Stepping through the door, I find Caleb pulling Callahan off someone.
My gaze sweeps around the vast room, making sure there’s no one else waiting to pounce on us. That’s when I notice a life-sized portrait of Iris hanging on the wall.
“She’s mine!” Callahan’s roar tears me from my momentary daze at seeing the strange painting.
“Never!” Caleb screams, pulling on Callahan with such strength that the older man is thrown on the floor.
That’s when I see Iris, writhing on the bed. The front of her shirt is torn and open, fully exposing her nakedness to me.
My heart squeezes in my chest at the sight. I have no doubt about the heinous act Callahan was about to perform. He thought he’d have her all to himself and take advantage of her.
I rush toward Iris, barely glancing toward the two alphas on the floor as they fight and thrash, shouting and growling.
“Iris,” My voice is a mere whisper.
She responds by whimpering and clutching at her lower belly.
Her lips are swollen and bleeding. A dark, purplish bruise darkens her left cheek.
“Hurts,” she whimpers, rolling onto her side.
“Iris,” I call to her like a helpless idiot.
Her pretty face is screwed up with pain. Her agony is so great she’s barely able to open her eyes. Her addictive perfume has turned sour and pungent.
How could that bastard continue to hurt her when she was clearly in so much pain? Her groans and whimpers are heavy with anguish. I’m afraid to even reach out and touch her.
My gaze falls on an empty syringe on the bed beside her. Picking it up, I see the needle attached to it is broken.
“Shit,” I hiss, pocketing the syringe. “He’s fucking drugged you.”
Moving forward, I let my gaze sweep over her.
Rage and hatred course through me, urging me to join my brother in beating up the asshole who’d dared to touch our mate. My breaths come out in harsh pants as I struggle against my alpha instincts.
Iris needs me right now, I chant over and over in my head.I must protect her.
Reaching out, I lay a gentle hand on her forehead.
Her skin sears my palm. Shit! This isn’t normal.
“We’re here,” I tell her gently. My soft voice is drowned by the growls of the two alphas still fighting nearby. Ignoring them, I lean forward and quickly button up Iris’s shirt.
“Raiden,” she moans, opening her eyes. Lifting her hands to my face, she cups my chin. “Am I dreaming? Is this really you?”
“It’s me,” I say, gently caressing her scorching forehead.
Tears roll down her cheeks as she weakly sobs. “Help me,” she whimpers.
Intense pain courses through me as I witness her vulnerability. Iris is the strongest woman I know but Callahan reduced her into a writhing, weeping mess.
“I’m taking you home,” I say, lifting her into my arms.
Iris buries her face in my chest the moment she’s in my arms. Her fingers fist into my shirt tightly while she continues to whimper.
I’m about to rush toward Caleb when something on the floor catches my eye.
It’s a portrait of the same woman that closely resembles Iris. A man stands beside her, wrapping his arms around her in a protective embrace. The stranger is garbed in formal military uniform. One look at his strong, determined face and I know he’s an alpha.