Free Rise to Embrace [Rise of the Changelings, Book 3] (Siren Publishing Epic Romance, ManLove) by Lynn Hagen

“I’m not sure who is attacking.”
    Rick nodded. Benito had told him that he had texted Nate. Although Rick hoped the man had gotten there on time to help, Rick also knew Nate was needed in Shelton. If this wasn’t Nate helping them, then he would need to call his top enforcer and tell him to go back home.
    But what had impressed Rick was Benito thinking to text the enforcer in the first place.
    God love quick-thinking people. He was glad to see the juvenile didn’t lose his head when the heat rose. Rick already knew Miguel was going to make a fine enforcer one day. It seemed Miguel’s cousin was following in his footsteps.
    Rick spotted the young teenager who had been in the loft earlier, preparing dinner with Willow. Her dark-brown eyes were wild as she carried a young pup in her arms. Rick immediately ran toward her.
    “You have to help us,” she cried. “Alpha Garrett forced Willow into a car and then told me she was a traitor and that he was sending her to the detention center.” The girl visibly shook as she stared up at Rick with pleading eyes. “Can you take us with you? I have to help Willow. She’s not a traitor.”
    Red-hot anger lashed through Rick. How in the hell could the man call Willow a traitor? All she had done was take interest in the two humans. There was nothing traitorous about that.
    “He teaches us all that mating outside our breed is a death sentence,” Trisha said and then squatted down, protecting the pup’s head with her hand when gunfire began to sound nearby.
    “Whose child is that?” Rick asked, nodding toward the pup. He wanted to get out of here. He wanted to warn Brooke and Deluca that Willow was no longer here, that she had been taken to where they were headed. But he wasn’t going to be a part of kidnapping. No matter how he felt about children, he wasn’t going to allow this young juvenile to take the pup from her mother.
    “This is Harmony, Willow’s niece. Willow is raising her.”
    Rick grabbed the girl’s arm, pulling her toward the protection of trees. “Where are your parents? I won’t take you from them.”
    “They died. My aunt is raising me, and she would be thrilled if I disappeared.”
    That was a very odd thing to say.
    “I haven’t told Willow, but I haven’t seen my aunt in eight days. I’m not sure what has happened to her.”
    Mason grabbed the pup from the teenager’s arms. She spun around, fighting to get the child back. Rick was stunned at how vehemently she fought. Her mahogany hair swung around her as she clawed at Mason’s arms, pulling and tugging, a low growl erupting from her throat.
    Rick grabbed her arms, pulling her back. “This is Mason. He just wants to help you carry Harmony.”
    “Peanut,” she corrected. “Willow calls her little Peanut.”
    Rick gave her a reassuring smile as they ran deeper into the mountain. He wasn’t sure where they were going, but was relieved when he saw Brooke and Deluca join them.
    “A few people saw Willow being taken away in a car,” Deluca said.
    “I know,” Rick replied. He turned toward the girl. “What’s your name?”
    “Trisha,” Brooke answered for her.
    “Trisha saw what happened and came running for help. Garrett said Willow was a traitor and sent her to the detention center.”
    Rick knew what was coming. It was the same way he would have acted if anything happened to Dorian. Even though the two men had just met Willow, Rick could sense a bond already forming between the three.
    Brooke was the first to stop running. He stood motionless as he stared at Rick. His expression was filled with fear and rage. “He did what?” The question was spoken so quietly that it was less than a whisper.
    Deluca cursed low. Rick knew this war was going to take its toll on everyone and demand a price he feared would be too high. But the real battle hadn’t begun yet. There had been murders and manhunts, but the war was going to explode to epic proportions when Rick and the humans leveled the