Chapter 22

22

N icola saw Kaleb pull the gun and dodged to the side as it went off.

"That asshole just shot at our queen!" a warg said from behind her. They didn't wait for another chance for the wolves to back down. They attacked in a wave of snarls and growls.

Thor had shifted so fast she barely could make out the transition. Kaleb was trying to back away, but Nicola wasn't going to give the coward a chance to run. She pushed down her history with the wolves coming toward her and swung Thor's silver ax with everything she had.

Blood splashed hot on her hands, and she kept going. She wasn't going to live in fear anymore. She wasn't going to let them plunge Inferno into a war that the wolves couldn't win.

Thor's pack tore into the wolves, sending some yelping into the woods, and others were too frozen in fear to fight back. It was a slaughter all because of the stupid fucking ego of one man.

Nicola fought for her future that they would have stolen from her. She fought for her mate, who had been treated so badly over his long life. She fought for the home and pack she so desperately wanted.

Kaleb crashed into her, his wolf form a glossy brown, the same color as his hair. Gone was the armor that he had thought would protect him. His wolf had come free in a final attempt to save him.

Nicola rolled across the snow and back to her feet, the ax in her hand swinging out as Kaleb lunged again. He feinted, and her blade caught him on the back of his hip. He yelped as the wound smoked, the purity of the silver burning his skin and fur.

"You should have walked away and left me be," Nicola said and steadied her fighting stance. Kaleb's snarl was the only answer she needed. Neither one would back down until the other was dead.

She was okay with that.

Nicola let her years of training take over her, and she fell into the dance of battle. Kaleb was strong, but she was fast, and every scrape of his claws against her skin only made her fight harder. Her wounds were healing as fast as he was making them. Every time Nicola's blade struck Kaleb, his skin began to burn away.

Thor came into view, and Nicola was dimly aware that everything had gone quiet. Kaleb changed tactics and lunged for Thor. It was the last mistake he ever made.

Thor caught Kaleb by the front paws and held him tight. Nicola raced forward and drove the ax down on the back of his neck. Thor dropped Kaleb to the snow, and Nicola lifted the ax again and again until she had cut his hateful head off his body.

Thor roared, and the wargs roared with him. There were no wolves left on the field alive. There was nothing but broken bodies scattered around them. Nicola was breathing heavily, still staring at the mutilated body of the wolf who had caused her so much pain.

"You're all right, Nicola," Astrid said, her voice calm. "Didn't I say he was going to be nothing but a head by the end of the day? Put the ax down. It's over now." Astrid caught the bloody hilt as it fell from Nicola's shaking fingers.

Thor growled in warning, and Astrid backed away, her eyes focused on the ground.

"The battle rage has him, Nicola. Be careful not to challenge him," she whispered. "And whatever you do, don't run."

Nicola looked up at her fierce and bloody mate. He was watching every tiny movement she made. She swallowed hard, but she wasn't afraid. He was radiating power, and she wanted to rub herself all over him. His eyes were red, but it wasn't violence in his gaze; it was lust.

" Mate ," he growled through a mouthful of fangs. " Run ."

Without a moment to second guess it, Nicola shifted into her wolf and bolted back towards the hall. Astrid swore, and Thor roared as he took off after Nicola.

Adrenaline shot through her as trees, snow, and bodies swam past her. She leaped through the open window of their bedroom, shifted mid-air, and landed naked on the bed. Thor's claws ripped the sides of the window apart as he forced his way through after her. He pounced, landing on top of her on his hands and knees.

" Mate ," he snarled again. " Mine ."

"Yours," Nicola said and kissed his fanged mouth. Her hands moved down his sides to his thick, heavy cock. It was somehow bigger in his warg form like everything else about him. She knew she was made to take him. She stroked his dick, looking him in the eyes as she did it. "I'm all yours, Thor."

Thor moved, yanked her legs apart, and buried his face in her pussy. Nicola cried out, her hands going to his hair, to the silky tips of his wolf ears. Thor licked her like his life depended on it, making Nicola's adrenaline from the battle mix with the heady feeling of being alive. She hung on because that was all she could do as he wrung every cry of pleasure from her.

Thor's mouth moved to her inner thigh, and the sharp prick of his fangs sent her screaming through an orgasm that shook her to her core. Thor lapped at the wound, closing it over before lifting her hips and plunging the fat head of his cock inside her.

Nicola wrapped her legs around him, drawing him further in until she could scrape her claws down his back. Thor's rumbling growl had her pussy clenching tight around him. She grabbed his ass and dragged him further into her until they both hit their limit.

"Yes, Thor. More. I can take it, baby. I can take you in any of your forms," she murmured, kissing his face all over.

" Mine ," Thor snarled softly.

It was the only warning Nicola got before he was pounding into her, using her like she had been begging for. Every part of her loved his dominance, the feeling of being completely wrapped up in him. She came again with a cry of his name, and he still didn't stop.

Thor made her come a third time before he wedged his knot up into her and came with a roar of victory. Nicola kissed and held him close, knowing that he was all hers and she would never leave his side again.