Fox Ensnared

Part 6

Guilt.

I don't care for this particular emotion. I paced my room all night, thinking over everything that Riven said. It can't be true. I am a fox, and he is a wolf. Plus, I just took things to another level with Owen. I will not hurt him like that. Not to mention I still have several names on my list, and a mate that can feel my emotions would be problematic for my plans.

No, this can't happen. I need to stay away from Riven Bloodmoon, mate or not.

I lay back on my bed and stared at the white ceiling tiles. They are in stark contrast to the green walls. It reminds me of the forest, which calms me down. My eyes close, and I manage to doze off, waiting for Owen to return from the run. Something pulled me from my sleep. My hand automatically scratched at my chest. He was close.

I sat up and tapped into my fox senses. The first thing I smelled was blood, wolf shifter blood. The next was a mixture of citrus and mint wrapped up in a fresh rain smell.

Owen and Riven.

My door burst open, cracking against the wall. My claws ripped into my mattress in shock. There in the doorway was a bloody Owen being supported by a very naked Riven after my brain recovered from short-circuiting from all the male flesh on display. I launched myself across the room.

"What happened?" I help place Owen on my bed. I notice three large gashes on his side. Claw marks.

I inhale. The stench of Alpha burns my nose. I know that stench. I hate that stench.

"Stay with him," I bark.

I reach under my bed and pull out my weapon stash. A black bag that Uncle Jasper gave me for my birthday. Inside is a row of silver knives.

"What the fuck are you doing, Payton?" Riven peers over my shoulder, his eyes wide.

"How many times do I have to tell you to mind your business." I seethe. I picked my favorite blade. I just sharpened it the other night. It will look nice sticking out of Marcus's chest. He has tormented Owen before, but never to this degree. Full moon or not, he crossed a line. Yeah, Owen will heal in about an hour, but that's not the point. No one hurts what's mine!

I tuck the knife into my waistband and reluctantly look at Riven. I have been purposely looking everywhere but at him. I have to force my eyes not to dip lower than his chest. He has a small patch of black hair that I want to run my fingers through.

Get it together, Payton. Your boyfriend is currently lying on your bed, bleeding and unconscious. Not the time to check out other guys, even if they claim to be your mate.

"What do you plan on doing with that?" Riven crowds my space. His fresh rain scent made my mouth water. I push him back, but my hand lingers on his warm chest. A stronger feeling of protectiveness flows from him into me. Not this. Not now.

I can't handle my own emotions right now, and the last thing I need is to be feeling his.

Wait, does that mean he can feel me, too?

"Yes, I feel the urge to kill, but it's not coming from me," He huffs.

"Fuck can you read my thoughts too?" Riven smirks. "No, just your face, little fox."

"Thank god."

Owen groans and rolls over, giving my first look at his back.

Rage, white-hot rage, courses through my body. My blood boils. His back is slashed from top to bottom in deep lacerations. They are starting to heal but cuts that deep will leave scars.

"Stay with him." I pivot to leave but look back over my shoulder when Riven starts to follow. "PLEASE."I never begged, not even the night my parents were murdered.

Riven's eyes soften, and he nods his head. His emotions are mixed up. He wants to protect me, but he also knows not to interfere.

Marcus Black a first-class alpha asshole. He has tormented Owen for the last time. I follow my nose to the woods, where Marcus is washing the blood from his body in a stream. I see a few bite marks and smile. At least Owen fought back.

He breathes in. I can hear the glee in his voice. "I knew you would come, Owen's mighty protector." He stands to his full height and turns around.

"Thank god you are wearing a pair of shorts. I would hate for that thing to accidentally touch me while I am murdering you."I giggle, but Marcus doesn't find it as funny as I did.

"I have a better use for that mouth of yours." He palms himself, a sinister gleam in his eyes.

I plan on cutting out his eyes and giving them to Owen. That would be a fine gift.

As the knife left my hand, I watched it embed itself in his shoulder. He let out a deafening roar as he shifted, causing the knife to fall loose. However, I remained in my human form; I could defeat him better this way. Although my fox form was vicious, it was no match for his size. Suddenly, a large red wolf charged toward me. I narrowly avoided its black claws by dodging to the side. The wolf was incredibly fast, but my supernatural strength allowed me to kick it in the side, causing the sound of bones cracking. It was beautiful. I quickly retrieved my blade from the ground and charged toward the wolf. It was much slower now, the silver already taking effect. I managed to land on its back, but it was able to throw me off, sending me skidding across the dirt and into a tree. The impact shattered my arm.

FUUCK that hurt!

I don't have time to cry about it because fangs dripping with saliva bore down on me. Thankful my stabbing arm wasn't broken. I throw the knife, hitting him in the eye. Blood squirts out onto my face, landing on my lips. I lick it off; it tastes like revenge. Marcus collapses on his belly. I stand and walk over. His good eye watches me with hatred. I rip the knife from his eye socket, using my foot to roll him over for a clean shot to his heart. I raise the knife, and just as I am about to bring it down for the final blow, a sharp pain in my chest has me stopping, followed by that damn deep voice.

"Enough, Payton. He isn't worth it." Riven walks over with a syringe filled with blue liquid. Silver poisoning antidote. He jabs it in the wolf's side and pushes the plunger.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" Spit flies from my mouth like the rabid animal I am.

"Saving my mate." He is unapologetic in his declaration.

Marcus shifts back, but he is still unable to stand. His breathing is labor, and his eye will take days to heal. Maybe it never will. Silver is a bitch.

I reach down and grab his chin between my fingers. "You got lucky today, mutt, don't think this is over." I slam his head back into the ground with enough force to crack his skull. Marcus's eyes roll back into his head as he passes out. He won't die, but he will have days of painful recovery.

I turn to Riven. His emotions are chaotic. "I told you to stay with Owen." I snap

"He's fine, probably already awake. Payton, we need to talk about this." His hand gestures to Marcus lying at our feet.

"There is nothing to talk about." I walk around him, leaving him to deal with the fallout.