Blood still drips from my bite, smearing against the sheets as he twists in agony.
Ivy and Sage burst through the door, quickly followed by Neal, wielding a knife.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” Sage asks.
“I don’t know!” I hold Tobias’s face. “Toby, baby. Talk to me. What’s happening?”
He kicks a few more times, then curls against me, trembling. His hand never leaves his neck. “It’s Rip.”
“Is he talking to you?”
“No. He’s—ah!” Tobias screams again.
“Get Taren,” Sage says. “And Red. Hurry!”
Neal disappears down the hall.
The mark on Tobias’s arm flickers, pulsing a bright red. Fear claws at my throat, freezing me in place. He’s in pain, and I can’t stop it. My wolf snarls, a sound low and dangerous, rising from my chest. Rage burns through the panic. How dare that man hurt what is mine!
Footsteps thunder up the stairs before half the pack crams into my room, faces tight with confusion.
Ivy kneels on the bed beside Tobias, eyes wide. “Can you feel him or something?”
Tobias hides his face against my chest. “He’s angry,” he murmurs. “Like, really, really pissed off.”
I frown. “Angry?”
After a long moment, Tobias peers up at me, cheeks red despite the pain. Sweat beads on his forehead. He still rubs his neck, though whatever it is seems to be fading. “I think he felt it when you—” He glances around the room. “He knows you claimed me.”
I exhale hard, pulling him to me. Rip felt that?
Good. Let the bastard feel it. Rip needs to know Tobias doesn’t belong to him.
Tobias finally lets go of his neck, then touches his collarbone. It comes away wet with blood.
The air in the room seems to settle as everyone realizes what happened.
“I think a congratulations is in order?” Neal offers with a weak chuckle.
I smile down at Tobias, who curls closer. I tip his chin up for a kiss.
Ivy leans over, wrapping her arms around both of us. Tobias seems surprised by the gesture, like he thought Ivy would be mad at him or something. A second later, Taren joins in, then Red and Neal. The bed dips beneath the weight of them all, warmth pressing in from every side. Pack scent and laughter fill the air, steadying the chaos.
Tobias lets out a shaky laugh that sounds half relieved, half embarrassed. “Okay, okay,” he mumbles, cheeks flushed. “You guys are ridiculous.”
Neal ruffles his hair. “Welcome to the pack, Toby. Officially.”
Taren looks at the mark on his shoulder, holding her phone up. “Do you mind if I take a picture? I want to compare the changes.”
“Only if we can talk about it tomorrow.”
She snaps a couple of photos, then one by one they leave the room.
Tobias touches the bite mark again, then melts against me. “If I’d known this would’ve made you smile that big, I would’ve asked for it sooner.”
“I didn’t… I wasn’t sure you really wanted me,” I say.
Tobias props himself up. “I’ve never not wanted you. I’ve just been scared. I didn’t want to turn into my mom. And with Rip…” He holds my face. “I love you, Rowen. I just still struggle to see where I fit. I’m not like you guys.”
