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He nodded, then shifted, I was guessing so he wasn’t pressing his naked body against me, and lowered himself to the ground.The young hound pressed his huge, hot body against me, the soft fur of his belly and side against my back.

“Thanks, Brick,” I said as heaviness washed over me.A rumbling sound vibrated through his chest and my eyes drifted closed.

A high-pitched yelp jolted me from my sleep, a commotion breaking out around us.

Jagger loomed over me, his teeth bared and his hand buried in Brick’s fur at his throat.

“Let him go,” I rushed out as elation filled me.He was here.Jagger was here.His glowing eyes dropped to me, and I realized my breast was exposed completely.“Brick helped me.I was sick.He did what he had to.”

“Sick?”Jagger’s gaze slid to my chest.His nostrils flared, then he gently covered my chest while still holding Brick down with the other hand.He stood then, lifting Brick with him.“I smell you all over her, pup, start talking.”

Brick shifted immediately, but he didn’t cower, he straightened.His gaze was lowered out of respect, but he wasn’t showing fear.“Poe cut her up, a sigil she had to slice through to break free.Infection took hold, if I hadn’t?—”

Jagger tugged him forward in a tight hug, surprising us both.“I’m in your debt, brother,” he said roughly.

He released a startled Brick, then scooped me off the ground and buried his face against my throat.

“Hey, Charming.”

“Fuck, sunshine.I thought I lost you.”His big body trembled against me.“I thought I fucking lost you.”

“I’ll be okay, thanks to Brick.”I wrapped my arms around him as tightly as I could, then pulled back sharply.“Luke?Is he all right?Did you find him?”

“Yeah, he’s safe.They’re all safe, thanks to you.”

A snarl erupted around us, and that’s when I noticed Rome, Lothar, and Fender.Kurgan looked like he was about to attack.Lenny was held under one of his arms like a rag doll, while his face had partially shifted, fangs extending.

Jagger carefully handed me to Brick.“If you need to run to get her to safety, do it and don’t stop.”

Brick nodded.

Jagger lifted his hands and slowly walked toward Kurgan.“Put Lenny down.She looks like she’s in pain, son.”

Kurgan shook his shaggy head.

“Look at her.She’s scared.You don’t want to scare your female, do you?”

Kurgan’s gaze sliced to the other males gathered, and he bared his fangs.

“You need to get back,” he said to Roman.“He sees you as a threat.You’re all unmated adult males.Brick’s too young to be a threat, and I’ve got Sutton.”

Rome and Fender looked confused.“Who the fuck is he?”

Lothar shoved them back.“I’ll explain later.”Loth lifted his hands as well.“We’re not here for your female,” he said to Kurgan.“Be at ease, brother.”

Lenny wrapped her arms around his thick waist.“Kurgan, stop this,” she said, her voice shaky but strong.

Kurgan stilled, the contact from her instantly giving him pause like she knew it would.

“Now put me down.”

He growled.

“I’ll stay right here beside you, but you’re hurting me and you need to put me down.”

He immediately did as she said, planting her on her feet, then breathed deep, and growled again when I assumed he scented her pain.He grabbed the bottom of her shirt and tugged it up to look for the source of it.Lenny slapped his hands away.

Jagger stepped forward, ready to intervene, then stopped when Kurgan didn’t react to her hitting him.