that baby? Hold it, Elena. Use it. Don't think about what comes next. Don't try to do this the right way. You are a fucking wolf, and your instincts know what to do."
"Lane, I've never - "
"I know," I broke in. "Doesn't matter. You ran hard as a wolf. You jumped. You played. You climbed up trails and down them. That is the wolf you need to be, so don't think about it. Just like when you change forms, little bunny. Reach for what you need, don't push it away. Let the rage, the anger, and even the fear run through you. Bite hard. Hit harder." Then I gestured to my throat. "If you can lock your teeth under here, around her windpipe, she'll submit. If you can grab and tear, she'll bleed out. Bite hard, bite deep, and don't stop biting until you can't take anymore - because when you run, that woman is going to come in here, kill that little baby boy, cut the boy's throats, and tear out both of the girl's. Five lives. That's what you're fighting for. Those five kids that are depending on their Alpha Female to protect their fucking den!"
"Now let's go," Sampson said. "Once you're outside, take everything off. I'll hold it."
"He also won't look," I promised. "Believe it or not, we aren't going to judge you for being naked."
And I led my mate forward, twisting the deadbolt to unlock it. Then I pushed open the broken door and let her step out first. Sampson followed. The old man was being calm and quiet - which wasn't like him. But when I moved to his side, he caught my eye. His were filled with nothing but rage. This little act? It was all for Elena, to keep her calm before her challenge.
But inside, I was seething. That fucking bitch had found the one way to keep me from going after her. If Damon was still the pack leader, we could ignore her. If I knew Ian had claimed the pack, I could ignore her. The problem was that I couldn't prove it either way, which meant Karen got the right to call a challenge, and Elena had to answer it or forfeit everything - including her claim on me.
Piece by piece, Elena took off her clothes, letting them drop to the ground. Across Bridget's lawn, Karen stood there in her full glory, watching as if judging my mate. The problem was that Elena was the more beautiful of the pair. Her hips flared in the exact way I liked. Her stomach was soft, like a place I wanted to lay my head. Elena's skin was warm and inviting. Karen just looked like any other naked woman, and I'd seen plenty in my life.
The moment Elena was bare, Karen took a step forward. "I'm going to kill you, Elena. You ruined my entire life, and I finally have a way to make you pay for that."
"I'm not going to let you touch that baby," Elena told her. "I already held you off with a stick. I think this time will be even easier. I'm not the same terrified woman I was this winter."
Karen smiled. "Good, that'll make this even more fun." Then she lunged, her form shifting as she pushed toward Elena.
I stepped forward, unable to help myself, but Sampson grabbed my arm to hold me back. "Respect your mate," he whispered. "That's a real woman you got there, Lane. Trust her."
Elena had jumped out of the way, but she was still human. Before her was the taupe and white form of Karen as a wolf, but my mate was still on two legs. In my chest, my heart was pounding, because that meant she'd frozen. She couldn't remember how to find her wolf again, and Karen was stalking her.
"Please, little bunny," I breathed.
And then Elena figured it out. Screaming in rage, she reached down, and her form blurred, shifting faster than I'd ever seen it before. That in itself was enough to make Karen stop. She hadn't realized that Elena had turned yet. All the signs had been there, but they were subtle due to Elena's late transition, and my mate took full advantage of it.
The shadow of her wolf body surged in without a growl or any sign of warning. Elena didn't want the show. She had no need to proclaim her power. All she wanted was to protect her den. That had always been her strongest ability, and now