Chapter 30

Chapter Thirty

Anders

Three Minutes Earlier

V eryn drops me, and I will my lion to come forward. He was already hovering dangerously close to taking over, so transforming midair isn’t a problem, but my clothing ends up shredded.

Not just from being ripped apart as my body grows and expands, but also from the branches that catch against the material as I plummet.

The ground approaches fast, and my entire body braces for impact. My lion’s paws hit the ground, and he shakes out his tail and scents the air all at once. He spins at a ninety-degree angle and takes off, loping through the trees.

It only takes another minute to spot Clive, chest heaving and leaning against a giant oak tree.

His hands shake as he texts.

Don’t let him call in backup , I snap, urging my lion to act. He lunges, and Clive’s head whips up. He takes off with his phone in his hand, but I’m baffled why he hasn’t already shifted. He drops the phone, falling to all fours as he finally attempts to transform into his wolf.

It doesn’t matter.

My lion lands on his back, trapping the partially formed wolf to the forest floor before wrapping his mouth around Clive’s head. His teeth dig in, and Clive’s skull pops with the force of his bite.

There’s no mercy to be had when my lion is in control. He doesn’t want to risk Clive healing and coming back as a later problem. He doesn’t stop until he’s removed the wolf’s head from his body. He drops it several feet away and bounds off toward where the bond indicates Ember will be.

Her sorrow and fury fill him with determination.

There will be pain and death for anyone involved in this mess.

My lion guides us through the trees at a rapid pace with utter conviction that he won’t face-plant into an unexpected tree trunk. He comes to the edge of the woods right as Ember tackles the smaller of two wolves. She viciously tears into his side as her paws rake over the wolf’s face and flank.

The larger wolf stalks closer to Ember from behind. He’s planning to use her distraction as his chance to attack. My lion takes off and jumps, clearing more space than I knew possible.

He lands between Ember’s wolf and the traitorous fuck. His roar echoes, warning the wolf of what’s coming. However, it’s Ember’s growl that he’s met with. He glances over his shoulder to find the downed wolf is immobile and Ember’s wolf limping closer.

She snarls, baring her teeth.

My lion gets the message, even if he doesn’t like it. He dips his head and returns to the downed wolf. He wants to be sure this fucker can’t get up for a second round, either.

The crunching bone and blood filling his mouth makes my stomach roil, but I’m content in knowing that asshole won’t rise again. He turns back to see Ember clashing with the larger male wolf. He aches to intercede and end this, but he catches sight of Veryn kneeling at Lorcan’s side.

My heart stalls.

Lorcan is immortal, as long as he’s able to replenish his magic every full moon. It must be after midnight, but there’s no telling if this bloodshed will count for that ritual.

Ember growls, and the sound of gnashing teeth makes me ache to stand at a safe distance and ensure everything goes the way it should, but Ember is capable.

What she won’t be able to handle is losing a bonded mate so soon after bonding. It would have a detrimental impact on anyone. Urging my lion toward Veryn, I try to focus on remembering the steps Lorcan always follows.

Everything is so fucked.

The daggers are supposed to pierce each foot, followed by his hands, and finally his heart. Then he bleeds out under the full moon, offering his blood to Mother Nature and the earth. They, in turn, judge his sacrifice and, if it’s worthy, will replenish his life force and his magic. Only, I don’t know the spell or incantation or whatever the fuck it is he recites.

My lion makes it halfway across the clearing before a portal opens.

There’s a moment of pure relief as Cohen steps out with a female at his side, but that’s short-lived.

A collection of wolves comes into sight, and my stomach drops.

Veryn shoves himself up, flexing his hands, which are now sporting pretty significant claws.

Cohen will protect Lorcan, and he’s much more likely to know the incantation than I am. Calyx steps through the portal next, and that seals my resolve.

It’s time to back up my packmate.