Agony. Numbness. Despair.

Darce felt all three and more as he rocked the limp body of the only woman he’d ever really loved in his arms. His heart shattered right there in his chest, the ache so complete it felt like there was a physical hole in the center of his body and soul, the jagged edges seeping his lifeblood out onto the unforgiving floor beneath. He rocked back and forth helplessly, not knowing what else to do.

Toni was clasped close in his embrace, her body cold and lifeless. The eyes that had flashed with heat and humor, or irritation with his cocky answers, were now closed. The energy that had made her seem larger than life was all gone, leaving him with nothing more than a delicate shell to hold. Fresh agony stole his breath. He bent his head over her, burying his face against the slender curve between her shoulder and neck, not caring who saw him cry.

“Oh god, babe. Why?” he whispered against her skin. The hybrid had had him beat, a few more blows and it would have been all she wrote, but Darce hadn’t cared about that. He’d have done anything—would do anything—to ensure her safety. But instead she’d given up her life for his. She’d taken on the hybrid when he was down and it had killed her.

He slammed his head back against the mesh panel, hot tears scalding his face.

It should have been him. Not her. What kind of man was he if he couldn’t protect the woman he loved?

No man. Nothing worth the name.

Darce drew a shuddering breath. He was done. There was nothing—no fight, no anything left in him. They’d just have to leave him here to die. At least then he could finally be with her.

“Fuck! He’s feeding. Joe…shit, Joe!”

“Someone get the bastard off him…he’s gonna kill him!”

A warning growl and the panicked cries of the pack got Darce’s attention. He lifted his head and frowned, squinting to bring the scene in front of him into focus. Richards was off to one side with the woman who’d been shoved in the cage with Toni, while in the middle of the sand Sanders was pinned under Steele, the latter with his teeth buried in the smaller man’s neck. As he watched, Steele disengaged and looked up, directly at Darce.

A snarl of rage spilled from Darce’s lips. How the fuck had Steele survived? How dare he survive when Toni lay dead in Darce’s arms? Anger fed agony, which rolled back and forth between wolf and man. The change welled inside Darce, ready to burst from his skin. His hands clenched, the urge to bury his claws in the hybrid’s throat almost overwhelming.

“Blood, you idiot. She needs blood. Your blood—it’s how hybrids work.”

Darce’s eyes shot open wide. Fucking hell! He knew this from last time. She was a goddamned blood—of course she’d need the stuff to repair damage. His hands shook as he lifted his wrist and tore into it. The pain was nothing compared to panic. Blood poured down his arm from the torn flesh but he didn’t care. Instead, he lifted her head and shoved the damaged wrist against her lips.

“Come on, sweetheart, drink,” he urged, settling her against his shoulder and arm so he could tilt her head. If he had to pour his blood down her throat, he would. He’d stop at nothing to make sure she lived, even hand her his still-beating heart on a plate if she needed.

“C’mon, babe. Swallow some, please.”

There it was, slowly at first but definitely a ripple of movement, as though she was trying to drink. His heart sang. It was working. Encouraged, Darce held her tighter, crooning in a soft voice when the ripple became more defined, until she started to swallow weakly.

“That’s it. Attagirl. That’s great. Just a little more.”

He watched her like a hawk, relief replacing the panic in his heart as she took more and more, the pull on his wrist stronger and stronger. Warmth started to seep back into her limbs, radiating to him wherever they touched. Deep within him the wolf paced, feeding more and more power without asking anything in return. Darce knew he was beat—his body riding the keen edge of exhaustion and blood loss—but he couldn’t stop. Wouldn’t stop.

Her eyes flicked open and she disengaged her fangs before sweeping her tongue against his wrist to seal the wound. She lay back in his arms and looked up at him.

“Hey.” Her voice was croaky, tight with pain, but she was speaking. Alive.

“Hey yourself. How do you feel?”

She coughed, the spasms racking her body, but when he looked down to check her stomach, the vicious tears were all but closed over. He blinked in surprise. That was some serious mojo right there. Finally she stopped coughing, resting her head against his shoulder as the other members of the pack surrounded those on the floor. Steele had sat up, watching the very pale-looking Sanders with an expression of concern. The sparks flying off them held enough warmth to heat the room.

