“Good. How’s my Ally?”

His wolf’s ears flattened as a loud growl rumbled out of him. The animal did not at all like Cain’s use of the word “my.” Derren didn’t like it much either. “Fine.”

“Is she close?”

Close? She couldn’t get much closer. “Yeah.”

“Put her on.”

Without a word, Derren held out the phone.

Taking it, Ally tucked her hair behind her ear. “Hello.”

“How are you, sweetheart?”

A low but fierce growl built in Derren’s chest at the endearment. His wolf curled back his upper lip, his anger almost palpable as his vicious temper threatened to take over.

Ally swallowed hard. “Good.”

“Have the Collingwood wolves bothered you since you left their pack?”

“No. No, they’ve left me alone.” Ally ignored the way Derren’s brows lifted at the lie.

“How are things at the Mercury Pack? Is Derren taking good care of you?”

That was one way to put it. “I don’t need protecting.”

Cain laughed. “How did I know you’d say that? I can’t talk long, sweetheart. But I’ll be out of here very soon. Then we’ll talk more.”

“Okay.”

“Put Derren back on.”

Retrieving the cell, Derren gritted out, “Yeah?” With jealousy riding him, it took all of his control not to tell his friend to fuck off.

“She’s lying to me,” growled Cain. “The Collingwood fuckers have been bothering her.”

“Yes,” Derren confirmed, watching her wince at Cain’s words.

“Don’t let any of them harm her.”

“I won’t.” Derren would kill them before he allowed that to happen. Not for Cain, but to protect Ally.

“I’m trusting you with her, Derren. Don’t let me down.” The line went dead.

Let him down? Derren was pretty sure he’d let Cain down the moment he first thrust his tongue inside her mouth. Didn’t matter to him, though. It should, he knew that. But Derren needed her in a way that probably should have freaked him out. But he’d accepted it.

Ally cleared her throat and offered Derren a weak smile. Well, that was awkward. Of course, it wouldn’t have been awkward if Derren weren’t under the impression that Cain was her mate. Trying to keep her body language casual, she proceeded toward the lodge. His words almost made her trip over her own feet.

“Why hasn’t Cain claimed you?” There was affection in Cain’s tone as he spoke of and to her. It was obvious to Derren that the guy cared a lot for her—or, at least, as much as a sociopath was capable of caring for someone. She was a female that any male would be proud to have as his mate. Why the fuck would Cain decide against claiming her?

Ally flinched as flickers of jealousy, indignation, uncertainty, and possessiveness lashed at her, making her break out in a cold sweat. Derren might look the image of composure, but his emotions were in turmoil. All right, truth time.

She inhaled deeply as she spun to face him. “You want to talk about Cain? Good. Because I can finally make you hear what I’ve been trying to tell you all this time.” Her next words tumbled out in a rush. “He’s not my mate. When I first got here, I didn’t feel safe—everyone but Shaya seemed to hate me. I figured I’d be safer if I didn’t correct your assumption that I was Cain’s mate. So go on, yell at me for not correcting you in the beginning.”

She closed her eyes, not wanting to see the betrayal and hurt that would surely glimmer from his dark gaze. The flickers of his emotions suddenly cut off . . . it wasn’t like he was numb, but as if he were so shocked that his emotions were on hold.

Peeking out of one eye, she found him staring at her, his expression completely blank. His eyes, though . . . they weren’t so blank. There was something in them that told her to run. Not out of fear. No, she wasn’t scared. But the primal instinct to run was there nonetheless, and her wolf was backing it up. Like the animal wanted Ally to challenge him, to make him work for . . . something.

Never one to ignore her wolf, Ally took off.

Thank God she was fast, because he gave chase. She rocketed through the trees, ignoring how the branches that fluttered with the breeze abraded the skin of her cheeks and her bare arms. Wildlife scrambled as it sensed two predators coming.

Ally knew Derren was gaining on her, knew he’d catch her soon. But it still seemed important to not make it easy for him, though she didn’t understand why. She just knew that—

Motherfucker. A body clamped around her, taking her to the ground but rolling to cushion her fall. Derren positioned her flat on her back on the grass as his body pinned her in place. This time, she could sense his emotions. They didn’t hurt her, they lapped at her—which was just weird, despite being a welcome change. The possessiveness was still there, and much more strongly than before. There was also determination, surety, surprise, and greed.

His dark-velvet eyes glittered down at her, filled with purpose and resolve. “You’re not his,” Derren rumbled. “Never were.”

He bit her. Just leaned down and sank his teeth into the crook of her neck, making Ally gasp in shock and pleasure. At the same time, his hand snaked under her T-shirt and closed around her breast; it was a hold so possessive, she reflexively growled in warning despite how good it felt. He released a growl of his own, rebelliously gripping her tighter.