“Watch,” Dane snarled, his gaze dropping to me. “Watch what happens to anyone who touches what belongs to us.”
I didn’t even get to see the drunk at the party before they were on him. I didn’t want to watch them do the same to Uriel.
“Wait, no!” I screamed as Dane cocked his fist back. Then he socked him in the face. Dane’s fist connected with Uriel’s jaw, a heavy thud echoed in the room. Uriel’s head jerked with the force. Again and again.
I didn’t think. I pushed off the bed, my legs shaky with the desperate pull I finally recognized. I threw myself in front of Uriel, shielding him from Dane’s next move.
“He’s mine too!” I screamed, the words ripping from my throat.
Dane froze, but his fist stayed cocked, inches from my face. His knuckles were split and dripping. Behind me, Kade still had Uriel locked.
“He’s my mate. I can smell him. He’s mine, Dane. Just like you. Just like Kade,” I whispered.
Dane’s eyes narrowed.
“You’re in heat. You’d claim any Alpha right now because he has a knot.”
“I’m going into heat. I’m not there yet.” I shook my head, panicked. “You know I couldn’t smell before. Not you, not Kade, but I can now. I can smell him too. Don’t you get it? He’s supposed to be here. He’s—”
Kade released him, catching him at the ribs. I turned around as he ram his nose up Uriel’s neck. The sight did things it had no business doing to me right now. He inhaled deeply, and his expression shifted from rage to confusion to something darker—hunger.
“Fuck,” Kade breathed. “She’s not wrong.”
Dane stiffened. He turned slowly, his gaze landing on Uriel’s battered face. Then he leaned in, scenting the air near Uriel’s throat. His pupils blew wide.
“Vanilla and sandalwood,” Dane murmured, almost to himself. Then his eyes cut to me.
They weren’t just smelling me anymore; they were smelling how my scent tangled with Uriel’s, a perfect puzzle piece clicking into place. Dane’s gaze turned from murderous to possessive. Kade’s was now calculating. They had always been dangerous, but this was my first time witnessing them angry because ofme.
Dane straightened, his jaw working. Dane glared at Uriel, the stranger who’d dared to touch what was his. But his scent didn’t lie. Biology didn’t lie.
“Yours?” Dane finally said, rolling the word around like he was tasting it. His gaze dragged down Uriel’s body. “Then he’s mine, too.”
“We’re pack,” I whispered. The words felt right—true. The words died as Kade slammed him back on the mattress. Uriel’s head lolled, his eyes unfocused.
“Be careful with him!” I lunged forward, but Dane caught me by the waist.
“He’s fine,” Dane growled in my ear. “Watch.”
Kade leaned down, his nose dragging along Uriel’s jaw, and Uriel’s entire body went rigid. His eyes flew open and locked on Kade’s.
“You smell like her,” Kade murmured, his tone reverent “Like stolenhappiness. Like you’ve been rolling in our fucking bed.”
“I don’t—” Uriel started, but Kade’s hand wrapped around his throat.
“Don’t lie to me, pretty boy.” Kade’s grin was manic. “You could smell us on her and you ignored it.”
“Because she’s mine,” Uriel spat.
“You feel it, don’t you? That itch under your skin that says you’re supposed to be here,” Kade said, ignoring him.
Uriel’s gaze lowered to Kade’s mouth and a frantic, shameful want clawed at my chest. Uriel’s breath came in short gasps. His gaze darted to me, then to Dane before returning to Kade. “I don’t understand.”
“You don’t have to,” Kade murmured, his voice dropping into something darker. “Surrender is much easier.”
“Fuck you,” Uriel spat.
Kade laughed—wild and delighted. “Oh, I’m going to, pretty boy.”
