4

I kept screaming in Teddy's head, desperate for his help. Finally, he snapped, "Stop! I can't connect with Phin with you yelling at me, Cassy!"

I went silent, but my wolf pushed against my skin, eager to materialize. I had to fight her constantly.

Shifting would be a disaster. Phin would shift and kill me instantly. He was stronger, and my wolf wasn't fully grown yet.

Phin laughed as he growled in my face. "Your boyfriend says to get off you... I wonder how he knows? Another Monroe trick?" He licked my neck, making me gag and my stomach churn in total disgust.

I screamed again mentally, "Teddy, where are you?!"

"I can see you. Close your eyes tight and roll into the impact. Don't panic or shift. I've got you."

I braced myself, tensing every muscle and shutting my eyes tight. 

Seconds later, Teddy's wolf crashed into us. 

I flew off the porch and hit the creek. The water swallowed me, and I inhaled a mouthful. I fought to the surface, coughing and sputtering, my eyes still squeezed shut.

I'd gotten a couple of eye infections from the water already and didn't need another.

When I crawled back onto the bank, I saw Teddy's wolf pinning Phin on the porch. 

Phin's face was contorted with drunken rage and disdain. "You don't deserve her, you pathetic excuse for a Beta. You're worthless, always have been! You little fucking weakling!" His words were venomous, each a dagger aimed at Teddy's heart. 

Teddy, his best friend his entire life. The only person here who liked him at all anymore. Phin was a decent dude as long as he was sober and wasn't horny, and there was rarely a time when he was either these days. 

Teddy shifted back to human and punched Phin hard, instantly knocking him out. 

He was beside me instantly, pulling me from the bank as he wiped the water from my face repeatedly. "I'm so sorry, Cassy. I would never have let you go alone if I thought you were in danger. I can't believe Phin did this. I'm sorry, je suis désolé. Oh shit, I'm so sorry. We have to get this water off your face and out of your hair before you get too much in your eyes. I'm sorry. It's all I could think to do to remove you from the situation without hurting you."

I pushed off him, anger and panic pushing through the initial shock. "No, this isn't surprising, and you know it! You're a Beta! You're supposed to stop the Alpha from losing control, but you haven't! You let him get out of hand, to the point he just attacked your mate! His Beta's mate, Teddy! The person he is supposed to respect and listen to more than anyone else. You have to do something, Teddy. You have to act now!"

His face fell as guilt flashed in his eyes. "I know... I will..."

"Really?" I snapped. "Don't forget, I can feel your emotions. You're always so quick to forgive him. Always making excuses because he was given this responsibility so young. He wasn't ready. Blah, blah, blah. You're going to let it slide again. Just watch!"

"I promise, Cassy. I won't let this go. I won't let him hurt you again."

Phin began to stir, groaning as he came to. "What? Why am I down here? What the hell?"

Teddy didn't hesitate. 

He walked over and punched him, knocking Phin out cold again. He heaved Phin over his shoulder and turned to me. "Go inside. Get in the shower. I'm putting him in the holding cell. I'll deal with him tomorrow when he's sober. I'm not fighting him while he's drunk."

I nodded as I turned and walked into the house. I went straight to the bathroom and stepped into the shower, letting the warm water wash over me. I held my face up to the stream, allowing it to clear the brackish bayou water from my eyes. 

My resolve crumbled, and I started sobbing. I had never felt so vulnerable, so helpless. I cried harder than I ever had. The fear and humiliation of what had just happened, the anger at Phin's violation, and the helplessness of being unable to fight back all crashed over me simultaneously.

I heard the bathroom door open, and moments later, Teddy quietly stepped into the shower behind me. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me to his chest. 

He didn't say anything. He just held me and started running his fingers through my hair, subtly removing the leaves and debris. 

I leaned into him as I continued to cry.

He whispered in my ear, "You will never be put in a position like that again. I'm sorry I failed you. That will be the last time."

He leaned down and started tracing the bruises on my arms. "I'll protect you, Cassy. I swear it."

I turned in his arms. "You can't let him get away with this," I said, trembling through each word. "He has to be held accountable."

Teddy nodded as he leaned down and kissed the top of my head. "I will. I'll challenge him tomorrow. He'll answer for what he did."

We stepped out of the shower, and he insisted on drying me off. He moved carefully over my skin, and I realized he was checking for marks. 

"Do I have any?" I asked quietly.

He nodded. "You're covered in them. Head to toe. You're going to be so sore tomorrow. I guess they won't heal until you go home."

I sighed. "I'm not going home anytime soon. The last thing I want is one of my brothers to see bruises and think you did it."

He lingered at my neck. "Did he bite you?" 

I shivered as the memory flashed in my mind. "He was dragging his teeth on my neck, but I don't think he bit down." 

Teddy growled loudly and kissed the marks.

Teddy helped me into a pair of his boxers and one of his shirts, treating me like I was glass. I could feel how horrible he felt about this. He pulled me down onto the bed, holding me tight against him. I leaned up and kissed his mark before tracing it with my fingertips. 

"Are you really going to challenge Phin?" I asked. "Like, really challenge him?"

He rolled his head, pushing my fingers deeper into his skin with his chin as he moaned softly. "I don't think I have a choice, Loupy."

I laughed. "Uhh, Loupy?"

He grinned. "Every French Cajun wolf I know calls their mate 'mon loup.' I doubt anyone calls theirs Loupy. I want to be unique, me."

I shook my head, smiling despite everything. "Stop trying to distract me. So you are. Are you ready to be an Alpha? Really?"

He looked at me like I was crazy. "I'm never going to be the Alpha. I figured you would be."

I sat up. "Wait, what?"

"I mean, I guess I'd be Alpha for three weeks, but I plan on submitting to you the second I mark you." 

His smile was more naughty than I wanted to see. He was serious. 

"Me? The Alpha of the Bayou pack? You're kidding, right?"

He wasn't kidding.