Justin blew speed limits, taking advantage of scant traffic so early on a Tuesday.  He was in northern Wyoming, but still had to reach the entrance to Guardian’s warded land by six in the morning as he’d told Cole.

This time, Justin would park near the shortest route to the ward entrance.

So much had happened since his last casual stroll into the mountains with Cole and Rory, that his head swam when he thought about it.

The sun hadn’t peeked above the horizon yet, but the lightening sky warned it would show up soon.  Every second counted right now.

The Guardian generally flew in his eagle form at night. Would he still be airborne or already with the guys?

When Justin told Eli that he couldn’t stop for food or to shower at the hotel, she’d shrugged and said, “Can wait.”

She was a gem.

“What wrong?”

He glanced at her. “What do you mean?”

“More than worry.”

Was she picking up on the guilt he’d been suffering since rescuing Adrian?  It drove him to fix his friend, who had taken Justin’s place.

He admitted, “I’m worried about a friend of mine. I was assigned to lead a mission, but my mother died so my friend, Adrian, took my place.  He got captured.”  Saying those three words still knifed Justin in the gut.  He spent the rest of the frantic hour-long drive filling her in on how Adrian and his wolf had been badly damaged due to Adrian being held prisoner in a small cage for weeks.

He hadn’t shared so much of his deep thoughts with his buddies, and telling Eli actually helped some.

Her face turned greenish.  “Would not live.”

“Yes, you would. You’re strong and so is Adrian, but he’s had a bad split with his animal.” He’d already told her about Cole and Rory.  “My friends and I don’t want to lose him.  Our boss is coming in for some reason not to do with us,” he said, indicating the two of them.  “My boss wants to save Adrian, too, but if Adrian can’t regain control ... our boss is the one who can call up our animal or ... put down a dangerous shifter.”

He waited for anything from her, but she continued to listen with that quiet intensity.  Justin said, “I’m not supposed to tell you anything, but I can’t leave you alone while I deal with them and I want you to know what you’re walking into.”

“Yes, okay.”

Justin gave his next words a lot of consideration then said, “You love me, right?”

“Yes. Love you much.” She kissed his cheek.

He squeezed her fingers.  “I love you, too, Eli, babe. More than you can ever know. That’s why I want to make you my mate and get Nico for you.”

Worry climbed into her face, but she withheld her thoughts and allowed him to explain.

“If I can absolutely get you Nico, will you agree to be my mate?” His stomach flipped over in the seconds it took her to answer.

“Yes. Want you and Nico.”

“I know how important he is to you, babe. If it came down to a choice between us, I would never put you in that position.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m not supposed to tell anyone about our shifters and my boss, but we can tell our mates so I’m considering you my mate because I will never want another.”

“I want no other. No share your words.”

That was good enough for Justin.

“Like I said, all of us are different shifters,” Justin began.  “Remember I told you about being twenty-one when my bear was called up?” When she nodded, he continued.  “Adrian and Cole are wolves. Rory is a jaguar, but don’t tell him I told you. He’s kind of a loner when he isn’t with us and likes to keep everything secretive.”

“Like all cats.”

“Yep. Our boss is known as the Guardian and he can shift into a giant sea eagle.”

She gasped.  “Wolf attack eagle.”

“Yes, that’s what I think your vision means and why I think you need to know more.”  Getting back on track, Justin said, “When we become mates, you’ll receive a link to me and my power.”

“Is power you try give on mountain?”

“Right.  I told you about the druidess, and how we came to be Gallize shifters.”

Her eyebrows went up.  “Yes.  You tell much. Ask odd much too.”

“What did I ask you that was odd?”

“You ask birth month. Mean something, yes?”

“Ah, yes, I did ask about that.  You’ve heard of the term blue moon?”

“Yes. Two moon. One month.”

“Correct. Gallize females are born during a month with two full moons, but it’s the thirteenth full moon that appears in a twelve month cycle.  And they are always the second-born child, which you are, but we don’t know your exact birth date.”

