“Flint! Oh, isn’t this gorgeous? I’m so happy to be back home, even if it’s just for a few days.” Kenzie whirled around in a circle, her arms outstretched and grinning madly.

They’d walked for over an hour and were now on the opposite side of the lake, with the forest behind them and the water’s edge just beside them. It was indeed beautiful. The rain had stopped, and the sun had made a rare appearance, its rays glinting off Kenzie’s red highlights. When she twirled around, the light caught the emerald in her eyes and they glowed even brighter. She looked glorious and happy in that moment which made him feel like a dog.

“I’m sorry, babe. I know I promised to bring you back sooner, but things got hectic with the baby and everything, and then when Victor started planning this Ball thing, well, time just got away from me.”

He felt awful for breaking his word to her, but it was as he said. Time had flown by and before he knew it the days had turned into weeks…and then months. Kenzie hadn’t complained though. She hadn’t whined at him or brought it up other than to say she missed her grandmother, or Nan, as she called her.

“I know that, please don’t feel bad. I’m aware that your job is to look after Victor and I’m okay with that. I just can’t believe that we’re here now and Nan isn’t. Trust her to go away the very time I’m here.”

Kenzie shrugged and sighed, sadness in her eyes as she looked up at him.

“Where is she again?”

“A large Faery gathering in the Borders. I called her, but I didn’t say I was here because if I did then she’d want to know why, and I didn’t want to tell her that. Plus, if I did then she’d come rushing back and she loves those gatherings. She’s always a focal point of them because she’s one of the oldest and most powerful of our kind. Anyway, with what’s happening now I’m not sure I’d want her here.”

Flint’s jaw tightened, his eyes flaring red and his left hand reaching for one of the razor-sharp blades hidden at his belt. The thought of his love being in danger caused anger to fire up inside him, and he wasn’t sure he could contain it for much longer. He needed an outlet and he thought he might go and find Ace or Thorne to do some sparring after their walk to burn off some of his pent-up energy.

If he didn’t, he feared he might explode.

“Hey, you need to calm down, Flint. I can see you getting all riled up. Again. And this is our time together. Remember? So just cool your jets, big boy, and relax.”

Flint chuckled, shook his head and strode over to her, taking her into his arms and lifted her up so they were face to face. “Cool my jets, huh?”

“Aye, you need to just calm it, or you’ll have a heart attack, and that’s not happening.” Kenzie snorted. “Oh right, you won’t but you know what I mean.”

He leaned forward, his lips caressing hers in a soft kiss. A barely there meeting of their mouths, but as soon as they touched, passion ignited deep inside him. He knew she felt it too, her heart rate sped up, thundering in her chest, blood rushing through her body and her hands wound around his neck to tug him to her and hold him fiercely while she panted into his mouth. Her legs scrambled up his body, wrapping around his waist and his cock hardened so fast it was straining against his pants painfully.

Shit. It was cold out here…the ground was still wet, and he couldn’t possibly continue this. Not now. Not here. Yet…he wasn’t sure he, or Kenzie could wait. Her moans fell down his throat as their teeth crashed together, tongues dancing in a frenzy when moments ago the last thing on his mind was…this.

A twig snapped. A pad of paws. A snarl. And Flint dropped Kenzie to her feet and pushed her behind him.

“What?” she looked dazed, her eyes glazed with lust and her lips plump and red from their passion.

“Shh.” Flint held a finger to his lips, sending his senses out to locate the threat. And make no mistake, he knew there was a threat.

None of Quinn’s Wolves would fucking snarl at them. Not a chance in hell would that happen. And he’d heard it.

“Phone, now,” he hissed low, “we’ve got a problem. Tell Victor there’s strange Wolves here and we need help. Do it Kenzie.”

Flint cocked his head to the side, listening and looking around, wondering if he could make it back with Kenzie in his arms. He was fast. Faster than mangy dogs. But…where were they? How many? Could they cut him and Kenzie off? Cut him down with her in his arms? If they did she’d be torn apart…fuck!

That thought almost brought him to his knees. His legs shook, and his belly roiled. His skin grew cold and his fangs sprang free, fury engulfed him at the vision of Kenzie being mauled by a Wolf.

“Not fucking happening.” He snarled aloud.

“Victor, we’re on the opposite side of the lake. We’re in trouble. We need help. Wolves.”

Kenzie whispered frantically but Flint noticed she did it without a waiver in her voice. His fierce Bloodmate sounded strong and sure as she relayed the message, and he’d never felt prouder than he did at that moment. He knew she was scared. He could feel it. Scent it. But she didn’t fucking sound it.

He heard Victor’s curt reply. “Hang on! We’re coming.”

His sensitive ears honed in on every sound around them, birds wings fluttering, small animals moving around in the forest, some not so small, and then he heard them…large paws padding through damp leaves on the ground. His head spun around, his eyes zeroing in on the location…two. Damn. One was behind them and one was just off to their side.

They were blocked. Other than carrying on…away from help…they were stuck.

Only one thing for it. Stay where they were and do what he did best; fight.

“Kenzie, baby, we can’t go back the way we came, there’s one behind us and one to the side. So, we need to keep you safe. I need you to go to the edge of the water. The very edge. If they get by me then you go in. I know it’ll be cold. Very cold. But you’ll stand a chance in there…out here you won’t. Understand? Victor’s coming with help and I’ll do what I do best. You know what that is? Right?”

Kenzie’s lip trembled, her eyes filled with tears and her hand reached up to run down the side of his face. “Yes, I do, but…”

“No buts, Kenzie. It’s the only way. I can’t take you further away from help. That’s what they want me to do. They want me to take you further away and then they’ll attack. There’s two of them. One will attack me and while I’m dealing with him the other will go for you. I can’t have that. Not a fucking chance, babe. So, this is what we’re doing and that’s that.”

“Flint! They’ll both come for you. Two Wolves.” Tears now slid from her eyes to fall down her cheeks.

The sight would’ve undone most men, but he wasn’t most men. He was Flint. Hard as Flint. And those tears unleashed something deep inside him. Fury didn’t come close to naming what he felt. Rage didn’t come close. There was no name for what now ran through him at the thought of his Bloodmate being in danger from two dirty dogs. He’d show those fuckers they’d made the biggest mistake of their lives by even coming close to the most precious thing in the universe to him.

“Kenzie! Do what I say. Now.” Flint’s tone was harsh before he leaned down, crushing his lips to hers in a searing hot kiss. “I love you, but you have to do this. Please stop arguing with me and just go.”

Kenzie’s face ran with tears as she nodded, backing away from him slowly, she moved toward the water’s edge. Her eyes never left his and he allowed her that until her feet touched the lapping waves…then he turned back to the trees. His hands reached for his weapons, firstly searching for his special blades. The ones that were dipped in silver and which he knew would do the most damage to a Wolf. He’d use those first to, hopefully, slow one down so he could deal with the other. He only had three of those on him, so he had to use them wisely and ensure they hit their mark.

Shit, he had to. Kenzie’s life depended on it.

“Stay there, Kenzie. No matter what. You stay there and wait for Victor and if one of them gets by me then you go into the water. Okay, babe?”

“I know!”

Kenzie’s voice sounded more exasperated than anything which pleased him. If he’d heard fear, or worse…terror in it he was sure he’d have lost his shit. But she didn’t and that was good because he needed to focus. On keeping her alive. That was the main thing right now. Keep those damn Wolves away from his Bloodmate and hopefully kill them before they got anywhere near her.