Chapter 14

Zaiden’s POV

The closer I got to the warehouse, the stronger it hit me.

Her scent.

Not the sweet pull of my mate’s bond but something tainted, heavy with fear and the sharp, bitter stench of wolfsbane. And beneath it all… heat. My wolf raged inside me, clawing at my chest. If they touched her if they even dared

“Fan out!” I barked at the warriors as we breached the rust-eaten doors. Steel groaned under our force. Shadows and dust swallowed us whole, but I didn’t need my eyes I could feel her.

And then I heard her broken whimper.

Her voice ragged, weak, but hers.

I followed the sound. Every step made my blood boil hotter. Then I saw it.

Karen. My mate. Pinned to the floor, wrists restrained above her head.

And a rogue on top of her.

His mouth was on her neck, tongue dragging over her skin like he had the right.

I didn’t remember shifting. One moment I was a man, the next I was a beast. My wolf roared, shaking the walls. The rogue’s head snapped up, eyes wild, lips curling into a smirk.

“Well, well. The mighty Alpha himself.” His voice dripped with mockery. “Didn’t think you’d care so much for a pretty little….”

I was already on him. My claws tore through flesh before he could finish. He screamed, but it was drowned out by the sound of my fury. I ripped him off her, flinging his body across the room so hard it cracked the wall.

The others attacked at once. Shadows surged forward, teeth and claws flashing.

“Kill them all!” I roared.

The warehouse erupted into chaos. Warriors clashed with rogues, the air thick with snarls, steel, and blood. The stench of burning wolfsbane stung my nose.

One lunged at me, fast but I was faster. I caught his jaw mid-snap and wrenched it sideways until bone splintered and his body went limp. Another tried to slash my side; I tore his arm clean off and used it to strike down the next.

They were strong stronger than normal rogues but nothing compared to the rage in me. Each one I cut down only fueled the fire.

Still, they fought like demons, as if determined to buy time. My warriors bled, but they did not fall. The warehouse floor was slick with crimson, bodies piling fast.

But my eyes never left Karen. She was still there, shaking, her skin pale, sweat beading down her temple. Every time her weak scent wafted my way, my wolf howled louder, desperate to reach her.

One rogue broke through the fray and bolted for her.

“No!” I charged, slamming into him mid-stride, claws sinking deep into his chest. His eyes widened as I tore his heart free and let his corpse drop at her feet.

Silence came slowly, like an echo fading after a storm.

When the last rogue’s head hit the ground, I turned, chest heaving, covered in blood that wasn’t mine.

And then I was kneeling beside her.

“Karen…” My voice cracked, the first crack in my armor. Her eyes fluttered open, barely focusing on me.

I pulled her against me, shielding her trembling body.

“You’re safe now,” I whispered, though my wolf still shook with fury. “I swear, you’re safe now.”