Page 25 of Pack Rage
Aidan chuckled. “I do know. You didn’t bring her with you?”
“Of course he didn’t,” Elina said dismissively. “She’s a rogue. Trash.”
My wolf began to emerge, fur prickling the backs of my hands. It was considered extremely poor manners to shift inside the Mansion. It was a punishable offense to attack either one of these two, outside a formal challenge. I took a deep breath, forcing calm. “She is not. She’s the Alpha Mate of Mountain, my true mate.”
Elina’s smile was a terrible thing. “Now, Brand. She isn’ttrue.”
My teeth grew sharp. “Your meaning?”
But it was Aidan who answered. “Your mate’s a whore.”
Chapter 12
Insult and Injury
BRAND
It took every ounce of control I’d learned over the years not to shift and tear out Aidan’s throat. To hear these dishonorable fucks speak of my little mate in that way was almost more than I could stand. My wolf was clawing to emerge and rip them to pieces, so they would never make the mistake again.
But for now, he was not only the Council Alpha, he was my host. I had to resist.
Though it may have been foolish to take my attention off the monsters in the room, I closed my eyes, allowing my wolf to reach down the bond to Flor. I felt her concern, and a wave of support from her… and then, through her, from Glen. He felt warm, reassuring, his energy flowing freely to her. Keeping her safe, even when I was too far to do so.
It would have been enough, should have brought me back, but something fell on my arm.
My eyes shot open. Elina had her hand on my forearm, her fingers resting lightly on my skin. My arm felt like thousands ofspiders were crawling on it, racing to the rest of my body, each prickle a pin, holding me in place.
I couldn’t move.
“So much anger. So much power,” she murmured, licking her lips.
I shot a look at Aidan, but he was staring down at his glasses, toying with the frames, as if he was totally unaware of what his mate was doing.
Elina dug her fingers in. “Just be still, Alpha. Just let me in.”
Something that felt like sand blasting at my mind started up inside my head, infinite tiny claws scraping their way into my mind.I couldn’t speak, and I was suddenly glad, so grateful, that Flor was not here. If this witch could do this with a touch, there was no way I could have protected her.
I had to move. I had to… I managed to open my mouth to speak, and uttered one word. “Witch.”
“What a terrible accusation.” Her red lips twitched. “You’re one to speak, baby Alpha. Those eyes of yours have magic that hasn’t been seen in centuries. Just imagine what a witch could do with them, plucked out of your thick head.”
I had no doubt that was exactly what she had planned, but I couldn’t tear away from her. Though I knew she could probably feel something happening to me, I refused to reach for Flor again; I wouldn’t drag her into this. My whole body felt cold, almost icy, as Elina’s fingernails dug into my flesh, drawing blood. The room grew silent, or perhaps my ears had stopped working. I couldn’t even hear my own heartbeat.
Perhaps it had stopped altogether.
But then the lights dimmed, the power in the house interrupted by something. There was no storm outside, though, and if the main power went down, the Mansion had generators.
They didn’t kick on.
Elina bared her teeth, still focused on me, but I could feel her control slipping. The lights grew even darker, and stayed that way for a long moment. Somewhere in the Mansion, guards shouted. A woman shrieked.
Then the lights came back, and something inside me… warmed. I let the feeling grow, not sure what it was. It became more intense, almost as if whatever thawed the center of the ice was approaching.
The door slammed open, and Elina’s hand dropped from my arm as a rush of energy and sound chased away the odd, deadly silence. “I didn’t think I’d see you again so soon, brother.”
Luke.Thank the moon, he was here, and alive. He looked far gaunter and paler than he had been the last time I’d seen him, but he hummed with energy.
He strode to my side and half-lifted me from the chair. I felt a surge of energy coming from his hands as he gripped my forearms, smiling into my face, though his eyes were shadowed. “I’m glad you’re here. I thought it might just be me and Alpha McDonnell for the meeting tonight.”
