I hit him where his flesh was most vulnerable. Deep gashes appeared through his fur, and blood pooled. He came to a stop, limping a little as he attempted to defend himself while shielding his wounded side.

  My wolf lunged, teeth bared, and caught him on the shoulder near his throat. I felt the give of his flesh at the same moment his head twisted awkwardly and he bit me too.

  Pain lanced through me. I immediately released my jaw, scrambling back. But Byrn was right there, bearing down on me.

  I fell, and Byrn threw himself down on top of me.

  Paws grappling, I struggled to keep his teeth away from my throat. He was tired, but that only made him dead weight against my smaller wolf body. He had me pinned, and no amount of struggling was going to get me free.

  I had to fight.

  But how could I pit my strength against his when he was clearly the stronger one?

  Kai, if you can hear me, don’t freak out. I’m going to try something.

  Instead of pushing harder, I gave up.

  Falling limp, I let the alpha power drain away to nothing. No more mental attacks forcing Byrn to fight the urge to submit. No more struggling against his superior weight.

  For a split second, I did nothing.

  The sudden release knocked him off balance, and in that moment, I had my chance.

  My wolf bucked wildly, sending Byrn sliding sideways. Instead of trying to get away, I twisted toward him and sank my teeth into the first bit of fur I could reach.

  His throat.

  Byrn howled.

  Tangy blood filled my mouth.

  He wrenched away, but I held fast, locking my jaw.

  Byrn fought wildly, and a large paw landed in my gut hard enough to knock me loose. I rolled and came up coughing and wheezing.

  The roaring in my ears gave way to sounds of yelling. Hands came around me, and I shrank back from the strange, silky feeling before realizing why it felt so wrong. Staring down at my dirt-crusted fingernails, I realized I’d somehow shifted back to my human form.

  Shit.

  No.

  It was too soon, I couldn’t—

  “Sweetheart, you all right?” Cherise’s voice at my ear startled me, and I looked up into her kind eyes full of caring and concern. Her hands were on my arms, but it was the fact that Kai hadn’t been the one pulling me off the ground that sent me into panic mode.

  “Kai,” I said, struggling to stand.

  “He’s handling the situation,” she said tightly, which only made me move with more urgency.

  I got to my feet and then leaned heavily on Cherise as pain shot through me. My gut felt like it had been run through with a thousand poisoned darts. The magic was back, and it wasn’t fucking around.

  I gasped, struggling to breathe through the agony.

  “Steady,” Cherise said. “You’re losing blood. Can we—”

  Losing blood?

  What?

  “I’ll get her inside. You get your bag.” Idrissa came up beside me and scooped me into her arms. She strode toward the council hall, ignoring my hisses of protest.

  “Ash,” she said calmly. “I’m trying to save your damned life. But you’re really making me rethink that choice.”

  I stopped struggling, too far gone to the pain to understand. But I also trusted Idrissa enough to let her have her way.

  Over her shoulder, I looked back and caught sight of Kai and Presley bent over Byrn’s wolf. Blood coated his fur, matting it to his still form. I tried using my wolf senses to find a pulse, but the pain made it impossible.

  Then Byrn’s eyes fluttered open. I didn’t even know whether to feel relieved anymore.

  “Last chance to pledge your loyalty, old man,” Kai told him.

  He stared hungrily down at Byrn, like he was hoping Byrn would refuse him once and for all.

  “I pledge it,” Byrn said, breathless with pain and defeat—but genuine. “I pledge my loyalty to you. And to her. My alphas.”

  I looked back to see Kai nodding and then Presley offering a hand to pull the large man to his feet. The woman who’d started it all, Wendy, rushed toward him and threw her arms around his neck. Their mating scent hit me, and I couldn’t help a pang of jealousy at how they’d found their happily ever after.

  Then we climbed the steps and passed through the doors, and I lost sight of them all.

  Idrissa didn’t speak as she carried me. Neither did I. Hell, I couldn’t even look at her.

  It was over.