“You think I am ... ?”

“That you’re a Gallize?  Maybe, but not exactly. Supposedly, the Gallize females are born with their own powers, but as far as we know, they aren’t shifters. On the other hand, I was born into a grizzly clan and would have been a shifter either way.  I shifted late because I was Gallize.  So I’m wondering if you are a Gallize female, but like me, you were born a shifter, too. I don’t know if you are a Gallize, but I’ve felt your energy and you’ve got some kind of extra power going on besides being a shifter.”

Her voice was soft. “Yes, I have ... strange power inside.” 

He smiled at her.  “I’m thrilled, because that’s a winning combination for us even if you aren’t Gallize. But know this, if I thought for a minute that your body couldn’t accept my power safely, I would never ask you to be my mate.” He glanced over, giving her a serious look. “I will never risk harming you or allow anyone else to hurt you.”

She got a twinkle in her eyes.  “I am ... special?”

He laughed. She didn’t bat an eyelash at all of his concerns, but zeroed in on something she’d never realized her whole life. “You are very, very, very special, Eli, babe.”

Her throat moved with a hard swallow.  “You love me. Love Mishka. Show me you have love for Herc. I am make better with Mishka. Love her now. I am special for you. Only you.”

Damn right.  “That makes me happy for you and Mishka to start building a relationship. You’ll never regret being close to your bear. I’ll explain a lot more about my background and our group when we have time alone together.  For now, just please let me try to sort this out with my boss.”

“Eagle must not meet wolf.”  Her happy look fell away.

“I know, but that may be out of our control, babe. I’m trying to get to everyone before my wolf buddy attacks the eagle.”

She grumbled, “Wolves. Much trouble.”

“After all you’ve been through, I don’t blame you for feeling that way, but these wolf shifters are my friends. They are brothers to me and will be to you and Nico. They’ll be thrilled to meet you and they will always protect you, just as I will.”

Of course, that was assuming the Guardian wasn’t in the middle of putting Adrian down. Bile ran up Justin’s throat at that visual.

Eli waited quietly as he pulled off the highway and drove the dog piss out of the rental to reach the access point in the ward.  He didn’t park at the usual stop, just drove over everything, bouncing them to hell and back.

He parked and jumped out.  He had to grab the vehicle door for a second to keep from wobbling, and gritted his teeth over the aching leg, but the bone had mended decently while on the road. That wasn’t helping his fever, but his adrenaline rush knocked back the headache and body aches from the titanium poisoning for now.

All that misery would come knocking.

Later, rather than sooner, he hoped. 

His gut kept telling him that he’d be down for the count already if Eli hadn’t been lending him some of her unusual power every time she touched him. He had no other explanation for why he was still upright with so much titanium residue in his body.

Eli met him in front of the truck. He took her hand. “Don’t let go of me until I say we’re inside.  I’m going to stop when I’m close to the ward entrance and test it with our joined hands.”

Had the Guardian arrived yet, and had Cole already asked him to alter the ward?

Eli stayed with his long strides as he hurried to the two gargantuan trees that marked the passage through the ward.

Slowing to make sure nothing harmed Eli, he stepped ahead and eased her toward him.

Sparkles glittered around their joined hands first, so he kept bringing her through.  The sparkling outlined her body, then she was inside. 

He asked, “Ready?”

“Yes. Run.”

He released her hand and kept his speed so that she stayed with him.  They raced down the path he’d walked only days ago with Cole and Rory.  Straight through the woods was shorter, but he and Eli would make equal time running all-out on the hard-packed dirt road.

When he rushed from the woods to the open field where the cabin once stood at the top of the rise, he saw Rory and Cole shifting from their animals. Next thing, they stood stood nude in front of the Guardian, who was dressed like a Manhattan stockbroker as usual.

“Don’t look at them,” Justin said, catching a breath as he slowed their pace.

“Am shifter. See much naked.”

“That doesn’t mean I want you seeing them naked.”

