die for her. And they would anticipate that. Which was why I needed her to run as quickly as possible and attempt to reach a safe distance before the fight began.

If they so much as touched her, I would lose my control.

I’dshred.

And I needed my strategic side fully engaged and focused to be able to fight appropriately.

Because feral Alphas were savage. They fought with their teeth, not their minds. I would use that to my advantage.

Assuming I could urge Riley to safety first.

Otherwise, I would be too focused on protecting her to protect myself.

Once we reached the country highway we’d been trailing yesterday, I slowed and looked at Riley. I’d told her last night that this road led to Fort Bragg. I gestured now with my nose so she knew which direction to go.

But she slowed with me.

I growled and pointed again.Go.

She blinked, then flinched at a howl sounding in the distance.

Now, Riley,I told her with another growl.

She nuzzled my snout.

I thought she might have been trying to say,I’m not going anywhere. However, just when I was about to snarl out a demand, she bolted forward.

And ran.

Her reddish-brown coat glimmered beneath the sun, her sleek form fast and graceful and so fucking beautiful that it hurt my heart to see her flee.

But the aggressive air grounded me in the moment, seizing hold of my attention.

These fuckers had chosen the wrong Alpha to challenge.

I backed up into the middle of the road, wanting a wide-open space for the battle to come.

My nose told me that at least one of the approaching beasts was an X-Clan Alpha. But the other smelled a bit different. Not V-Clan—those were rare and not as prone to feral leanings—but some type of wolf. Maybe a Viking Alpha?

Regardless, they both belonged in Exiled Sector.

I could smell the foulness of their malevolent tendencies. These two creatures were broken beyond repair.

It could be some influence from the virus, but it was doubtful. Some wolves were just predisposed to going mad. One of them might have lost his mate. Or perhaps he’d spent too many months or years in wolf form.

There were several possibilities.

However, I didn’t have time to ponder it now because they were coming, and if they defeated me, they would go for Riley.

Static energy rolled along my fur, causing each hair to stand on end.Come and get me,I thought, my wolf growling low in malicious warning.

The first beast burst through the tree line, his jaws parted on a snarl as he locked eyes with me.

There’s the X-Clan Alpha. Now, where’s your buddy?I wondered, my hackles rising as I sniffed the air.Not far. But not here.

I narrowed my gaze.What are you two up to?

The big black wolf in front of me didn’t give me any answers. He just lunged toward me with a ferocious growl.