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Nox held up his hands.
“Stop it, Tanner.” Harvey tried to pull Tanner away, and Tanner slammed his forearm into the man’s throat.
Harvey went down, gasping for air.
“Don’t take it out on him. He didn’t do anything.” Nox tried to step back.
Tanner wouldn’t let him. “You’re right. He didn’tdoanything. He didn’t guard our people. He didn’t keep you away from them. He didn’t break your fucking face for looking in our general direction.”
Harvey coughed and gagged on the ground.
Cassie and several other Varu came around the corner. “What are you doing?” She rushed over.
“Rectifying a mistake.” Tanner dragged Nox forward until their noses almost touched.
“Let him go.” Luca picked up a shovel. “Let him go, or so help me I’ll rearrange your face.”
Rage and hate burned Tanner’s eyes. His chest heaved, and he tightened his grip until the collar of Nox’s shirt cinched his throat.
Luca raised the shovel.
“No, Luca.” Nox held up a hand. To Tanner, Nox said, “I’ll leave, okay?”
“Tanner!” Isaiah pushed his way through the crowd. “What the hell are you doing?” Isaiah grabbed the man’s wrist, and his fingers didn’t make it all the way around. “Let him go, Tanner. That’s an order.”
Tanner shoved Nox to the ground and pointed a finger at him. “Stay away from my pack or I’ll make you wish you’d stayed dead.”
“You are not the leader of this group.” Isaiah got in front of Tanner. “You’re a beta. You disobeyed Cassie. You disobeyed me. And you disobeyed a Cana.”
“It’s my duty to protect you and them.” Tanner threw out an arm. “Especially when the lead Alpha has his judgment compromised.”
“The only one who’s got a judgment problem is you.” Cassie joined Isaiah. “He’s here because we want him to be.”
“No, some of you just want to make nice with the Cana. You want him happy. I understand that.” Tanner looked at Luca. “But the sooner he understands that the only good Mah is a dead Mah, the better. And personally, Nash can’t die quick enough.”
Luca swung the shovel. The edge collided with the back of Tanner’s knee. He stumbled but didn’t go down. Luca aimed for Tanner’s face. He caught the handle and yanked it from Luca’s grip hard enough to throw him to the side in the direction of the pit.
Nox dove to catch him, and Tanner took him to the ground. The air whooshed from Nox’s lungs, and a thundering boom crashed against his temple.
Nox put up his arms, deflecting several more punches. Then Tanner reared back, locked his hands together and used his fists like a mallet against Nox’s face.
Sound exploded, and the world grayed out. Pain drummed through his skull and down his jaw. Luca yelled, Cassie yelled, and other angry voices chorused their commands.
Another lightning strike landed against Nox’s sternum, a third to his ribs. Just as quick as the beta attacked, the weight crushing Nox’s chest disappeared.
“Nox…” Luca fell next to him.
Behind him, half of the group held Tanner back.
“Are you hur—” Nausea sliced off Nox’s words.
Luca yelled for help.
Cassie, Jelani, and the other beta named Max hovered around Nox.
The worst of the roaring in Nox’s ears softened, and the world focused. “I’m okay.”
“You’re bleeding.” Luca took a cloth from Cassie and pressed it to the place above Nox’s eye.
