Austin's POV
I knew my mate was trapped in an alliance bond. But knowing it and actually hearing her speak to that bastard who thinks he can claim my mate, hearing him declare that she belongs to him, that she's his responsibility, his intended bride, his future mate - it pushed both Buck and me beyond our breaking point.
Thank the goddess Bill has a powerful Alpha wolf. Preston matched Buck's desperate pace for hours until I finally regained enough control to shift back. When I did, I dropped to the ground like a stone, burying my face in my hands.
"Want to talk about what just happened?" Bill asks, settling beside me on the forest floor.
"That piece of shit called her. The one who thinks he's going to steal my mate from me. He wanted to know why she hadn't checked in, said he was worried about her safety. Claims she's his to protect." I spit the last words like poison. "She belongs to ME!"
