Blackstone Ranger Guardian - Alicia Montgomery Page 0,68

bear, too, roared in agreement.

“We should call for backup,” Damon said.

Krieger shook his head. “If there’s only three of them and three of us—”

“Ahem,” J.D. cleared her throat and raised a brown at him.

“Four of us,” he corrected. “We can take them on. Please, Damon, there’s no time to waste.”

“We should at least assess the situation,” Milos said. “And see if it would be viable for us to attack and rescue the female or retreat and call for assistance.”

“The abandoned mine’s not too far,” J.D. said. “About … a mile or so up the ridge.”

“I … all right,” Damon relented. “Let’s go.”

Krieger knew there wouldn’t be any retreat, but he was glad for the wolf shifter’s suggestion. They followed J.D., who remained in human form, as she led them toward the abandoned mine. As they drew nearer, Krieger could barely contain the seething anger building inside him. We’ll find her, he assured his bear, who was already raring to unleash its power. And then we’ll make those men pay.

“There.” J.D. pointed out the entrance to the mine. “In there.”

“We should check the perimeter for—Krieger!”

No way was he waiting around while his mate was locked up in there with three fucking shifter poachers who were going to kill her by morning. He bolted towards the mine, his bear ripping out of him. The humongous grizzly barely fit though the entrance, but it barreled in anyway. The roar that ripped from its throat reverberated through the narrow chambers, announcing his presence.

Alarmed cries drifted in from the shaft on the right, followed by the shuffling of feet. The bear rushed toward that direction, its massive body filling the tiny space.

“What the hel—”

“It’s a fucking bear!”

“Grab the tranqs!”

The mighty grizzly charged forward, catching one man with its left paw. The claws ripped through skin and flesh like tissue paper, and the man’s blood-curdling scream echoed down the chamber. Getting down on all fours, the bear chased the remaining men down the narrow tunnel. Another scream pierced the air as the bear swiped its claws down the second man’s head. It barely stopped, rushing forward as it hunted down its final prey. But the third human was gone. Where did he go?

“Motherfucker!”

The man reappeared behind him from an antechamber the bear hadn’t noticed. He raised something in his hands—a long-barreled rifle. “Eat lead, monster!”

Everything happened in an instant. The bear roared and charged forward. A scream of pain. A gunshot. Krieger thought they’d been shot but felt no pain on their body.

“Goddammit, Krieger! I told you to wait.”

As the adrenaline seeped from his veins, Krieger’s vision cleared. The man holding the gun was on the floor, blood seeping out from his jugular as the one-eyed wolf stood over him, muzzle dripping with blood. Damon stood behind the wolf, eyeing the grizzly disapprovingly.

“What the—Jesus titty-fucking Christ!” J.D. exclaimed when she saw the bloodbath. “You—wait!” She crawled over to the man on the ground and reached for something on his waist. “Yes!” She raised her hand triumphantly, shaking a set of keys on a ring. “Let’s go get your mate,” she said to Krieger, then turned around and disappeared down the tunnel.

By the time he caught up to J.D., he had already shifted into his human form. A pit formed in his stomach as various scenarios ran through his head. Had they discovered J.D. had gone? Did they retaliate by turning on Dutchy? If something had happened to her, he’d never forgive himself.

“I unlocked it, but the door’s too heavy—hey!”

Krieger pulled the female away from the door, grabbed the handle, and pulled it open. “Dutchy? Are you—”

A loud yip echoed through the air, and a small, red furry ball leapt out from the darkness. Thanks to his shifter senses, he managed to catch the fox in his arms. “Dutchy!” He didn’t care if the fox was protesting at being held in his arms or that its claws were ripping at him. He needed to hold her. To know she was okay.

“Uh, Krieger?” Damon said. “Maybe you should, uh, let go.” He nodded at the blood dripping down his arms.

Krieger put the little fox down. “All right, you got what you wanted,” he said to the creature, showing it the wounds on his arms. “Can I have her back now, please?”

The fox did an indignant little twirl, then settled down, before its limbs began to grow and fur disappeared into skin. “John!” Dutchy cried as she leapt into his arms. “You came for me.”

“Of course I did,” he