“Adam, no!”
Cain thrust her behind him. “Adam—”
But it was too late. The second Adam saw his hands on her he lunged, springing at Cain with his teeth bared. Screams erupted and then the world silenced, as Annalise’s head smacked into the corner of the dresser. Her vision blurred and her surroundings smeared as she fell to the ground, and everything faded to black.
Chapter Forty
A guttural roar ripped from Adam’s chest as he lunged at his brother. Lips curled over his extended fangs, claws wide and set to flay his flesh. Hurling his full weight into Cain, his talons carved through his clothing, catching on skin and muscle. Screams erupted. Adam’s teeth tore through flesh and tendons. Blood coated his teeth and tongue as rage swallowed him whole. His mind set to kill.
“Adam!”
His incisors and claws ripped layer upon layer of raw open flesh, until the air saturated with blood, and his gums were drenched and dripping with torn bits of gushing life.
“Adam, you’re killing him!”
She’s mine! The snarled declaration reverberated in his head, but his mind was too far gone to communicate in words they’d understand.
Something grabbed hold of his back. Belligerent snarls ripped from his throat as he bucked and growled, swiping his claws at whatever tried to stop him. A territorial need climbed inside of him, a fever pitch sweeping through his blood, tightening his need to claim his mate.
Claws cut down his face, burning the flesh and exposing bone. Rivulets of blood flooded his eyes, propelling him into a blind fury. Ballistic clawing, scratching. Furniture flew and females screamed as several strong arms tried to contain him. The more they restrained him, the harder he fought.
Eyes on the target, he went after the limp form. There would be no satisfaction until the threat was dead, and she was his.
Teeth sinking into flesh, he whipped his head from side to side, ending him. His sides heaved as he released the limp flesh and muscle. A low purr ticked from within, as the scent of his mate’s blood mingled with that of his brother’s.
Through blurred vision, his brother rose from the floor. His shredded clothes and body oozed life. He put a bleeding hand in front of her and Adam attacked again. Propelling himself with all his strength and force, he took down his brother.
“Adam!”
Glass shattered, pelting his face and eyes in an explosion of shards. Something grabbed hold of his limbs and he thrashed, snapping his foaming gums and snarling teeth.
Fierce arms hoisted him against the wall. His head slammed into the plaster and his father pinned him in place, breath seething through sharpened teeth.
“Enough!”
Through the red haze of blood and rage, the roar slowed to a rush of rapids in his blood as his heart pounded out a furious beat in his pulse.
His father’s eyes locked with his. “Enough, Adam.”
He bared his teeth and growled, struggling to break free of their hold, but too many older, stronger males restrained him. Snapping his head side to side, he bucked and hissed.
Sobs mingled with screams. Tortured sorrow seeped into the adrenaline. When the identifiable swing of his mother’s heartache hit him like a pendulum, it tore his heart with it. Her wretched screams and agonizing shrieks carried from the yard.
He recognized Larissa’s horror. Tasted her panic.
His father’s worry and disappointment eviscerated him. But it was Gracie’s soft weeping from the corner that sobered him.
“Ganoonk, Adam.” His father’s hold trembled from strain. “You’ve done enough.”
Delicate, feminine cries emanated from the corner of the demolished room. His breath labored. His mind hummed to his accelerated pulse as it throbbed in his skull.
Gracie cradled something in her lap as she wept and rocked.
Bearing his fangs, he scented the air, searching for his mate. His attention jerked back to Grace and he roared.
“Hold him!”
The men tightened their grip, shoving him back into the wall with enough force to crack his skull and the plaster.
His mate’s blood pierced the air, calling to him. He could not refuse the scent. “Release me!”
“Stay back!” Grace’s panicked command stilled his struggled. “She’s hurt. Her pulse is too low.”
Adam hissed at the sight of her hands on his mate, the snarling beast inside of him demanding he claim her. Too many. They were too close to her. He needed to take her away from here.
His father grabbed his face and slammed his head into the wall, forcing him to look into his eyes.
“Do you hear your mother’s grief? You did that to her, Adam! Your rage makes you forget you are not the only male devoted to the women of this family! And your mate needs you calm. Look at what your actions have wrought. See the damage you’ve done.”
His chest vibrated with seething breath. The scent of his mate’s blood grew stronger, until it was all he could smell.