Page 153 of The Beta's Blind Date

IreacttoDominic’spresence on instinct, shoving my mate behind me and positioning my body between the threat and her. All around me, the others do the same with their mates, growls and snarls bouncing off the mountainside, claws extending and bodies getting into protective stances. King Malachi joins Wesley in guarding Haven, the only one of us incapable of defending herself, and Aunt Gigi stands with me, guarding Taryn and Sour Patch.

But instead of attacking, Dominic falls to his knees, his eyes closing. Blood drips down his arms, stomach, neck, and thighs, falling into the pure snow and marring it with its deep red stain, expanding and growing by the second. His clothing hangs off his body in tatters, soaked through with the blood from his unhealed wounds.

“Oh, Goddess, he’s hurt,” Taryn says, pushing me out of the way and running towards him.

“Taryn, no!” I take off after her and grab her hand, yanking her against my chest and wrapping my other arm around her to pin her in place.

“Reid, look at him! He is bleeding out!”

“He could be on death’s doorstep and I still wouldn’t let you near him,” I snarl, my lip curling and my wolf snapping his jaws in my mind.

“But I can help him!”

My nostrils flare. “After everything he’s done, after what he tried to do to you, and everything he’s likely behind, you want to heal him?”

“He’s not going to hurt me. He can barely stand.”

“And what happens when he’s healed? When hecanstand? When he realizes you’re marked and no longer a member of his pack? He’s not going to be happy about that, and I’m not putting you or our pup at risk again, Taryn.”

“But—”

“Beta Reid is right,” King Malachi says, striding up to us. “It could be a trick or a trap for all we know. There are too many among us who are vulnerable and exposed,” he adds, glancing at Taryn and Haven. “We’ll take him back to Crescent Lake. Dr. Russo will want to examine the wounds to see why they aren’t healing.”

Taryn’s jaw clenches, but she stops fighting me, and I clutch her to me, burying my nose in her neck.

“It’s difficult to ignore the instinct to help him,” she says, her voice hoarse. Her hands tremble at her sides, and the golden glow of her healing ability hovers over her skin, triggered by the pain Dominic’s in.

“I know, and I love that about you,” I murmur, breathing in her scent, my lips brushing my mark on her neck. “I love that you’re fierce and fearless, as well as selfless and compassionate. But for now, we need to let the others take the lead and assess the situation. We need to be level-headed and smart about this.”

She shoves her hands into the pockets of her coat and closes her eyes, nodding. I can tell she doesn’t want to, but she stays in place, stays within my arms as Sebastian, Nolan, and Levi come sprinting out of the forest from various spots in the tree line. Sebastian and Levi both stop when they near Dominic, but Nolan continues on his path, heading straight to Wesley and Haven.

“Take her to the truck,” Wesley orders him, his eyes locked on where Dominic lies prone in the snow.

Haven shakes her head and stands her ground. “Wesley, I’m fine. He’s not even—”

His head whips towards her, his chest heaving and his nostrils flaring, the fear clear in his eyes. “Haven!”

Her mouth snaps shut, and she presses her lips together, her eyes widening at the anxiety and agitation in his voice and body language—clenched fists, tense shoulders, and fur sprouting from his neck and knuckles as he fights for control of his lycan, fights to keep from shifting and attacking to protect his luna.

He inhales and closes his eyes, then looks at her again, his pupils back to normal and his brown eyes soft. “Please, Haven,” he says, his tone shifting and his volume lowering.

She launches herself at him and wraps her arms around his neck, squeezing her eyes shut as she hugs him and kisses his neck, right above his tattoo on his marking spot. Then she turns and takes off towards the vehicles at a jog, Nolan right behind her, catching the keys as Wesley tosses them to him.

I open my mouth, but Taryn speaks before I can get one word out. “I’m not hiding in a car. Not when I’m capable of defending myself and fighting, just like the rest of you.”

“You can stay, but you’re staying at my side, and the second any rogues appear, you are running with everything you have and joining Nolan and Luna Haven. You will not stay here and fight. I know—” I squeeze her tighter, cutting her protests short. “I know you are as well-trained as any other warrior or ranked member here. I know this because I helped train you. But you’re also carrying our future. Just… please. Please compromise with me on this.”

My hand moves to cover her stomach, pressing gently but firmly against it. Neither of us can feel Sour Patch moving around yet, just like she can’t hear us telling her she’s loved, but I push my love for her—for both of them—through the bond so Taryn can feel all of it. So she can feel my fears and insecurities, my genuine affection, and the over-the-top protectiveness and possessiveness I have for the both of them.

“He’s unconscious,” Levi calls to us from where he kneels next to Dominic’s body.

“The rogues are gone,” Seb says, moving towards us as King Malachi, Dawson, and Blake walk over to Levi. “They left trash and spoiled food all over the area of the forest they were in, and the trees have severe damage. We followed their trail down the mountain for a while, but then we spotted Dominic’s blood trail and changed direction.”

“Get the restraints and the basic first aid kit,” Wesley says, tearing his eyes away from where Haven locked herself in his truck. “You’ll have to drive him back in one of the pack vehicles.” He glances at us. “Do you two mind riding back with Haven and me?”

“That’s fine,” I reply, and Taryn nods her agreement.

It’s silent as Sebastian gets what he needs from the other SUV. Our eyes are back on Dominic as King Malachi helps Levi examine him, using his strength and his dominance as our king to hold him in place, even though he’s unconscious. Taryn swallows and shifts her weight, her eyes closing.

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