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Alex’s brows snapped together. “You didn’t mean to?”
“It just happened.”
Alex bared his teeth. “That kind of shit does not just happen.”
“I was hurt and angry and lashing out—”
“People get hurt and angry and lash out all the time. They don’t try to leave a permanent brand on someone’s flesh.”
Mateo lifted his shoulders to his ears, shrinking in on himself. “I wasn’t in control.”
Alex shoved into his personal space and whispered, “I don’t believe you.”
The cat stiffened. “What?”
“I think you wanted to punish her for rejecting you. I think you liked the idea of her having to look at your mark every day in the mirror. I think you thought it would be a damn good way to put off other males.” Mateo’s eyes flickered, and Alex knew he was right. “Motherfucker.”
“No, it wasn’t like that!”
“You’re lying, and you’re not even good at it.”
The cat’s claws sliced out. “Fuck you, Devereaux!”
Bree tensed when Mateo swiped out his arm, clawing at Alex. But he clawed at air, because the wolverine jerked back lightning-fast. And then he laid into Mateo like it was a holy mission. He plowed his fists into Mateo’s face, temple, head, throat, ribs—the raw power and speed behind those blows was blinding. Her cat hissed and spat, wanting in on the action; egging Alex on.
Skin split. Bones cracked. Blood scented the air. Mateo’s challenging snarls quickly turned into grunts of pain. He tried to retaliate, but Alex was too fast; too strong. The wolverine quite simply overpowered him.
Bree considered intervening, but that would be a huge mistake. No one got between two fighting shifters. Plus, well, she was feeling a little bloodthirsty. Because she’d seen the truth on Mateo’s face; this male who’d once been her friend had deliberately and vindictively tried to permanently brand her as a punishment.
When Mateo was so dazed his legs began to go from under him, Alex gripped him by the throat and tossed him at the wall like he was no more than a ragdoll. Mateo slid to the floor, bleeding and moaning.
Alex crouched in front of him. “Look at me and listen. Bree no longer exists for you. Understand? You don’t call or text her. You don’t approach her in the street. You don’t even so much as step foot on her driveway. You stay. The fuck. Away. You got that?”
Defiance briefly flared in Mateo’s fast-swelling eyes. God, he was so stupid.
“You think I won’t kill you?” Alex asked him. “You think your life means anything to me? I could slit your throat right now and never give it another thought. If that’s what it’ll take to be sure you stay away from my woman, it’s what I’ll do. Do I need to go that far?”
Mateo gave a minor shake of his head and then winced.
“You’ll keep your distance?”
“Yes,” grunted Mateo.
“Good.” Alex snapped out his fist and pounded it into Mateo’s jaw. That easily, the guy was out cold. His body tipped onto its side. And she realized Alex could have knocked him out instantly if he’d wanted to—he’d decided to give him a beating instead.
Alex stood and pulled his phone from his pocket. He tapped his thumbs on the screen and then held the cell to his ear. “You still patrolling Bree’s house? Good. I’m gonna leave a package for you on her back porch. Get rid of it.”
Package? Her brows lifted.
He ended the call, pocketed his phone, and then effortlessly lugged Mateo out of the room like the guy weighed no more than a cocker spaniel. Not once did Alex look at Bree.
She didn’t move. She just stayed in the middle of her living room, wondering if it was wrong that she’d gotten some satisfaction out of watching Mateo be pounded into unconsciousness. Probably.
She heard the back door open, and then there was a heavy thud. Alex rumbled something to who she presumed was one of the enforcers. The back door slammed shut. Her heart jumped and then kicked into high gear, because now he’d be coming for her. And she’d sensed that he was almost as pissed with her as he was with Mateo.
Alex stalked into the room, his body still stiff with tension, his dark eyes now laser-focused on her. Yes, he was fuming.
She felt no fear, sure to her soul he’d never harm her. That didn’t stop her hackles from rising when he ate up her personal space and planted his feet wide. But she wouldn’t back up, wouldn’t give ground—that wasn’t who she was.
“So, let me get this straight,” said Alex, folding his arms across his broad chest. “Someone tried to force their claim on you … and you thought, hey, I’ll keep that to myself?”
Well, basically … “Yeah.”
His eyes flared. “Why the fuck would you let that go unpunished? Tell me you weren’t protecting him.”
Her cat bared a fang, not liking his tone at all. “He was a good friend to me once.”
