Page 35 of Knot What I Expected

Threat.

“Shut up.”

But I’m already moving.

One step. Then another.

Every primitive instinct I possess screams at me to get between them.

To put my body between Gabriella and a male who makes her uncomfortable.

To show my teeth.

To make it very fucking clear that looking is as far as anyone gets with—I stop myself.

With what?

My female?

My Omega?

Mine?

She isn’t any of those things.

I have no fucking claim.

And that should matter.

It does matter.

Because I’m not some asshole who gets to decide a woman belongs to him just because his Wolf has gone insane over her scent.

Gabriella belongs to herself.

Period.

But apparently somebody forgot to explain that shit to Monster.

Ours.

“No,” I whisper to myself.

The word grinds through my teeth.

Protect.

“She doesn’t need us.”

Monster bares his teeth inside me.

And fuck if that doesn’t hit somewhere uncomfortable.

Because I know she doesn’t need me.

That might be part of what’s driving me so goddamn crazy.

Gabriella takes care of herself.