Page 33 of Forsaken Desire
“Back up,” Alex snapped.
His eyebrows twitched up.
Dillon didn’t listen, and I didn’t back away from him either. I gritted my teeth, glaring up at him. The shock was slowly beginning to subside. He leaned close and sniffed near my neck.
He groaned.
“You can’t expect to have no competition, Alex, not with a beauty like this.”
While they argued, I poked my head around him. Lucian still stood on the stage, saying something to Cierra, standing much too close to her for my liking. My stomach somersaulted like it was trying out for the Olympics.
Dillon invaded my space again, bumping into me from how Alex was now pressing against him.
“Back the fuck off, man,” Alex shouted and shoved Dillon, who staggered back with a snarl.
I didn’t care about their little spat; my attention returned to my fated mate. He turned toward us, and his hazel eyes clashed with mine and widened.
Some part of me was desperately hoping it was some twist. That he wasn’t Lucian, that he was a twin. Orsomething.Anything.
But no, I didn’t get my way, because there was sheer awareness on his chiseled, aristocratic features.
He stormed in our direction, and I froze, my heart thundering in my ears. I backed up and bumped into a chair.
A large hand, different, so so different than my mate’s, curled around my hip. Dillon had grabbed my waist! I didn’t have a chance to open my mouth. Another snarl ripped through the auditorium, and when I turned back around, a large black wolf barreled toward me. I closed my eyes, freezing as screaming erupted. The touch on me was ripped away.
“Stop!” Dillon shrieked, and I peeked through squinted eyes. Lucian’s large wolf form had his maw around Dillon’s arm. He shook his head from side to side, and blood flew everywhere. I could only gasp, the sounds fading in and out of my reality.
With a final yank to the side, Lucian ripped Dillon’s hand off his arm, leaving behind mauled meat. He lowered his head, and the hand thumped on the ground. Dillon used his heels topush back. Lucian stalked him, head lowered, saliva and blood dripping from his jaws.
“Stop!” Cierra shouted, stepping in front of Dillon. Lucian growled and snapped at her, catching her leg. She yelped, pulling away so fast that it tore flesh out of her leg. She limped out of the way, leaving the path to Dillon open.
Alex took Cierra’s place.
“Stop, Lucian,” he snapped, but his gaze remained lowered. Lucian’s chest puffed, and a growl rumbled in his chest.
He would kill Alex. As touchy as he was, I didn’t want Lucian murdering his brother.
“Stop,” I croaked. It was what I needed to burst into action. I ran in front of Alex and put my hands out. “Lucian.”
He finally stilled, and his tail moved the slightest bit.
“Just stop,” I gritted out through my teeth. The fur on the back of his neck stood upright.
“Joey, I’m going to get—” Lucian’s snarl cut Alex off, and I took a step toward the wolf.
“Shift back.” I lifted my chin, keeping hold of his eyes. The yellow gaze seemed more intense in his wolf form. He chuffed.
“Don’t get too close, Joe?—”
Lucian snapped his teeth in my direction and pounced. A mass of fur tackled me to the ground, and I landed on the carpet with a huff.
“Jo—”
Lucian growled, and I bunched a tuft of his fur on his chest.
“Just go!” I shouted.
Lucian stayed over my body, growling like he was protecting a bone. I rolled my head to the side in time to see them leave. Cierra peered back, her eyes full of tears, before she disappeared with Dillon leaning between Alex and her.