  I was back to my human form. Full of a magic that was on the verge of swallowing me whole. And Kai was back to teetering on the edge of darkness. We’d tried everything. There were no more moves to make.

  The only thing left to do was leave.

  Defeat choked me, and tears stung my eyes.

  Inside, Idrissa bypassed the party and headed for the stairs.

  “Where are we going?” I asked in a voice cracked with grief.

  “To save your ass.”

  A short flight up led to a series of rooms that had once been used for council offices. Maybe soon they would be again. For now, they were storage.

  Idrissa strode into the first one and set me down on an empty desk. I bit my lip until I tasted blood and noted the worried look she gave me.

  “You’re bleeding,” she said in explanation.

  Her gaze flicked to my ribs, and I finally looked down and spotted the deep gash Byrn had left in me. It didn’t look fatal, but it definitely didn’t look good either.

  “Get me some towels,” Cherise said, hurrying into the room, carrying a bag of whatever she thought might help patch me up. Unfortunately, I had a feeling nothing in there would help with the real problem: the pain in my gut.

  “Be right back.” Idrissa ran from the room, and Cherise crowded in where Idrissa had stood.

  “Kai,” I said, gritting my teeth.

  “He’ll be here as soon as he can,” she said.

  But I couldn’t wait.

  The magic—it was tearing me apart. I couldn’t hold out against it for much longer.

  “I need…Kai…now!” I said.

  Cherise hesitated but finally nodded. “All right,” she said quietly.

  She set her bag aside and walked out.

  I leaned back, bracing myself as best I could, and tried to think.

  We had to leave.

  Like we’d promised we’d do. Together.

  Forget trying to do this on my own. Without me to tether to, Kai was a walking time bomb anyway. Bringing him with me was saving them as much as it would save me.

  If we didn’t go now, who knew what the magic would do to the pack. And stupidly, I’d gathered them all underneath the same roof as me.

  If I lost my grip on this magic now, it could end us all.

  When Kai walked in, my heart swelled. In that moment, I felt like maybe leaving wouldn’t break my heart into a million tiny pieces. Just the sight of him, his concern and love reflected back at me in those swirling, stormy eyes, boosted my hope. I didn’t care about the darkness. In fact, I craved it. I needed it. I needed him.

  As long as we were together, everything would be okay.

  “Ash,” he said, grabbing my hand and squeezing tight.

  Beside him, Cherise had gone to work trying to stem the flow of blood. I barely felt her efforts over the magic’s torture.

  I attempted to smile through the stabbing pain.

  Behind him, Idrissa, Oscar, Presley, and Isaac hurried in.

  “What can I do?” Kai asked, looking nearly as miserable as I felt.

  I opened my mouth to talk, but all that came out was a whoosh of breath.

  In my head, I felt a whisper brushing against my mind.

  I’m here.

  My eyes widened. Kai had spoken to me through our alpha link. That meant our bond—and the tether his wolf so desperately needed—was back!

  “Tell me what you need,” Kai said.

  We have to leave, I told him.

  He wants to kill you, but we won’t let him.

  I tensed at the strangeness of Kai’s silent reply.

  “What?” he asked as I stared up at him.

  “That wasn’t you, was it?” I asked, numb at the very idea of someone—or something—else in my head.

  “What are you talking about?” he asked.

  “She’s losing blood. Here.” Cherise stepped up, and before I knew what was happening, she’d stapled my wound shut.

  I hissed as the sharp pain finally registered through my own building fear.

  He thinks he can trick your people into a slaughter, but you’re too powerful for his bullets.

  Bullets?

  I had no idea what it meant, but I knew one thing: the magic whispered to me now. Not Kai.

  Maybe it was the startling message, but instead of blocking it out like I’d been working so hard at doing, I tuned in. The pain vanished as suddenly as it had come.

  …here, it said softly.

  Outside.

  He’s come for you.

  Don’t let him have us.

  Awareness slammed into me, and I gasped, sitting upright so suddenly I nearly head-butted Kai.

