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“Well, I think they have a right to know the real you. I was willing to take you regardless of your shortcomings. I actually prefer it.” He looks at me with fake sympathy.
“Please, just go,” I beg. Finding no help from Jason, I turn my gaze to my brother. “Please, Bartlett, if you have ever loved me, just go.” He hesitates but drops his eyes. A dagger shoots through my heart.
“You shouldn’t be ashamed of not being able to have children. I’m sure these men may love you for you. Being a barren woman shouldn’t affect their opinion of you. Most will think it makes you less of a woman, but I still look forward to your performance in the bedroom, regardless,” Jason says. Clearly, he has a death wish.
A furious River pulls back his arm and punches him in the face. As Jason falls, River follows. He lands blows over and over. Blood flies with every swing. His face is contorted with rage. I stand frozen, on one level enjoying the pain he must be inflicting. Kerian lets it go longer than I expected before wading in to rescue Jason. Bartlett is plastered to the door, looking on in horror.
River’s face is covered in blood as Kerian pulls him back, his arm around his neck. Kerian isn’t lecturing him, though. “Good job, brother. You protected our mate. It’s done now. Calm,” he whispers in River’s ear.
“Get that piece of shit out of her house. Don’t come back, or you’ll look like him,” River thunders. His eyes are wild and black.
Bartlett stared into his eyes with terror but jumped into action with his words. He pulls at Jason’s still form. I open the door woodenly, watching him struggle with his weight. Once his feet clear the door, I slam it. I look at the floor splattered in blood, then at River. Kerian lets him go. They watch me carefully.
I step over the puddle, stand in front of River, cautiously place my hands on his chest— that is free of blood, unlike his face—and lean up and kiss him. I put every ounce of gratitude into it.
“Thank you,” I whisper. “Will you clean up the blood? Stay or leave, but I have to get ready for work.” I show them the sadness I feel through my eyes. We could have had something special. They know the truth now or part of it.
I put my arms around Kerian, kissed his jaw, and walked away. It’s for the best. I’m sure shifters want to have more shifters, so not being able to provide children for them must be a deal breaker.
I close my bedroom door and lock it. Life goes on, but I never did like goodbyes.
Chapter Eight
River
“She thinks it’s over,” Kerian says quietly.
“She’s wrong,” I say, determined.
“She is,” he states.
“I would have killed him,” I say, looking at him.
“I know.”
“Thanks for breaking in.”
“No problem. I let you get some good hits in, though,” he chuckles.
“I appreciate that, too,” I grin.
I must look gruesome. I vaguely felt the blood hitting my face. My wolf encouraged me to keep going and block out the rest of the room. It felt good hitting his smug face. When it was over, I was worried Ava would be pissed. I didn’t want her to turn away from me in disgust. My temper was always on a hair trigger, so listening to him talk about her that way sent me over the edge. I hope I scared the shit out of her brother, too. I allowed my wolf to change my eyes. The green disappeared under the deep black.
My ripped knuckles were already healing. I would have to clean up before she came back out.
“I’ll start cleaning this up. Use the sink in the kitchen,” he says, motioning to my body.
“Thanks,” I murmured. Kerian always has my back. He evens out my crazy.
Last night was fucking crazy good. Ava is meant for us. The way she trusted us to take care of her while pushing the boundaries was special. We like to be in control. Even though Ava is a strong woman, she knows the value of submitting to her men. I fell asleep to her cries of pleasure, her smell of arousal, and the satisfaction of taking care of our mate. I was afraid of her reaction this morning, waiting for her to pull back. I was pleased to see she wasn’t.
Then those idiots had to show up and ruin a perfectly good morning, with pancakes even. Ava’s face at his words cracked a hole in my heart. If she hurt, I hurt. There was more to the story. Her actions made sense now. She couldn’t have children with us. I’m sure she thought that was a deal breaker, but I had always assumed that I wouldn’t have kids. I would probably be a shit dad.
We have to convince her that it doesn’t matter to us either way. But more important is hearing the details the douche left out.
“We need to get information about them and the church.” Kerian piles the bloody paper towels into the trash.
“We go to Ryker.”
