Marked By My Mate

Chapter 7: The Monster's Last Mistake

"TARGET ACQUIRED!"

The words echoed through the mountains.

Sophia's heart nearly stopped.

Soldiers poured from the forest.

At least fifteen of them.

Maybe more.

All armed.

All aiming directly at Kieran.

"Get away from the creature!"

A soldier shouted.

Creature.

The word made something inside Sophia snap.

She looked at Kieran.

At the silver wolf who had saved her children.

Protected her family.

Stood guard through the night.

Risked his life again and again.

Then she looked at the soldiers.

The people who worked for the same system that had created him.

The same people who now wanted to kill him.

"No."

The word slipped out before she could stop it.

The lead soldier frowned.

"Ma'am, move aside immediately."

Sophia stood her ground.

"No."

The soldier's expression darkened.

"That thing is dangerous."

Sophia laughed.

A bitter laugh.

"Dangerous?"

She pointed toward Kieran.

"He's saved us more times than I can count."

Silence followed.

Several soldiers exchanged uncertain looks.

Because that wasn't the story they'd been told.

The lead officer raised his weapon.

"Step aside."

Sophia didn't move.

Neither did Kieran.

The silver wolf remained completely still.

Watching.

Waiting.

If he wanted, he could attack.

Destroy them.

Escape.

But he didn't.

Because Sophia was standing there.

And he trusted her.

The realization hit her hard.

A man she couldn't even have a conversation with trusted her completely.

Meanwhile, hidden high above the cabin...

Victor watched.

And smiled.

Everything was unfolding perfectly.

The humans and wolves were turning against each other.

Exactly as he'd hoped.

Soon there would be chaos.

And during chaos...

People made mistakes.

Deadly mistakes.

Back below, the tension continued building.

The lead officer stepped forward.

"My name is Colonel Hayes."

Sophia said nothing.

Hayes sighed.

"We're trying to help you."

Sophia almost laughed again.

"By shooting him?"

The Colonel didn't answer.

Because he couldn't.

The answer sounded terrible out loud.

Suddenly another voice spoke.

A younger soldier.

"Sir..."

Hayes looked annoyed.

"What?"

The young woman pointed toward Kieran.

"He isn't attacking."

Silence.

The observation was obvious.

Yet important.

Because every soldier could see it.

The giant wolf had every opportunity to attack.

Yet he remained motionless.

Protective.

Not aggressive.

The young soldier lowered her rifle.

Then another did the same.

And another.

Colonel Hayes noticed immediately.

His jaw tightened.

The situation was slipping from his control.

Then everything exploded.

A deafening roar echoed across the mountains.

Everyone froze.

Every soldier.

Every human.

Every wolf.

Because they recognized that sound.

Victor.

The forest erupted with movement.

Dozens of wolves burst from the trees.

Far more than before.

Twenty.

Thirty.

Forty.

An army.

Sophia's blood turned to ice.

Victor stepped into view.

Smiling.

"You should have left."

The wolves charged.

Chaos erupted instantly.

Gunfire exploded.

People screamed.

Wolves roared.

The mountains became a battlefield.

Kieran moved.

Like lightning.

The silver wolf slammed into the first attacker.

Sending it flying.

Another wolf lunged toward a soldier.

Kieran intercepted it.

Saving the man's life.

The soldier stared in shock.

Because the monster had just protected him.

More wolves attacked.

Kieran fought relentlessly.

Every movement had one purpose.

Protect Sophia.

Protect Ethan.

Protect Lily.

Nothing else mattered.

Inside the cabin, Sarah hurried the children toward safety.

"Stay away from the windows!"

Lily was crying.

Ethan looked terrified.

The battle outside sounded like the end of the world.

Back outside, Victor carved through the battlefield.

His yellow eyes locked onto Sophia.

There.

His target.

His opportunity.

Victor smiled.

Then charged.

Sophia barely saw him coming.

One moment she was standing near the porch.

The next, a massive black wolf was racing straight toward her.

Death.

Certain death.

Then silver fur flashed before her eyes.

Kieran.

The collision shook the ground.

Both wolves crashed into a nearby tree.

Wood shattered.

The impact was enormous.

Sophia screamed.

"Kieran!"

The battle around them faded.

Nothing else mattered.

Only him.

Only the silver wolf risking everything to save her.

Again.

Victor laughed despite the blood running down his face.

"You love her."

Kieran growled.

Victor grinned.

"And she loves you."

Sophia froze.

The words hit her like a thunderbolt.

Love?

No.

That was impossible.

Wasn't it?

Yet when she imagined losing him...

The pain that shot through her chest felt very real.

Much too real.

Victor saw the answer on her face.

And smiled.

"Interesting."

Then his expression turned murderous.

"If I can't have this world..."

The black wolf's eyes glowed.

"Neither can you."

And suddenly Victor turned.

Not toward Sophia.

Not toward Kieran.

Toward the cabin.

Toward Ethan and Lily.

Sophia's scream echoed across the mountains.

"No!"

Sophia's scream tore through the mountains.

Victor was moving too fast.

Far too fast.

The black wolf ignored everyone else.

