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  Tobias forced Jossy to climb into the truck bed and stand with him. Every rough touch burned into Kane’s memory. The truck sat parked in the center of the fenced lot where construction had begun on a new community center. Tobias howled.

  That idiot will expose us! Looking around, Kane didn’t see any humans, and he sagged with relief. The last thing they needed right now was innocent bystanders becoming victims.

  One of the interlopers looked up and studied the tree line at the back of the lot. Kane froze, but after a moment the rogue’s attention returned to Tobias.

  At least Joslyn was alive; for that he was grateful. I’ll kill them all—Toby the slowest. Every second of her pain will be his. Jossy shook, but her face displayed a mask of courage. Love for her slammed into him. I’ll make this right. I’ll protect you.

  Kane’s pack started wandering into the vacant lot. Large earth movers and tools took up a lot of the space, so the majority of the people crowded around the truck. Over a dozen from the town pack had come. Some faces were angry—these people cared about Jossy, she was pack—and some just looked curious.

  “Thank you for coming to me,” Tobias shouted. “I want you all to know I give Joslyn my protection.”

  Gasps erupted. A couple of the bigger men stepped forward, ready to fight. Tobias shook Jossy. Kane’s muscles bunched as his body prepared to attack.

  Tobias shook her again. “Tell them or else.”

  Joslyn squeezed her eyes closed tight. “I accept your protection.”

  A stab of surprise pain hit Kane in the chest as if he’d just been electrocuted. He’d longed to hear her say those words, but not like this. Jossy, no! You’re mine. A splitting pain filled his head. Those simple words, uttered under obvious duress, caused him the most excruciating agony he’d ever experience. Kane fell to his knees but managed to remain obscured by the bushes.

  A rabble of voices rose from the town pack. A male from Joslyn’s graduating class stepped forward. “What do you have on her? She wouldn’t accept you unless you’d done something to her.”

  “Does it matter?” Tobias sneered. “She accepted.”

  Kane forced his body to obey and pulled himself together. He stood, slowly, but stood, and that was what mattered. Some of the town pack left. A few of the males stayed, and the frowns they wore made each man’s disapproval clear. I have a few allies. Kane began counting.

  Chapter 6

  Joslyn hurt where Tobias held her arm. She had no choice but to stand beside the maniac, because Mary depended on her. When her captor howled, she flinched. Howling in human form was rare for werewolves and only meant one thing, an audience. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. Can I do this, even for Mary? I hate Toby. Damn it. She fought the instinct to pull away.

  She couldn’t meet the curious looks as people gawked at her. This is worse than being on display in some kind of zoo.

  Tobias squeezed her arm harder. “Thank you for coming to me. I want you all to know I give Joslyn my protection.”

  Gasps erupted. Help me. Can’t you see I need help? But no one came to save her.

  Tobias shook her so hard she bit her tongue. The metallic taste of blood made her gag.

  “Tell them or else.” His voice grated against her ears like nails on a chalkboard.

  Joslyn squeezed her eyes closed. She couldn’t look at the crowd or she’d never have the courage to condemn herself. “I accept your protection.” This is for Mary. She’s had my back since we were in junior high.

  Tobias yanked her arm. “It’s done. Let’s go make us a half-breed and seal the deal.”

  Something had changed. His words repulsed her, and yet she felt compelled to follow him. Tears ran out of the corner of her eyes.

  More men arrived. She recognized the faces as Michael’s militia, and relief washed over her. One of the men ran at one of the intruding pack. Chaos erupted. Tobias didn’t give her any warning as he jumped off the side of the truck bed. She lost her footing and fell. Her face hit the truck, and a burst of pain radiated through her cheek.

  Glaring, his irritation undisguised, Tobias grabbed her under the arms. “Come on,” he muttered. “You weigh a ton, woman.”

  Anger stirred, and she struggled under his touch. “Let my fat ass go if you’re having trouble.”

