“You were too busy being stressed over the stuff at home, so you didn’t see his instant need to protect you. The scent of a mate is recognized at the first time we see them. It doesn’t matter how old you are, it doesn’t matter if you’re separated for years, or that he’s your best friend’s brother. All that matters is you’ll eventually end up together, which you did.”
“You mean the first time I saw him, he…liked me?” She’d been an overweight teen with glasses, a bad attitude and some serious issues at home.
“Honey, he was never the same again. My son went from being this carefree teen who chased girls in the pack, to hanging on to every word Ellie said about her friend.”
Wow. She never would’ve guessed that her own crush was returned. Aric was older, so she never considered he’d see her as anything other than a pesky young girl. She had to stop kidding herself about him. She was in love with him. There were no longer any thoughts of being away from him. That meant she needed to start focusing on one hundred percent commitment to their happiness. Hell, she was officially in a committed relationship with the man of her dreams, but instead of nerves all she felt was joy.
Aric and his brothers didn’t warn Caleb of the person in his group. They needed to keep the man from running. Catching them unawares was the best way to get their hands on the traitor. Fury rolled around his gut, firing his need for revenge on the person who hurt his mate and sister.
Caleb’s message indicated they’d be at his bar later. Wolfe’s Den was filled with males and females from his and Caleb’s packs. His brothers took seats at multiple entryways to wait.
The group arrived shortly after them with Caleb leading the way. His short brown hair hung in disarray. He took that moment to slide his fingers through, mussing it up some more. Aric glanced at the others following Caleb, until his gaze zeroed in on one man. Eddie. The only blond in Caleb’s small group of back-up, strolling in without a care in the world. Cocky. It would cost him his life. Aric’s tenuous hold on his animal started slipping. Fur pushed under his skin. His fingers burned with the shift into claws. His face heated as he fought the bones from popping.
He glanced back at Caleb. No words were needed. His friend had seen it in his eyes. He whirled fast, grabbing Eddie by the throat. All conversation halted.
“What did you do?” The deathly growl echoed inside the bar.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Guilt was written all over Eddie’s face. The bitter scent of his lies and sharp fear shot out of his pores to tell the truth he denied. “Let me go man.”
The wolf in Eddie turned his voice rough. Caleb threw him across the room. He flew to the other side of the bar, hit his back on a wall, and landed on a table. Glass shattered under him.
A circle of shifters surrounded Eddie, Caleb, and Aric. Jake, Nathan, and Mason stood by the corners nearest the doors in case Eddie tried to escape. Eddie stood.
“I’ve done nothing.”
Caleb shoved tables out of his way. “I will ask you one more time, Eddie. What did you do?”
“Nothing!” He growled. His features turned feral. His eyes glowed with his animal. Fur sprouted on his arms and face. Fingers turned to claws.
“Liar!” Aric couldn’t take it any longer. He jumped Eddie. The other man was taken by surprise while his attention was solely on Caleb. Aric landed on Eddie. He slashed his claws over his face, leaving a trail of blood in his wake. Eddie fought Aric’s hold on him, shoving him to get him off.
Eddie got back on his feet, rushing to the center of the circle to get away.
“He hurt Ellie!” Aric bellowed, signing Eddie’s death sentence. “And he’ll tell me who hurt Jordan before he dies.”
Caleb’s roar was fierce. Like Aric, he controlled his beast without problems most times. But being faced with a person who hurt the one he loved broke his control on the beast.
“You. Hurt. Ellie.” The need for vengeance was clear in Caleb’s face.
“I didn’t know she was yours, man.” Blood dripped down Eddie’s face. “Your uncle—”
Caleb shifted. The big grey wolf didn’t wait. Eddie shifted as well. There would be no more talking. Aric let his animal free. They continued their argument through their animal links.
“Where are the others?” Aric asked the other wolf.
“Fuck you,” Eddie growled, trying to avoid Caleb’s sharp canines. The scent of his anger and fear filled the bar. Pack members continued to watch, all the while staying out of their way. This was Aric’s domain and he ruled. No one would aid Eddie.
He ran from Caleb, but ended up within Aric’s reach. He pounced, jaws open, on the brown. Another table broke in their scuffle. Eddie whimpered and snarled. Aric’s wolf growled, ready to kill off the animal that’d taken part in hurting his mate and hurting his sister.
Eddie whimpered as Aric bit down hard on his hind leg, breaking bones. Eddie clawed at Aric’s side, but Aric moved swiftly out of reach.
Eddie struggled on to his feet, still attempting to fight the two more powerful wolves off.
“Did my Rocco send you? Are the others part of his team?”