Maple
Maple’s wolf itched to be let go, as Cora’s scent grew stronger with each step. The scent of silver also crept into her nose, her wolf grew more agitated. She wanted to tear into everyone who touched Cora.
“No please don’t!” Cora’s scream sent a jolt of panic down Maple’s spine. Raymand grabbed her arm but Maple managed to slip away and darted for the cabin.
“Shit.” Raymand hissed. They were hot on Maple’s heals. She kicked open the door and her stomach dropped to the floor. A man held a whip in his hand and Cora kneeling in front of him.
“You messed with the wrong pup,” Maple growled. She pulled a knife from the bag and threw it at the hand holding the whip. The hunter cried out in pain as it landed deep into his flesh.
“We have-”
Maple cut off the guys warning with another knife to the throat. He pulled the knife away and blood gushed from his wound. Maple rushed for Cora and pulled her away from the hunter bleeding out.
“Are you okay?” Maple asked. The back door banged open and more hunters scrambled inside. Maple kept Cora close and ducked outside while Raymand and the guys fought the hunters.
“Maple?” Cora chocked out.
“I’m here, honey. I have you.” Blood caked the back of Cora’s shirt which made Maple angry again. Part of her wanted to bring the hunter back from the dead only to kill him slowly.
“I can’t shift.” Cora whimpered in her arms. Maple set her down a few feet from the house and pulled out the lock cutters.
“Hold still, I’m getting this thing off you.” Maple aligned the cutter and squeezed the sides together. She made a dent in the lock and had to try again. “Almost…” The lock snapped. “Done.” She grabbed the lock and gasped.
“Sorry, I should’ve warned you.” Cora’s gaze didn’t meet Maple’s.
“It’s okay.” Maple rubbed her arm. She took a deep breath and worked on taking the lock away with quick jerking movements. Cora winced as one of the spikes dug into her. “I’m so sorry.” Maple threw the lock to the side and looked over the collar. Most of it had been plated in freaking silver. Her fingers hurt like hell, but she wouldn’t stop until she freed Cora.
“Look what we have here. A momma wannabe, trying to help a pup out.” The man who attacked the night before stormed toward Maple and Cora. Maple glanced toward the house where the guys were still working on the other hunters.
Maple gritted her teeth and pulled at the straps on the collar. A second after she pulled it off, freeing Cora, the hunter stood over them.
“Well next time I’ll have to put more silver on them.” He kicked Cora making her whimper. Maple pulled out her second to last knife and plunged it into his leg. He stumbled back.
“Bitch,” he snapped. Maple carefully moved Cora away from the hunter. Her little girl shifted into her wolf and sat on the grass.
“You have no fucking idea.” Maple jumped to her feet with her other knife and ran right for him. With a swift flick of her wrist, she cut both arms as he blocked his face.
Maple landed a kick to his chests and he fell back. A short howl vibrated through the air.
“Hear the howl?” Maple asked, and the hunter nodded his head. “That means the rest of your hunters here are dead.”
“There are more where they came from,” he sneered.
“Where are the other kids you took?” Maple asked.
“Go to hell.” He tried to move to stand but Maple plunged the other knife into his uninjured leg. It sank deep making the guy yell in pain. The sound gave her hints of satisfaction. Cora growled on Maple’s right.
“You need to tell me where you took the other kids.” Maple landed a kick to the hunter’s side.
“I’m not saying a word.”
“Maybe not now but you will talk eventually.” Maple kicked him again. The man rolled away from Maple, the knives digging deeper into his flesh. She felt a wave of joy to see the man in such pain. He pulled out one blade and pointed it toward Maple.
Cora dove for him and bit down on his arm making him drop the knife. Maple waited for the change to start happening but for some reason, he only winced.
“Why are you taking them?” Maple yelled as Cora let go. He shook his head and grinned. His hand wrapped around the handle of the other knife, he yanked it out and lunged for Cora. Before Maple second-guessed herself, she grabbed the man by the neck and snapped it.
“That hurt.” Cora rubbed her arm where a bead of blood ran down to her hand.
“Are you okay?” Maple dropped the hunter and pulled Cora into a quick hug before getting her dressed. Then she yanked Cora back into her lap. The marks on her back were healing up after she had shifted. The little girl wiggled in her arms then settled.
“What the hell happened?” Raymand rushed toward them. Maple glanced at the dead hunter and clicked her tongue.
“I tried to get answers out of him, but he lurched for Cora.” Maple pulled out Cora’s arms showing him the cut. Raymand huffed and kicked the hunter away from them.
“Are you okay?” Raymand kneeled down and pushed back Cora’s hair.
“I’m fine,” Maple said as she looked over Cora again.
“Thank you, Maple. And thank you alpha.” Cora wiggled in her arms, a yawn slipped from her lips. Maple kissed her head and her wolf settled down. Both her mate and girl were safe.
“Let’s get you home.” Maple held her tight while Raymand helped her to stand.
“There’s nothing left for us here.” Raymand sighed heavily. “Cora, did you see any other kids?”
“No. Someone said I would go see the other kids once they broke me.” Cora shivered in Maple’s arms.
“You’re safe now.” Maple kissed her head again. She wanted to find the other kids taken but right now they had no leads to follow. Cora yawned again when Maple climbed into the front seat. “Get some sleep,” she whispered. Cora smiled, and her eyelids closed. Maple glanced at her mate. I hope he didn’t change his mind back to giving away Cora. Her wolf growled low at the idea of giving up their girl.