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Her lids drooped low and she swayed lower with a grace not even a Therian possessed, hovering just a breath from his face.
“Let me tell you who is my friend. She’s cowering on the floor behind one of my strongest men, almost in shock, Colby Winters. Now... you, being a big, strong Therian wolf should be able to figure out just why she’s having that reaction.” She reached up and gave Colby’s cheek a quick, hard pat.
To his credit, he didn’t flinch.
But Meridia saw that her words had struck home and he hissed in a vicious breath.
“This is the last time one of that mangy wolf’s miserable sycophants will interfere in another’s life, Colby. At least... if the sycophant wants to leave my territory alive.” She smiled sweetly. “I think you’ll pass the message on, won’t you?”
Before he could speak, she shot out a hand and gripped his jaw, squeezing so tight the bones ground together under her fingers. “You are no longer welcome in any land belonging to the Atlantic Atargarians, Colby Winters. You’ve got one hour to remove yourself.”
She rose then. Every protective instinct inside her demanded she tend to her friend, she kept her focus on Colby.
He was silent as he rose to his feet, despite his injuries, linking his hands behind him as he lowered his head respectfully.
“I must give her a message,” he said in a stilted voice.
“No. You mustn’t,” Meridia replied.
His Adam’s apple bobbed, his body twitching in response to his need to get away from her. Meridia could feel how badly he wanted to get away and it was almost enough to take the edge of her anger.
Almost.
Because Colby didn’t turn away. Instead, he closed his eyes, then forced himself once more to meet her gaze. “It’s about her family. Phoenix sent me. He knew she wouldn’t want to see him.”
Meridia’s lip curled at the sound of that name but she gave the man a short, curt nod. “Do not move from this spot. Do not speak to her or look at her until I give permission and then you may only deliver the message.”
Colby’s lids lowered, then he bowed his head in acknowledgment, shoulders a rigid line.
She moved around Donner, stroking a hand down his arm in a gesture that was both thankful and understanding.
They loved Zee here. Unlike the miserable fucks in her pack, in her family.
Meridia cut the thought off, because she couldn’t help Zee if she let herself give in to the rage, even a little.
Hunkering down in front of Zee, she hauled the woman in for a tight, fierce hug. “Donner, have Chassy clear the bar. The Therian can stay—and live—for a few more moments.”
Briefly, Meridia glanced at the male human who still hadn’t relaxed his oddly protective stance where he stood, just a few feet away. Angling her head toward him, she looked at her second and added in a low, liquid language unknown to any of those outside the ocean they called home, “And find out who he is. If he’s solid, then he’s welcome in our territory. He has balls and a heart.”
He proved as much when he resisted Chassy’s first attempts to get him to leave, although he did go, reluctantly, after Chassy said, “The Regnar will care for Zee. She’s our family.”
“I’ll be back to check on her,” he said.
“You’re welcome to,” Meridia told him, although there was grief in her as she said it. Any chance Zee might have had with this strong, determined man was gone. She’d never look at him without remembering her humiliation at the hands of Niko Whelan. Again. No, he hadn’t been here to do it himself, but Niko was the reason this had happened. Again.
Meridia wished, for once, that she was more like her father, that her rage could be as icy as the ocean’s heart. But she had too much of her mother in her and her rage was pure fire.
Taut moments passed in silence once they were alone, just Donner, Chassy, Colby and the trembling Therian wolf Meridia clutched tight against her heart.
“Zee.”
One hand came up and gripped Meridia’s bicep. “It hurts, Meri. Like it’s eating me alive inside. It’s never been this bad.”
One night, several years back, Zee had finally confided to Meridia, told her why she was a wolf alone even though everything about her screamed of a need for family, for a pack.
Meridia had been subtly shoving men she knew were strong enough for Zee ever since, but Zee rebuffed each and every one. When Meridia called her on it just months ago, Zee had said softly, “The one time I went on a date with an Atargarian, a Therian coyote saw us. There was a fight. I’ll never be responsible for that again, Meri. Ever. If you push it, I’ll leave.”
If Zee left, she’d be truly alone, away from anybody who understood enough, or cared enough.
