THE AWAKENING

She felt no fear.

Her bared fangs dripped with saliva as she hungered for Ulster’s blood. Beside her Tieran, her Alpha and One True Mate, stood on all fours beside her with an identical snarl as Ulster and his clan advanced like a dark, evil force invading every crack and cranny, seeking out weakness.

Cassandra and Tieran were outnumbered but stared death in the eye without flinching. Ulster would hound them until he snatched victory from their jaws and that would likely mean the death of one of her pups.

A new and frighteningly powerful emotion swept through Cassandra as she held her ground, refusing to yield in the slightest to the rival clan.

I will not surrender my babies to you. I would rather die first.

Ulster’s thoughts, harsh and guttural, poked at her brain, intruding. I will take what is mine. Kill the other.

The growls echoed in the forest as Ulster’s clan closed in.

A howl ripped through the air. Tieran answered with a sharp, answering howl.

Within seconds the males of Clan Barrachius appeared from within the dark canopy like one solid wall of coiled muscle and pelt to flank Cassandra and Tieran, bulking their numbers and increasing their odds of survival.

Cassandra’s wolf lips twisted in a parody of a smile as Ulster lowered his rangy head with a growl, surveying the increased numbers.

Turn tail and run, you bastard so I can run you down like the rabid dog you are.

didn’t

He had blood lust in his eyes fueling his brain.

was centered on Cassandra with obsession and

Mine!

brain seconds before Ulster launched

through the still night air as wolves tore at one another, crunching bone

air, landing on Ulster’s back and sinking her teeth into

something disgusting and rotten only moments earlier

within seconds Ulster yelped as she tore out a chunk of his

the ground with a clumsy stumble, nearly losing her footing and rolling to

Cassandra used her mental

and let go, dropping to the ground in agony but

blood to run in a thousand different places

was on the line to give into the pain and fear. Another beast clamped onto her leg and she howled in pain as the bone threatened to crack but within seconds Cassandra sent the beast to join

skidded to a halt when she realized Tieran had things well in hand — or well in teeth — as Tieran tore into Ulster, the sound of breaking bones like music

Janus and she knew that if Ulster were gone she could

first, Ulster had to go.

began to wan and victory seemed imminent. The dead and dying from both sides were scattered about the clearing and Tieran stood over Ulster, his fangs buried in