“Cold,” she admitted and burrowed a little closer. Darce’s heart sang and he brushed his lips against her forehead. His eyes closed for a second. He was clawed and bitten, weak with blood loss and they were all well behind enemy lines. But he couldn’t have cared one jot—wouldn’t trade places with anyone else in the world.

“That’s okay, sweetheart. I’ll keep you warm. Forever.” He reached down and picked up her hand, placing it over his heart. “It’s yours. Now and always.” Sudden doubt assailed him and he added, “If you want it, that is…”

She snorted, the soft sound turning his heart over. “Of course I want it, you idiot. I swear, lycans…all balls and no brains.”

A couple of the wolves around them grumbled, but Darce ignored them, the smile already spreading over his face. “Hey, I resemble that remark.”

She looked up and he was lost. Honest emotion—love—shone in her dark eyes. Eyes which now sported a soft ring of amber around the edges. The same color as his wolf.

“Darcy Foster. I love you. When…” Her voice cracked a little but she swallowed and carried on. “When I saw Steele about to kill you, something changed inside. Cracked and broke. I’m sorry I brought you back here, into all this.” She gestured at the room around them. “I should’ve let you go in the forest. I’m sorry.”

Darce shook his head, knowing he was grinning like a damn fool. “Nah, wouldn’t have worked. I’d only have followed you back here and gotten myself in all sorts of trouble trying to attract your attention.”

“Uh-huh. Like getting yourself thrown in a cage and pissing off an unstable hybrid?”

“It got your attention, didn’t it?” he threw back, leaning in to claim her lips in the softest, sweetest kiss he’d ever experienced. No more questions, just answers and promises—a pledge from both of them that needed no words, just the gentle brush of their lips to seal the deal.

“Ugh…” One of the wolves sighed behind them—Palmer, by the sound of it. “Insert obligatory love scene. Get a freaking room.”

Without breaking the kiss, Darce extended his hand and flipped Palmer the bird.

“Guys, I really hate to break it up, but we need to haul ass,” Jack added. “Those guards up top aren’t gonna be held up for long and I’d rather be in the open when they come for us, rather than cooped up down here.”

Darce couldn’t agree more. Without a word, he accepted Jack and Palmer’s help to get to his feet but wouldn’t let them help Toni. She was his to care for, his to keep and there was no way he would fail that duty at the first step. Holding her close to his chest, he managed a few steps before she started to wriggle.

“Put me down, you great oaf! I can walk.”

“Not a chance. I nearly lost you so I’m not taking any chances now,” he told her as half the pack furred up and led the way, surrounding the two of them and Sanders who supported Steele. His heart warmed. They hadn’t abandoned him. They’d come through for him and Toni. He’d known that they would.

Yeah, he’d caught the sideways looks when they’d arrived. She was a blood, after all. Or was. Now, with the amber ring in her eyes like Steele’s and his lycan scent wrapped around hers, she was something else entirely. A hybrid all his own. Neither lycan nor blood but something new and perfect, which had emerged from the chaos the Project had created like a phoenix from the ashes.

“No, seriously. I can walk. And you were injured too, remember?”

She pulled his head around and made him look at her as they started up the stairs. None of the pack had made for the empty lift. Darce doubted any of them would travel in the things again if they survived getting out of here.

“Cut the macho bullshit, okay?” Concern shone in Toni’s dark eyes along with love and frustration. “We support and protect each other, or this isn’t going to work.”

“Damn bossy woman,” he grumbled under his breath theatrically, not quite ready to let her out of his arms. A quick glance down at her shredded top revealed pink scars across her taut stomach instead of the vicious slashes that had been there before. When they reached the top of the stairs, he gently put her down. She paled, and wavered on her feet but he hadn’t let go yet.

Firmly, he pulled her into his side, waiting for a second when she clung to him. Her hands clutching at his upper arms for support did something to him deep inside. Within seconds though, she nodded, her lips compressed as she stood up straight. Pride filled him. His mate was a fighter. No matter what the Project had thrown at her, done to her, she always came back kicking.

She’d make a great mother.

The thought hit him out of nowhere, along with an image of her, stomach heavy and swollen with his child. Longing hit him and he pulled her closer into his side. He wanted that and someday, if it was possible medically, he intended to make it happen. After a lot of practice first, of course.

