She chuckled
then caressed his face. “Yeah. And I feel the same way, dammit.”
He grinned. “All right, let’s go. But as soon as my wolf has had his run, we’re heading back to your apartment.”
“Can’t wait.”
She rose into the air and headed straight for her protective spell barrier. He followed her then drew up beside her.
There was never a problem passing from inside the barrier to the outside world. The spell only worked the other way around. Any of her rescues could leave her facility whenever they wanted. Getting back in was a serious problem, however, unless they’d made prior arrangements with her staff.
Once outside on the street, Braden rose higher into the air, then shot in the direction of the park. She kept up with him easily and smiled the whole time. She could levitate.
The trip was short since the park was only a few blocks away. She wasn’t surprised that the moment he saw a tree not only did he make his descent but with a full twenty feet to go, he simply shifted midair. His paws hit the grass with ease and he took off running.
Wolves ran fast. Maeve knew that. But Braden, as a powerful alpha, became a streak of lightning.
The park covered a square quarter-mile and had a couple hundred trees. The moonlight cast a silvery light on the grass below and the entire top part of the canopy above.
She worked her new levitation skills and darted after him. She had no idea what this was like for him, but for one of the few times in her alter life, she was happy.
~ ~ ~
Braden ran as hard and as fast as he could.
He’d needed this like a tree needed its roots.
His wolf had reached a point where a shift was going to happen whether he liked it or not.
Running helped. A lot.
He made his fifth circuit of the small park, with Maeve doing an outstanding job of flitting above him as she worked her new, extraordinary levitation skills. He was about to start slowing down, when he saw a warlock and five wolves all lined up the way they’d been in the Graveyard.
Gammet and his five toughs.
A few choice words rolled through his head.
He drew to a stop, skidding on all four paws then reached for Maeve telepathically. We’ve got trouble.
I’m right here. Are these the ones who tried to kill you in the Graveyard?
They are. With the practice of a decade, he shifted back to his human form.
Maeve descended to stand next to him. You know who that is, don’t you?
Yes, Ely Gammet and his faithful followers.
He’s Veyda’s lapdog. So, what’s the plan, wolf?
He resisted the urge to look at her. The calm tenor of her telepathic voice surprised him. She knew what these men were capable of, yet she’d dropped down to stand next to him and asked about a plan.
The men were armed with assault rifles and they meant business. Their line began to thin out and curve. Solid strategy attacking them from their flanks.
He considered flying out of the park. Maeve definitely had the skill now to do it. But he had an idea. How about we continue your practice from earlier?
I was thinking the same thing. I’m pissed as hell you and I can’t even go to a park without these bastards showing up. I think we need to teach them a lesson.
He felt her rage and her confidence and he loved it. He stepped behind her and anchored his hands on her hips. He knew the men would see it as a sign of weakness, which might work in their favor.