21. Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Nineteen
L ucas watched the change happen in Bennett when they stepped out of the back door and onto the patio.
Lucas clung to Bennett’s hand, holding it a little bit tighter when all eyes turned to him.
Lucas wasn’t used to all the attention and really didn’t know if he liked it or not.
For all Bennett’s badassness in front of the clan, he let Lucas cling.
Lucas tried to remain as calm as possible for Bennett’s sake, but he was having a hard time, especially when Bennett stood right behind and to the left of Ramsey. Bennett squeezed his hand gently before letting him go.
Stand behind me, baby.
Why?
I don’t trust one of the clan members.
Lucas did as he was told. He fisted the T-shirt Bennett had on, holding on for dear life and decided to keep his mouth shut for once and do what Bennett said .
There were several animals staring, including a big snake rattling its tail. It was pretty in color and had brown diamond shapes on its back. Lucas knew this because the thing was only about five feet away from them.
It looked at Ramsey with its beady black eyes and its tongue flickered as if to say all the better to eat you .
Reggie won’t hurt you, baby, Bennett said.
I don’t like snakes.
He’s completely aware and has human thinking capabilities, just like me when I’m my dragon.
Lucas waved at the snake. “Hey there, little snake. Don’t kill me. That’s a nice snake,” he whispered into Bennett’s shirt. He could’ve sworn the snake smiled at him.
A mountain lion licked its paw and a black panther sat right next to it.
It definitely wasn’t common to see all these animals together in the same small space.
A bobcat sat next to him and a wolf took up Ramsey’s side.
Lucas looked from the bobcat to the wolf and swallowed the lump of fear.
His throat went dry when the bobcat put a paw on his leg.
He instantly had a picture of Forrest in his head and breathed a sigh of relief.
“I’m freaking out a little, Forrest. I’ve never been around so many animals in my life.”
Shifters, baby. Don’t let them hear you call them animals.
Lucas winced. “Sorry.”
That was another thing, shifters had so many customs, he wasn’t even aware of most of them. He just knew he was going to say something offensive.
“There will be a competition for three enforcer positions. Anyone can compete and the best three will be chosen. The competition will be fighting to submission and the first pairings will be chosen by Bennett and myself. This Saturday at six o’clock in the afternoon.
We have a vampire coven interested in taking our newest member from us and we will not let that happen.
The coven has already sent a scout, so be on alert and let one of the inner circle know when you see someone lurking around.
That’s all I got. Anyone who needs to talk to me will be able to immediately following the meeting.
” Ramsey’s deep voice boomed out amongst the crowd.
Murmurs followed Ramsey’s very minimal speech regarding the vampire coven and Lucas. Everyone had a ton of questions and Bennett didn’t blame them for it. Ramsey could have explained things with a bit more depth.
“Who’s the cute blond behind Bennett?” Someone yelled from the back of the group.
Lucas could feel tension in Bennett’s body, so he worked his hand under Bennett’s shirt, rubbing up and down his back, hoping his touch would help.
“That’s not how we announce a new member of the clan and you know it, Delvin,” Ramsey said.
How do you announce a new member of the clan? he asked Bennett through their bond.
We don’t. Each clan member will introduce themselves to you individually. The clan doesn’t question the Alpha the way that Delvin just did. Who becomes a member of the clan is up to Ramsey. No one else. Delvin is being an ass and the entire clan knows it.
Lucas didn’t see what the guy did next. He never said anything, but he must have made a gesture or something because Bennett shifted.
Lucas winced when he saw Bennett’s shirt rip across his back.
Bennett’s skin turned to scales under Lucas’ fingers and then someone pulled him away with an arm round his waist .
He started to struggle, knowing it wasn’t Bennett, who had him. He was getting ready to work his witching magic when Ramsey stopped him. “No, Lucas.”
“Bennett.” Oh God, something was going to happen to Bennett.
“Let him defend us.”
Ramsey released him inside the door of the house. He turned to see his big, black dragon blow fire at a gray wolf. The wolf yipped in pain and leaped away from the fire, sidestepping it.
“Stay in here, until Bennett comes to you,” Ramsey said and shut the door behind him.
Lucas huffed out a frustrated breath and plastered himself against the sliding-glass door, watching to make sure Bennett didn’t get hurt.
If that fucker hurt his dragon, there was no way Lucas was listening to Ramsey and staying put.
Lucas wouldn’t be able to listen to his alpha at that point, anyway.
He was really trying to follow Ramsey’s order and it looked as if Bennett were winning the fight, although the wolf still wouldn’t submit the way he knew Bennett would demand of his opponent.
Lucas winced when the wolf’s ass burst into flames.
The wolf gave a very doggy cry and rolled on his back in the grass.
Bennett stood over the wolf and then let out a roar that was almost deafening, even through the glass of the door.
Lucas didn’t cover his ears, though. He was far too riveted on the scene playing out around him.
Bennett shifted so seamlessly it was barely visible. He gripped Delvin’s hair and whispered something Lucas couldn’t hear. When he let him go, Devlin fell, shifting as he lay on the grass.
“Does anyone else want to disrespect my Alpha?” He yelled so loudly Lucas had no trouble hearing him. Bennett waited for someone to say something. His face grew even stonier, if that was possible. “Does anyone else want to disrespect my mate? ”
Bennett turned to Delvin, who glared at him. “Get up and go to Ramsey for punishment. Pray he doesn’t request your death.”
No one said a word. Even the air held its breath. Most of the clan, he had known for years. Certainly longer than he had known Lucas. It further cemented their bond in Lucas’ mind.
I Love —Lucas had started to project to Bennett but his back itched.
The vampires were already in the house by the time Cassie’s spell took hold.
His last thought before something struck him on the head was that the delay probably had something to do with how safe he felt around the Somersets as a whole and Bennett in particular.