Frowning thoughtfully, Derren tilted his head. “Not really, since that’s physically impossible.” As expected, Cain snapped with a roar and charged at him again.

Ally yelled, “Cain, not his nose!”

Half an hour later, Derren was wincing as Ally none too gently placed her hands on his wounded chest. His mate had ordered him into their lodge, and everyone had followed them inside and were now scattered around. After giving both him and Cain towels to dry off with as best they could, she’d ordered them to sit at the table.

Cain was opposite him, in no better shape than Derren. She’d delayed healing both of them, pissed at Cain for not listening to her and pissed at Derren for provoking Cain rather than aiding her in keeping the situation calm. Basically, she blamed Derren for his own injuries.

Even as her healing energy hummed through his bones, reaching each of his wounds as her hands slid over him, he could feel her anger. The last thing he wanted was for her to be upset in any way. Cupping her nape, he pulled her down for a brief kiss that was both possessive and apologetic. Her taste calmed him and his wolf. “Now I feel better.”

Ally just humphed, not ready to forgive him yet. Although she understood that Derren wasn’t someone who backed down from a challenge, no matter the circumstances, she didn’t have to be okay with it. Once her mate was healed, she moved to Cain, pretty much slapping her hands over the deep slashes on his arm. He barely winced, which pissed her off even more. “When were you released?”

Cain glanced at her sideways before going back to glaring at Derren. “Yesterday. We slipped away last night to come for you and take you someplace safe.”

“Ally stays with me,” Derren stated firmly yet again. Cain growled his displeasure, but he didn’t contest Derren’s claim this time.

“Were you followed here by the humans?” Nick asked Cain, his arm draped over the back of Shaya’s chair.

Cain grimaced at the Alpha. “Don’t insult me.”

Tapping her fingers on the table, Shaya asked, “Why sneak onto our territory? We wouldn’t have turned you away. You’re Ally’s family.”

“We like the challenge,” Brad told her.

Shaya leaned back in the seat, running her gaze along the uncles. “If you three think of Ally as family, why was it only Cain who reacted so badly to seeing Derren with her? My father would have torn apart any guy who touched me.”

It was Wyatt who answered, shrugging. “She’s mated.”

“But you didn’t know that at first,” said Shaya.

“Sure I did. From where I was standing, his claiming mark was easy to see.” Brad and Dan nodded, indicating they’d also seen it.

Ally gaped at them. “And you didn’t think to help me explain this to Cain and stop these two idiots from fighting?”

“Just because we can accept that you’re mates doesn’t mean we like the look of any male wrapped around you like a clinging vine,” said Brad.

Dan nodded. “He needed to fight for you, prove he could protect you.”

Ally sighed, turning to Shaya as she pulled away from a fully healed Cain. “I don’t understand men.”

Shaya patted her hand. “I’m not sure we’re supposed to, sweetie.”

“You might be right.” Wetting two cloths, she gave one to Derren and the other to Cain so that they could wash away any blood or dirt. Each male then slipped on one of Derren’s clean shirts, though Cain wasn’t too happy about it.

“Be fair,” Cain said to Ally. “He didn’t exactly try to explain the facts to me. He seemed pretty damn happy to fight with me. Some of the shit he said was like waving a red flag at a bull.”

Roni cocked her head, her irritated gaze on Cain. “Did you know that bulls are actually color blind? It basically means they’ll charge at any cape, no matter the color.”

“Roni.” As usual, Marcus’s rebuke was filled with amusement.

She blinked innocently. “What? What did I say?”

Derren smiled, understanding that Roni, being protective of Derren, was annoying Cain on his behalf. “But you forgive me for baiting him, don’t you, baby?” he asked Ally.

Not really, but she’d have him make it up to her later with multiple orgasms. Hearing Cain and her uncles growl, Ally smiled weakly at Derren. “I said that out loud, didn’t I?” He just chuckled.

Sighing, Cain turned back to Ally. “Okay, now that you’ve healed us, why don’t you tell me everything that happened between you and the Collingwood wolves? I want the whole story.”

She took the seat on Derren’s left, and he immediately threaded his fingers through hers. “It’s resolved now. Forget it.”

Cain snorted. “You know better than to think I’ll even consider letting this go. Tell me.”

“I don’t want you to lose your shit and do something drastic.”

“You know I’d never assassinate an entire pack in retaliation for something a couple of wolves did.”

That was the thing, though. The entire pack had turned on her. Although their betrayal hurt, she didn’t think buying a skank’s lies warranted death. “I’m away from there now. It doesn’t matter anymore.”

“They don’t deserve your protection, Ally,” insisted Roni, unwrapping a lollipop.

Derren looked at his mate, understanding why she was reluctant to share the tale but knowing it was important that her family knew. The Holts might not be her biological relatives, but DNA didn’t make family. “Either you tell them or I tell them.”