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A Pack Warrior farther down goes to one knee. The rogue above him raises his claws, but I reach them first. My shoulder slams into the rogue’s side and sends him into a tree. The Pack Warrior scrambles to his feet.

“Stay up.”

“Yes.”

I turn back toward Joshua and Michael. Four more are coming, and my wolf surges forward. Protect.

I do.

The fight becomes blood, dirt, claws and instinct, but it never becomes chaos. I know where Joshua is. I know where Michael is. I know where the line is. A rogue tries to slip between us, and I stop him. Two pile onto Joshua, and I pull one away. Michael gets knocked to a knee, and I intercept the wolf trying to finish him.

Every time someone tries to break through, one of us is there. Joshua calls the formation. Michael holds his section. I move wherever the pressure is worst.

A rogue comes at me with claws extended. I catch his wrist, turn with his momentum and throw him hard enough to knock the breath from him. He rolls onto his stomach and raises both hands.

“I surrender.”

I grab the back of his shirt and drag him behind our line. “Restrain him!”

One of the Pack Warriors grabs him. I turn back as another rogue charges.

He doesn’t surrender.

Neither do I.

He hits me hard enough to knock me backward. My heel catches uneven ground, and I go down. He comes for my throat…

24

Darian's POV

“Isurrender.”

I grab the back of his shirt and drag him behind our line. “Restrain him!”

One of the Pack Warriors grabs him. I turn back as another rogue charges.

He doesn’t surrender.

Neither do I.

He hits me hard enough to knock me backward. My heel catches uneven ground, and I go down. He comes for my throat, but Joshua catches him from the side and sends him crashing several feet away.

“Get up, Carter!”

I’m already moving. Another wolf attacks Joshua before I can answer, and I catch him around the middle and tear him away.

Joshua sees it again. His eyes stay on me a fraction longer this time before he turns back to the fight. I don’t have time to wonder why.

A snarl sounds behind Michael, and I pivot. Michael sees this one too. We both reach him. Michael catches the rogue high while I take him low, and the three of us hit the ground.

Michael looks at me. “Mine.”

“Then take him.”

He grins, and I turn away to meet the next one.

Three surround me. One catches my side. Another bites into my arm. The third goes for my throat. I drop beneath him and drive upward, sending him over my shoulder. Before I can turn, the wolf biting my arm jerks me sideways.