by Noah Harris
Liam shoved against Dante’s hand, trying to get to Brett. “Watch your fucking mouth, or I’ll rip that tongue straight out of your head!”
Brett smirked. “I’d like to see you try.”
The situation was rapidly spiraling out of Dante’s control. Brett wasn’t listening, and he looked ready to take every inch of his rage out on the both of them. Liam’s temper was escalating to the point that Dante wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep the man calm. His own anger was bubbling just beneath the calm exterior he was trying to put on. All he’d wanted was to have a night alone with Liam, and now he was trying to figure out how to keep them from killing each other.
Dante decided to try again. “Brett, there’s things you need to hear. But you can’t hear them if you’re too busy trying to beat us up.”
“Oh, I’m going to do so much more than that. You want to spit on the honor of my Alpha? There’s going to be a price to pay for that. The only thing I’m having a hard time with is, do I kill him in front of you and drag you back to Noah? Or do I just kill you both?” Brett mused.
That was too much for Liam, who tried to dive around Dante’s restraining arm to get to Brett. Moving fast, Dante jumped in front of him, wrapping his arms around Liam and holding him tight to him. Liam fought against Dante’s hold, his eyes flashing and throat rumbling with deadly growls. He was threatening to change, so eager was he for the kill.
“Liam, no!” Dante shouted, fighting with his own desire for violence as he restrained Liam.
“He’s not going to talk to you like that. Let me go!” Liam snarled.
“It’s not going to solve anything!” Dante insisted.
“It’ll shut him up,” Liam continued, still trying to get out of Dante’s grip.
Dante stared down at Liam. “Listen to me, please. We can’t fight him. We can’t risk anyone getting killed. I don’t want you to get hurt, and if we hurt him, all hell will break loose. Everything will have been for nothing if anything happens to any of us, okay?”
Liam gave another shove backward, with less force than before. His eyes, which were dangerously close to shifting to wolfen ones, locked onto Dante’s face. His struggles against Dante’s hold began to falter bit by bit. Dante didn’t know if it was the eye contact, or if his words were finally starting to sink in. Whatever the reason, Liam’s anger began to drain from his face and he eventually stopping trying to fight against Dante.
“You’re right,” Liam said finally, in a defeated tone.
Dante let him go, running a hand over his cheek. “It’s going to be okay. We’ll figure this out.”
Liam’s reply was cut off when pain lanced up Dante’s spine. Before he could react, another blow doubled him over. Strong hands dug into his back and tossed him through the air. The large rock he and Liam had been sitting on rushed toward him. Pain exploded in his head, lights seeming to flare before his eyes as the edges of his vision darkened. He slumped at the foot of the rock, trying to get his mind to catch up with events and with his body.
He was aware of the sounds of fighting nearby and distantly knew Brett had turned on Liam. Dante shook his head, trying to get his thoughts to align so he could do something. He didn’t know what Liam’s combat skills were like, but he had no doubt about Brett’s. The man was a very capable warrior, and he was angry enough to use the full extent of his abilities to win the fight.
The attack had come so suddenly, and Dante cursed himself for being stupid enough to turn his back on Brett like that.
Liam’s yelp of pain sent a jolt through him, and Dante struggled to sit up. Another shout of pain sent adrenaline pumping through him, giving him the strength to struggle to his feet as best his body would allow. It felt as if the wolf within him was pushing him up, demanding he do something. His mate was in trouble and he needed to do something about it before it was too late.
Slowly, his vision cleared enough for him to see what was happening. Brett’s superior skills as a warrior had won out. Liam’s arms and legs were pinned by Brett, and he was fighting to get out from beneath him. One of Brett’s hands was around Liam’s throat, the muscles of the arm tensed as he squeezed.
The wavy haziness around Dante’s vision seemed to clear in an instant. The pain and anger within him froze solid, cold fury taking their place. His steps were sure as he walked toward the two of them, feeling his body beginning to shift and warp with barely a thought on his part. The muscles of his arm tightened and flexed, filling with strength as his body accepted the wolf within. His nails grew to a point, thickening to deadly claws.
