“We don’t want to cause a fight. We just came to check why intruders were approaching. And you attacked us first!” He shows his injured comrades, still lying on the ground. I can’t tell if they are unconscious or dead, but the amount of blood on the asphalt is not okay. Liam doesn’t care.
“So what? Do you want to complain? You guys should have stayed put instead of coming to take a peek at my brother’s mate while she was vulnerable.”
“We did not know who she was!”
But Liam shrugs. Above me, Damian lowers his head, gently pressing his muzzle against my cheek. He’s worried about me. I raise my hand to lose my fingers through his fur.I’m so tired, I feel like I could fall asleep here on the ground. I hear a car coming and steps rushing towards us.
“Nora!”
It’s Tonia. She approaches me and covers me with a large coat. Finally, someone bothered about me being naked. Damian has been covering most of me with his body, but still. He gets up, and I can hear him changing back, too. When I look up, Damian already and only has a pair of jeans on despite the cold. I can see his bare torso; I never noticed how muscular he is. I look away, though I’m probably too cold to blush any more.
Suddenly, I feel strong arms pulling me up, and Damian taking me off the ground. It’s a bit embarrassing to be carried like a princess against his chest when I’m wearing nothing but a coat! And in the middle of a territory dispute, to boot. I’m soaked, tired, and I probably stink more than I can smell.
“Can’t we just go home already?” I ask.
Liam turns to me with a pout, visibly annoyed that I’m ruining his fun. Damian doesn’t care, though. He heads back to the car without a glance at the dozen hostile wolves behind him, Tonia behind us.
“What about Alec?” I ask.
“Bobo got him, don’t worry.”
Behind us, I hear Liam growling. He and the Sea Moon Wolves haven’t moved. We reach the car, Damian sits at the back, with me on his lap.
“Liam!”
The youngest Black brother can’t disobey, but he still gives a glare to the guy.
“Next time, guys.”
He dashes to join us and finally sits in the car while Tonia drives away. I notice a few wolves outside that must have come with them, but they all quickly disperse as soon as thecar starts. I try looking for the creamy white wolf from earlier, but I don’t recognize anyone.
“What about Nathaniel?” I ask.
“He stayed behind to take care of things with the Jade Moon Clan.”
I nod. Why didn’t that female werewolf want Nathaniel to know about her presence? I assumed she was from the Blood Moon Clan, but it seems more complicated than that. How could that woman mind-link with me? She is not from the Jade Moon Clan, and aside from that, only relatives or bonded mates can do such a thing!
Unlike I thought, I couldn’t fall asleep in the car. I don’t know what kept me awake, despite the long trip and my exhaustion. For a while, I just stared at Liam’s silhouette against the window and the city’s nightlife behind him. Tonia put the heater on, and I’m starting to feel better already. She has some jazz music playing on the radio, not too loud, though. Sitting on Damian’s lap, I feel his hands gently brushing my hair. Gosh, I always feel so safe whenever I am in his embrace. I’m cold, soaked, and exhausted, yet I am content being there. What happened in just a few hours seems crazy.
“You okay?” Asks Damian
“Just a bit tired... What about Alec?”
“We caught him. Boyan is taking him to one of our houses as we speak.”
“Are we heading there?”
I want to settle things with my brother now. After selling me, and trying to kill me twice, I think it is high time we have a little conversation. Tonia stops me in my reflections.
“No, we are not. We’re going to the hospital. Nora, in case you haven’t noticed, you are bleeding.”
“Well, I know, but I figured I would just... heal.”
“I meant you arestillbleeding.”
I realize Tonia’s tone was a bit worrying for a reason. I check the cut on my thigh, and it is indeed still leaking a bit of fresh blood. And it stings, thanks to the seawater. It may be deep, but I thought my wolf would have taken care of that by now. Why am I not healing fast? Any werewolf is supposed to do that! That’s part of the checklist: Shapeshifting, enhanced sense of smell, mind-linking, night vision, and healing fast! Why don’t I?
I try to get to my wolf to explain this, without success. Meanwhile, Damian lifts a bit of the coat, too, checking my injury with a frown. I bite my lip. Okay, this deep cut is worrying. Liam is looking, also, a bit curious until realizing that this is still my bare leg, and thus, his brother is glaring at him. He quickly looks away, but I’m pretty sure he is blushing. Sorry, Liam.
