But he was still no match for me.
I gripped his shoulders and twisted, pushing him away, but he came at me instantly. The human part of me didn’t want to hurt him. He was Ainslee’s blood, and I knew she loved him. Hurting him would hurt her, which would pain me immensely. But he was out of control, coming at me like he wanted to rip my heart from my chest. Which, I had no doubt he’d try.
I was aware of the other males coming forward, and I started breathing harder as I tossed Caelan away hard enough this time he hit a tree. I knew he’d struggle to regain his composure, and that would buy me a little bit of time.
I let my wolf rise up even more, leaned forward in an aggressive stance, opened my mouth, and roared out when they came at me. They tried to neutralize me, to take me down.
It was enough manpower they might succeed if I let my guard down... if I were a weaker male.
“You dare try to take my mate from me?” I roared again just as a Lycan came at me. His eyes flashed, and I slowly grinned. “Well, come then, and let me show you how a male protects his female.” My voice wasn’t human, not in the slightest. It was rough and distorted, a serrated growl.
I gripped the first male who reached me around the throat, lifting him off the ground before tossing him aside, hearing his big body crash against something sturdy. Another one came at me from the right, another to the left. I swatted them away as easily as if they were flies, my eyes tracking each of their bodies, anticipating their next move.
I was stronger because of my centuries-old half-shifted state, more powerful now that I had Ainslee by my side. The only Lycan who had any chance of defeating me—or attempting to take me down—was Banner, and that was only because he had his Linking Connection working in his favor.
I was mindless about what was going on. Fighting back, snarling and growling, taking in anyone who tried to overpower me.
“No!” Ainslee cried out. “Please don’t hurt him.”
I wasn’t sure if she was speaking to me or the others, but it made no difference. I wouldn’t let anyone defeat me.
I swiped out, catching a male in the side. He fell back just as another came forward, claws outstretched, eyes flashing from his inner animal. I ducked and curled my hands around his narrow waist, lifting him off the ground and tossing him away easily.
I chanced a glance at Ainslee, who thankfully stayed back, knowing she was no match for a pack of wolves who were ravenous.
“Stay there, my female.” I barely recognized my voice, but before I could turn and continue fighting, a hard body slammed into me from the side.
I crashed into a tree, the air getting knocked from me, my wolf turning frenzied. My leg landed at an odd angle, something twisting painfully in my thigh. I assumed it was Banner from the force of the hit, but I was surprised to see Caelan snapping his teeth at me.
I stood and went to push him away just as he swiped out and dug his claws into my side. I shouted, as the pain was instant, but adrenaline crashed through me, my need to get to Ainslee and get her away from the danger far stronger.
“Oh gods, Caelan. No!” she screamed at the same time I picked up her brother and, with a mighty roar, threw him aside.
His body slammed into the oncoming Lycans, Banner in the fray. They fell back like dominoes from the impact, and I struggled to stand, shaking off the dizziness and pain and moving toward Ainslee.
I held onto my side to stem off the constant flow of blood from the gouges. I held my hand out to her and said, “Come here, my female.” Her eyes were so wide, the scent of her fear stronger than the aggression and blood that coated the air. The sight and smell of her tears tore at my chest, a pain far worse than anything I’d experience physically.
We needed to get away from here. More would show up, and I wouldn’t be able to keep them all back.
I limped closer, my leg still fucked up from hitting the tree. When I saw her looking over my shoulder and her eyes widened even more, I braced myself and was about to turn around and fight again, but she darted out, her hands in front.
“No, Da. No!”
I spun around just in time to see her moving between Banner and me. Banner stilled, and I was about to pull her behind the safety of my back, when a blur came from the side. Ainslee stilled and then turned, and I charged forward to get to her just as one of Banner’s men accidentally collided with my mate instead of hitting me.