Page 7 of Finding Her Panthers

"But I have you guys to protect me, right?" I ask hesitantly.

"Of course, sweetheart. We always will," James assures me.

"No one will touch you," Blue scowls. It's a relief, as he hasn't said much. He might have more reservations about me than I thought.

"We won't let anyone take you away from us. But they may track down your scent and find Penny. I don't put it past anyone to use her to get to you. You would come for her if anyone said they had her, right?" he points out.

"I will do anything to protect her!" I growl. Just the thought of someone hurting her because of me brings me so much anger I have to glance across the table at her to calm the panic.

“Girl, you know you don't have to worry. I'm right here. I'm safe, and your men are going to keep me that way. Right?" she says firmly, looking at all the guys.

"That is the plan. We think it would be best, though, if you stayed in one of the empty rooms upstairs for the night. Tomorrow we can have more of a plan, and I can assign one of my most trustworthy men to watch out for you," Jax decides. He picks up my clenched hand on the table, working his fingers through mine and giving the back a soft kiss.

Just the taste of his touch calms me. Huh? That's handy to know. Especially with me wanting to rip into people on a daily basis lately over nothing.

"Well, that's settled then. Why don't one of you summon one of your underlings to show me to my room." She stands dramatically, waving her arms. Watching her antics, I’m surprised by the knock on the door. "Damn, you guys are good." She raises her eyebrow in suspicion at my mates.

"This will not be good." Blue glances at me out of the side of his eye.

"Crap. Not going to end well," James utters to Jax.

"I'll take care of her." Jax sighs as he leaves the table to answer the door.

Both Penny and I look at them all in confusion. What the hell is going on? They must have smelled the scent of whoever is on the other side again, but it can't be anyone they like with how they act.

As one, we all turn towards the door. As it swings open, I know what the issue is. The woman that steps into the room is the classic overdone bimbo. Usually, I support anything a woman wants to do. Want to dress in as few clothes as possible? Awesome, more power to you. If you want to work a pole? Do it, work it. Want to get huge, fake breasts? You do you, girl. I don't judge; I really try not to. You never know what is under the surface. But when this woman that I have never set eyes on comes into the room, steps as close as she can to Jax without permanently fusing to him, flutters her big fake eyelashes, and runs her hand up to his arm and squeezes his shoulder, I see red.

For the next little while, it's like having an out-of-body experience. I watch as I rush to her, grab her by the throat, and throw her against the wall. Her blonde hair flies around us at the force of hitting it. I can't stop my claws from shifting to slightly puncture the side of her throat. I watch, detached, as the blood slowly drips down her neck to disappear into the aforementioned massive cleavage. I move my face directly in her view, my nose almost touching hers.

"Do not ever touch him. Mine. My mate," I hiss. I don't recognize the voice that comes out of my mouth. "They are mine."

Distantly, I hear the conversation behind me, but as I said, I'm in a zone.

"Shouldn't we stop her?" James asks curiously.

"Fuck no, this bitch has had it coming." Blue sounds entirely too excited.

"We probably should. Her temper has been on a short leash lately. She would probably feel a little bad if she really hurt her. I mean, when she has calmed down, at least," Penny says calmly.

"She is beautiful in her fury, though, isn't she," Jax mutters.

"Well, yeah, I have a hard-on right now. The way she took her against the wall. I wish I wouldn’t have been too caught up to videotape it." James adjusts himself.

"Uh, guys, maybe you should calm her down soon?" Penny pushes.

"I suppose she would be upset if she did damage to her, you think? We don't know her well enough yet," Jax ponders, looking around for input.

I tighten my claws around the women's neck and breathe deep. "Now I know your sick perfume scent. If you ever, and I mean ever, get that close to any of my mates or touch them in any way…" I pause to gather all the rage to show in my eyes, tilting my head to the side. "You better run as far and as fast as you can away from me because I will track you down and rip your head off just like this, with just my claws," I explain ruthlessly. "Do we understand each other?" All I hear is gurgling. "Bitch, answer now," I demand, flexing my claws on her neck, enjoying the flare of pain and fear in her eyes.

James chuckles. "Just a helpful tip; maybe she can't respond. You could let off the neck just a little."

I release the pressure just enough.

"Yes," she gasps out.

I come back into my body as I feel Blue at my back. He sweeps my hair to the side and grins against my neck. "You did good, babe. You protected your mate. I'm proud of you. But now it's time to let her go. She got the message. If not, you and I will remind her together," he says, the pleasure deep in these words. He pulls at my hand that's still shifted, urging me to pull back. His other wraps around my waist, sliding across my stomach, tugging gently.

I lose some of the anger and tension at his words, and extracting my claws, I step back closer to Blue. The proof of his excitement over the incident as clear as I feel the hard, very long proof stabbing me in the back.

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