A Lamb for the Bear's Appetite by Unknown Page A

brother.
    He saw her before she saw them. She was practically carrying her brother through the forest. He took a step forward, and a large, fallen branch snapped beneath his foot. She instantly stilled and looked right at him. Tears streamed down her face, and he knew that she hadn’t even realized she wasn’t alone until this very moment.
    “Olive.” He kept his voice low, and although he had his attention on her, he was also constantly scanning his surroundings for any threat. He took another step, and another, until he was right in front of her. He looked over at her brother who looked like he was nearly dead as it was, but the male lifted his head and looked at Liam. The male was weak, far too weak to protect his sister if it came down to it. “Maverick.”
    The lion shifter was right beside him a second later, and Liam didn’t need to ask him to take the male, because he already had him thrown over his shoulder and was walking him back to the truck. They didn’t have much time, and the longer they stayed out in the open, the more they were put at risk.
    “Come on, baby.” She closed the distance that separated them and then fell against his chest. She started crying harder, and he cupped the back of her head, feeling his chest tighten with emotion. “ Shh , it’s all right, Olive baby.” She grabbed the edges of his jacket and cried harder sill.
    “I am so sorry to get you involved. I just didn’t know who else to call.”
    He kept her close to his body. “I’m glad you called. I wouldn’t have wanted anyone else to help you, when I should be the one keeping you safe.” He held her for another moment before Maverick and Trace told him it was time to get the fuck out of there. He turned and made his way to the truck. Her brother was already in the backseat, his head resting against the window and his eyes closed. He looked like shit, bony and withered. He was definitely a shell of a male. Maverick was beside Holden, and his father was looking around their surroundings for any threats. Liam lifted Olive easily into his arms, and holding onto her with one arm he climbed into the passenger seat, but before his father started the truck, and before Liam could close the door so he could take his mate home, there were several gunshots that could be heard over the distance. All three males tensed, their animals coming out and saturating the interior of the car. Olive held onto him tighter and started begging them to go, that Lor had risked a lot and they needed to leave. And right when Liam gripped the handle to close the door so they could get the fuck out of there, the explosion that could be felt from even a mile away rocked the truck. Through the line of trees he could see the great swells of fire that rose up to kiss the sky. Olive lifted her head, her eyes wide and her mouth parted. She had track marks running down her cheeks form her tears, but it was the sight of the large handprint bruise that marred her throat that had his entire body vibrating with unrestrained rage.
    “He did this to you?” He lifted his hand, but before he could gently touch her neck she flinched.
    “None of that matters now. Please, let’s get out of here.”
    His dad started the truck, and they were leaving the forest without another word. Liam cupped the back of her head and brought her to his chest once more.
    “It’s okay, baby.” He kept Olive on his lap, tucked close to his body, and wanted to really fucking hurt something. “How is he?” He kept his gaze forward as he addressed Maverick. Her brother looked like shit run over twice, and he had scented the fact Holden was close to death as it was.
    “He is dehydrated and nearly starved. And from what I can tell through the rips in his shirt, he has an infection from multiple lacerations on his chest.”
    Olive lifted her head from his chest and looked over his shoulder. “Will he be okay?” There was a moment of silence before Maverick answered.
    “I don’t know.