CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
The Hills pack Alpha is massive, his eyes promising pain. I pivot on instinct, but not fast enough. Claws swipe, aiming for my throat.
In that heartbeat, Jake's there, a shield of fur and fangs, throwing himself at the Alpha. They collide with an impact that sends shivers through the ground and straight into my bones. His protective fury is a tangible force, fierce and unyielding.
"Jake, no!" My voice is lost in the cacophony, but my mind screams louder. He can't win this fight; the Alpha is too strong.
But Jake is relentless. He moves like he's made of the desert wind, untamable and wild. Blood mats his coat, a vivid contrast against the pale sand, but he doesn't falter. I watch, torn between longing to join the fray and the paralyzing fear of losing him.
"Get up,
