Six heads sharply snap our way verifying we’ve been spotted. Three belong to wolf shifters, two to suit wearing elves, and one to my ex’s very disoriented looking sister. Confusion regarding our presence is quickly replaced by preparation to attack when O’s bare Awaker feet firmly land on the deck beside me. His fighting stance silently informs me he’s ready when I am.
Tossing my Fated Mate an uncompromising gaze, I instruct, “Get Krystie, and get the fuck back inside.”
There isn’t even a moment for Ana to nod her comprehension before the shifters are coming our way. Their complete focus on us and misbelief that she’s merely a weak Awaker allows her to lead Karry along the side of the ship towards the elves waiting to finish the transaction.
Being outnumbered but not outmatched is quickly discovered. The older of the three swiftly sprints towards me, speed being the weapon he believes will be of the most use. His straight run is easy to divert; however, it places me in the perfect position to endure a cross over punch from one of the others. Leaning my shoulder out of the way just in time results in him denting the ship wall. I grab ahold of his extended forearm, shift my hands to claws to pierce through the bone, and front kick his frame away, severing his limb from his body. Agonizing cries drift through the air and collide with the sounds of the waves gently crashing against the boat. Musky aromas assault my nose, making me wish for more of the saltwater scents. The wolf flails around backwards in distress and dismay and disbelief unintentionally tumbling overboard to what I imagine is his watery grave.
Depending on how fast he shifts and how well he swims will ultimately determine that.
For now?
He’s at least out of the way.
Mate.
Whipping my head her direction, I’m grateful to see her dodging hits and blasting bullets into the elves, preventing them from striking her as well as from being able to stop Karry in her pursuit to get Krystie to safety. While her agility has always been impressive, it appears another benefit of bonding has revealed itself. Her speed is now almost jaw dropping. She’s moving with such flawless fluidity that even if one of them were not injured and able to get a hit in, chances are she’d still be able to slip out of the way and release a counter blow. Ana’s finger slides onto the trigger to pull when one of the wolves, now in his animal form, moves in for the attack.
“Here boy!” I insultingly call to him, steering his attention away from my female and over to where I’m flinging his pack member’s arm through the air like a frisbee.
Whether it’s the remark or the dismembered limb or the combination of the two that gets him bolting for me is unknown. The last actions I clearly see before being pounced are Ana dropping the gun with one hand, grabbing it with the other, and placing a bullet in an elf’s skull. Paws slam down on my chest, hoping to pin me in place, yet are flung overhead much like the cyclops was. However, instead of going over the edge, he merely glides to a halt and rushes to attack again. This time I’m prepared better for a head on collision but am met by an unforeseen side strike involving a jump from the dented, nearby wall. Due to the force, I’m knocked onto my back and his sharp fangs manage to latch onto my shoulder when they miss my neck. His teeth struggle to tear at the flesh under the fabric. He chomps and chomps and chomps hoping to break skin. He uses his extra strength that comes from being a shifter to keep me trapped underneath him, arrogantly believing it’s enough to keep him controlling the situation. Dipping the shoulder that he’s not biting is followed by another partial shift of my claws. They cut through his gray fur and curl around his ribs. One vicious yank is all it takes to free me. Howls of suffering are attached to limps away but are ended entirely when the severed bone is stabbed directly through his heart.
The sound of him falling lifeless to my surprise occurs simultaneously with the other.
My eyes meet O’s, spotting a similar impressed glint.
We didn’t expect shit to be this easy.
Guess we should really just be thankful it wasn’t that hard.
Mate.
Gold’s command for my attention elsewhere leads me to witnessing the unthinkable. The one-armed shifter who I hoped wouldn’t make it back to the surface suddenly grabs Ana by her hair. Any chance to intervene or attack is nonexistent. He forcefully flings her frame off the side into the ice-cold water.
“No!” is screeched into the night air prior to me diving in after her.
Shifting from my Awaker form to my ancient one is completed in what feels like record timing, but my ability to reach her seems to fade faster and faster. I kick and wade and wade and kick, vision obstructed in the dark, watery unknown. I’m forced to rely on my other senses, to be led by where it feels her essence is screaming for me, calling out to save her, to save us, yet when a current crashes into me from a different creature darting past me, the fear inside of me swiftly subsides.
Ozsean.
It’s unclear how deep I’ve managed to go before there’s a snout in my stomach shoving me upwards. As soon as I’ve cracked the surface, I’m gifted the sight of Ana’s frame being hoisted out of the water on his tail. She’s gingerly transferred onto my nose where the heat coming from my nostrils can warm her shivering body. Each bit of water she coughs up instills a sense of relief that I wish was a reprieve.
I should’ve never let her fucking come.
I should’ve never let her risk her life.
I should’ve-
Calm the fuck down, Peanut Butter. Tossing us into the pool is how Dad taught us to swim.
Feeling her chuckles seeps additional ease into my system.
And if you’re gonna be out here risking your life to save lives, so am I, but can we pause on the telepathic fight? That one-armed nutcase is still up there after Krystie.
The reminder receives two low rumbles.
Use O to get you and Baumgartners to safety. Grab them and get to the parking lot we landed in. I’ll meet you there when I’m done with him. Got it?
Roger that.
She gives my scales a soft stroke.
For the record, you’re really fucking hot giving orders like this.
Consummate.
Not…the right time…you two.
Ana shifts up to a sitting position and meets my cousin’s stare. “A.D. says to take the three of us to the parking lot we landed in while he deals with one-arm Willy. Can you handle that?”
His head dips once in agreement.
She carefully crawls off my snout and onto the back of his neck. While it physically pangs me to see her on top of anyone else – to the point I’m contemplating murdering the very creature who helped save her – I somehow manage to reel it in.
Be thankful she’s alive.
Safe.