Valorian didn’t wait for a command. The moment he saw Douglas’s hand tighten on the child’s arm, the dog’s conditioned fear of his former master vanished, replaced by an ancient, protective fire. He launched himself through the open cruiser door, a blur of gray muscle streaking through the rain.
Douglas saw the dog coming and raised a heavy boot to strike, his voice dropping into that old, terrifying roar. “Get back, you beast!” But Valorian didn’t flinch. He bypassed the kick, his massive chest slamming into Douglas’s waist with the force of a wrecking ball. The man toppled backward into the mud, losing his grip on the girl. As Douglas scrambled to flee toward the woods, Valorian lunged, tackling him into the tall grass and pinning him by the shoulder.
Seconds later, Vance and a swarm of state troopers were on them. Douglas shrieked as the handcuffs clicked shut, the sound of his defeat drowned out by the thunder of the passing train. Valorian stood over him, panting heavily, his tail giving a single, weary wag as Elena rushed to scoop the crying girl into her arms.