  “Shit,” Idrissa said, hurrying forward. “What’s happening?”

  “The magic,” I said. “It’s talking to me.”

  She pressed in on my other side. “What can I do?” she asked. “Tell me what to do.”

  I blinked, my eyes focusing again on the room in front of me. And the faces. Every one of them had crowded around me, watching with concern and alarm. I couldn’t blame them. I was naked, bloody, and rambling. If I looked as crazed as I felt, no wonder they were freaking out.

  “Did you zap yourself again?” Isaac asked. “Because we can’t really afford another coma.”

  I shook my head, shoving out of Kai’s grasp and stumbling for the doors. “We have to get back out there.”

  “Wait.” Isaac blocked my exit and threw a sheet around me. From the layer of dust it kicked up, I assumed it’d been used as a covering for some of the items being stored up here. But I took it gratefully and stood while he hurriedly clipped it into place like a dress—or a bath towel.

  “Hurry,” I said. “They’re getting close.”

  “Who is?” Oscar demanded gruffly.

  But Isaac finished arranging me, and I pushed him aside, running into the hall and down the stairs.

  “Ash, wait.” Kai was close on my heels, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. All that mattered was getting to them before they got to anyone else.

  “Cohen,” I said as I threw open the front doors and stepped out to meet the asshole whose magic I held hostage. He’d gotten away from me once. I wasn’t going to let it happen again.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Wind whipped at my hair as I ran down the middle of the empty street. The shops downtown had all closed early, so the only lights left were streetlamps. Behind me, the others hurried to catch up. Kai was faster than the rest. His hand closed over my elbow just as I reached the intersection that led to downtown, but he didn’t stop me. Instead, he slid his hand down so his fingers were linked with mine. I looked over at him, noting the darkening cloud sweeping his expression. Underneath my skin, the magic tore at my control; for once, my mood was a perfect match for Kai’s. He didn’t say a word as we walked together toward where Cohen’s motorcade waited.

  In the glow of the street lights, I spotted them easily. They’d parked in the middle of the street just before the Throttle, and now, Cohen and ten men stood armed with guns. Their weapons were aimed at storefronts and the few pedestrians unlucky enough to walk by at this moment. When they spotted us, several of the men switched their aim to Kai and my friends.

  My blood boiled at the sight of the endangered lives of my pack. I glared at Cohen, stopping far enough away that he couldn’t reach for me. I’d learned my lesson from my last mistake.

  “You’re violating the boundary line,” I said coldly. “Get the hell off my pack lands.”

  “Good to see you, Ash. And in one piece.” His sympathies were self-centered; a fact he didn’t try to hide as he scanned my body like it was merch for purchase. “And Kai,” he added. “Alive and well, I see.”

  “I won’t tell you again,” I said.

  “You’re not even going to ask me why I’m here.” His voice was light, teasing, and way too smug.

  My wolf strained from underneath the weight of the power singing through me. She wanted his throat. And I wanted to let her have it.

  “I don’t care why you’re here,” I said.

  “You’re here for the same reason you came before,” Kai said. “And like before, you’ll leave empty-handed with your tail between your legs. Unless, of course, you refuse. In which case, we’ll drag you off our lands and leave a trail of your blood as we do it.”

  “Only a couple of weeks as rulers and you’re already thirsty for violence.”

  “You seem to have that effect on people,” I said.

  Cohen threw his head back and laughed.

  Movement behind Cohen’s assembled militia caught my eye. Idrissa moved among the parked cars, sticking to the shadows. Our eyes met, and she nodded, letting me know she and the others were in position.

  We hadn’t even spoken about a plan, and still, she’d known to surround them. I couldn’t have asked for a better beta. Presley had vanished completely, but I knew better than to think he wasn’t just as close and just as ready to strike. Even Isaac would fight if it came to that. I just hoped it wouldn’t.

  “I’ve come to collect,” Cohen said, his smile hardening to stone.

  “You will get nothing from this town,” Kai snarled. “Least of all Ash.”

