––––––––

Cole felt every cut and gash that Gray Wolf suffered.

He was losing blood faster than Gray Wolf could regenerate.

The only reason his wolf still remained upright was because as vicious a fighter as Sammy’s bear was, Cole’s friend was no longer in his right mind.

His Sammy was gone.

Just admitting that punched his heart.

The grizzly fought out of pure rage and instinct. He was bleeding from three lethal wounds, too. Every cut on that bear stabbed Cole.

He’d failed to save Katelyn.

He’d failed to save Sammy. If not for trying to survive long enough to save Tess and Rory, Cole would quit fighting and wait for the end with Sammy. They could go together. Cole’s soul screamed at losing all that mattered to him in this world.

The grizzly roared and came at Gray Wolf with jaws open.

Gray Wolf was ready to leap up and meet the grizzly in midair.

Cole told his wolf, Don’t jump. We’ll lose. Go low.

Would Gray Wolf listen?

Cole had no idea. At this point, he was riding shotgun in this fight and hoping if they managed to survive Sammy, that Cole could keep Gray Wolf from turning on Rory and Tess.

The wolf might not hurt Tess, but Rory would just be another threat to their mate.

As Sammy’s giant bear pounded forward, weaving with each step, Gray Wolf jumped to the right and ran around.

That was not what Cole said to do.

Gray Wolf dove at Sammy, grabbing the ankle he hadn’t ravaged yet and yanking back.

Sammy’s bear howled in pain and struggled, turning around.

Then tilted back.

Oh, shit.

Move, Cole shouted to the wolf, which sidestepped just in time before Sammy fell on his back so hard the room shook. Bone in the bear’s head cracked against the hard floor.

Before Cole could stop him, Gray Wolf had his jaws locked on the grizzly’s exposed throat.

No, Gray Wolf.

Kill him, the wolf argued.

Don’t do it. The bear is my friend.

Bad friend.

Sick friend, Cole argued. Let me talk to him.

The wolf kept his jaws in place but eased up, not making a move to rip through.

Sammy, can you hear me? Cole asked.

The voice that came into Cole’s head sounded like it was from very far away, but more like the Sammy he knew. Cole. They used magic on me. Made the curse worse. Can’t control my bear. He wants to kill you.

I know, Sammy.

Don’t give in. He won’t let me come back. Tell the Guardian I’m sorry. They gave me Jugo Loco and set my bear to kill that couple. I tried to stop it, but ... my bear had been starved for two days and wanted blood.

Pain bled through Sammy’s words.

Cole hurt more than he thought possible. The only other time he’d hurt this much had been when he lost Tess at nineteen.

Cole said, I’m sorry I didn’t get Katelyn here in time, but I swear I didn’t kill her.

I know. Wolf didn’t smell like you.

So a wolf had killed her. Cole told Gray Wolf, Let Sammy live.

The wolf snarled a dark sound, his jaws still locked in place.

If Cole didn’t get control of his wolf, he wouldn’t make it back to human form again. One last time, Cole drew on what magic he had available and powered his words.

Let the bear live, Gray Wolf. Do it now.

Gray Wolf’s chest rumbled with each breath, but he finally unlocked his jaws and backed up three steps.

I’ll miss ... you ... Cole. Good man. The best.

Cole could hardly send his words in reply. You deserve peace, Sammy. I’ll be here with you to the end.

No, Sammy argued. Shift back. Do it ... don’t let ... the wolf win. Don’t give in.

Then Gray Wolf snarled, turning his head to the tunnel.

That fucking Brantley walked in.

Cole had been wondering if their kidnappers were nearby watching. They’d unleashed Sammy, expecting Sammy to kill Cole probably.

It would be like a Cadell to enjoy seeing one Gallize kill another one, then come in just in time to keep one of them alive.

That bastard Brantley was Cole’s the minute he pointed Gray Wolf to attack, but a new scent had caught Gray Wolf’s attention.

Cole had smelled that shifter scent before ... the night of the explosion. Glowing yellow eyes shined through from the tunnel, then a black wolf that stood eye level with Gray Wolf stepped up beside Brantley.

A fucking Black River pack wolf.

This had to be the shifter who had left Sonic sitting with a bomb between his legs.

As fresh as the blood had been on Sonic, this shifter had probably been the one to cut the snitch’s throat.

Gray Wolf sniffed.

The black wolf stank of magic.

Cole started talking to Gray Wolf. We have to be careful. This one is not like us.

Gray Wolf howled and snarled his challenge.

That did not encourage Cole.

His wolf continued to pull away from him. Cole barely had a grasp on Gray Wolf, but he had to hold on so he could protect Rory and Tess.

Cole directed his wolf to walk around the feet of the grizzly still sprawled on the floor and wheezing.

Time to prepare for another battle.

Moving so quickly it surprised even Cole, the black wolf dropped back on his haunches and leaped on Sammy, ripping his throat viciously.

Sammy’s head fell to the side.

Gray Wolf howled a mournful sound. Rory released a cry from the heart of his jaguar.

The black wolf looked past Cole and took a step toward Tess and Rory.

Cole roared to protect their mate.

Gray Wolf took over.