Alpha Instinct: A Moon Shifter Novel (35 page)

An icy fist clasped around her chest. “I’d rather die first.”

“Once we’ve bonded you can decide if you want to kill yourself.”

“I’ll never let you touch me,” she spat. The thought of his dirty paws all over her made her want to puke.

“You don’t have much say over the matter now, do you?” He pulled out a dagger with his free hand and held it to Vivian’s chest.

It looked silver, and while Ana knew the metal itself wouldn’t do lasting damage to a feline shifter, a dagger to the heart would likely kill one so young. Vivian hadn’t built up a strong immune system yet.

She held her breath and watched him.
What the hell is he doing?

“Strip.”

His command jerked her vocal chords into working. “What?”

“Strip. Now. I’m going to put my scent on you.”

“Are you insane?” Terror streaked through her, jagged and fierce. He meant to rape her right now. She’d thought he might kill her or kidnap her, but he wanted to rape her? It went against their nature to have sex with one already marked by another. She might not be bondmates with Connor but his scent on her was strong. Taggart really was twisted. “Connor will kill you. Do you understand? Kill. You. Dead. There’s nowhere on this planet you could possibly hide.”

He snorted loudly. “We’ll see about that. Maybe he’ll show up when I’m balls deep in you.”

She gagged at his vile words and took an involuntary step back. When she moved, he pressed the knife harder against Vivian’s chest. The image seared into her brain. The she-cat meowed a sad little cry, but she didn’t even struggle. Just cried.

Ana wanted to reach out and comfort Vivian, but not before she strangled the life from Taggart. “Let the girl go and I’ll do what you want.”

He laughed loudly, the harsh sound bouncing off the forest. “If I let her go, you’ll fight. I’m not an idiot. Now strip, bitch.”

“You can’t be this stupid—”

He pressed the knife into Vivian’s fur, cutting Ana off. With shaking hands, she tugged down the zipper on her jacket and let it fall onto the snowy ground. At least it had stopped snowing. She didn’t know why she even noticed or cared. What was about to happen to her was going to be horrific with or without snow. She started to tug off her sweater when he shook his head.

His dark eyes glowed wild and insane. “Forget your top. Just take off the pants. This is going to be fast and hard. By the time your mate gets here, my scent will be on you too. I can’t wait to see the look on his face.”

Again, bile rose in her throat but she shoved it down. “It’s not as if you can make me your bondmate.” It wasn’t a full moon, something they both knew, but she wanted to stall.

“So? You think Connor will want you after I’ve had you? Not that it matters. I’m going to kill him when he shows up, but before he dies at least he’ll know I had you.” His smile grew, wicked and terrifying.

She fought off a shiver that had nothing to do with the cold. “Will you at least turn Vivian away? I don’t want her to see this.”

Keeping the knife against the feline, he turned her around.

Ana wished there was more that she could do for Vivian but she was out of options. She felt light-headed as she struggled with the button of her jeans.
How can this be happening?
Her fingers clenched into fists. It took all her willpower not to shift and attack. She might not be a warrior but she was still an alpha. Her inner beast demanded she fight, even if she knew she’d lose. Her basest instinct wanted to struggle right to the death. By some magic feat, she lassoed her inner wolf and stayed in human form. If she shifted he’d kill Vivian. No doubt in her mind.

As she started to pull down the zipper of her jeans, a roar slashed through the trees.

Connor.

The sound was loud and eerie and chilled her straight to her bones. She froze and the other wolves did the same.

“What the hell was that?” Vince muttered. A burst of fear jetted off him and the rest of the animals.

Then another noise ripped through the air. Loud, angry howls. And they were getting closer.

“Now’s your chance to run, Taggart. Leave now and he’ll let you live. You have my word.” Ana didn’t know if she could control Connor but she could sure try. If it avoided bloodshed—no matter how much the bastard deserved death—she was in favor of it. She just wanted to get Vivian to safety.

“Shit!” Taggart dropped Vivian when she bit into his wrist.

A couple of the wolves made a move for the feline but Vivian was fast. She ran to Ana and darted behind her feet.

“Uh, boss?” Vince asked. There was no denying the nervous note in his voice or the stench of his fear.

