Sid’s eyes slid down Jury’s frame and then slowly back up. “Not everyone.” His face split in a wicked grin as he took a step forward. “Wecan repopulate the pack.”
Jury backed up further with a disgusted, “Fuck you!”
Sid’s smile slipped, his brows spearing down. “Wasn’t asking, Jury. Now get the fuck over here!” He stomped toward her.
“Touch her, and you fucking die!”
Jury spun to find Koe, Thrall, and Hiro in the field behind her. Her relief was so great that tears flooded her eyes. Swallowing around her emotion, she didn’t hesitate. Knowing Koe had her back, she walked toward him, eyes locked on Koe’s.
Koe held her gaze for a few steps, then his attention went beyond her. His wolf exploded from him, and then he was moving, but Jury didn’t stop walking. She didn’t stop when a snarl sounded from behind her; she didn’t stop when Koe’s wolf blasted past her, his fur brushing her arm. She didn’t stop until she stood nestled between the safety of Hiro and Thrall, who watched the carnage taking place behind her. She didn’t even turn to look. She didn’t need to. She knew what Koe would do to Sid for having dared to talk to her the way he had, for threatening to take and impregnate her. Instead, she focused on the fact that Koe had come to check on her. He’d come for her, and she knew now that he always would. He’d always be there for her, the way she would always be there for him.
Turning, she watched his wolf tear Sid apart, and she reveled in the pleasure of it. There was something heady about having a hold on an Alpha as strong as Koe. In a million years, she never would have imagined that her mate would be someone so powerful. An image of his naked body beneath hers, himbegging, flashed through her mind and had her taking a step toward him.
Hiro and Thrall caught her arms. “Uh-uh, Luna,” Thrall said. Using the title assigned to the Alpha’s mate. “He’d kill us if you went down there and got hurt. Let him finish. He needs this.”
So, she stood, held back by Koe’s Enforcers, and watched him finish Sid.
While Sid was still breathing, Koe shifted back to human form. Straddling the Biter, he gripped his jaw and leaned low to snarl, “Know that with you, your pathetic pack will be wiped from the face of this Earth forever.”
Sid fisted Koe’s shirt and pulled, tearing the material as he wheezed, “No.” His gaze jerked to Jury. “Sh-she’s…one of…one of us.”
Koe smirked and shook his head. “No. She’s an Allegiant. She’smine! And come summer’s end, she’ll be filled with my seed andmyson. You all were never worthy of her or Narae.” Pulling back, Koe gripped the back of Sid’s head with his otherhand and, with a sharp, sickening twist, Sid’s eyes went vacant, his body going lax.
Dropping Sid’s body, Koe stood. Blood dripping off his chin, bare chest heaving with exertion, hands clenching and unclenching in a move that had his biceps flexing, he looked like a God. Just the sight of him had something coiling low in Jury’s belly. His words about filling her with his seed and his son had sent a punch of brutal lust through her, and she wanted him. Now!
When Koe turned and saw Hiro and Thrall holding her back, his lip ticked up in a snarl that had Hiro and Thrall instantly releasing her and stepping back. Jury didn’t move. She didn’t even blink. Koe’s attention was locked on her, his eyes blown out with his wolf, and his lip peeled back in an expression that had chills blasting up her spine. He looked feral, ready to devour, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to be the focus of that intent. A growl rattled his chest before he dipped his chin and snarled, “Mine!”
Hiro and Thrall backed away from her, leaving Jury feeling exposed. Koe took a step toward her, and her insides flooded with fear and something else. Anticipation? Excitement? Uncertainty?In the Biter pack, males couldn’t control their animals after battles. They said and did things that were dismissed as permissible for fresh-from-the-fight males. Jury was worried Koe was like them. Would he hurt her now? Was Koe even in control, or was his wolf still in command?
No!she thought dismissively. Koe was nothing like the Biters. He was stronger, more powerful, just better. And he’d just gone to war for her, which was proof enough. He’d fought for her…for them. He was standing before her, bleeding now because of her. He’d gone to unbelievable lengths to show his devotion to her; she’d do the same for him.
Throwing her shoulders back, she lifted her chin and held his gaze. Hands shaking, she balled them into tight fists and fought down her nerves as she took one step toward Koe that turned into two, then three.
Watching her intently, Koe’s lips morphed into a pleased grin. And then he was on her. In a move so fast, Jury couldn’t track it; Koe had her up over his shoulder. One strong hand palmed the globe of her ass while the other was locked behind herknees. The ground beneath them was moving almost as rapidly as Jury’s racing heart.
Chapter 36
It was taking every ounce of Koe’s control to keep from lowering Jury to the grass and claiming her right here in his south pasture. The only thing stopping him was the fact that he was covered in that fucking Biter’s blood, and he wouldn’t dare taint Jury with the disease of it. Still, heart hammering, his dick was fully hard, making it difficult to run. But just knowing he’d be sliding in between Jury’s thighs shortly kept him sane. He had to claim her now; there was no waiting. Too much had happened, too many close calls. He needed his mark on her, his scent on her, his scentinher.
At the manor, he kicked the doors open and double-timed it up to his room. His Enforcers had the good sense to stay out of his way. In his room, he closed his door, then locked it. He couldn’t tolerate interruptions. Carrying Jury to the bed, he set her down on it, then immediately turned and went to his bathroom. He knew if he stalled even a moment to look at her, he’d lose all control. In the bathroom, he stripped and showered with a speed that was laughable, or it would have been if he could laugh. His jaw wasclenched tight with the need pounding through him, his engorged cock pulsing with desperation.
He’d never had a woman in his room before. Sometimes he and they guys would go to town to hit the bars and snag a chick, but they always went to the woman’s place or a hotel to fuck. His manor was a sacred space, and his room was off limits to all…until now. Toweling off, he wondered what Jury was thinking. Was she nervous like him? Was she still angry? Did she even want him? That last thought felt like a punch to the gut. She had every right to refuse him, and he’d accept it if she did. Quickly, he sent up a prayer that she did. And unlike the rest of his pack, Koe prayed often. Each morning when he rose, he thanked the Lord for the gift of another day, and each night as he lay down in his bed, he acknowledged his failures and successes and asked for guidance to be better. Now, he hoped that put him in good standing.
Taking in a steadying breath, he wrapped the towel around his hips and stepped out of the bathroom in a cloud of steam. Jury was pacing at the foot of the bed and stopped when hecame out. They stared at each other for long minutes before Koe broke the silence.
“I’m sorry about having you drugged and placed in the panic room. I should have told you.Askedyou,” he amended. Then huffed, running a hand through his wet hair. “I guess I shouldn’t have done it.” Lowering his hand, his eyes went hard as he stared at her. “But I don’t regret it. I regret Narae being hurt, and I regret not being more prepared. But I don’t regret keeping you safe.”
Jury nodded. “I’m sorry I blamed you. I’m sorry I was mad.”
“You don’t have to be sorry for your emotions, Jury. They’re valid. I’m sorry for putting you in a position that evokes those emotions. That anger is on me. And I accept that and ask you to forgive me.”
She hurried out, “I do.”
“Well, good.” He took a step closer. “While you’re in the giving mood, I have another question to ask. I know I made promises I didn’t keep. I said you and Narae would be safe, andthat didn’t happen. I said I’d earn your respect and your trust, and I failed, but I’m…”
“Shut up.” Jury breathed, cutting him off.
Koe fell silent, mouth opening then closing.
