As it was, he was hanging on by a thread, trying to not go back and finish the fight at Slater’s that would have three males lying dead at his feet. The little deer was his mate, and he had fought to protect her and had felt his bear calm for the first time. But when he realized she left and the two cougars attacked him in unison, he let his animal fully out.
The shifters that fought with him in the underground fight club had gotten in on the violence, but soon they were going after each other, their animals attacking anyone who got in their way.
He had been in the mind frame to go after the panther and finish him, finish what his brave little female had done, but she was hurt and his first priority. He had seen her wounds, and red had covered his vision.
The scent of her blood filled the air, and when he turned and saw her standing over Rook’s still form, something inside him had grown proud of his mate. But that pride over his female had vanished. Then she had passed out, and he felt something grow inside him that he had never felt before—fear. He was scared he would lose her before he even got the chance to know who she was.
He took the last turn that would take him to his cabin deep in the heart of the Sweet Water Mountains. Another ten minutes and he was pulling his truck in front of the two-story home he and his brothers built with their own hands years before. Having her here felt right, but he couldn’t let his primal side take over.
He and his bear were in agreement that they needed to tend to her wounds and get her well. After she was better, he could discuss with her what he wanted… her as his mate. He also needed to know what in the hell her relationship was with the panther.
The possessive need that had come from the asshole in regards to Kenzie had been nearly as strong as Bram’s, but what the panther didn’t have was that connection to her like he did. They were mates, and nature dictated he had supremacy over any douchebag who fucked with her. Bram didn’t doubt the prick would come for her, because he sensed the obsessive need in the other male and knew he wouldn’t stop until he got what he wanted, and it was clear he wanted Bram’s female.
But what the panther didn’t know was that Bram would fight dirty for her, and if that meant pulling out every resource he had to accomplish it, then so fucking be it. Although he didn’t mind using his bear’s strength to defeat his opponents, he would go bare knuckle with this fucker.
He quickly got out of the truck and walked around until he reached the passenger door. When he had the door open and Kenzie gently cradled in his arms, he took a second just to look at her. She was passed out, and what had been peach-colored flesh back at the bar looked a sickly shade of gray.
But still, she beckoned him like no other female had. Her eyes were closed, and he couldn’t see the beautiful steel-colored eyes that had stared up at him so innocently. He had no doubt his wee mate had been horribly abused at the hands of the panther, but he clenched his jaw and pushed those thoughts away, for now. He couldn’t think about that right now, not when his first priority was tending to Kenzie.
Once he was inside, he laid her down on the wide leather couch. She seemed so small on it, and that sight had his chest clenching in discomfort. Bram left her only long enough to get the first aid kit. Kneeling beside her had the scent of her blood filling his nose.
Her jeans were covered in blood, and her shirt was torn almost completely off at the side. Gripping the torn shreds of her top, he ripped the material the rest of the way. He unbuttoned her jeans, pulling the zipper half down. A fierce growl left him. The claw marks that marred her delicate, smooth skin were deep.
They ran from her ribs to her hipbone. He had a suture kit, and even though he had sewn himself up plenty of times after a fight, had even done so to his brothers, he was hesitant to pierce Kenzie with the needle. The thought of causing her any more pain was like a dagger in his heart, but it had to be done. Bram disinfected the wounds as gently as he could and went about suturing her up. He was just thankful she was still passed out and unable to feel what would no doubt cause her even more pain.