Chapter Three
~ Cyan ~
“Nothing to say?” I sneered the question at the fool dangling from my grip. No man would ever hurt my mate and walk away. Hell, they’d be lucky to crawl. Most likely, a body bag would be needed.
I’d felt Ivy stiffen, felt her hurt as if it were my own. I’d delve into the words spoken and what they meant later. After I’d dealt with the trash, which was what these three were.
Every pack had them. Except ours. The James pack took out the trash. You didn’t follow the rules, you found somewhere else to call home or we found a permanent one for you. Six feet under. Harsh? Yes. But it was the only way to handle a wolf with a violent or mean streak. Right now, these three were idiots, but I sensed the meanness in them.
“Cyan.”
I almost groaned but managed to turn it into a growl I wasn’t sure fooled anyone. The breathy way my woman said my name turned me inside out. I couldn’t wait to hear her scream it while I pounded into her, to hear it released in a low moan while I gave her orgasm after orgasm.
“I don’t think he can breathe.”
Ivy again, sounding annoyed and maybe a little bored. I glanced back and barely suppressed a laugh at her nonchalant pose, reclined back, glancing at the nails on one of her dainty hands. Jesus, I wanted to wear the marks of those fingers on my skin.
“Fuck, dude. Put him down before you kill him.”
I turned back when one of the guy’s buddies spoke. They didn’t look so brave now that they’d been confronted by me instead of my tiny mate. The one I held really was turning a deep shade of purple. I tossed him to the ground, watching as his friends rushed to him, helping him sit up.
“You owe the lady an apology.”
I saw the meanness then. The narrowing of his eyes even as he sucked in air. The tensing of his hands and the way his gaze flicked to Ivy. I stepped over, blocking his view and freeing the rumble of displeasure from my chest.
“Apologize.”
“Ivy knows I didn’t mean anything by it. Don’t you, Ivy?”
“You don’t say her name.” I stepped in close again and almost snickered at the way the two guys with him quickly scrambled backward. “You don’t fucking speak to her.”
“Kind of hard for him to apologize to me then.”
I couldn’t help it. I grinned like a lovesick fool, which was fitting. The more I was around her, the harder I fell. And her sassy mouth. Yeah. I really liked a sassy mouth.
“He can say it to your mate.”
I heard several indrawn breaths, and though my gaze was forward, my focus was on the one behind me. My blunt statement was followed by Ivy mumbling. I heard her slide off the hood, the sound of her feet hitting the ground, then the strike of her footsteps as she walked toward me.
“For the love of God, Cyan, I’m not your mate. This.” She stopped beside me, waving one hand back and forth between us. “Isn’t happening.”
Then she turned, dismissing me as she stomped closer to the prick on the ground. My muscles tensed in preparation. One false move from the three yahoos and I would rip them apart.
“As for the three of you, go home, and sleep it off.”
“I wasn’t aware you could sleep off stupid,” I drawled, earning a snicker from my mate—and Ivy was my mate.
“I can see you don’t know the Dalton family. Daltons don’t take mates. Isn’t that right, Ivy.”
“You shut your filthy mouth, Austin Mickel, before I shut it for you.”
She vibrated with anger. So much so that I expected her to launch herself at the man still kneeling on the ground. The skin on her hands was white from how tightly they were clenched. I wanted all that pent-up emotion spent on me. Preferably while we were both naked and I was inside her. Fuck, the woman had given me a one-track mind.
“Where’s Jasmine at tonight?” the one she’d called Austin inquired. “Leaving her all alone while you go out drinking?” His gaze flicked to me. “Probably a good thing Rowan isn’t here to see how far you’ve fallen.”
“You son-of-a-bitch!”
She launched, and I barely snagged her from midair before she hit him. He’d managed to ignite her temper; so much so she’d failed to spot the glint of the blade I saw him palm. I didn’t know the history, had no clue what he alluded to, but I’d get the answers later. From the only person I consider a reliable source. Ivy. For now, blood would be shed. His. He’d sealed his fate when he’d slid a knife into his hand.