“Get the weapons ready,” Taggart growled.

Weapons?
Ana’s heart rate tripled. Since Taggart’s attention was diverted, she bent and picked up Vivian and her jacket. As she scooped the cub into her arms, a dark wolf emerged from the woods.

Not Connor, but Ryan. One by one, six more wolves emerged, growling and snarling. Ryan must have notified them, though she didn’t see Liam in the group. Maybe he was with Connor. Her hands still shook as she thought about what had almost happened. She still might die today, but at least she wouldn’t be raped by that monster.

Still no Connor. He was coming, though. She could hear and feel him. They all could. The air buzzed with an electric energy.

Ana took a small step toward her horse. “Leave now, Taggart. Before he gets here.”

Ignoring her, he and Vince pulled out two big guns. Knowing Taggart, they were packing silver bullets.

“So you’re going to fight dirty? So typical,” she sneered, unable to keep the disgust out of her voice.

He flicked a quick glance her way, his dark eyes hollow. “Shut your fucking mouth.”

Ana glared at him but did as he said. She took another step back toward her horse, and two of the wolves growled at her. Adalita whinnied and put some distance between them but at least she didn’t completely abandon Ana.

Stopping dead in her tracks, Ana tucked Vivian under one of her arms. The she-cat didn’t struggle or wiggle around. Just meowed. Ana ignored the little one’s cries and watched as her packmates stalked across the clearing. Whatever happened today would change everything between the two packs.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw a flash of fur. Then wind rushed by her face, caressing her with an icy breeze.

Before she could blink Taggart flew through the air as two hundred pounds of black fur and muscle slammed into him. His weapon seemed pathetic now as it too sailed through the air. It landed in the snow with a soft thud a few feet away.

Taggart screamed in pain as Connor pinned him to the ground.

All the air whooshed from her lungs as she stared at them. She’d known Alphas were fast but she’d never seen one move
that
fast before.

“Shoot him!” Taggart screamed.

Vince lifted his gun, but Ana dropped Vivian and lunged at him. Preparing for a fight, she clutched at his arm. When he didn’t struggle she realized he didn’t
want
to shoot Connor.

That put a whole new spin on things. She still held his arm but chose her words carefully. “According to Council laws, they have to fight unimpeded in wolf form. Do you really want to go against our laws? More important, do you
want
Taggart to be victorious? Connor is a good Alpha. A fair one,” she murmured. She didn’t think Vince was fast enough to shoot Connor anyway but she didn’t voice that.

Vince looked back at the other wolves, who moved around nervously in the snow. After a moment he nodded, almost to himself. Jaw set, he faced Connor and Taggart. Connor hadn’t made a move to kill Taggart yet and she knew it was because he respected their laws.

“This will be a
Nex Pugna
!” Vince shouted loud enough for all the wolves to hear. A death fight.

“You son of a bitch,” Taggart growled.

“Sack up, boss. If you can’t do this the right way, you don’t deserve to be our Alpha.” Vince’s voice shook as he spoke. At least he’d stood up to the treacherous wolf, but if his Alpha won, it would be certain death for him.

Ana gained a little respect for the other wolf even though all she cared about at the moment was her mate. They might not officially be bonded but he was hers. She felt it to her core.

Connor circled Taggart as he stripped off his clothes and shifted form with the speed of an Alpha. Connor would have loved nothing more than to rip off Taggart’s head when he’d jumped him moments ago, but Taggart was also an Alpha. They had to fight properly. It was the way of their kind, and if he couldn’t respect his own laws his pack wouldn’t respect him.

When he’d gotten that message from Ana that she was meeting Taggart alone, decades of his life had been shaved off. The thought of losing her before he’d gotten a chance to tell her he loved her made him tremble.

No longer a man, Taggart stood before Connor, a brown-and-white wolf. Hulking and dangerous.

Out of the corner of his eye he could see his wolves and Taggart’s pack encircle them. Whoever survived, the victor would be respected. There would be no more bloodshed around here after today, and hopefully never again.

Taggart was already dead. He just didn’t know it. Connor should have hunted him down that night he’d arrived and caught him assaulting Ana. It was one of the few regrets he had in life.

