Page 45 of Mating at Midnight: Book 1

Nyah twists Crown away from her.

Sensing Nyah’s apprehension, Kenia takes a step back, then tells Nyah, “I need to take Crown to the barn and examine him more closely to determine the extent of his injury. I know you’re in momma mode, but time is not on our side. Push your feelings to the fucking side and think about Crown.”

As a tear rolls down Nyah’s cheek, she kisses Crown’s forehead. Looking at Kenia she says, “I’ll carry him inside.”

“Then let’s go,” Kenia orders before they and a few of my guard’s race to the barn in the back. Levi wanted to go, but I held him back. We’ll let the sisters deal with Crown while we try to sort out everything else.

Father walks to Alpha Lightfeather, but before he can speak a vehicle pulls up to the house, then parks.

The front driver’s side door and passenger opens with Horace and Corey getting out.

“Alpha, I got your message. I’m here. What’s going on?” Horace asks, closing his door, then approaches Alpha Lightfeather. Corey walks with a little bit more confidence next to his father as his eyes meet mine.

If my father hadn’t grasped my wrist to hold me back, I would have disemboweled Corey right then and there.

With his tall, intimidating frame, Alpha Lightfeather towers over Horace, replying, “My mother’s cabin was burned down by an act of arson and Crown has been injured also.” He narrows his eyes at Horace, asking, “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that?”

Horace frowns, staring back at his Alpha. “Why would I know anything about that when Corey and I were off Pack land, visiting family?”

A blur whiz past me. When I’m able to focus on what’s happening, Nyah is on top of Corey with her talons puncturing his skin enough to draw blood.

“You!” Nyah growls. Corey fights to get out of her lock. As he tries to remove her hands, Nyah presses deeper into his skin. “I know it was you who burned down my grandmother’s house and harmed Crown,” she seethes. Fur begins to cover her hands, then along her arms. She is in the midst of shifting.

Corey chokes, gasping for air as Horace pleads to Alpha Lightfeather. “Noah, please stop her! She’s going to kill him! Nyah is accusing Corey of something he had nothing to do with! Pack law indicates there must be proof to condemn a wolf, without any, the wolf is innocent until proven otherwise. You know this!”

Alpha Lightfeather studies his Beta with an angered expression. Although I understood Pack laws, I still wanted Nyah to kill the fucker, but if she did without proof and it comes out that he had nothing to do with the fire or Crown, she would be considered a murderer. I didn’t want Alpha Lightfeather left with having to determine his daughter’s fate.

I go over to Nyah and lean over her, taking her wrists in my hands. I lay my forehead against the back of her head, exuding enough of my Alpha dominance for her to release Corey and her fur withdraws. Lifting her up, I wrap her arms around her torso as she breathes heavily.

Nyah’s crazed eyes stay on Corey as Horace goes to tend to him. He rips off his shirt, then wraps it around Corey’s neck. Corey is lucky because a few seconds more, Nyah would have hit his arteries, and he would have bled out before EMS could make it here.

“You did all of this!” Nyah yells. “You’re going to pay harshly.”

Nyah peers at everyone standing around, then at Horace. “I might not have any proof, but I know it was your son! Hell, probably you and him are responsible.”

Horace scowls, saying “Little girl, I don’t know what you’re insinuating, but you need to remember who you are talking to. I am your father’s Beta.”

One thing I’m learning about having a mate that is an Alpha too is that their strength is magnified when angered. Right now, it’s taking everything inside of me to hold onto Nyah.

“Fuck you, Horace! I am an Alpha which means your Beta title means shit to me. I am and will always be above you and your pitiful son,” Nyah declares, trying to break free.

“Alpha,” Horace exclaims, twisting his head towards Alpha Lightfeather.

Alpha Lightfeather shows him no sympathy. “Horace as I asked before, did you and Corey have anything to do with this?”

Horace looks as if his whole world has been shattered by the Alpha’s question.

“Seriously, Noah? After all the years I’ve stood by your side and you’re asking me this?”

Anguish filled Alpha Lightfeather’s face. I’m sure he has always revered Horace as his best friend, ally, and Pack confidant. It must pain him to question his Beta.

Giving his longtime friend another chance, Alpha Lightfeather asks, “Horace, can you please just answer the question?”

“No, daddy you don’t have to answer shit,” Corey defiantly declares, standing.

Horace looks over to his son. “Shut the fuck up!’

Corey shakes his head from side to side. “Hell, no. If we had done things the way I wanted, we wouldn’t be in this position.”

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