  He chuckled. “I’ll manage. I’m just going to have to put you on a starvation diet, at least until I get you pregnant.” He held her in his arms now and looked her right in the eyes. “Then I’ll keep you alive long enough to see the look on Kane’s face when I show him the kid. I’ll bite it on day one, so it won’t be human long. I might let you live, or I might kill you, whatever bothers Kane most.” Tobias set her on her feet, but he didn’t let go of her.

  “You’re insane!” Joslyn struggled.

  “Aren’t we all a little crazy?”

  He opened the driver’s side door of the truck and pushed her inside. She turned and kicked him, hard, in the face. He stumbled back, and she slammed and locked the door then secured the passenger side and even the little window on the back.

  Tobias pounded on the glass, but she ignored him. Something inside her wanted her to let him in, but she fought the urge to please him. She needed to save Mary, but when she reached out there wasn’t anything in the ignition.

  Keys. Where are the keys!

  * * * *

  Jossy was secure for now, but the glass in the windshield cracked where Tobias pounded. Kane shed his clothing and let the wolf take over. He had to protect her. His wolf was strong; he hated the loss of control, but today he kept enough focus to direct the wolf. Joslyn.

  Bittens fought in half-transformation, because without the full moon they were unable to take on the wolf fully. They punched and kicked. Borns transformed completely as wolves, going for throats and fighting to the death. Screams rose up around him, but he only wanted Tobias’s blood on his hands. The violent free-for-all was a blur of noise and blood.

  The want-to-be alpha was so persistent on getting to Joslyn that he didn’t see Kane coming. Springing forward, Kane used the distraction to lunge at Tobias. Using the wolf’s powerful jaws, he grabbed hold of the yet human leg of his nemesis and clamped down hard on the enemy. Tobias screamed, and his transformation began. Kane jerked his head and pulled the injured man to the ground. He sprang at the bastard’s throat. I’m going to kill him! There’s no time to protect the secret.

  Tobias glared with defiance even as Kane readied to deliver him to hell.

  “No!” Joslyn shouted from the open window. “Don’t do it, Kane. I... Just get in here!”

  Kane growled. Tobias’s transformation completed and he wriggled his wolf form, trying to free himself. Kane kept him pinned, but snapped his teeth, biting into Tobias’s face and making the wolf yelp. Will I regret letting him live? For Joslyn, he leaped away, and she opened the truck’s driver side door and scooted back. Kane bound up into the waiting seat, and she reached over him, shutting and locking the door before anyone reached them.

  Moments later Kane was a man again. Joslyn flushed, and Kane grabbed a sweatshirt—Tobias’s judging from the stench—and covered his lap. No keys. He leaned down and began hotwiring the truck.

  “How did you learn how to do that?”

  Kane chuckled. “Father’s favorite punishment was to take my keys, don’t you remember?”

  “Sure, but I don’t remember you hotwiring any cars.”

  The engine roared to life. Kane sat up. “That’s because I was good at it—never got caught.”

  Joslyn rolled down the passenger side window. “I do not accept your protection, Tobias Monstre!” She quickly rolled up the window. It was unlikely many had heard her, but she was free of his vow. Kane breathed a sigh of relief.

  Throwing the truck in reverse, Kane swerved to avoid several fighting wolves. He fishtailed as he accelerated out of the lot and the tires spit gravel.

  “I’m taking you home.” Kane put the pedal all the way to the floorboard. “You’re saf
e now.”

  “We have to go to the Connor farm.”

  He glanced at Joslyn. Her wide eyes and pale face gazed at him beseechingly. He frowned. “Why?”

  “They have Mary. That’s why I accepted his protection.”

  “We’ll get her back. How many guards are at the farm?”

  “I only saw two, but there might have been more in the barn. Everything happened so fast I wasn’t focused enough.”

  He nodded. “You did just fine. I’m sorry you had to suffer. I tried to keep my wolf in control and stay near the house, but I wasn’t strong enough to control the wolf. I’m going to take you home before I rescue Mary.”

  Joslyn sat up straighter. “No! There’s no time.”

  “I’m not taking you.”

  Joslyn made a sound that was a cross between shock and anger. “I’m going with or without you.”

