Authors: Aliyah Burke
“He wants to piss you off.”
Casimir’s voice, deep and sexy, wove around her plucking at parts best left alone.
“What?”
“My nephew. He’s weaker so he wants to create chaos and confusion in a futile attempt to throw the advantage his way.”
She flexed her fingers around the steering wheel. “Of course,” she said. “Because he’s weak.” There was no disguising the contempt in her voice.
He shifted toward her, drawing her eye from the road. Darkness had fallen so she could only see him partially from the panel lights. Hard to see him perhaps but his stare’s power was just as intense as if they were standing on a cloudless day at high noon.
“I have already apologized, Dyana, for my statement.”
“Never said you needed to,” she said. “But it’s still allowed to piss me off how you view anyone weaker than you.”
“No, most are weaker than me, that’s what being the Alpha is, I’m one of the strongest. My issue was with weakness.
Was.
”
“Right. Sorry, I got it mixed up. You expect people to be weaker than you but it’s contemptable for you. Nice to know where I stand with you.”
“You are deliberately twisting my words, mate.”
Was it possible for him to get closer inside the car? Shit, she hadn’t thought he’d even moved but she felt him,
everywhere.
As if they were lying together, limbs intertwined.
“Am I?” she asked with as little emotion as she could manage. “Sorry.”
“Do you know why I agreed to this?”
“Because it was the smart thing to do?”
“No, because you brought it to me.”
She drew her brows together before turning her head briefly to stare at him. He was focused on her completely. “Say again?”
“I agreed because the idea was yours. I allowed your boy Ranger to come along because I have no doubt he would give his life to protect and keep you safe as well.”
“Why does it matter if I suggested it or one of your lieutenants?”
“Their main goal is to protect me, you don’t care but would do anything for the children. And that’s what you’re thinking about, the best way to save them.”
“That’s not true,” she blurted out. “I care what happens to you. I don’t want you dead.”
“Nice to hear.” He trailed on finger along the back of her hand, making little swirls on her skin.
Her entire body flamed and she tried to remember she didn’t want to be married to him, didn’t want him in her life, yet each second it was harder to do. There wasn’t any way to deny that something in her longed for him with every breath she took.
“I’m not that much of a bitch, hoss.”
“Not to everyone else.”
“You were an easy target,” she admitted, shamed by her behavior.
His chuckle was the last thing she’d expected but at the sound of it, she looked to him once more. “I think you are the only person in the world who would say that.” Another few light caresses. “At least to my face.”
“I’ve never been shy about expressing myself.”
“I believe that. You will keep yourself safe during this, mate. I know you don’t care if you die, but I would take severe exception to that.”
“Just when I think I have you figured out,” she muttered. “You surprise me yet again.”
He released her and leaned the seat back, then took her hand once more, this time linking their fingers. “I meant what I said earlier about protecting you until my heart stopped beating. And while I want to lock you in a room and deal with this fucker on my own, you’re my mate. I can’t deny you the fight if you want to be there.”
His words made her smile and she squeezed his hand. “Glad you realized that.”
“Somehow I don’t think you’re talking about the mate comment.”
She let it go, opting not to reply. As they continued up Interstate 5, their silence was offset by the music she had playing. Not as loud as normal, for her hearing had sharpened. When he kissed the back of her hand, tears sprung to her eyes and she tried to make sense of everything in her head. It still didn’t and she couldn’t explain why she was heading back to this place. Revenge didn’t fit the bill for she knew Casimir would make the bastard pay.
You know this is all about the fact you couldn’t let him face danger alone.
She scowled at her subconscious. He had protection, his lieutenants.
But he’s yours.
Her nose flared at her sharp breath and she shut her mind down on those thoughts. When they stopped to refuel, she was standing by the food, hands in pockets, unable to decide on what she wanted to snack on.
“How you holding up?”
“Tired, Ranger. I usually crash after a competition, you know that. How’s things in the SUV?”
“Kid’s cute but she fell asleep.”
She nudged him with her shoulder. “Thanks for coming.”
“Been a while since I’ve had a good fight.” He gave her a gentle shove in return. “How are you holding up, really?”
