Caged Heat(42)

Chapter Ten





“What the fuck is this?” Juan bellowed and reached for his gun.

“Hey, dumbass. I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Sophia yelled. “You’re only going to piss them off more and die that much faster.”

Sam turned to see Sophia being held back by Chase. The alpha looked positively murderous. His face was half shifted, and he growled. His attention was pinned on Juan.

Juan’s hold of Sam loosened, and she fell on the ground with a painful thud. The moment she did, Riel jumped through the air and went straight for Juan. Her cousin tried to get at his gun, but the leather holster made it impossible for him to reach it in time. Riel’s big, brown wolf shot forth and pushed Juan so hard he fell on his back. The animal landed over Juan’s big body and immediately set to clawing and biting him.

Juan tried to punch at the animal, only to get his fists shredded with Riel’s massive canines. Riel’s wolf tore through flesh, muscle, and bone until Juan was screaming at the painful torture. The wolf bit into his shoulder and neck. He screamed and pushed at the furry beast, but Riel wasn’t having it. She stood transfixed. He growled, roared, and bit at the vicious human that had hurt her.

She knew he wouldn’t stop until Juan was dead. That’s how it worked with a shifter. Anyone that hurt his mate was dead. Her gaze never wavered from Riel as he continued his attacks on Juan. Each bite into Juan left a new body part dismembered. Juan’s screams lowered with the loss of blood. Riel attached to Juan’s neck and bit down repeatedly. He didn’t stop until the man lay in a bloody pile of severed limbs on the sidewalk.

Sam winced when she tried to open her mouth. Her ass hurt and so did her face. Sophia rushed toward her. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be more help, but I can’t shift because I’m pregnant and that would put my baby in danger. When I was going to get my shotgun the guys showed up.” She helped Sam to her feet.

When Sam glanced at the ground where Juan Junior’s body lay in pieces, she didn’t see Riel anywhere. She peered around among the other men still in wolf form, but her mate wasn’t there.

Sophia guided her into the house. “Don’t worry. He just went to clean up. They hate for us to see them fight or tear someone to shreds. I think it’s sexy, but that’s just me.” Sophia grinned and then winced. “Geez, your poor face. Does it hurt a lot?”

Sam tried to ignore the burning and throbbing taking hold of her face. “Maybe a little.” She lied.

Sophia smiled sympathetically and pointed to her nose. “Shifter, remember? You don’t need to lie to me, Sam. I can get you something for the pain. Raven always leaves me with supplies in case anyone comes over injured.

Sam noticed Chase was no longer at the front of the house, and she wondered if he’d gone with Riel. Sophia guided her to one of the ground-level bedrooms. “Don’t worry. Ry will know where you are and come for you in a moment. Let’s get your face cleaned up so he doesn’t get any angrier than he already is if he smells that man on you.”

Sitting on the bed, Sam wondered what the hell had gotten into Juan. She knew he had a short temper. It just went to prove that she was right, and he had more than anger problems. He had violent tendencies up the kazoo. She flinched when Sophia used an alcohol pad to wipe at her cuts. Yeah. Juan the asshole deserved what he got, and Sam didn’t feel a shred of sorrow for the jerk.

After Sophia helped clean Sam’s face and had given her a mild painkiller, she told her to remove the scent of Juan in the attached bathroom.

She showered, and when she came out, she found shorts and a tank top that must’ve belonged to her new friend. The fit was perfect. She sat on the bed waiting for Riel to show. It was countless minutes later that the door opened and Riel walked in wearing a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. He was clean and had clearly showered as well.

She stood and ran into his arms. It didn’t matter that he was uncomfortable with her seeing him tear Juan Junior to pieces. He’d done it for her.

His voice was a deep gravel when he spoke. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”

“I’m not.” She grabbed his face in her hands. “You saved me…again. He hurt me, and you stopped him. I could see the intent to continue hurting me. I can’t begin thank you for what you did.” She pulled his head down, kissed him, and ignored the stab of pain in her jaw.

He wrapped his hands around her waist and lifted her up to him. He rained soft kisses over her broken lips and spoke between kisses. “Sweetheart, I never wanted you to see that.”

She tried to pacify him. “It doesn’t matter, Ry. You’re a shifter; it’s who you are. I can’t, nor would I want to, change that. I love you, animal, man, mate. I knew a relationship between us wouldn’t be the usual human kind, and guess what? I wouldn’t have it any other way.”