There was a cut above his right eye that left blood trailing down his temple. His lips were split, his teeth bloody. Bruises were forming on his chin and cheek.

And even though his eyes were spitting venom, Fury hadn’t gone wolf. Human was his weakest form and yet he fought with him as a man.

He wasn’t fighting to really hurt him or to win…

Not hurt him…

Fang’s dark eyes locked with those eerie turquoise ones. Shame filled him over what he’d just done. He’d attacked Fury as a petty human with hurt feelings.

No, he’d attacked his brother as a rampaging demon.

Lowering his fist, he loosened his hold on Fury’s shirt and let him fall back to the sidewalk.

“You through?” Fury taunted as he lay there. “Is that all you got, nancy?”

Fang scoffed at his insult. “You are such a fucking dick.”

“And you’re an asshole.”

Fang sat back on his haunches and started laughing at the two of them on the street, bleeding. He wasn’t even sure why he found their patheticness funny, but he did.

As he wiped his hand over his own bleeding lip, he hissed in pain. “Your left hook is impressive.”

Fury rolled over to spit blood onto the sidewalk before he sat up. “I could say the same for you.”

Fang shook his head as he realized just how sore his ribs were from Fury’s punches. For all his lack of Were-Hunter skills and psychic abilities, the little bastard was a good scrapper. “I can’t believe of all the wolves in the universe that you’re my brother.”

“Yeah, well, I didn’t exactly get the pick of the litter either.”

Fang laughed again. “No, you didn’t. The Fates seriously screwed you there.”

Fury narrowed his gaze as he tested his loosened teeth with his thumb. He spat out more blood. “So are we still enemies?”

Fang hesitated. A part of him kept wanting to hate Fury, but the problem was he didn’t know why.

Was he really that human that he could hate without reason? Or was it the demon inside him that wanted Fury’s head?

In the end, it was the knowledge that this was his family that won over everything else. For better or worse, they were blood kin. And to a wolf that was all that mattered.

Fang held his hand out to him. “Brothers.”

Fury wrapped his hand around his. “Adelphos.”

Fang pulled him forward so that he could hug him in a way he’d reserved for only Vane and Anya. “But this doesn’t mean I like you.”

Fury shoved him away. “Don’t worry. I don’t like you either, dip-shit. But I would kill to protect you.”

Fang gave him a lopsided grin. “Me too.” He pushed himself up, then held his hand out for Fury.

Fury knocked it away. “I’m not your bitch, wolf. I can get up on my own.”

Fang spat some of the blood out of his mouth. Yeah, his jaw was going to be sore for at least a week and there wouldn’t be any food tonight that required much chewing.

He narrowed his gaze on Fury. “We’re way too much alike to ever get along.”

“That’s what Vane says.” Fury picked his helmet up from where it’d landed on the sidewalk when they’d started fighting. He dumped debris out of it before he put it on his head.

“Hey?”

Fury paused.

Fang held his hand out again and when Fury took it, he pulled him into a quick man hug. “The pack is yours.”

Fury snorted. “I really don’t see you subservient to me. Ever.”

“I’m not, but I’m not part of the pack anymore. I’m declaring independence.”

Fury flipped his face shield up to scowl at him. “That’s suicide.”

“No. I’m here.” He indicated Sanctuary over his shoulder. “I need some time to get my head straight. If I do, I’ll be back. But for now I think this is the best thing for me.”

Fury gave him a doubting stare. “If you say so. I’ll tell Vane.” Lowering his shield, he slung one long leg over the bike and started it.

Fang stood back as Fury opened the throttle and squealed off. It was only then he realized Aimee was standing across the street with Dev, watching every move they’d made.

Suddenly sheepish, he tucked his hands into his pockets and joined them.

“Feeling better?” Dev asked sarcastically.

“Yeah. Thanks for not interfering.”

The bear shrugged. “Hey, I get it. Wish someone would let me do that to a couple of my bros.”

Aimee let out an exasperated breath as she stepped forward. “You look terrible.” She reached up and turned his chin to the side so that she could study his right eye, which was throbbing and stinging. “Sheez. Carson needs to see this.”

“I’m not a puss, Aimee. I’ve had a lot worse that healed on its own. This too shall pass.”

She let go of his chin and growled at him. “No offense, but I hate Macho Fang. I really wish you’d put him in a closet, lock the door, and lose the key.”

Dev laughed. “Sorry, wolf. We’re the reason she has this whole hang-up on men.”

“It’s all right. As long as she doesn’t slap me or bite me, we’re good.”

Dev sucked his breath in sharply. “Man, wolf sex must be harsh.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t even want to know what you bears do.”

Aimee made a sound of distress. “Excuse me? Boys? I am still standing here, you know?”

Dev grinned wickedly. “Yeah, we know. We just don’t care.”

In a huff, she turned and left.

Fang started to stop her, but doing that in front of Dev wouldn’t be the smartest course of action. And one ass-whipping a night was all he was good for at the moment.

“Why don’t you go upstairs and grab a bath? Take some time off. You can help close up at dawn.”

“Thanks.” Fang went back inside.

Wren paused as soon as he saw him. “Remind me not to get you pissed off.”

Fang ignored him as he returned to his room. He was surprised to find Aimee there, waiting for him.

He shut the door fast before someone on the outside caught sight of her there. “What are you doing?”

She held up a bottle of peroxide and a small container of cotton balls. “I was worried about you, Mr. High King Macho.” She pulled the chair out from his small desk. “Now sit.”

“Aimee-”

“Sit, wolf.” It was the sharpest tone he’d heard from her in a long time. “You might have taken Fury, but I can take you.”

Yeah, right. That was almost funny. However, he knew what she did… wolves didn’t attack women unless they were trying to kill them or someone they cared about. So she was safe and he was defenseless.

Sighing, he sat down as ordered.

She tipped the peroxide to moisten the cotton pad. “What is it with you males that you have to fight like that?”

“We’re damaged?”

“Apparently.”

Fang hissed as she touched a particularly tender spot.

She made a sound of agitation. “Stop your whining, you big baby. If you’re going to fight, at least act like you can take the wounds.”

He glared at her.

She moved to a new spot that was no less painful, but this time he rode herd on his body.

“Would you please explain to me why you two went at it like that?”

Fang shrugged. “There’s a part of me that hates him.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. Hasn’t anyone ever rubbed you the wrong way?”

“Yes. You a great deal of the time. But notice I haven’t beat your head in yet.”

He pulled her hand away from his face so that he could stare up at her. “Then why do you keep coming around me?”

“It must be from the rock Remi hit me in the head with when I was thirteen. The concussion must have gone deeper than any of us guessed.”

He ran his hands up her sides and pulled her forward until she was straddling his left thigh. Damn, she was the prettiest woman he’d ever seen and all he could think about was ripping her shirt open so that he could taste her.

Aimee let the cotton fall from her hand as he captured her gaze with his. The look in his eyes was scorching and when combined with her heat…

He took the bottle from her hand and set it aside. Slowly, he reached up to cup her cheek. She dipped her head so that she could kiss him.