He broke the necks of two wolves doing perimeter recon. The taste of blood fueled his wolf. His fangs were bared and his muscles tense as he appeared in the clearing.
Payne’s men fanned out around him, some in fur, some still in their human skin.
“About time. I thought you’d run off with your tail between your legs,” said Payne. Liam didn’t move. He focused his attention on his surroundings, the scents, and his enemy. “And your mate. Were the pickings that slim? I mean, come on, even by human standards I’d give her a failing grade. Of course, maybe you’re into fat chicks.”
He growled and flashed his fangs. Liam knew Payne was trying to provoke him, to throw him off his game, but it was still hard to listen to him insult his queen. He couldn’t wait to rip him to shreds.
The thoughts in his head stole his attention briefly. His packmates were all free, and the she-wolves had been released. There was nothing Payne could use as leverage now, so it was time to take him down.
He leapt up against the human with a weapon in his hand, his massive wolf knocking him to his back. In one bite, he broke his neck. Why wasn’t Payne more concerned? He was about to charge the wolf closest to him, when Payne tutted.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Unless you wanted to trade in your mate for a better model.”
They didn’t have Rebecca. She was safely out of sight, waiting for him to bring her to their home. Payne probably thought she was still locked in his prison, so Liam would use that to his advantage.
He took down the nearest wolf, ripping into flesh and bone, before tossing the carcass.
“I warned you.” Payne jutted his chin, and one of his men came from the shelters behind him, Rebecca locked in his arms.
How the fuck had they found her so fast?
“You’re probably wondering how we found your mate.” He held up a small hand-held device. “They use these things for tracking pets. Microchipping or some shit. Came in handy today.”
That piece of shit had microchipped his woman? Liam didn’t want Rebecca to witness the carnage, but his alpha wolf was done playing nice. He barreled toward Payne, knocking his men aside in the process.
Jake and Eli were on the scene with Lilla. Sarah had been injured, and Emily was with child and was likely back at the homestead. They all fanned through the clearing, fighting, killing, decimating the enemy pack.
When Rebecca cried out, his wolf turned its attention to her. Power flooded his veins as the male holding her put pressure on her neck. Without her, there was nothing to live for.
He changed course, his mate’s safety more important than revenge, more important than everything. Liam stopped dead in front of Rebecca. His chest heaved, his adrenaline flooding his system with energy and strength.
“Stay back or I’ll snap her neck.”
Liam had to make his next move carefully. His human woman was fragile, body and mind. A rash choice could get her killed.
“I’m not your pawn,” Rebecca shouted, stomping her foot down on the male’s. The moment of distraction was enough for Liam to bolt forward and latch onto the man’s arm, tearing him away from Rebecca. She fell to her ass, leaning back on her elbows as she watching him bite the man over and over, long past his death. No one touched his woman and got out alive. Every one of these fuckers had a death sentence waiting for them.
He took slow, measured steps towards Rebecca, not trusting his wolf. She had on no panties, and he could smell her heat. Hear the blood flowing through her veins. He moved closer, sniffing her. When he found his love bite at her neck, his wolf and man merged, and his mind grew clearer. Human or not, Jake was right. He could never harm his mate.
Liam licked her mark, and she reached out and sank her hands into his thick black fur.
“I can’t believe this is you.”
He’d been so worried about rejection that he never stopped to consider she could be okay with his secret.
“Liam, watch out!”
He turned his head as Payne brought down a machete, striking him in the haunch. The pain only spurred him on. He whirled around, his hulking wolf taking down his enemy. Payne shifted into his grey wolf, and they tussled on the forest floor. The earth rumbled beneath them as they battled, slamming each other and striking out with fangs and claws.
He noted Lilla leading Rebecca away from danger, so he could let loose. His men waited on the periphery, and they wouldn’t interfere in an alpha battle unless asked to do so.
“You’re a monster, Payne. A worthless little shit.”
“And you’re going to lose.”
Their growls and snarling kept everyone away. They had a wide circle of space where they clashed, violently attacking, their wolves taking extreme punishment. But Liam knew he had to end this. Payne was evil, and he wouldn’t stop until Reb
ecca was his and he’d destroyed everything good in the shifter population.