Guthrie had to stop him this time.

Chapter 21

The sleet was still coming down, but in their wolf coats, they had the outer guard hairs to keep the water from soaking them. Guthrie’s feet dug into the sand as he made his way to the next group of rock outcroppings in the same direction Baird had gone. Guthrie had wanted to keep Calla from seeing the wolf fight, though he understood her need to be there to show her support for her mate. He still hadn’t wanted her to have to witness this.

They had to hurry. What if Vardon and some of his kin came to rescue Baird? What if they outnumbered Guthrie and his kin and attempted to grab Calla again? Guthrie had to prevent it from happening.

He swam around the rocks to reach the next beach and saw Baird trying to make it up the cliff. Here, the cliffs were even steeper and there was no way for a wolf to manage any farther than a third of the way up. No way Baird could make it in human form either, not without clothing to keep warm in the wintry sleet, or boots and gloves to protect his hands and feet on the rocks. Baird turned and was beginning to make his way back down to the beach when he saw Guthrie and stood stock-still.

When Baird made a move to head the rest of the way to the beach, Guthrie thought Baird would fight him. Until Baird ran for the next outcropping of rocks—heading straight for the water. Guthrie ran full out as if he were chasing prey in an attempt to catch up to Baird before he dove in and swam away.

Within reach, Guthrie leaped at Baird, landing on his back. Baird yipped in surprise, then growled and twisted around. The two reared up, both too alpha to submit. Snarling and growling, Guthrie bit at Baird’s face as he bit back.

Guthrie tasted Baird’s blood and they both rose up on their hind legs again, forelegs trying to get purchase, their teeth clicking against each other’s. Baird tried to stay on top but lost his balance and went down on all four paws. He ducked his head suddenly and bit low, aiming to bite into one of Guthrie’s legs. Guthrie jumped back, avoiding Baird’s wickedly snapping jaws. Baird tried for the water again, and Guthrie jumped against his right flank and bit him in the back.

Snarling, Baird turned to retaliate. Their teeth connected again and then, unable to bite anything vital above, Baird again went for Guthrie’s foreleg.

This time, as soon as he bent his head low for a lunging bite, Guthrie went high and grabbed him by the neck. Baird snarled and tried to shake Guthrie loose. But Guthrie was too angry and too determined to let him go.

Knowing this was his last chance, Baird continued to thrash about, trying to get free, and Guthrie continued to try to get a better grip.

Then they heard a car braking up on the cliffs. Sliding. Stopping. If it was Vardon, he wouldn’t know that Baird had come this far, but Calla and Cearnach could be in danger. Then the car began rolling toward Guthrie’s vehicle. Hell. Guthrie could just imagine them discovering that the car was his, shoving it off the cliffs, and stranding him and his brothers and Calla.

Calla!

With the distraction, Guthrie lost his grip on Baird. The wolf dove into the sea and out of sight, and Guthrie growled at his lost chance, but Guthrie and Duncan had to reach Calla and Cearnach pronto.

Guthrie and Duncan raced across the beach, dove into the water, and swam around the cliffs. As soon as they hit the other beach, they dashed across it and to the cliffs where Baird’s car had fallen. The road was not visible from the beach and they had quickly begun the climb up when they heard a car stop south of where Guthrie’s car was. Vardon and his kin would know it was Guthrie’s car. Even if they didn’t recognize the vehicle itself, they could smell that he was here with two of his brothers. They’d know that some of the MacNeills had gone after Baird.

Cearnach wouldn’t be enough of a threat if he had to face too many wolves. Guthrie heard Baird’s kin talking and tried to climb carefully, not wanting to send any rocks tumbling down the hill to alert them that he and Duncan were coming.

“Let’s grab the girl and give Guthrie’s car a proper send-off,” Vardon said.

Guthrie had to stop them at all costs.

“What about Baird?” Robert asked.

“What about him?” Vardon said.

“I don’t like this at all,” Robert said. “If they already killed your brother, maybe the pack will let us off with just a warning. But if we take Calla, you know the MacNeills will want all our blood.”

“You control the finances,” Vardon said. “You okayed the transfer of funds. So no, I don’t believe they’ll let us off that easily. Either way, we need her as a bargaining chip. Let’s grab her.”

Guthrie hadn’t reached the road before he heard Robert shout, “Cearnach’s coming as a wolf!”

Robert didn’t get another word out as Guthrie reached the road and saw Cearnach chasing Vardon and the others. Calla was lying beside Guthrie’s car as a wolf, giving Guthrie a terrible shock.

He raced to her, while Vardon and Robert ran for their car, slipping and sliding on the icy pavement. Vardon’s younger brother, Oliver, was already diving into the backseat of the car. Robert and Vardon scrambled into the car, and then they sped off. The tires slid on the ice and the car careened across the road, spun back around in a circle, and headed straight for the cliff. And dove over it.

Branches in the path of the car snapped, rocks tumbled, and then there was silence until a loud crash sounded below where the car met the rocks. Another bang, and then silence.

Duncan joined Cearnach at the edge of the cliff and watched for any sign that the men were alive.

Guthrie realized with relief that Calla was still breathing, and he licked her face until she stirred and blinked groggily.

He quickly shifted. “Are you all right, Calla? Can you shift?”

She let out her breath, then shifted. As soon as Guthrie saw the bruise on Calla’s other temple, he was angry with Baird all over again. He quickly pulled her sodden sweater over her head and then helped her into the rest of her clothes.

He eased her gently into the car. “Stay here. I’ll be back in a couple of minutes.”

She nodded, leaned back against the seat, and closed her eyes, shivering violently. “I’ll be right back,” he repeated. Then he shut the door, shifted, and raced along the road as a wolf to join his brothers.

Guthrie peered over the cliff, the same one that Baird hadn’t been able to climb because it was so steep. The car had taken a swan dive into the rocks below and had landed on its side. No one was moving inside the vehicle that they could see. The younger brother had been thrown from the vehicle and lay motionless against a tree. No sign of Robert or Vardon, who were probably trapped inside the smashed-up car, Guthrie assumed grimly.