His Perfect Mate [Nehalem Pack 6] (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove) by AJ Jarrett (if you give a mouse a cookie read aloud txt) 📕

Jake heard what his friend said but he couldn’t make his heart and body listen. He struggled to get free but Holden held tight.

Loud barking drew his attention down toward the house. Carl ran at a lightning-fast pace toward the front door. Jake watched as a man with short-to-the-scalp black hair threw the door open. An evil grin lit the man’s face. The sheer madness in the dark eyes made Jake lose the ability to breath. What had his mate just done?

Chapter Ten

As the kiss between him and Jake started to get heated a pain-filled cry met his ears. A sound he had heard several times before.

Casper!

Carl pulled away from his mate and took off running. His shift came over him so fast that he didn’t realize he was running on all fours until he was halfway down the hill.

The desperate cries grew louder the closer he got to the house. He willed his legs to move faster. A sharp burn radiated throughout his muscles and fear soured his belly. God only knew what brand of torture his brother was having to endure.

You can’t show any fear. You need to be strong. Be strong for Casper, the little voice in his head shouted.

Carl drew on every ounce of hatred he had for Tobias and let it fuel his anger. For far too long he’d let the man run his life and the life of his brother. It was time for Carl to take a stand.

He leapt over the yard with the grace of a deer and stormed up the steps. Saliva dripped from his jaws and his lips were pulled back in a snarl. He’d break down the damn door if he had to. Jake, Holden, and Seth would have his back.

Just then the front door opened up and Carl came to a stop. Tobias stood gazing down at him with a look that promised pain. Carl looked over his shoulder to see if his mate was getting close but Carl didn’t see him or his friends. He was all alone. The ice-cold fingers of fear gripped around his heart. There was no way he could fight Tobias on his own. He couldn’t understand why Jake would abandon him like this.

“I see that you finally made it home.” Tobias knelt down in front of him. “I must say it took you much longer than I expected.” He waved a finger, motioning Carl to come to him. “Come here.”

Carl dropped to his belly and ducked his head down low. Even with the smile gracing his lips, Carl knew Tobias wanted to punish him. Punish him for not loving him and for leaving.

“I said to come here!” Tobias said sharply and Carl crawled toward him. He flinched as Tobias ran his hand through his fur. The gesture seemed so loving and to any bystander watching, nonthreatening. “Oh the things I have planned for you, my love. When I’m done with you, you’ll never think about leaving me ever again.”

A soft whimper sprang from his throat before he could swallow it down. It didn’t matter how strong he wanted to be. It wouldn’t be enough. Without the help of his mate, Tobias would for sure beat him into submission. And knowing Jake had forsaken him, Carl didn’t even feel like fighting back. He’d take whatever beating Tobias gave him if it meant Casper would be safe. At this point that was all that mattered to him.

He’d fallen for Tobias’s lies and it wasn’t fair to make Casper suffer for his mistakes. Carl would agree to anything and do anything if he could bargain for Casper’s freedom. His brother deserved a normal life and one way or another Carl would find a way to make that happen.

“Let’s go.” Tobias grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and pulled up. Carl yelped but didn’t fight back. “Anton!” Tobias called out. “Take my pet up to my room.” Tobias looked down at him and a sparkle glinted in his eyes. “And chain him to my bed.”

“Yes, sir.” Anton took hold of Carl around the neck and dragged him up the stairs.

In the distance Carl could hear the clicking of Tobias’s boots as he walked away in the other direction. Carl wanted to howl in frustration. If Tobias wasn’t with him then it meant he was with Casper. He sat back on his hunches trying to break Anton’s hold but the man just pinched the skin he had a hold of harder. Carl was no match for Anton’s brute strength.

“Stop stalling!” Anton bit out. He threw open the door and reached back with his other hand to grab Carl by the tail. Anton with more power than needed shoved him into the room.

The hardwood flooring was slick under his paws and he tried to use his nails to slow him down. But it didn’t help stop his momentum and he banged against the wall with a loud thud. The force rattled his head and made his vision blurry.

“Shift.” Anton nudged him with his booted foot. Carl lay in a heap, still stunned from hitting the wall. “I said shift, you piece of shit!” Anton shouted then followed his order with a kick to Carl’s rib cage.

Carl grunted and tried to relax to bring about his shift to human form. He took a deep breath but he couldn’t focus. Anton shouted again and gifted him with another kick, this one higher, right around the breastbone.

Just as Anton brought his foot back to land another blow, Carl forced himself to shift. He brought his hands up to shield his face as Anton connected with his forearm.

“I don’t know why he wastes so much time on you.” Anton grabbed him by the hair and yanked him up toward the bed. “Ever since you were just a pup he wanted you.” Anton shook his head as he spoke as if he were disgusted. “All