Mated in Mist (Talon Pack #3)(32)

“No fangs. No claws.”

Brandon nodded then sprang. Ryder ducked out of the way, rolling to the ground before coming back to his bare feet. He kicked out, knocking into Brandon’s knee. His brother faltered for a minute before taking out Ryder’s legs instead. The two wrestled on the ground, throwing punches that connected more often than not. His wolf reveled in it, loving the feel of another wolf to play with, as well as a way to let out his aggression.

“What are you doing?” Leah’s voice came to him as he straddled Brandon, his fist ready to punch again. Only he’d frozen as soon as he heard her and hadn’t been able to protect his face.

Brandon’s fist landed on his nose, the resounding crunch an echo between his ears. Blood spurted, and he cursed, covering his face before stumbling to his feet.

Brandon let out another curse and gingerly stood up. “Fuck. I didn’t mean to break it.”

Ryder winced, the pain not too bad; he’d had far worse. But he hadn’t been prepared for it, so it hurt like a bitch.

“Oh, goddess, you’re bleeding. Well, both of you are, but Ryder, your nose.” Leah came up to him, stripping off her cardigan as she did. She held it out, and he took it without thinking. “Put it against your nose to sop up the blood.” He did as he was told because she’d asked it of him. As soon as he did, he wanted to growl. Now he had her scent pressed up against his face and he had to deal with a hard-on as well as whatever the hell was going on with him.

“I’m fine,” he said, a bit muffled.

“No, you aren’t.” Leah sighed. “Neither one of you are. What is wrong with you? Why were you fighting?”

Ryder shrugged. “Just blowing off steam.”

Brandon mumbled an assent. “We’re fine, Leah. He’s had his nose broken by at least one of us before. We’re wolves.”

Leah mumbled something about barbaric men and stupid practices but kept her hand on his arm. He hadn’t realized she’d touched him, but he should have. He was hard and confused as hell. Damn it. He’d run to get her out of his system, and now he had her scent on his face and her hand on his body.

The exact opposite of what he needed.

“We have a meeting with the Coven in an hour. Are you going to be okay to go?”

Ryder pulled her cardigan away from his face and raised a brow at her. “I’ll be healed in twenty minutes, Leah. I just need to clean up the blood.” He winced when he looked down at what she’d given him. “I think I’ve ruined this, though.”

“It stopped the blood, so whatever. Now, come on, let me make sure you didn’t break anything else.” She turned to Brandon. “Do you need to come with us?”

Ryder’s wolf pressed up against him, not liking that idea one bit.

Brandon shook his head, his eyes on Ryder. “I’m okay. I didn’t have anything broken.”

“Lucky punch,” Ryder snarled.

“I’m just that good.” With that, his brother walked off, but Ryder suspected he’d done what he’d set out to do. Ryder may not have spilled his secrets, but he felt a little better by letting out some of his aggression. Damn it. He might have to thank Brandon now.

“I don’t understand men,” Leah muttered.

Ryder leaned down and kissed her forehead. He knew he shouldn’t, but he couldn’t help it. “We’re simple creatures. We like fighting. Women. And booze.”

She rolled her eyes but slid her hand in his as they made their way to his place. He didn’t know what he was going to do about her, but damn it, he’d just have to deal. Somehow. He always had before.

****

Leah wanted to bury her head in the sand and forget everything around her, but that wouldn’t be helpful in the slightest. Two hours into the Coven meeting, and they were no better off than they had been when they’d walked in. At least the name-calling had stopped.

“That witch is the reason we’re in this mess. A mongrel,” her father spat.

Ah, the name-calling was back it seemed.

“Luis,” one of the other witches whispered. “Please. Using those names gets us nowhere.”

Considering the fact that the man had slept with her mother and was, therefore, part of her whole genetic makeup, calling her a mongrel was bad form. Not that the man ever cared about that.

She might technically be the bastard, but he was the one who acted like one.

Ryder squeezed her thigh, and she looked over at him. “I’m fine,” she whispered. “He can’t hurt me.” A lie, as the man could hurt her with each word, and perhaps even more with his actions, but she would at least try not to let it hurt.”

“Witches are burning, and we’re here discussing politics,” Luis snarled. “There is blame to be laid, and we have the culprit right in front of us.” She felt his gaze on her and turned toward him, her chin raised.

“Are we back to this?” Finn Jamenson asked, frustration clear in his tone. “The witches and wolves are now in the public eye, and there’s nothing we can do to stop that. Putting blame on the victim is only hampering our efforts.”

“She’s the one that did her magic on camera. She’s no victim.” Her father glared at her, and she was pretty sure he’d end her if he had the chance. There would be no happy reunion with this man. Not that there had ever been a chance of that. He’d tried to have her wiped off the face of the earth before she’d even been born, and had his henchman after her family ever since he’d failed. He hadn’t wanted tainted blood out in the world, and now he couldn’t do anything about it without endangering the wolves.