Page 39 of Half Wolf Mate

“Drop the knife,” my captor instructed.

The knife Cole had pulled from his back clattered to the floor. Although I struggled to breathe and my vision blurred, I was worried about the extent of his injury. Guilt pricked at me because that blade was meant to go through my heart. Cole saved my life.

“When I found my escapee half-wolf, I wasn’t expecting to get an Alpha, too,” the hunter strangling me said with glee. “This is an unexpected treat.”

“I bet,” Cole murmured. He kept his cool, but I saw the worry in his eyes. I guess he saw how close I was to losing consciousness. “As you said, you’ve got an Alpha. Let the girl go.”

“Not a chance,” the hunter said. “She’s not getting away from me this time.”

Cole’s irises flickered that strange red again, and a growl rumbled in his chest. He glanced at the hunter he’d had in his grip and then at the one that held on to me.

“Two abominations eliminated in one night. I call this a major win.” My captor took out a knife and poised it over my chest. Fighting to hold on to consciousness, I directed an apologetic glance at Cole. This was my fault.

Before my eyes closed, I saw the blade hovering over my heart plunge down, but it didn’t connect. There was no piercing pain in my chest. I heard a thud, and then the fingers around my throat loosened. I dropped to the floor, took a much-needed breath, and coughed. When my eyes opened, I was shocked to see one of the hunters lifeless on the floor with a pool of blood spreading around him. To my right, Cole had the other one pressed to the wall and had taken control of the weapon he held. I was amazed by how fast he moved. The tip of the blade almost sliced the man’s throat when a single sound like thunder erupted.

Cole’s body jerked, and he muttered an expletive. I sucked in a breath, fearing he’d drop to the floor any second, but he remained standing. However, the fresh wound inflicted by what I guessed was a gunshot made him lose his hold on the hunter. All hell broke loose after that. One of my windows shattered, and two more men dressed in full black ran into my apartment.

“Sydney, run,” Cole growled.

I shook my head. “I’m not leaving you.”

“Go!” The order came out as more of an animalistic growl, and it spurred me into action.

Scrambling to my feet, I aimed for the door. I looked back to see a massive white wolf leap over my coffee. The wolf’s jaw locked around a hunter’s arm, who had a gun pointed in my direction. The man howled in pain and dropped his weapon. As I ran, I heard thuds and more grunts of pain. Someone was sure to hear the commotion and call the cops. But then it all stopped.

I skidded to a halt and turned back to my apartment. “I can’t leave him,” I whispered. What if Cole had gotten hurt? He couldn’t take on three hunters. Hurrying back to my door, I burst inside and grabbed the nearest potential weapon. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a cheap, flimsy lamp I found at a flea market. Taking a deep breath and mustering my courage, I jumped around the corner, weapon ready.

My arm fell to my side as I took in the scene. Cole stood in the middle of the room, splattered with blood. Three men lay unmoving on the blood-soaked floor. I gawked. It was a massacre. Cole glanced over his shoulder with a scowl.

“Damn it, Sydney, I told you to run.”

“I…I came back to help you.”

His eyebrows shot up. “With that?” He glanced at the lamp.

Heat filling my cheeks, I shrugged.

Sighing, he turned around, and I realized he didn’t have a stitch on. “Whoa!” I quickly looked away. The fire in my cheeks spread to the rest of my face and chest. I spotted his shirt and pants which were now in shreds on the floor.

He snorted. “What, did you think I’d magically have clothes on when I shifted back?”

“I really have no idea how it works,” I said, fighting the urge to take another peek at him.

“Let’s go,” he announced, snatching up what was left of his garments. “I’ve got extra clothes in the car.”

“You’re going to walk back downstairs like that?”

“Of course not.” He headed to the bedroom where the hunters had come in through a window. “We’re going down the fire escape.”

I followed him, eyeing the bodies. “There are only three of them.”

“The other one got away. He’s fast. Skilled.”

“I know.” I sighed. “And he’s out for my head. I’m so screwed.”

Cole stopped and turned to rest his hands on my shoulders. I was held captive by his intense gaze, so I didn’t think to be embarrassed by his nudity.

“You’re not,” he assured. “I’m sorry I didn’t believe you before. I won’t let them touch you, Sydney.”