Nothing was happening yet, but the Guardian would have known the minute Justin entered the ward and sensed his approach.

That had to be why, in the next second, Cole and Rory were outfitted in T-shirts, jeans and boots. 

Eli whispered, “Much magic. Old magic.”

Justin would thank his boss later for that consideration for Eli, but it was not surprising from a man over three hundred years old who held to propriety.

Even twenty yards away, Justin could hear Cole arguing. More reserved, but no less opinionated, Rory chose his words and his moments to interject them.

Justin caught a flash of movement far to the right that burst from the woods behind the Guardian just as Eli said, “Wolf!”

Eli’s vision was playing out before Justin’s eyes.

Adrian’s fierce wolf barreled across the open space straight for the Guardian’s back.

Without a second thought, Justin released her hand to race forward. He exploded out of his clothes as he shifted to Herc on the run.

That was going to hurt later, but at least the shift to Herc gave his bad leg one more healing boost.

Cole and Rory looked at Herc, then at Adrian’s wolf, and started to move.

The Guardian ordered them to stand down then turned to face the threat.

Adrian’s wolf ran at top speed, hair standing up on his back and fangs exposed.

Fully shifted and eating up ground, Herc bellowed a warning, and everyone turned to him except Adrian’s red wolf. 

Suicidal damn wolf leaped. He was going for the Guardian’s throat.

Herc pushed his massive bulk off the ground and met Red in the air mere feet in front of the Guardian.

Herc and the wolf crashed to the ground together.

Justin shouted at Adrian mind to mind, Stop it, Adrian!

Adrian’s voice came from far away, begging Justin, End it now. I ... can’t ... hold him.

If Justin gave in, the Guardian would do just that and terminate Adrian’s life on the spot. Their boss hadn’t so much as flinched over Adrian’s blatant attack.

The Guardian was never in danger. 

Everyone here knew that at the last moment the Guardian would have lifted a hand and used his power to slam the wolf down. His next move would have been what he considered a mercy killing.

To some degree, the Guardian would be right.

Eli’s vision had been accurate.

If Herc didn’t stop Adrian’s wolf, Justin would lose a part of his soul that he’d never get back. His world would never be the same. 

With only one option, Justin turned Herc loose to give that wolf a beatdown. 

Fur flew, claws slashed and blood spilled.

In minutes, Herc faced a badly wounded wolf that continued to snarl even though he was clearly beaten.

The Guardian said, “Enough. Stop.”

Herc took a step back, showing he had heard and obeyed their leader. 

Adrian’s wolf didn’t have the sense it took to pour piss out of a boot right now.

Good job, Herc, Justin told his bear, who had run and fought hard in spite of the titanium draining his energy. 

He felt for Adrian, who no longer had what Justin and Herc shared. If they could keep the Guardian from taking action this minute, Justin would plead for one last chance to get Adrian back to where he’d once been.

A man tightly bonded with his wolf.

That would happen only if the Guardian hadn’t already decided that a few more days would be dragging out Adrian’s misery.

Guttural sounds crawled up Red’s throat.

Adrian had no control over that wolf.

The Guardian came into Justin’s head.  I have tried to reach Adrian to help him return to us. I can hear him only in bits and pieces now.  He’s fought a hard battle, Justin. You all have, but I have to end this as I would for any of you. 

Justin begged, Give me one minute in my human form first, Guardian. Please.

The Guardian took in Justin and turned his head to where Eli stood quietly, staring at all of them.  He asked Justin, Is that the Romanov daughter you were tasked with delivering to Clan Boudreaux?

Yes, but I can explain.

I will afford you the opportunity.

Then Herc told Justin, Mate touch wolf.

Mishka?

Not bear.

Herc had to be relaying a message from Eli. 

Possibly thinking Justin’s delay in replying was due to worry about Adrian going wild again with Eli near, the Guardian said, Shift back, Justin. I’ll watch Adrian’s wolf. 

