Page 153 of Poet & Protector

My fear for Mason’s safety was eclipsed by incandescent rage at what Logan had almost done to him. What I had no doubt he would do at some point. No matter what he believed about his feelings for Mason, those sadistic impulses were at the core of who Logan was. He would always be a monster.

Fury possessed me. Nothing mattered but destroying the threat to my mate. I hadn’t made a conscious decision; one moment I was in human form, the next I was a wolf on the hunt, tearing through the forest toward Logan’s house. I wouldn’t rest until all that was left of Logan Bane was blood and viscera.

I didn’t know Mason was on my heels until his wolf slammed into me, knocking me to the ground. We rolled across the forest floor. I regained my footing and whirled, baring my teeth at him. He stared back at me, growling, hackles raised.

Get out of my way, Mason.

No.

When I lunged, so did he. Our bodies crashed into one another. I tried to shove him aside and his teeth sank into my ruff, gripping hard but not breaking the skin.

Stop it, Nev. Stop.

I crowhopped and twisted, trying to shake him off. He snarled and dug his teeth in harder until I felt the sting of his fangs piercing my flesh.

Let go!

No, Mason replied. I won’t let you do this.

You have to.

He leapt off me, spinning around to face me and shifting forms. I was so startled to suddenly be snarling at his human face instead of his wolf, I jumped back.

“Logan is already taking so much from me,” Mason said, his voice shaking. “He can’t take you, too.”

When I shifted forms he grabbed my wrist and pressed something into my palm. A scrap of paper.

“Mason, what⁠—”

“Read it.” He spoke through gritted teeth.

My brow furrowed as I uncrumpled the paper. Strike two.

A cold laugh slipped from my throat, and I shoved the note in my pocket. If Mason hoped Logan’s message would change my mind, he was mistaken. The Keeper was gunning for me as much as I was for him. There wasn’t room in this world for both of us.

“No reason to wait for strike three,” I said, and Mason paled. “I’ll deal with Logan now.”

“You’ll die,” he replied. “If you kill Logan, you won’t survive five minutes. The Banes will rip you apart or Efron will feed you to a wraith.”

“I don’t care,” I told him. “As long as you’re safe.”

“I care!” he shouted. “If you die, it will hurt me more than anything Logan might do to me.”

“You’ll be okay,” I argued. “You’ll still have our packmates.”

He shook his head.

“You’re my mate. I have to protect you,” I insisted. “It’s all that matters.”

“Protect my heart.” His hazel blue eyes were full of anguish. “Save my soul. Logan can’t touch those parts of me, but if I lose you, I lose myself. Forget about everything else.”

“You can’t ask that,” I growled. “You can’t tell me to stand by while Logan…It will kill me, Mason.”

“What do you think it will do to me if you’re gone?” His voice broke and tears streamed down his face. “I need you. Please, Nev. I can survive Logan if I have you. I know what I’m asking, and I’m begging you. Don’t leave me.”

He dropped to his knees and sobbed. I went to him, sinking to the ground and wrapping my body around his. I was sick with the twin horrors of what lay ahead for us and knowing I couldn’t deny Mason’s request. I wouldn’t be the one to cause him pain, no matter what it cost me. If he needed me with him more than he needed Logan gone, I would do what he asked. But I was afraid it would destroy both of us.

I was ready to sacrifice myself for him. He was willing to suffer through our master’s obsession to protect me. We loved each other too much, and we were trapped.