Page 20 of Betrayed Mate (Rejected Fate Trilogy #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY

I whimpered, unable to hold in the sound, as my attacker pushed me onto my side. The faint, sweet scent of vampire mixed with the sweaty scent of human hit my senses.

Pawsteps stopped near me, followed by a low growl.

Wrenching my head to the side, I sank my teeth into my attacker’s neck. Blood spilled into my mouth, the taste of cotton candy and copper making me gag. My jaws slackened as a man stumbled back, his fangs still elongated. He breathed rapidly, and his pale green eyes widened, showing a dotted outline of crimson.

I stood, unable to put weight on my left foreleg, as the sound of panicked breathing and quickened hoofbeats rang in my ears—the deer were fleeing.

On my three good legs, I hunkered, preparing to pounce. The man, who had to be around my age, lifted both hands.

“I’m…I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.” His bottom lip quivered, and the tantalizing yet sharp scent of citrus mixed with ozone reached my nose.

Fear.

I refused to become a bully, especially when this man was clearly struggling with being turned.

Ryker and the others reached us, and I looked at each of them, wanting to communicate somehow that this man wasn’t a risk after all, when the bastard lunged at me once more.

I stumbled back, but my injured shoulder prevented me from moving quickly enough.

As my attacker’s teeth sank into my neck, cold realization settled over me. This was it. This was my end.

But instead of ripping out my throat, he began sucking my blood.

He wanted to drain me.

Realizing he’d been overcome by bloodlust, I reached up to claw his face, but a large chestnut-brown wolf soared past my eyes, the scent immediately telling me who it was.

Ryker.

He ripped out the vampire’s throat.

Blood spilled all over my chest and front legs as the halfling retracted his teeth and desperately grasped his neck, trying to stop the blood flow.

As the blood continued to gush between his fingers, he fell on his ass, and Ryker moved to stand between us. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kendric, Xander, and Gage circle the dying attacker.

My lungs wanted to burst, but at the same time, I couldn’t fill them with air. The world underneath me quaked, making it hard to balance. No one else seemed to be having an issue, which meant I was growing weak again.

I didn’t understand what the hell had just happened. Vampires were supposed to only be born, not created, but this person had clearly been in transition and not in his right mind. I hadn’t even sensed the threat coming, which spoke volumes about the mysterious stalker I’d thought I sensed earlier. Clearly, something was wrong with me.

The moment the man quit wheezing and his heart stopped, the pain from my injuries roared to life. Ryker turned toward me, the sheen disappearing from his eyes and turning the brown so bright that his entire iris appeared gold. Something in me tugged toward him, but when I tried to move, my shoulder burned as though it might come unglued.

Concern darkened his eyes, and he trotted toward some larger oak trees twenty yards away.

I wanted to call after him not to go, which was incredibly stupid. Thankfully, I couldn’t communicate with him in this form. I only hoped my whimpers would be mistaken for a reaction to my physical injuries and not my disappointment.

The remaining three wolf shifters’ attention homed in on me for a moment, and Gage slid in to take Ryker’s spot, trying to block me from the view.

Not wanting to see the dead man anyway, I closed my eyes and tried to center my thoughts. I was too injured to shift back into human form, and we had to be at least two miles from the vampire mansion. The thought of making that journey left me damn near in tears.

The rustling of human feet had me turning in the direction Ryker had gone, and what I saw made my jaw drop.

Ryker marched toward me, naked, his entire focus locked on me.

I’d felt his muscles through his clothes, but nothing prepared me for the sight before my eyes. His six-pack flexed with each step, and the curve of his muscles made my heart skip a beat.

He strode over to me, the sheen in his eyes now so thick that I couldn’t make out the actual color.

“Like what you see, Rebel?” he rasped and clenched his jaw. Then he glanced at the wolves. “I double-checked and didn’t find anyone else either.”

Thank Fate I was in wolf form because I had no doubt that my entire body would be flushed from both desire and embarrassment. Of course the jackass would call me out on it.

