Chapter 45: Safe Haven
Consciousness returned slowly, like swimming up through murky water. My head throbbed, and my mouth felt dry as sandpaper. I blinked, trying to focus on the face above me.
"Liam?" My voice came out as a raspy whisper.
"I’m here, baby. You’re safe now." His arms tightened around me, solid and warm.
Relief flooded through me as the fog in my mind cleared. I was in Liam’s arms, his naked chest warm against my cheek. My eyes darted around, taking in the scene. Lucas was still in wolf form, his massive black body positioned protectively in front of us, hackles raised and golden eyes glowing in the darkness. Levi was a few feet away, completely naked and pinning down my attacker with one hand wrapped around his throat.
"Who are you?!" Levi demanded, his voice a feral growl.
The man’s eyes widened, darting frantically between the three brothers. His face was exposed now, the bandana torn away. What I could see made my stomach turn—his skin was a maze of raised scars, burns, and poorly healed wounds. His features were so distorted it would be impossible to identify him.
Before Levi could tighten his grip, the man’s jaw clenched. A sickening crunch echoed through the clearing, and immediately his body began to convulse.
"What the—" Levi jumped back as foam bubbled from the man’s mouth, his eyes rolling back.
Lucas shifted back to human form in a fluid motion of muscle and bone. "He’s poisoned himself," he said grimly, kneeling beside the thrashing body. "Wolfsbane pill. Hidden in his mouth."
Within seconds, the man went still, his eyes glassy and fixed on the night sky.
"Dammit!" Levi slammed his fist against the ground. "We needed answers!"