Zena Wynn - Claiming Shayla

“You’re shaking,” he whispered in her ear.

“So are you,” she told him.

He grunted, tightening his grip on her.

“I’ll be all right in a bit. Just give me a moment,” she told him in a soft voice, uncaring if others heard her.

The pack was enraged. Anger was a living, breathing entity in their midst. One wrong word and things would turn ugly. Mob justice would prevail, and Laurie Bell would be ripped to pieces. Even the Raven pack’s wolves’ fur stood on edge, their teeth bared and hackles clearly raised.

“Remember our plan,” she murmured to Rory, her gaze on Laurie Bell’s haughty expression. “Death is too easy for her. I want her to pay for what she did to you, Kian, Shannon, and your mother. And then I want to go home, me and you, skin to skin, and forget this night ever happened.”

They’d determined Laurie Bell acted alone. She might not be the only threat, Shay mused, but after tonight anyone should think twice about coming after her and their children.

Rory slid his hand from her waist down to cup her butt. The sudden hardness pressed against her stomach told her that her words had their desired effect. She raised her face to his. “Kiss me.”

The kiss was hard, brutal, tasting of the anger he tried to manage. But when it was over, both Rory and his wolf were more in control of themselves. He turned her so that her back pressed against his front, and wrapped his arms around her waist. Shay relaxed into his hold.

“Laurie Bell, I find you guilty as charged. Caleb?”

“Guilty.”

“MacDougal?”

“Guilty.” MacDougal’s voice showed his disgust.

“Council?”

Wesley and Bertram’s response was instant. “Guilty.”

When Graham didn’t answer, Rory asked, “Graham, how do you vote?”

In a voice so cold it made Shay shiver, Graham said, “Kill the bitch and be done with it.”

Laurie Bell flinched and looked at her brother in shocked disbelief. “What?”

Graham kept his eyes on Rory. “She’s dead to me.”

He really is a bastard. And to think, she thanked me for saving your sorry, worthless life . “Finish this so we can go home,” she told Rory, revolted by the whole matter.

“The penalty for the crimes committed against the alpha pair and their unborn child is death, but…” Rory paused.

The pack began muttering.

“What? What does he mean, ‘but’?”

“Kill the bitch and be done with it!” Graham hollered again.

More cries of the same were called out.

“But,” Rory continued in a louder voice, “as my mate stated, death is too kind for you.”

All eyes swung toward Shay, taking her measure. When Rory remained silent, the quiet increased as anticipation grew. What could be worse than death? Shay knew what they were thinking by the expression on their faces.

“I hereby declare you outcast. All property is to be seized. You have three days to clear all your personal belongings.”

Laurie Bell’s mouth dropped open. “You can’t kick me out! I’m the pack’s healer. You need me.”

“Three days!” Rory reiterated.

“My house! My shop! You can’t take them from me,” Laurie Bell protested.

“They belong to the pack, purchased with pack money. The house and its land, the shop and all the merchandise therein,” Rory reminded her. Shay had the satisfaction of seeing Laurie Bell’s face turn white as the impact of what she was losing hit her.

“But what am I supposed to do?” she wailed.

Did she really think they cared?

Behind her Rory seemed to expand. The heat of his flesh scorched hers where they touched. His power rose in the air, so heavy breathing became difficult. Her wolf stirred, rising to the surface in response to whatever Rory was doing.

“Don’t fight it,” he stated in her mind. Until then Shay hadn’t realized she was. She relaxed, trusted herself to Rory’s care. Her beast rose, joining with Rory until they were no longer two beings but one powerful entity.

Then Shay felt something else, someone else’s wolf join with them. It felt like Rory, but there was a subtle difference. A glance at Kian showed his eyes were glowing pure gold and he’d partially shifted. He still looked human, but his mass was larger and he’d sprouted claws and fangs.

Shay felt a tug and realized Rory was pulling on the pack. Caleb, MacDougal, the council, then each member, one by one, eyes began to glow bright gold until the clearing was lit. Her hair whipped around her face, but there was no breeze. The sheer buildup of energy had Shay staggering, punch-drunk under the strength of it.

“ You. Are. OUTCAST !”

At Rory’s roar, something burst out of them and hit Laurie Bell straight in the belly. Shay could almost see the flow of power. The force of the blow bent Laurie Bell over, then bowed her spine. Head thrown back, she let out a high, agonizing scream that hurt Shay’s sensitive eardrums. Laurie Bell collapsed to her knees. Would have fallen on her face if Alex and Kian weren’t holding her upright.

Like a dimmer switch being turned, the brilliant glow of the pack’s eyes slowly faded until everyone’s irises were their natural color. Rory’s heat, though still high, no longer felt as if it would scorch a layer of skin off Shay’s back. The power rush faded, leaving her mentally tired but physically energized.

Shay turned to say something to Rory when there was a muffled scream, then a gurgling sound. Spinning around, she saw Laurie Bell on the ground, her bloody hand clutched to her throat. Kian casually flicked the blood off his clawed hand, his face impassive.

Her mouth gaped. That wasn’t part of the plan. Shay glanced at Rory. “Did you know he was going to do that?”

He smiled grimly. “It appears Kian felt it necessary to inflict a bit of justice of his own.”

“Did he kill her?” Shay asked, prepared to be pissed.

“No, she lives.” He watched Laurie Bell continue to bleed out, then shrugged. “I don’t believe she’ll have much of a voice from now on.” He glanced out over the pack. “Sanders, you and Davidson escort this outcast to pack up her belongings.”

The crowd parted as the men came forward. When they reached her side, both recoiled slightly and gave Rory a look of terror-filled awe.

“What’s wrong?” someone asked.

With a cautious glance at Rory, one of them answered, “She smells human.” Then they picked her up and carted her off.

That started another round of shocked mutters. Shay mused that this day would go down in pack history, and prayed they’d never have to repeat it.

After Laurie Bell was gone, Rory turned to the rest of the pack and said, “Let’s run.”

The Sparrowhawks were slow to respond, but gradually they shook off the anger and lethargy, began to undress and shift. Once on four legs, they pranced restlessly in place, looking at Rory.

“Go ahead,” Shay told him. “They need you.”

“You wanted to go home,” he reminded her.

“We will. After…” she said.

“You too, Alex,” Kee called out as Rory shucked his clothes. “Go burn off some of that energy.”

“I won’t leave you unprotected,” Alex said.

“I’ll watch them,” Caleb said.

Kian signed, I’ll stay as well.

“Kian said he’d stay too. Go, run. Rory needs you,” Shay said, eyes on the form of her mate. His ears were flattened, tail hanging low. “You’re the only one who understands what he’s feeling right now.”

Alex followed her gaze, then without another word of protest, cast off his jeans. His body flowed seamlessly into that of a wolf, and he loped over to join the rest of the mingled packs. Rory arched his neck and howled. Alex did the same. Then the Sparrowhawks and Ravens charged off into the woods.