Page 277 of Bride of Choice

Rek’s eyes widened at the anger rushing to the fore, blazing in my eyes.

Grabbing up the woman, he held her out in front of him like a human shield. The woman’s squeals were fucking ear piercing. “Enough!” I bellowed at her, relieved when she clamped her trap shut, trembling in place as she was, so I could focus on the bastard holding her out in front of him.

“Rek explain,” he spluttered, while ducking down so he was crouching behind his stolen bride.

“Explain?! Pal, I’ll explain you somethin’!” I bellowed as I went to rush them.

“Nope.” Strong arms nabbed me up, lifting me through the air.

“Fuck you!” I screamed, flailing, kicking, clawing at the open air. “PUT. ME. DOWN! I’m gonna kill ‘im!””

“Nope,” Odix repeated, shaking his head vehemently as he brought my back to his front and pin-cuddled me to his person.

With a snarl, I sank my puny human teeth into his arm.

Odix growled as I broke the skin of his forearm, but the big bastard refused to let me the fuck go.

“She’s deranged!” Rek’s stolen bride cried. “Protect me, Rik!” she squeaked.

That bitch couldn’t even get his fucking name right!

Releasing my mouth’s hold on Odix, I snapped, “I’ll show you deranged, you man-stealing tart!” Kicking and flailing anew, wild to be let free, I bellowed at Odix, “Put me down, you kumquat headed dick, or I’ll make you!”

“Nope,” Odix rumbled out curtly, firmly, and just shook his head and held on.

“I’ll never forgive you if you don’t put me the fuck down so I can kick both of their asses inward!” I snarled and snapped.

“I don’t like her,” the woman whispered too loudly. “She’s scary.”

“No talk about my Joanie,” Rek snapped at her, causing her to burst into loud, noisy tears.

Rek’s eyes widened and he shoved his hands out, waving them at her wildly as he winced and groaned. “No cry. No more cries. Cries scare animals. Yes? ‘Member Rek say?”

I felt it like a real, tangible thing, watching them, the moment my heart cracked wide open and broke.

All the fight within me left me, my screams and growls bursting into loud, noisy sobs. “You fucking liar! I hate you! I hate you so much!” I wailed.

Rek tried to say something but Odix’s warning growl was so loud I couldn’t hear much else pressed up against him as his chest rattled ominously.

“I hate you so fucking much,” I sobbed openly. I didn’t care who saw.

This was just like with Rosa. All the lies and making me think we were in a good place but it was all bullshit. All of it.

I felt so stupid to just fall for it again and again with him so easily. He must think I’m the biggest dumb ass and easiest dupe.

Odix’s growl cut off abruptly and he turned me towards him. Falling into him, I buried my face in his neck as he rubbed my back soothingly, mumbling shit I had no clue as to what comfortingly.

Rek snarled, the sound cutting in above the din. The one Odix let loose back said touch her and die.

“I don’t want to be here,” I whispered, sniffling all the while.

Odix nodded and turned to leave without another word.

The gathering Yetis trying to figure out what the fuck was going on had tripled. They parted to make way for Odix to pass through, closing the gap behind him, effectively barring Rek from trying to come up on us.

All of it. Lies.

I found tears falling anew as I tried to make sense of his deception.

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