Page 3 of Doubly Tied

“That’s the human slut you brought back with you. Ha! I’ll end this now before you two can taint the Pack any further!” A young man with silvery-blond hair raised his arm, pointing at her.

She swallowed hard, noting for the first time the gun he grasped firmly between his fingers. Ani didn’t know what the heck he was talking about, but she sure as fuck didn’t want to die.

“Lower your weapon, Neal,” Brody growled.

“No! You’re no Alpha. Sam said it was time we took back the Pack from your perversions.”

“I don’t want to have to kill you, son.”

Brody’s features looked sharper somehow, Ani thought as fear crept up her spine. He seemed to grow in bulk, his muscles tensed and ready. She knew without a doubt that he was going to kill that boy with the crazed look in his eye. That he was going to do it to protect her. But that didn’t make it any easier to watch.

“I’ll give you one last chance,” Brody said, and she watched the resignation settle on his face as the man squeezed the trigger.

He signed his own death warrant with that move.

She mentally prepared for the bullet to hit home, for the ripping pain as it entered her flesh. But it never happened.

“Ani! Get down!” Mayne roared. He jumped in front of her, using his body as a shield, and knocking her to the ground.

Trembling from head to foot, she panicked as she struggled beneath Mayne’s weight, but the man held her tight. The sounds of vicious snarls reached her ears, but Mayne stopped her from looking up.

“Brody?” he yelled.

“It’s over. Ani?” Brody’s voice was thick with fury and concern.

“I’m fine, but I think Mayne is hit!”

“It’ll be okay. I will heal.” he grunted, rolling off her and taking stock of his injury.

“Someone, call an ambulance!” Ani yelled.

Concern and panic raced through her, but it was pure adrenaline that had her heart racing like mad as she took the sheet off her body and pressed it to his shoulder.

“Darlin’ he’s alright.” Brody knelt on the floor, bloodier and sweatier than he was before.

Ani shook her head. She didn’t know what the hell was going on and she didn’t care right then. She only knew if Mayne was hurt, her heart would break.

The big man groaned and removed the sheet and his shirt, gazing at the hole in his arm. Ani had never seen a wound like that.

“Fuck, Brody, it’s laced with silver and magic,” the man grunted.

Brody nodded, but he looked worried. He took the other sheet off the bed, tossing it gently over Ani’s body while she tried to understand what the hell was happening.

“I’ll call the healer,” Brody said.

Then he did the craziest thing Ani had ever seen. He tossed his head back and howled. As in, like a fucking wolf. Really loud, and really long, the ear-piercing scream sent shivers down Ani’s back.

“Ani?” Mayne asked, cocking his head curiously to the side.

“What, what are you guys?”

“We’re your mates, love,” Mayne said, “He’s a Wolf Shifter, and I’m a Black Bear Shifter.”

“Ani darlin’, we talked about this last night,” Brody said, walking toward her. But Ani jumped back, holding out her hands.

“What? You said you were animals, but I thought you meant in bed!” she screeched.

Both men exchanged glances and looked at her like she was crazy.

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