“I didn’t know we would bond. I was only trying to save her life. For that I’m sorry. To Katie, to you, and to the pack.” Rafe straightened and threw back his shoulders. “But we are bonded now. As soon as that happened, Katie became my number one priority. I won’t apologize for that. I would kill that asshole again for what he tried to do to her. I wish I’d killed the other one.”
Alpha moved to backhand Rafe across the face with his closed fist. Katie flinched, but Rafe stayed perfectly still. The veins in Alpha’s neck stood out as he lowered his arm and exhaled. “There’s no point in punishing you for something you’ll do again. I know that. And I know why you did what you did…I do understand.” He glanced at Cooper, who crouched on the floor beside Shilah, rubbing the dog’s chest like a doting uncle. “I like you, Rafe. Despite what you did tonight, despite the fact that you’ve always been a bit of a lone wolf, you know I like you. That’s why I’m so glad I managed to talk Jack down from his insinuations that pack wars have broken out over lesser offenses than you committed tonight. I would have hated needing to kill both of you myself to prevent even worse bloodshed.”
Rafe’s fingers tightened on hers. “I’m glad it didn’t come to that, Alpha.”
“We’ve shared this land with our friends across the river for over a generation now. Despite our polar opposite views on human interaction, we’ve managed not to step on their toes, and they’ve mostly stayed out of our way. That’s the only reason Jack is willing to stop short of ordering a full-out assault on our pack. Which means this better never happen again.” Alpha folded his arms over his chest and glared at Rafe, whose expression was tight. “What are your plans for Katie? Do you intend to keep her here? A human bond-mate among hungry wolves?”
“She’s leaving as soon as the roads clear.” Rafe didn’t look at her as he delivered the news. “This won’t happen again.”
Katie’s stomach dropped at Rafe’s pronouncement. Her imminent departure wasn’t a new concept—she’d wanted to leave this place for as long as she’d been conscious and had nearly killed herself to escape. Yet somehow one brief, heartfelt moment with Rafe had thrown all her earlier convictions into doubt. The comforting press of his fingers entangled with hers made it hard to remember what it was about her life that she was so eager to return to. It wasn’t that her career, her apartment, and her parents, sister, and few close friends weren’t important. Just that Rafe was too, to a degree that defied all logic.
Alpha must have noticed her ambivalence, because he smiled cruelly. “Is that what you want, Katie? To leave your beloved bond-mate?”
She gave Rafe a sidelong glance. No matter how strongly her soul responded to him, he wasn’t her beloved. He couldn’t be. They would need to have more than just a handful of conversations and a quick kiss for her to call what she was feeling love. Right now it felt more like a craving or an addiction. An itch she was desperate to scratch, because he made her feel so damn good.
Not that she was going to admit that much aloud.
Katie chose her words carefully. “I want to be safe. And I don’t feel safe out here right now.”
“Nor should you.” Alpha bared his teeth in a vaguely menacing grin. “Jack promised me that none of his wolves would seek vengeance for the one you killed tonight. He’s ordering them to stand down in the interest of not shedding a lot of wolf blood over a…” He paused, then smirked. “A woman.”
“Good. We need to make sure he understands—that everyone understands—Katie is my bond-mate.” Rafe’s voice took on a dangerous edge. “She’s off-limits, full stop. She’s mine.”
Rafe’s possessive tone triggered a rush of arousal that left Katie hoping that werewolves didn’t have a heightened sense of smell. Otherwise everyone in the room would know she was soaking wet. That she was even capable of feeling desire after the night she’d had was almost impossible to believe. It had to be their bond. There was no other explanation.
“She’s yours, but she’s leaving.” Alpha kept his gaze locked on Katie’s face as he spoke. “Well, I hope for your sake, dear Katie, that the roads clear before tomorrow night. Because although Jack is a wolf of