Brett never realized Dante was there until it was too late. Dante placed the thick, clawed hand at the man’s throat and dug them in until they bit into the flesh. His other hand slapped onto Brett’s shoulder and held him in place. Everything in Dante screamed for him to finish his grip, to dig his claws in until blood spurted and he could tear the life from him.
“Let him go,” Dante told him, voice eerily calm.
“Or what, you’ll kill me?” Brett asked, unmoving.
Dante tightened his grip a little. “I’ll paint the ground with your blood.”
Brett tilted his head back, the grip around Liam’s neck loosening. “What happened to not wanting to kill me?”
Dante’s expression was hard. “If I have to choose between his life or yours, I’ll choose his every time. You kill him, and you’ll be following him into the void.”
Brett grinned cockily. “And what happens when my sept finds out that you killed me over some Loner you were whoring with instead of with my Alpha? Don’t care about the potential for war anymore?”
Dante bent down so his face was near Brett’s. “I’m finding that I don’t really give a fuck anymore. Let him go.”
Brett gazed at him, snorting. “You would really set our septs against one another, all for him? You’re a bigger idiot than I thought.”
“Now, Brett!” Dante demanded.
“Maybe I don’t care either? But maybe it’s okay if you kill me for killing him. Because then you get to spend the rest of your life knowing you couldn’t save him, and you threw your sept back into a war that will take even more lives. Are you really ready to do that, because I just might be,” Brett taunted him, though Dante could see his grip was slackening as Liam’s chest heaved in a breath.
“Look me in the eye and tell me I won’t do it the moment the last breath leaves his body,” Dante told him, never breaking eye contact.
Brett looked at him, searching. “You know, I bet you would, wouldn’t you? I never thought you were much, and turns out you’re a cheat and an idiot. I gotta say though, I think you would do it, and that’s a little surprising.”
“What’s it going to be, Brett? Because I’m done waiting for you to make up your mind,” Dante growled in impatience.
Noah’s voice came then, startling Dante and Brett both. “Brett, release him.”
It wasn’t loud, and it wasn’t angry, but the tone of command was absolute. Brett’s hand twitched, as if he were considering disobeying it, before finally taking his hand away from Liam’s neck. Liam gasped then, able to breathe more freely. Both Dante and Brett looked up then, seeing Noah standing a few feet away from them. It seemed it was the night for everyone to not notice people when they were creeping up on them.
“Alpha Noah,” Brett said evenly.
Noah looked to Dante. “Would you be so kind as to release him so he can get up?”
Dante’s clawed grip tightened. “I haven’t made up my mind if I’m going to end up killing him or not.”
Noah nodded, as if he understood. “Would you rather kill him or see if your friend is safe?”
“Dante,” Liam gasped out, trying to get his arms free once more.
Dante growled in frustration, throwing Brett away from Liam. The werewolf hit the ground without protest and Dante dropped to his knees beside Liam. There was an angry red mark across Liam’s throat, and it looked like a few more marks on his arms. He was breathi
ng safely though, and Dante breathed out his own sigh of relief.
Liam looked up at him. “Are you okay?”
“Am now. Are you?” Dante asked.
Liam nodded. “I’ll live. You’re bleeding.”
Dante touched the sore spot on his head, pulling away fingers with blood on them. “I’ve got a thick skull. I’ll be alright, I promise.”
“Alpha Noah, your supposed future mate,” Brett began as he tried to gain his feet once more.
Noah cut him off with a curt shake of his head. “Your reasoning for this is irrelevant. I told you to mind your temper while you were here, and to show this sept and its people utter respect. Instead, I find you trying to kill one of their Lone Wolves, and Dante is showing obvious signs of having been in a fight, with you no less. I already know why you did it Brett, and I don’t care. Now be silent.”
Dante looked up at that. “You…you know?”