I placed Ivy carefully behind me then caught Mickel midrise with my boot. He flew across the lot, and now, the other two seemed to have found their courage. One began shifting while the other now had a blade in his palm. I could have easily called out, and any number of my pack brothers would have been there instantly. But these idiots were mine no matter the skin they were in. They’d baited my mate with words then dared to draw weapons in her presence with the intent to cause her physical harm.
I stepped forward again, my focus on them as Mickel wasn’t moving so easily this time. They attacked simultaneously, but I’d expected no less, easily engaging with them. I felt a brief burn along my right bicep but ignored it. It was a paltry injury at best and of no concern at present. I lashed out with another kick and was rewarded with a yelp of pain from the mongrel snapping at my heels. Then it was on.
I love a good fight. Revel in the adrenaline rush that takes over. I felt my wolf pressing, a merge of animal power with the strength of the man I am. I was revved to put on a display for my mate, to show her how great of a protector I’d be. It wasn’t much of demonstration though. A few punches and another well-placed kick and none of them were rising.
It had been a sad show of strength and made me understand why the Rigton pack had come looking for a new alpha. I wasn’t sure what type of force Rowan Byrd had had while he’d been in command, but I knew the majority of the group had left in the aftermath of his death. Grief did many things to people, and though I strived not to judge, leaving your pack unprotected in such a time seemed unforgivable to me.
I caught my breath and realized I awaited a pithy remark from Ivy, something filled with sarcasm and sass. Actually, I anticipated it, but one glance around told me she wasn’t there. Had there been more than these three? Had I been so focused on the battle I’d missed another enemy in hiding?
“She left.” Simon’s voice, off to my left. “While you were fighting. She said something about getting out of the cesspool of testosterone. Any idea what she meant by that?”
The laughter in his voice was hard to miss. I snorted. There was the comment I’d awaited, though the delivery left much to be desired.
“Grab a few of the others, and confine these three until I’m ready to deal with them again.”
Simon didn’t question. He merely nodded then moved to follow my order. I turned back to my SUV then paused. I wasn’t sure where Ivy had headed. Home, maybe, but I didn’t know where that was. I glanced at Mickel and his buddies, thinking I could demand the information from one of them, but they were all out cold. It appeared I’d been too efficient.
“She probably headed home.” The voice was soft, shaky, and feminine.
It took me a moment to locate the woman it belonged to. She seemed to cling to the shadows, almost as if she wanted to be absorbed by them.
“Step out, so I can see who I’m talking to,” I commanded.
Hesitantly, cautiously, she eased forward, appearing like a frightened mouse. I noticed her eyes first, mostly due to the black swelling around one of them. Still, the light blue of her irises shone bright. She had one arm wrapped around her middle. The other flat along her side, fist tightly clenched. Someone had hurt her. That was easy to see and filled me with a different type of rage.
“Who did this to you?” I only realized I’d taken a few steps toward her when she pulled back, seeming to shrink into herself. I held out my hands, palms up. “I’m not going to hurt you. I’m Cyan Richards. I’m with the James Pack.”
“I know who you are.”
“Then you have me at a disadvantage.” I tried to keep her engaged with me as I heard Simon return. I was happy to see he had Taylor, another pack mate with him. I was Bas’ right hand, and Taylor was mine. He was a massive motherfucker, scarier even than me, but he was a good man and an excellent shifter. When shit got real, he was who you wanted to watch your back. He also had a heart of gold. Many of the pack referred to him as the gentle giant, a name he hated but was very accurate.
“Cy, you good?” Taylor’s voice, sounding like a rusted blade.
“We’re good.” I waved him off for now, staying focused on the woman. She knew something. I sensed it, and though I wanted nothing more than to find my reluctant bride-to-be, obligation as Bastion’s beta kept me where I was. Ensuring the safety of our pack was one of my main duties, and this woman was now part of our pack. “What’s your name?”
