And I find, with a rush of relief, that the same thing that has always been true in Nate’s presence is true now.
He’s distracting me from my need to throw myself at Victor.
He’s distracting me, and so is Milo.
It’s as if the cords that tie me to my alpha mate aren’t all there. Some of them still are—I could never claim that my bond with Victor is gone. But some of those ties have loosened and are now tying me to Nate and Milo.
It’s enough that I have a choice. I’m no longer compelled to go to Victor. I’m no longer wild with need for him.
And now that the choice is mine…
Victor lunges forward, snapping at me, trying to provoke me, but fuck him. I’m already moving to the side, toward another of the wolves threatening us.
I know it will drive Victor crazy that I didn’t go for him first.
I love that.
I hear him snarl behind me, but I don’t care. I’m locked in with a different enemy, rolling around in the dirt. I keep our motions quick, so that Victor won’t be able to find a way in to interrupt our fight. I’m fast in combat, always have been. It’s one of my greatest strengths.
In the periphery, I see Nate gaining the upper hand against Bruce. A thrill passes through me. If Milo can keep the fourth one off us for a few more minutes—
I wheel, grab my opponent by the hind leg, and snap it.
He whines a little, staggers, and falls.
Satisfaction.
I’ve beaten him. He’s going to be out of the fight now. And that means the numbers are even.
I glance at Nate. I can’t tell if he’s winning or losing his fight. He and Bruce are circling each other, and I would have imagined Nate would have the upper hand, but when it was two against one over here, they drew blood. I don’t know how badly he’s hurt.
Victor launches himself at me. He looks practically rabid. His teeth are snapping frantically, and they find my shoulder and bite down hard.
I have to work to suppress a cry. I don’t want Nate or Milo distracted. I can handle this.
But the pain isexquisite.
And even now—even in the middle of this wrenching agony—I still want him. I can still feel the bond pulling me to him.
What would I do if he stopped the fight right now? If he shifted back to his human form and told me he was sorry for everything, that he accepted me after all, that it had all been a mistake and he had never stopped wanting me?
I’d like to think I would be too smart to fall for that—but would I?
Wouldhe?
If I’m feeling this bond…he must be feeling it too.
That’s why he wants me dead so badly. I’m suddenly sure of it. That’s why he wants to be the one to kill me.
He’s going as wild as I am. He wants me as badly as I want him, and he hates it as much as I do.
I know what I can do.
It’s a risk. But if it works—
I take a breath and shift back to my human form.
Chapter 53