“Don’t kill him!” the woman cried, her gaze going from us to where my brother took on the wolves behind me.
I didn’t reply as I grabbed Mad Dog by the throat, slamming my fist into his stomach again and again. As I did, I let my gift loose, tearing through his thoughts, gaining all of the useful information I could. It didn’t matter what we did to him, he wasn’t going to tell her what she wanted to know about her sister. He loved the scent of her pain, wallowed in it. He would go to his grave with his secrets. At least, that’s what he thought.
I heard the sound of a gunshot, and then another, but I didn’t take my eyes from Mad Dog. He struck out, clawing at my arm, trying to remove my hand from his throat. “You like to hurt women?” I roared, raking my claws across his stomach, leaving deep gouges in their wake. “Well, you fucked up this time, asshole!”
Baring my fangs, I let out a roar as I threw him, watching in satisfaction when he hit a table and chairs, breaking the table in half when he landed on it. He looked at me, his chest heaving as he stared at me for the first time in what I thought was a hint of fear.
Stalking toward him, I stiffened when I heard the pop of another gunshot, but I still didn’t pull my gaze from the wolf in front of me. “Ya see, Demon and I, we aren’t the scared little kids we were when you killed our mother.”
“You got that right,” Brady snarled, coming up beside me.
“Please,” the woman whispered, slipping up behind me to touch my back. “You can’t kill him, yet. I need to find my sister.”
“He isn’t going to tell you shit about your sister,” Brady ground out, slowly twirling a long knife in his hand as he walked around the table to stand behind where Mad Dog still lay in a heap on the floor. He was gathering himself, thinking he was going to launch his body at me. I read it in his mind, in the way his muscles bunched.
“He will if given enough time,” she insisted, slipping a hand under my cut and grabbing a fistful of my shirt. “Please.”
“No, he won’t, Mate, but it’s okay. We don’t need him.”
I felt her stiffen, and then the barrel of a gun was shoved into the middle of my back. “Yes, we do.”
Mad Dog grinned, the tips of his fangs showing as he said, “He’s right, pussy cat. I won’t tell you shit. Except for one thing. Your sweet little virgin sister is going to be sold off to the highest bidder very soon.”
“You bastard,” she spat, her hand that still clutched my shirt shaking slightly.
Trust me, I whispered, willing the silently spoken words to reach her. I’d been able to speak telepathically to my brother for so long, but no one else. But she was my mate, the other half of my soul. There was a bond already in place between the two of us. There was a chance she would be able to hear me. I was counting on it. Please, trust me. You don’t need him. We will find your sister.
I wasn’t sure if she heard me, but her hand on my shirt loosened, and the gun at my back lowered. “I guess, if you aren’t going to tell us anything, then there’s no use keeping you alive.”
I saw Mad Dog’s eyes widen slightly, and then narrow, right before he shifted, lunging at me. I shoved her out of the way, slipping off my cut and initiating my shift all in one smooth movement, meeting him in midair. He fought hard, growling loudly as he tried to get his claws into my underbelly, but my cat was pissed. The wolf had threatened my mate. Had stolen her sister and sold her off, to be sold again at an auction. That was a death sentence on its own. Not to mention what he’d done to my mother.
Soon, I had him on the ground, my large paws holding him down as I wrapped my teeth around his neck. My jaw tightened, and I yanked, pulling out his throat. I stood over him for several moments, my sides heaving, low growls rumbling in my chest. He wasn’t a threat anymore, but I couldn’t seem to step back. I didn’t want him anywhere near my mate.
“It’s okay, brother. There’s no way he’s getting back up after that.”
I raised my head to look at him, and then my gaze swung to the stunning woman who now stood beside him. My mate. Slowly, I took a step in her direction, then another. She knelt on one knee in front of me, biting her lip before she asked, “Can you really help me find Avery?”
I nodded my massive head, taking the last step to her, and letting a low purr slip free. Yes.
“I don’t know why I trust you,” she whispered, “but I do.”
Mate.
Reaching out, she slid a hand over the top of my head, running it down my shoulder. “I’m Shyla. Shyla Thomas.”
Griff.
She was silent for a moment, before she sighed. “Well, Griff, I suppose you better shift back so we can figure out what to do next.”
“How did you know my brother’s name?” Brady growled in suspicion, glaring at her.
Because I told her, asshole. Knock it off.
Brady froze, his gaze going from me to Shyla. “You can hear him?” he asked quietly.
“Yes.”
Brady’s jaw tightened, his expression becoming shuttered as he turned away from us to walk over to the front door.
Where you going?
Brady paused, glancing over his shoulder. “To get you some clothes. You shredded yours when you shifted.”
I watched him go, knowing that wasn’t the truth. Something else was bothering him, I just didn’t
