certainly hadn’t done it with nice manners and court politics, but by the bloody application of brutal violence and many years of hard discipline. He’d proven himself on battlefield after battlefield, fought for his lord until his body was battered and bruised and then... he’d fought some more.
All that experience and rage came to the fore now.
He wasn’t fighting for his lord now. With each blow he rained down on the crowd of enemies, with each slash of his claws, with each kick, he protected his precious omega. Protected his reason for living and the child she might even now carry within her body.
He fought for the woman he loved. And he fought like the beast he was until nothing was left but broken and battered bodies, blood on the walls and the sound of his own breathing rasping in the air.
“Fuuuuuucking hell!”
The sound of the deep voice in the ruined garage doorway made Rath swing around wildly, a hiss escaping him as his claws extended again.
Rett stood there, one shoulder on the doorframe as he looked around the garage. “Fuck me, is that a thigh bone embedded in the ceiling? Where’s the rest of him.”
Rath waved vaguely around the charnel house that was the floor.
“I was worried, little brother. Thought you might need a hand.” He looked around him and smirked. “Guess you remembered at least a little of what I taught you.”
“Asshole,” Rath snarled, still trying to rein in the bloodlust tearing through his body.
“Rath?” a soft voice called from the top of the stairs. “Is it safe? Are you hurt?”
Rett inhaled deeply, his eyes widening. “Is she...”
“Mine,” Rath snapped. “And yes.” Then he glared at his brother. “But mine.”
Rett threw up his hands. “Yours. Got it. Congratulations. Can I meet her?”
“No.” Family or not, he didn’t want any male near Savannah while she was in heat. “Besides, you’re undercover. Not much good if you go telling the humans you’re my brother.”
Rett wrinkled his nose and then nodded. “You have a point.”
Pushing off from the door, he looked around and sighed. “I’ll clean up and secure the place. Make sure your female doesn’t come down here.”
“My thanks.” Rath nodded. It was nothing more than he would do for Rett given the chance. “And keeping her busy will... not be a problem.”
His brother grinned. “Then what the fuck are you still doing down here talking to me? Go, I need to play match the bones and make sure none of the fuckers got away.”
“I’m starting to think you’re spending too much time with them. Has your cock shrunk? Do you still have fangs? You might want to check.”
“Xarth off and go see to your omega.”
“Happily.” Rath turned back toward the stairs. “Thank you.”
“Just next time remember to lock the door.”
Rath didn’t bother acknowledging his brother’s parting shot. All he wanted now was to get back to Savannah.
She met him at the top of the stairs, hurling her small body at him with a cry of relief that hit him harder than any blow. “Rath!”
Instantly he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close with relief that all their enemies were dead and she was unharmed. Relief that she’d run into his arms even while he was covered in blood and still half in his beast form.
She truly did trust him.
He claimed her lips in a rush of heat and need, his clawed hand buried in her hair. Her lips parted for him instantly, even eagerly, and his cock punched to full mast immediately. Walking her backward, he couldn’t wait for her stumbling steps, so he simply scooped her up, wrapping her legs around his waist as he stalked toward the bedroom.
Tearing his lips away, he looked down at her. “This will not be sweet or gentle,” he warned. It couldn’t be. He needed her too much for that.
“I don’t want gentle. I want you.”
9
Hiding was what omegas did. It was the only way to survive. Savannah had done it her whole life, but it had never been the way it was today. She’d been terrified, not of the alphas, but for Rath.
She ran her hands over him as he carried her, not even noticing the changes to his skin or body. She just needed to be sure he was alright. Her lovecall was loud and steady, fueled by the worry and need that swirled inside her.
“Are you bleeding? Hurt? If you are, we could stop until...”
“Not hurt. No stopping.” He grinned down at her, his all-black eyes gleaming. “Need