Justin did as told, standing at his full height once he was bipedal again, though his bad leg felt like it was ready to fall off.  A set of clothes magically covered him as well, thanks to the Guardian. 

Hurrying to get a handle on this disaster, which was all he could call it at this point, Justin said, “I will explain about the delivery, sir, but I need Eli ... Elianna here for that minute I’ve requested.” 

Pinching the bridge of his nose, the Guardian asked, “Why?”

“I think she can tell us something about Adrian that none of us are able to see, but ... she’ll need to touch him.” 

“You would risk Adrian’s wolf attacking her?”

Hitting the Guardian with a gaze that left no question of his intentions, Justin said, “I will not allow anyone to harm her.  Ever.”

Giving Justin a narrowed look in return, the Guardian appeared on the verge of dismissing all of them.

Then Eli said, “Please, sir.”

That must have changed his mind.  His boss signaled to her.  “Elianna, please join us.”

When she stepped up close, Justin immediately went to her side. He noticed Cole’s congratulatory look, which he appreciated, and Rory’s curious expression, which he’d expected.

Justin told the Guardian, “If you’ll order Adrian’s wolf to sleep, she can put her hands on Red.”

Cole and Rory stepped forward to join the circle.  Cole asked, “Is she a healer?”

Eli said, “No and she has voice.”

Cole’s eyes opened wide, surprised at her assertion.

Rory said, “Okay, then.  What do you plan to do?”

“I have vision of wolf. Is why we come. Justin stop attack. Must see inside.”

Clearly intrigued, Rory said, “What is it you expect to see inside?”

“If human there or ... all dark.”

Justin smiled with pride at how she backed away from nothing, but that didn’t mean Red and Adrian could still be saved. 

She explained further. “I tell what I see. Maybe good. Maybe bad.  Think vision important. I am here for reason. But only tell truth,” she said, glancing at Justin.

He nodded, letting her know he understood that she would share exactly what she saw.

The Guardian had been observing Eli the whole time she spoke, but showed no sign of relent in his position on Adrian’s fate. 

Red chose that moment to make the sound of a demon ready to attack.  His growls rumbled with fury. 

Addressing Eli, the Guardian said, “You may place your hands on the wolf once I order him to sleep, but he will not sleep long. When he wakes, he will still be a vicious animal.  I will still have to do what is best for him and this world. Understand?”

Nope, no second thoughts on Adrian’s wolf.

“Yes,” Eli replied.

All eyes were on the Guardian as he studied both her and the wolf for a long moment before asking, “Are you three willing to accept whatever she shares, even if it confirms what I’ve been saying?”

Cole and Rory exchanged guarded looks then turned to Justin, who had just as much trepidation in answering that question. His buddies waited to see what he said and would trust his judgment.

Justin clarified, “What if she indicates he can be saved?”

“We will discuss it,” was all the Guardian would allow, which meant he had probably made up his mind and was just allowing Justin and his two friends time to accept the inevitable.

With a quick check of Cole and Rory, who sent him your-lead hand signals, Justin said, “Yes, we agree.”

Turning to Adrian, the Guardian ordered, “Red wolf, look at me.”

Adrian’s wolf pulled back his lips and upped the crazy wolf sounds, but his eyes slashed at the Guardian who told him, “Sleep now, wolf.” 

Power rushed across Justin’s skin. Eli gasped.

Justin held her anchored to him, but they both took a step back, pushed by the Guardian’s energy.

Mad Red’s snarling slowed. His eyelids drooped and he seemed to fall asleep standing up. 

Turning to Justin, the Guardian said, “His wolf fights everyone even now.  You must hurry. It may last one or two minutes at most.”

Eli didn’t hesitate, stepping past Justin, who rushed around her, dropping to one knee on the opposite side of the wolf.

“Your boss make sleep. No danger,” she said pointedly to Justin.

“I’m making sure he can’t be.” Justin’s heart pounded like a maniac on crack. 

If Eli saw no hope for Adrian, it would be the last nail in the wolf’s coffin.