Maddox: *Thane comforts her through the delivery. It boiled my blood the way he looked at her with such affection. Darkness in my veins. What was their connection?
Our backs were against the wall. Thane was playing with our mate’s life. Risking our Orion being brought into this world.
Trinitee was hunched over, squirming in agony. Skin stretching.
Our bond was stronger than ever with this reunion. An onslaught of thoughts and emotions passing between Trin and I. I attempted to send reassurance to her. My stomach knots, fists bunched tight with sharp tips biting into my palms.
Instantly drawn to her. This was such a brutal beginning for our boy. I wanted to go to her. That fucker blocking our path.
They were murky shapes against the inky den’s background.
The wolves circled restless at the cavern entrance. ShadowMoon joined the hunt. All were primed to attack.
The sight of her prostrate on the dirt floor with one hand clutching her womb had all rationed thought was leaving me.
I felt it in our link. The intensity sent a pleading look from my Amor. Frenzied gaze searches between Troy and I. Dark rust colored old blood stains and mud speckled her tattered clothing. I inspected her for any wounds as best I could from our distance.
Silent prayer whispered as rage raced.
I failed in keeping her safe. Useless. Anger and concern flooded our bond with copper tinged the cavern air.
Our child was at risk. How could this be happening?
She whimpered and words were lost to her breaking wails.
Troy and I locked gazes with Thane. Stepping toward one another. Slowly circling the cave enclosure. Moving closer and closer.
Those first cries set us in motion. Impossible to know who launched first.
Powerful beasts with cruel fangs deadly and at the ready. Blood rushing in my veins.*
*We would die for ours. Last second rush as we attacked the space Thane held moments before. Vacant in a blink.*
*Their figures were lost from the veil of darkness. Static rumble. A shrill whispering. Shadows taking over. Eyes darted frantically side to side as cold panic took hold.
They were gone.
Orion wails, tiny limbs finely trembling. I wanted to hold him. To protect him from anything that threatened him.
One of our pack took care of our little bambino, cradling him after checking him over.
A quick nudge and lick of comfort to our tiny bundle. It ripped me apart to have to leave him. Troy and I turned toward the direction they had been heading. My mate taking time with our little one.
We tracked Trin by our tie. Thane was swift, but he underestimated us. Minutes were like hours. All movement thick and slow. We fought through wild woods.*
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.
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Maddox- *Where would he go? How did he think he could outrun us? To hide from our bond?
Trin felt so far away. I fought through the tangle of thoughts.
Thane instantly took off. The shadows assisted their escape.*
*I had no idea how long we had been traveling but exhaustion or energy left Thane panting and holding Trin in another hidden den. How long had he been preparing this?
Macabre forest surrounds us. Thane’s silhouetted figure steps from the shadows to face us.
Snarling jaws. Meeting Thane’s wolf form with an open mouth. Falling into a growling, writhing battle. Enraged snarls. Claws sunk into flesh, blood spewing from open gashes.
An animalistic guttural growl came from somewhere dark, deep inside of me.
A sickening sound as blood streams and trickles free from my side. Claw digging into my right shoulder. Violent teeth not catching my throat.
With a sharp tug my jaw took hold, taking Thane down. I wavered on my feet, fur on end. Gash dripping. Eyes wild. Blood pumping insanely in my chest.
Troy looked on after his own attacks. Trin was stressed, straining through her weakened state. Giving us a penetrating stare as she fought to shift.*