Bruce's POV

My arms tightened protectively around Beverly as Council enforcers moved to surround us. She was barely conscious, hypothermic, and battered, and Chen expected me to hand her over like property. Every instinct I possessed screamed to fight, to protect, to destroy anyone who tried to take my mate from me.

"Back off," I snarled, my Alpha command rolling through the clearing with enough force to make several enforcers hesitate. Victor and my pack moved instantly, forming a defensive ...