Page 67 of Alpha's Claim

“No.” A big guy in black sunglasses pushes his way through his fellow guards. He smells weird, like he’s coveredin clove oil. I can’t get anything else from his scent. He bears down on Paloma, who stands firm, expertly bracing the crossbow against her. Guarding me as I should be guarding her

“Don’t hurt her,” Thompson cries. The big guy slows his approach, and Paloma shoots him in the chest. He roars, ripping out the dart, but the tranquilizer is designed to work quickly. The weakness overtakes him, and his legs bow, causing him to slump.

“Who’s next?” Paloma bares her teeth. She looks like the warrior princess she is.

Ever since we first met, she called me her Viking. Because that’s who she needed me to be. She didn’t need the civilized man in a suit. She needed a warrior. Someone strong and wild, who would stop at nothing to fight for her.

She has no idea how wild I can be. It’s time I answer the call and bring out my bear.

I need you,I tell him.Our mate needs you.

Mate?

We will mark her. But first, we must break free.

I give up control, and it’s like taking a breath of fresh air after holding it for years. My lungs fill. My muscles swell. The bear pumps strength into my body, more than I thought possible. The silver under my skin burns like acid, but I lean into the pain.

My arms and torso tingle with excruciating sensation. Metallic droplets bead on my skin, tinged with red. I’m sweating silver. Silver and blood. I blink, and silver tears run down my face, leaving trails of fire.

The weakness leaves my body along with the silver. All that’s left is to break the chains.

Paloma is still waving the crossbow, providing a distraction.

“Don’t just stand there. Grab her,” Thompson orders his men. They run forward. Paloma shoots another dart, but is quickly overwhelmed. They grab her and bring her to Thompson.

“Hold her. I’ll administer the injection.” He plucks a vial of blue liquid from a medical case and holds it up. I can smell the acidic stench from here.

Poison, my bear shouts.

Save her,I tell him. He hesitates. I’ve fought him for so long.

I’m sorry. I was wrong to subdue you. You are a part of me, and I need you. You are my strength.

He rises to his feet. Energy pumps through me. I strain in the chains. They don’t budge, but the solid metal at my back buckles.

“No,” Paloma tenses her arms, leans into the men holding her and kicks her legs in Thompson’s direction. More guards rush to grab her legs.

“Hold her still,” Thompson orders. He advances on her, ready with a syringe of poison in his hand.

I bow my back, bending the metal around me. The chains loosen enough that my feet can touch the ground. I can stand, with the metal table at my back.

“Wha–?” The guards nearest me hears the clank of chains and turns.

And I let out my bear.

Paloma

A roar shakes the walls and the concrete floor. Thom jumps and drops the syringe he was about to inject me with.

“What?” he looks annoyed, turning to see what’s interrupted him.

A guard goes flying past us, and crashes into a knot of six other guards. They fall like bowling pins.

Darius is on his feet, still chained to the metal slab, but somehow able to move. He drags the whole apparatus with him. The chains clunk as he stomps towards the rest of the guards.

“Shoot him,” Thom screams. He tries to run and falls.

The guards whip out their guns and fire.