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Jaz couldn’t believe what she saw through Tarski’s eyes.
Adrian’s wolf really had attacked her wolf.
Tarski gave as good as she got, but she took on more pain than necessary. Her wolf clearly would not kill Red.
That’s why Tarski had warned Jaz they might die.
Every time Red bit Tarski, Jaz felt a pulse of Adrian’s energy. But Red didn’t seem to recognize Tarski.
Percee’s voice jumped into Jaz’s head. You will not kill each other. I forbid it. You are a gift to your kind. A rare gift, dammit.
Jaz no longer questioned how she could hear that woman’s voice and yelled back, My wolf is doing all she can. Since you have a direct line to my mind, why don’t you try talking to Adrian and make his wolf stop trying to kill us?
Is that his name?
Shut up and help us, dammit!
Tarski dodged Red’s attacks and snapped at him, biting, but not ripping skin. She spun to go back at Red, but Adrian’s wolf stopped dead still and cocked his head.
The wounded pack kept their distance. They were smart enough not to remain in place and run with a predator like Red around them and still hungry for blood.
Jaz told Tarski about Percee talking to her.
Tarski asked, How does that woman talk to us?
I don’t know, but she might just be talking to Adrian.
Red started snarling and growling again.
He yelped and looked around.
His dead gaze morphed into one of confusion. He shook his big head, slinging saliva and blood from his mouth. He began snarling again then yelped once more and spun, hunting for something.
Had Percee caused that?
Red turned his head and stared at Jaz’s golden wolf as if he was lost and just found something he recognized.
Tarski moved toward Red again.
Jaz warned, No. Stay back.
Ignoring Jaz, Tarski kept going until she and Red were nose to nose. Tarski licked his face.
Red’s jaw went slack.
Percee spoke to Jaz again. Adrian is a hot mess of problems, but he’s honorable to the core, just like his shifter brothers.
Jaz replied, I know he is. He’s just damaged and needs time to heal.
Yes, and you can heal him, Percee agreed. You are more than a healer of bodies, Jaz, you can touch his mind through a bond and help him when he can’t do it himself. You need to heal as well. He can help you. You’ve carried the weight of guilt for a long time. What your mother did is not your burden to bear. I heard truth in your words because no one can lie to me. Kaiser was a mercy killing and his father died better than he deserved. Your path will be rocky, but you can have a partner with Adrian.
Red had started licking Tarski’s face and nuzzling her.
Jaz told the woman, We have no future. If I stay here, I will be caught and pay for Kaiser’s death with my life. These wolves can’t use their noses, and I fear Daisy is dead. I have no real evidence to prove my side of Kaiser’s death.
Percee asked, Do you trust Adrian?
Yes. Jaz didn’t need to think about her answer. Red and Adrian had to have been out of their minds in that cage. She would not hold them at fault for attacking Tarski when Red had no idea who he attacked.
Not giving up, Percee asked, Would you take Adrian as a mate?
Yes, I love Adrian, Jaz replied softly. But if I stay, get locked up, and die, he will not survive that happening to me. It would be as bad as losing a mate.
Percee came back sounding fully exasperated with her. And you’re sure he’ll survive you walking away? He wants you as a mate, too.
Really? Jaz’s heart pounded with a crazy beat.
Percee grumbled something that made no sense. How many times do I have to say that you are both gifts to this world? Vercane chose well. You need to show her your appreciation by accepting your destiny and not wasting it. As such, you have a responsibility to use your powers to save each other first. Reach out to Adrian.
Jaz wanted to do that so much. She asked, How?
Don’t be a pussy, Jaz. Just do it!
Jaz mentally yanked herself back from Percee shouting at her. In a hurry to see if Percee knew what she was talking about, Jaz said, Tarski, I need the human body to see if we can fix our mates.
Taking a couple steps back, which caused Red to cock his head to the side, Tarski gave up her wolf form as Jaz shifted.
She silently apologized to Tarski for the abuse they’d suffered today with so much shifting.
Adrenaline kept her going at this point.
She glanced at the wolves still alive. The pack had lost two. Not too shabby for this bunch. She spoke softly to the pack. “Please drop down and help me calm the red wolf.”
