All Apologies
Ayla
“THANE, THANE STOP, PLEASE STOP!” I yell, but it is not doing any good. Ronan is in control, and he wants blood. My wolf is snarling in my head, and the only thing stopping me right now from turning my control over so I can avoid this emotional turmoil is seeing how crazed Thane is.
Raven is holding me behind her, and Amani has a hold of my arm as I watch Thane’s entire inner circle try to keep him from killing the Alpha on the ground. One I remember too well.
He ordered me several times. Each time, I was forced into a false heat. I remember his tattoo and his eyes- cold, steel–gray.
They used to haunt me in the dark.
I used to hear his degrading words in my ears in my kennel.
The more I think about it, the more Aramana pushes for control.
“OH, MY FATES! WHAT IS WRONG WITH HER ARMS?” Amani yells as I watch fur ripple over Thane’s arms. He sounds feral and lethal. They will not be able to question this Alpha if he is dead.
I need to do something.
“Oh, shit! Guys, her arms are blue again.” Raven yells I feel my powers swell. I decide to forget about Amani and release my shield around this monster on the ground, protecting him within a blue, swirling shield. The first one I have made that did not contain me.
I was able to transfer it.
My wolf was right.
Thane’s team immediately lets Thane go as he collides with my shield, punching and snarling to get to the Alpha within it. “LOWER THE SHIELD, AYLA. DROP IT NOW! NOW!” Thane yells as he continues to beat his fists against it.
“No,” I answer, attempting to control my wolf and hold the shield. It is becoming more difficult because my wolf wants it lowered as well. She is just like Ronan, I realize.
Fiercely protective,
Vengeful.
Lethal.
“TELL ME, TELL ME HE DIDN’T, AYLA. TELL ME HE DIDN’T HURT YOU!” I say nothing because I am unable to give Thane the answers he needs.
1/4
All Apologies
My silence causes fur to start sprouting on his arms and face again.
I look over to Cyrus and nod my head.
“Please don’t kill me, Cyrus says as he shoots a tranquilizer dart into Thane’s buttock. Thane drops to his knees, groaning as Cyrus shoots another dart, this one landing in his thigh.
“Go down, Thane. Cyrus sighs as Thane growls and falls to the pavement. I drop the shield on the Alpha on the ground.
So that was fun. Tyler and Damon, carry this shit bag down to the dungeon. Raven, take Amani somewhere and have the secret keepers‘ talk and the ‘what happens when we break pinky promises‘ talk. Ayla and I will be taking Thane home.” Cyrus gives everyone orders, and I am thankful to let him.
I feel like I betrayed my mate.
I feel like I betrayed my wolf.
Their revenge has to wait.
“Don’t threaten my mate.” Damon growls at Cyrus.
“Please, between the two of you, she is the one I am most afraid of now, help me,” Cyrus growls at Damon.
Cyrus drags Thane to his car, and Damon helps shove him into the back seat. Damon opens the door for me and helps me up into the vehicle.
He really is sweet.
“Let me know when he wakes up so I can give Raven a heads up to start my obituary,” Cyrus says, flopping Thane’s unconscious body down in my nest.
“Thank you, Cyrus. Don’t kill him without us.” I smile as I climb into the nest next to Thane.
“Wouldn’t dream of it, princess.” Cyrus smiles and leaves, also leaving the darts in Thane’s body, which is probably why he was smiling. Now I have to pull them out.
No. I can’t do it.
Maybe.
No.
I curl up next to Thane and attempt to rest, but the smell of the other Alpha on Thane in my nest is pissing off my wolf. I decide to use this time to bathe and hope that Thane doesn’t wake up while I am in
there.
I’m not in the tub long before I hear Thane groaning and cursing in my nest. Aramana is growing more
2/4
All Apologies
pissed by the second that she will have to fix it. A thump sounds against the bathroom door, before it opens, Thane standing in the doorway, reaching behind him and ripping out a dart from his buttock.
“Why do I have a dart in my ass?” He growls, but it sounds more like a groan.
“Two darts. You have two darts in you. There is one in your thigh.” Thane reaches around and winces as he jerks the second dart out of his thigh. He burned through those sedatives in his system rather quickly.
That probably means I would as well.
Why do I have two darts in me, Ayla?”
“Cyrus shot you to keep you from killing that Alpha.”
“Yes, I remember wanting to kill Sonne. I am not sure it warranted tranquilizing.” Th comes and sits on the edge of the tub.
grumbles as he
“Sorry. If you kill him too soon, you can’t question him. It may not be safe for you to question him at all,
Thane.”
“I will be questioning him, Little Wolf.”
“Then let us be with you. Raven deserves to hear whatever he says, even if it doesn’t pertain to her, and Cyrus can keep you managed. I deserve to hear what he has to say, and my wolf is riding me hard to hear it
as well.”
“He might not be able to tell us anything, Ayla. We could be keeping him alive for nothing. Putting you in front of him could cause a significant setback for you, and it isn’t safe for our pup. I cannot agree with that suggestion. I just can’t.”
“I understand that, but I need to be there to keep you from killing him. I want to be there. My wolf wants this. I owe it to her. Let me make this decision while I am strong today. While I have the courage to say it.” I can feel my lip tremble as I attempt to shut out the heaviness of the day.
“Alright, Little Wolf. Whatever you want. We do whatever you want. I’m sorry about earlier. I was having a hard time containing my rage, and I did not mean to direct any of it toward you. I am very ‘act first, think later. It has always been a weakness of mine. Not very Alpha material.”
“It’s okay. Sorry, I told Cyrus to shoot you with a dart and for exposing myself to Amani.”
“You told Cyrus to shoot me? Little Wolf, I am impressed.” Thane smiles at me.
“Yeah, mind–links are handy in emergencies,” I say, flicking the water at him.
“They’re handy for other reasons as well.” Thane’s tone drops low as he states at my mouth. “I need to apologize for earlier, Ayla.”
“Oh shit,” I whisper as I squeeze my thighs together, feeling Thane’s lust in the bond. He smiles broadly,
3/4
All Apologies
displaying his dimples, before he grabs me out of the water, holding me closely as he carries me to the bed off of the nest room.
Good. My nest needs to air out, or Aramana will lose her shit over it. Thane might lose a bed again.
Thane lowers me to the bed and gives me no time to position myself before he dives his head between my legs and ravishes my heat. The stubble of his new beard provides friction that causes the heat to build.
I try to crawl away because the pleasure is too intense, but at the same time, I am rocking my hips into his face, seeking more of it. Thane flicks my clit with his tongue as he mind–links me.
“You did a great job today, taking charge…..keeping me sane. Such a good girl.” Thane’s praises wash over me and intensify the building between my legs.
“Thane….Please…” I plead within the mind–linking, needing release from this pressure within me. It is so
close….
“Come for me, now.” Thane growls in the mind–link while sucking hard on my throbbing clit. I cry out his name and I grip onto his hair, my thighs locking him in place as I ride out this pleasure high.
I’m so glad Cyrus shot my mate.
Chapter Comments
13
POST COMMENT NOW
< SHA