Page 74 of Bad Blood Wolf

Chapter 28

Brody shook his massive head, growling. Flynn folded his arms and stared him down.

“I said stand down,” he repeated.

The others gathered around, keeping a safe distance. Tristan raced over to where Adele was lying on the floor, checking her pulse and lifting her eyelids. Jasmin watched from her place on the floor, too weary and bloodied to get up, but filled with relief and gratitude at seeing him. If anyone could help Adele, it was Tristan—another white wolf.

Brody stopped moving and looked up at Flynn, his jaws still locked into the brown wolf’s muscular neck.

“No fair,” Xander said, coming up beside Flynn. “He should get to kill him.”

Flynn cut his eyes sideways to Xander, and returned them to Brody.

“Fun as that would be for everyone involved,” Flynn said, “I want him alive. I want to make sure we have all the information in his fucking pea-brain before he gets what’s coming to him.”

Brody gave Bastian another shake, and the brown wolf whimpered.

“Brody,” Flynn said. Everyone in the room could feel his alpha presence pressing down, demanding obedience. Flynn wasn’t Brody’s alpha, but Jasmin knew how powerful his presence was. Few shifters could stand against it—but then, few shifters were the White Tornado, aka Monster Wolf, in a homicidal rage.

She wanted to beg him to let go, but this was between Brody and Flynn. Monster Wolf had to accept Flynn’s authority, or there was no chance of Brody ever joining the Bad Bloods as her mate.

If he wasn’t lost in Monster Wolf forever.

Brody let loose of Bastian and backed off, still growling.

“Change back,” Flynn said, holding those terrifying silver eyes with his gaze.

Brody’s fur bristled all over, his growl tapering off and his breath coming in labored pants. Jasmin clenched her fists, driving her nails into her palms. Could he come back? Would he want to? If he couldn’t, could Tristan help him find himself again?

Finally, the huge white body gave a shudder, and Brody was back. Bloody, beaten, crouched on the floor on all fours, still with a feral look in his eyes. Jasmin couldn’t stand it anymore. Gathering all her strength, she stumbled over and knelt beside him, hugging him up tight in her arms.

Tears stung her eyes.

“Hey,” she whispered. “Hey there. Come on back. You’re okay. We’re all okay.”

His body shuddered, and then he was really back—her Brody, with the light of recognition in his eyes. The light of love. Her mate. Hers.

“Fuck.” It was a dry-mouthed whisper.

“You said it, hero,” she murmured to him, and got a faint, weary half-smile in return.

They sat there together, bleeding, feeling the warmth of their mating bond, happy to be alive. “Ma?” Brody murmured.

Flynn called, “Tristan? How you doing over there?”

“Okay,” he said. “She’s coming around. Can somebody get the gurney? And can you get Brody over here?”

Sloan and Lissa wheeled the gurney over and Tristan gently lifted Adele onto it. The others helped Brody and Jasmin to their feet and supported them as they walked over. Tristan had his hand on Adele’s forehead, his eyes closed as if he were concentrating. The black creature was standing at the head of the gurney, its head resting on Adele’s shoulder.

Tristan and the serpent-horse backed off as they approached. Brody took his mother’s hand, and Adele’s eyes fluttered open. She smiled. “Brody,” she said. “You came.”

“Of course, Ma. All these people came. They all helped us.” He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “You were amazing,” he whispered. “You saved us.”

Her brow furrowed. “Evil,” she said. “Hurt people…”

Brody shook his head. “We all fight to protect the people we love,” he said fiercely. “Sometimes to the death. That doesn’t make us evil. The evil ones are the ones who come after us.”

She smiled, and then her eyes closed and her hand relaxed. Brody looked up at Tristan, eyes panicked. “What happened? She’s not—”