Hybrids Fall

“Layla!” Dean barked.
My claws dug into a hybrid’s face. He whimpered and howled. I took advantage of the surprise on the other wolves’ faces to slam my back legs into one wolf and send him several feet away.
Amidst the battle, I barked at Dean. If he tried to shift he could lose his leg to the trap!
Barks and howls sounded in the distance. I was scratched in the back and bit in the leg. It felt like they were burying me alive with their bodies but when I noticed one of them go for Dean who was trying to pry the trap open, I burst from their group and bit the hybrid in the butt.
He cried out like a dying animal before he wiggled me off him like a life-threatening insect. I fell on Dean. He puffed and groaned. The strong scent of blood made me aware of the larger pool of blood.
The hybrids had been waiting for us. We chose to run home but they would have found a way to lead us here eventually or someone else from the castle.
When I believed I wouldn’t be able to take them all at once Gabe and a fleet of huge wolves jumped on the hybrids. Thank goodness! Minus the one I injured, the four hybrids put up a good fight. Gabe arrived with Lyle, Dec and two others I couldn’t place. Kenzie wasn’t one of them.
“This isn’t over!” The aggressive leader barked. “We’ll be back for that vessel and our leader will rise.” He and the other wolves turned around and ran. Our wolves didn’t remain and bask in the victory they gave chase, howling as they chased the enemy down to the river.
***
“Are you ready?” Gabe asked Dean then looked at Dec.
“Just do it,” Dean growled. “What the fuck is this thing made of?”
I turned away as Gabe and Dec ripped the metal claws apart. Dean cried out and it tugged at my wolf. Lyle patted my shoulder.
“There there, Little Wolf.”
“Fuck. I never want to see one again,” Dean panted.
“Are you okay?” I settled beside him on the ground.
“When I say go, you run, Layla,” he grounded out.
“I’m not a wimp.” I might be in other areas but not when it came to a fight.
“You’ve lost a lot of blood, Dean, you need a healer,” Gabe said.
I expected him to protest and tell everyone he was fine.
“Yeah, you’re right.”
I rubbed his hand. Power passed through us and my brows lifted.
“I… maybe I can help.”
He felt the energy flow through our hands. I’ve healed him before unknowingly this time I wanted to push the healing out.
I moved closer to him and stroked his cheek. He stared into my eyes with questions in his.
“Trust me,” I muttered.
I moved my thigh onto his. Instead of a powerful healing magic inside me heat formed between my legs. This is better work. I moved my lips to his and kissed him softly.
“You guys want to fuck? Now?” Gabe blasted.
“Gabe,” Dean growled.
Lyle and Dec had wandered off. I heard them talking about how lovely the leaves were this time of the year.
“You’re bleeding out and you want to have sex?” Gabe growled.
“We’re not doing that. I’m trying to heal him. I’m kind of new at this.”
“Is that how you heal everyone else?” Gabe probed.
“Go away!” Dean bellowed.
Gabe raised his hands and wandered off as well.
“I wouldn’t heal anyone else this… way it’s just we have a close bond already and I thought this would work.”
He raised his brow at me. “If no one ever gets this close to you I’m good.”
“Of course not,” I said.
“Layla, you could have been hurt—”
“You can be mad at me later. You need to get better.”
I pulled his cheeks and closed my lips on his. I pressed my body against his, aware of his wound. I thought about healing and wanting Dean to get better. I imagined him running and fighting. I remembered how he kicked my ass in training.
Dean grabbed the back of my head and deepened our kiss. Our tongues entwined and tasted each other’s contrasting tastes. I moaned and willed myself to think of more positive thoughts. The same energy I felt pass through us earlier returned this time it moved like ten thousand volts of electricity.
I pulled back and glanced at his foot. Still covered in blood and mud but the open wounds had closed.
“It worked,” I said.
Dean smiled and brushed the corner of my mouth. “You did it.”
***
“Alpha, I would like you to know I’m prepared to carry you back to the castle—”
“Shut up Lyle,” Dean grumbled.
The rest of us laughed. We joined the others on the path that was a shortcut to the castle. I recalled using this path when I went to town. I met Eight that day. Eight and I hadn’t spoken since I left his pack. It wasn’t like we exchanged numbers.
“Get a move on,” Dean ordered. He held my hand.
Dec and Lyle obeyed but Gabe was a stubborn mule.
“What?” Gabe folded his arms.
“I don’t want you looking at my mate’s ass.”
Gabe smirked. “It’s a nice view.”
Dean’s arm stretched out and shoved his brother before I knew it.
“Dean!”
“He’s fucking annoying.”
Gabe laughed and followed his betas. I laced my fingers through Dean’s and bumped my shoulder against his.
“Don’t be mean to your brother.”
“He’s a prick.”
Omegas covered us with blankets when we were spotted on the property.
“Gabe, where’s Killian?” Dean demanded.
He paused and sniffed the air. He gripped my hip and tugged.
“Inside, I think. Why?”
“Grab him and take him to the basement.”
“You mean the dungeon?” I asked.
“No, the basement.”
“Where’s that?”
“Under the dungeon,” Dean replied in a tone that stated it should be obvious that the basement was below the dungeon.
Lyle and Dec dropped the blankets and marched to the castle without question. I grabbed Dean’s arm.
“I want to be there.”
“No,” Dean snapped.
“He didn’t try to kill you.” I held his stare. He exhaled deeply.
“Get dressed and we’ll go,” he said through clenched teeth.
“There you are!” Kenzie blasted when we walked through the front door. Ginger lingered behind her.
“How could you leave me out of the mission? I’m still your right hand, you know!”
“It’s not like you weren’t doing anything. You were taking care of the castle.”
“I’m not a house sitter!”
Dean led me away from the quarrelling couple.
“Trouble in paradise,” Dean muttered.
“Don’t be a gossip,” I snickered.
“What the hell?” Killian demanded followed by shoes shuffling on the concrete floor.
“Guys, what’s the meaning of this?” Bane demanded.
Lyle and Dec had Killian locked in their arms. They stopped in front of Dean.
“Alpha Dean, what’s going on?” Bane asked.
Dean cracked his neck muscles as he walked in front of Killian. His fist connected with Killian’s jaw. Ginger screamed and cupped her mouth before hiding behind her sister.
Killian spat blood on the floor.
“What the fuck, man?” Killian growled.
“You’re going to tell me everything you told the Dare wolves and what their next moves are, got it?”
Shock and silence cave in on us. All eyes were on Killian. Bane lowered his head in shame. Why was he ashamed?
“You hit your head or something?” Killian barked. “I have nothing to do with them!”
“Don’t lie to me! You were supposedly captured remember? You barely had a scratch, Killian.”
“Is your Little Wolf feeding you lies? She’s nothing but trouble and you know it, Dean.”
Dean’s fist struck Gabe’s jaw again. Killian laughed cynically. I sucked in my bottom lip. A part of me feared they would take his word over his mind.
“Take him down. I’ll be there in a minute.”
Lyle and Dec dragged Killian away. Bane disappeared too. My mate marched upstairs without a word said. I was caught in limbo but I had to be strong it was time to confront the one responsible for my pack’s downfall.