The Pack by Donna Flynn Page A

she thought she didn’t deserve his anger , she just worried that in his current state he wouldn’ t be reasonable and for the first time in her life, she was actually afraid of what he might do to her.
         As they turned into their driveway Mercy noted Cade waiting on t he porch his jeans unbuttoned , his feet bare , and his face grim. Praying he would be her ally, she threw the door open and ran in to his open arms tears rolling down her cheeks soaking his chest as she sobbed. He patted her back and held her close glaring at his brother as he approached the porch .
         “Don’t baby her she is the one in the wrong , she lied to us!” Lucan bellowed leaning against the porch rail , running his hand through his hair in frustration . He hated to see her so upset , he had felt her hurt and confusion the entire ride home, but she had outr ight lied to them . That lie had endangered herself and everyone in attenda nce at the bonfire.
         “G ive her a break , it’s not like you never mak e mistake s in your life, ” Cade told him angrily.
         “I make many , but I don’t count lying to those I love among them.” He returned with a snarl, which earned a raised eyebrow fro m his brother who was aware they had been lying to Mercy since the day they had found her.
         “There are things wors e than lying about seeing a guy she likes,” Cade a rgued in her defense .
         “ N ot this one,” h e growled his wolf respond ing to his agitated state , fighting to get free . “ I can’t do this right now. I need time to cool off and get my head together . Can you handle her from here?” He looked towards the woods eagerly . T he urge to run and work off the anger raging inside strong.
         Cade nodded sensing his brother ’s need for relief. “Go I will take care of her till you come back. ” He directed M ercy into the house, pausing in the foyer as Alec walked down the last of th e steps from the upper floor dressed in a pair of flannel sleep pants looking rumpled and sleepy as if he had just woken.
         “What’s going on?” H e asked breathing heavier than normal after running the entire way home and barely making it into the house before Lucan pulled into the driveway.
         “Lucan hates me,” s he wailed turning from Cade to throw herself into his arms. H e wr apped her in h is embrace, which immediately made her feel safe and protected . Alec always had that ability. H e was a safe harbor when she was hurt or in trouble and she needed him more than she cared to admit after the nights debacle .
         “Nonsense, even when he is angry you must always remember he loves you ,” Alec told her his ha nd twined in her soft hair as he r face pressed against his chest . It was right she came to hi m in times of trouble or sorrow. He was her destined mate, it was his job to ensure her happiness and he didn’t take his responsibility lightly .
         “Not this time , he’s so mad , I’ve ever seen him like that ,” s he told him her voi ce broken as she trembled involuntarily . “He nev er hurt me before , bu t tonight I was scared he might .”
         Alec noted th e bruises forming on her arm , purple and black shapes the size of a man’s fingers then looked to Cade who was staring at them in horror too . His head began to pound, his heartbeat quic kened as he noted each mark that marred her alabaster skin . I f not for Mercy pressed so close, he might not have been able to keep from chasing aft er Lucan to make him suffer for each mark he had placed upon her .
         “Nothing you ever do would make him hat e you. He was very angry , but he did not mean to hurt you . H e left because he needed some time to think before you two talk about this .” Cade told her, aware Alec was contemplating chasing down his brother . A male who found his bond mate wou ld kill anyone who hurt her , h e just praye d their relationship with Alec would circumvent