Page 23 of Wraith’s Betrayal

Tomorrow would bring confrontation. Blade's anger. The club's judgment. Decisions that would shape our future.

But tonight, we had each other. No more hiding. No more pretending.

Just truth, finally freed.

CHAPTER 6

RAVEN

Wraith's mouth traced lazy heat along my collarbone, his dog tags cool between my breasts where they'd settled after he'd placed them around my neck hours ago. Sunlight filtered through his bedroom blinds, painting gold across skin still flushed from claiming each other through the night.

"We need to talk about Blade," I murmured, fingers threading through his hair. "About church tomorrow⁠—"

"Later." His teeth grazed my throat, hand sliding possessively over my hip. "Right now I just want⁠—"

The apartment door crashed open.

No knock. No warning. Just Blade filling the doorway, combat boots planted wide, taking in the scene with the kind of instant comprehension that comes from knowing someone their whole life.

"I know we agreed to handle this at church," he said, voice deadly calm. "Don't care. Been driving around for three hours thinking about Tiffany's face when she told me some asshole was asking about Raven at the clinic. About why my VP had to tell me instead of my best friend." His focus locked on the scene before him—me in Wraith's shirt, the tags, the marks on my throat. "Couldn't wait another goddamn minute for answers."

Wraith's shirt hung off my shoulder. His tags rested against my chest. Bruises from his mouth marked my throat. The sheets twisted around us told their own story.

"No." The word emerged quiet, lethal.

I scrambled upright, clutching the sheet. "Blade⁠—"

"Don't." His focus locked on Wraith, who'd moved to stand beside me, shirtless, split knuckles from yesterday's fight with Derek still visible. "My sister. You touched my sister."

"I love your sister." Wraith's voice stayed level despite the fury radiating off my brother.

Wrong answer. Blade's fist connected with Wraith's jaw hard enough to snap his head sideways. Blood sprayed from his already split lip—Derek's work, now reopened. But Wraith didn't block, didn't dodge, didn't even raise his hands.

Just took it.

"Fight back!" Blade grabbed Wraith's shoulders, slamming him into the wall. Pictures rattled. "You betrayed me! You swore you'd protect her!"

"I am protecting her." Blood ran down Wraith's chin but his stance stayed solid, hands at his sides. "I'll die before letting anyone hurt her—including you if necessary."

Blade froze. "You threatening me?"

"I'm stating facts." Wraith straightened but kept his defensive posture neutral, refusing to engage. "I love her. She loves me. That's not changing whether you accept it or not."

"Love?" Blade's laugh came out sharp, bitter. "You've known her three weeks!"

"Three weeks or three decades—doesn't matter." I pushed between them, forcing my brother to look at me instead of planning Wraith's murder. "You felt it with Tiffany. That instant recognition. Don't pretend you don't understand."

"That's different⁠—"

"Why? Because she's not your best friend's sister?" I moved closer, making him really see me. Not his baby sister. A woman who'd made her choice. "I'm not asking permission. I'm telling you how it is."

Blade's jaw worked, hurt warring with fury across features I'd known my entire life. "He swore to me⁠—"

"To protect her," Wraith interrupted. "And I have. From her ex. From anyone who'd hurt her. Even from myself when I tried keeping distance."

"You should've kept trying."

"I'm done fighting this." Wraith shifted beside me, his hand finding mine despite the blood on his knuckles. "I choose her. Over the brotherhood if necessary. Over everything."