G H O S T R U N N E R

< N I N E T E E N >

© Amber Kalkes 2014

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< N I N E T E E N >

Sam’s reaction is instant.

As the Alpha’s claws slide into Arden’s torso he can feel her pain, her fear and most of all her sadness. It all comes to him through their bond paralyzing him as well as pushing him into action. His wolf took over, he doesn’t think he can control him even if he did know how to.

Sam feels his body shake and hears his bones break as they contort into his new shape, the one of his wolf. He doesn’t know what it looks like but from the faint gasps behind him he knows he must look interesting. Though that is of little concern to him when his mate is in danger.

Releasing a deafening snarl he launches himself at the Alpha who still holds his girl in his grasp. When the man’s green eyes slice to Sam he releases Arden letting her fall to the ground with a cry of pain. Sam’s wolf sees only red as he tackles the Alpha to the ground and takes a back seat as his wolf does all the work.

Sam’s wolf opens its jaws and promptly takes the Alpha’s throat in its mouth before letting its fangs pierce the flesh there. As the blood of his enemy and the one who damaged his angel beyond repair, hit his tongue he feels an odd urge to howl in victory. Instead he jerks his head back taking the Alpha’s throat with him.

It is done.

Sam.

Sam jerks his head towards Arden at the sound of her weak voice in his mind. Her yellow eyes are heavily lidded and she looks as weak as she sounds. Blood is seeping from four deep punctures placed under her right rib cage. Sam’s wolf lets out a loud whine as it dips its head as they approach her. Sam drops to his belly as he lets his tongue jut out to lick her limp outturned hand on the dirt.

“Move out of the way!” A voice roars making Arden close her eyes painfully.

Sam hears a jostling of people before the approach of hurried footsteps. Collapsing to the ground the figure lets out a low moan making Sam tear his gaze from Arden long enough to see a redheaded woman kneeling on the other side of Arden. Gingerly she turns Arden onto her back making her release a strangled gasp from her bloodstained mouth.

“This isn’t a fatal injury but she’s losing a lot of blood from her other substantial injuries as well.” The redhead comments in a clinical tone that irks Sam. He growls at her making the woman glare at him, “Shut up or help.”

Sam narrows his eyes but nods once.

“Bite her.” The woman commands.

Sam gives his best impression of a frown.

The woman lets out a frustrated huff, “If you bite her now you’ll be able to transfer some of your healing to her. It’s a really complicated mate thing I don’t have the time to explain. Now do you want her to bleed out?”

Sam growls loudly.

“Then do what I tell you to!”

A powerful sensation spreads through him and he looks down at Arden whose arm is heavily reaching up towards him, shaking from the effort it takes. Her fingers shift through his hair and he closes his eyes at the warmth that spreads through him at her touch, nearly lost in it.

“I love you, Sam.” She whispers, nearly too quietly for him to hear.

He can feel the fault lines in his heart begin to shake as he hears her voice. No, he growls to himself, he will not lose her. He can’t because without her he will break apart. He has sacrificed everything else but he refuses to sacrifice her. He is the one thing he can’t lose.