Page 102 of Bedeviled

“I must be seeing things,” he says. “Surely Selene fucking Bowers is not on shifter property during a full moon, pressed against a newly turned lycanthrope.”

I glare at him. “She needed me.”

His gaze moves between the two of us, taking in how Sybil leans her body subtly into mine.

“I don’t doubt that,” he says, his gravelly voice softening. “But she will eventually shift, and if you stay, she could hurt you in the process, and that will be a wound she’ll have to live with for the rest of her life.”

When he puts it like that, all my altruistic reasons for staying now crumble to the ground.

Kane cocks his head. “The rest of the pack is approaching,” he says. “She’s in good hands.”

“No.” She moans out her protests.

“You’ll be okay,” I promise, about to retreat when a second wolf arrives.

A low, ominous growl starts up in this lycan’s throat.

“Move slowly,” Kane cautions.

Carefully, I rise to my feet, backing away from a groaning Sybil as this second wolf prowls toward me, its lips drawn back to show its gums and teeth.

An inhuman sound comes from Kane’s chest as he steps forward, placing himself between me and the wolf. As I watch, the muscles of Kane’s back ripple and settle like water.

“That’s your mate’s friend,” Kane says to the lycan, “someone she considers family. You cannot attack her.” Riding Kane’s words is a sort of magic that differs from mine. I can feel the power in his words, and this wolf—Sawyer, it seems like—must sense it too because he hesitates, his ears flicking. The deep, terrifying noise he’s making, however, isn’t letting up.

“Say goodbye to your friend, Selene,” Kane says without turning to look at me. “We’re leaving.”

There is no we. I’m not going anywhere with the guy. But I should honestly get the hell out of here.

Sybil is making moaning noises and rolling her forehead back and forth along my coat.

“Love you, Sybil,” I say softly. “You’ve got this. I want to hear all about it later.”

She groans in response.

Alright, now’s not the best time for a pep talk.

I back away, and Kane moves with me, keeping his body between me and Sawyer the entire time.

It’s actually quite sweet.

Only Sawyer is creeping closer to us, his hackles up, and he’s treating Kane, presumably his alpha, with the same hostility he’s treating me.

“We’re leaving,” Kane reiterates slowly, his wolf in his voice.

He grabs my wrist without looking and directs me back into the woods and away from Sawyer.

“Ow, can you lighten up?” I say, glaring at him as I’m tugged along.

It’s the wrong thing to say.

In response Kane lets out a low growl and scoops me up.

“Wait, I still need to get my broom⁠—”

“You’ll get it another day,” he says, literally tossing me over his shoulder and striding toward the boundary line.

Sawyer follows us, growling ominously.