“What did you do to him?” Zohar asked Sherman.
Sherman turned away from their foe, whispering so low that only Wolf ears would hear. “I’ve bound his magic but it may only be temporary. I’ve no idea how long it will last. I could easily have killed him but I did say I would try to give the lady her chance to face the man that did carried out such a heinous act on her family and Pack.”
“Thanks.” Rafe inclined his head as the small man spun back to the person who’d been such a frightening sight just moments earlier.
“What’s your name?” Sherman asked quietly.
Dark eyes narrowed in on him, a defiant tone as he answered. “Paulo, Paulo Capaldi.”
“Why?” Sherman tilted his head. “Why would you abuse your power to kill so many people? You annihilated an entire Pack of Wolves, for what?”
Paulo’s eyes closed to slits. “Why? Because I could, that’s why. I wanted their land. Not just theirs. I would’ve carried on, gained as much as possible and sold it to developers. Do you have any idea how much land like this sells for? I could’ve made a fortune and all I had to do was get rid of a few mangy Wolves.”
Rafe’s beast reared its head, a rumble in his chest gaining momentum to escape into a savage growl. His fangs descended, nicking his cheeks and lips, blood dripping down his chin to drop onto the ground. He refused to rein his Wolf in, allowing Paulo to catch a glimpse of the future that awaited him.
“Get that thing away from me!” Paulo whined at Sherman.
Tasha appeared, tears running down her cheeks. “You killed my friends, my Pack, my mom and dad, just for money. What kind of person are you that you’d abuse a power the Goddess gave you like that?”
Rafe’s anger grew. His mate’s suffering clawing at his insides like molten lava. Her pain was his pain. He could feel it. Raw, aching, agony, anguish and sorrow. He almost crumpled to the ground with the weight of what she carried. His Tasha, his love, and she needed him.
His arms circled her, bringing her back against his chest, holding her tight as his Alpha power flowed into her. His strength ebbed from him, giving her what he could to help.
Paulo merely sneered at her, sealing his fate. “What kind of person am I? I’m strong and use what I have to actually do something not just prowl around and live like wild animals. You Wolves are barely a step up from dogs.”
Tasha’s body shuddered, shock reverberating through her as Paulo’s venom rushed over them. Sherman stepping forward, patting her arm. “I apologize for this idiot, my dear.”
Zohar appeared, grabbing Paulo roughly. “I’ve been sent by the Council and I am their Legal Representative. It’s my decision what happens to you and your sentence has already been determined.”
“What? No! You have no right. I’m a Witch and I should be tried by my peers not by you.” Paulo yelled, his face contorted with rage but also fear.
Sherman took over, his voice cold and hard. “I’ve got the relevant authority from the Witch Council to dole out some justice.”
Paulo pounced on Sherman’s words. “Yes, yes, of course. You’re a Witch, you’re the only one that should deal with me. Take me back to the Witch Council and let them administer my punishment.”
Sherman wandered away, his face grim, thoughtful, as he paced back and forth. Every so often he’d stop and glance at Tasha, then Paulo, then return to pacing. Tasha’s heart thundered in her chest, Rafe could hear it clearly, her hands now hanging onto his as he still held her close against him.
Rafe’s Wolves were growing restless, prowling around Paulo, or pawing at the ground, desperate to sink their jaws into him and draw blood. His Alpha power the only thing holding them at bay. Levi and Jacy joined the circling Wolves, adding to Rafe’s authority and keeping the Wolves in check, for which he was grateful. His focus was wavering between them and his mate so the added help would ensure his men didn’t suddenly attack.
Not that the bastard didn’t deserve it but when the time came that pleasure was going to be his. He hoped. He may be Alpha of his Pack but he held no jurisdiction here. All they could do was wait and see what Sherman decided.
Zohar caught Sherman’s pacing bug, walking away for several yards then beginning his own version. However, the Enforcer’s was more energetic, more a stomping, as he marched back and forth, glaring at Sherman then Paulo and back again. The former ignored him, the latter squirmed every time Zohar’s eyes bored into him.
Everyone could see the decision weighed heavy on Sherman. He hadn’t expected to be put in this position and now the man obviously didn’t know what to do. He was well aware what would happen if he handed Paulo over to Rafe and his Wolves.
As it turned out, Sherman didn’t have to make the decision he was having difficulty with.
Rafe’s focus was on Sherman when Tasha shouted. “Shit!”
Sherman yelled. “Get back!”
Zohar snarling as he spun around toward them.
Rafe spun around to see the beginning of that dangerous blue light simmering in Paulo’s eyes, a dangerous glint shining as he smirked, gathering his power to garner an assault. His focus on Tasha, his hatred showing clearly as his face contorted in a mask of revulsion, spitting out. “Dirty fucking Wolf!”
“Hell no.” Rafe growled, releasing his beast.
Razor sharp fangs descended, claws erupting, fur sprouting through his skin, as he threw Tasha behind him and leapt forward, mid-change. Half man, half beast, he attacked the threat to his mate, teeth tearing, claws ripping, skin, gore, blood
