CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“Bree, please open the door,” begged Mateo. “Look, I know you don’t want me here, but I heard what happened and … I just need to be sure you’re okay.”

Too furious to ignore him, she yanked open the door. “Are you kidding me?”

He raised his hands. “I don’t want to argue. I was worried—”

“Do I look like I care?”

He glanced over his shoulder. “Can we talk inside? The crowd is creeping closer.”

Seeing that he was right, she ground her teeth. There was no sign of Alex, but she didn’t doubt he’d be back soon. As for Mateo … she was not letting him in her house. No. She’d slam the door in his face. She’d tell him to go to hell. But she found herself fisting his shirt and hauling him inside. Yeah, she was itching for a fight—go sue her.

Kicking the door shut, she advanced on him. “You’ve got some goddamn nerve coming here.”

He backed into the living room, licking his lips nervously when she matched him step for step. “I didn’t come to upset you—”

“Then you shouldn’t have come at all. But you thought that this would be the perfect time to try your luck, because you knew I’d be happy to have a target for all my anger.”

“I guess I did count on that. Which makes me a piece of shit, I know, but I just wanted to check for myself that you’re okay. It cut me to know you’d be blaming yourself for the deaths of Benny and Crawford. I just want to be here for you. Look, I know I messed up but, seriously, are you going to punish me forever?”

She stilled. “Punish you?”

“Shutting me out was a good way to punish me—I’ll give you that. I’ve hated every second of it. But I can’t make up for what I did if you’re not going to let me near you.”

“I didn’t shut you out to punish you, Mateo. I did it because I wanted you out of my goddamn sight. Trust me when I say it would have been better for you if you’d stayed away.”

His shoulders drooped. “I know I hurt you. You can’t know how much it haunts me. I didn’t mean for it to happen, Bree. I don’t even know how things escalated the way they did. When you said you’d never under any circumstances take me as your mate … it was like someone took over; like I was in the backseat while they—” His eyes tortured, he shoved a hand through his hair. “You don’t need to hate me. I hate me enough for both of us. I’m not going to ask you to forgive me. I’d just ask that you give me a chance to make it up to you.”

“You think there’s any way to make it up to me?”

“I don’t know. I just want the chance to try.” He took a slow, careful step toward her. “You have to know I would never have acted that way if it hadn’t been for what you said.”

Her brows flew up, and her cat hissed. “So, it’s my fault?”

“No, no, that’s not what I meant. I didn’t expect you to push me away. I was hurt, shocked, and embarrassed. There were so many things I imagined we’d one day do together when we became a couple. Right then, all of that died. I could feel myself losing you, feel all those plans slipping away, feel my world spiraling out of control. And the next thing—”

Frustrated by his refusal to speak his crime aloud, she finished, “The next thing you tried to force a claiming mark on me.”

A deep, guttural, bone-chilling growl came from behind her. Bree let her eyes fall closed. It was a measure of how distracted she’d been that she hadn’t sensed Alex enter.

She turned, intending to tell him she could handle this just fine. With his neck corded, his muscles tense, and his nostrils flaring, he stood glaring at Mateo through cold, dead eyes that chilled her to the bone. And she decided that, nah, there was no rush to get his attention.

Alex flexed his fingers as molten anger poured through his veins like lava. That same volcanic heat roiled in his gut and pricked at his scalp. It took everything he had to maintain supremacy over his raging beast. The animal kept swiping out with his claws, wanting to slice and shred and mangle the male cat.

Every muscle in his body hot and tight, Alex slowly prowled toward the piece of shit. “You tried to bite her?” The words came out sharp. Clipped. Harsh. He was surprised he could speak at all when fury was choking him. “You tried to force a claiming mark on her?”

A claiming brand was a special thing. A symbol of the ultimate commitment. Not like a wedding ring—jewelry could be removed; marriages could be dissolved. Matings really were a case of “‘til death do us part,” since very few could survive the breaking of the mating bond; very few wanted to survive the death of their mate.

