Page 107 of Big Bad Bully
Not five years old watching Aubrey die.
“You’re scaring Aubrey.”
I suck in a sharp breath and look over my shoulder. She’s frozen where I left her, in a blood red dress, holding our two glasses of champagne. Her eyes are wide with horror.
He's going to kill her.
I deliver four more punches in rapid succession, reveling in the sound of his ribs cracking.
“Not. Here.” Sully growls between clenched teeth.
Right.
Not here.
He, Vance, and Jake stand behind me. They have my back–not that I need it. I’m bigger now. The days of my father’s torment are over. I could snap his neck right here.
But Aubrey’s watching. I didn’t want my father anywhere near her. I definitely didn’t want her to see this.
And Sully’s right. It’s my alpha’s wedding. Our luna would be horrified.
Vance and Sully each grasp one of my dad’s arms.
Jake tilts his head toward another hallway. “Back door.”
“You can deal with him later. Go to your mate–she’s scared,” Sully says.
Your mate.
They know already.
I haven’t marked her, but everyone knows. I’m the only fool still denying it.
I turn slowly to face my beautiful female. Pearls are scattered across the floor. I can’t quite remember how they got there.
Aubrey swallows. “Billy?” She sounds unsure. Like she’s scared of me.
Like my mom was when my father raged.
Fuck. Shame floods me. I’m just like him.
It’s my deepest fear. Far worse than the instinctual terror he’ll kill Aubrey because my logical brain knows I won’t let that happen.
But I just reenacted the violence I saw as a pup on the man who delivered it in front of the female I love. The female who I’ve been denying was mine.
Somehow I make my feet move. I make them arrive in front of her. My lips move, and a rusty sound comes out. “Fuck, Aubrey. I’m sorry.”
Her chest heaves, full breasts spilling from the strapless bodice.
“Are you okay?”
Very lightly, I brush my thumb across her neck. There’s a scrape there. What happened? I’d thought he was going to choke her, but he’d had restraint. He’d yanked off her necklace.
She nods. “Are you?” she whispers. Her hands find my face.
One part of me wants to pull away. It’s not safe to be touched. But I catch her scent, and it soothes my wolf. I lean my cheek into her hand.
“Billy…am I your mate?”
