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Back out on the sidewalk, I took my time, thinking of how the rest of the day would play out. I knew the moment Isaias returned that Ren would climb him like a tree and then Kieran would wrangle us all into the nest for the claiming. My mind wandered as I continued to procure fantasies that had me uncomfortably rock hard.
“Why the fuck have you not been answering my calls?” Someone called out, the scent of ash and death consuming my senses. I was roughly thrust against a wall, tucked behind one of the older houses along my street, the coffee and bagels splattering onto the ground. I scrambled at the hand wrapped around my neck, the stranger yanking me forward and then thrusting me against the wall again. “Answer me!”
Michael.
“What the fuck?” I ground out, still scratching at the hand around my neck. Just as I began to pry his fingers off, something poked me in the side. My gaze dipped to see a glint of metal, Michael pushing it a little farther, a sneer on his lips. He lookedawful, as if he hadn’t been eating or sleeping like he should, his clothes barely acceptable for the public. His eyes were sunken in when I met his gaze again, confused about why he was here. “Why the fuck were you calling me?” Hundreds,hundredsof unknown calls and they were all him?
“I don’t want to hurt you. Where’s Kieran?”
I moved to fight him off when I felt the absolute fury through the bond. Isaias had to be right around the corner. Michael was in for a rude awakening but that didn’t mean I was going to stop struggling. “I’m not fucking telling you where he is. You tortured him, beat him, tried to take from him what wasn’t yours to have,” I gasped, my words coming out ragged as Michael cut off my air. I had too much to lose for him to kill me here. It just wasn’t going to happen. Letting my instincts take over, I continued to pry at the fingers around my neck, grinning as he started to whine at the pressure I was doling out. “You shouldn’t be here. You actually thought it would be okay to come back? Kieran should have fucking killed you.”
Michael barked out a laugh but I could see fear and uncertainty swimming through his expression. “Why? Because you were too weak to do it? You have no idea what you’re dealing with. Just give them back.”
I saw red.Themmeant that Michael knew about my baby boys and fuck if I was letting this piece of shit anywhere near my family. It didn’t matter that he was an Alpha and that he most likely had more strength than me even in his weakened state. With a boost of adrenaline, I tore his hand off my neck and wrapped my other hand around his wrist at my side. The knife dug into the skin before I jammed him backward, fully intent on murdering the bastard. How? No clue but fuck, he was a dead man.
I didn’t get that far as Michael was ripped from me and slammed against the opposite wall, twoverypissed-offindividuals holding him back. Isaias was one of them, chomping at the bit to do more than he was allowed with Xylo right beside him. The knife clattered to the ground as Michael huffed a heavy breath, fighting against them until a very different sound of clanking metal hit my ears. His scent went bitter and then stale, Michael sagging against the wall before Xylo clamped the cuff on one of his hands.
“I got this, Isaias,” Xylo stated firmly.
Isaias refused to release Michael so easily, hatred burning in his eyes but he finally did as he was told, taking a step back. We both watched Xylo cart a dejected Michael off before my Alpha turned to me.
“Fuck, babe.” Isaias rushed over to me, his fingers brushing down my neck before he cradled my face in his hands. “Breathe for me, Joel. You’re not breathing. There you go,breathe.”
My fingers dug into his shirt as my gaze followed his, catching onto the panic lingering in his expression. I struggled to breathe, swallowing several gulps of air, coughing and sputtering as my lungs finally started to work again. “How did you know?”
Isaias was still massaging my cheeks, his thumbs delicately rubbing along my neck. The fact that a twinge of pain shot through me every time he did told me that the skin was going to bruise. “I felt the panic along the bond and then the rage. Xylo mentioned he was tracking Michael and-” Isaias gritted his teeth together before gathering me in a tight hug. I could feel his need to do damage, the same way I was feeling. We both wanted Michael ripped to shreds but now that he was in the police’s custodyagain, there wasn’t anything we’d be able to do.
Unless I wanted him charged for assault, he’d be out within a day or two and reprimanded for breaking the restraining order.
“How are you feeling, babe?” Isaias asked as he pulled away enough to see my face. His eyes darkened as he ran his fingers across my neck again. “You alright to-”
His ringtone cut off his words, the bond pulling tight. I should have known that Ren would be the first to call, feeling my emotions and then Isaias’. “Hey, babe I’m fine. We’re fine,” Isaias answered, his brows furrowing as he held the phone out and put it on speaker. “Kieran, hold on. Slow down. We’refine.”
Several seconds of silence met my ears, just Kieran’s heavy, rushed breathing. “Doesn’t fucking feel that way. Where is Joel?”
“Right here, Kieran,” I managed to say before choking on the next breath. Fuck, Michael had gripped me really hard. I knew his next question was to ask what happened but I didn’t want to discuss it out here. We were covered in the small alleyway by a few bushes and the street was empty for the most part but that wouldn’t last long.
Isaias quickly cut in. “We’ll be home in a few minutes. You doing alright?”
“Will be when you’re here.” Then he hung up. I knew it would be only a few moments before he called back. I couldn’t even call it worry. Kieran was terrified of what would happen with Michael still roaming around and I could only imagine what else the bastard had up his sleeve now that he was roaming around Emsboro, Ohio.
Isaias released a little growl as he shoved his phone into his pocket and pulled away from me. “How would Kieran know?” He searched my expression, a small smile tugging at his lips. “He bit one of you, didn’t you?” His happiness was contagious as he helped me toward the car and into the front seat. My thoughts lingered on the ruined breakfast, Isaias’ gaze following as he realized what I was staring at. Today was supposed to be perfect. “Joel, food can be replaced. You can’t be. Our mates can’t be. Our babies can’t be.” He leaned in for a gentle kiss and his demeanor softened. “You aren’t hurt anywhere else?”
I shook my head but held up the corner of my shirt anyway. “Just a nick. He hadn’t been here for very long before you guys arrived. He wantsthem, Isaias. What is going on?” Isaias closed my door and then rounded the vehicle before slipping into the driver’s seat.
“Too much, Joel. Fuck, I wanted to sit you all down and explain when I got home but I wanted one day. Just one where we could exist together before reality hit us.”
“And whatisthe reality?” I croaked.
Isaias laid his head on the steering wheel before letting out a deep sigh. “That Michael is far more connected than I think any of us know. He’s definitely got people in his corner and unfortunately, I don’t think he’s just going to go away.”
“Would you have killed him had Xylo not been here?”
“Yes.” The lack of hesitation in my Alpha’s voice made this day just a little bit better.
eight
KIERAN