“I’m okay. I keep envisioning that fucker placing the explosives around my house, with all the intention of killing us. I don’t think I’ve ever been so angry, Ranger. They were my world. They shouldn’t have had to die.”
“No, they shouldn’t have, however, you have to stop dwelling on that. They wouldn’t want you to be miserable. They loved you, Dyana, and they loved life. Live yours. Live for you and for them.”
She stared at the hot dogs spinning on the rollers. “You’re pretty wise,” she said, leaning against him. “Although I’m pretty sure I have to call you a whore now.”
He tipped his head back with laughter. “I’m a cat, beautiful.”
“Taking that whole tomcatting thing to an entire level I don’t believe it was ever supposed to be at.” She shook her head. “I mean do you see a woman and just think sex?”
“Only some.” He lowered his mouth by her ear. “Tora is something else though.”
Dyana looked at the woman he spoke about. She stood with Kraven and Casimir—who watched her—as they discussed something.
“I don’t think she likes you much.”
“Ever heard a wolf purr?” He grabbed a pizza slice from beneath the heater.
“Can’t say that I have.”
“I hadn’t either until I met that woman.” His grin completely arrogant.
She punched him in the shoulder. “You’re damn proud of that aren’t you?”
“Fuck yeah. She’ll come around.” They walked to the drink dispenser and fixed themselves something to drink.
Shira called as she headed back to the car. Casimir held out his hand for the keys and she gave them up without hesitation. “Give me a sec to settle in, hon, then we can talk, Casimir is driving.”
“The car you never let anyone drive? Interesting.”
As she buckled her belt, put the drink in the console and readjusted. “Not going there with you. How are you doing?”
The grin on Casimir’s face informed her he’d heard her friend’s comment. She ignored his smirk and took a long drink before getting comfortable to speak with Shira, understanding she had to call her Samhna or he’d put it together Samhna and Shira were one and the same. The eagle shifter she mentioned on the way out here the first time.
Casimir stared at the men approaching him, shocked and pissed one of them was that beta he’d seen in Georgia when he’d first recognized he’d been hunted. Dismissing that one, he focused back on his nephew.
Devlin’s lean build seemed almost too small for his head. He had a scar down the left side of his face and continuing on to his neck. His clothing wasn’t new, the threadbare edges gave awareness to how much they’d been used.
“You have something that belongs to me,” Casimir stated.
“No hug, no family reunion?” Devlin sniffed and wiped the back of his hand beneath his nose.
Casimir didn’t move, even though he heard three more come up from behind him. “Give me back what’s mine.”
A sharp bark of laughter exploded from his nephew. “I have you, your arrogance is such that you think bringing your bitch with you is enough to go against all of us. You don’t even know how many there are.”
That may be true, but once they’d arrived here, he and his Pack reversed the formula Tora had found, so his lieutenants had that one them rendering them undetectable as well. They would be out eliminating the others of Devlin’s crew that were trying to sneak up and grab the advantage. Sure, they may not be used to using the masking agent but his wolves were stealthy and they’d called on the local pack for assistance.
“You’re already going to die for your cowardly behavior, don’t make me prolong it because you insult my mate.”
“She’s not even wolf.”
“Yet I’d still put money on her if it was between the two of you. You’re a slimy weasel of a bastard who hides behind others. Just like your father. He was running away when I killed him, leaving his own brother behind.” He stepped closer, eyes narrowing. “I bet you’re just like him, a rapist and murderer. Pathetic and useless.”
Devlin’s pale skin flushed with anger. He clenched his fists at his side. “I’m going to enjoy watching you bleed.”
Casimir shrugged, his wolf crouched just beneath the surface, ready for the blitz attack he knew was coming. “You’ve done nothing since I got here except turn red and sputter. You want my Pack, man up and fight me. You abducted some from my Pack, you hurt Paps, killed my mate’s best friends on top of being in league with Martha and that bitch Jetje to kill my mate. You definitely have my attention now, something you don’t want, it would have been better for you to stay off my radar. You’ll pay for each of those actions. You threw out the challenge,
nephew,
and I’m here to accept.”
