Page 55 of The Kill

“Still playing dirty?” I taunt, lifting him so his paws are off the ground. The tips of my onyx claws dig into his skin as he struggles to get away, but there’s no escape. His eyes glaze over as he mind-links his men, begging them to come to his aid. The three unbound men climb to their feet, standing shoulder-to-shoulder as a protective shield between Wilson and their luna. They’ve chosen their side.

Tempted as I am to end this right now, it’s my mates call. I wait until she joins me, standing at my shoulder, breathing hard and a little bloody but otherwise good.

“What do you think? Can I rip his head off? It’s my favourite trick.”

Wilson’s struggles become frantic, desperate, as my claws puncture his neck, and he swings from my arm in his attempts to get away.

Mandy smiles indulgently but pats my arm, encouraging me to lower him before he chokes to death.

“No, that’s my job.” With a disappointed look on her face, she shakes her head at Wilson. “I gave you a chance. You have nobody to blame but yourself.”

With impeccable speed and precision, she reaches out and snaps his neck, quick and brutal. His body slumps to the side and the forest falls silent. There are no noises of protest from anyone.

Looking at Seth and Lucian, she points to the ropes circling the wrists and legs of the three warriors they captured. “Untie them. They’re free to go.”

Lucian scrambles to do as he’s told while Seth stares off into the forest, in the direction Blake chased Weston. Moving to his side, I crouch down and bury my hands in the scruff around his neck. He’s filling out, becoming more like a man than a teenager every day, but he’s still under my care and I need him to know that.

“You don’t have to go back there. No matter what we find out about your parents, your home is with us, or Blake, if you want it. Okay?”

Now that Wilson is dead, Mandy finally relaxes a little. Her hand finds mine and she rests her cheek on my shoulder, telling me without words that she doesn’t hate me.

So concerned with me, she doesn’t notice the men in front of her, bowing their heads, waiting for her orders.

33

MANDY

Tyson’s strength keeps me on my feet as I survey the chaos around us.

My wolf urges me to rub against him, covering him in her scent as a temporary replacement for the mating mark she’s eager to give him. As I run my fingers over my own, I can’t wait for him to bear the same.

When I lean against him and feel his hard body standing tall, there to protect me but not taking control of the situation, the pull to my fated mate is irresistible. If it weren’t for the spectators, I might attempt to seduce him right here.

“Mandy?” Tyson has changed back to his human form, and his hand strokes down my back, comforting and offering support at the same time. “Look.”

I’m stunned to see all six warriors waiting in silence, heads bowed. I look at Tyson to see if it’s him they’re showing their respect to, but it’s not. Their bodies are all pointed in my direction. Clearing my throat, I stare, unsure what I’m supposed to do or say.

Tyson has no such qualms.

“Shirt. Give her your fucking shirt, right now,” he growls, marching over the closet man and practically yanking his t-shirt over his head.

He tosses the stolen item of clothing in my direction, looming over the men to make sure they keep their gazes lowered while I cover up. It barely skims the bottom of my backside, but if it helps Tyson stay calm, I’ll go along with it.

“You don’t need to do that,” I tell them, feeling uncomfortable being the focus of attention.

“Yes, we do, Luna.” One man lifts his head, looking me straight in the eye, his expression pained. “It doesn’t make it any better, but the alpha ordered us to come after you. Said you fled with your lover after murdering Lee and kidnapping his son.”

Standing tall, another man pipes up. “We’ll accept whatever punishment you deem fit.”

Tyson raises an eyebrow at me and pauses, waiting to see what I’ll do.

“You were obeying orders and lied to. There is no punishment. I’m trusting you to tell your pack the truth when you return and await your head alpha’s instructions on what is to happen to the pack.”

The men look a little confused, but don’t dare argue. “No problem.”

A loud whistle pierces the air, and, in no time, the warriors have gathered and left the clearing, starting the long march back to their pack’s territory. As soon as they’re gone, Tyson strides over quickly, pulling Lucian and Seth in for a long, back thumping man-hug.

“You did good,” he mutters, emotion creeping into his voice. “Actually, you did great.”

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