Page 53 of Little Bunny

He wasn’t remorseful. He was defensive. Instead of taking responsibility, he blamed circumstance.

“I didn’t know it would get that hot! Besides, I hadn’t planned on being gone that long.” He turned his blazing eyes on Matias. “But I got assigned babysitting duties.”

He turned it on Matias, as if he’d forced Tito’s hand.

Santiago’s gaze flashed to Percy, raw pain in his eyes, before he turned his attention back to Tito. “Did you violate him?”

The wolf wanted to lie. Matias saw it in his eyes. He wanted to hurt Santiago, to make him suffer. All because Santiago had wordlessly claimed Percy as his.

Matias wasn’t sure if Santiago’s wolf had done the same, but even if it hadn’t, everyone in their pack knew how Santiago felt toward Percy.

“No.” Matias released Tito. “He didn’t have the time. He was there when Elijah took care of Diablo, was with Suero restocking the bar while I was claiming Elijah—” His mate’s brows shot up. Matias was going to hear about that later. “And then was with Elijah until our return.”

Matias leaned toward Tito, making the wolf lean back. “Lie to Santiago and I will rip out your fucking tongue.”

It wasn’t a threat but a promise. Matias was one-hundred percent certain of the timeline.

That told him exactly what kind of man Tito was—spiteful, sadistic, and willing to twist the knife just to see Santiago suffer.

“What gave it away?” Tito asked calmly, as if resigned to his fate. Or being smug. Matias wasn’t sure. He thought he knew his pack, knew Tito, but he’d just been proven wrong in the worst possible way.

“You volunteered to stay,” Elijah snarled.

His little bunny had claws. Matias loved it but now was not the time to get turned on by his fire.

“You called to say you found Percy,” Matias answered cooly.

Tito shook his head. “How is that suspicious?”

What an absolute idiot. Matias sighed, done with this. Ready to get the twisted bastard away from him. “You called ten goddamn minutes after I sent everyone out to look for Percy. You took off from the tavern”—Matias stepped even closer—“so how did you end up behind the tavern where the fucking shed was located?”

“Percy was that close the entire time?” Elijah lunged for Tito. “He almost died and he was right there!”

Matias gripped Tito by the throat, giving him a look that dared him to strike back. Elijah’s punches and slaps were ineffectual, but he needed this, needed to take out his rage, fear, helplessness, and guilt on the man who had caused it.

Finally, Elijah stepped back, breathing heavily, tears in his eyes. But instead of saying anything, he turned toward the bed, sitting on the side of it and took his best friend’s hand in his, silently crying.

For that alone, Matias wanted Tito’s death. But as much as he craved to see the wolf dead at his feet, it wasn’t his punishment to give.

“He’s all yours, Santiago.” That was their world. Their way of life. Betrayals were met with execution. No trial. No prison. Their justice was swift and merciless.

They weren’t human. An animal heart beat inside of their kind. They lived by their primal instincts, were ruled by it, loved by it, and would die by it.

What Tito had done was unforgivable, and Santiago would have his justice.

Santiago snatched up Tito and pulled him from the room, vengeance burning in his eyes. Diablo started to follow.

“Go see the doctor,” Matias reminded him. What the hyenas had done was frightening, and Matias wanted to know, needed to know, if it would wear off or if there was a way to counteract it.

The drug was a danger to all shifters, but it was his pack Matias was responsible for.

“As soon as Santiago is done, I’ll head there,” Diablo said before walking out.

Beyond the window, the sun was setting, the golden light bathing Elijah in its soft glow. Matias stood there, gazing at his mate as a soft smile touched his lips.

From the moment he’d spotted Elijah walking through the doors of Sin & Steel, the male had belonged to him. Elijah was full of fire, challenging Matias, pushing him past his control, and Matias was enjoying every second of the passion that followed.

And whether Elijah realized it or not, he was a natural-born caregiver. Something Matias sorely needed but never knew he was missing until the human had entered his life.

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