Roaring for Him (BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance) (Wicked in Wilder Book 1) (28 page)

He turned to his mate. “Anything we need to know about out there?”

“Stay out of Phoebe’s reach if she goes bear and keep away from me. I’m going in on two legs. If she hasn’t shifted, I can try to talk her down once you get her free. If she’s wearing her claws then…” Determination filled her features and real fear hit him in the chest. If Phee went furry, the shit was going to get a whole lot bloodier. “Don’t interfere.”

“You have your orders. Let’s do this.” Mitchell stepped back and ripped his shirt off, tossed it to the ground, and then he reached for his jeans.

At that same moment a roar split the air, a deep bellow that sounded familiar yet… not.

But it was enough.

Enough for his wolves to yank at their clothes with increased speed.

Enough for his men to tighten their grips on their guns.

Enough for his mate to meet his gaze a split second before she was gone.

“Fuck!”

* * *

Mitchell’s shout followed her, but she couldn’t stop, couldn’t wait another second. Was running away from him and the other wolves stupid? Probably.

But she knew that roar. It wasn’t Ash’s. It wasn’t Gabe’s.

It was… Phoebe’s father.

Fuck
was right.

She didn’t know why she hadn’t caught the scent before, wasn’t sure why the alpha’s flavors didn’t register, but that roar did. She’d heard it before, the sound slicing through the air when Tilly had gone after him for striking a three-year-old Phee.

Yeah, it was fa-fucking-miliar.

She didn’t go for quiet, didn’t care how much noise she made during her mad dash toward the clearing. Hell, with the roars echoing through the trees, she didn’t think anyone could hear her anyway.

She slid to a stop at the edge of the open space and took in the scene with a quick glance.

Verity clung to a tree, blood staining her face and clothes, dirt covering her skin, and clothing torn. Fear filled her face and trembles shook her body. She wasn’t an immediate threat so Tilly would deal with her later.

She sought Phoebe and her heart stopped, lungs froze, and panic threatened to overcome her. Oh, God, Phoebe.

A massive brown bear stood over her, his foreleg raised, claws flexed as if he was ready to strike once more. Yes, once more because Phee lay crumpled on the ground, blood soaking her entire body until not one inch of her skin was visible. Not. One. Inch.

She had no illusions. Her father did that to her. He’d attacked her. He’d killed— No, her chest still rose and fell. She was alive. Barely.

But her dad? He wouldn’t remain that way much longer.

She spared a glance for the other males, a quick look, and watched as Gabe raced from the trees to her right and straight toward Ash. Howls came from her left and she knew the wolves were close. She also knew Mitchell was furious.

She could handle furious. She couldn’t handle Phoebe’s father killing her. She hadn’t spent years raising her sister—loving her—only to lose her to this asshole.

Tilly didn’t hesitate. The last time she’d gone after a bear, Phoebe had been her target and while that transition was fast, it held nothing on today’s.

One step. One step and one thought was all it took to go from human to cat. Her clothes exploded in a shower of fabric and the second her front paws hit the earth, she was gone. That fucker still had his leg raised, Phee’s death in his claws, and she added speed to her run. She dug deep, let the cat come forward even more. She needed it to be in control, to do everything to save their cub.

Her beast answered the call, pushing her human consciousness to the back of her mind. It allowed her to see, but not control this fight, this battle. She launched herself at the bear, a roar on her lips, and a human scream reached her sensitive ears. A scream that had the bear focusing on her instead of Phee.

Good. She could take whatever the fucker dished out. She hadn’t kept them safe by being weak.

She flew through the air, fangs bared and claws flexed, only to have the bear’s assault turn on her. His massive paw struck her chest, nails digging into her flesh as he batted her away. She slid across the grass and dirt and she dug into the dirt with her claws to slow her progress.

He batted her away as if she was nothing more than a fly, a tiny irritation easily dealt with. Dumb fucker.

His attention returned to Phee, to her battered body, and her sister’s eyes fluttered open, her brown irises slowly darkening, but not enough. Her sister’s bear wanted to come forward, but she was too injured. Oh God, when had Phee ever been too injured to fight back? Never.

Tilly went back for more, ignoring the battle that raged around her, and she launched herself at the bear once more. She could take him down. She knew it. So what if he had a couple hundred pounds on Phoebe? The shifter world thought of bears as a beast that took a group of others to be taken down.

