Page 22 of The Protector’s Heart

Malachi listened as the ER doctor explained that Diane had been beaten severely when she left her house earlier that day. Neighbors had found her after she crawled to their house and called for help.

“She’s heavily sedated now, but you can see her. She’ll be here for a few days, and then she’ll need to be released into someone’s care.”

Malachi answered before Nila could. “We’ve got it covered.”

The doctor nodded and left, and Nila turned and leaned heavily against him. Immediately he wrapped his arms around her.

“Are you ready to see her?”

“No. I’m scared for what happened to her. You heard what the doctor said.” She lifted her head and looked at him, her eyes wide with fright. “I never wanted this for her. I screwed up.”

“How?”

“I should have gone home with you. You wouldn’t have been caught off guard by Damien and his buddies and beaten within an inch of your life. I put her in danger. She could have been killed because of me.”

He saw panic and guilt tighten her features. He growled lightly and cupped her face. “You didn’t cause anything. Your ex is a vicious nutcase. No male of honor attacks a female for any reason. You made a choice, and Diane welcomed you. She’s your friend and there’s nothing wrong with helping friends.”

She swallowed hard and blinked tear-filled eyes at him. “I can’t take care of her during the day, I can’t lose my job.”

“I said it’s handled, trust me.”

She smiled briefly and tears surged over her cheeks. He brushed them away and kissed her forehead. “Go see Diane. I’m going to make some calls.”

She gave him a watery smile, took in a shaky breath, and pushed open the door to Diane’s room. Malachi waited until the door shut before pulling out his phone.

By the time visiting hours were over, Devin was sitting on a chair outside of Diane’s room to guard it, and arrangements were made for Diane to go home with Kammie, one of the omegas.

Nila held his hand as they walked out of the hospital. “What’s an omega?”

“A non-ranked wolf.” He opened the passenger door and helped her inside, and then shut the door and climbed in behind the wheel. “How much do you know about pack hierarchy?”

“Next to nothing,” she admitted. “I only know the alpha is the boss.”

He smiled at her as he pulled away from the hospital and headed to Acksel’s home. “That’s very true. So the alpha is the boss. Under him is the beta, who handles discipline issues among other responsibilities, and is the authority when Acksel isn’t around. Our beta is Ren. Then there’s the theto, who’s like the beta but accountable to him, and is the head of the protectors. The protectors, like me, are ranked underneath the theto, from the fourth position down. Then you have the omegas. They’re not ranked, either because they’re female or they’re males who are too weak through injury or age to be of use to the pack, or decide not to engage in rank fights.”

“The females are automatically omegas?”

“Yes. Females are part of the general omega population and aren’t ranked, except for Brynn, who’s the boss of everyone except Acksel.”

She snorted a laugh. “I think she believes she’s the boss of everyone.”

He grinned and reached over for her hand, which she freely gave. “I’ve heard of packs where females are ranked, but it’s not our pack’s way. The females and the pups are important, the life blood of the pack, and the protectors are to keep them, and the other omegas, safe.”

“Are wolves ranked right away when they shift?”

“No. We’re automatically omega. The alpha allows rank fights during the full moon, and a male can fight his way out of omega status and become a protector.”

“So it’s just alpha, protector, and omega?”

“It works best when it’s simple.”

“You’re a protector.”

“Yep.”

She didn’t say anything for a moment, and he glanced at her when he came to a stoplight. “What?”

“I was just wondering how hard it was for you to fight your friends in the rank fights.”

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