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When she glanced back at the males once more, she took a step forward, and a growl of warning erupted from me. I kept my hand on her, pulling her back against the solid wall of my chest. Banner and Caelan growled low, snapping their teeth at me at my very possessive hold I had on Ainslee.
Fuck them.
“Darlin’, yer mam’s really worried.” The pleading tone in Banner’s voice was genuine, but it couldn’t mask his rage. “Come back home and ease her, and we can talk about this. We can figure out how this will work.”
Banner looked at me then, his eyes narrowing, the irises glowing and telling me he was moments from shifting.
“Let me speak with Luca alone.” Banner’s tone was gentle as he addressed Ainslee. “Ye may think he will no’ harm ye, and he hasn’t… yet, but he’s no’ stable. Until I can guarantee that he has himself under control, and that him being half turned will no’ backfire, I canna allow ye tae be alone with him. I canna live with myself if something happens tae ye.”
“Da, with all respect, this is my life. He’s my mate. I’m not a child, and you can’t dictate my life, not where this is concerned. You can’t tell me who I can be with, especially my fated mate.”
Every part of my soul howled in rage that Banner thought I could possibly harm Ainslee. She was the reason I lived—survived—all these centuries. She had been the only constant thing on my mind as I searched for her, as I hoped and wondered where she was, who she was.
The feelings she brought out in me evoked emotions I’d never thought possible. I was starting to feel whole again, even if that only showed on the inside.
I may still appear like a crazed Lycan physically, maybe even my mind being damaged forever, but my human side and my wolf knew Ainslee was to be cherished and protected above all else.
The air seemed to still, not even wind blowing through the trees. I felt the thickness, the tightness surrounding us. I knew what was going to happen before I saw Caelan crouch, one foot braced in front of the other, his expression savage.
His hands were curled into tight fists at his sides. Relaxing and flexing. Relaxing and flexing. He was still a young Lycan even if he was fully grown, but because of the former, he had a hard fucking time controlling his wolf and aggression.
He was also too damn alpha for his own good.
Caelan’s glowing eyes were narrowed and trained on me. The lad had absolutely no self-control, and it was clear that he needed to get a rein on his alpha tendencies or he’d become one hell of a loose cannon.
I could’ve told him that. Could’ve told Banner to keep the boy in line, but before I could say anything, Caelan charged forward.
I heard a surprised cry come from Ainslee, before she screamed, “No, Caelan. Stop.” But still, her brother ran forward. “No. No. No-no-no.” She was shouting so loud, but it didn’t drown out the enraged sound coming from Caelan.
She had her hands in front of her again in surrender, as if that would stop the asshole charging headfirst toward us.
Banner shouted something indistinguishable, presumably in Gaelic, and the rest of his Lycan crew were yelling.
“Caelan. Fooking stop!” Banner roared, but still his son came fast and hard.
I had no options but to pull Ainslee back and push her behind the tree. She stumbled and fell, and I snarled in rage at the fact that she’d gotten hurt. This little fucker was going to pay.
I channeled that calm, that darkness and emptiness I was old friends with.
I held my arms out wide and let a slow grin spread across my face. My focus stayed trained on Caelan.
His eyes widened slightly, no doubt in surprise at the fact that I wasn’t taking a defensive stance. I didn’t need to. He gave me all the ammunition I needed by losing control.
I let him slam his big body into mine and heard Ainslee cry out again. I smelled her tears and fear, and that pissed me off even more. These fuckers were causing this distress in her. I didn’t care if the pain she felt was emotional or physical. I’d destroy anything that hurt her.
I grunted from the impact, the momentum hurtling us backward. My spine slammed into the thick trunk of a tree, the breath momentarily leaving me.
The bark crushed beneath me and fell to the forest floor, the branches shaking above and dropping leaves around us like rain.
I could hear the drowned-out shouts of the Lycans, but I focused on Caelan.
He snarled and went to slam his fist into my side. The contact had the breath leaving me. I had to give the boy credit. For being so young, he had some strength behind him.