Tilly knew better.

Which meant that when she leapt, she landed on his back. That’s when she dug in her claws and did the same with her teeth. She sank deep into his flesh, pushing past his thick fur to the skin and muscle below. She grabbed him and shook her head, yanking and tugging until she had a mouthful of blood.

The male roared once more, his attention now on her as he shook to try to dislodge her. Wasn’t gonna work.

He stomped on the ground and continued to battle her, finally trying to rise to his back legs. Gravity worked on wolves, she could imagine the move would force them to fall away.

She dug deeper, sank those nails as far as they could go. He was a big, furry tree, and her cat wanted to use him as a scratching post, scrape and dig until he was bare of skin and muscle. She wanted nothing but bone left when she was done.

So that’s what she fought for. She ignored the raging battle, the howl of wolves and snarl of other bears. She recognized some of them as belonging to Gabe and his friends and knew they’d joined in the fight against Ash’s men. There were no sounds of extreme pain from her wolves. Nothing more than the occasional pain-tinged snarl, so she knew they were well, too.

Her entire focus was on her prey, on the male beneath her. When he thumped to his feet, she took another bite of his neck, tearing away another hunk of flesh. Blood poured from his wounds, her claws burrowing into his body. She sank deeper until she reached bone, her paws nearly fisting the slick part of him.

It was bloody and gory and fucking heaven for her cat. The animal relished the coppery liquid, drank it down and wanted more.

The bear stumbled once, then twice, and finally fell to the ground. She felt the shift of his body, recognized the telltale motion, and jumped clear before he could roll over her. But the connection wasn’t broken for long.

Cocky bear forgot he fought a cat. She had speed, agility, and strength. The moment he rolled to his back, she pounced once more. Pounced and scraped him again. But she didn’t just gouge him, she sought his throat as well. Blood coated his fur, matting the strands to his skin, and it made it easy to find.

She stared into the bear’s eyes, met his gaze and let her hatred shine through. He was furious, in agony, but still had the balls to glare at her.

You’re dead.

Dead and she refused to feel bad about the act. He was going to kill Phee. Her sister. Her family. Her very heart.

She lowered her head, jaws wide, mouth salivating in anticipation. He was damn near dead, blood soaking into the ground and he no longer fought her. His body trembled, legs trembling and paws twitching.

Almost. Almost. Almost.

The lioness roared in triumph.

And yet… A low whimper drew her attention. It was louder than any other sounds of battle. It reached her ears and had her focus drifting to the crumpled body no more than thirty feet away. It had her staring at the blood-covered form that jerked and once again made that small whine.

Phoebe
.

The cat was torn. Kill her prey or go to her cub. Kill… or save.

The answer became obvious when Gabe came to her, his stance, his gaze, telling her that Phee’s father would be dealt with. She saw the murder in his eyes, the bloodlust that rode him, and she knew he would see it to an end.

Tilly had more important things to do. She pushed off the male and bolted past Gabe, intent on reaching Phee. The battle around her was at an end, the scent of copper permeating the air. She distantly noted Mitchell’s approach, his other wolves nearing her, and she snarled at them all. Her coat was red from her prey and she wouldn’t hesitate to add more if they tried to stop her.

But they didn’t. They remained back as she slid to a stop beside her sister. Between one breath and the next, she was human once more. She reached for Phee, dragging her wounded sister into her lap. A check of her pulse revealed the tempo was sluggish and light, her breathing shallow. Deep furrows stretched across her abdomen and gouges cut to the bone in her left leg. Another scrape from her temple down her throat stopped above her breast.

He’d gone after her, tried to kill her.

“Phee, I’m here sweetie. I have you.”

“Tills…” her voice was hoarse and low. “I…”

“Shh… You’re fine. I’ll get you straightened out in no time, huh?” Tears stung her eyes and clouded her vision. “Keep trying to talk and maybe this time I really will sew your lips together.”

Phoebe laughed—tried to laugh. It came out as a harsh wheeze and fresh blood coated her lower lip. “Don’t make me laugh.”

“If you’re crying, it means you’re dying, remember?” A tear streaked down her cheek and fell to Phee.

