Love Bound in Ice: 3 (Werewolf Sentinels) by Marisa Chenery

that opening or look for a better entrance?”
    “There doesn’t appear to be another door on this side. I think we go in this way. If we rush it, maybe we’ll be able to catch them off guard.”
    “I think that’s our best bet,” Brice added. “We have no idea how many of the dark wolves are in there, or the numbers in their pack. We at least know Tanner is there somewhere.”
    That decided, they all took off at a run toward the open door. Clearing it, Ketah saw the wide, open space was empty. A groan of need rumbled out of him as the scent of his mate hit his nose. Haven was somewhere nearby. His cock grew hard, his body preparing to intimately reconnect with her. But he also picked up the smell of blood, spilled hours earlier.
    He would have followed the scent trail that would have led him to Haven but a door opened and Tanner and four other werewolves walked through it. They didn’t seem that surprised to see Ketah and the others, and they stank of dark magic.
    All of Ketah’s protective instincts rose to the surface, pushing his need to reconnect with his mate to the background. Haven would not be safe until these dark wolves were no longer a threat. As they ran toward him, his wolf brothers and Brice rushed to meet the others as Ketah shifted to his dire wolf form and met one head-on. The fight was fierce with nothing held back. Snarls and growls sounded all around Ketah after everyone had shifted.
    Some of the dark wolves were taken down but they didn’t stay that way. Just like the two Wachei had run into two months before, these were as immortal as Ketah and his wolf brothers. He had no idea how they’d be able to take them out permanently.
    But the dark wolves that were overpowered turned to dust as a black, smoky mass left their bodies. Only Tanner and two others of his kind remained and were surrounded by Edensaw, Capac, Brice and Durlach. So shocked by what had happened they stopped fighting.
    Haven’s scent hit Ketah, which had him spinning around and shifting to his human form. He growled when he saw her being held by another man. The stench of dark magic was stronger on him than the other dark wolves. This had to be the leader of Tanner’s new pack. Ketah stepped away from the others as he took a better look at the man.
    The dark wolf walked closer as he held Haven by the back of her neck. “It would seem Tanner wasn’t careful to make sure he wasn’t being followed.”
    “Give me back my mate,” Ketah demanded.
    “I had thought to make better use of her but I wasn’t able to see this attack beforehand. Now we both have something the other wants. You want your mate and I want Tanner and others returned to me. I have plans for them. I’m willing to make a trade.”
    “And if we don’t give them up?”
    He gave Ketah an evil smile. “Well, then I’ll just have to snap your mate’s neck. One little twist of my hand and it would be all over for her. You wouldn’t be able to stop me in time.”
    Haven whimpered and looked pleadingly into Ketah’s eyes. There wasn’t any doubt in his mind that the dark wolf leader would do exactly as he’d said. Ketah turned his gaze on Edensaw who was still in his dire wolf form and had his jaws around the back of Tanner’s furred neck.
    “Let him go,” he told his alpha. “Him and the others.” Ketah hated having to give in to the dark wolf’s demands but couldn’t see any way out of it. And after suffering separation anxiety for so long, he was desperate to do anything to get Haven back.
    We’ll do what the dark wolf leader wants , Edensaw said telepathically in Ketah’s mind. If it wouldn’t cause the death of your mate I would refuse. But now we know who their pack leader is.
    The others shifted to their human form and stepped back to give Tanner and the other two dark wolves room. They ran to their leader, who gave Haven a hard shove and he too shifted to his wolf form. Ketah put on a burst of werewolf speed and reached Haven to catch her