  She’s a stubborn woman. “Is there any point arguing with you?” Kane let out a grunting sigh. “Fuck it.” He turned off the main road to leave town. The speedometer read eighty, but he managed to stay on the winding gravel lane.

  Joslyn wiped sweat out of her eyes. “Too bad this old clunker doesn’t have working air conditioning.” Rolling down the window, Joslyn alleviated some of the summer heat, but it was still a sauna.

  The smell of fresh cut grass, his territory, and his woman twisted something primal inside of him. “Joslyn Jamison, I give you my protection, and you better damn well accept it!”

  She crossed her arms over her chest, and the corners of her full, luscious lips dipped down.

  “Damn stubborn woman,” Kane muttered.

  “Every girl dreams of something a bit more romantic when she gets married. I want a real dress, too and the whole thing, church and all.”

  “For now I want you to have my protection. I want you to be my mate. We can do everything your stubborn little heart desires when this is all over, but I give you my protection now. Do. You. Accept?”

  “I might be stubborn, but you’re just as stubborn.”

  The truck fishtailed on the loose gravel, and Joslyn had to put her arms out to keep from hitting the dashboard. She put her seatbelt on.

  “Shouldn’t we find some help?” she asked. “You’re outnumbered.”

  Kane allowed her to change the subject. “Has that ever stopped me before?”

  They reached the top of the hill, and the Connor’s abandoned barn roof was in view. Where the burned-out farmhouse stood Kane noticed one truck, but no other vehicles.

  He glanced at Jossy. “Have some faith in me.”

  She gave him a tight smile. “I’ve seen you fight. I know what you can do, but I hate it. I just don’t want you to have to do it.”

  “Is that why you stopped me from killing Toby? I wish you had just let me end him. He won’t give up.”

  “I couldn’t— He...told me something.”

  Kane’s eyebrows rose, but he didn’t take his gaze off the road as the truck careened down the treacherous hill. “What was it?”

  “He said Michael is his father.” She paused, and he felt her staring at his face, but he couldn’t look at her. Deep down he’d suspected. “He’s older than you by a year, so birthright stuff has left him riled up.”

  “Father said a few things after this all started that made me suspicious. Yeah, I don’t doubt he’s telling the truth. I’m sorry he went after you to get to us.”

  “You. He has the biggest grudge against you. I almost wish I had let you kill him, but if he’s your brother, I couldn’t let that be on your soul.”

  “If I’m going to be alpha, I won’t have a soul for you to worry about.”

  The conversation ended as Kane drove past the farm and put the truck in four-wheel drive. As he steered into the ditch and navigated out into the field they bounced wildly. He parked downwind of the barn.

  “Let’s hope they aren’t paying any attention. They’d expect a pack, not just me. You stay here. I can’t concentrate if I’m worried about you. You still remember how to drive a stick, right?”

  She nodded.

  Kane let go of the breath he’d held. “Good. If anything seems off, anything, you get the hell back to town. Do I have your promise?”

  “If I just—”

  “No. You are going to go back to town if there’s trouble.”

  She glared at him. “Fine.”

  He leaned forward and kissed her. She tasted like heaven, and he pulled her into his arms. Their tongues intertwined. He groaned into her mouth and pulled away. Her pretty, flushed face made him hard, which was awkward because the sweatshirt over his lap was all that covered his nakedness. “Anything weird happens, and you go back home. Lock the doors.”

  She nodded, but paled. “Be careful.”

  “I have a lot to look forward to. I’m not planning on this being a suicide mission.”

  Jossy scowled. “Damn it, Kane, don’t even joke like that!”

  He grinned. “There’s the fire I want in a mate. You just sit tight.”

  He was already naked, so as he stepped outside he let the wolf take him. She watched him with her beautiful crystalline blue eyes. His wolf whined, and she shut the door. His wolf hearing registered the snick of the lock. Kane turned toward the farm and bound across the field at full speed.

  Chapter 7

  Two males sat outside the barn passing a cigarette back and forth. One of them closed his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. They were relaxed. The wind blew away from them, and they hadn’t noticed Kane’s scent.

