Series: Willow Winters
Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 51151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51151 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
I glance quickly at my stealthy mate. She’s squatting next to the pups’ sleeping forms and gently places her soft hand on the little girl. The pup shifts in her sleep and the sound of her slight movements makes my eyes dart back to the fucker I should probably just kill. With bated breath, I watch my mate stroke the backs of each of the children, trying to wake them gently.
They’re so small, I wonder how old they are. They can’t be much older than a year or two; their movements earlier were so clumsy. In my old pack, before Devin, there were plenty of little ones, but I hardly paid them any attention. The women cared for them. My father had three pups, all boys. I was the oldest, my twin brothers were only a year younger than me. So I’ve never bothered myself with small children, I’ve never had to. But here I am in a room about to rescue two children, with a mate who’s pregnant.
Fuck, life can really throw you a curve ball.
The little girl’s eyes open slowly as she turns to lay on her back and look up at my mate. She’s a bit bigger than the boy, so I imagine she’s older. A small smile slips into place, but as my mate places her finger over her lips and releases a small, “shh,” the little girl’s eyes dart to her father and then to me. Her eyes widen and she pales instantly. It’s a look of fear. My mate places her small hand on the girl’s cheek and tilts her head to face her. She mouths the words “it’s okay.” Fortunately, the girl is easily swayed by my mate, and I let out a heavy breath. My mate motions for the little girl to stand and hold onto her and she obliges, looking back at the other pup and giving my mate a questioning and worried look. She nods her head before handing the little girl to me.
I’ve never held a child, but I reach across the shifter’s sleeping body and take the little girl in my arms. My mate doesn’t waste any time reaching for the next pup. The little girl eyes me warily and I do my best to avoid her gaze, focusing instead of my mate. She gently picks up the sleeping little boy and tries to turn, but her balance is fucking awful and she nearly falls. She’s quick to steady herself, but the sudden jolt to the little boy wakes him. As the child looks up at my mate, a huge smile brightens his sleepy face, but then he opens his mouth. My mate raises the hand she’s steadying herself with to her lips, but it’s too late.
“Lulu!” The little pup’s squeal has my eyes darting to the sleeping shifter. Angry silver eyes stare back at me. Fuck! A loud growl echoes off the mud walls as I drop the little girl. Before he has a chance to rise, I grab his throat in my hand and push the strong shifter back down onto the bed. The little girl whimpers as my mate grabs both pups and runs out of the hut, an arm around each of their tiny waists, balancing them on her hips. I hear movement and rough, tired voices from the camp as my palm pushes against the shifters mouth to keep him quiet.
I grip his throat tighter as he thrashes under me. My knees keep his arms pinned as he struggles to gain freedom and attempts to suck in air. Every ounce of anger and fear I’ve felt for hours tightens my grip. His body bucks against mine but I keep him pinned, having the obvious advantage. Adrenaline races through me, I push down with all my might, covering his mouth to muffle the noises and crushing his windpipe. I can’t let him live. I can’t risk the pack coming after us so soon. My heart pounds with the thought of my mate and those pups, unprotected, running through the forest. I listen for the sounds of the other shifters, but the night is quiet as I continue to push all of my weight onto this asshole.
Whoever woke up from the initial noise isn’t making a sound at the moment. I pray they go back to sleep and don’t look around. The shifter’s milky eyes spike with red as his face puffs and sweats. I watch him as my knuckles around his throat turn white. Looking into his hard eyes, they slowly turn red as the blood vessels break, and I choke him to death.
The second his body goes limp, I’m off him and following the scent of my mate through the camp and to the edge of the forest. My heart races, keeping me on high alert. I can easily hear them running frantically through the trees, just as easily as I hear the sounds of the shifters slowly waking up. My mate and the pups are making too much noise. It’s only a matter of time before curiosity turns to alarm and the wolves realize what’s happening. I bolt through the forest, crushing branches and brushing my large body against the bark. It scrapes my skin, but with all the adrenaline pumping through me, I don’t feel a damn thing. Being quiet is no longer an option. I need speed. I need to get to them and get to my car as soon as possible.