Page 33 of Auctioned Wolf Bride

“Have you broken her in yet?” he jeered at Tannen. “Because if you haven’t, maybe I will. I’m sure Damien won’t mind after all the pain you two have caused us. She probably needs to be taught a lesson or two.”

The words sparked something in Tannen. He snarled, shoving the wolf pinning him to the floor off him and launching him into the air. He jumped to his feet, leaping toward the stunned wolf, jaws snapping. Tannen’s teeth sank into the otherwolf’s jaws. The crunch of bone echoed through the cabin as the other shifter let out a gurgled whimper, then went slack.

Tannen shook the wolf like a ragdoll, then dropped the body the instant he knew he was dead. The corpse collapsed to the floor. Tannen snarled, then shifted back to human. Blood covered his mouth and teeth, making him look even more menacing. His eyes locked on Viktor, filled with hate as he stalked toward us.

“Let her go,” he snarled.

Viktor breathed heavily in my ear, ragged, panicked pants pushing my hair. His heart pounded against my back.

Tannen growled, taking another step closer. It was like seeing him in an entirely new light. I’d never seen him this… fierce. Something about it made my heart pound even harder, and my wolf growled in approval, despite the danger.

“Maybe you didn’t hear me correctly,” Tannen snarled. “Let her go, before I tear you to ribbons.”

I couldn’t see Viktor, but I could imagine his face looking simultaneously afraid and angry, his beady eyes darting everywhere as he looked for an escape even when he knew there wasn’t one.

Letting out a furious growl, Viktor shoved me forward with so much force that I nearly slammed into Tannen. I stumbled, and strong hands gripped my arms as Tannen steadied me. By the time I turned to see where Viktor was, he had already disappeared, running back outside.

“Are you all right?” Tannen asked. His eyes darted across my face, his thumb stroking my cheek as he cupped my face.

“I’m fine,” I promised.

He searched me up and down, looking for any injuries. His eyes locked on my neck. They narrowed as he let out a feral growl.

“He bruised your neck,” he said. His other hand went to my throat, his fingers tracing the area where Victor’s had been minutes earlier, sending new lines of fire running along my skin.

I gasped, unintentionally leaning forward a little. My heart pounded. Did he really care that much about me? I wouldn’t have expected him to care that much. Why did that make me feel like a blushing schoolgirl? Heat rushed into my face, and my mind drifted to the way his hands had felt when they’d run up and down my body, and the way it had felt when he had…

I pushed the thoughts away, willing the fire between my legs to die and my pulse to get a grip again.

“I’ll live,” I said, still unable to tear my gaze away from him.

He snarled, taking a step back and stalking toward the broken door.

“We need to find somewhere else to stay,” he said. “I know of another safehouse not too far from here. If we leave now—”

“We can’t just keep running from place to place,” I argued.

“I know,” he said. “But right now, I intend to make sure you stay safe. And that involves getting you somewhere with an actual door.”

“I’m not going to keep running and hiding like a frightened rabbit,” I said. Shame and frustration radiated off me as the fight ran through my mind again. It hadn’t been much ofa fight. I’d be halfway back to Damien by now if it weren’t for Tannen. Yet again, I hadn’t been able to protect myself.

Tannen snarled, his eyes flashing, and he stalked toward me. He loomed overhead, staring down at me, radiating power and strength. My wolf stirred in excitement. Something about the way he stared down at me sparked something I would rather ignore.

“You’ll do what I say,” he growled.

“Like hell,” I snapped. “You can’t dictate my life.”

“I’m doing this to protect you,” he said.

“You shouldn’t,” I fired back. “This is my life. I’m not going to sit in the corner and wait for the next guy to break in to scoop me up and carry me away.”

“What do you suggest, then?”

“Fight back,” I said.

He stared at me as if I had two heads. “You want to fight back. After everything?”

“The assholes kidnapped me once, tried to kidnap me a second time, and have tried to sell off dozens of women at this point. Of course I want to fight back.”

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