Chapter 44

　　Tess

　　Desperation surges through me,and I take off running,screaming for Wesley and Lucas to stop.They pay no attention,so I do the only thing I can think of—I grab onto Wesley’s fur with both my hands and tug as hard as I can.He gives a yelp of surprise and jumps back in shock.Lucas does the same,wide-eyed,when he realizes I am standing over Freddy protectively,crying my eyes out.

　　“Don’t hurt him!”I shout.“Stop!”

　　I’m still sobbing uncontrollably when the Luan pack becomes silent.Lucas looks at Wesley uncertainly,hesitant to move or speak until the Alpha has made his decision.None of us makes a move until Wesley shape-shifts back into a human.

　　“Why are you protecting him?”Wesley asks.

　　Silently,I glance down at Freddy.He is down on his back on the asphalt and too injured to move.To my relief,he is rapidly healing though,a reminder of him being an immortal hybrid.The wounds on his body are closing,but it seems to be taking a toll on him.