Nix’s POV I looked at my friend on the ground. His lip is bleeding from the punch he had just received from Lottie. He can’t be Caren’s mate, not my Caren. This has to be a joke? Maybe it is a different Caren? But which way Lottie is trying to get to him, I don’t think it is. I can’t believe Reed is mated to Caren. Or that he ran from her. I stared at him, shocked. He has explained to me all the reasons he did it. But he did it to Caren, the most fantastic woman on the face of this planet, and he ran from her. I am sad for him but devastated for myself. Now, knowing Caren isn’t my mate. “She’s burning up.” Max shouts as he holds onto Lottie. Lottie will kill Reed if Max lets her go. I go over to help him control her. Her eyes flicker like she is about to shift. I don’t know Lottie or her wolf. “Diesel, can Lottie absorb my strength like Caren did?” I asked my wolf. “It doesn’t work like that,” Diesel tells me. So, I just grabbed ahold of her. Max has burn marks on his

Ethan’s POV “Run, just keep running.” I begged my wolf, Greg. He is exhausted. We have been running for hours. But I know he is no match for the protection detail. His only hope was when he found a stream and ran down it for a few miles. This masked his scent. But it only bought him a little time. The protection detail are trained trackers and killers. I don’t stand a chance against them. I am surprised I have gotten this far unless they are toying with me? Greg eventually collapses. We have not done any serious training for years and I regret that right now. Wolves come running from all directions. Surely they can’t all be from the protection detail. They are growling and snarling, baring their teeth at him. Greg is too tired to fight in any way possible. He has done his best to save us. I shift into my human form. I stood naked in front of them. The wolves snapped in my direction. But they don’t attack. I think they are waiting for someone. I dare not move for fear they wil