~

 

Keri came to a dead stop at the sound of the roar that went up from behind her. She turned to look over her shoulder. The sight of the giant wolf bursting from Angus was enough to make her want to unleash her magic on the beast – especially as Griffin was still in his human form.

She was torn between helping Penny and helping her mate.

“Don’t even think about it,” Percival said, and he was back at her side in a heartbeat.

He’d promised Griffin that he would protect his mate and he would live up to that promise, but sometimes a witch also needed protecting from herself.

Neal and Isla were going towards the sound of Penny’s problems at the back of the house, and the vampire might have wanted to intervene, but he was sure that Neal would call him if he were needed.

For now, he needed to protect the witch that itched to get in the fight that her mate was facing.

That would be bad.

While it was true that there was no legitimacy to Angus’ challenge anymore – if he killed the alpha, there was no saying that the wolf wouldn’t try to wipe out the witches.

“Oh, I’m thinking…” Keri said.

“Don’t make me restrain you… witch,” Percival said. “That’ll put the Alpha off his game.”

Keri had never felt so damn helpless in her entire life as she did at that moment right then. Penny and Griffin were both in trouble, and she couldn’t help either of them.

 

~

~

~

 

Griffin had been blindsided. There were no two ways around it – Angus had set him up.

He’d heard the witch’s scream the same as everyone else had, and he’d reacted to it. Then Angus had unleashed his wolf, and all hell had broken loose.

Now, he was in the fight of his life, and his wolf was still within him. That didn’t bode well.

Griffin had time to react, but it had only been enough time to flick out his claws and unsheathe his fangs against the might of his challenger’s beast.

He’d felt the burning pain of the wolf’s claws cut through his skin and had spun sideways away from the worst of it as he turned and brought his own claws down against the wolf’s fur, cutting deeply into the flesh.

Man versus wolf wasn’t the ideal situation, but until he got a moment’s rest from dodging the onslaught of blows that came from all directions – he couldn’t take the time to shift.

 

~

~

~

 

Penny unleashed her magic in a way that she hadn’t known was possible. She’d never had to fight to defend herself before, and in a rush of heated panic – she’d let loose with a blast to her attacker that had the man twisting in on himself as he was wrenched away from the ground and catapulted through the air.

He landed with a thud that felt as if it jarred her very soul. The man roared as he slapped two large hands down against the earth, and he pushed up onto all fours.

A heart-stopping second later, and the giant black wolf burst from within him – eyes blazing with murderous intent – the beast’s razor sharp fangs were exposed when he pulled his lips back and snarled.

“Oh, crap,” Penny muttered to herself, readying her magic for another blast as self-doubt crept in.

There was a deafening warning that was roared from somewhere unseen at the side of the house that made her heart lurch into her throat.

Another wolf, the second, a gray with a white streak down its back, shot into view. That beast was even larger than the first, and it headed straight for the attacking wolf.

“Neal…” Isla panted out to Penny with an outstretched finger that pointed at the gray wolf, as her friend came panting around the side of the building, followed by Lucas in his human form.

Penny’s mind took in the sounds of the beasts locked together with grunts, growls, and the snapping of jaws, and her eyes followed.

A wave of guilt washed over her at the danger that she’d inadvertently put her mate in with what seemed now a very stupid, and unnecessary joke on her part, and the urge to intervene bubbled and clawed inside of her as Neal fought fang and claws against his adversary…

“Kick his ass!” Penny bit out – unsure what she could do to help her mate – but knowing that staying silent wasn’t an option.

 

~

~

~

 

Griffin twisted and turned in agony as the wolf’s claws caught against his flesh and dug in down the length of his back. He’d been lucky to be turning away as the beast had attacked, or those claws might have ripped against his spine.

The alpha knew one thing. If he didn’t take the chance and shift soon, then he wouldn’t win the fight.

Griffin had better win the fight then– because the moment that he does – I’m going to bond with him… Keri’s words echoed through his mind.

His beast roared within him.

It was time to let the wolf free – to let his wild side take over the fight – and the alpha didn’t need to force the change… he just let nature take its course.

With a roar of intent; the alpha’s gray wolf burst from inside of him, catching Angus’ beast by surprise, and the wolf man’s wolf hesitated in his attack.

That was his first mistake.