~

 

Kent wasn’t happy that his clan brother had gone off half cocked.

They’d been told by the new alpha of their clan to watch and wait and see what the witch did next. Nowhere in that statement were the words – go full bear-crazy at Agatha’s new protector – but then, Marco always did have a thing for the little witch…

Unfortunately, for him, she didn’t share that sentiment.

When Zane had gone all crazy bear and had taken Agatha with him to track down the witch that had slayed his mate, Raul had seized upon that moment to take on all challengers to be the alpha of the clan.

They’d all known that one way or the other Zane wouldn’t be back, and if by some miracle he had returned – then they would have had to take care of his crazy bear themselves.

The man had gone over to the darker side, and that was a threat to everybody.

Kent had tracked the pair of them to the mountain. He’d seen Agatha go against her better judgement out of loyalty to her alpha and had helped him hunt down witch’s sister.

He’d almost stepped in to stop it when Zane had attacked the innocent woman that night and she’d barely escaped with her life … It still clawed at him that he hadn’t done something more to help the witch…

And then he’d watched Agatha finally realise that Zane wasn’t the man that she knew anymore, and had stopped protecting him so that the wolf pack could take care of the clan’s problem for them…

He’d reported it all back to Raul, and had been told to wait and watch. Apparently, the man was mulling over a decision on the witch’s fate…

It was damn wrong in his book.

Agatha was a good person and had always helped his clan out when they’d needed it – sure, some didn’t like having the witch around much, but they had faith in Zane’s choices.

Now people were saying that she’d betrayed Zane, betrayed the clan, and had sided with the wolves over her own…

Kent thought that was pure BS. When Marco had arrived as backup, he’d made his feelings know about it, but Marco had never liked the witch from the moment that she’d rejected his advances, and the man relished the chance to get rid of her once and for all.

But banishing her seemed a better option to death, obviously Marco didn’t feel the same way.

“So much for wait and damn watch…” Kent growled out as Marco rushed towards the wolf shifter and attacked.

He’d had no choice but to go with him and back him up. If only because he was clan and he needed to make sure that the wolf didn’t hand him his backside…

Not that the man didn’t deserve it. He did.

What made it worse was that Marco was doing it within full sight of the humans bar. That was just so damned dangerous for everybody that it wasn’t even funny.

 

 

~

~

~

 

Liam had put his mate behind his back and he had every intention to defend her with his life as the first bear shifter came rushing at him.

Mine…

The bear shifter’s claws were drawn, his fangs were out, and in return; Liam wanted blood.

He’d only taken one step forwards to meet the man head on when he saw the second shifter, two to one; he knew that he needed to hold his ground … defend what he had.

He had to protect his mate at all costs.

“Marco!” The sound of his mate’s startled recognition of the bear shifter didn’t help centre his concentration on the matter at hand, but it did fill him with a sense of understanding as to why the shifters were attacking.

‘Dexter … bears attacking the witch…’ Liam said into the pack link, and he knew two things…

He needed to protect his mate, and he needed Dexter to keep the humans inside the bar by whatever means necessary…

He heard the alpha curse within his mind. He knew the man would protect his mate should he fail to do his job and protect her himself … and that was good enough for him.

He took the first shifter head on.

His claws were down and his fangs were out; just as the bear’s were, and he had one hell of a job in keeping his wolf caged in under his skin … the beast was baying for blood…

“Hello…” Connor’s melodic tone rang in Agatha’s ears, and much to her annoyance, she was lifted, turned, and deposited back down on her feet behind the vampire’s back…

“I like pass the parcel as much as the next four year old, but this is…” Agatha bit out in annoyance, but she was silenced in disbelief as it happened again…

Two big hands slapped against her waist and she found herself being lifted and turned into the waiting solidity of Justice’s chest by Landon…

At least the alpha bear had the good graces to apologise for it on her way through the air…

“Can we not protect the poor, helpless, damn witch so annoyingly…?” Agatha bit out, glaring up at Justice’s grin of amusement…

“Sorry, little witch – but you’re Connor’s ward while you live at the castle, so everybody is going to be looking out for you…” Justice informed her, and she didn’t know whether to feel honoured by that – or just really miffed off and insulted…

“What the hell is a ward?” She bit out as she slapped the alpha’s hands away and turned back towards the fighting…

“He did explain it … but who listens when Connor starts flapping his lips?” Justice said, and Connor shot him a dark glare over his shoulder…

“Seriously? I’m right here, damn it.” Connor bit out to the sound of Justice and Landon both chuckling…

“This is not funny,” Agatha hissed. “They are attacking one of your own and…”

“He’s not one of mine…” Justice said with a grin for Dexter as the alpha grunted in annoyance.

“And at the moment it appears to be a fair fight – one on one – the other one looks surplus to requirements…” Connor offered.

“Let me at ‘em…” Agatha ground out, using her elbows to get between Dexter and Connor to see what was happening.

“My God, do you sit in your room sharpening those elbows of a night?” Connor bit out…

“Kent!” Agatha snapped, ignoring the vampire, and trying to take a step forward as both men closed ranks in front of her once more.

Not to be outdone; she decided to push up on tiptoes to peer through the gap between their broad shoulders…

“This…” Kent growled in annoyance as he turned most of his attention towards the witch, but kept an eye in his clan brother. “It isn’t sanctioned, Agatha. The alpha hasn’t made a decision about you yet.”

Agatha felt the icy chill run through her veins. She was well aware of what that meant.

She was a traitor – she’d known it the moment that she’d dropped her shields from around Zane and allowed the pack to find him…

There was no going back – ever.

“You might want to tell your alpha that the witch is under my protection, and if he’s going to send someone to kill her – then he’d better be prepared to lose clan members.” Connor tossed back.

“I don’t want that…” Agatha bit out…

“You were under the impression that this was a democracy?” Connor tossed back over his shoulder.

“I am well within my rights to leave here…” Agatha bit out…

The sound of a pained curse brought her attention right back to the fight, and Agatha bit down on the need within her to do something to stop it.

She had no idea why the wolf shifter was the one fighting her corner, and she didn’t like it one little bit.

She’d brought this on herself by helping the pack and saving the witch. She should be fighting her own damn battles.

She pushed her magic to her fingertips and lifted her hands, snapping them in two different directions, and sending the shifters, bear and wolf, flying through the air away from each other…

“I fear magic is afoot…” Connor teased and Agatha scowled back at man…

“Go suck on a lemon…” she bit out. “I’m not going to stand by and watch those two knock chunks out of each other.”

“Marco, stand down…” Kent growled at his clan brother as the man rebounded from the ground and started back towards them. His chin was angled down near his chest, his hands fisted at his sides, and he was more than eager to continue where he’d left off…

“They’ve got nothing to do with this, your fight is with me,” Agatha said, still trying to nudge her way through the supernatural wall of bodies in front of her, but coming up short in more ways than one…

“They killed Zane…” Marco growled…

“Oh, we’re sorry we killed the crazy ass bear that your clan should have taken care off when he went fruit loopy…” Connor offered back with a sneer on his face and in his tone.

The bear shifter turned his dark glare onto the vampire as his top lip twitch in anger…