“Oh. My. God.” Nina’s hushed voice floated from behind them where she pressed herself into the wall—knees tucked to her chest—and once again passed out.

“That’s one big mother,” Gideon marveled beside her.

“Big?” Claire echoed, head falling back to take in all of Darius. As a man he easily stood six feet tall, but now, fully shifted, he was closer to seven. With a howl of rage, he wrenched the pipe from his chest.

Gideon dove for the gun Claire had dropped and swung around in one fluid motion. Frowning, he aimed and muttered, “Sorry, my friend.”

Claire closed her eyes and looked away, sick at the prospect of Darius’s death. With a soft prayer on her lips that his soul would be granted a second chance—that he would receive some chance at redemption—she waited for the end.

Gideon curled his finger around the trigger, heart heavy with the burden of his task.

Darius had known the sacrifice in coming here, had known the odds, and had taken the risk for Claire’s sake. Still, it didn’t make it any easier.

Suddenly, the muffled zing of a silencer cut through the air. Then another. And another. Gideon thrust Claire behind him.

Cooper stood at the top of the stairs, face grim, gun aimed at Darius.

Darius staggered several steps before dropping to his knees with a great thud. His face smacked the concrete floor in a loud crunch of bone.

“What are you doing here?” Gideon demanded, anger bubbling inside him as Cooper started down the stairs. Cooper had made it perfectly clear Gideon could expect no help. If he had changed his mind, he could have done it sooner, before he nearly lost Claire.

“Thought you could use a little help.” Cooper shrugged.

“Too little, too late.” Gideon waved his gun at Darius’s body. “I could have handled him.”

Cooper assessed the bodies littering the basement with mild interest. “You’ve been busy.” His gaze cut to Claire peeking from behind Gideon. “Guess you found her alpha.”

“No thanks to you,” Gideon snapped.

“I did my part,” Cooper said, defending himself and motioning to where Darius lay fallen. “Not that I should have.”

“Yeah, big help. You shot the lycan I already had in my sights.” Shaking his head in disgust, Gideon turned to Claire. He ran his hands over her arms, relishing the feel of her.

“What about him?” Cooper’s voice broke in, ringing like a drill sergeant.

Gideon looked over his shoulder. Cooper pointed at Darius. Irritated, he started to ask what he meant, then stopped, realizing that Darius hadn’t shifted back to his human form yet.