Ignored the soldiers.

Ignored the battle.

Ignored Kieran.

His target was clear.

The cabin.

The children.

Ethan and Lily.

Pure terror flooded Sophia's body.

Every mother's worst nightmare was unfolding before her eyes.

"Kieran!"

The silver wolf didn't hesitate.

He launched himself after Victor.

The ground shook beneath their massive bodies.

Trees blurred.

The distance vanished.

But Victor had a head start.

And he was smiling.

Because he knew exactly what he was doing.

The cabin door burst open.

Sarah emerged holding Ethan and Lily behind her.

Her face turned white.

Victor was charging straight toward them.

"Oh God."

Lily started crying.

Ethan stepped in front of his little sister.

Terrified.

Yet determined.

Just like his mother.

Victor's grin widened.

Then a silver blur crashed into him.

Kieran.

The impact sent both wolves rolling down a rocky slope.

The mountains echoed with roars.

Claws flashed.

Fangs snapped.

Blood sprayed.

Neither held back anymore.

This wasn't a fight.

This was war.

Victor recovered first.

His claws slashed across Kieran's chest.

Deep.

Brutal.

Sophia gasped.

The wound looked horrific.

Yet Kieran kept fighting.

Kept standing.

Kept protecting.

Because Ethan and Lily were behind him.

Because Sophia was behind him.

Because family was behind him.

Victor laughed.

"Look at you."

Blood dripped from his mouth.

"You'd die for them."

Kieran growled.

A terrifying sound.

The answer was obvious.

Yes.

He would.

Without hesitation.

Victor's smile disappeared.

For years he had never understood people like Kieran.

Never understood loyalty.

Never understood sacrifice.

Never understood love.

And that made him dangerous.

Because men who understood nothing valued nothing.

Victor attacked again.

Faster.

Harder.

Deadlier.

Kieran met him head-on.

The collision cracked a boulder in half.

Soldiers stopped fighting.

Wolves stopped fighting.

Everyone watched.

Two monsters battling for the fate of everyone present.

Then Victor made a mistake.

A fatal mistake.

He turned toward Sophia.

Only for a second.

But it was enough.

Kieran saw it.

Saw the murderous intent.

Saw the threat.

Saw the danger aimed at Sophia.

And something inside him snapped.

His wolf exploded with fury.

Protect her.

Protect them.

Protect your family.

The word echoed through his entire being.

Family.

For the first time in seven years...

He wasn't alone.

And he would never allow anyone to take them away.

Kieran roared.

The sound was unlike anything anyone had ever heard.

Powerful.

Ancient.

Terrifying.

Victor actually stepped back.

Fear appeared in his eyes.

Real fear.

For the first time.

Kieran attacked.

Not as a victim.

Not as an experiment.

Not as Subject 47.

As Kieran.

The man who had finally found something worth living for.

Victor tried to fight back.

Tried to dodge.

Tried to escape.

Too late.

Kieran slammed him into the ground.

The earth cracked beneath them.

Victor struggled.

Desperately.

Wildly.

Hopelessly.

Then Kieran's jaws closed around Victor's throat.

Silence.

A terrible silence.

Victor's eyes widened.

For the first time, he realized he had lost.

Not because Kieran was stronger.

Though he was.

Not because Kieran was faster.

Though he was.

Because Victor fought for destruction.

Kieran fought for love.

And love was stronger.

Moments later, Victor's body went still.

The battle ended.

Completely.

The remaining rogue wolves immediately retreated.

Disappearing into the forest.

Their leader was gone.

The threat was over.

At least for now.

Cheers erupted among the soldiers.

Relief flooded the mountain.

People hugged.

Cried.

Collapsed.

The nightmare was finally over.

Then Sophia noticed something.

Kieran wasn't moving.

Her heart stopped.

Blood covered his silver fur.

Far too much blood.

"No."

She ran.

Ignoring everything.

Ignoring everyone.

Only seeing him.

Only seeing Kieran.

She dropped beside him.

His breathing was weak.

Painfully weak.

Blue eyes slowly opened.

Finding hers immediately.

Always hers.

Sophia's eyes filled with tears.

"No."

Her voice broke.

"You don't get to leave."

Kieran tried to move.

Couldn't.

The battle had taken everything he had.

Sophia grabbed his face gently.

"Stay with me."

A tear slid down her cheek.

Then another.

And another.

The sight shattered him.

Because she was crying for him.

Not the wolf.

Not the monster.

Him.

Sophia leaned forward.

And whispered the words she'd been too afraid to admit.

"I love you."

Silence.

Pure silence.

The entire mountain seemed to stop breathing.

Kieran stared at her.

Shock.

Wonder.

Disbelief.

Then something extraordinary happened.

A brilliant silver light exploded around him.

The soldiers stumbled backward.

Sophia shielded her eyes.

The air itself seemed to vibrate.

Energy swirled around Kieran's body.

And when the light faded...

A man lay where the wolf had been.

Dark hair.

Strong features.

Blue eyes.

The same blue eyes.

Kieran.

Human.

Sophia forgot how to breathe.

Because the monster she'd fallen in love with...

Had been a man all along.