Free Bride to the Alpha (The Wolf's Pet Book Two) by Aubrey Rose Page A

in a dream, like I couldn’t move as quickly as normal. Blaise’s face was angry, and there was already blood on the knife’s blade. Had he cut Alekk already? A wolfbone blade was the most dangerous weapon to a shifter. It cut deep and shredded flesh, with no hope of healing.
    “Kinaya, get up. Get dressed. We’re getting you out of here.”
    “Stop it, Blaise,” I said. I swallowed, trying to get my senses. “You don’t need to do this.”
    “Me? It’s you who doesn’t need to do this. You don’t need to sacrifice yourself to this beast, Kinaya.”
    He put the wolfbone blade under Alekk’s chin and lifted his face up. His face was full of shocked recognition.
    “It’s… it’s you.”
    Alekk nodded once, slowly, his eyes tracking the blade.
    “Yes.”
    “Are you a messenger? Or an alpha?”
    “One can be both,” Alekk said.
    “The Scarred Prince? Going out to be a mere messenger? Do you think I’ll believe you when you say that?”
    “It’s the most dangerous job in war. And I’m not scared of your pack,” Alekk growled.
    “No? Maybe you should be. I got by your drunk guards without a problem. Only had to kill one of them.”
    Alekk’s lip curled. I breathed a sigh of relief that it wasn’t him who had been cut.
    “Come on, Kinaya,” Blaise said, pulling back the pelt. I stood up, pulling my clothes back on.
    Then he saw the blood on the sheets. I could see the wheels in his mind turning, understanding. He turned back to Alekk with hate in his eyes.
    “I’ll kill you for what you’ve done to her. I should have killed you when I had the chance.”
    “I agree,” Alekk said calmly.
    “Kinaya, go. I’ll handle him.” My brother gripped the wolfbone blade with white fingers.
    “No,” I cried. “Blaise—”
    “I don’t think you can handle me,” Alekk said. His words had a low growl running underneath them. He was trying to draw Blaise out into striking at him with anger. A wild strike. I could see how it would happen and I could not do anything.
    “I can handle you just fine, you brute,” Blaise said. His anger was growing. I realized then that I didn’t need to stay human. If Blaise was here, there was no reason to try and hide my true nature. If we were going to run, it would be as wolves.
    I let my shifter side ease back into my body. Immediately my senses confirmed what I had thought was true. Blaise was shaking mad, and Alekk was only trying to draw him out.
    “You’re wrong. I’ll rip you to shreds, and I’ll do it without a knife,” Alekk taunted.
    “I’d love to see you try.”
    “Stop, Blaise, don’t!” I reached out to my brother’s wrist.
    “Kinaya, stay back! I’ll save you from him.”
    Blaise darted a quick glance over at me. It was enough of a distraction for Alekk to jump forward.
    “Ah!” Blaise cried. Alekk’s hand came down on his wrist. The wolfbone blade clattered to the ground of the tent. I picked it up, not knowing what I would do with it. I certainly wasn’t going to attack Alekk. But there was no way I could use a knife against my brother. I held the knife uselessly at my side.
    Alekk held Blaise fast around the neck, raising him off of the ground so that he tiptoed in the air.
    “I could break your neck, you whelp.”
    My brother writhed in his grip, his hands beating uselessly at Alekk’s strong arms.
    “I’ll kill you. I swear!” Blaise choked out. “I’ll kill you!”
    “Stop. Alekk, he’s my brother!”
    Alekk tossed Blaise down to the ground. I immediately grabbed Blaise’s arm to stop him from trying to fight again.
    “Don’t,” I said.
    “Kinaya, run!” He shoved me toward the tent opening.
    “No!”
    I stepped back, the wolfbone blade at my side. I stood next to Alekk, looking back and forth at the two men who both held claim to my loyalty.
    “Why are you doing this?” Blaise hissed.
    “He’s my mate!”
    Blaise stared at me. His jaw dropped.
    “Your… your…”
    “Yes,” I said. Now that I had all the