Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Dianna shuffled toward the fading fire, stopping near a man who wore a thick parka. It took a few more seconds and lots more tears but she took it off him and slid it over her own clothing. Instant warmth surrounded her and she moaned.
Her wrist didn’t look good at all and she dug around the pile of kindling to find two flat slats and after digging through a few more bodies, she pulled out some zip ties. Tugging on a glove she ignored the tears that fell while accomplishing that.
Biting her lip to contain the cries of pain she fastened herself a splint. It wouldn’t help much because she couldn’t use her hand any longer. But hopefully it being inside a glove would save her from losing the fingers to frostbite.
I’m not completely helpless.
Using up the remaining ties, she secured not one but two knives to that arm. More secured to her split than her, she nodded as she tested the additional weight.
I may not be able to pull the trigger with this hand, but I can still cause damage.
Additional magazines in the pockets of the coat she’d taken, she picked up an automatic rifle after tugging a balaclava on over her head. Three rifle straps over her shoulder and she held gun ready to fire in her left, she left the cabin via the missing back wall.
I’ve got men to find.
Dianna was claiming all three of them. Jeremy was hers and they were his family so then they were hers too.
She didn’t have to go that far to find the other battle going on this cold night. The moon, while not full was at least half and when the clouds allowed it to peek through, she located the two snow leopards, taking on multiple adversaries.
Where’s Jeremy?
A growl ricocheted through the air, shaking her teeth. She’d heard that before. However, it was the answering roar that told her where her man was.
Yes, I’m claiming him. He’s mine and I’ll fucking gut anyone who tries to keep him from me. Or me from him.
She wanted him for years and now having him claim her, she wasn’t going to give him a chance to renege on that. Even now, her shoulder ached from his bite. Hell, it was still a bit open but that pain was a different pain than what flowed through her wrist.
And he was still claiming her. She knew male leopards roared to defend their territory. She was his.
Closing her eyes for a moment, she took a deep breath and dug for the determination she was going to need to survive. Finger on the trigger of the AK, she chewed on the inside of her cheek and began walking.
A wolf rushed her only to be taken out by a snow leopard mid lunge in her direction. In her periphery, she watched them roll, teeth and claws slashing. The moon vanished, leaving her in the dark. She continued on, needing to be closer to Jeremy. To be there if he needed her.
The wind whipped up, pushing snow and icy pellets into her face. She’d never been more grateful for the clothing she’d picked off the dead men. Cresting a small hill, she paused, heart pounding in her chest as she struggled to get her breath. The moon snuck out from behind the fast moving clouds and she watched the battle waging below her.
The Amur leopard, her leopard fought a huge ass bear. This was bloody fight. No holds barred. Despite the size difference—and it wasn’t a small one—they were evenly matched.
She glanced up at the sky, tracking the clouds. There was a bit of an open space which would let her utilize the moonlight for a few more moments. At the same time, it also didn’t allow her to hide.
Not that it matters. I’m surrounded by shifters, they can smell me no matter where I’m at.
More animals came over the far crest and rushed down the icy slope to enter the fray. Deep in her gut, she knew they weren’t on her leopard’s side. Two smaller streaks shot by and joined in.
Snow leopards.
She breathed a bit easier knowing he had help. She’d heard stories of his ability fighting. But, honestly, she’d assumed the stories the guys of the SAR group shared were typical guys embellishing their skills.
Never had she been so glad to be wrong.
The bear had a longer reach, was heavier but she wouldn’t say he had a huge advantage.
“Come on you bitch!”
She squealed as she cursed herself for paying more attention to the fight in front of her versus her surroundings. He held her arm with the AK so she couldn’t shoot him.
“Aleks will pay me for getting you.”
Dianna didn’t even hesitate, just thrust with her right arm and the two blades that were attached to her wrist. Because of their height difference, she caught him below his tactical vest, blades tearing through his skin like her Panthers putting a slapshot into an opponent’s goal.