Page 35 of Bait Wolf
Coal had gotten Lambert off of me, but now they seemed intent on reliving the fight they’d had in the ring only yesterday.
They jumped each other, still in human form. Coal didn’t look at me; his attention was focused on Lambert, his expression twisted in fury.
He got a good hook in, knocking Lambert into the bedside table. He stumbled and fell onto the bed.
Coal didn’t waste any time, leaping on top of him, but the moment he landed, Lambert threw him off, sending him over the other side of the bed.
Immediately, Lambert shifted, but just as he landed on all fours and fur burst from his skin, Coal, still in human form, landed on top of him, flattening him under his weight. Without arms to stop him, he was powerless to do anything as Coal swiftly head locked him, strangling the other shifter with his biceps.
“Ember is mine,” he snarled, tightening his chokehold.
Lambert shifted back. Clearly, he thought that he could fight Coal off, but in human form, his hands, scratching at Coals arms, were just as useless.
Finally, his dark eyes drooped and his arms fell limp. But Coal still did not release him.
“He’smine!” he spat.
He was going to kill the other wolf if I didn’t stop him. And while the idea of Coal defending me and killing anyone who touched me was an altogethergoodfeeling, I didn’t want the blood on his hands.
I whined, then did it again louder when he didn’t seem to hear me.
Squeezing his eyes shut, Coal finally released him.
He took a deep breath, staring down at Lambert’s still form. I knew he couldn’t look at me until the anger had dimmed from his eyes.
“I'm sorry,” Coal breathed. “I don’t know what I was thinking... I guess it hadn’t occurred to me that they would try to do it twice. I didn’t realize how bitter they all were over things not going their way.”
I sank down, a strange feeling of peace flowing over me.
Noting my silence, Coal turned to face me.
He took one look at me where I had laid down and then leaped from Lambert’s back, coming to kneel at my side instead.
“Ember,” he whispered, brushing those strong fingers through my fur so softly. How could hands that could cause such harm be so gentle too?
“Are you okay?” he asked.
I wanted to reassure him, to tell him that I was only shaken. Maybe a bit bruised, and yes, maybe I had a couple superficial punctures on the back of my neck too, I wasn’t sure, but overall, I was fine.
I didn’t think I could shift back though, and Coal seemed to understand that, because he bent, scooping me into his arms and standing.
I nuzzled my nose into his scent gland, breathing him in, gaining strength again.
Now that the adrenaline was fading fast, I was justsotired.
Maybe Coal was free for the day now. Maybe he could wrap me up in blankets and cuddle me while I slept.
Ugh. I would do anything for that. To feel safe and protected and to justrest.
His lips pressed to my pointed ear, my forehead, and the top of my nose as he carried me. Down the stairs we went, as though Lambert wasn’t lying in a heap upstairs.
I didn’t even know if he was alive, but I could barely bring myself to care.
Somehow, Coal seemed to understand me and everything that I needed, because he placed me carefully onto the couch and piled blankets and pillows around me.
“I’ll be back in a moment to hold you,” he whispered into my ear. “I promise that you’re safe now.”
There was no hesitation in his voice and the moment I heard his words, I faded to sleep.