  Kane fought for control. He had to retain as much of his human mind as he could. Because the moon wasn’t full, staying in command of his animal form was easier.

  A moment later, the other man crushed out the shared smoke against the rocky ground and stood. “I gotta piss.”

  The sleeper never opened his eyes.

  As soon as the standing man walked a few feet and unzipped his fly the wolf’s muscles bunched in preparation, and Kane sprang forward. He went for the man’s throat and took him down. The strangled gurgle he made as he choked on his blood alerted the sleeping male, and Kane turned as the other guard transmuted into his wolf.

  They circled each other. Growling. Posturing. Kane sized up his smaller opponent. He’d chosen well because the dead male was larger. Kane stood tall on stiff legs. He growled. Toby’s guard dog snarled, his ears stood erect, and the fur on his back bristled.

  Kane lunged, snapping at the other male’s face. The male’s tail jutted straight out, and his eyes narrowed. They circled each other. Toby’s man made the first move, but Kane was larger and overpowered him. Kane took a large chunk out of the smaller wolf’s shoulder. He yelped as he wriggled away. The injured wolf’s ears flattened when Kane moved forward. His adversary rolled to his back, his paws drawn in close, and he whimpered.

  Kane let the submissive male live as he ran into the barn. Mary lay on her side, her hands tied behind her back. She was sleeping. Kane’s muscles and ligaments twisted and changed as he became a man again. The adrenaline from the fight numbed the pain that came with the transformation. He wiped at the blood on his face, hoping he wouldn’t scare poor Mary too much when she woke up.

  “Mary. Mary, get up.”

  She gasped and rolled over. She blinked a few times. “Kane?” She sounded drugged.

  “You okay? What did they do to you?”

  “The jerks made me drink something, been sleeping. So tired.” Mary’s eyes closed again.

  “I’ve got you.” Kane picked her up.

  She drifted off as they passed the dead man. There was no sign of the defeated omega. Kane was glad for the day’s heat because he was completely naked as he walked through the field. Joslyn opened the truck door and helped him get Mary situated. She smoothed the hair off her unconscious friend’s forehead.

  Kane looked back at the farm before he climbed into the truck and slid behind the wheel. He put the sweatshirt back over his lap. “That was too easy.”

&nbs
p; “You’re covered in blood! How can you call that easy?”

  “It’s not my blood.”

  Jossy blanched, and Kane immediately regretted his words. Her human sensibilities were so different from a wolf’s.

  “We need to get Mary back to town and get some water into her. They gave her something.”

  “Shouldn’t we get her to the hospital?” Jossy asked.

  “No. She just needs a lot of water and rest. Don’t forget how we heal.”

  “Yeah, but if there’s anything more that we can do, I want to do it. She’s my best friend.”

  Kane nodded. “That bottle of water on the cab floor isn’t open. It’s probably hot as hell, but see if you can get some of it into her.”

  The rest of the way back to town they were quiet. Jossy whispered encouragement to Mary, and with her perseverance Mary drunk almost the entire bottle of water.

  Kane turned toward home.

  “Where are we going? Mary lives on Oak Street.”

  “Pants. Unless you’re enjoying me seeing me naked.”

  Jossy flushed and rolled her eyes. “By all means—pants.”

  Kane chuckled. He looked down at Mary before returning his focus to the road. “Her color is better. You’ve done well.” He pulled up to the manor, and his mother came running out. Kane hit the brakes. “Stay here.”

  He got out, holding the sweatshirt for modesty. His mother talked to him for a moment before rushing back inside. Kane ran in behind her.

  * * * *

  Barbara came out before her son returned. She had another bottle of water in her hand. Joslyn rolled down the window.

  “Thank God you’re okay. Michael has been managing damage control as best as he can, but the humans know something is going on. It’s not good. Not good at all.” She shook her head as she handed the bottle of water to Joslyn. “Poor thing. Kane told me they drugged her, probably wolfsbane. I’m pleased most of those bastards are dead. Tobias’s coup is ebbing. The little shit is banished. I doubt he’ll last long as a lone wolf.”