NICOLE

She could smell his body cooking. “Stop,” she screamed.

Verdun stopped looking at her wide eyed, his breathing fast and choppy. “He was going to kill you,” Verdun said.

“Rafi is the murderer.”

“She’s been brainwashed,” Rafi said approaching with another bloodied arrow. “I’ll kill him if you won’t.”

Nicole was slowly getting feeling back in her body but not fast enough to stop an arrow. “Rafi don’t hurt him. I’ll do whatever you want.”

“You will anyway,” he laughed darkly.

Shit. I can’t lose him.

“No,” Nicole laid her body over Victor’s. “I won’t let you kill him.”

Rafi grabbed the front of her dress lifting her up and off of Victor. “You can’t do a damn thing to stop me.” He threw her like she was a bag of garbage across the campsite. The wind was knocked out of her but she didn’t even want air. She just wanted Victor.

No. She needed him.

Where the fuck are you tigress? I need you.

“It is time for you to take the lead. Save your mate.”

How?

No response came from her tigress as she crawled back toward the circle of people around Victor.

Medley stumbled out of the woods behind Nicole. She was holding Sabre and sobbing. “Nicole,” she cried. “He poisoned the children. I don’t know what to do.”

Nicole looked back at her to tell her to go and save Victor and that was when she saw it. The gun. “Give that to me,” Nicole commanded. Medley slid the gun strap from her shoulder and slid it over the ground to Nicole.

“Hey Rafi,” Nicole called out in a taunting disrespectful tone. “You forgot something.” As soon as he showed his face she pulled the trigger.

Now you pay.

The tranquilizer dart hit him in the eye. He fell backward screaming and dropping the arrow. When Victor stood up Nicole lost her composure and cried with relief.

He’s alive!

Victor stabbed the bloody arrow into Rafi, making him cry out again. He could have gone for the heart but he didn’t. Victor stabbed him in the shoulder.

Rafi’s pack appeared torn, not knowing what to do. If he’d killed Rafi, they would have attacked him. By sparing him they didn’t know what to do.

Thank you for sparing him, Nicole thought.

The scream that comes out of Rafi makes everyone jumps back except for Victor. Rafi is looking at his hands and screaming, over and over again. “Human,” he cries his hands fisted. “You should have killed me,” he bellowed at Victor. “I’m nothing. Nothing,” he screamed, veins bulging in his face and neck.

Rafi climbed to his feet and yanked a pitchfork out of the hands of one of the young shifters who had yet to shift and drove it through his own chest.

Victor turned the young boy away from the gruesome sight. Nicole’s heart ached even more that she’d ever been mad at Victor or blamed him for anything.

“Will they hurt us?” Medley asked Nicole.

“No. He’s a good man. The Rizers are good people. Rafi was not good.” Nicole tore her eyes from Victor even though it was the last thing she wanted to do.

“I know. He poisoned the children,” Medley cried. We have to save them.”

“It’s okay,” Onyx said as the wagon pulled into the camp. It was filled with soaking wet children. “We washed it off them. They’ll be okay.” Onyx was breathing hard. “I thought we came here to fight and rescue you. It was like everyone needed rescuing,” she said.

Nora stood up in the wagon. “They are scared though so will the parents please come collect your kids,” Nora said holding a small boy with long black hair that was still dripping.

Many of the Rafia pack come forward and started claiming their children. Medley stayed close to Nicole as she started to walk toward Victor. “What about the kids who don’t have parents?” Medley asked Nicole.

Nicole paused hearing the fear in Medley’s voice. “I’ll take care of any and all of the kids who don’t have parents. That includes you.”

Medley nodded, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I’ll go gather up the kids who are coming with us.” She dashed away, too embarrassed for Nicole to see her cry.

“We’ll take care of her and the others. We’ll teach them to be strong.”

Yes, we will.

Turning back to go to Victor she ran right into his hard chest as his arms wrapped around her. He smelled like a barbecue. “I’m sorry,” Nicole said. “I’m so sorry.” Her hands ran over his body checking for injuries as he lifted her and kissed her.

“I am going to spank you till you can’t sit down for running out and trying to do this on your own,” he growled into her ear.

Nicole moaned as he kissed her again, picturing him bending her over his knee and giving her a sexy lesson. Her tiger purred. Victor nibbled at her lower lip and then her neck and ear. “You and I are together on everything from now on. I promise.”

“Good. Let’s go home, I need to come inside you and hear you screaming my name after seeing that fucker about rape you,” he told her taking her hand and pulling her toward the forest.

“Yes, okay but we kind of adopted some kids,” Nicole gestured to the wagon that was about half full of children ranging from babies to teens.

Nicole held her breath waiting for his response and afraid of what he’d say.

“We always said we’d have a big family,” he grinned. “You and I have been alone far too much. This is heaven sent. Don’t you think?”

I think you’re heaven sent.

Nicole leaped up into his arms kissing him with all that she had. When she did finally pull away, they were both breathless.

Victor smiled as he held her. “I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you either.”