Page 51 of Betrayed Mate

Ihmphed, and pain slammed through my shoulder and neck from my injuries. The blood in my fur already felt gooey, courtesy of the cold weather.

I wanted to close my eyes and sleep.

Shaking my head, I tried to clear my mind, but suddenly, strong arms lifted me and cradled me like a princess despite my being in animal form.

Ryker’s warm chest pressed into my body, and my eyes widened as his gaze locked with mine. I didn’t like being on my back in a submissive position to him. I tried to squirm out of his hold, but that put pressure on my injured limb. A faint whine escaped before I could hide it.

“Dammit, Ember. I’m carrying you like this so I don’t put pressure on your injuries.” His fingers dug into my fur and skin, and a knot of desire formed in my stomach. He continued, “Stop fighting me on everything, please. You can’t shift, you’re severely injured, and you’re still not completely healed from the attack on your pack. Let me help.”

Help.

The word used to mean something positive for me, but right now, it made me feel even weaker.

I was ready to fight like hell to break free, damn the consequences, when the sheen pulled back from his eyes until it was faint. Tingles from our connection sprang up between us once again, making me immobile. My head spun from the injuries and loss of blood, and I rested it against his shoulder.

He let out a breath, and I inhaled a pleasant, minty smell that was so much better than the scent of human-vampire blood.

His eyes glowed, indicating he was speaking to the other pack members, and then we started moving. Resigning myself to thefact that I couldn’t stand on my own, I decided I would allow him this.

Notbecause I trusted him but because I had to believe that he wouldn’t betray our alliance. At least, not yet. He clearly wanted my help for the meeting with the alphas in two days’ time.

After a while, my body relaxed in his arms, and I heard the patter of the other three wolves scouting around us.

Ryker’s cadence lulled me into a calm that helped ease the throbbing from my injuries. I wasn’t sure how long he carried me, but suddenly, a low, menacing growl emanated from Ryker, vibrating against my head.

I opened my eyes just as a sickeningly sweet smell hit my nose—activated vampire magic.

“What happened? We heard a commotion and—” Raven started but cut herself off as she and twenty other vampires in dark clothing came to a stop before us. Her hair was messy from her run, and her irises were lined with crimson, her fangs elongated.

“Don’t pretend like you don’t know,” Ryker gritted out, his chest heaving. “And here I thought we could trust you. We’re getting our vehicle and leaving immediately.”

I realized that every single vampire here could now see Ryker completely naked. My wolf snapped her teeth in my head, and anger fueled my blood.

“Youcantrust me.” Raven raised both hands in surrender. “We heard howls, so we rushed out to check on you. I shouldn’t have allowed you to leave so quickly—the guards haven’t yet reinforced the perimeter this far out. I should’ve known you’d have to go farther out for hunting, but the five of you looked so rough.” She shook her head and then sniffed; her gaze immediately shot to me. Eyes bulging, she gasped. “What happened?”

From what I could tell, there wasn’t a hint of a lie, but my nose was still filled with Ryker and blood.

Kendric, Gage, and Xander emerged from the woods, wolf bodies tense, ready for an attack.

“Afuckingtransforming human attacked her,” Ryker spat, and the thrumming that had been charging between us dimmed. “And based on the location, time, and proximity, there’s only one place where that transformation could have occurred.”

Her head snapped back, but just when I expected her to tell the guards to attack, she did something surprising.

She spun around, hair billowing like a curtain, and snarled, “Was anyone aware of a changeling?”

Changelings were one of the most dangerous supernaturals to exist. The human blood that still fueled them made them enormously strong and faster than should be physically possible. That had to be how he’d snuck up on me—that and my being focused on the deer.

One by one, she studied each guard. Each one shook their head…until the shortest male on the end averted his eyes.

In a flash, Raven stood in front of him and grabbed him by his throat, lifting him so his feet dangled. He began to choke, but she didn’t flinch.

“I’m going to ask you one more time, and if you don’t tell me the truth, I willendyou.” Raven dug her fingernails into the guard’s skin, his crimson blood trickling down his neck. “Do you know who made the changeling?”

He shook his head, though I could hear his heart rate increase and smell the sulfur of the lie.

She shrugged. “I warned you.”

Before she could do anything, he croaked, “Wait.”

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