Chapter 26

I pretendedto listen to Marceau's hackneyed ideas.

He thought we could take over western North America if our packs allied.

I glanced toward the staircase. Sage should return any moment.

Marceau was still talking. Like Anton, he refused to believe other packs were rich and robust.

I held up my hand to silence him. I thought I'd heard my name being called.

He didn't stay quiet for long.

Again, I cut him off. "Silence," I ordered. "Listen."

Lycans had sensitive ears, but separating sounds with the band and the voices talking loudly was difficult.

"Bredon."

It came from far away.

I took off at a run up the stairs. My wolf urged me to find our mate.

At the top of the stairs, I almost tripped over them.

There, Sage was on the floor. Her dress was torn, and her face was bloody. Charles Burke was sitting on her legs, holding her down.

My change started as I leaped on the male, tearing him from Sage's battered body.

He changed to his wolf form and fought.

I used my teeth to tear at his throat and hip.

Soon, he lost control of his rear legs.

My wolf wanted to end him when we heard our mate.

"Breed," she whispered. "Bredon?"

We tossed the male to the side and approached our mate, changing forms as we neared. "Don't move." I needed to find medical attention for her.

She could have internal injuries from the rough handling.

"Guards, take her away," Anton ordered from the stairs.

"No." I moved closer to Sage.

"He has used the human. She is soiled and, therefore, beneath you," Anton told me.

"She is mine." I dared the two approaching guards to come closer.

They paused, unsure of what to do.

My wolf decided.

He forced my change, and then we moved closer to our mate, lying motionless on the floor.

We sat beside her and met Anton's gaze. "Thee ith mine, thowl and forether." My lengthened snout and tongue made it difficult to speak clearly.

Sage cried out in pain as she tried to twist so that she could see us.

We were desperately worried about our mate's condition. This standoff with Anton could be causing more harm to Sage's body.

"Take her," Anton issued another order to his guards.

I tried to fight for control, but my wolf was too strong.

My wolf forced us to cover her body.

Not like this. I never wanted to force Sage. I wanted it to be her choice to be my mate.

I tried to reason with my wolf. We needed to be gentle with Sage.

We did not care as we buried our teeth into her soft body.

The taste of her blood spurred us on to press our teeth deeper into her flesh.

Mine. Ours.

"Bredon." Hands pushed at my back. "Bredon, stop."

Growling loudly, we only wanted to concentrate on what we were sharing with our mate. She was ours.

"Sage needs help. Get up."

I growled and used my right paw to smack at the annoyance.

"You are hurting your mate."

Sig's words made sense. "Wha…" We looked around.

The upper hallway was filled with people.

"Sage needs help," he insisted.

We looked down and saw the damage that we'd caused. My change occurred as I quickly rose.

"Talia will take her to the healer," Sig spoke softly. "I don't want to fight you."

I didn't know what had happened. My mind was with a blinding rage.

Sage was injured. "Help her." I watched helplessly as Talia lifted her into her arms. Sig led her to the stairs as the guests parted for him.

Dear Lady, we had contributed to our mate's injuries. We were no better than Travis Burke.

I was horrified.

I changed into wolf form, letting out a mournful howl, and ran away from Sage.