Perfect Mate (A Werewolf BBW Shifter Romance #2)(20)

Blood gushed over her white pelt, turning it scarlet. The blood spilled over her shoulders like a red shawl. Trax was hurt, but she was hurt too, and her agility was gone whereas his strength was still there. She backed up and then two other wolves were at her back from out of nowhere.

Julia gasped. Kyle and Katherine. Dee looked at them, then turned back to Trax. Tears ran down Julia's face. She couldn't look away. She knew what would happen, but her eyes were glued to Dee.

Then Kyle and Katherine sprang forward over Dee and at the leader. Katherine snapped at his haunches, catching his leg, and he howled in pain. Then Kyle bit down on his neck, and the howl turned into a gurgle. Blood rushed from his neck, pooling on the ground. By the light of the bonfire it looked almost black.

Dee limped toward the cabin. Julia ran over to her and bent down. Dee nuzzled her snout against Julia's nose.

It was the same gesture that Granny Dee made as a human: "Everything is alright."

Jordan was still fighting the female wolf, and Kyle and Katherine turned to her. She kicked away from Jordan, limping. She whimpered and backed up against the edge of the clearing, the three other wolves closing in on her.

"Stop."

Damien's voice was clear. Amid the hubbub, he had shifted back into human form and he now stood nak*d, stepping forward slowly with his arm clutching his chest in pain. Everyone stopped in their place. He addressed the female wolf directly.

"Your leader is dead. Join our pack."

She rolled over in a gesture of pure submission, exposing her belly. The other wolves retreated and Damien stood among them in the middle of the clearing, the light of the bonfire playing over his wounds. He turned his head to Julia, who stood nak*d along with him in the light of the flame.

"Julia," he said, and held his uninjured hand out to her. With Dee following in wolf form, she walked forward to him, her broken arm hugged close to her chest. When she reached him, he leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. His voice, still in pain, was deep and low.

"Join my pack. Be my mate."

Julia looked up at Damien, his chest smeared with blood, his eyes golden in the light of the fire. She had never loved him so much.

"I already am," she said.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“Ow! Could you not do that?”

“I don’t know, could you stop being such a baby about a couple of stitches?”

On top of Julia’s bed, Damien leaned his head back onto the pillow. Jordan pulled the last of the stitches tight and Damien winced.

“There, was that so bad?”

“Horrible,” Damien said, unclenching his jaw. “How is the rest of the pack?”

“They’re all recuperating downstairs.” Jordan put the suturing tools back into his bag and snapped the clasp shut. “I think Kyle is trying to convince Katherine that part of his recovery requires sexual therapy.”

“I didn’t think Kyle was hurt in the fight,” Damien said, lifting his arm so that Jordan could finish bandaging up his ribcage.

“He wasn’t.”

Damien chuckled. A knock came on the door.

“Go away, we’re busy making pups!” Jordan called.

The door opened slightly and Kyle eased himself inside, the scent of guilt on him. Damien’s smile quickly faded.

“Can I talk with you, sir?” Kyle asked. His voice was quiet, contrite.

“Yes,” Damien said.

“I just need to finish bandaging this up,” Jordan said apologetically.

“It’s alright,” Damien said. “You can stay. This won’t take long.”

Kyle entered the room and stood in front of the bed. His breaths were shallow.

“Sir, I—”

Damien held up his hand.

“Before you start to explain, I know that you are on my side. You and Katherine both. But there are a lot of questions that need answers. The pack needs answers.”

Damien tried not to wince as Jordan tightened a bandage on his side. Kyle shifted his weight on his feet.

“I betrayed you, sir.”

Damien waited. After a moment, Kyle continued.

“I lied. I—I betrayed the pack. But Katherine had nothing to do with it. Please. Even if you exile me, don’t force her out.”

Damien raised his eyebrows. “I don’t think she could let you leave without coming with you.”

Kyle exhaled, a long, deep sigh. A crack of guilt worked its way into his voice.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I thought I could fight them off before they got to Julia.”

“Your old pack? The ones you told about Julia?” A growl came into Damien’s throat.

“I contacted them before I ever knew she was your mate!” he said. “I thought she was just a shifter.”

“One you could throw to the wolves?” Damien snapped. Kyle choked on his words, and Damien waited for him to calm down before going on. “Kyle, that doesn’t sound like you.”

“I didn’t know what they were planning to do! I thought they just wanted her to join the pack,” he said.

“Why would she want to join a pack like that? Why would you?”

“When I was a pup…I don’t know, it seemed different,” Kyle said, speaking quickly. “It seemed more like a game. And the wolves were so strong, and I—I was so weak. I wanted to be like them. And then my leg got more twisted, and I knew I couldn’t stay, but…but I always wanted to go back.”