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The fur was gone The beast always vanished in death

Erin’s hands fisted "His nae Lance Harper"

"Well, fuck" Comprehension darkened Jude’s voice "The dick in the basement"

Yeah

"Erin, I-I’htened her shoulders and turned her stare back to herto do with that" Theresa had loved the wrong , psychotic man But her mother hadn’t known "It’ll be okay, Moulp loud and painful "Trying…Legs are a…h for that, not yet

"A judge?" Dee asked and the scent of her blood burned Erin’s nose She was still bleeding Human She’d scar from the wounds, they were too deep not to scar

She could sure understand Dee’s disbelief Her stalker had been Lillian’s citizen of the year for five years running He’d sure been good at fooling the world

"Huh Never did care es"

At that, Erin fired a look over her shoulder in tiht foot The hunter had her gun against her hip, and she was painstakingly loading fresh bullets into the chamber

Better late than never

Jude’s hand curled around Erin’s shoulder "Hey You okay?"

She would be Finally, she would be Her eyes fell to Harper’s still face Handsome, even in death Refined, almost--

His eyelids flew open

Oh, hell

Sick understanding burned through her The shift had saved him He hadn’t shifted to die, he’d shifted to live

"Dee!"

Too late Harper lunged up and grabbed her, jerking Dee down onto his body and anchoring her against hi into her jugular

"I can kill her with one slice" His voice was hoarse, guttural Because Jude had nearly ripped out his throat The wound was still there, still red and jagged and angry, but he’d healed enough, just enough

Erin kneasn’t bullshitting He’d kill the hunter in a heartbeat of tio" She rose to her feet, deliberately keeping her htened around her

Harper’s eyes narrowed at that s her…" He licked his lips

Dee didn’t move Her face was blank, her body tense Her blood pulsed froed free of Jude’s hold and took a step forward Behind her, she heard the ruo," she repeated

But Harper shook his head "Bitch…could have been…perfect…"

"There’s nowhere to go" Jude’s hard voice The guy hadn’t stayed back Now he stood beside her, naked and strong and more than ready to face down the devil with her

Gotta love a ht

"Bitch!" A scream from Harper "Should have…been mine! My mate, my--"

"I’ll never be yours" She shook her head "And you should know there’s no way you’re leaving here alive tonight"

Wouldn’t happen

Sirens screae wouldn’t hold hio!" Erin demanded

"Mine," he whispered, but sounded broken, lost

"No, asshole," Jude growled "She’s not"

Harper shook his head frantically

Erin’s stare jerked to Dee’s face The woman’s lipsto save theht Her gaze landed on the gun she’d dropped when Harper grabbed her

Again, her lips un just moments before and she’d--

No Not save her That wasn’t what Dee was trying to say

Once more, the human’s lips formed words One word, not two Silver

Jude tensed beside her He’d seen and understood

"I loved you," Harper whispered and his hand flexed

Dee’s head htest of jerks, and Erin saw her body rock forward

She’d have to move, fast They both would

Harper’s face twisted with hate, not love, and she kneas going for the kill "For you," he said and the claws dug deep

"No!" Erin lunged for the gun

Dee twisted hard, jerking and squir her into his ar to shield Dee with his body

Erin brought up the gun

Harper smiled "Just like ht into his heart

Her father had taught her that, too Shoot to kill Kill to protect

"No, bastard, I’ like you"

Harper’s eyes ide open when he fell back All the better to see death

Her breath caed exhale

Jude lowered his arrim smile curved Dee’s lips "And this time, you’ll stay down, asshole"

Silver to the heart According to the legends, a surefire way to kill a olf

Or in this case, a hybrid wolf shifter

Slowly, Erin stalked over to the judge The gun was a solid weight in her hand as she gazed down at his face Dee was right The judge wouldn’t be getting up fro sirens were so loud now, screa in her ears Doors slammed nearby Footsteps thudded Voices rose

Men, woet the hell out of un She spun around "My ainst the ground Tear tracks stained her cheeks Had she seen Erin kill Harper? "Mother!"

Two men with stethoscopes raced toward Theresa

"Easy…" Antonio appeared before her He grabbed her shoulders, holding her steady "I need an EMT here, now! She’s got severe injuries and blood loss!"

"I’," she whispered "But you have to understand, my mother’s not human"