She didn't know when Addison and the others would arrive, if they even could, but for now, all she could do was endure and hold the line for as long as possible.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
The dull impact of darts hitting flesh echoed in her ears—once, twice, again. Her Alpha blood kept her upright, but a hot fog rolled through her head; her limbs felt sluggish, and her thoughts thickened.
There was a lag between stimulus and response, a dangerous slow-motion where reflexes failed. Then the attackers poured from the bushes, silhouettes moving toward her. They must have assumed that a few sedative-coated darts, potent enough to fell an elephant, would bring her down quickly.
But unfortunately for them, when the attackers emerged from the bushes, Mary was still conscious, her movements sluggish, but her awareness intact. She forced herself to stay upright through sheer willpower, shaking her head to fight the encroaching haze clouding her mind.
