I fight it. He doesn’t get to do that to me anymore.
Forcing myself into action, I charge toward him. I wrestle him to the ground and pin him there. “You need to get the fuck out of my house and never come back.”
“Or what?” There’s cold laughter in his tone.
“Or we call the sheriff." Vera comes to stand beside us, arms folded across her chest, completely unfazed or completely trusting that I can protect her.
The musk in the air grows thicker still, and I very nearly let him go. His voice drops into a harsh growl, and every word carries the weight of alpha command. “Let me go and get your mate under control or I will.”
I shut my eyes. Against my will my grip on him weakens, and he pushes forward. But Vera’s bright citrus scent cuts across the thick musk of Dad’s, and I slam him back to the ground again, infusing my own voice with as much force as I can muster. “I will never do what you say again. Alpha or not. Some things are stronger than a command.”
His eyes widen.
For the first time, uncertainty paints his scent a sharper, higher note.
I force my arm across his throat, cutting off his air and leaning in close so he knows I’m serious. “Get the fuck off my property and don’t come back. Tell me you understand.”
He says nothing, simply staring at me, eyes bulging out of his head. I don’t even know if he can reply with the pressure I’m putting on his throat. I don’t much care.
I drop my weight onto my arm and watch the tongue loll from the side of his mouth.
“Say it. Or shall I end this now?”
His voice comes out choked. “I… understand.”
For a few more breaths I hold him there, letting him see I’m serious. Then, very slowly, I edge back, releasing him, tensing for another fight.
He gets to his feet, his body shimmering for a moment as he shifts from beast to full bear. Then he turns his unreadable gray eyes on me and gives me a look I know is gonna stay with me for the rest of my days. It’s the look you give a stranger. Not your flesh and blood.Just like that he walks from the house, leaving the ruined front door blowing on its hinges and leaving me shaking with pent-up adrenaline.
I was ready to fight to the death, to kill him if I had to.
I hate that a part of me regrets I didn’t get to hurt him more.
“Hey.” Vera strokes my arm. My nostrils flare as I turn, breathing her in, trying to erase his scent from my senses. “Hey. He’s gone.”
I realize I’m still growling, still tense. I’m ready for a fight, but the fight already walked out the front door.
I try to shift back, but my beast won’t let me, refusing to accept that we are safe.
I draw Vera close instead, pressing her smaller body into my furred chest, pressing my nose and lips to the top of her head. But it’s not enough. I need more. I need the reassurance of the connection of our bond. When I reach for her she hesitates, cut off from me for a moment just like she was before, and I snarl and pull back, transferring my grip to her shoulders. “Why are you hiding from me?”
“I’m not.”
She’s lying. I shake her, trying to shake some sense into her. “You are!”
“Bas, I’m not. One thing at a time.”
It’s like a slap. One thing? What other thing is there? “Why? Are you leaving too? Are you going to sneak out and go when I least expect it?”
Again she hesitates, just for a fraction of a second. Her scent changes, and there’s something floral and overly sweet that smells like a lie.
What the fuck?
“Bas, you’re upset—”
“You don’t get to leave me! You don’t get to hide from me! Let me in.” I roar in her face. My claws bite into her skin where I’m gripping her upper arms. With my mind I push at the barrier she’s erected between us, eroding her control, weakening the resistance.
Her eyes widen and she draws back, and now her scent is sharp like fear all over again. Fear I caused.
