Page 53 of Beckett's Fate
“Let me see,” she said, her voice trembling as she reached for his wound.
“It’s nothing,” Beck said, though his wince betrayed him.
“It’s not nothing,” Irene snapped, her hands steady as she tore a strip of cloth to bandage the wound.
Beck’s eyes softened as he watched her work, a faint smile tugging at his lips despite the pain. “You’re as relentless as I am, you know that?”
“Stubborn, or so I’ve been told,” she muttered, tying the bandage tightly.
Their gazes met, the intensity between them momentarily eclipsing the chaos around them.
“You’re mine,” Beck said softly, his voice filled with quiet conviction.
Irene’s heart twisted, the weight of his words settling over her like a brand. “And you’re mine,” she whispered, her voice steady despite the storm raging within her.
Before either of them could say more, a faint sound reached their ears—the distant rumble of approaching footsteps and the crackle of radios.
“They’re coming back,” Irene said, her heart racing as she stood, her eyes scanning the forest.
Beck rose beside her, his expression grim. “As distasteful as it is, we need to use some of their clothing,” he said, his tone firm. Irene nodded. “We’re not losing this silver—or each other.”
As they grabbed what clothing they could use, they dressed and gathered what they could carry, disappearing into the forest,Irene couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The hunters wouldn’t stop, not now. And the silver they carried was more than just a treasure—it was a target.
19
IRENE
All around tension sparked with a kind of energy that prickled at Irene’s skin and set her wolf on edge. She could hear the hunters long before they broke through the trees—booted feet crashing through the underbrush, the occasional hissed order, the ominous clink of weapons being readied.
“They’re closing in,” Irene murmured, her voice barely audible over the sound of her pounding heart. She clutched one of the silver bars in her hands, its weight a tangible reminder of what was at stake.
Beck’s tall, imposing form stood beside her, his sharp gaze fixed on the direction of the noise. His expression was calm, but she could feel the storm raging beneath the surface. His wolf was just as restless as hers, every instinct screaming to protect what they’d fought so hard to find.
“They’re not walking away this time,” Beck said, his voice low and dangerous.
Irene’s wolf bristled in agreement, the primal need to defend her mate and their claim roaring through her. “Then let’s finish this,” she replied, her eyes narrowing as she dropped the bar into her pack and flexed her fingers.
The hunters emerged moments later, their rifles raised and their expressions hard. The leader—a tall, scarred man with a cruel glint in his eye—stepped forward, his weapon trained on Beck.
“You should’ve walked away when you had the chance,” the leader said, his voice dripping with menace.
“And you should’ve stayed out of our territory,” Beck shot back, his voice a low growl.
The tension snapped like a taut wire as one of the hunters fired, the crack of the gunshot ringing through the clearing. Beck moved like lightning, grabbing Irene and pulling her behind him before the hunters could bring their guns to bear.
“That’s it,” Irene snarled, her wolf pushing to the surface as she bared her teeth. She stepped out from behind Beck, her hand moving to the hilt of her knife. “You’ve had your fun. Now it’s our turn.”
Irene and Beck split apart, causing the hunters to become disorganized and giving Irene and Beck time to strip out of their clothing before the hunters could reorganize and focus. In the blink of an eye, both called their wolves forward, the swirling mist enveloping them.
The ground beneath Beck’s bare feet trembled as he was encased in the eerie glow. Irene’s breath caught as the change overtook him, his form contorting with a primal grace. In moments, the mist dissipated, revealing a massive wolf with a thick coat of black fur and glowing blue eyes that locked onto the hunters with predatory intent.
As the mist curled around her legs and raced upward. Her heart pounded as the transformation gripped her, her bones shifting and lengthening, her senses sharpening. When the mist cleared, her crimson fur gleamed in the moonlight, her eyes blazing as her wolf emerged fully.
The hunters confidence faltered and their movements became uncoordinated as they took in the wolves before them. Then, their leader barked an order, the hunters raised their weapons and the forest erupted into chaos.
Beck moved first, launching himself at the nearest hunter with terrifying speed. His powerful jaws clamped onto the man’s arm, forcing him to drop his weapon with a scream. Beck’s claws raked across the hunter’s chest, sending him sprawling into the dirt as he ripped the man’s arm from his body.
Irene followed, her wolf relishing the fight as she lunged for another attacker. She dodged a wild swing of a rifle and leapt, her sharp teeth sinking into his shoulder. The hunter howled in pain, collapsing under her weight as she drove him to the ground. Blood slicked her muzzle as she turned, searching for the next threat.