Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

R aj

I sit across from Felicity at the diner, the hum of late-night conversations and the clatter of dishes surrounding us. Her laugh, soft and genuine, cuts through the noise. It's like a melody I never knew I needed.

"Do you always use humor as a defense mechanism?" she asks, a playful glint in her hazel eyes that makes my heart skip a beat.

I lean back in the booth, smirking. "Only when I'm trying to impress a pretty server." I watch her eyes sparkle with amusement, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. The way she looks at me, curious and unguarded for a moment, makes my heart race. My weretiger instincts stir, urging me to protect her, to keep this laughter in her life.

Her cheeks flush, and she looks down at her coffee cup. The vulnerability in her expression tugs at something deep inside me. My weretiger side roars to protect her, to claim her as my own. But I shove it down. She's human. She doesn't need to know what lurks beneath my skin.

"Thanks again for, you know, the other night," she says, her voice barely above a whisper, almost as if she's afraid to give those memories power by speaking of them.

"No problem." I keep my tone light, trying to ease the tension I see building in her. "That guy was an asshole." I lean back in my chair, letting my eyes linger on her for a moment. "You deserved better than that."

She looks up, her hazel eyes meeting mine. "Still, I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't handled it."

I shrug, trying to keep it cool even though my weretiger instincts are practically purring with satisfaction. "You don't need to worry about him anymore. I've got your back."

Her eyes darken with a flash of fear that sends a protective surge through my veins, my weretiger instincts roaring to the surface. She quickly blinks it away, but I catch the tremor in her voice. "He was more than that. He was a monster."

I reach across the table without thinking, my hand covering hers. The contact sends a jolt through me, like electricity, making my skin tingle. Her hand is small, fragile in mine, and I can feel her pulse quicken under my touch.

"I'm here now," I say, my voice low and serious, trying to convey the depth of my promise. I lean in closer, my gaze locking onto hers, hoping she can feel the sincerity radiating from me. My inner weretiger growls softly.

She looks up at me, and for a moment, we're locked in this silent understanding. My weretiger stirs again, sensing her need for safety, wanting to be the one who gives it to her.

I pull my hand back abruptly, breaking the connection, though the tingling sensation lingers. Forcing a grin, I try to lighten the mood. "So," I say, leaning back slightly, "tell me something fun about you."

She narrows her eyes playfully, a spark of amusement dancing in them. "Something fun? Like how I used to have a pet turtle named Speedy?"

I chuckle, the sound rumbling deep in my chest. "Speedy? That's original."

She laughs softly, the sound like music to my ears. "He wasn't very fast," she admits with a small smile, her shoulders relaxing a bit.

"Well, at least he had a sense of irony," I tease, feeling the tension in the room ease. "I bet Speedy had some stories to tell."

"Not really," she says with a smirk. "Mostly he just ate lettuce and slept."

I grin, enjoying this lighter side of her. "Sounds like the perfect pet. Low maintenance."

"Yeah," she says, her voice softening. "He was good company."

I nod, feeling my tiger stir again, this time with approval. She's opening up, even if it's just a little. And right now, that's enough.

We fall into a simple conversation after that, talking about everything and nothing all at once. But in the back of my mind, I'm fighting a battle against myself. Every time she laughs or smiles, it gets harder to remember why getting involved with a human is a bad idea.

As we leave the diner and walk down the empty street, I stay close to her side, hyper-aware of every sound and shadow around us. My instincts scream at me to shift, to ensure her safety with every fiber of my being.

But I can't do that.

"Are you always this jumpy?" she teases lightly, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Just cautious," I reply, trying to keep my tone light but failing to mask the underlying tension.

She stops in front of her apartment building and turns to face me. "Well, thanks for dinner," she says, a soft smile playing on her lips.

"Anytime." The word comes out rougher than I intend, my voice betraying the struggle inside me to keep my instincts in check.

She steps closer, her gaze searching mine with an intensity that makes my heart race. "You're different," she says softly, almost as if she's speaking to herself.

