and he couldnât stop the heavy surge of blood rushing to his groin, making him feel like a sick bastard, considering the circumstances. She went strangely still the second she felt his rigid erection pressing against her spine, and he bit back the guttural groan that rumbled deep in his chest.
Flicking his gaze away from the dangerous terrain of her body, he looked up and experienced an overwhelming wave of relief when he saw that Max Doucetâs change was complete. âItâs over now,â he whispered.
Despite the softness of his words, she flinched, her body trembling with an excess of emotion. She let out a slow, shaky exhalation of air, then turned her face back toward the clearing, her breath catching on a hoarse cry the instant she saw her brother.
The newly formed wolf rose on his hind legs, his massive chest rising and falling as he panted through parted jaws that revealed long, sinister fangs. Glowing blue eyes that burned like the center of a flame searched the crowd of spectators, until he found the one he was looking for. Brodyâs hold tightened as the wolf made a sluggish move toward Michaela, but the Lycan guards were already yanking on the thick chains that wrapped his throat, keeping him in place.
âThe change has been taken and the human breed has survived,â Fuller announced, his brown hair whipping around his face as the wind surged, playing havoc with the towering flames of the fire as they licked at the darkness of the sky. âWho will take responsibility for the Novitiateâs training?â
âThe honor will be mine,â a deep voice called out from behind them, and Brody turned his head to see Eric Drake step forward to stand beside Cian. A collective rumble of shock reverberated through the pack at this blatant, stunning show of support for the Runners from the Elderâs son.
âEric?â Drakeâs silver brows pulled together in a deep-seated scowl, his sharp cheekbones slashed with a vivid streak of ruddy color.
Crossing his brawny arms across his chest, the youngest son of the most pure-blooded line in the Silvercrest pack repeated his intention. âFor too long this pack has benefited from the courage and sacrifice of the Runners, giving nothing in return except the offer to join a community that treats them as inferiors. Enoughâs enough. Itâs time we make things right and give something back. The boy will pass his Novitiateâs training, and when he does, heâll become a Runner and hold a position that demands our respect. To see that it happens, Iâm taking on the training of Max Doucet as my own.â
âLike hell you are,â his father hissed, baring his teeth as he jabbed one long finger in his sonâs direction. âItâs bad enough that you and your sister have actually befriended them, but I will not allow my son to disgrace our family by aligning with these aberrations and taking responsibility for a human breed, the foulest creature of all!â
âYou canât stop him,â Elise Drake argued, stepping forward to stand by her brotherâs side in a show of support against their father, though her nerves revealed themselves in the tremor of her husky voice and the violent trembling of her hands. Not that Brody blamed her. Elise had been through a hell of her own the week before when her father had used her in the attack on Jillianâs life, and now she had to deal with this.
For a moment, the misogynistic Drake stood rigid with fury in the face of his daughterâs defiance, and then a soft gleam slowly began to burn in the wintry depths of his eyes. âYouâre right,â he murmured, straightening his cuffs in a purposeful act of indolence. âI canât stop Eric should he choose to malign his honor in such a fashion. But I can enjoy his failure.â He all but purred with malicious satisfaction. âFate has a way of righting all wrongs. Itâs been many years since weâve taken the responsibility for a Novitiate in this pack, but the rules remain the same. If the human breed fails to pass judgment at the end of his training, which Iâve no doubt he will, the punishment still stands and Max Doucet will be executed.â
âYou bastard!â Michaela hissed, suddenly jerking forward, but Brody was already tightening his hold on her. She strained against his arms, but couldnât break away as she shouted at the Elder, the horror sheâd just endured pouring out of her in an uncontrollable flash of fury and pain. âIf you hurt my brother, Iâll see that each and every one of you dies. Your town, your way of life. Iâll bring the entire world breathing down your neck. Just see if I donât! And Iâll be damned if heâs staying here! Iâll do whatever it takes to get him away from you! Iâll get the goddamn army up here, and weâll see how powerââ
Cursing foully under his breath, Brody pressed his palm over her mouth, silencing the words he knew were only going to land her in deeper trouble. Muffled sounds of outrage vibrated in her throat, but it was already too late. The damage had been done. Drake hated all humans with a passion that went beyond obsessiveâand because of their close association with the Runners, theyâd known the Doucets would garner special attention from the unstable Elder and his followers. And now that Michaela had openly challenged him, Drake wouldnât stop until he made her pay for the insult.
âThe human is too unstable to be allowed her freedom,â Stefan Drake announced with a gloating smile, spreading his arms in a gesture of entreaty. âSurely the pack realizes what must be done. She cannot be allowed to interfere with our dealings.â
âYour so-called dealings sought out her family,â Mason growled, ânot the other way around. We know youâre the one behind the rogues, Drake, and it wonât be long before weâve caught youâalong with the bastard working with youâand brought the both of you down.â
âDespite the slanderous accusations you and your kind have been tossing around like confetti,â the Elder argued, his hateful stare burning with maniacal triumph while whispered words traveled among the members of the pack, âmy guilt remains unproven. The truth is that you have no evidence to back your claims. Theyâre all based on nothing more than hearsay and conjecture. And regardless of how it happened, her brother is now here and the fact remains that she is a threat to our well-being. I call for anââ
âThereâs no need to call for anything,â Dylan growled, cutting Drake off. âShe can be assigned a guard and the problem is solved.â
âI agree,â Fuller called out before Drake could argue, the Lead Elderâs relief to have ended the disagreement without bloodshed obvious in the softened lines of his expression. âThe only question is who. Who is willing to accept accountability for her actions and watch over the human while her brother completes his training?â
Brody narrowed his eyes, his chest aching as he prepared to say the words he knew were going to change his entire life. It was insanity. Madness. The action of a fool. And yet, he didnât have any other choice. He never had.
âI am.â The two roughly spoken words echoed through the clearing with the force of a cannon blast, and Michaela instantly stilled, stiffening against him as all eyes turned toward them. âUntil this is over,â he growled, âthe human is mine.â
Chapter 3
The human is mineâ¦
The unbelievable words echoed through Michaelaâs head, the evocative warmth of Brodyâs breath against the sensitive shell of her ear enough to make her tremble with something sharper, darker, more visceral than shock or fear. She struggled for the source of her reaction to the possessive wordsâthen realized it was hunger, urgent
