Worlds Apart 2: Hunter's Revenge Read Online Free Page B

mate, he quickly shed his clothes and changed to his other form on the run. He would stop any threat to his mate, no matter the cost. Their tie was already strong enough that he knew he would die for her—heir to his father’s rule or not. His life would be worth nothing without her in it.
    When he rounded the corner, he saw a man using a laser whip on his mate. Cold rage whipped through him. A fury as icy as the planet they now found themselves on stole through his body when he saw the wide gash in his mate’s fur. Blood welled up from the wound, dripped down her side and stained the snow red. An icy storm brewed within him as his anger grew, seethed, as he watched her precious life’s blood flow onto the once pristine snow. For that reason alone, the man would die.
    Another male loomed over a trembling female, the one he'd heard scream no doubt. The young woman cowered from the man, defense wounds on her arms and hands where she’d already attempted to deflect the blows from the deranged fanatical follower of the Black Rose. She scurried backward, terror filling her face as the large man followed her. He held a laser whip gripped in one hand, a phase pistol in the other as he looked on her horror-filled gaze with maniacal glee. Pinned beneath his mate’s weight, a lone female struggled, doing her best to escape her fate. Obviously, this one had lost a challenge in the past if her lack of left hand was any indication.
    He’d seen enough. It was time this ended. With little regard for his own safety, and before anyone could react, he'd pounced on the one holding the whip, ripped his throat out and was landing on the other male roaring out his outrage before the rebel could so much as utter a sound.
    Behind him, he heard a terrified whimper. Knowing there was no time to waste, he made quick work of the trembling male beneath him, tearing out his throat as quickly as he could. He ignored the inevitable death twitch and whipped around, scented for danger, ready to defend his mate against anyone who dared harm her or those she protected.
    His mate, though injured, was in fine form. She made quick work of the traitorous female, swiping a paw across her throat, leaving her to bleed out on the ground. Though he wanted nothing more than to shift and cuddle his mate to his heart and make sure she’d be fine, Hunter padded over to the still trembling woman instead. Gently as he could, he nudged her with his muzzle, indicating she should climb onto his back.
    Rather than take the hint, she scurried away, curled into a tight ball and began to rock back and forth, whimpering into her chest. Realizing that being near her only caused her more trauma, Hunter retreated a short distance, and lowered himself to the ground. Laying his head on his front paws, Hunter waited for the woman to relax, though he knew before long they’d have no choice but to leave. The last thing he wanted to do was force either of these two women to do anything. Up until now, others had forced their choices on the women, giving them no say in what would happen to them. He refused to begin his relationship with his mate in the same way, if he could help it. Within seconds of lying down, his mate nudged the woman. When she still wouldn’t respond, wouldn’t move, his mate nipped the woman’s thigh then gave a low growl.
    His mate nudged her again, and this time the woman pushed herself to her wobbling elbows before sitting up. She reached a shaking hand out to the lioness, rubbing her behind the ear as if she were a pet. “Thank you,” she whispered.
    The frail woman turned toward him, lowered her gaze. She swallowed once. Twice. He could tell the thought of speaking to him directly terrified her. “Thank you, too. If you two hadn’t shown up when you did, they would have taken me back down there.” She shuddered, whether from cold or fear, Hunter didn’t know. “I couldn’t have survived down there much longer.” Tears ran down her cheeks,