For a shifter to leave a claiming bite on someone’s skin, they were declaring that they would forever care for, respect, cherish, and protect that person; promising they would never leave, neglect, or betray them. It was a special and extraordinary moment for both parties. One they’d forever forget. One they’d likely replay in their mind time and time again.

Receiving a claiming bite was also a once-in-a-lifetime thing. But if Mateo had succeeded in branding her, he’d have robbed Bree of that. There would have been no taking it back, no erasing it, no fixing it. And when she did find a male she wanted to take as a mate, she’d have gone to him marked by another.

Pushing into Mateo’s personal space, Alex clenched his hand, itching to smash his fist into the guy’s throat and crush his windpipe. But then the prick wouldn’t be able to answer him. “I asked you a question. Did you try—”

“I didn’t mean to do it,” Mateo burst out, backing away.

Alex’s brows snapped together. “You didn’t mean to?”

“It just happened.”

Alex bared his teeth. “That kind of shit does not justhappen.”

“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.”

“You owe that shithead nothing, Bree. He violated your trust. He betrayed your friendship. He spitefully tried to punish you just because you didn’t feel for him what he did for you. Why show him any mercy?”

“I didn’t see it. I didn’t see that he cared that much. I should have.”

Alex frowned. “What difference would it have made if you had seen it? There’s nothing you could have done that would’ve changed how he felt when you rejected him.”

“But I could have talked to him. I could have let him down gently. Then we wouldn’t have fought like that.”

“Who says he’d have reacted any differently to you letting him down gently? A rejection is a rejection, Bree. It’s always gonna sting. Mateo cares for you so, yeah, it must have hurt him a fuck of a lot. But that doesn’t excuse how he acted. He should have manned up and apologized for misreading the situation, not turned on you out of wounded pride.”

“I know but—”

“But nothing. You don’t owe mercy. With that one shitty act, he negated every good thing he ever did for you. He didn’t pull that stunt because he was hurting. He did it because he’s a weak little prick who couldn’t handle rejection. That’s not your shit to own. It’s his. And I’m not going to let you take on blame that isn’t yours to bear.”

Her spine snapped straight. He wouldn’t let her? She fisted her hands. “Careful, Alex. It’s been a real bitch of a day.” A day in which she’d maddeningly been drugged, kidnapped, and forced to watch as the man she cared for was shot repeatedly. “I’m not in the mood to deal with this bullshit on top of all that.”

His brow flicked up. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. So stop growling at me.”

“I’ll stop damn growling when you acknowledge that the blame belongs to Mateo.”

She lifted her chin. “You’ll stop growling at me because I told you to stop.”

“Acknowledge it, Bree.”

“Fuck you and the high horse you rode in on, Alex.”

He towered over her. “Acknowledge it.”

“I’m done here.” She jabbed a finger at the door. “Get out of my house.”

His hand snapped around her throat and held her tight. “Acknowledge. It.”

Indignation burned through her at the dominant move. But so did a carnal hunger that made her nipples tighten and her pussy clench, because she was apparently totally messed up.

“Hear me, Bree. You belong to me. Every inch of you, inside and out. Nobody gets to blame you for shit you didn’t do—not even you. I won’t let you hurt like that. No way. So damn well concede that all the blame lies with him.”

She should have ordered Alex to let her go and cease bossing her around, even if he did mean well by it. But she heard herself say, “Or what?”

“Or I’ll fuck the concession right out of you.”

She sucked in a breath, and her pulse quickened. God, she wanted to feel him moving inside her. Wanted that reassurance that he was healed and healthy and no longer pumped with bullets. She’d thought he’d die right in front of her; she’d thought she’d lose him for sure. And despite that he was alive, an ice-cold fear still clung to her.

She watched as his pupils swallowed the color of his eyes. He could no doubt scent what she wanted—she could scent it lacing the air between them.

