Page 62 of His Arranged Plus-Size Mate

In a way, it was. It was the beating heart of their survival.

“Hazel,” Asher’s voice dripped with rage now, and he yanked me up. I should smash it against another rock and watch it shatter. But something ached in my chest, telling me it was wrong.

So, I shoved it into my pocket and turned to him. Asher looked at me with wide eyes, and I could see he was questioning why I was hiding it. But the snapping was close, and we both turned just as the one from earlier stepped in front of us.

My heart stopped beating, and his eyes turned a dark red. His fangs poked out from his lips. He looked behind me where the gem had been, and his face shifted into rage. He knew it was no longer there.

“Give it back,” he growled low, stepping closer to us.

“Not happening,” I said breathlessly.

I watched as his shoulders rolled back and he started to shift. I could hear the snapping of bones, and Asher pulled at me, making me take a few more steps back.

I felt that tingle forming in my fingers, but then I felt Asher’s fingers leave mine. I turned my head toward him, watching as Asher shifted. His hair grew long, and he bent down, turning into his wolf form.

He was a pure black wolf that stood almost as tall as I was. He growled low, baring his teeth at the hybrid. The hybrid was bigger than both of us, his jaw snapping as he lunged at us. His roar echoes around us.

I knew it would only be a matter of minutes before more showed up, so we needed to move fast.

Asher charged at him. I took a deep breath and tried to pull my magic to my fingers. I could hardly breathe, let alonefocus. Asher slammed into him, knocking him down hard into the ground. The ground shook violently, and I felt my legs shift under me.

I tried to focus, not wanting to accidentally hit Asher. Aiming wasn’t my strong suit, and even less so when the object was moving around. I knew I would only get maybe two shots out before I would become too weak. I watched as they collided, slamming into a tree. The sound was loud, and I looked around quickly, praying we didn’t have any more coming.

My heart was racing as Asher snapped his jaws around its neck. The sound he made was loud. It chilled my bones.

I was panting as I tried to focus. I knew I only had one shot at this. My hands shook as I watched them twirl, their bodies pressed together. The hybrid slammed Asher into the ground. He was pinned, his hind legs trying to shove himself free.

I relaxed my shoulders and forced my magic forward. I watched it shoot forward, slamming right into the back of the hybrid. He screamed out in pain, and Asher took the moment, shoving his back legs into him.

The hybrid was flipped onto his back, and I pulled my magic out again, shooting another ball of fire at him. The screaming was loud, and I could hear others in the distance.

Asher bit hard into his neck, and I heard the snapping. The hybrid suddenly went limp, and I felt the world freeze up.

Asher leaned back, his eyes snapped toward me. I stared at him, the silence stretching for a second. But then I heard footsteps behind us. Asher moved closer, nudging me. I quickly grabbed hold of his fur and climbed onto his back. I tightened my legs around him and pulled myself close. I didn’t even havea moment before Asher went running forward, my stomach leaping at the quickness.

I hid my head in his fur, the air whistling around me as he took off. I could hear the snapping of branches. The voices grew louder and louder, and I wondered if they knew their gem was gone.

Faster, Asher. We need to get back home to the barrier.

Asher ran like his life depended on it, and it did. If we didn’t get back and they caught up to us, I knew we were fucked. There was no saving us.

I looked up, seeing the town in the distance. My heart leaped at the thought. I then looked over my shoulder, and my eyes widened. There were at least twenty of them following them. They were just a yard behind us. I wasn’t sure we were going to make it.

I pulled my hand up and shot some fire behind us. I watched as it smacked into one, but it didn’t stop them all.

I could feel my muscles tightening and my body shaking. It demanded rest, but I couldn’t. I forced my magic out again. Any of them that got too close, I made sure to hit. I could feel my vision blurring, but I clung on.

We broke through the trees into the pack barrier, and I watched as they stopped. It was like they slammed into a wall, and Asher finally fell to the ground out of breath.

I panted as I pulled myself off his back and fell flat onto the ground. “Thank god,” I whispered as I closed my eyes, feeling relieved. I felt like I just ran a marathon, but we were alive. But the moment was short as I sat up, staring into the woods. I watched as they stared back at us, lurking, trying to figure out a way to get into the space.

I swallowed, feeling that shiver roll down my spine. We were safe, but for how long?

I looked at Asher as he shifted back into his human form. He looked exhausted, and his legs shook as he tried to stand. I don’t know how fast or how far he had just traveled, but I knew he ran as if his life depended on it.

“We need to talk with Brandon.”

He nodded in agreement. “Yes, and soon.”