Noah nodded. “Yes. Now, I know this might not seem like the best time for it, but if you’re up to it, I wish to speak to you for a moment. Alone would be preferable.”
Dante glanced at Liam, then at Brett. “Is that really such a good idea?”
Noah eyed Brett. “I do believe Brett will behave himself this time around. Won’t you, Brett?”
“You’re too forgiving Noah,” Brett huffed.
Noah’s eyes flashed. “Won’t you, Brett?”
“Yes, Alpha Noah,” Brett growled out, the words sounding pained.
Dante turned to Liam. “Are you okay with this?”
Liam nodded. “I’ll be okay. The brute didn’t do any lasting damage. Asshole caught me off-guard when he threw you like that. I shouldn’t have tried to hold back when I was fighting him. Should have just tried to kill the bastard and be done with it.”
“Oh, you have my permission to do so should he be foolish enough to try it again,” Noah told him.
Liam eyed Noah. “You know, I think I might just start to like you.”
Dante reached out, running a worried finger over the mark on Liam’s throat. “You just shout if you need help, okay?”
Liam nodded, smiling at Dante in what was probably meant to be in a reassuring way. Dante didn’t want to leave, but with Noah here, he had to believe the situation was under control. Dante knew he and Noah had to talk anyway, that it was inevitable. He hadn’t realized it until he’d seen Liam’s life in danger, but he had chosen to be with Liam long before that. In the end, he would have had to sit Noah down and explain everything.
Hoping that his whole life wasn’t about to explode before him, Dante stood up and followed after Noah.
Chapter Seventeen
Dante wasn’t thrilled to leave Brett and Liam alone, even with Noah’s stern warning for Brett to behave himself. As much as he wanted to believe Brett would obey his alpha, Dante didn’t trust the man’s temper. He’d been willing to fight both him and Liam, and Dante suspected he would have done serious harm if he hadn’t been stopped. The throbbing in his midsection and head was a testament to just how much force the angry werewolf had been willing to use.
“Are you injured?” Noah asked as he walked ahead of Dante.
Dante rubbed his hand over what he was sure would be bruised flesh. “It’ll heal. He didn’t get far enough to do any real damage before you showed up. Thank you for that, by the way.”
Noah shook his head. “I should have arrived sooner. I thought it was odd that Brett wasn’t with the rest of the pack, but I allowed myself to be delayed by Elder Marrow rather than checking up on my second in command. I apologize for his behavior. He’s a strong and capable warrior, but his temper has always been his greatest flaw.”
“I noticed,” Dante said with another grimace when he had to stop short behind Noah.
Noah turned to him, looking him up and down. “And you’re sure you don’t need that wound looked at?”
Dante forced his hand away from his head. “Like I said, it’ll heal fine. I’m more worried about leaving him alone with Liam.”
Noah’s mouth twisted in displeasure. “His attempts to protect my honor are well-intentioned, though poorly implemented and unwanted. He already knows he will suffer the consequences for his actions. I do not need another to defend me when I am fully capable. Still, I have made sure we are close enough to hear if Brett should forget himself again, while still being far enough away to avoid being overheard.”
Dante took advantage of the pause in conversation to force himself to take a steadying breath. As relieved as he was that Noah had shown up when he did, it meant the secrets were almost out in the open. All that was left was for Dante to explain himself and to see how Noah would react to it. He certainly hoped Noah would end up dealing with it better than Brett had.
Noah nodded, as if to himself. “So, you and the Loner…Liam, is it?”
“Yeah, his name’s Liam,” Dante said, wondering if this was going to begin with Noah sneering at Liam’s sept status.
Instead Noah nodded again, looking thoughtful. “I suppose I shouldn’t have questioned it. As hasty as Brett can be, he’s usually accurate in his assumptions, even if his solution to problems tends to be too direct. How long has this been going on?”
Dante shifted, wishing he knew if he was supposed to look at Noah or if he was allowed to stare at his feet. “Wasn’t that long ago. I guess it started shortly after you first arrived, though I met him for the first time on the night of the celebration.”
