Page 67 of Bonded Through Bite

“You were running from them?” Now Zack is eyeing Rafael and Santiago suspiciously.

“Yes. He went and drank from a witch. Female witch,” I say and point at Rafael at my back. For a moment, Zack looks like he’s going to laugh, but he valiantly fights to keep his expression under control.

“Ah, I see,” he says and smirks at Rafael, who in turn nuzzles my neck.

“I’m still mad at you,” I growl at him but arch my neck.

“Can we get back to the beast that attacked Samantha?” Santiago sounds exasperated with all of us.

“I think it was the same thing that killed the wolf,” I say and they freeze. Rafael clutches me to him so hard I bet there’ll be bruises.

“Alyssa?” Zack rumbles and now he’s back on his feet, although not putting weight on the injured leg.

“That was her name?”

“Yes,” Rafael replies to me. “She was the alpha’s mate.”

“Not a fated mate,” Zack adds, like it means something.

“What?”

“They bonded through a mating ceremony,” Rafael explains. “Like a marriage. The alpha wouldn’t have known she was injured or dead because there wasn’t a fated bond.”

“Oh.”

Zack tries to take a step and would have folded back to the ground if Santiago weren’t there to catch him. He lets the wolf lean on him until he finds his balance.

“That’s why I’m here,” Zack says. “Henry’s beta called for a replacement. He’s in no shape to lead the pack.”

“You can replace an alpha like that?” I can’t hold my curiosity back.

“Usually, no. The beta takes over until a new alpha is established. But we are distant family, and I’m more than capable of putting pups in their places if need be.”

“Family?” Santiago’s tone is mild, but the question is clear.

“Henry is a cousin by some twist or another. I’m Zack Courtkenay.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Rafael

Well, fuck. Courtkenay, one of the oldest lines of wolf shifters. A werewolf bloodline, and the strongest according to some sources. I’ve never met the wolf king in person, but I know of him. I wonder what Zack’s relationship to him is.

There’s no doubt he can take over running the local pack. Hell, they would have to be raving lunatics to challenge a Courtkenay werewolf.

“Santiago Wacerra.” San offers his hand to the wolf.

“The Hunter.” He acknowledges his title with a raised brow, but then shakes San’s hand without hesitation. They take each other’s measure, and arm muscles bulge until Samantha scoffs and they break free at the same time.

I can’t help but inch her back a step. He might be practically royalty, but he’s still a werewolf. The distrust between the species is deep-seated and well founded. On both sides. In fact, no one would have blamed him for ignoring the attack on Samantha.

Why did he intervene?

“You left your own pack to deal with this?” Santiago asks warily.

“I have no pack. Not that it’s your business,” Zack replies, showing the first sign of irritation.

“It is when she…” San trails off.