The color drained from my face. Anara not only manipulated the power of the Squaw Valley Pack but of those other Packs he and the Elders had led. No wonder he was so freakishly strong, he could probably take down a shape-shifter alone. “That’s why the others didn’t know who attacked me. They didn’t recognize the scents from the other Packs.”

Anara clapped in mock appreciation. “Very good, Celia. Perhaps you’re not as stupid as I thought.” He scowled. “I was going to use my power and elevated position to lead our kind to a new future. But then you gave me no choice but to turn sides to survive!” He shoved his face into mine. “Why couldn’t you just die! Why must I continue to see your wretched face?”

“I’ll fucking kill you! You’re dead, Anara—you’re fucking dead!”

Aric had changed to human, shocking the hell out of both me and Anara. He remained suspended yet his frantic thrashing had cracked the wall behind him. Anara’s bemusement told me it should have been impossible for Aric to use his power at all. He meandered to Aric, who continued to bash and flay hard enough to strain the cords of his neck and turn his breaths ragged. Anara touched his shoulder, awe glazing his eyes. Aric wrenched his body away, chipping the plaster behind him and deepening the dent. Anara smiled, admiring Aric like a rare masterpiece. “Such power,” he whispered. His face changed without warning, veering toward me with hatred so raw I could taste it. “Wasted on this goddamn abomination!”

Anara rushed me, punching me so hard I flew from the arms holding me and skidded across the floor. “Kill her,” he spat.

Aric beat against the wall, his growls loud enough to shatter glass. I whirled to face the advancing Pack led by Allie. But it wasn’t those wolves he’d ordered to kill.

Koda and the Geminis fell from their positions, prowling toward me with their fangs bared and their eyes glowing in that ferocious gold. I stumbled back on unsteady feet, knowing I couldn’t win against them.

But when they reached me, they gave me their backs and assumed protective stances. They growled at the human Pack and forced them back. I almost collapsed with relief. In restoring my mate bond to Aric, I’d restored his Warriors’ duty to protect me. Anara couldn’t make them hurt me now.

An invisible hand grabbed me by the throat and threw me into the corner. “You whore. You wasted no time bedding him, did you!” Anara held me and charged my protectors. The Pack of humans howled that miserable song and their stares brightened, fueling Anara’s onslaught. His fists flamed gold as he pummeled the wolves, inflicting all the strength of his rage. I shut my eyes tight, unable to stomach the fury aimed at my friends. Their snarls and yelps filled my ears with their anguish until Anara finally beat them into silence.

I slowly opened my eyes, terrified at what I’d find.

Anara stood, gaping at his hands in wonder of his prowess. “Get up.” The wolves didn’t move. “Get up!”

They rose as much as their injuries allowed. Koda’s spine split at the center. He dragged his body along by his front paws. One of the Geminis swayed with his head twisted backward; the other pushed across the floor with one back leg. Slowly and painfully they returned to the far wall. Tears streamed down my face. Aric’s movements stalled to a deadly quiet. We locked eyes—a moment to bond, to give each other strength. But of course Anara took it away.

“Did Aric tell you how many females he’s taken in your absence?”

I knew what he was doing and let my glare answer for me. His head angled toward Aric. “Should I show her?”

“I swear you’ll suffer before you die,” Aric promised through clenched teeth.

My vision swirled. I blinked to clear it and found myself in a dark bedroom where the aroma of sex condensed in sweltering tides. Sprawled on the bed on all fours was Diane, whimpering with pleasure and saturated with sweat. Behind her was Aric, thrusting himself deeper into her. He moaned her name, making her scream for more of him.

He obliged her.

Anara’s strikes had weakened me. But this image brought me to my knees. I collapsed, sobbing. “No.”

Thick angry fingers dug into my hair, forcing my attention to the bed. This time Barbara, Aric’s former fiancée, lay on her back with her legs draped over Aric’s shoulders, eagerly receiving his pleasure. I couldn’t contain my distress and cried into my hands, weeping so hysterically I feared I’d pass out.

A gentle voice filled my head. “It’s not true, sweetness,” Aric whispered. I lifted my head. His transparent image stared at me with tender eyes. A ghostly hand stroked my cheek. “It’s not true,” he said again. “I love only you. I want only you, forever.”

“Forever,” I repeated. Aric’s soft lips brushed against mine…then he was gone.

My gaze returned to the bed. This time it was Anara with Barbara and Diane, his face devoid of pleasure. Only rage loomed. Something exploded in my brain. I screamed as more fluid leaked from my ears. I hadn’t quite recovered from the stabbing pain when Anara seized me by the throat with his bare hands. He slammed my head repeatedly into the wall, yelling obscenities and insults.

Aric went mad. Glass screeched and a solid mass collided against the building. Anara dropped me, veering away as I slumped onto my side, coughing blood and struggling to breathe. I didn’t know what had happened until I forced my head up and saw angels standing before me.

“Get away from our sister, you son of a bitch!”

Chapter Thirty-two

My family charged, dirty and covered with blood, with Tye and Bren in beast form leading the way. Danny stumbled in through a broken window behind them, determined yet shaking with fear.

Taran blasted Anara with a barrage of lightning as Shayna launched a dagger into his throat and out through his neck. Emme bolted to me, her blond hair swirling behind her. Anara’s wolves changed and attacked. She threw out her thin bare arms, sending six flying through the wall of windows with her force. Tye and Bren lunged at the others, ruthlessly forcing them back.

I slapped my hands against the floor and pushed up, trying to stand. My head spun. I only made it to my knees before I collapsed. My body had given up but my mind stubbornly refused to surrender. I rose, careening toward Aric. A large brown wolf tackled me after only a few steps. His front claws dug into my shoulders down to the bone, making me scream.