Page 74 of Half Wolf Mate

Her eyebrows scrunched together as if she was about to ask questions, but a scream caught our attention. On one side of the compound, two little girls stood, staring at a man with horror. Violet’s head swung between the kids and me as if she couldn’t decide what to do.

“Go. Help them,” I said.

“I can’t leave your side. Cole is counting on me to—”

“They’re children,” I said. “I’ll be fine.”

With a huff, she turned to aid the girls.

On my own, I miraculously managed not to get shot, stabbed or run over by pack members who had shifted. The closer I got to the entrance, the surer I became that I’d turn myself over to the hunters to end the madness.

Chapter 31 Sydney

The scene that greeted me when I reached the compound’s entrance made my heart stutter. Pack members—some shifted and some in human form—charged at hunters. Bodies from both sides lay lifeless on the ground that was soaked with blood.

Horrified, I searched the unmoving corpses for my friends. I wanted everyone to survive, but if any of the guys I’d grown to love lost their lives, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. When I didn’t see any familiar faces on the ground, I moved faster toward the group of hunters ahead. They were easy to identify as they were all dressed in black—some wearing ski masks.

My stomach practically dropped to my feet when I spotted a face that had been a source of many of my nightmares. The hunter who killed Aunt Lydia and chased me to New Orleans. He stood in the middle of the bloody frenzy, surveying the area as if looking for someone. Maybe he searched for me.

Heart hammering and sweat forming on my forehead, I took a tentative step in his direction. Still, I had my shoulders squared, and chin tilted in defiance. I’d never let him or any of the hunters know how terrified I was. I didn’t see Cole anywhere until I was closer to the hunter from my nightmares, and I heard him shout my name.

“Sydney! Get back!” he roared.

That alerted the hunter to my presence. He turned, eyes zeroing in on me. Our gazes locked. His eyes widened slightly and then gleamed with satisfaction. His sinister smile was enough to make me turn and run, but I stood my ground.

“Am I dreaming, or did my favorite half-breed just walk right into my hands?” The ghastly scar extending from his left eyebrow to his right cheek moved as his smile grew. His appearance alone was terrifying.

From my periphery, I saw Cole running toward us. I glanced at him apologetically and turned back to the hunter.

“So, it’s me you want, then? Here I am. You can call your men off now.”

He stared at me, wearing an impassive expression. Then he shook his head. “I have to admit; you continue to impress me. Are you giving yourself up to protect a bunch of animals? They probably don’t even accept you. I know how packs work.”

I swallowed my bitterness. He was right. The pack hated me.

“Get away from her,” Cole snarled. His voice was deeper, and his eyes glowed red. His wolf was near the surface, and he could easily rip the hunter to pieces. However, the man had the upper hand. He raised his hand, revealing the crossbow in it.

“Hello, Alpha. I’ve been wanting your head on a stick since you slaughter my friends.”

The sun hit the tip of the arrow, poised and ready in the crossbow. It was silver. Just a slight movement of his finger and that arrow would be burrowed in Cole’s heart before he even made it to the hunter.

Nausea washed over me as I realized this man could kill my mate with one finger. “Cole, please, just stay back,” I said. “I’m the one he wants. If I go with him, your people will be safe.”

“Even if he has you, he won’t call off his men.”

The hunter’s eyes narrowed, then he glanced around. Although they had weapons capable of killing werewolves, the number of dead hunter bodies was far greater than shifters. I saw the realization gleam in his cold eyes. He might have the upper hand now, but they’d run out of bullets and arrows, eventually. The longer the battle continued, the shifters would gain the upper hand and kill them all.

“Alright, let’s make a deal.”

A growl resonated from behind the hunters. “No deal. How about I just kill you now?”

The hunter glanced back at Damian. He smirked. “You could do that, but I have a silver arrow pointing at your Alpha’s heart.”

A muscle ticked in Damian’s jaw.

“Or,” the hunter chirped, “I could put the arrow into the girl’s chest so her mate can watch her die.”

Cole’s sharp inhale was heard as the weapon shifted in my direction.