“I remember,” she whispered. “Hurts, Tills.”

“I know, sweetheart.” Shouts surrounded them, snarls and bellows flying through the clearing. Movement in front of her drew her attention and her cat immediately rushed forward, transforming one hand to a claw as she hissed and struck out at the approaching male. She barely managed to pull back her strike, missing Mitchell.

“Easy, Tilly. It’s over, okay? Gabe’s SUV is right over there. We’re gonna get you two moved, okay? He has the clan doctor—”

She hissed at him. “No. Don’t want any of them touching her.”

“Baby, we’re not gonna let anything else happen to Phee, but she needs help. Ash is dead. Her father is dead. Fuck if I know where your mother is, but I don’t care. The threat to our family is gone and I need you to let me help her now.” His eyes weren’t the amber of his demanding wolf, but the pleading blue of his human half. “Please, Tilly.”

“Tills…” She shifted her attention to Phee. “S’okay.”

Tilly tried to fight the heartache that surrounded her. She stroked Phoebe’s hair, brushing the blood-soaked strands aside. “Okay, okay. Mitchell’s gonna carry you and I’m not gonna leave your side, okay? I’m right here. Not letting go.” A sob snuck into her chest, squeezed her heart, and she pushed the pain back. She could break down later. She looked to her mate. “Be careful with her.”

“Of course, baby. Of course,” he murmured and held out his hands.

Tilly carefully transferred Phee to his arms and pushed to her feet as he rose. He was hurried but gentle when he strode toward the waiting SUV. Gabe stood near the back bumper, but instead of heading toward the driver’s seat, he remained in place.

“Get the fuck behind the wheel,” she barked at the male, but he only had eyes for Phee.

“Lay her down here. She awake?” Gabe’s voice was filled with more than a hint of his bear.

“Yes, but what are you doing? We have to—”

She didn’t say anything else because Gabe bit into his arm, tore at his skin until his flesh peeled away and then he pressed the wound to Phee’s mouth. “Little bear, you gotta drink, okay?” Phee’s eyes fluttered open, her gaze bouncing between their trio and then she tried to pull her mouth from Gabe’s arm. But he wasn’t letting go. He cupped her head and forced her to do as he demanded. “Doc said this’ll get you through the next thirty minutes until he can get to you. Drink my fucking blood already.”

“What—”

Gabe ignored her and snarled at her sister, but it wasn’t the words that mattered. No, the pure power that whipped through the clearing, the energy of a furious alpha that hit every shifter in the area. “
Now.
”

Phoebe drank. She locked eyes with Gabe and sucked at his flesh, swallowed his blood. With each pull, each draw on his arm, her color slowly returned. She was no longer as pale as death. She wasn’t better, but she didn’t look as if she’d die with her next breath either.

“She’s gonna be okay.” Mitchell wrapped his arm around her waist and squeezed her tight. She buried her face against his chest and shuddered, relief at Phee’s recovery overwhelming her.

For years Tilly had been Phee’s whole word. Protector. Savior. It’d been the three sisters against the world with Tilly at the helm. Worry constantly dogged her heels. But today she was damned glad to have someone else to lean on.

Even if he was a wolf.

Mitchell left the front door open and depended on the screen that covered the portal to keep the bugs out. Yes, he was wasting electricity since the AC was on, but he wanted to listen for any sounds within the house while he drank his coffee on the porch.

Tilly and Phee were still sleeping, wrapped up in each other on her bed. A bed he’d intended on sharing with his mate—showing her exactly what she meant to him—but Phoebe took precedence over the need to feel close to Tilly. He and Tilly had the rest of their lives together.

Damn, the idea of having her—her love—until the day he died made his cock hard. It warmed his heart, too, but he was aching to fill her. Cock overruled his heart apparently.

And last night… Last night was a fucking mess everywhere. Dead bears, injured wolves, and a lioness that damn near ripped the head off a bear. It’d been scary as hell watching Tilly go after Phoebe’s dad, but when he thought back, his dick got hard. He didn’t deny that he was a little twisted.

Right now, Phee lay in the middle of Tilly’s bed, exhaustion pulling at her, but at least her body was mostly healed thanks to Gabe’s blood. The male surprised him. Not when he helped Phee, the bear was always conscientious, but with what he did to his own father.