Grant looked around the crowd a moment before Marjoram popped up beside them. "Ellie darling, let me watch over Benji so you can wash up," Marjoram suggested in a calm even voice.
"I had to," Ellie whispered.
"We know dearest, we know. Of course you couldn't let that man hurt Benji; you're his momma," Marjoram continued in a soothing voice as she took Benji from Grant.
"I'm his momma," Ellie repeated.
Grant turned to Marjoram. "Shock?" She nodded.
"Was that a person?" a female voice asked.
Grant was snarling his reply when he stopped short. Meryn was standing over whatever was left of Ellie's assailant. When she reached down to touch one of the mangled fingers sticking up, her mate barked at her. "Meryn!"
Meryn jumped a mile, clutching at her chest. "What did I tell you about yelling at me when I try to touch dead bodies? You almost gave me fucking heart attack!"
Ellie blinked her eyes. Grant could see them slowly bringing everything into focus. The distant look was fading from her eyes. "Does she touch dead bodies that much?" she asked.
Grant felt relieved as Meryn's antics seemed to help Ellie's psyche skim over the horror she had just faced. Aiden stepped up beside them. "More than I would like." He turned back to his mate. "Don't touch it!"
Meryn stood with her hands on her hips. "Don't touch dead bodies! Stop kicking tunnel escorts in the balls! Stop being a lesbian on Facebook! Why can't I have any fun?" she demanded.
The wolves around them tried desperately to hide their laughter but failed miserably. Demetrio clapped Aiden on the back. "Her heart seems to be in the right place."
Aiden smiled. "It always is." His eyes narrowed as Meryn bent down again. "Th
at does not mean you get to play with dead bodies!" he roared.
Meryn ignored him and picked up a bloody strand. "I guess you don't want this necklace then?" She swung it back and forth on her finger.
Aiden began cursing a blue streak. Kendrick stepped past him. "I've got it Aiden."
Kendrick pulled a small plastic bag from his pouch and held it out to Meryn. She dutifully dropped it inside before he sealed it. "Hold up your hand."
Meryn held up her blood smeared fingers. Kendrick murmured and the blood disappeared. "Go to your mate before he strokes out," he ordered.
Meryn rolled her eyes and walked over to where they stood. She looked up at Ellie. "You are so kick ass. Eva has her ninja kick, and you have a killer stomp attack. All I have are drones."
Ellie leaned against Grant, sniffling. "He said I was fat."
Meryn's mouth dropped. "What an asshole. And you're not fat, you're sexy as hell, like a pin up model. I would kill for your figure."
Ellie looked at Meryn like she had two heads. "Really?"
Meryn smirked and pointed behind them. "How many of the wolves hated the fact you covered up so quickly?"
Grant's head snapped up as he eyed the crowd. The single males eased back. He growled low in his throat, warning them away.
Meryn pointed to the crowd. "You were naked, protecting your young, covered in the blood of your enemy, and you were standing there like a warrior goddess all hips and boobs. If you hadn't been mated, I bet a fight would have broken out over who got to approach you."
Grant snarled. Aiden bent down and whispered to his mate. "That's not helping."
Ellie blushed and tugged on the edge of Grant's shirt to make sure her thighs were covered. She wouldn't have believed Meryn if she hadn't pointed out the heated glances from some of the pack members.
"All right, that's it; show's over! Step away from the warrior goddess!" Declan called out, pushing the crowd back so Grant could relax.
Ellie gasped suddenly. "Emeric!" She turned back toward the house.
Declan nodded at Grant and ran into the crumbling building. Grant kept a hold on his mate. "Declan will get him, my love."