“Concede it, Bree,” he ordered, his voice thick with an arousal that called to her own. His hold on her throat tightened. “Now.”

More damp heat slickened her inner walls. “Eat shit, asshole.”

Growling, he swooped down and claimed her mouth, boldly sweeping his tongue inside. Her entire body just … ignited. It sparked to life as a raw, flaming-hot need rushed through her veins. They both instantly caught fire.

Backing her into the wall, Alex tore her tee right down the middle and roughly squeezed her bare breast in a move that was nothing short of possessive. “Want in you.”

He clawed off her shorts. She shed her ripped tee. He snapped off her panties. She unbuttoned his fly. Two fingers thrust inside her, checking she was ready.

“Fuck, this is going to be fast.” Without preamble, Alex hoisted her up, positioned her just right, and mercilessly dropped her on his cock.

Stuffed full of his long, thick shaft, she froze for a second. He didn’t. No, he fucked in and out of her body like he owned it, his large hands gripping her ass. All she could do was lock her limbs around him and enjoy the ride. A ride that was raw and rough and desperate.

She thought he’d tease and tantalize her in a bid to get the concession he wanted, but he was just as swept away by sensation as she was. He took her brutally, as if he couldn’t get enough; as if he couldn’t get deep enough. And she loved every damn second of it.

Alex scraped his sharp teeth over her neck hard enough to score the skin, satisfied by the red marks on her flesh. “Such a perfect pussy. Hot. Slick. Tight. Mine.”

Feeling her nails prick his nape hard enough to draw blood made his dick impossibly harder. But what really twisted his gut was the way those sex-crazed eyes boldly met his, hiding nothing from him.

Each time she’d pointblank refused to acknowledge his point, her defiance had pricked at the anger still fresh in his system—anger that someone had tried to take her from him; anger that he’d almost gotten to her too late to save her. But her defiance had also shot to his cock, making it thick and heavy. Then he’d smelled her need, and he’d known there was no way he’d be able to hold back. He’d known he couldn’t fight the basic need to take and fuck and assure himself that she was safe and with him.

He put his mouth to her ear. “Know what I love doing after blowing my load inside you? Watching my come drip down your thighs. I want other people to see it. Want them to know that they’re never gonna have you.”

Bree tried to speak, but his hot, incredibly skilled mouth took hers again. She dug her heels into the base of his spine, drowning in the feel of him driving hard and deep into her pussy over and over. Every thrust was as ruthless and savage as the mouth devouring hers.

One hand again snaked around her throat in a firm hold that screamed ownership. Even as some part of her bristled, her pussy rippled around his cock. The growl that rumbled out of him and poured down her throat rung with pure power and dominance. That only wound her body tighter. He was just so strong and big and could so easily overpower her—why she dug that, she couldn’t say.

Her breath caught as he shifted his angle and, oh God, now he was stroking her clit with each powerful thrust. Her pussy fluttered. Quaked. Clenched. She felt his dick start to swell and throb, stretching her inner muscles even more.

He tore his mouth from hers with a snarl. His dark eyes shimmered with hunger and possessiveness as they blazed into hers. “Come for me, Bree. Right fucking now.” He squeezed her throat and sank his teeth into her shoulder.

Her lips parted on a silent scream as pleasure burst through her in violent waves that arched her spine and made her inner walls clamp down like a vice. His teeth didn’t release her shoulder as he pounded harder and faster, his hold on her throat so tight it was a wonder she could breathe. Then he forcefully slammed his cock deep into her body one last time, and she felt him explode inside her.

Limp as a noodle, she melted against him, gasping for breath. The hand collaring her throat slid around to palm her nape—a hold that felt just as possessive. She rode her “buzz” while Alex alternated between idly nuzzling her neck and licking the bite on her shoulder.

