Saving the Beast(44)

“Is she hurt?” she asked.

Zane was right on her ass now, and the loud growls made her very aware he wasn’t happy that Angel was naked in front of her.

“Stop growling and go get his clothes if you’re that upset.” She turned to Zane. “He left them back by where we were. And don’t start,” she interrupted when he opened his mouth. “I’m drenched in your…” She flushed and cut herself off when the word cum wanted to slip out of her mouth. “Scent,” she finished.

Zane dropped a kiss to her lips, spared a glare for Angel that softened into a look of concern when he took in Kenzie. He inhaled, threw a startled look at Angel and his mouth literally dropped open.

“Yeah,” Angel said as if Zane had asked him a question. “It’s a real clusterfuck. I’d appreciate the clothes or your mate’s going to see a side of me she shouldn’t. I’m on the edge here.”

“Fuck,” Zane almost roared and sprinted back the way they’d come.

“Put her down,” Diane said. “So I can check on her. How long’s she been out?”

“Not long,” Angel mumbled and sat down on the porch step with Kenzie still wrapped in his arms. “They beat her, but it looks like we made it before they got the knives out.”

Kenzie’s face was battered. They’d beat the hell out of her. There was bruising on her breasts, thighs and abdomen, and that was just from the quick scan Diane gave her.

“Are you growling?” Diane asked Angel.

“Yes,” he said through gritted teeth.

Before she could ask anything else, Zane was back with Angel’s clothes and gear. He tossed them down next to Angel and grabbed Diane’s shoulders, turning her away. She heaved a sigh of frustration but complied without complaint. It wasn’t as if she wanted to see any man naked, other than her mate. But now that her mind was a little less focused on lust and sex, she was worried about Kenzie. She glanced beside her and noticed Zane facing Angel, arms crossed over his broad chest, mouth thinned into a hard line.

“You better not be looking at Kenzie,” Diane warned him, her temper rising at the thought.

Zane turned to her with surprise on his face and his mouth quirked up in a smile. “You’re jealous,” he said and she glared. “There’s no need to be. I want you and only you. That will never change.”

“Still doesn’t mean I want you looking at other women naked,” Diane muttered.

Zane smiled wide, the white of his teeth vividly displayed.

He dropped a kiss on her lips, and Diane turned around. Angel had pulled on pants but that was all, and once again, he held Kenzie against his chest.

“It’d be easier for me to check over her if you put her down,” Diane said.

“Not yet,” Angel said softly, and his voice sounded strained. “The bruises you see will heal.”

The way he said it made her think there was a bruise she couldn’t see that maybe wouldn’t. A horrible thought occurred to Diane, and her gaze skirted down Kenzie’s form.

“They didn’t—”

“No,” Angel almost roared, cutting off her question before it could be answered.

“Does she know?” Zane asked.

Angel nodded.

“Did you?” Zane demanded.

“I couldn’t stop myself,” Angel answered softly.

“Then you’re staying?” Zane demanded again.

Angel shook his head and though his eyes never left Kenzie, the sadness he felt was easy to see. “I can’t.”

“Fuck!” Zane exploded. “This is a fine fucking mess.”

“I wasn’t expecting this,” Angel stated angrily.

“I’m betting Kenzie wasn’t, either,” Zane reprimanded. “If you weren’t going to stay, you should have left her alone.”

Angel looked up then, his lips curled back and a growl rumbling from his chest. “Mine!” he snarled.

Oh, God! Angel was Kenzie’s mate? Holy shit! And he wasn’t staying? How the hell would that even be possible?

“You’re going to destroy her,” Zane said softly.

Angel nodded and his eyes dipped closed. “I wasn’t supposed to have a mate. That’s not my life. I hunt. I kill. I save and I avenge. I don’t mate.”

“You just did,” Zane said in a hard voice.

Angel stood, cradling Kenzie high against his chest, and walked back into the cabin with Zane on his heels and Diane trailing behind. She had no idea what to say. She was only newly mated herself. But from everything she’d seen, all that she’d felt so far, she didn’t understand how Angel would be able to walk away and leave Kenzie.