But Ana—his sweet Ana, who felt she had to be strong for everyone—had told him not to. He didn’t want her watching this, but she was right. She was his mate and needed to see his strength. See what he was capable of.

Keeping his head low, he stalked to his right. With his guys watching his back, he wasn’t worried about being flanked.

Taggart also moved to his right, circling him.

They could dodge and dance around all day. The end result would be the same. Connor braced himself for the pain as he went on the offensive.

Taggart started to duck away again but Connor lunged at him. Using all the strength from his hind legs, he launched forward, right at the other wolf.

The brown-and-white wolf snarled but kept its neck down as Connor tackled him. Claws dug into his side and underbelly with ripping agony.

He ignored it. As he swiped at Taggart’s face, he extended his claws and slashed one of his eyes. The blinding blow would enrage him, which is what Connor hoped for.

Taggart’s actions today were erratic and insane. Connor would never understand why Taggart was so unstable but he didn’t really care. The shifter was just plain evil. Trying to kidnap another Alpha’s mate was asking for bloodshed.

When the other wolf dug his claws deeper into Connor’s belly, he rolled off him and pounced onto his feet a few feet away. Blood dripped down Taggart’s face. Connor growled in approval.

The sound must have pissed off Taggart, because he lunged. The strike was calculated, but with his eye damaged his timing was off. As he flew through the air, Connor went for his neck. He missed his target but clamped on to one of Taggart’s front legs.

As he did, Taggart’s claws ripped through the side of his neck. Letting go of the leg, Connor bit back a growl and dodged to the side, preparing for another attack.

A piercing scream ripped through the air.

His heart stopped at the sound.
Ana.
Before he could process anything, Ana’s delicate arms wrapped around Taggart’s neck as she tried to tackle him.
What the hell is she doing?

Taggart snarled, and with a startling blow he swiped at her shoulder with one of his paws, sending her flying.

She landed in the snow with a soft thud but was motionless. Connor saw red. Bloody, crimson rage rolled over him. He wanted to go to her but knew it would be certain death if he turned his back on Taggart.

Lowering himself, he launched at Taggart and slammed his head into the other Alpha. The other wolf jerked back, taken by surprise.

At the same time Connor dug his claws into Taggart’s chest. Each time the wolf tried to move, the deeper and deeper he dug into his chest cavity.

The action was too much to bear. Taggart howled and tried to jerk out of his grasp but Connor wouldn’t let go. Unlike his regular-wolf counterpart, he had claws. Using his strength, he extended them even farther into the other Alpha’s body.

Taggart bit him, pulling away fur and skin from his shoulder.

But Connor held fast. The pain would be worth the victory.
Taggart dead
. He envisioned it in his head. The other wolf would die today.

When Taggart thrashed, Connor didn’t give up the opportunity to strike. The other wolf howled as he tried to wrench away once again. In doing so, he exposed his neck.

Connor struck fast and hard.

He tasted fur, skin and blood as he slammed his jaw shut. The coppery liquid filled his mouth but he didn’t let go.

As Taggart struggled against his hold, he sliced into Connor’s side. Connor felt as if razors had ripped through him but the agony was worth it.

Then Taggart stopped moving. The bottom half of his body wilted against the cold ground. Connor held on for a moment longer, then shook his limp neck before releasing him.

Standing over the dead wolf, he slowly turned in a circle to face the rest of the shifters. The wolves from Taggart’s pack dropped to their bellies, and even Vince got on his knees and ducked his head.

Little pinpricks of pain shimmied through him as he stalked toward Ana. He hadn’t seen her move, but she’d gotten up and now stood by her horse. She must have only been stunned by the blow.

It was as if small daggers had been embedded in his skin. When he shifted back to human form the pain would be that much worse. But he needed to touch Ana. To feel her soft skin under his fingers. Once he reached her, he shifted to his human form. It was asinine. He knew that. He was injured and would heal a hell of a lot faster in animal form, but he didn’t care. His beast and human sides were in agreement for once. They wanted to hold Ana.

And let her hold him.

“
Connor!
What are you doing?” She reached out for him, wrapping her arms around his waist.