Echoes of Fire (The Mercury Pack #4)(102)

Ally. He needed Ally.

Still holding the little cat, Bracken stood and glanced around. He spotted the white she-wolf in the creek, aiding two other wolves in bringing down a bear. He headed right for her. “Ally!”

The white wolf looked his way. Tensed. Hopping out of the water, she shifted. Wet and covered in plenty of gashes, Ally gaped at Madisyn. “Oh my God.”

“Do something,” Bracken gritted out. Warm blood just kept pumping out of the cat’s wounds, further soaking her fur and wetting his hands.

Taking in a deep breath, Ally laid a hand on the cat’s head. He felt it through the mating bond as healing energy began to flow into—

A huge weight barreled into Bracken, taking his legs out from under him and knocking him flat. He hit the ground with a grunt, and the cat rolled out of his arms. The bear swung a thick paw at Ally, sending her crashing into a tree. She slid to the ground. Unconscious? Bracken couldn’t tell.

As the bear switched his attention back to Madisyn, Bracken’s heart jumped. Oh, the fuck no. Standing, Bracken yelled, “Hey!”

The bear’s head swung his way, and then it swatted at the ground, glaring at him, ready to charge.

Bracken knew by the alpha vibes coming from the bear that it was Archer. “I told you that if you wanted to live, you needed to stay away from her. Should’ve listened to me.” Bracken shifted.

Standing tall, feet wide apart, the gray wolf braced himself. Growled, ears flat.

The bear let out a deep-throated pulsing sound. Clicked its jaw and popped its lips.

They both lunged. The bear reared up and slammed its large paw at the wolf, trying to tear his scalp from his head. The wolf dodged the blow and then pitched forward, slashing at the bear’s muzzle.

The bear batted at him, but he batted at air. The wolf was simply too fast.

Lowering himself to all fours, the bear bounded at the wolf, tried clamping its huge jaws around his head. The wolf sidestepped him and tore a deep strip out of the bear’s flank.

The duel was fierce and brutal. Both shifters landed some hard blows. Teeth dug deep. Claws shredded flesh. Blood splattered on the ground and in the water and mud.

The wolf soon began to tire. He felt heavy. Weak from blood loss. His muscles burned, and his lungs felt raw. That only made him fight harder. So many scents—blood, water, mud, sweat, rage—permeated the air, spurring him on.

Nostrils flaring, the bear chuffed as he struck another hard blow, knocking the wolf off-balance. He crashed to the ground, hitting his head hard on a rock. Dazed, spots dotting his vision, the wolf staggered to his feet. The bear swung again, knocking him back down. The wolf righted himself again, blinking. The Alpha grabbed him in a bear hug and tried clamping its jaws around the wolf’s neck.

A familiar little pallas cat leaped on top of the bear from behind, locking her body around its head, claws finding purchase in the bear’s face. The Alpha released the wolf with a roar, shaking his head madly. The cat didn’t let go. Even though the wolf could sense through their bond that she was still weak, she held on tightly and tore off a chunk of the bear’s ear with those razor-sharp teeth.

A female margay dropped down from a branch above the bear, bit it, and raked into its back. A black wolf suddenly joined the fray, launching himself at the Alpha and clawing deep into his flank. The black wolf bounded away just as fast, and then another wolf pounced, attacking the bear’s other side. Soon, the Alpha was surrounded by a large number of wolves as they growled, snarled, and took turns attacking him.

The gray wolf knew that this was about more than them coming to his aid. Each of them loathed the Alpha, and they all wanted their pound of flesh. So they took it.

Finally, the bear lost all strength and toppled to the ground. The others all backed off, allowing the gray wolf to pounce and clamp his jaws around the bear’s throat. Growling, he sank his teeth down hard. Only when the life had completely bled from the Alpha’s eyes did the wolf let him go.

Stepping away, sides heaving, the wolf didn’t have the strength to fight his human when he fought to resurface.

Breaths sawing in and out of him, burning his throat, Bracken went straight to his mate, who’d also shifted into her human form. He caught her face in his hands, careful of the gashes on her face. Ally had obviously given her just enough healing energy to repair the broken bones and close over the worst wounds. “You’re okay.”

“Peachy,” said Madisyn, her voice dry.

And, to his absolute fucking surprise, he found himself chuckling. Pain rippled through his ribs, and he winced. “Shit, don’t make me laugh.”

Taryn appeared at his side. “Ally’s busy healing Roni, so you’ll have to make do with me. Do not tell me you’re okay, Bracken. You’re not at all.”

Lying on the ground, he kept his hand locked around Madisyn’s as the Phoenix Alpha female healed most of his injuries, leaving the shallower ones to heal on their own so that she had the strength to help the other injured people.

Getting back to his feet, Bracken pulled Madisyn close and buried his face in her neck, still careful of her injuries. He just needed to hold her. Smell her. Absorb that she was alive and healing.

Vinnie Devereaux shoved his way through the crowds, making a beeline for her. “Are you all right?”

“Fine,” replied Madisyn. “Your pride?”

“We’re all good,” said Vinnie.