Bree’s eyelids fluttered open when he lay her on the rug and then lazed beside her, his gaze resting on her inner thighs, glittering with satisfaction at the sight of his come there. “It doesn’t seem fair that you’re fully dressed while I’m naked,” she said.

Alex splayed his hand over her stomach, deliberately taking in as much of her soft skin as possible. “I like you naked. Like being able to look at and touch what’s mine.”

He snaked his hand up her stomach, over her breast, and up to the shoulder he’d branded. He traced the bite with his thumb. “Almost lost my fucking mind when I saw the net in your yard and smelt the bears. I knew then that they’d taken you. My beast reared to the surface, forced the shift, and took off. He followed their scents—”

“And jumped in front of bullets, which pissed me off. Note that.”

“He didn’t care about the gun. All he could think of was getting rid of the threat to you.” Alex nuzzled her neck and drew her scent into his lungs. “You should have told me about Mateo.”

“You would have beaten the shit out of him. Much like you did earlier.”

“You don’t think he deserved it?”

“It’s not that, it’s just … I know what it’s like to want someone you can’t have.”

“So do I. And if you’d rejected me, it would’ve hurt, but I wouldn’t have tried to force a claiming mark on you. He had no fucking right to do what he did.”

“Well, you made him pay.”

“I did, but that wasn’t enough. The fucker needs to be banished for what he did.”

She stiffened. “Alex—”

“What if Mateo tries forcing a brand on the next person who rejects him, Bree?” She grimaced, and he realized she hadn’t thought of it. “This kind of thing can’t go unpunished. If he doesn’t learn now that that shit isn’t done, he will do it again.”

She sighed, resigned. “I’ll call Vinnie later. I’ll tell him what happened.”

“Good.” Alex pinned her gaze with his. “From this day forward, if someone even threatens to hurt you in any way, you tell me. No more secrets, Bree.”

“No more secrets,” she agreed.

Satisfied, he gave a curt nod and combed his fingers through her hair, stretching out the chestnut strands, loving how silky-soft they were. “You fully packed?”

“Not yet.”

“I’ll help you get your stuff together. Then we’ll leave.” He wanted her gone from this place. He didn’t feel that she was safe here. And he knew she didn’t feel safe here either. He hated that. It was her home, a home she loved. It had already been tainted by the break-in. The polar bear attack had no doubt made that ten times worse.

“Whoever was in those woods told me …” She closed her eyes for a second. “Paxton told me to stay away from you.”

Alex felt a growl vibrate his chest. “He’s not going to get what he wants.”

“He won’t like that I’ll be staying with you.”

“Tough fucking shit.” He bunched her hair in his hand. “I’m not going to let him come between us. You’re not his. You never really were. And now you’re all mine. He can deal with it, or he can deal with me. One or the other. But he doesn’t get to dictate what you do. He doesn’t get to fuck with your head or emotions—I won’t allow it. Got me?”

She swallowed. “I got you.”

“Good.” He released her hair. “Let’s pack your shit.”

Bree tried to ignore the way their pride mates stared. Was she surprised that they appeared utterly staggered by the sight of the feminine suitcase he was wheeling down the street or the backpack he’d slung over his shoulder? No.

Some of their pride mates seemed pleasantly surprised. Others looked concerned, as if they thought the relationship was destined to end in flames.

Thankfully, the Cages weren’t nearby. They would have freaked. Then yet another public scene would have occurred. Bree had had enough of those to last her a lifetime.

As much as it hurt to leave her home, she knew it was the best decision. She just hoped he wouldn’t find it too difficult to share his personal space with someone—it wasn’t as simple as it sounded. Especially for a guy like Alex, who relished alone time.

Finally at his apartment complex, he punched in the code on the keypad. The front door unlocked with a loud buzz. He pulled it open, gestured for her to enter first, and then walked in. A quick elevator ride later, they reached his floor and he led her to his apartment.