“Rebel, but most people call me Rebbie.”
I was close enough now that I could gingerly touch her chin and turn her face so I could better see what damage had been done. My anger burned anew. “Who did this to you?”
She shrugged, displacing my touch but standing her ground this time. “It doesn’t matter. I heard you… Is Ivy really your mate?”
I nodded. It was only a matter of time.
“Good.” She bobbed her head as if satisfying some unspoken question. “Ivy deserves something good in her life. She deserves…happiness. It’s been hell since Rowan died.”
“What do you mean?”
Rebbie sighed wearily. “Rowan watched out for us, and everyone knew it. Ivy more so than me. They were always together. Them and Jasmine.”
“Jasmine?”
“Ivy’s…sister.” A slight hesitation. Why?
“Rowan took them under his wing when their mother left shortly after Jasmine was born,” Rebbie continued.
“What about their father?” And why the hell would a mother leave her children?
Rebbie shrugged again. “Who knows. Some women aren’t built to be mothers. They’re unable to form attachments.”
“Ivy’s?”
A nod.
“Yours?”
Another nod.
“It’s not easy being the daughter of a pack whore.”
I saw red. “Your mothers were forced—”
Her laugh cut me off, hard and brittle. “There was no coercion. Rowan never would have let that go on. It’s hard to corral a bitch in heat, who likes to spread her thighs for anyone.”
Such contempt in the words. It made my heart ache. Made me wonder what type of life my mate had endured growing up.
“Ivy had Raina, though. And Rowan. Our alpha was always hanging out with her.”
Had there been something between Rowan and Ivy? Was that why my mate was so reluctant? I’d admit the idea didn’t sit well with me. It didn’t deter me, either. Ivy was mine.
“What about you?”
“Me?” She blinked then smiled, and it softened her face, showing me how young she was. I’d bet she was barely in her twenties. “Rowan made sure I was safe.”
And now, the other man was gone. Had been for two years. Who had stepped out of the woodwork to cause trouble once he was no longer in the picture to stop them? Another reason for me to scorn those who’d left the Rigton wolves unprotected.
“I can tell you where Ivy lives. I just… I need… I…”
“What is it, Rebbie?”
“I don’t want to go home.” Her eyes pleaded with me, and something clicked.
“Did your mom do this to you?”
No reply but her lips tightened, and the hand at her side released then clenched over and over before she forced her fingers flat and patted them against her thigh. Answer enough for me.
“We’ll find you a place to stay. Somewhere safe.” Christ, I’d never wanted to hit a woman so much in my life, but I wanted to hurt the person who’d put such shadows in this young woman’s gaze.
“Ivy deserves happiness.” Rebbie made the statement again, but this time, I wondered if she wasn’t using Ivy to represent herself. I might have only recently met my mate, but I could tell she was a strong, fierce woman.
“I’ll give her the world,” I vowed.
“And Jasmine?”
“Yes.” Ivy’s family was my family.
She blurted Ivy’s address as though, if she didn’t get it out fast enough, she might change her mind. It wouldn’t have mattered. I would have tracked down my mate eventually, but I appreciated Rebbie’s help.
“Taylor,” I called and waited until the other man stepped up beside me. I watched Rebbie’s eyes widen at the sight of him. Taylor was used to it. Most didn’t know how to react to the scars that covered his throat and lower half of his face.
“Taylor, won’t hurt you,” I tried to assure Rebbie.
She nodded, but her gaze never left his face.
“Rebbie needs a safe place for a few days, until we can find more permanent arrangements.”
“Done,” Taylor rasped.
I turned back to my SUV. A lot of shit needed addressing with this pack. Things had apparently gone to shit with Rowan gone. I’d have to speak to Bastion soon. First, my priority was to find Ivy. Once we were mated, we’d deal with everything else. Together.