She wrapped her arms around his neck, savoring his heat, his strength, his presence. God, she loved him. “Please don’t leave me. I’m so scared.”
He tilted her chin up, kissing her on the lips, deeply, urgently. She closed her eyes and fell under his spell. “We have a plan. Ben let them catch him. It threw them off.”
“The she-wolves are here. They’re hurt.”
Liam’s chest rumbled. “They were supposed to stay behind. Jake and Eli will be sure to get them to safety.”
“And me?”
He pulled her tight to his body, his big, rough hand grabbing her bare ass cheek. “When this is all done, I’m going to claim this ass. Every part of you will be mine.”
Her pussy clenched. The deep, possessive tone of his voice made her clit ache for him. “Yes,” she said. He kissed her neck where his mark was, then growled when he saw the damage caused by Payne.
“What else has that bastard done to you?”
She looked down at her thigh. Liam squatted in front of her, examining the cuts. He kissed them, his lips moving higher until he licked her pussy folds. She grabbed handfuls of his hair, but he shoved his tongue in her cunt while holding her ass. “Liam…”
****
Liam reluctantly pulled away from his woman. He’d been so worried, and all he could think about was loving her, mating her. When he saw her injuries, his anger for Payne only grew tenfold. That fucker was going to pay. Liam was going to ensure he suffered for harming his woman, his dog, and his packmates. Enough was enough.
“Stay here. Don’t move. I’ll be coming right back for you,” he said.
She grabbed his arm. “Don’t leave me. Please.”
He cupped her cheek and kissed her once on the lips. Her big green eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “I’m here now. Nothing bad will happen to you.”
“What if something happens to you?”
He chuckled. “That’s not going to happen.” Liam loved how she cared about him, but there was no need to worry. He knew damn well that even on his worst day he could defeat Payne. Today he was fueled with revenge, his alpha wolf raring to go. His only concern was controlling his wolf once he let it loose.
Would he be able to settle his alpha beast after unleashing it against his enemies? Jake told him their wolves would never harm their mates, but Rebecca was human, so no one knew for sure.
“Stay quiet. If anything happens, call for me and I’ll be here.” He disappeared into the forest before shifting. Liam wasn’t ready to introduce her to his wolf, and not sure if he ever would be. He knew his identity had been exposed. She knew he was a werewolf, yet she still appeared to want him. Or was it just the protection she craved?
He dashed through the underbrush, barely disturbing a leaf. His packmates’ thoughts were in his head. Eli had just released Ben. Jake was going for the she-wolves.
Liam insisted on handling Payne.
He broke the necks of two wolves doing perimeter recon. The taste of blood fueled his wolf. His fangs were bared and his muscles tense as he appeared in the clearing.
Payne’s men fanned out around him, some in fur, some still in their human skin.
“About time. I thought you’d run off with your tail between your legs,” said Payne. Liam didn’t move. He focused his attention on his surroundings, the scents, and his enemy. “And your mate. Were the pickings that slim? I mean, come on, even by human standards I’d give her a failing grade. Of course, maybe you’re into fat chicks.”
He growled and flashed his fangs. Liam knew Payne was trying to provoke him, to throw him off his game, but it was still hard to listen to him insult his queen. He couldn’t wait to rip him to shreds.
The thoughts in his head stole his attention briefly. His packmates were all free, and the she-wolves had been released. There was nothing Payne could use as leverage now, so it was time to take him down.
He leapt up against the human with a weapon in his hand, his massive wolf knocking him to his back. In one bite, he broke his neck. Why wasn’t Payne more concerned? He was about to charge the wolf closest to him, when Payne tutted.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Unless you wanted to trade in your mate for a better model.”
They didn’t have Rebecca. She was safely out of sight, waiting for him to bring her to their home. Payne probably thought she was still locked in his prison, so Liam would use that to his advantage.
He took down the nearest wolf, ripping into flesh and bone, before tossing the carcass.
“I warned you.” Payne jutted his chin, and one of his men came from the shelters behind him, Rebecca locked in his arms.