Possession (The Mate Games 3)

I hurled the wood at a nearby tree, the log splintering and branches falling around us. “I’m not afraid of anything.”

“Prove it.”

I glared at him. “What? Right now? I’m not winning anyone back smelling like this.”

Tor rolled his eyes. “Then take a fucking shower first. Odin’s hairy arse, Alek, it’s like you’re a fucking virgin.”

I laughed at his ire, appreciating my twin’s specific brand of tough love. It was exactly what I needed.

“All right, fuck face. Let’s head back to the house.”

“Already on my way, twatwaffle.”

“Twatwaffle?”

“Like that one, did you? The witch taught it to me.”

“Taught it to you? Or called you one?”

Tor grinned. “Same difference, really.”

The tension between us faded into our more typical brotherly jabs and digs as we walked through the woods at the back of the house. I saw her in the window, curled up with a blanket and staring out at the night sky. For a moment I simply stood there, taking her in, memorizing the lines of her profile, the curve of her shoulder, the things that made up Sunday.

Thorne appeared next to her, his pale fingers running along her collarbone and tearing her gaze from the stars so she could look at him.

“I still don’t understand it.” Tor shook his head before clapping me on the back and jogging toward the house. Something stopped him halfway across the grass. His posture tightened, body on the defensive, and that one small action had my berserker rattling its chains.

The shadows shifted, a figuring emerging from the darkness. I was across the lawn in three long strides.

“Take another step, and I’ll rip your fucking throat out,” I snarled.

The threat to my mate froze, his neck craning back so he could peer up at me. “I was just about to say the same to you, Mr. Nordson.”

The priest. His fangs were fully extended, brow furrowed, eyes filled with violence.

Confusion sent my berserker back. Not far, rage was still simmering in my veins, but the unexpected reveal allowed some of the fog to dissipate.

“I always knew you were a dirty bastard. But I didn’t expect spying on your students would be your kink of choice.”

He leveled a hard stare at me. “You know perfectly well what I’m about. You’ve lived it after all.”

What the fuck was he talking about?

The crunch of grass pulled me out of my musing as my brother joined us, keeping me from giving voice to the question.

“Why are you out here?” I asked instead.

“To ensure all is well.”

“Why wouldn’t it be? Is something going on?”

He tutted. “Aye, Mr. Nordson, there’s always some mischief being made. You should know that better than most.”

“Aye, but that’s no reason for skulking about where you’re not welcome. What game are you playing, priest?”

Pain flashed in the back of his eyes, but the good father didn’t answer my question. His gaze flicked from me, back to the now empty window. And that was when I knew. He’d been stalking her. Father Gallagher was after what was mine, and if he wasn’t in the house, that meant he wasn’t wanted.

Without thinking, I encircled his throat with my palm and shoved him into the nearest tree trunk. “Stay away from my mate and my child.”