Star Cursed (Zodiac Wolves #2)(23)

He didn’t say anything else as he walked out of the garden with me tossed over his shoulder like a war prize. All around us were the sounds of fighting, and when I twisted my head to try to catch a glimpse of what was happening, I spotted a bunch of Ophiuchus wolves ambling toward us. I recognized Jack, Harper, and Dane, and actually laughed at how happy I was to see them. They circled around us, keeping the Leo wolves from getting to Kaden since he wouldn’t be able to fight with me in his arms.

I could also see that it would be a losing battle. There were significantly more Leos than Ophiuchus shifters, and more of the enemy running toward us to join the fray. Kaden’s need for haste made more sense now, even if it had cut into my explanation for why I didn’t want him to kill Jordan. We seemed to be rushing toward the edge of the village, where I spotted some cars waiting for us. Then I caught sight of two Leos dragging Mira away, heading in the direction of the prison building.

“Wait!" I turned in Kaden’s arms, trying to get him to meet my eyes. “Kaden, please, I need to get my friend, Mira. She’s being held captive, and I can’t leave her here. She risked everything to help me.”

“We can’t stop,” Kaden said. “I’m getting you out of here now.”

I struggled against him harder, but he didn't budge. “I’m not leaving without her!”

His jaw was set, and I knew he wouldn’t listen to me. Somehow I’d forgotten just how stubborn he could be, especially when he was focused on something. But I was stubborn too, and no way in hell was I leaving my friend behind.

I focused on the beams of moonlight streaming down, praying the Sun Witch spell blocking my powers had been broken. It worked, and the amount of power running through me was almost shocking when I touched it, thanks to the full moon. I didn't even have to try, and then I was about four feet from Mira.

I fell, hitting the ground hard now that I was no longer being held by Kaden, and pushed myself to my feet. Every ache and pain in my body screamed at me to stay down, but I couldn’t let them take Mira to some cell, or execute her because of me.

“Hey, assholes,” I shouted as I stumbled forward. I was still weak, but growing stronger by the second thanks to the moon filling me with light.

One of the Leos snarled at me, baring his teeth as he shoved Mira into the arms of the other male. I settled into a fighting stance, suddenly glad for all the times I’d practiced while I was trapped here with the Leo pack. My training all came flooding back to me naturally, and when the Leo male attacked, I was ready. I swung and kicked and ducked, and it wasn’t long before I’d landed a blow on the male that had him reeling back.

I snapped my head to the side as I saw movement in my peripheral vision. Kaden. He looked furious, but when he growled, it wasn’t at me. He took down two other Leos charging toward us like it was nothing, proving he always had my back, even when he was pissed at me.

The knowledge that Kaden was by my side gave me confidence, and I lunged toward the shifter in front of me again. He was a fighter too, but he hadn't been trained by the best, and I took him down easily with a maneuver Kaden had taught me. Then I sank my teeth into his arms. The Ophiuchus poison bite wasn't as effective in human form as in wolf form, but it still knocked him out.

The second one dropped Mira on the ground, and I spared a glance for her as he approached us. She looked weak but pushed herself up to a sitting position. Kaden surged forward and took down the male before I even got a chance, like he didn't want anyone getting close to me. I rolled my eyes, though I was secretly pleased he was still so protective of me.

As Kaden stood over the second male, he flicked his eyes to me, the snarl not leaving his face. “Don’t do that again."

“I told you, I’m not leaving Mira.” I crouched beside her. The adrenaline from the fight had erased what remained of my fatigue, and the moonlight filled my body with the strength it had been lacking before. “Are you okay?”

She nodded and grabbed my arm, her eyes wide. "I'm okay, but are you?"

No, I was very much not okay, because I'd just learned my mate was my brother, and he'd nearly fucked me on an altar in front of everyone, and now there was a battle going on around us, but I would be a hell of a lot better once we were far away from this place, so all I said was, "Yeah."

Kaden loomed over us, and he didn’t look happy about the situation. “Fine, she can come too, but we have to leave now.”

“Fine,” I echoed, as I helped Mira to her feet. She leaned against my side, and together we began stumbling after Kaden.

Mira turned to me, a slight smile on her face. "That must be the alpha. I see what you mean about him."

I gave her a look that said shut up. If Kaden heard—which was pretty much guaranteed—he didn’t react in any way. I was happy Mira was lucid enough to be joking with me, but really, did she have to rib me about Kaden when he was right there?

“Come on,” Kaden snapped and picked up his pace. It was a struggle to keep up, but Mira and I were able to follow Kaden to the edge of the village, where a few vans were waiting for us. A swell of happiness went through me at the sight. This was really happening. Kaden had come to save me, and now we were finally going to get out of here. I would be away from Jordan and all the shifters who wanted me dead.

Kaden stopped at one of the vans and turned around, then let out a loud howl. Answering howls came from the town, and before I knew it, the Ophiuchus pack members were running toward their alpha. A few snarling Leos followed, most in wolf form, but some of the Ophiuchus wolves broke off to hold them back.