by T. A. Grey
Standing in a rush he turned to find the prince dragging Sarina by the arm towards his limo as a dozen guardsmen ambushed his pack members. His brothers swooped in and cut through the bastards with hard fists and sharp elbows.
"Sarina!" he shouted and lunged through the growing crowd, knocking people out of his way in his haste to get to her. Vane froze when he saw the glint of silver at her throat. The prince had easily just signed his death wish.
"No more, Alpha Kategan," the prince sneered. "She's coming with me. Come any closer and I'll start taking nicks out of her pretty skin."
Vane stayed frozen to the ground, an unnatural, threatening growl escaped him. The prince eyed him wearily, but continued to back up step by careful step. Vane looked at Sarina's scared eyes and gave her a reassuring look. There was no way she was leaving here, he didn't care who he had to kill to keep that promise.
"Why looky here, isn't it the little dick, Prince Conlin." Alison sauntered up to the prince with a confident stride. She stopped with laughter in her eyes and a grin on her lips. "Did you know that the prince's dick is so little that even at his hardest he's no bigger than a tube of lipstick?" She threw her head back and laughed.
The prince turned to her, his face molten with rage. "Why you fucking bitch, I'll kill you!" Vane acted quickly, taking the prince's distraction to his advantage and lunged, grabbing the prince's wrist in his hand and bending it backwards until he heard the pop of his wrist snapping. The prince howled in pain and fell to one knee. Sarina darted away and ran to her friend.
Vane twisted the wrist even further and slammed a bruising kick into the prince's chest, knocking him to the ground. The prince heaved in breaths and rolled around on the ground, holding his wrist. Vane looked around for the king and saw that his brothers holding him. He checked to make sure Sarina was safe before confronting the king.
"If you ever come near her again I will kill you. No one will be able to protect you from the hurt I'll shove up your ass. Come near my pack and I’ll rip your fucking heart out." A soft hand touched his shoulder.
Three tall, lean men came forward then wearing white shirts with a crescent moon symbol on the sleeve.
“Alpha Kategan, we shall take over from here. Thank you for calling the Justicars. Now we have proof of your claim and your bonding will be upheld by the court. King Brunes you however will be seeing us in court. As for you, Prince Conlin, any contract you made without Sarina’s consent is invalid and giving the recent ceremony your contract is also void.”
Sarina wanted to cry, but she didn’t know whether it was from happiness or because her relationship with her father would never be the same.
"I need to say something." Vane nodded at his mate and stepped to the side. He reached for her hand and clasped it.
Sarina hesitated before her father, the most imposing man she'd ever known. Darien restrained him with his arms behind his back, but still he struggled.
"I am finishing the mating ceremony with Vane tonight. I never want to see you again. I never want to hear from you again. Keep the hell away from me, this pack, and my mate or I swear what I do to you will be far worse than what he will." He looked at her, his mouth open, but then began to laugh a deep, belly cackle.
Sarina growled, and it wasn't human. Pulling back her fist she let it fly with all the rage, all the hate, and all the pain he'd caused her, not just during the past few weeks, but her whole life. Fist connected with nose and bone crunched and gave way to a spray of red blood. Sarina pulled back, panting.
"You bitch. I should have sold you long ago. I should have—
His words were cut off by Vane’s hard fist. The king slumped against Darien, unconscious. "Pile the trash back into their cars and get them the fuck out of here." Darien nodded and the others came to help.
The prince was the hardest to get rid of, his eyes seething with anger as he glared at Alison. Sarina went up to her friend whose face had gone pale as the prince was shoved into his limo.
"What? Did he say something?" Her friend nodded absently. Her eyes getting a faraway look to them.
"Whatever the bastard said, it's fine. Our pack will protect you, Alison. I promise." She hugged her friend and could feel the waves of tension riding her. "Thank you, Ali. I might be dead if it wasn't for you. You were so brave; it was like an entirely different woman. No, not true. It was just nice to see the claws come out. They are sharper than I thought."
Alison laughed and hugged her friend back. When she pulled back though her face was still stark.
"Anything for you, Sarina. Now, go finish the ceremony."
Sarina smiled brilliantly and jumped into Vane's waiting arms. They finished the ceremony and used both of their not-bloodied hands to tie the ribbon around. After the ribbon was tied, they kissed and the pack erupted in howls and cheers.
"Tell me you love me," Vane said against her ear and hugged her close.
"I love you." He made a deeply masculine, satisfied sound.
"Good, that's good, because I love you too, lumara." He kissed her again and Sarina lost herself in him.
Read on for an excerpt of
DARK AWAKENING: The Kategan Alphas 2
Rome showed her around the single floor cabin. It was simple, quaint, but homey and warm. A brick landing went down to the living room where a loveseat and recliner sat facing a brick-layered fireplace. The bathroom was small but clean with a shower and tub, and the bedroom had a decent size bed, the same queen style she had back at home. Looking down at the bed, Alison had a brief flash of the white stain awaiting her on her sheets at home. Her stomach tightened and bile rose in her throat.
"You all right?"
Rome came into the room, his eyes serious. Her breath faltered in her lungs just looking at him. She’d always wanted to get married, have a few babies, and spend her life cooking and running her cafe. But since Conlin, none of that was possible. It was strange how one mistake could change a person's life so drastically, she thought. Once upon a time, she wouldn't have minded flirting with such a strong man as Rome, but now she knew better than to be swayed by a pretty face. One never could tell what lies beneath the polished surface.
"Fine, thanks." Suddenly she realized she was in a small bedroom with a very virile male, a male who was looking at her as if she was a delicious dessert he wouldn't mind spending the next few hours licking. Slowly. A warm blush filled her cheeks and she could do nothing to stop it. "That will be all thank you," she said sharply and marched past him to open the front door. She stood next to it, waiting as he strolled slowly towards her. She held her breath as he stopped before her. Keep going, keep going, she chanted.
Instead, he faced her and lifted her chin with a long finger. The corner of his mouth curved upwards, taunting and full. "If you need anything at all beautiful, just let me know. Whether it’s a massage or someone to kill a spider for you, I'm your man." She shivered at his words. He leaned down closer, his lips scant inches from hers.
Oh God, don't kiss me she begged, slamming her eyes shut. Hot breath teased her lips and they parted, the traitors. And then she felt it, the press of his lips against hers. His lips were smooth and matched perfectly against hers. A hot pulse throbbed directly in her sex and her breasts suddenly ached to be touched. Then he lifted his head. It was over too fast, or not fast enough. Definitely not fast enough.
Her eyes fluttered open to see a darkness in his hazel eyes that wasn't there before, a dark, possessive glint that could only mean one thing.
"Please go."
He grinned at her, taking in everything, her flushed cheeks, her wet lips, her chest moving a little too quickly, and then he nodded as if he'd done a good job.
"Vane has sentries posted all over, especially near the guest cabin. So relax and don't worry. But remember," he paused at the doorway, the light from the street creating a golden halo around him. "If you need anything, I'm here."
Alison slammed the door in his laughing face.
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