Page 49 of Brutal Mate

“I didn’t just kill the one and chase the others off,” Kane admitted, barely daring to open his eyes. “I rescued Miley from them. I thought they had been attempting to…to kill her.”

Silence fell. It stretched out until it was deafening. Even the trees seemed to be holding their breath.

“I was wrong,” he said, shaking his head. “They weren't trying to kill her. They were turning her.”

There were gasps all around the clearing.

“Why didn't you say anything before?” Zander demanded, jumping up from where he had been sitting on a log opposite Kane.

“I didn't realize she had been bitten until last night at the farm, when she was beginning the transition,” Kane said, his hands tightening into fists. The way Zander squared up to him made him aggressive on instinct, and it took all he had in him not to return the body language.

“Didn’t you see the wound?” Eddie asked, still perched on the fallen tree where Zander had been sitting beside him previously. He leaned his elbows on his knees and rubbed his hands together.

“It must have already healed by the time I made it to the farm,” Kane said, meeting the man's gaze. “I never saw it.”

“Then how do you know for sure?” Hanson spoke up where he was leaning against a tree trunk, looking over his fingernails as if only half-interested in the conversation.

“How many humans do you know who sprout fangs and claws under the full moon?” Kane demanded, his hackles rising.

Jack's hand landed on his shoulder then, and he forced himself to relax. “Has she fully shifted yet?”

Kane shook his head.

“Then we will do all we can to help her and see her through this,” Jack said. His gaze was thoughtful. “Is she aware of what is happening to her? Does she know what we are?”

Kane's stomach twisted. “I haven't told her everything yet, but she knows enough. She knows she'll likely die if she isn't here in Nightstar.”

Kane gulped, looking at Jack pleadingly.

He was surprised when Jack squeezed his shoulder and said, “Not to worry. She will be safe here. We will get her through this. She is a member of this pack now.”

Kane blinked in surprise. He hadn't at all expected it to be quite that easy. He almost slapped himself. Of course, Jack wasn't like most alphas, and his friends weren't like most werewolves. Even Hanson, who hadn't been with them very long but had earned their trust a thousand times over, seemed unperturbed.

“In the meantime,” Jack said, turning to the others. “We need to figure out whether this attack on Miley was a one-off. If it was, why? If not, why is someone turning humans? It's against wolf law without consulting other packs in the area and the higher authorities.”

The others bounced up and off their perches, standing to attention as if awaiting their orders.

“We stick to the dawn, noon and dusk patrols,” Jack instructed, glancing around at them. “Every wolf in the pack old enough to shift will have a patrol duty. No less than three members per patrol. Nobody goes out into the woods alone.”

Jack looked at Kane as he said those final words.

“Until we know exactly what is going on and why, Nightstar is on lockdown.”

“Yes, Alpha!” the men called loudly.

“Off you all go then. The patrols are already set,” Jack said. “Hanson, you have the next, don't you?”

Hanson nodded, his blonde hair falling forward. He stroked it back with his fingers. “I had intended to take a couple of the newly shifted out to show them the ropes, but I'm thinking now maybe another, more experienced wolf should join me?”

Jack nodded. “Take the newbies, but Will or Eddie will go with you.”

“I'll go,” Kane spoke up before either Eddie or Will could say a word.

Jack stepped in front of him and shook his head. “You are staying here. I need to talk to you. And once we're finished, you're going back to the manor to rest.”

Kane gritted his teeth. How was he supposed to rest with the wolves who had attacked and bitten Miley still on the loose?

Before Kane could argue, Jack turned to the others and ordered, “Go. And be safe.”

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