“That’s not how we announce a new member of the clan and you know it, Delvin,” Ramsey said.
How do you announce a new member of the clan?he asked Bennett through their bond.
We don’t. Each clan member will introduce themselves to you individually. The clan doesn’t question the Alpha the way that Delvin just did. Who becomes a member of the clan is up to Ramsey. No one else. Delvin is being an ass and the entire clan knows it.
Lucas didn’t see what the guy did next. He never said anything, but he must have made a gesture or something because Bennett shifted. Lucas winced when he saw Bennett’s shirt rip across his back. Bennett’s skin turned to scales under Lucas’ fingers and then someone pulled him away with an arm round his waist.
He started to struggle, knowing it wasn’t Bennett, who had him. He was getting ready to work his witching magic when Ramsey stopped him. “No, Lucas.”
“Bennett.” Oh God, something was going to happen to Bennett.
“Let him defend us.”
Ramsey released him inside the door of the house. He turned to see his big, black dragon blow fire at a gray wolf. The wolf yipped in pain and leaped away from the fire, sidestepping it.
“Stay in here, until Bennett comes to you,” Ramsey said and shut the door behind him.
Lucas huffed out a frustrated breath and plastered himself against the sliding-glass door, watching to make sure Bennett didn’t get hurt. If that fucker hurt his dragon, there was no way Lucas was listening to Ramsey and staying put. Lucas wouldn’t be able to listen to his alpha at that point, anyway. He was really trying to follow Ramsey’s order and it looked as if Bennett were winning the fight, although the wolf still wouldn’t submit the way he knew Bennett would demand of his opponent.
Lucas winced when the wolf’s ass burst into flames. The wolf gave a very doggy cry and rolled on his back in the grass. Bennett stood over the wolf and then let out a roar that was almost deafening, even through the glass of the door. Lucas didn’t cover his ears, though. He was far too riveted on the scene playing out around him.
Bennett shifted so seamlessly it was barely visible. He gripped Delvin’s hair and whispered something Lucas couldn’t hear. When he let him go, Devlin fell, shifting as he lay on the grass.
“Does anyone else want to disrespect my Alpha?” He yelled so loudly Lucas had no trouble hearing him. Bennett waited for someone to say something. His face grew even stonier, if that was possible. “Does anyone else want to disrespect my mate?”
Bennett turned to Delvin, who glared at him. “Get up and go to Ramsey for punishment. Pray he doesn’t request your death.”
No one said a word. Even the air held its breath. Most of the clan, he had known for years. Certainly longer than he had known Lucas. It further cemented their bond in Lucas’ mind.
I Love—Lucas had started to project to Bennett but his back itched. The vampires were already in the house by the time Cassie’s spell took hold. His last thought before something struck him on the head was that the delay probably had something to do with how safe he felt around the Somersets as a whole and Bennett in particular.
Chapter Twenty
Bennett really wanted to kill Delvin, but he refrained. It wasn’t his place and leaving it to Ramsey sent a clear message about where his loyalty lay, not that there was any real question his loyalty was with his brother. It would always be with Ramsey, and the whole clan knew it. What the whole clan didn’t know, until that moment was, one, Bennett had a mate and, two, he would defend him at all costs, because attacking another clan member was punishable by his Alpha.
He was fairly certain Ramsey wouldn’t punish him, given that Delvin had challenged the Alpha, even if it had been in an indirect way. Still, Ramsey never gave Bennett a direct order.
Bennett’s job as Ramsey’s beta was to defend any challenge or threat. Delvin had been both for a long time and Ramsey had let it go. It was long overdue, and Ramsey knew it.
Bennett walked across the yard, everyone giving him a wide berth.
He felt Lucas in his mind and softened a little. Even the air around him felt lighter, warmer whenever Lucas was near. He heard him startto say something and then Lucas was gone as if someone wiped him away. He looked toward the patio and quickened his pace.
“Where’s Lucas?” He asked Forrest as he passed him.
“Ramsey made him go inside when the fight started,” Forrest said and followed alongside him.
“Something’s wrong. Gabe,” Bennett called his brother over when he got to the patio. “Keep all the clan members in the yard. Make sure everyone is here.” Gabe nodded once and took Kristin and Owen with him. “Forrest, see if you can scent anything unusual?”
Forrest did so immediately. He watched Forrest sniff the air and then head around the house.
“What’s going on?” Vaughan asked, walking behind him.
“Something’s wrong with Lucas,” Bennett said and walked through the sliding glass. Vaughan was just getting ready to follow him in when Ramsey stopped him. “Grab Delvin, Vaughan, and take him to the basement. Hold him there until I tell you differently.”
“Got it.” Vaughan turned and left the doorway then.
“What is it?” Ramsey asked as Bennett tried to find even a hint of someone.
