The whole reason we’re both in this mess,I remembered as I yanked on the sweats, still cringing at the sticky mess on my skin.
At least she seemed whole and in one piece, thanks to Elodie’s efforts. We’d talk about it once someone else took over with this guy.
By the scent of him, he was an American wolf. Maybe from somewhere up north? I couldn’t say, I wasn’t that familiar with the American packs that had already arrived, just that he had a wintry-plains smell about him instead of thick, fragrant cedar like my own pack mates.
“He needs to shift. Brielle and Oli are on the way, but they said if we can force a shift, it’ll close the worst of the wounds. He’s more dominant than I am, so I can’t do it. It’ll have to be you.” Elodie grimaced as she said the last bit to me.
But now that I was back in the driver’s seat instead of my enraged wolf, I knew the best-case scenario for everyone was that he lived to face whatever consequences his Alpha commanded instead of me killing him.
Disagree,my wolf muttered grudgingly into my thoughts.
Shut up.
I drew on his power, ignoring his opinion on the matter as I used my dominance to order the other male to shift.
In his weakened state, it worked quickly, fur sprouting over his skin in seconds, the painful cracking of bones and sealing of wounds taking longer than normal, more proof of how much blood he’d lost.
But in the end, he made it through the shift. Brielle and Olivia arrived with their own males, and I pulled Elodie and Savannah back to give them room to work.
Once the healers were focused, Lucien turned my way, gesturing me off to the side with a concerned frown.
Moment of truth.
I’d had no issues with Lucien up until now, but this situation would be the first true test. I knew interpack relations were delicate, but I’d be damned if I let any male disrespect my mate the way that fucker had.
“I know you’re going to be upset, and maybe that’s warranted given what a powder keg of a situation we’re in. But he grabbed her and kissed her without her permission. He’s lucky my wolf didn’t tear his head off before Elodie stopped him.”
Lucien rocked back on his heels, letting the silence stretch between us as he glanced between me and the prone wolf with new appreciation in his eyes. When he swiveled around to study Elodie, a growl ripped from my throat that I had to work to squash. I knew Lucien was no threat to her—he was happily bonded and would never hurt a woman, regardless. But my wolf didn’t give two fucks at the moment. He didn’t want anyone to so much as breathe wrong in her direction.
“I see. And I assume Elodie will agree with your rendition of events if I ask her privately?”
“Be my guest,” I ground out, forcing myself to be reasonable. I turned toward the wall and counted to twenty before he returned.
“She agrees. Says he was belligerent and putting the moves on your drunk sister when she stepped in. And instead of leaving when she gave multiple orders for him to do so, he decided to move his advances to her. As far as I’m concerned, his Alpha should be glad you didn’t behead him, going after your sisterandyour mate.”
This was thesame manwho’d been putting the moves on Savannah?
Anger tried to bubble back over, but I choked it down with an iron fist. They were already carrying him out unconscious; attacking him now would do no honor to the she-wolves under my protection.
“Is his Alpha going to be a problem? I don’t know who he’s with.”
Lucien sighed, shook his head. “Kane says he’s a new transplant to Johnson City. Moved down to Texas less than a month ago, formerly a lone wolf. Given the Blackwater pack’s close history with Johnson City, I think it’s going to wash out fine.”
I nodded, glad that I at least hadn’t created an international incident.
“Hey, V?”
“Yes, Alpha?”
He put a hand on my shoulder. “Don’t beat yourself up too badly. You’ve got an incomplete mate bond. It’s always a volatile time. None of us blame you for protecting her. I’d be more upset if you hadn’t. And you won’t overreact like that forever. The bond calms our instincts, helps us settle in. Sometimes we forget that our wolves are wild, and their instincts aren’t soft like the human side. To your wolf, it’s kill or be killed.”
I nodded, appreciating that he took the time to try to ease my mind, though he absolutely didn’t have to.
“Thanks.”
“Can I give you a piece of friendly advice? Not as your Alpha?”
“I think you’ve more than earned the title of friend at this point,” I said, swiping a hand over my face wearily.
