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nAs he ran, Zev stretched out with his mind to find any of his pack nearby. To his satisfaction, the guards set on Nick were wolves, so Zev had let them know he was coming and asked them to turn their backs and walk away.

nBut, Zev, Sasha said we’re supposed to make sure no one gets to him, and he doesn’t get to anyone else.

nThis **er is mine, Zev growled in their heads. “I’ve just left Sasha, she’s coming too. You back away from that place and leave. Go find another post, help them guard the Cave, and make sure no humans come through. There won’t be a need for you here anymore.”

nAfter a few seconds, all four of the guards had submitted—even in their heads, he could feel them flatten their ears and tuck their tails in. When he galloped into the village there was no one to be seen, and by the time he raced into the square and across it towards the shack they’d given Nick in the trees not far from the center of the village, even the guards had peeled quietly away.

nSo when Zev sprinted up to the door and had retaken his human form, shouldering through the door, it was to find a shocked Nick, sitting on a bench in the little shack, holding one of those **ing devices.

nHe hadn’t even realized his guards had left.

nZev stopped dead, his body coiling for the strike, but Nick hadn’t read the danger in him. He looked relieved.

n”Thank God you’re here,” he muttered. “Took you long enough. How inefficient are those messengers? Get me back to the human world where we can use technology. Is Sasha with you? We have to—”

nWith a puttering growl, Zev launched for his throat, then dragged a suddenly red-faced and squawking Nick out of the shack by his neck and threw him to the dirt outside.

n”What the **, Zev!” he cried, clearly shocked.

n”You bastard.”

n”What the hell is going on?” Nick’s face was wide and his eyes darted around like he was afraid, but he’d already gotten his feet and hands underneath him and was readying himself to leap to his feet in exactly the way he’d taught Zev to do it. Zev didn’t miss that he was working to look dismayed and confused even as his eyes scanned the clearing for help—or further attack.

n”You let them take my baby, Nick. You’re a **ing dead man.”

nNick’s eyes went wide at the word ‘baby,’ and he raised a hand. “Wait, no, it’s not what you think—”

nBut Zev snarled and punched him square in the jaw.

nNick made a weird noise and slammed back into the dirt, stunned.

n”Asshole, bastard, cuntfaced—” Zev snarled the words, his wolf leaping to the fore and snapping to be released. He trembled with the urge to give in and let the animal sink its teeth into Nick’s throat. Rage was a bonfire in his chest. But then Nick tried to crawl away and Zev was on him like a hawk on a mouse, punching, shoving, and kicking Nick around the clearing as the man scrambled, trying to protect himself and move away at the same time.

n”You sick **!”

n”Zev! Argh! You have to listen to me!”

n”Fucking murderer—”

n”You can’t—”

n”Zev!” Sasha’s voice was high and desperate. How had she gotten there so quickly? But as she came into view, Yhet was on her heels and Zev swore again.

nNick was distracted by them, had rolled to his stomach, and was trying to get to his feet. Zev caught him with a lightning kick to the ribs and he grunted and went down.

n”I don’t want to fight you,” Nick wheezed. “But I will.”

n”Always words, Nick. Always **ing WORDS!” Zev screamed at him, one arm cocked to take the guy out.

nBut Sasha slid between them while Yhet stood over Nick, his thick arms folded, his eyes narrowed at the human male who looked pathetic, crouching behind Sasha.

n”Get out of the way, Sasha!”

n”No! Zev! We have to find out what he knows!”

n”I didn’t come back to hurt you, Zev, I came back to help you!”

n”Shut UP, Nick!” they both screamed at him.

n”You have to listen to me, Zev!” Nick croaked, holding his ribs.

n”What about our child, Nick?! Your help is bull**! Why aren’t you helping him?!”

nNick was aghast. “How did you know?”

nZev’s eyes widened and he cocked his arm back again, but Sasha put her hands up, pushing into his chest. “No, Zev, please! Just hold off!”

n”I’m going to kill you, you **er! I’m going to kill you for being a part of that!”

n”I wasn’t a **ing part of it! I was the one trying to get you all away safely!”

n”Bull**!”

n”Zev,” Sasha was near tears, one hand on his arm to stop him from throwing the punch, blocking his body with her own to stop him from kicking Nick again. “Please! Just let me talk to him!”

n”I’m not the enemy here, Zev. Don’t you remember who it was that took care of you? Who played with you? Who gave you a home instead of a cage? That was me—or have you forgotten that part?”

n”You think that makes up for kidnapping my child?!”

n”No! I think it means you can trust me that I wasn’t working against you.”

nZev scoffed so hard that he lost his breath. “I can’t trust you as far as I can throw you!” Then his eyes got dark. “Why don’t we see how far that is?”

n”Zev, no!” Sasha squealed, but he darted around her to scoop Nick up by the back of his pants and shirt as the older man tried to scramble away, then he lifted him and threw him against a tree trunk.

nNick grunted and wheezed, “What the ** is wrong with you?!”

n”I think I have a clue.” The needling voice, that strange, dissonant tone came from behind the tree as Ernie stepped out and smiled at Zev. “Can I help?”

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