“Do you love him?” Noah asked.
Dante jerked his head toward Noah in surprise. “Love? No, not yet, but I think that’s not far behind. We’re only just starting to get to know one another.”
Noah looked like he was bracing himself. “And I take it to mean that you desire a life with him more than you do with me?”
Dante winced, hating the way it sounded. “It’s not as if you’re not a great guy, or that you’re not offering me a lot of great things. I mean, sure, living in the mountains doesn’t sound like the greatest thing ever. Sounds cold, and I don’t know what I’d do without some trees around me that weren’t buried in piles of snow. But you’ve been nothing but fantastic to me, and a perfect gentleman this entire time. You’re everything they said you would be but…I’m rambling, aren’t I?”
“A simple answer will suffice here,” Noah said quietly.
Dante sighed, nodding finally. “Yes, I want to be with him, and not you.”
Noah’s face held no expression. “I know what you just told me, but please, be honest with me. Are you sure that I did not fail you in some way?”
For a moment, Dante could see the person behind the confident demeanor Noah held around himself. The alpha’s worry that he had somehow failed was blatantly obvious, and Dante reached out to take the man’s hand instinctively. For a brief moment, Noah didn’t look like the towering height of muscle and confidence that he had carried from the first time he’d stepped before Dante. He almost looked like a child, wondering if he had done okay after his first lessons.
“I promise you, you did nothing wrong. Never once did you make me feel bad, and you were always good and kind to me. This isn’t about you not doing enough or doing something wrong. This is about the fact that what I have with Liam is just…undeniable. I want to spend the rest of my life with him. You didn’t fail me or your sept, Noah. It just didn’t work out for us is all,” Dante said, hoping he sounded reassuring.
Noah sighed, shrugging. “I know what you say makes sense, but it doesn’t feel true to me. I feel as if there must have been something I did or should have done.”
Dante shook his head fiercely. “It’s not like that. I was ready to meet you, get to know you, and agree to everything. But who could have counted on the Joining screwing all of that up?”
Noah looked at him, shocked. “You…experienced The Joining with Liam?”
Dante hesitated, realizing he hadn’t mentioned that before and blushed. “Oh, yeah. It was a few days after you first arrived. Didn’t have any warning and
didn’t see it coming. I tried to make sure that’s what happened, and well, yeah, that’s what happened.”
Noah looked relieved. “You’re choosing Liam because he’s your True Mate.”
Dante gave Noah’s fingers a squeeze. “Yeah, sorry. Should have mentioned that earlier. I did tell you it wasn’t your fault It wasn’t anyone’s fault. All he did was offer his hand to help me to my feet, and that was all it took for it to happen.”
“Fate has its own priorities,” Noah said thoughtfully.
Dante smiled at that. “Yeah, but it would be nice if it gave a little warning once in a while. It’s kind of complicated things for me.”
Noah nodded. “I have no doubt that it has. I wish you would have told me sooner. You might have saved everyone a great deal of trouble.”
Dante laughed nervously. “Considering how well you’re taking this, I’m starting to think the same thing. I didn’t know what to do, so I kind of kept it quiet until I could figure it out. Still haven’t figured it out. it was all just kind of forced on me and well, here we are.”
Noah frowned. “What to do? What else is there to do once the Joining has happened? It was Her will that bound the two of you together for the rest of your lives. There’s no werewolf in existence who could argue with her decision, let alone even try. I could never imagine being so arrogant as to be furious with you because you chose to follow not only the dictates of your heart, but the edicts of Gaia herself.”
Dante eyed Noah carefully, an idea bubbling up in his mind. “You know, you’re taking this really well. So well in fact, I would say you’re a little relieved and trying not to show it.”
Noah paled. “I…I promise it isn’t meant to be an insult to you.”
Dante grunted. “Okay, but you didn’t want this very much, did you?”
“How upset would you be if I were to say no I didn’t?” Noah asked with a wince.
