Eddie laughed through their animal connection. Blood spurted from his muzzle. “Your uncle is going to kill you.”
“Not if I kill him first.” Caleb circled closer to Eddie.
Aric watched Eddie try to limp on his working legs.
“He knows you’re coming. He’s waiting for you.” Eddie tried to move toward one of the entrances where Nathan stood guard.
There would be no getting away. Caleb dug his claws deep into Eddie’s side. Eddie snarled at the pain being inflicted. He attempted to shake Caleb off him. That didn’t work, so he clawed at Caleb’s side. The quick move was enough to get him off and allow Eddie a small reprieve.
Eddie glanced his way. “It’s only a matter of time before your mate and your sister are dead. He’s coming for your family next.”
Everything turned into a blur. One moment he stood there, watching Eddie paw away from Caleb, and the next he was biting down Eddie’s neck until he broke every bone his jaw could reach. Eddie’s struggles were nothing compared to Aric’s wolf’s fury.
Eddie had threatened his family. There would be no mercy. He continued to bite down on the other wolf until he stopped moving completely. Anger still burned his gut. He wished he could get rid of him all over again. Though he knew this was the end of Eddie, he knew a new threat would rise unless Caleb took charge of his pack.
Aric and Caleb left the body to be cleaned up by other members of his pack while they went to the back to clean themselves up. They returned moments later in clean clothes, blood-free.
Sitting in a booth, he watched Caleb scrub his hands over his bristly face. “I’m so sorry.”
Guilt. He understood why Caleb felt that way. Lately he’d felt guilt every time he saw the bruises on Jordan’s face and neck and realized that due to her involvement with him, she’d been placed in constant danger.
“They’re both alive and Jordan will be fine in no time.” He could say that with certainty now that he’d seen her wake up.
“God damn it!” Caleb slammed his hands on the wooden table. “I should have known he’d have someone in my team reporting everything back to him.”
“You couldn’t have known Eddie would turn out to be a rat.” He’d known Eddie for years and the last thing he would have expected was for him to do this to Caleb. Always claiming loyalty to him, it had taken Aric by surprise for Jordan to say he’d hurt Ellie.
“What are you going to do about Rocco?” Mason asked joining them at the table.
“I’m taking him down.” He picked up the sweaty beer bottle and took a long gulp.
“Caleb, you know that by hurting my mate and sister, he’s signed his death sentence.” Not only would Aric not allow anyone to threaten his family and neither would his brothers or his father.
Caleb glanced at him, his eyes filled with determination. “I need you to give me time to take care of this myself.”
“We can’t allow Rocco to continue leading a pack. He’s putting my family in danger.”
“I know that. I just need some time.”
Aric wanted to argue, but knew that if Caleb was to take control of his pack again, he’d need to be the one to take down Rocco. If Aric and his family took that from him, Caleb would have a harder time getting the respect of his pack.
“How’s Ellie?”
He saw how difficult it was for Caleb to ask about her. Hell, they’d had this almost relationship going for years, neither of them willing to admit their feelings. And with Caleb’s pack problem, neither was willing to push the other to commit.
“She’s safe. We have her protected.” Aric knew that’s what Caleb really wanted to know.
He gave a grim nod, sliding his fingers through his mussed up hair. “And your mate?”
“Jordan woke today. She’s the reason we know about Eddie. She recognized him from the day you came to my house.”
“I’m sorry I brought him near her.”
Aric knew how Caleb felt. The wolf was angry and guilt-ridden for not realizing sooner that his supposed friend was a snitch.
“Don’t worry about it. Focus on what you need to do next.”
Caleb growled. “I have to catch Rocco off-guard. And now that I see Eddie had been on his side, he’s probably aware of my whole plan. I’ll need to think of something else.”
His friend looked haggard and tired. Aric knew he wasn’t the only one who saw it.
“I think you need some extra hands to help you get on with ridding the Rahound pack of Rocco.” Jake studied Caleb with concern.
Caleb smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m a little short on enforcers.”
“It’s all good. I think I can sacrifice some of my time away from the ladies to give you a hand.” Jake sighed.
Caleb lifted a brow. “You’re kidding, right?”
“I think that’s a great idea.” Nathan busted into the conversation. “I’ve got some time on my hands too. You need back-up man.”