A growl got his attention. Jack, in half wolf form, was by the door, looking through the small porthole style window. He gave the signal and the pack swarmed out into the hangar. The sound of gunshots reached Darce’s ears from outside as they raced past the remains of a truck. It had a large dent in the front, and from the black oil pooling underneath, it wasn’t going anywhere.

They needed a way out.

They emerged from the ruined hangar to find the night lit up. Gunfire warred with the heavy thwap-wap-wap of helicopter blades overhead. The pack ducked automatically, all going for cover—not that there was a lot to be had, not against gunships anyway.

Two big trucks roared up and slid to a stop in front of them. The driver leaned out of the window of the first one.

“Gunships, get in! Quickly!” he yelled as gunfire tore into the building behind them. The guys on the back of the trucks returned fire, covering the group while they made a break for the vehicles. Bullets hit the concrete around the pack’s feet, forcing them to dodge and weave to reach the marginally safer interior of the vehicle. Darce ran low and fast, arm firmly wrapped around Toni’s waist. She only stumbled once, her cry of pain cut off before he was sure he’d heard it.

Meters away from the vehicle, he lifted and bundled her into the vehicle before sliding in after her. Palmer piled in on their heels, his heavily furred form hitting Darce in the center of his back. Darce grunted, arms braced either side of Toni to stop her from getting crushed as Jack and Lilly piled in too. Once inside Lilly changed neatly, reducing her mass so effectively that Darce had to blink. He’d never seen a new wolf change so easily.

“Go go go!” Jack yelled, clambering into the cab and pulling the door shut behind him. The vehicle roared to life, turning a tight circle. Darce got a glimpse of Sanders urging Steele into the second vehicle, Richards’ large form sheltering the human woman.

“Fuck! Incoming!”

The driver hauled the big vehicle to the side and the big gun mounted on the roof flared to life again. He gunned the engine, rattling the wolves around in the back like peas in a can. The view out of the windows was reduced to a blur of dark shadows and the flash of muzzles.

“Hold on!”

The vehicle lurched, rocking and rolling as the driver spun off the road. The back tires tried to gain traction, spewing up dirt and dust before they gripped and the truck sped across the grass.

“Shit, watch for the towers!” Darce yelled back, wrapping himself around Toni. Any moment now the big guns on the towers would start up and they’d be fucked. Their only chance was to gun the engines and hope to get under the firing arc before the MK-19s started up.

“No worries, big guy. Towers are all out.” Palmer grunted as he wriggled in his seat, finally back in human form.

Darce turned his head, a frown creasing his brow. What did he mean, the towers were all out? He didn’t get chance to ask. Right at that moment, the driver yelled a warning and they hit the fence with a metallic bang. Panels tore free and flew past the windows. Then the vehicle was past, free and clear. The driver roared in triumph, which turned to a bellow of anger when they were buzzed by a gunship. Bullets kicked up dirt and dust on either side of them. Lilly squeaked and dove for the safety of Jack’s arms.

“Shit shit shit. Is it coming back?” Darce tried to look behind them through the small window but couldn’t see anything apart from brush, low bushes and dirt screaming past.

“Keep going!” Jack bellowed. The driver didn’t need any encouragement. The engine roared as he pushed it harder and faster. Then, just when Darce didn’t think things could get any weirder, the crazy bastard driving cut the headlights.

“Fuck! Can you even see?”

“Don’t ask.” Palmer shook his head, his knuckles white as he held onto the seat to stop himself from rattling around. “Freaking weird shit happening all over tonight.”

Darce nodded, holding his breath in case the gunship came back. Seconds stretched out, becoming minutes and he slowly released a sigh of relief. They might just make it through tonight alive.

 

The truck rumbled on through the darkness, leaving the death and the destruction of the camp behind. Head against Darce’s shoulder, Toni breathed a sigh of relief and let the motion of the vehicle and the warmth of her mate’s bigger body lull her into a light doze. She was still aware of everything going on around her—and of the other lycans—but didn’t care. All she cared about was the man she loved and being held in his arms. Warm. Safe for now. There would come a point when they’d have to fight again but that was too far away to think about. For now, all she needed was him and some rest.