  “Believe me, my only interest in your mate is the power she possesses. The power she stole.” His gaze swung to me. “You failed to deliver before. To do so again would violate the alpha code.” He cocked his head at me. “Or is your word just as fragile as your control?”

  Hot fury exploded inside me.

  The air crackled with it, and Kai hissed as the magic zapped him too. He didn’t tear his hand away, though. Cohen watched, intrigued.

  “What you’re carrying is too much for one person,” he said, his voice harder now. Colder. “It will kill you if you don’t release it.”

  I glared back at him, struggling to keep the fury locked inside me. Unleashing it on Cohen was one thing, but I couldn’t risk the innocents caught in the crossfire. “You expect me to believe you’re concerned with my wellbeing now?”

  “I expect you to honor your vow,” he snapped. “Kel’s blood and yours sealed our deal. Are you the kind of leader—the kind of alpha—who breaks her word?”

  He flicked a glance at the people who’d crowded around to watch. Party guests who’d followed our hasty exit. Tiffany and Cade. Cherise. Oscar. Even Vinny had come. Most of them now had a gun pointed at their heads for it. And now, every one of them glanced at me.

  My heart thudded at Cohen’s challenge.

  Kai squeezed my hand, sensing my uncertainty. “Do not let him get in your head,” he murmured.

  I raised my chin. “I’m the kind of alpha who puts her pack first—always. Even if that means letting your magic destroy my body to keep them safe from it.”

  Cohen’s face flashed with rage. He nodded at his men, and the one closest to him—Merle—fired.

  Screams sounded, and my heart seized in fear that he’d just killed one of my friends. But then pain exploded through my shoulder and upper arm. I was driven backward until the momentum sent my feet out from under me and I fell hard on my back.

  My teeth clattered and a warmth seeped out against my skin. First, just my arm, and then it quickly spread over my collarbone and chest.

  I lay on my back, too stunned and hurting to try to get up. And then Kai was there, bending over me, yelling words that were lost to my still-ringing ears.

  “Ash! Can you hear me?” Kai’s voice was a roar of desperation.

  Before I could answer, he turned and pushed to his feet, marching back toward Cohen. I scrambled up and after him, blocking out the pain as I ran.

  But Cohen had already retreated into a circle of protection created by his men. They aimed guns, still as stone and awaiting orders I knew would come the moment we got too close.

  I reached for Kai, barely snagging his wrist and yanking him backward.

  He whirled, eyes wide. “Ash.”

  Relief hung on every letter. Then his gaze flicked to my shoulder, and his relief dissolved into fear. “You’re hurt.”

  “Don’t go after him,” I said through gritted teeth. “It’s what he wants.”

  “He shot you,” Kai growled.

  Others growled too. I didn’t have to look to know the rest of the pack had shifted in preparation for an attack. I looked down at my shoulder and all the blood leaking out of it.

  Shot me.

  Shit.

  “We can’t let him shoot anyone else,” I said, meeting his eyes again.

  Kai’s dark gaze was unyielding. He nodded, but I also knew he was only with me so long as my actions didn’t put me in danger again. He’d choose me over the others. I couldn’t fault him for it. I’d already done the same.

  Turning back to Cohen, I let all of my anger leak into my words as I raged at him. “What the hell are you thinking? If you kill me, what do you think happens to your precious magic?”

  “Relax, I never intended for the shot to be lethal. Merely testing a theory.”

  “What theory?” I demanded.

  “The theory that you can’t be killed,” he said, and I stared back at him, too surprised to fire a comeback.

  Can’t be killed?

  But the magic…

  I looked down at where the bullet had just torn through my bared shoulder. The bleeding had already stopped. Same with my other wounds.

  Shit.

  What if Cohen was right? What if the magic planned to keep me alive—but suffering…forever?

  “How did you know that?” I asked, remembering what Kel had said. All the torture. And then checking her oath mark. Her theory that our bond had protected her. Maybe even the magic itself.