“Red! Move your ass. Get Dempsey to his feet and inside.”

Jolie turned her attention to Red, just as the man rushed to do as he was told. Not only him, but a couple of other betas, as well, who quickly untied Dempsey’s arms and helped him to his feet.

The way Dempsey growled and groaned, clenching his teeth and hissing in pain as he was walked up the stairs of the deck, indicated that his wounds were much more than just shallow. Liam had done some real damage to him.

And as the betas helped him up the stairs, and as Renzo and Liam glared at each other, Red glanced back.

Another hope. Another soft wish that something else would go her way, that Red would come to his senses, fly down those stairs, rush over to Liam to declare his loyalty and wish to serve the rightful alpha of the pack, even if it meant having to leave it.

Red quickly turned away from them, his attention back to Dempsey as he did as he was told.

Jolie deflated. Right. Red still had his family to think about. He wouldn’t be joining them as they left.

Liam continued to back up, never taking his eyes away from Renzo, but she also got the feeling he was keeping his attention on the rest of the pack as well.

And he was right to. Jolie could breathe properly again instead of wheezing, thank God, but when that was out of the way and she noted what was going on around her, it was easy to see the beta males stepping forward, as if they would spring on her, Liam, and the five betas he’d converted if given the opportunity.

Or the command.

“Liam,” Jolie said, her voice coming out smaller than she meant it to.

“I see them,” he said softly.

Renzo marched down the stairs of his deck, actually waving his fist like a crazed old man. “I’m warning you! Don’t you ever come back here again! You hear me? And none of you traitorous bitches better dare show your faces either or I’ll skin you all alive!”

Jolie shivered. She was pretty sure he didn’t mean that literally, but it was hard to tell anything anymore.

At a certain point, Liam must have judged them to be far enough away that he could safely turn his back and make a run for it, which was exactly what he and the five betas did.

Jolie held on tightly as the wind rushed through her hair as, for the second time, she fled the only home she’d ever known.

End Chap 16

Chapter 17

Jolie hissed as Liam ran with her. He was fast. Stupidly fast. No human would ever be able to keep up with him. As he flew through the trees, the betas running behind him, hardly able to keep up with him, she got the feeling an alpha would have trouble catching him, too.

The problem was the way she bounced in his arms. His tight grip on her body hurt, and at one point, she bit her tongue.

“You never told me you were so fast,” she said, trying to smile about the whole thing, but then winced when she accidentally bit her tongue again.

Maybe it was best if she didn’t say anything at all.

“Sorry, just hold on, we’re going to be running for just a little while longer.”

He looked, and sounded, as if he could be running until he reached the edge of the Earth. He wasn’t so much as out of breath.

When he said they would only be running for a little while longer, he apparently meant it. Within another ten minutes or so of fast paced, Olympic worthy running, they made it to a clearing in the trees.

There were two sleek-looking SUVs ready and waiting for them. They were definitely Renzo’s, and possibly Dempsey’s, property.

Liam set her down on her feet when he came to a stop. The ground swirled beneath her just a little, and she had to reach out and grab onto Liam’s arm just to make sure she could stand up straight without getting knocked on her ass.

Liam’s hand came around her waist. He didn’t say anything. He seemed to be back in one of his quiet moods, but the small touch warmed her from the inside out. She didn’t need proof that he cared, or that he loved her, but the protective gesture, no matter how small, was more than welcome even after he’d rescued her.

“Josh, you’re driving,” Liam ordered, walking with Jolie to the passenger side of the first SUV.

“Anywhere special that we’re going?”

Liam yanked open the door. “Anywhere so long as it puts a roof over my mate’s head and isn’t too far away. Even a campground will do. Just make it happen. You will all follow us,” Liam commanded.

The other four betas nodded, and everyone separated out between vehicles. Franky climbed into the front passenger seat with Josh, while Peter and the other two went into the other SUV.

“Come on,” Liam said, his large hands on Jolie’s waist as he helped her up into the seat. She shifted over to the side, giving Liam room to sit next to her.

He shut the door. “Let’s go,” he commanded.

Josh did as he was told, starting the engine. It purred to life beneath them. These were definitely Renzo’s babies. Jolie had never even been in these vehicles before, and with the leather seat beneath her, and the buttons and dials in front of her, she could kind of understand why.

The pack had always known Renzo had been over taxing them. It had been proven well enough when Renzo had purchased these vehicles to begin with, but to be inside and see everything…it was nuts.

