his shoulders shook. Russ gathered him into his arms and held him tight, rocking him like a child. “And then I picked the lock, but I couldn’t free the others, and I tried to get away, but he yanked so hard on my tail…and he said he was going to skin me.”
Russ’s anger burned hot, rising even beyond his rage when he and Drew were disowned by the pack. He was glad he hadn’t stayed behind with the sheriff. The temptation to mete out his own punishment might have been beyond his ability to resist.
Mate. Protect. His wolf paced in his mind, clearly in favor of rougher justice.
“Shh,” Russ soothed, stroking Liam’s hair, heedless of the blood that matted it in places. He wrapped his arm around Liam and pulled him tight. “Let’s get you dressed, and take you to the hospital. Make sure you’re okay. And then I’m taking you home with me.” For good, he added silently, even though he wasn’t sure Liam was quite ready for that step.
Liam clung to him, burying his face in Russ’s chest, heaving with quiet sobs. Gradually, he stilled.
“You ready?” Russ asked quietly. Liam nodded. Russ steadied him as he pulled on a top and shorts, noting how he winced from bending or twisting. He remembered how Liam’s luxurious tail had hung down behind him and prayed that the damage wasn’t permanent.
Russ pulled Liam against him, hugging tight. Liam slipped his arms around him and squeezed back. “You scared the shit out of me,” Russ murmured. “And then I heard him shooting, and I was afraid we were too late. I thought I lost you,” he added, letting one hand rub soothing circles down Liam’s back.
“I didn’t think I’d make it out of there,” Liam whispered. “And all I could think about was wanting to come home to you, not wanting to leave you.”
“It’s over,” Russ soothed. “And we’re together. The sooner we get you to the hospital and feeling better, the sooner we can go home, together.”
Russ helped Liam into the SUV. He felt relieved when the ocelot and lynx were also able to shift; a handsome, slender Latinx man and another man with long blond hair appeared. Ty and Drew stuck close to them, taking their roles as protectors seriously.
Liam said nothing on the ride to the hospital, resting his head on Russ’s shoulder. Russ just stroked one hand up and down Liam’s arm, pressing his face into Liam’s hair, grateful to have his mate back, safe and alive.
“I’m sorry,” Liam murmured, barely loud enough for Russ to hear. “I shouldn’t have gone alone. I just wanted to find out where he was and then leave, but he tranqued me. The next thing I knew, he was shaking me and telling me all the things he was going to do to me.”
Russ knew he stiffened in anger and that Liam felt it. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply, trying to rein in his fury.
“It’s not your fault,” Russ replied. “He was going to come for you no matter where you were. But you told Jeffries where you were going. Why didn’t you text me?” He couldn’t keep the hurt out of his voice, although he suspected that he already knew the reason.
“You were in the hospital, healing. I didn’t want to worry you. It was supposed to be a quick run, in and out. Then I was going to tell you all about it, and figure out what to do from there.”
“Not your fault,” Russ repeated. “You still found the Huntsman, led us to him, and kept him from killing anyone or spiriting them away until we got there. And then, holy fuck, you were badass. My little red demon. I thought you were going to chew off his nose.”
Liam managed a sniffly chuckle. “I would have. He was going to shoot you. I couldn’t let him do that.”
Russ tightened his hold on his mate. Scared, hurt, and weaponless, Liam had still risked everything to save him, and his daring attack had kept him and the sheriff from being shot, possibly killed. “So proud of you,” he whispered.
“Bite me,” Liam replied.
“What?” Russ started to pull back. Liam hung on, not letting go.
“I want your mating bite. I know it hasn’t been long, and if you’re not ready, I understand, but when you are, I’m yours,” Liam whispered. “That was my biggest regret when I thought I’d never see you again. That I had held back, and maybe we would never