Page 54 of Savage Claim

“She’s a bitten shifter, obviously, and she was out running on the edges of our pack territory when a bunch of assholes in masks surrounded her.” He swallowed hard, his nostrils flaring as if he could see the event playing in his mind. “Instead of outright slaughtering her, they forced a potion down her throat that would slowly, painfully kill her.”

Invisible claws ripped into my chest at the audible anguish wrapping Saint’s words. I wanted to reach out and comfort him, but I slid my hands into my lap so I wouldn’t. “Did they find the ones responsible?”

“No.” The muscles in his jaw flexed as he ground his teeth. “No one outside of our pack believed her when she claimed The Collective Hunt was responsible. Everyone else assumed the potion had screwed with her memories. That vile group has been extinct for decades—or so they would have everyone believe.”

They were smart to keep in the shadows. They’d probably attacked others like this, but no one blamed them. Sometimes people didn’t want to see the truth even if it was the most logical explanation.

“Did she… die?”

He shook his head. “Thankfully, my parents are fated mates, and my father was able to heal her.”

My brows slammed down. “Fated mates can heal each other?”

“For some things, yes.” Now that I’d moved my arm and uncovered the rest of the torn pages, Saint leaned closer, examining them. “It took a long time, but my dad’s constant presence and their bond eventually healed her.”

“I didn’t know fated mates could do that,” I mumbled, thinking of Fane and Marissa. If Fane was dying and Marissa could save him, would I let her stay by his side to heal him? “Would that still work when the bond had been rejected?”

Saint’s head lifted, his lips pressing together. “Marissa wouldn’t be able to heal Fane since she rejected him and broke the bond.” He gave a sad smile when he noticed my perplexed expression. “It wasn’t hard to guess what you were thinking, Tate.”

“What else don’t I know about fated mates?” My studies on them while I was a raven had clearly been lacking.

“It’s a complicated subject, and not every aspect has been documented.” He gave a half smile. “You can’t exactly put into words the emotions and feelings fated mates have for each other. According to my parents, it’s like attempting to describe paradise in a language no one else can understand.”

“Wow.” That was close to what I felt for Fane even though we weren’t fated. “So, no fated mate for you?”

Shadows swirled within Saint’s silver irises, and his broad shoulders lowered. “Unfortunately, I don’t think that’s in the cards for me. My parents have sent me to almost every pack in the country during the full moon to see if a bond might reveal itself, but no such luck.”

My heart hurt for Saint. Having parents with a fated bond, he probably grew up expected to eventually have the same thing. “I’m sure you’ll meet someone you’ll want to create a mate bond with, and you’ll be just as happy as your parents are.”

“I hope so, Tate.” Saint leaned forward, so close his scent floated up my nostrils, like pine and crisp winter air. “Fane’s lucky to have found that with you when he didn’t with his fated. I can’t say I’m not insanely jealous.”

An electric tingle crackled over my neck tattoo moments before the demon shifter appeared in the room, glaring daggers at the male wolf sitting a lot closer than I’d realized.

“Why am I not surprised to find you here with her, Grimstone?” Fane crossed his arms over his wide chest, his canines elongating as his lips curled away in a snarl.

Oh, shit.

I jumped out of my seat so fast pain tore across my wound, and my vision blurred. Fane was by my side in seconds, lowering me back to the chair.

“Don’t start a fight, Maverick,” I said through our mental link. “We were just talking.”

“I’m not starting anything, fiera mika. He did by sniffing around you like a desperate little stray.”

“Maybe you should go lie down, Tate,” Saint said. “You nearly died a day ago.”

Fane turned toward him, a growl crawling up his throat as anger throbbed through the bond. “Don’t worry about my mate, Saint.”

The alpha shrugged and slowly stood, knowing better than to make any sudden movements when Fane was teetering on the edge of sanity. “I didn’t mean to overstep my bounds.”

“This isn’t the first time,” Fane pointed out.

“I apologize.” He gave me a gentle smile and started backing toward the door. “I’m glad you’re okay, Tate. It was nice seeing you again.”

I ignored the growls vibrating Fane’s chest as he stood behind me, his fingers wrapping around the back of the chair so hard the wood creaked. “Thanks, Saint.”

The young alpha’s gaze swiveled back to Fane, something dark flashing in them. “If I were you, I’d claim her before you lose her.”

“Is that a threat?” The ebony tattoos inking Fane’s flesh twitched as his beast roamed toward the surface.

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