As one, the entire group in their wolf forms went to the ground with front legs extended.
Turning her attention to Red, she knelt and asked, “Please let Adrian come out to talk to me.”
Nothing.
She extended a hand and Red’s lips pulled back, showing those sharp fangs again. Jaz said, “I know you care for my wolf and Tarski wants you safe, Red. Please don’t bite me or she’ll be unhappy.”
The skin around his mouth drooped back into place.
She slowly moved a finger to gently stroke the top of his nose. He didn’t lower his head in a welcoming gesture, but neither did he chop off her hand.
Using all her fingers, she softly massaged his scarred muzzle. He closed his eyes.
Energy buzzed up to her fingers. Her energy flowed from her fingers to meet theirs.
Adrian’s voice came to her from a distance. Who is that, Red? What’s happening? It’s quiet.
She called to him mentally, This is Jaz. Shift back to your human form.
Garbled words followed.
He either hadn’t heard her or hadn’t understood her.
She felt every pair of eyes on her, probably wondering if the Red wolf was preparing to kill her first, then all of them. She had no answer for that.
Red backed out of her reach and began shifting. In the next minute, Adrian appeared on all fours. She held her breath that his eyes would not be glowing yellow.
That he would recognize her.
He lifted his head and stunning brown eyes stared back. His voice sounded raw as if he’d been screaming a lot. “Jaz? Is it you?”
She pushed up as he stood. Their gazes locked. Walking over, she opened her arms and he grabbed her to him.
He rasped out, “I’m sorry we attacked. I wasn’t any better than Red at realizing what was happening. He would never intentionally harm Tarski. He actually ... “
She moved her head from his shoulder to face him. “He what?”
“You already know I’m crazy. Might as well tell you this. Some woman’s voice I didn’t recognize came into our minds. She told Red he was hurting his future mate. To be honest, Red claimed Tarski was his mate a while back.”
She smiled through tears falling. “I heard that woman, too.”
“Shit fire.” Ragged breathing and hoarse, he mumbled, “That means you’re as crazy as me if you start claiming that.”
But he clearly did not believe her.
“Good. That means our crazy matches.”
He lifted a worried look to her that turned reverent and finally his eyes cleared then he smiled. He kissed her, eating up her lips and all the love she felt for this man.
He murmured, “I love you, too, babe,” between kisses.
She caught his chin, pausing his kiss.
He squinted his eyes. “What?”
“Did you hear me say I love you?”
“Yes.” He grinned. “Did you hear me?”
“Yes, but I didn’t speak out loud.”
He still admitted, “I heard you clear as a bell.”
She argued, “In your head. Not your ears.”
Realization dawned. His mouth gaped open. “How can we—”
A line of three sport utilities came roaring up on the property. When the first one stopped fifty feet away, Scarlett jumped out from the driver’s side with her mate exiting the passenger side.
Scarlett started toward them, “Dammit. We’re late. Are you okay, Jaz?”
Four big men poured out of the other two vehicles. She’d seen a couple of those shifters at the tiger’s compound where Scarlett’s father had tried to kill everyone with his magic. They belonged to Adrian’s eagle-shifter boss.
The pack wolves swung their attention from Jaz to Scarlett and the men.
Jaz ordered the pack, “Stand down. These are friends.” Tanza would rule, but having killed the alpha, she carried the power for now.
A huge bird flapping quickly, flew hard from the south, banked and dropped to the ground in a spectacular stop. As it did, that giant sea eagle shifted into a man, complete with clothes.
In human form, Adrian’s boss wore a business suit, which had to be custom tailored. Everything about that man was perfectly put together right down to his elegant shoes. He could be forty, if he was human, but the eyes in that face were still shaped like his eagle.
Power rolled off him as he strode forward.
He paused at the edge of carnage and shifters still in wolf form. Then he raked a gaze over Adrian who had moved in front of Jaz.
Adrian said, “I can explain all this, sir.”
“That is quite possible, but you are shielding the Golden Kodiak wolf shifter, who is wanted for multiple shifter murders by SCIS.”
Jaz dropped her head down on Adrian’s back and whispered, “Give me up, Adrian. I don’t want you to go down with me.”
He replied with a fierce, “No. You are mine to protect.”
