Page 65 of Owning His Mate

Every instinct in my body is alert and firing on full power. My wolf howls, urging me to run faster, to reach our mate, and I pump my legs, unaware of anything but the invisible hand around my throat.

I hit the door at full speed, bursting through the lock and bouncing off the opposite wall. I barely acknowledge the pain spreading through my shoulder as a bloodcurdling scream pierces the air. The hairs on my arms and at the back of my neck stand to attention even as my wolf raises his hackles.

Apryle…I’m coming.

I can smell her everywhere,her scent strong enough to tell me she’s still here, but that doesn’t ease the sticky, ugly feeling spreading through me. Our bond tethers me to her like a rope, pulling me toward her, and I follow it to the stairs, taking them two at a time.

I don’t stop to consider the danger as I burst through the bedroom door, ready to shift if I need my wolf.

I smell my mate before I see her. She’s slumped against the wall, her hair curtaining her face from me as she clings to Savannah.

My mouth dries as I rush to them, seeing nothing dangerous in the room.

“Apryle!”

I grab her head in my hands, lifting it so her hair parts to show me her face. The coppery-iron scent of blood stings my nostrils as her eyes slide open. She’s bleeding from under her hairline somewhere, and there’s a gash along her throat that freezes my heart in my chest.

“You’re okay.” I gasp the words as I search for any other injuries, but I can’t see past Savannah, who hasn’t moved. “Is she hurt?”

“I don’t… I don’t think so.” Her brows furrow even as her eyes widen.

She’s in shock and I have no idea why.

I grab Apryle’s face when her attention wanders, forcing her gaze to mine. “What happened?”

Apryle swallows hard, but her eyes remain a little glazed. “She tried to kill me.”

I glance down at Savannah, confused. My mate is clinging to her as if she is trying to protect her, not stop her from hurting her. “Savannah tried to kill you?”

Apryle shakes her head, licking her lips. “No.”

“Kye, you need to see this.” Cade speaks, and I realize they must have followed me here. Still, I ignore his demand.

“Talk to me.”

“Now, Kye.” Cade’s insistence irritates the fuck out of me. I turn to snarl at him, but the look on his face stops me from laying into him.

Trailing my fingers off Apryle’s cheek, I push up from my crouch and follow him into the bathroom.

As I push around him, I see the figure of a small female slumped against the tub, her eyes closed and her jaw slackened. She’s not young, but she’s not old either. Her dark hair falls around her shoulders and blood is caked on her face and neck. My gaze instantly locks on the tattoo spanning her forearm—a crescent moon with a sword through it. What the fuck?

“What does that mean?” I demand.

“Nothing good,” Sawyer mutters from behind me, this time with no jokes on his tongue.

“Find out who she is and how the fuck she got in here.” I broke the front door down to get inside, so whatever route she took was not the obvious one.

I leave the others to take care of it, returning to my mate. Apryle hasn’t moved, and my fear morphs into concern. Carefully, I lift her and Savannah together, placing them on the bed.

Apryle grips my hand as soon as she’s settled, spooked by whatever transpired in this room.

“That’s the last time I’m somewhere you’re not,” I tell her, meaning every word. I’m not letting her out of my sight.

“I’m okay.” She forces a smile, but I can see how shaken she is.

“How the hell did she get in here?” I demand.

Apryle lifts her eyes to me. “Savannah was dreaming, crying in her sleep. I felt the surge of magic and then the… woman… she appeared out of nowhere.”

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