I hmph ed, and pain slammed through my shoulder and neck from my injuries. The blood in my fur already felt gooey, courtesy of the cold weather.

I wanted to close my eyes and sleep.

Shaking my head, I tried to clear my mind, but suddenly, strong arms lifted me and cradled me like a princess despite my being in animal form.

Ryker’s warm chest pressed into my body, and my eyes widened as his gaze locked with mine. I didn’t like being on my back in a submissive position to him. I tried to squirm out of his hold, but that put pressure on my injured limb. A faint whine escaped before I could hide it.

“Dammit, Ember. I’m carrying you like this so I don’t put pressure on your injuries.” His fingers dug into my fur and skin, and a knot of desire formed in my stomach. He continued, “Stop fighting me on everything, please. You can’t shift, you’re severely injured, and you’re still not completely healed from the attack on your pack. Let me help.”

Help .

The word used to mean something positive for me, but right now, it made me feel even weaker.

I was ready to fight like hell to break free, damn the consequences, when the sheen pulled back from his eyes until it was faint. Tingles from our connection sprang up between us once again, making me immobile. My head spun from the injuries and loss of blood, and I rested it against his shoulder.

He let out a breath, and I inhaled a pleasant, minty smell that was so much better than the scent of human-vampire blood.

His eyes glowed, indicating he was speaking to the other pack members, and then we started moving. Resigning myself to the fact that I couldn’t stand on my own, I decided I would allow him this.

Not because I trusted him but because I had to believe that he wouldn’t betray our alliance. At least, not yet. He clearly wanted my help for the meeting with the alphas in two days’ time.

After a while, my body relaxed in his arms, and I heard the patter of the other three wolves scouting around us.

Ryker’s cadence lulled me into a calm that helped ease the throbbing from my injuries. I wasn’t sure how long he carried me, but suddenly, a low, menacing growl emanated from Ryker, vibrating against my head.

I opened my eyes just as a sickeningly sweet smell hit my nose—activated vampire magic.

“What happened? We heard a commotion and—” Raven started but cut herself off as she and twenty other vampires in dark clothing came to a stop before us. Her hair was messy from her run, and her irises were lined with crimson, her fangs elongated.

“Don’t pretend like you don’t know,” Ryker gritted out, his chest heaving. “And here I thought we could trust you. We’re getting our vehicle and leaving immediately.”

I realized that every single vampire here could now see Ryker completely naked. My wolf snapped her teeth in my head, and anger fueled my blood.

“You can trust me.” Raven raised both hands in surrender. “We heard howls, so we rushed out to check on you. I shouldn’t have allowed you to leave so quickly—the guards haven’t yet reinforced the perimeter this far out. I should’ve known you’d have to go farther out for hunting, but the five of you looked so rough.” She shook her head and then sniffed; her gaze immediately shot to me. Eyes bulging, she gasped. “What happened?”

From what I could tell, there wasn’t a hint of a lie, but my nose was still filled with Ryker and blood.

Kendric, Gage, and Xander emerged from the woods, wolf bodies tense, ready for an attack.

“A fucking transforming human attacked her,” Ryker spat, and the thrumming that had been charging between us dimmed. “And based on the location, time, and proximity, there’s only one place where that transformation could have occurred.”

Her head snapped back, but just when I expected her to tell the guards to attack, she did something surprising.

She spun around, hair billowing like a curtain, and snarled, “Was anyone aware of a changeling?”

Changelings were one of the most dangerous supernaturals to exist. The human blood that still fueled them made them enormously strong and faster than should be physically possible. That had to be how he’d snuck up on me—that and my being focused on the deer.

One by one, she studied each guard. Each one shook their head…until the shortest male on the end averted his eyes.

In a flash, Raven stood in front of him and grabbed him by his throat, lifting him so his feet dangled. He began to choke, but she didn’t flinch.

