Page 50 of Brock’s Mate

Jered snarled, “I’m not leaving without my mate.”

“You don’t have a mate here.”

He took a step forward, his nostrils flaring. “Yeah, I do. And I can smell her all over you.” His eyes flashed red.

Brock’s voice was colder than the February night. “Get. Out. Last warning.” Nobody moved.

Well, it wasn’t like he’d really thought they’d go. But he and Desi needed backup, and he had to buy them time for it to get here.

He reached up to where the amulet Nick had given him hung around his neck. It was from DB, who’d made it so Nick could call him through the spirit world. Brock gave it a yank, breaking the elastic it hung from. He sent his thoughts out to the dragon. DB, grab the others and get here ASAP. Mutant wolf and sorcerer alert.

Brock said to Jered, “It seems your so-called mate has shown a preference for me. I challenge you.”

Desi pushed through the door. No point in pretending she wasn’t here, after that. They’d known it from the beginning, anyway, judging by the bullshit pain vibes and compulsion attacks.

She stepped out on the porch and said to Brock, “You challenge him? What the hell does that even mean? Like, you fight and I’m the prize? Fuck that.”

DiSantos snapped at Jered, “What the hell are you doing?”

Great. Nobody liked this idea, but they were still going to do it. Brock was already taking his jeans off, his gaze locked on Jered. He said to Desi, “There’s spare ammo in the sideboard drawer. And take care of this.”

He held something out to her and she closed her hand around it automatically. Then she realized what it was.

The amulet Nick had given him. The one that called the dragon boy. He wanted her to use it.

Desi didn’t know how it was supposed to work, so she called inside her mind, the way she talked to her wolf. DB! Dragon Boy! Help! Brock and I are in big trouble at the cabin! Please come. Yo! Dragon Boy!

Brock was down in the yard now. Both men Changed to wolf and began pacing slowly in a circle, sizing each other up, growling low in their chests.

Desi’s wolf growled in response. We should fight too. Fight for our mate.

I hope you don’t mean that sick fuck Jered, Desi said.

Of course not, the wolf said. The one who is strong and wild and kind to us.

Now that was something she could get behind. But they couldn’t get into the fight. We have to stay here and shoot the others if they try to interfere.

That was apparently something her wolf could get behind. Yes. We will kill them all.

Jered and Brock lunged at each other.

Desi felt the thud of their bodies crashing together as if it were happening to her—like the connection she’d felt with Brock tonight was still there, even though they weren’t touching each other anymore.

The fight was brutal. The two wolves would clash in a flurry of teeth and claws and blood, tearing relentlessly at each other’s flesh. Then one or the other would escape the mayhem and they’d separate, snarling, and circle before they lunged at each other again.

Brock was a big wolf, but the mutant wolf was bigger and scarier, with his sleek black hide and demon-red eyes. He had almost impossible stamina, hardly panting when they separated. But Brock fought with a terrifying ferocity, his eyes pure gold.

She could feel Brock using his mental powers like striking snakes, trying to find a way into Jered’s mind. Anger radiated from him, the echo of it a dark caustic force in her body that started the well of pain deep inside her churning.

She let it—if things went badly for Brock, she might need it to defend both of them.

Jered began to make mistakes, as if Brock were keeping him from concentrating. The pain vibes and compulsion that had been directed at Desi faltered, and then moved away from her.

To Brock.

She could tell when the pain hit him. He broke off from Jered, his hackles rising, sides heaving.

Desi, still feeling Brock’s emotions, sensed the beam of pain intensify.