Because she was beat. Totally and utterly. No fight left in her. Her body was changing, had been since Darce had made her feed from him to heal her injuries. Who knew lycan blood would have such a dramatic effect on her? Would change her so much into something else. A hybrid. Not a blood, not anymore.

She could feel the changes in her body. A new presence lurked deep within, nestled right next to her soul. Feral. Wild. Female. Was this how lycans felt with their dual natures? Was this how their wolves felt within them? Because it was certainly a new entity—separate but inextricably linked to her.

She’d first felt its presence in the ring, when it had burst free to help her save Darce, but she couldn’t recall all the details—like the memory was fuzzy and degraded somehow. All she knew was that she had changed. Darce’s blood had changed her and for that she was glad. It made her feel special to have such a connection with him.

The rumble of the vehicle and the soft murmur of conversation lulled her further into sleep. She wasn’t fully healed yet, despite Darce’s life-giving blood. The skin across her abdomen pulled when she moved, a warning all wasn’t completely okay beneath the surface.

She came to a while later and realized they’d stopped. Darce smiled as she looked up into his handsome face.

“Wake up, sleeping beauty. We’re here.”

“Beauty? You need to get your eyes checked, buddy.” She grouched but sat up, blinking the sleep from her eyes. Despite her tone, the compliment warmed her through. He thought she was beautiful.

The lycans sat in a semicircle around a small campfire. No more than a few twigs in a pile, the fire gave off minimal light and smoke but it was enough. Darce took her hand as they walked toward the group and gave her a reassuring squeeze. She returned it, even though she didn’t feel in the least reassured, wariness invading every cell in her body. After all, up to a couple of days ago, she’d been hunting these people. And here she was walking up and expecting them to welcome her with open arms just because she’d gotten down and dirty with their lieutenant?

“We’re still down Sanders and Richards.”

The pack’s big alpha, Jack, dug viciously at the dirt between his bare feet with a stick while he spoke to the two men who sat opposite. With a start Toni recognized Fredericks and one of the other SARAs.

“Plus your two guys and the two we picked up in the ring with Darce’s gal. You guys aren’t telepathic by any chance, are you?”

Toni didn’t hear the answer but she figured it was negative when Jack shrugged.

“Huh,” Jack said. “Didn’t think so, but figured it was worth a shot. Stranger things have happened. I’m sure they’re okay, just being careful making their way back to us.”

The pack alpha looked up at Toni and Darce’s approach and rose to his feet, unfolding himself with a lazy grace, which would have clued anyone in that he wasn’t human.

“Hi there.” He extended his hand with a smile. “I’m Jack Harper.”

Toni smiled back, her fears eased at the smile and the open, honest expression on his face. Stepping forward, she took his hand and shook it.

“Hey there. I’m Toni, the homicidal bitch who tried to kill you all a couple of nights ago. How you doing?”

Jack chuckled, the deep amused sound rolling around the small clearing, and looked at Darce. “I like her already. C’mon. Grab a pew…we have things to discuss.”

They slid into place next to the woman who had been with them in the truck. Like the others, she was dressed in tattered fatigues that hung off her tiny frame. But unlike the men, she wore a T-shirt at least three sizes too big for her. Toni drew in a breath and rolled it over her tongue. Lycan for sure, but her scent held tones of Jack’s in the same way she knew her own held hints of Darce’s. She offered the woman a smile as she settled down and Jack started to talk again.

He turned to the two SARAs.

“So, you guys still sitting on the fence in all this? Or was coming back to help us just a flash in the pan?”

Fredericks shrugged, hands clasped loosely in front of him, elbows on his bent knees. Someone had been at him with a medical kit. Bright white dressings were dotted all over his torso.

“We didn’t ask to be part of this, but we are. No running. No hiding. Not anymore.” He looked off into the distance for a second, his expression tight. His head twitched to the side—that rapid movement she’d noted before—then he looked back at them.

“Sow the wind, then you damn well better be prepared to reap the whirlwind.”

“Amen to that, brother.” Jack nodded and held out his hand, his expression serious. “They want a war, we’ll damn well give them one. Us, the pack and your guys…when they catch back up with us. You ready?”

Fredericks took his hand and shook it firmly.

“Bring it on.”