Page 33 of Sweetheart

“We need to talk.”

No! He hid his red face. Levi was so fucking horny. “It can’t wait?”

“I did some digging on your mate,” Tristan told him.

Levi growled. Through the fog of arousal, he heard a threat to his mate. His claws broke through his fingertips as his body began to heat from the inside.

“I need you to listen to me.”

Levi knew he wasn’t thinking straight but all rational thought had fled. “No one asked you to.” Mason was his! His to love. His to protect. Levi could barely hold the gargoyle’s instinct back.

“I could tell there was something he was hiding,” Tristan said. The demon stood with his legs shoulder-width apart and his weight on the balls of his feet. Was he preparing for Levi to attack? They sparred often and Levi and Tristan were pretty evenly matched. “He’s not who he says he is.”

Every protective instinct he had exploded as all he could see was red.

Levi launched himself forward. He slashed at Tristan’s face but the demon was quick. Levi blocked a blow to his side, but Tristan managed to kick him back. Levi nearly knocked the bikes down but caught himself.

“You’re too lovesick to see that he’s dangerous.”

“My mate is perfect!” Levi roared. He attacked with all his fury.

He and Tristan exchanged blows. Blood flew. Tools were knocked over. Levi couldn’t stop himself. He couldn’t get control. Not when someone was a threat to his mate!

With a powerful left hook, he sent Tristan to the ground. He tried to follow Tristan down, to finish off the demon, when he was caught around the waist.

He went nuts. Kicking, scratching, punching, until three men held him down.

“Enough!” Gavin yelled in his face.

Levi blinked. What was Gavin doing in the shed? He grunted. Well Gavin, Shawn, and Trevor. And why were they all on top of him? They were heavy fuckers! “Let me up,” Levi growled. His fangs were still extended and cutting into his bottom lip.

“Not until you calm down,” Gavin told him.

“I’m calm,” Levi lied.

Gavin snorted.

Damn it! Levi lay his head back on the cold concrete of the shed. Closing his eyes, Levi breathed deeply as he counted back from ten. He’d been working on his emotions although for a much different reason than this. He just couldn’t believe that Tristan would betray him. They were friends! At least Levi thought they were.

“He needs to listen to me!”

Levi tensed at hearing Tristan’s voice.

“Let Axel handle it,” Gavin told him.

Levi opened his eyes to see his friend peering down at him with concern. “Mason—”

“Whatever it is, I’ve got your back.”

He knew that Gavin would always have his back. Any of the men in his family would. Even little Nate, who spent more time in diapers than out, was a force to reckon with. Levi nodded.

“Better?” Gavin asked.

“Yeah.” This time he wasn’t lying.

“Thank fuck!” Shawn said before he rolled off him. “I didn’t know you were so scrappy.” He grinned at Levi.

Levi shook his head. He’d always been very controlled in showing his strength. Being a gargoyle meant that he was pretty much indestructible. The damage he could inflict on others would be massive, so Levi didn’t lose control. Ever.

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