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I stayed vigilant, though, forcing myself to focus on the goal — finding corrupted. Though judging by the way the worry and frustration kept growing inside her, I had a feeling the hunt wasn't going so well …

"Kaiya, you little bitch!" a woman with short red hair yelled as she stormed across the plaza, an angry group at her heels.

The wolf's hackles rose, and my body went rigid.

The woman's voice dropped, becoming too quiet for me to hear from that distance. She gestured towards the destroyed buildings, then the tents, and finally the group behind her.

The wolf snarled as guilt and regret poured in from Kaiya.

I held back, watching, ready to intervene if needed.

Was Kaiya really going to let that asshole treat her that way?

The red-head was the same one the guards had pointed out as 'having it out' for the Witch on the ship — though they had no idea why.

I waited for Kaiya to tell the woman off — hopefully with a slap or furious yell — but she just kept that calm, apologetic expression and attempted to explain.

My teeth ground together as I watched. Hells, even the old man and woman looked frustrated by the Witch's response!

The red-head shook her head, then took a step back andspatat Kaiya's feet.

I surged forward, unable to watch my mate be treated that way.

How dare that woman?!

But the older woman was already intervening, gesturing angrily at the red-head.

I halted, realizing what I'd just called her. No — what thewolfhad called her.

She was no mate ofmine.

The red-head looked from the older woman to Kaiya, and then over at me, expression contorting with disgust. Finally, she threw up her arms and stormed off, back rigid, hands clenched in tight fists.

Kaiya stared after her, cheeks red, as the remaining group members shifted nervously — their furious leader gone.

My eyes followed the red-head, the wolf demanding I put that woman in her place. I almost agreed.

Why the FUCK did Kaiya take it, though?

The fiery Witch was not the least bit intimidated by me, had faced certain death many times over, and had taken Frexin's torture with a rebellious gleam in her eyes. But with these people, she took the abuse without question. People who should bethankingher for fighting as hard as she did.

Fuck. Had things gone Frexin's way, there would have been twice as many bonded prisoners!

Everything inside me demanded I intervene, and I strained to resist.

What the fuck?Why did I even care? My only mission was to get names!

But I kept getting tangled up inher —the damn wolf sneaking into my thoughts and actions at every turn, so it became impossible to tell what was me and what was him anymore.

At this rate, I might lose myself completely before the tattoos could even be finished …

Fear kicked me in the stomach, and I slammed my eyes closed, forcing a long, slow breath in and out.

Losing myself to the wolf was not an option.

Rolling my shoulders, I took another deep breath.It was fine. I'd have those names by lunch. Then I'd be free.

I opened my eyes to see a petite woman with straight blonde hair approaching the Witch. She held a baby onher hip, and she and the Witch grinned widely at each other.