“You can’t take us all on. When we’re done, we’re going to rape and kill your mate.” Devlin gestured and the men behind him lunged only to drop seconds later, arrows sticking out of their throats. “What?” he yelped.
“A Pack challenge is the challenger against the Alpha. You challenged him, you fight him. I’ll put an arrow through anyone who tries to help.” Dyana’s voice came clear and strong.
Casimir hid his grin. The gods couldn’t have picked a better woman for him. She was spectacular. Hell, right now, she even reminded him a bit of Artemis—Diana to the Romans—with the way she looked. Her hair was free around her face, tight shirt, jeans—no dress—and the quiver on her back, full of arrows. Pacing her on each side was a wolf. Even from this distance he witnessed the anger burning in her eyes.
Silence descended then chaos erupted. Casimir shifted as the first wolves ran at him, his nephew heading the other way, coward as he’d expected. As he rode the first one to the ground, he searched for his mate, worried about her. She stood tall, shooting at those coming in her direction, the two wolves at her side, protecting her as well.
Teeth sank into his shoulder and he turned his head with a snarl, ripping off the smaller wolf and tearing out his throat. Dyana’s speed at which she shot her arrows, amazed him, but he realized he had to focus on the ones in front of him and kill his nephew or it wouldn’t ever be over.
The flash of dark brindle—Tora’s wolf—shot by him to take on another attacker.
Should have known she wouldn’t be far away.
He howled and his Pack answered as they swarmed those left by Devlin, taking no prisoners but one.
It didn’t take them long, despite being out numbered to emerge victorious. Casimir shifted back to human and stood as his lieutenant’s—and Keane, who’d killed with a leopard’s swiftness—did the same.
He looked for Dyana, having lost sight of her during the fight. She knelt by the alpha of the wild pack one hand on his shoulder. He hastened to her side and found the alpha’s mate lying there, chest open.
Dyana glanced up at him. “We have to save her.” Her hand remained on the wound, pressing a portion of her shirt to it, slowing the blood flow. “Please.”
He knelt and touched her, desperate to feel her beneath his fingertips. “We’ll do everything we can. Kraven,” he called out.
When the man arrived, he knelt and shook his head. “I don’t know, it’s extensive damage. I don’t know if I can save her.”
“Ranger?”
It curdled his gut to hear her call for her friend. He was there in seconds, the alpha growling at him. Keane ignored the wolf and crouched by Kraven, across from Dyana. “I can save her. I’m going to need another set of hands though.”
“I’ll do it,” Tora offered joining them.
Dyana kissed the female wolf and backed away, tears streaming down her face. Kraven and he rose as well. Casimir gathered her close and kissed her. “This isn’t over.”
“I know.”
He looked at Kraven. “Bring them and follow my trail. This ends today.”
“I’ll be right behind you.” The man shifted and ran off.
He focused on Dyana, wiping some of the sweat and blood from her face. “How are you?”
“Angry. Scared. And a whole slew of other emotions I’m not sure how to express.”
“Killing your first isn’t easy.”
“That wasn’t it. I had no problem doing that, I just…” She shrugged. “I want it to be over.” She rubbed her chest.
“What is it?”
“Feel odd. Let’s go.” She turned and he spun her back into him.
Kissing her made his world right. He saw that now, nothing else could even compare. When he released her, he looked and allowed himself to get lost in the passion swirling there. Just for a moment.
“You okay to press on?”
“If this is about my weakness—”
He snarled at her and she snapped her mouth shut before she realized it. Her expression gave that away. “If I was worried about you being weak, this never would have happened, you’d be somewhere safe with Bethany and Rainie.” He gripped her upper arm, unable to not admire the muscles there. “Do you think I would let you come here if I wasn’t confident in your ability and strength? You’re my mate, I want you safe, but you’re
my
mate. The Alpha’s mate fights at his side. A weak shifter or human wouldn’t be here. Not with me.” He stepped closer to her, forcing her head back to maintain eye contact. “You will keep me safe should the need arise. You own my heart and I
trust
you at my side as well as my back, Dyana.”
He watched, refusing to release her gaze, as the knowledge sank in.