“I don’t like being driven,” Liam growled, his hand reaching out and finding hers. Without so much as looking at her, he threaded their fingers together. “But it was the fastest way to get to you.”

Jolie’s heart wouldn’t stop pounding. It was almost as if she had been the one making that epic run away from the pack instead of him. She was out of breath and honestly felt as if she was going to collapse at any moment.

Good thing she was still seated.

Liam finally looked at her. “Are you sure you’re not hurt? When Renzo threw you—”

“I’m fine,” she said quickly, managing to get her voice to work. “I’m just glad you came for me.”

Liam’s eyes flashed briefly to red before he got control over himself and the color changed back to normal. “I would always come for you.” He glared up at the front seat. At first Jolie thought his glare was for Josh, but that wasn’t the case. “I’m going to have to learn how to drive one of these soon. I don’t like having someone else do it for us. I don’t like relying on them.”

Jolie blinked up at him, but it was easy to smile after that. She leaned against his arm. She didn’t even mind that he was dirty. She kind of liked that about him. Proof of his hard work and efforts. Proof that he loved her enough to fight for her.

“They’re your betas now. They won’t disappoint you, will you, guys?” she asked, catching Josh’s eyes briefly in the rearview mirror.

“No, Jolie. We saw what happened to Dempsey.”

Franky turned in his chair to look at them, but his smile seemed mostly directed at Jolie. “It was scary as all hell, but kind of amazing. I don’t think I ever saw even Renzo or Dempsey wolf out like that. It just sort of compels you to obey, you know?”

Jolie nodded. “Yeah, I know.”

And she was beyond thrilled that Josh and Franky looked happy to be here. She was sure the same was true for Peter and the two others following behind them as they drove down the path.

Eventually, Josh turned onto an actual paved road, and Jolie sighed, finally feeling as if she’d hit civilization with a smoother ride.

And Franky wouldn’t stop talking. “It was great. God, I wish I’d had my phone out so I could have recorded it. Dempsey was puffing his chest out, being a smug prick as usual, talking shit, and Liam wouldn’t even let him finish his stupid speech about beating him down before Liam punches him in the face! It was amazing! Dempsey just stared at Liam like he didn’t know what the fuck happened! He—uh, wait.”

Franky’s excitement turned to confusion, and then a touch of hurt as a black window slowly lifted, separating him and the entire front seat from Liam and Jolie.

Jolie looked at the black glass when it was entirely blocking the view. She leaned in close. She could make out what was happening in the front seat, but as Franky looked in the back, he didn’t seem to see her at all.

“Tinted glass, huh?” she asked. “That was kind of mean.”

“Yes, well, I don’t like it when they start getting their dicks hard over how I beat the hell out of Dempsey.”

“They’re betas. They reacted to your strength. You’re not only the son of their original alpha, but you’re strong, too. They remember you before you were kicked out of the pack. They’re glad to have you here.”

“I guess, so long as no other alpha comes along who’s stronger than I am, they’ll be my best friends until the end of time.” Liam looked down at her.

Jolie squeezed his hand tighter. She looked at his knuckles. There was some dried blood on them. Not a lot. It could belong to either him or Dempsey, but it did symbolize the hurt and pain he’d gone through, not just to get her back, but throughout his entire life.

“You still don’t trust them?” she asked, already knowing the answer.

Liam sighed. “You’re disappointed.”

Jolie quickly shook her head. “Not in the least, but I do know that the relationships alphas have with the betas, omegas, and even a few other alphas beneath them tend to be…complicated. I’m just glad they want to follow you, for however long you want to keep them. If they can help us, then that’s all that matters.”

“Right. If they’d had wives and children, they wouldn’t have followed me for a second.”

“No, but they do have parents and siblings.” Jolie Liam in the eyes. “I don’t think it was entirely about instinct. They made a decision to leave everything behind for you. For us. I’m grateful to them for that.”

“I would have come for you even if they didn’t want me to be their alpha,” he said sharply. “I want you to know that.”

And she did know it. Jolie nodded. “Yeah, I know.” She stroked her hand over his bruised and bloody knuckles, and just because she had to, she brought his hand to her mouth, kissing his knuckles.

As if that would have made the sting he surely felt there go away.

It was the thought that counted, she hoped, at least.

“I love you. I know you would have come for me, and I know this isn’t what you wanted. To have betas following you around, or a small pack, but I am glad they were there for you to make it easier to walk into the territory and throw Dempsey down.” She couldn’t help but grin widely. “I’m never going to forget how he looked when he fell on his face in the dirt.”

