“Sebastian. You need to move aw—”
Seb was standing close enough to Mark that when Mark suddenly lifted his arm to sniff his jacket, he elbowed him in the side. Seb grunted in surprise.
Tim saw red. Cam’s sharp order for him to stop didn’t penetrate the red haze colouring his vision as he leapt forward, intent on removing the threat to his mate by any means possible.
Shouts and snarls filled the room, but it was all background noise to Tim. He focused on Mark, who stood staring at him with a stunned expression, seemingly unable to move. As Tim’s clawed hand closed on the soft flesh of Mark’s throat, something hard and heavy crashed into him from the side, sending them both skidding into the far wall.
Alec!
Alec was quickly joined by Gareth, and the two of them pinned Tim to the floor while he snarled and thrashed to get free—to get to Seb.
Alec leaned in close to his ear, his voice low and urgent. “Calm the fuck down. It’s a trap. Newell planned this. You’re doing exactly what he wants.”
Tim heard the words, but his wolf still fought for control, desperate to protect its mate.
“Tim.”
Alec’s claws dug deep into his arm and shoulder, and the sudden sharp pain snapped him back to his senses. He sucked in a breath. Alec’s and Gareth’s scents surrounding him, calming him down.
Pack. Beta. Safe.
“You with us now?” Alec tightened his grip.
Tim hissed in pain. “Yes. I’m back. You can let go of me now.”
Neither Alec nor Gareth let him go, but Alec retracted his claws and Tim sighed in relief as the wounds closed.Fuck, that hurt.He shook his head to clear it.
“We’re going to let you up, but make one move towards him again and we will stop you.”
“I won’t.”
With Alec and Gareth holding an arm each, they helped Tim to his feet but stayed where they were. Tim shot a look over at Seb to make sure he was okay, their bond a mix of heightened emotions. Seb stood with Nathan and Jared, Nathan’s hands gripping Seb's shoulders much the same as Gareth and Alec held on to Tim.
He tried to project that he was okay, that they weren’t hurting him. The last thing they needed was Seb trying to protect Tim from their own pack.
Assured that Seb was in good hands, Tim then turned his attention to Alpha Newell, who sat scowling at them. Wes had a pinched look about him, and Tim’s stomach sank as he realised how easily they’d played him.
“You need to keep your pack under better control, Alpha Harley,” Newell sneered as he glanced at Tim and then gestured to Mark, still standing in the same place by the door. “He would have killed him given half a chance.”
“Yes, he would.” Cam looked around the room, gaze finally settling on Mark, who seemed to shrink under it. “And why is that, exactly?”
“Because your pack is full of disobed—”
“I wasn’t talking to you,” Cam spat, halting Newell mid-tirade. He beckoned Mark over to him, at the same time addressing Tim. “Why did you attack him?”
Tim forced his teeth to retract before answering. “He smells like the shifters who attacked Sebastian.”
“That’s ridiculous!” Newell shouted.
But Cam ignored him. “Alec, Gareth, you were there that night, is that correct?”
“Yes,” they answered in unison, and Cam smiled.
Cam’s voice was soft, but his tone was like ice. “I’ll ask you once more, Alpha Newell, and I’d like the truth this time. Tell me about the new pack members you acquired recently.”
Newell bared his teeth. “I already told you my pack is unchanged.”
“I have a shifter in this building who says differently.” Cam turned to Mark, casting an eye over him. He stood and stepped in front of him, then gestured to his jacket. “May I?”
