Page 115 of Mated
I lean my head on Tanner’s shoulder and squeeze his hand. Anything to let him know I am still here. That I’m not going anywhere. Even with all of this.
The distant sound of car doors closing has the men standing straighter. Tanner’s keen eyes lock on the screen door and his thumb tracks over my hand again and again.
The panel opens.
Daisy shuffles inside, Ruin, Lilah, and Horan at her back.
“You have no idea how fucking glad I am to be out of the damn hospital,” she says, peering around.
Ruin and Horan step into the doorway behind her, effectively blocking it as Lilah shifts over next to Caine in front of the window.
Daisy’s bright smile begins to fade. “Everything okay?”
Callus presses from the wall, his face tight.
Tanner releases me and grips his arm. The Alpha goes rigid but doesn’t pull away. T looks at her. “Where did you get the Brightex, D?”
Daisy’s lips part. “What?” she demands. “What are you—”
Callus rips from Tanner’s hold and grabs her by the throat. He snarls and there is nothing human left in his face. “You endangered the fucking pack by bringing that shit here. Where did you fucking get it?”
Silence descends, long and palpable.
Slowly, so slowly, the expression of disbelief on Daisy’s face morphs into a sneer. “Go fuck yourself, Alpha.”
My jaw drops.
Tanner lays a hand on his arm. Callus’ fingers tighten, and then he drops her to her feet and steps back. “Why, Daisy? Why would you fucking do this?” Every word seems ripped from him.
She snarls. “Because of you, you prick.” Her emerald eyes flash and she glares at Tanner. “And because of him.”
T takes a step back. “What? I haven’t even been around.”
Her face twists further. “Fucking exactly,” she snaps. “You fucking left and the pack got him.” She points at Callus. “Within two years, he ran everyone out that was loyal to you. That was strong enough to challenge his place as Alpha.”
Callus stiffens. “I never ran them off. They fucking left. Of their own free will.”
“The Twins, Callus? Mark? Raymond? They all leave on their own?” Her teeth gnash. “One full moon they were here, the next they were gone.”
“You ran off every fucking body in the pack with your new laws. Your new rules,” she spits. “You turned the fucking pack into a damn human sideshow act. We grew weaker. Hell, among other fucking packs wearealmost human. And I know because I’ve gone to other packs and looked.”
Her agitation grows. “We were meant for more than this. But once you got a taste of that damn power, you started hoarding it for yourself. Now the pack gets scraps when you please. The only way we get more is if we fuck you and garner your favor.”
Callus’ face turns red, but Tanner slams his arm across his chest, stopping the Alpha’s retort or his rapid forward momentum.
Tanner leans closer to Daisy. “Where did you get the Brightex?”
Her lips twist. “You going to hurt me to find out, T?” His eyes flash silver and she gives him a saucy grin. Anger roils through me. “Come on, T. Do it. I bet you can’t.” His hand flexes. “You fucking ran away too, you fucking coward. You fucking left us because you’re a weak ass piece of shit.” She lunges.
His entire face closes off and my vision goes red.
Dark mist encompasses my form and there is no stopping the beast.
I leap across the room and bowl into Daisy, taking her to the ground as a steady growl trickles from my lips. She curls inward. I lunge and sink my teeth into the skin between her neck and shoulder. She screams.
Her hot blood rolls over my tongue and my growl intensifies.
“Nisha.” Tanner’s voice is threaded with that familiar echo. It rolls through me. “Kitten. Don’t.”