"You have no idea." The words slip out before I can stop them, the truth hanging heavily in the air between us.

Her brows knit together in confusion, but she doesn't press further. Instead, she offers a gentle smile. "Goodnight, Raj."

"Goodnight," I respond, my voice softer now, filled with a promise to keep her safe, no matter what.

The next night, I watch as the club's neon lights flicker, casting a soft glow over the crowded room. I'm in the middle of my set, but I divide my attention. Felicity's moving through the tables, balancing a tray of drinks with that grace she has. I catch her eye, and she gives me a small smile that sends warmth flooding through me.

Then, I see him. Her ex. He's standing near the entrance, eyes locked on Felicity with a look that makes my blood run cold. The weretiger inside me stirs, sensing danger, ready to pounce.

I force myself to stay calm, wrapping up my set with a few quick jokes, though my eyes never leave him. Every instinct in me screams to protect her. The moment I step off stage, I make a beeline for Felicity. She's at the bar now, her back to him, completely unaware of the threat inching closer.

But I see him. And I won't let him get near her.

He grabs her arm roughly, spinning her around. Her tray crashes to the floor, glasses shattering, sending shards everywhere. The crowd gasps, heads turning to watch the commotion unfold.

"Get your hands off her," I growl, closing the distance between us in an instant, my body tensing with the need to protect her.

Her ex glares at me, his grip on her arm tightening, but he doesn't let go. "This is none of your business," he sneers, eyes filled with malice.

"It is now." My voice drops low, dangerous, a primal edge creeping into my tone. The weretiger inside me roars, muscles coiling, demanding to be unleashed.

Felicity's eyes widen in fear as she looks between us, her voice trembling. "Raj..."

I step closer, muscles tensing as the shift begins. "Let her go," I demand, my voice a low growl.

His grip tightens one last time before he shoves her aside and lunges at me. Instinct takes over. My vision sharpens, and I feel my body change. Bones shift, muscles expand. It's always painful but necessary. The weretiger inside me snarls, eager to protect what's mine.

The crowd gasps again as they witness the transformation. I'm fully shifted now asa weretiger standing between Felicity and her past.

He hesitates for a split second, eyes widening in disbelief, but then he swings at me with all his might. I dodge easily, my instincts sharper than ever, and swipe at him with claws extended. Blood splatters as I make contact, painting the ground with streaks of crimson. But he's relentless, driven by some twisted sense of purpose.

He lands a solid punch to my ribs, and pain flares through my side, a white-hot reminder of the stakes. It doesn't stop me and I can't let it stop me. Not when Felicity's safety is on the line. The weretiger inside me roars, demanding retribution, a primal urge to protect what's mine. I take a deep breath, muscles coiling, ready for the next move.

I tackle him to the ground, pinning him with my massive paws, the weight of my weretiger form making escape impossible. My growl rumbles through the club like thunder, echoing off the walls.

"Leave," I snarl through bared teeth, the words dripping with menace.

He struggles beneath me, thrashing and kicking, but my grip is unyielding. Finally, his eyes widen with terror, and he nods, a pathetic whimper escaping his lips. I release him, watching as he scrambles away, stumbling and tripping over his own feet before disappearing into the night. My weretiger instincts slowly recede, but the protective urge remains stronger than ever.

As he flees, I shift back into human form, collapsing to my knees from exhaustion and pain. Every muscle protests, and the adrenaline fades, leaving me raw and vulnerable. Felicity rushes to my side, her hands trembling as she touches my face, her hazel eyes wide with concern.

"Raj, you're hurt," she whispers, her voice cracking.

"It's nothing," I say through gritted teeth, trying to sound convincing. But even I can hear the strain in my voice.

Her eyes bore into mine, filled with worry and something else, something that makes my chest tighten. She knows it's more than nothing, and for once, I'm at a loss for words. How do I reassure her when I'm not sure myself that everything will be okay? My protective instincts roar within me, but right now, all I can offer her is the truth in my gaze and the hope that it's enough.