Seth angled his body, shielding Mia slightly. “I won’t allow you to kill her.” His tone was absolute, with more than a hint of a growl.
That wassonot how this was going down. Mia maneuvered from behind him to face the crowd, her weapon pointed between Benjamin’s eyes. “Try it, Ben.”
The men around Benjamin shifted slightly, and one cast a quick glance at the other.
Seth didn’t move. Were they that afraid of him? It was two against eleven, and a couple of the men appeared more cautious than angry. Just how dangerous was Seth Volk that a bunch of wolves feared him?
She swallowed but kept her aim true on their leader.
Erik, his gaze sober, stepped forward to stand by his father. He had Seth’s size, but his expression was more concerned than anything else. “There has to be another way to fix this. Nobody needs to die. I’m sure Mia will sign a confidentiality agreement.”
How odd. Seth’s brother was trying to protect her. Too bad she might have to shoot his father.
Benjamin’s brow wrinkled, and he sneered. “We’re not accountants. Don’t be stupid.”
So. No confidentiality agreement. Good to know. Mia relaxed shoulders that had suddenly tensed. If she squeezed the trigger, her aim needed to be true.
Erik snarled, suddenly looking every bit as dangerous as his brother. “I repeat. Nobody needs to die here, especially an innocent woman.”
“I agree,” Seth said. Then he waited.
Benjamin frowned, indecision quickly crossing his face only to be smoothed out. “There is no other way.”
The breeze picked up, ruffling Mia’s hair.
Benjamin lifted his head, and his shoulders shot back. His nostrils flared. “You’re fucking kidding me.”
As one, the other men followed suit, a series of growls coming from a couple of them.
A wide smile brightened Erik’s face. “Congratulations, Bro.”
“Thank you,” Seth rumbled. “Any questions?”
What was going on? The hair rose on the back of Mia’s neck. She kept her aim true, her stance set. “Care to explain, Seth?” she muttered.
“They smell me on you…and you on me.” Pure, male satisfaction tilted his lips in something too pissed-off to be a smile. He focused on his father but raised his voice enough to include the group at large. “I’m available right now if anybody wants to challenge me. Otherwise, accept my mating and stay the hell out of my way.”
Benjamin flashed sharp canines. “You’d challenge me over her?”
“In a heartbeat,” Seth said without hesitation.
Warmth followed quickly by unease slithered through Mia’s skin at the declaration. Possessive and absolute, the tone didn’t hint at the temporary nature of their relationship. Or union. Or whatever a wolf mating turned out to be.
A wolf mating. How freaking odd.
Erik’s smile didn’t wane. “I’m not challenging you. I like her.” Then he did sober. “But she’s human.” He looked her over, head to toe. “Should we get her to one of our doctors?”
Doctors? “Why do I need a doctor?” she asked.
Seth angled his head toward her, keeping his gaze on the threats. “I told you. Mating isn’t easy for humans.”
“I can handle it,” she said. So far, she felt fine.
Erik lifted his chin. “If you need help and can’t find Seth, call me. I’ll come right away.” He rattled off a phone number.
Well. That was sweet.
“This won’t do,” Benjamin snapped.
