Growling, Sandy reared back, preparing to swipe her black claws over my human throat, when two things happened. A familiar blond wolf growled so loud and menacing that had I not known who it was, I’d have peed right there and then. And two, the familiar scents of my father and brothers hit me and the bitch on top of me, stilling the final blow.
Sandy’s hand stopped in mid-strike. “Brien? What are you doing here?” Her voice shook.
“I should have chosen you, my love. All those years ago. I should have chosen you.” Brien Mattice’s voice came out as a whisper.
I closed my eyes, not letting Sandy see the way the words affected me. I’d been with my father longer than the woman had and knew every nuance of his voice. He was trying to save his daughter. The crazy bitch above me had no clue.
“I have always loved you, Bri. You and the twins. I want you to be part of my pack. We can rule together.”
The sound of leaves crunching underfoot could be heard over the pounding of my heart. “That’s what we want. What we’ve wanted all these years. We couldn’t find you to tell you that. Come with us.”
“She has to die. Once she’s gone, we can live like a family again.” Her voice rose.
Crazy. The tone of a madwoman was what she was. There was no fixing what was broken in Sandy Mattice.
I watched and waited for the right time to strike. I knew what the elder Mattice was doing and hoped my mate did as well. The woman who was poised and ready to slash at Breezy’s throat wavered, lifted those few inches I needed in order to make my move. I glanced at Shaw and Parker, saw their resolve and understanding. It didn’t matter to me if they would hate me for killing their mother, for she’d signed her own death warrant the day she’d tried to take Breezy.
Silent as a ghost, I launched myself, shifting into human, and snapped Sandy Mattice’s neck. A swift death was more than she deserved, but I didn’t want to be considered bloodthirsty, although my wolf whined a little.
I let the bitch’s body drop to the ground and rushed to my mate’s side, gathering her into my arms. “You scared the life outof me. Didn’t I tell you not to release the enemy until the light goes out of their eyes?”
Breezy’s laugh turned into a sob. “Oh, god. I think I’m going to be sick.”
I held my mate while she threw up, then gratefully accepted a washcloth one of the Mattice brothers had fetched from the cabin. Gods, I didn’t think I’d be able to walk yet. My own body still shook at the sight I’d come upon, the woman poised over my mate, huge claws ready to slit Breezy’s vulnerable pale throat...I had to close my eyes to wipe the vision from my mind.
“I’m going to be having nightmares for the next ten years, or so I believe.” I kissed the top of Breezy’s head. I sat on the dirt ground, uncaring of my naked ass getting dirty, holding my equally naked mate, her family staring at the body lying on the ground. I wasn’t sure if they’d be hurt or have mixed feelings. Sandy hadn’t abused or targeted them the way she had my mate.
Brien Mattice stepped forward. “We will get rid of her body along with the one you killed back there. I saw a fire pit in the back.” His eyes held no recriminations.
Shaw kicked dirt near where his mother lay. “I had a feeling. We both did, damn it. We parked our asses outside her room, planning to sit there until you returned. They literally dropped from the ceiling with no warning. The next thing we knew, there were three fuckers pointing automatic weapons at us, and then she was jabbing something into our necks.”
Parker rubbed his own neck. “We failed, and for that we are sorry. Can you forgive us, Breezy?”
My mate lifted her head, a sob escaping. “You are not to blame. None of us is. She,” Breezy pointed at the lifeless form of the woman they wouldn’t call their mother. “That crazy ass bitch is the one to lay the blame on. When I was confronted with her and her insane talk, it finally came out why she hated me.” Taking a deep breath, Breezy told them how Sandy was jealousof the attention the Mattice men gave the little girl Breezy had been.
“I thought it was that condition humans got, postpartum depression or whatever.” He shook his head.
Breezy got off my lap. “I want to go home.”
“You sure you want to handle this? I can have some of the other wolves take care of it.” I offered, knowing it would be hard for anyone to dispense of a member of their family, even one as vile as Sandy.
Brien met my eyes. “I should have done this twenty years ago.” With those words, he bent and lifted Sandy into his arms, tossing her over his shoulder without a bit of care. I understood why the man felt the way he did. I didn’t feel any remorse for snapping Breezy’s mother’s neck. I only wish I’d been there sooner.
“Let’s shift and head back to my rig. It’ll help heal your wounds faster.” Her easy acceptance of my order soothed the beast that itched to take command.
“Don’t think this means you’re in charge.”
“Oh, I’m so going to love showing you just how in charge I am, my feisty mate,” I laughed at the blush that rushed up her naked torso.
We both swiftly changed into our wolves, similar in color, but mine was more than double her size. I led the way. One day, I wanted to run through the woods surrounding our property and see how much fun it would be to play chase. She gave a little yip and took off, making me shake my head. Gods, but I loved her.
I was exhausted by the time we returned to the Iron Wolves’ club. Xan’s XV was where he’d crashed it into the side of thevan, but Kellen and the others had taken care of the cleanup. I was extremely grateful to all the members of the MC. They’d gathered around me and made sure I was safe, not once blaming me for the mess I’d brought due to the woman who’d birthed me. We’d dressed in a spare set of clothing Xan had in the back. He was in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, while I’d been limited to an extra T-shirt he had, which hit me mid-thigh.
“You’re thinking too hard. Let’s get some rest here, and then tomorrow we’ll go home to our place,” Xan murmured in my ear.
I shivered as his warm breath washed over me. “Do you know what I thought of when I was running for my life?” I asked, turning to walk backward. “I kept thinking you’d save me.”
Xan nodded. “I’ll always come for you. No matter what or where you go, I’ll come for you.”