Liam grinned back at her. She didn’t often see him smile, so this time around seemed extra special. “It was nice, wasn’t it?”

“He totally deserved it, and God, it feels good just thinking about it.”

“I’ll have to do it again when I go back.”

That made her freeze. She looked at him, and she couldn’t help but wonder if she’d actually heard that right.

Liam continued to look at her, as if he was waiting for a response.

Jolie had to shake herself out of her shock. “Wait, you’re going back?”

He nodded. “I am.”

Jolie blinked. “But…I thought you didn’t want to fight for the pack? You were just going to leave it to Renzo.”

“I was,” he said, another nod, and then his eyes changed to a bright red. “But that was before I saw his hands on you. Now, I wouldn’t mind liberating him of all the blood in his body.”

The violence aside, Jolie was thrilled. She squealed a hard, high-pitched noise before throwing her arms around Liam’s neck and clinging tight. Her mouth found his lips and cheeks, and then his lips again because she absolutely could not contain the rush of happiness that bubbled through her.

“All right, all right,” Liam said. His hands went back to her waist, as though he was going to push her off. He didn’t. He didn’t even turn his head enough to avoid her kisses.

Which definitely meant he was letting his pride get in the way and secretly wanted more, so that was exactly what she gave to him.

Another hard kiss, more of a smack against his lips before she pulled back, feeling wide-eyed and full of energy. “You’re going to take the pack back?”

“Yes,” he said. His eyes were half-lidded. His gaze fell to her mouth. It wasn’t lost on her that a slight pinkish sort of color had settled on his cheeks.

And his hands were still on her hips.

“I would do it for you, and for everyone else who does not want to be under Renzo’s rule anymore but can’t say no.”

Red came to mind. Jolie got the feeling that Liam was thinking about the beta was well.

And Red was definitely not the only one. If he had been thinking about it but couldn’t make the leap, then it wasn’t a stretch to realize there were others who were sick of having Renzo in charge, too.

“Thank you,” Jolie said. “Though I hope you won’t have to kill anyone, somehow I doubt Renzo will just bow down and present his neck to you.”

“No,” Liam said, and then growled. “He won’t, and it’s time he paid for my father’s death, and for standing back and doing nothing while Dempsey’s idiot father slowly killed my mother.”

Jolie let her hands stroke the back of Liam’s head, her fingernails threading through his hair.

What he’d suffered after Renzo’s take over was by and large a thousand times worse than what she had suffered. It had been so many years that sometimes she forgot Renzo gained control the way he had. The entire pack seemed to forget it at times, too, only to be harshly reminded whenever Renzo went on a rampage.

“They’ll be better off with you,” Jolie said. “You’ll be a better leader, and most everyone there remembers your father. They respect him. They’ll probably follow you even if you don’t kill Renzo.”

Liam nodded. “But he’ll die anyway. I saw it in his eyes. If I show my face again, he will fight me. If I don’t go back, he will hunt us down. He won’t be able to handle the way I left—with some of his betas, you, and his pride crushed the way it was.”

“Makes sense. So you’re going to challenge him before he can come looking for us?”

“Yes,” Liam said, another growl, but this one sounded much more promising as his hands moved across her waist. “After I’ve had you.”

That warmth, that energy inside Jolie’s body woke right the hell up as Liam’s hands slid up her shirt.

“They can’t see us in the front seat?” she asked, not bothering to glance over at the tinted glass.

“I doubt it,” Liam said.

Meaning he didn’t know, but since Jolie couldn’t hear what they were saying or doing up there, and could hardly see them, she got the feeling they were perfectly safe back here.

She pushed herself into his lap. “Feels kind of naughty to be doing this when Franky and Josh are two feet away.”

The glowing lust in Liam’s eyes didn’t stop blazing, and the smirk the curled up at the corner of his mouth didn’t stop him from looking incredibly sexy either.

“Yes, it does,” he admitted.

“You’re dirty. Literally and figuratively.”

“I am.” He pulled her shirt off her head. She lifted her arms to help with that.

He was also hard. Even with her jeans still between them, it was difficult to not notice the firm length of his cock pointing up at her.

Ah! I had to cut off the last 600 char of this story because of the limit again ;_;

Thank you so much for reading! I'll schedule the next post with the part clipped off in this chap for next Fri. Happy reading! Mandy