Nick knew they were here. He could smell them. The fine hairs on the back of his neck were standing up. He kept his body low, making sure that they could tell he wasn’t coming for a fight. All he wanted was to talk, to make them understand that he and Tom wouldn’t be joining the pack. Not now, not ever.

You got the message, then.

Nick looked over, his ears pointing forward as he caught the scent of the leader of the Northern Wind pack, Lucas. They’d not seen him for a long time, which meant that this was serious. Yes, I did.

You’ve changed your mind?

No.

A low growl met his ears, although he still couldn’t see Jake anywhere. Why are you here? Jake asked. Flood, Dan, and Jake said you weren't interested.

I want you to leave us alone.

A snort, then a growl – and then another growl. There were a few bears here, and they were all lying in wait. I don’t want to fight, he said, showing his intent by sitting back. It was a bold move, but Nick was determined to show them that he wasn’t here for a battle. His powerful paws rested on the ground, as he kept his body relaxed.

That’s too bad.

His fur rippled, his body tensing as Nick heard movement behind him, beginning to claw the dirt in warning. This was going to be an all-out attack. Just leave us alone.

Pushing himself forward, to stand on his four paws, Nick didn’t even have time to breathe before he was attacked from behind. He had two bears hanging from his back, their claws and teeth digging deeply into his skin. Letting out a roar of pain, Nick swiped at Dan, knocking him to the ground just as a third bear – Jake – launched itself at his chest.

I’m going to die, Nick thought to himself, pain tearing through his body as he struggled to defend himself against three bears, with Lucas - the leader of the Northern Wind pack – wandering closer just to look on. He’d defeated three bears before, but he was already tired from his fight with Tom. He hadn’t quite recovered from his last battle with the Northern Wind Pack either. Summoning all his strength, Nick roared with fury. Sharp claws slashed, sinking deeply into his fur covered skin. There was one bear on his back, one on his front and one swiping at his legs. The moon was big and bright, sending shafts of light through the trees, highlighting moving shadows all around him.

Deliberately falling back, Nick crushed the bear behind him, kicking the one on his front. The bear reared back, blood staining its teeth, his eyes glowing with hatred. Snorting hard, Nick rolled to his front, spinning to the right and catching the third bear directly across the face. A roar of pain echoed through the trees, as Nick staggered onto his hind legs, standing tall.

Ready to join us yet? Lucas had stayed in the same place, still watching him. He wouldn’t join the fight unless he had to.

Nick growled low, baring his teeth. Never.

The leader looked at him for a long moment, his breath frosting the air. His golden eyes flickered to the bears just out of Nick’s line of vision. Kill him.

Nick tensed, just as his ears picked up the sound of a car engine and pounding footsteps. Another bear launched himself at the pack leader. Tom.

 

The scent of blood filled Tom’s nostrils well before he saw the bears. Forgetting all about Jo following in the car, he ripped a growl from his throat and jumped straight for Lucas. The two mighty bears clashed, roaring at one another as they bit and clawed furiously.

Nick didn’t have time to even think about how or why his brother was here, turning to launch his own attack on the two other bears that were trying to take him down. Fur flew, growls and roars coming from every throat as the battle raged.

 

Jo sat in the car, completely terrified. She’d never seen this kind of violence before, except maybe on television and even then, they never showed how truly brutal it could be. Keeping the car headlights on full beam, she caught her breath as she saw Nick’s bear rise up to his full height, his teeth bared and claws covered in blood. He was enormous and bigger than the other two who were trying to get him to the ground. Their eyes were glinting silver in the moonlight, glowing with an eerie light.

Gasping out loud, she saw one bear creeping around the outside of the fight, its movements slow and careful. Nick was already fighting for his life, with two bears snapping and clawing at him, while Tom was taking on the pack leader. They looked evenly matched, but Jo knew there was no way Nick could manage to defend himself against three bears alone.

“They’re going to kill him,” she breathed, blood draining from her face as she saw the third bear standing on its hind legs, preparing to deal Nick a deadly blow. If they could, they would rip his throat out. This was a fight to the death.

Forgetting all about staying out of sight and away from the battle, Jo revved the engine and drove, as fast as she could, towards the third bear. Pressing her hand to the horn, she drove straight towards the third bear. "Get out of the way," she screamed, hoping Nick would hear her as she plowed towards them all.

Nick’s senses spun as he heard Jo’s voice. It can’t be. His nose caught her scent, rolling himself out of the way as her car drove straight past him.

Jo screamed as she rammed the car straight into the bear, its huge body hitting the front of the car and shattering the windscreen. The airbag went off directly in her face, cushioning her head as it snapped forward from the impact. When the scream finally stopped, she slowly looked up to see the enormous bear lying, eyes open and staring, across the bonnet of her car. As she watched, its eyes slowly closed, a shudder taking its body.

“I’ve killed it,” she whispered, shaking all over as more roars sounded.

The battle stopped the moment Jo drove the car into the bear, the loud thud and Jo’s screams silencing the night. The two smaller bears that had been attacking Nick backed away, moving closer to the pack leader.

Tom, his mouth dripping with blood, lolloped over to Nick as best he could, one of his paws badly injured. What’s happened?

Jo, Nick replied, shaking his fur free of blood and spittle. Drove the car.

She’s killed Dan, the pack leader snarled, moving closer. Killed one of our pack. She’s dead next.

Nick reared up, ignoring his injuries, his claws out and lips pulled back to expose his teeth. Leave her alone.

The pack leader stopped, his claws scraping the ground. She’s human. She killed a shifter. She has to die.

She’s my mate, Nick growled, putting himself firmly between Jo’s car and the leader. She’s under my protection.

Tom pushed himself up, standing right next to his brother. We are our own pack now.

The leader snorted loudly, blowing out his breath in agitation. He knew that the three of them couldn’t take on the alphas, especially when Flood and Jake were badly injured. The issues between them were now more serious since one of his pack had been killed. He needed time to regroup, and time for his bears to recover. This isn’t over.

Tom and Nick said nothing, simply staring at Lucas, tensed and ready to fight. They wouldn’t be taken in by him, waiting until he’d begun to turn away before relaxing their stance. It wasn’t until the Northern Wind pack walked away, their scent going further and further into the woods that Nick and Tom slowly dropped back to their four paws, turning to look at Jo.