“I’m going to ask you one more time, and if you don’t tell me the truth, I will end you.” Raven dug her fingernails into the guard’s skin, his crimson blood trickling down his neck. “Do you know who made the changeling?”

He shook his head, though I could hear his heart rate increase and smell the sulfur of the lie.

She shrugged. “I warned you.”

Before she could do anything, he croaked, “Wait.”

She tilted her head. “If the first word out of your mouth isn’t a name, I will kill you without an ounce of remorse.”

He nodded, and as soon as she released him, he crumpled, taking a huge lungful of air. “Felix.”

A few gasps came from the guards, and Raven shook her head.

I wanted to ask what that meant, but I couldn’t form the words—literally—in wolf form.

“The queen’s son?” Ryker scoffed bitterly, causing pain to shoot down my arm. “Why am I not surprised? He was targeting us, and he hates us as much as the guards do.”

My mouth dried. Why in the world did her son hate us so much if the queen was our ally?

“Don’t worry. The queen won’t tolerate it, even from her own blood.” Raven then used her nails to slash the shorter guard’s throat.

My stomach roiled from all the violence I’d been subjected to during the past week. Before this week, I’d witnessed only two acts of violence in my entire life, each due to an alpha thinking he could take over our pack. Though Dad hadn’t killed them, he had severely beaten them.

The guard’s eyes widened, and he gurgled something I couldn’t make out.

“That was for knowing there was a changeling created and not handling it before you left the mansion to join our search.” Raven wiped the blood on her dress. “Everyone had better remember that no one is above the queen’s law, not even her own children. Gerald, head back now and deal with this.”

The tallest guard, who had almost translucent skin, nodded before turning and dashing back in the direction of the mansion, leaving the other eighteen waiting for orders.

“To ensure there aren’t any additional turned humans on the loose, scope out the area and protect the perimeter. We don’t need crazed changelings running around and making it to the city.” Raven hung her head as the eighteen other vampires followed her order, spreading out in the direction the five of us had come from.

Once they vanished from sight, she turned back around and frowned. “I’m so sorry, Ember. This should never have happened. We’ll make sure Felix is punished for the crime he’s committed.”

I hated that she could now see Ryker in all his glory. If she didn’t stop staring at him, I might attack her, and there was no telling what my punishment would be.

The other three guys inched closer, Kendric coming to Raven’s side. She placed a hand on his fur, causing my blood to cool and my wolf to calm.

“How do we know that won’t happen again?” Ryker asked, not budging.

“Because, as soon as we get back, I’ll call the queen and make sure to stream his punishment worldwide.” Raven shrugged as if it weren’t a big deal. “What’s right is right, and he broke the law.”

Somehow, that answer must have worked for Ryker because he began walking once more.

After what felt like forever, we finally reached the mansion where Lucinda, Bella, and Martin stood outside, waiting for us.

As soon as we approached, Lucinda wrinkled her nose. “The queen has decided that Felix should be beaten to near death and thrown into prison. She wants you to administer the punishment. We have the video set up, and Felix is chained in front of Her Majesty’s statue.”

Ryker’s arms tightened. “I want Xander, Gage, and Kendric to watch the punishment, too, and ensure the vampires here at least have the appropriate reaction.”

“And what will you do?” Martin arched his brow, and when his gaze settled on me, he smiled.

“Watch Ember since she’s injured and needs to rest.” He moved to the glass door, not waiting for permission.

Within a few seconds, he’d placed me on one of the beds. I whimpered, not wanting to dirty the sheets, but he slid in next to me and held me against him.

“Shh, Rebel. Don’t fight me. Not tonight, please.” He sighed. “Just get some sleep.”

For some reason, I obeyed, and the thrum between us soared to life once again. Before I realized what was happening, I’d fallen asleep.

A loud snore roared in my ear, and my eyes popped open. For a moment, I couldn’t remember where I was, and then I smelled Ryker. My head lay on his chest, bobbing with each breath he took.

Then I felt something hard against my thigh.