Inside, Bree glanced around, taking in the contemporary, masculine décor. “I like it.” Following him to the bedroom, she watched him carefully, looking for signs that he felt uncomfortable having her in his private sanctum. He didn’t seem whatsoever tense. In fact, he seemed … smug. Settled.

Propping her suitcase near the wall, he turned to her. Whatever he saw on her face made his brow briefly pucker. “What?”

She set her purse on top of his dresser. “I’m just wondering if you’re definitely okay with me moving in here for a while.”

He moved to her. “I look uncertain to you?”

“No, but it’s important to me that my being here, taking up your space, doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable.”

“It doesn’t. I’m sort of partial to you. Sometimes. Depending on my mood. And whether you’re naked.”

Her mouth curved. “My heart can’t take these loving declarations of yours.”

He kissed one corner of her mouth. “You hungry?”

“No.” Her stomach was still in knots.

He kissed the other corner of her mouth. “Tired?”

“No.” Catching sight of an almost completely faded bullet wound on the edge of his neck, Bree touched it with her finger, wishing she could take it away. “That bitch. I’m glad your beast ripped her apart. She just kept on shooting, and I couldn’t do anything.” She’d never felt so damn helpless.

She bit down on her lip. “Can I officially meet your beast? I want to thank him for what he did today.”

Alex’s eyes went all soft and languid. “No thanks are necessary but, yeah, of course you can meet him. He’s wanted a one-to-one with you for a while now.”

She watched as Alex quickly shed his clothes, revealing all that honed muscle and bitable olive skin. Yeah, she’d be leaving a mark or two on that later.

“He can be pushy and bossy, but I swear he won’t hurt you. He’d never do that.” And then Alex shifted, and his stocky beast did a languid stretch.

She smiled as small, dark, perceptive eyes met hers. “Hey, there,” she said, sitting on her haunches. One of his huge webbed paws landed on her thigh, but those impressive claws didn’t so much as abrade the skin. “Wow, you’re bigger than I remember.”

He gently butted her with his broad head. “Oh yeah, I see the bossy now.” Taking the hint, she stroked the dark brown fur on his neck, admiring the cream patches on his face and body. His coat was softer than she’d expected and incredibly thick, but there was no missing the solid muscle and latent power that lay beneath it.

“Thank you for saving my cat,” she said, knowing Alex would relay the meaning of her words to the animal. “But please don’t jump in front of any more bullets.”

He nuzzled the palm of her hand with his dark snout. And then he nipped her, the little shit. It didn’t hurt or draw blood, but still …

She gave him a playful shove. “Mean.”

His mock growl made her chuckle. And then bones popped and snapped as he shifted.

“He’d have spent all night letting you pet him if I’d allowed it.” Curling his arm around her, Alex stood, pulling her to her feet. “We’ll have to give him some time with your cat soon.”

“Soon,” she agreed. Bree showed him the mark on her palm and gave a lighthearted frown. “He bit me.”

“I know.” Moving his face closer to hers, Alex whispered, “I’m gonna do the same.”

And then he tumbled her into bed. He ate her out, greedy and hungry, and then took her hard. When he came inside her, he bit the crook of her neck. Sated and all marked up, she happily napped with him before heading to the kitchen for dinner.

Later, when they’d not long finished their meal, a knock came at the front door. She’d expected it to be his parents coming to check on them. But when she opened the door, she found a familiar woman stood there, her eyes red from crying. “Renee,” she greeted softly.

Benny’s girlfriend gave her a watery smile. “Hi. I wanted to see you.”

“Come in.” Bree stepped back and let her inside. “Um, I don’t know how to say this without sounding insensitive, but I’m not the best person to help grieving people.”

“Maybe so.” Renee sniffled. “But I wanted to talk with the person who set Benny on the right path. He and I might not have had a lot of time together, but we wouldn’t have had any of that time if you hadn’t helped him.”

Bree blew out a breath. “Then let’s go dig out the tequila.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.”