Page 5 of Owned By Two

I could fight them for her, duel with the other male, until I had her for myself.

But I had to be inside that room to do so!

When I hurled myself against the warring creatures and we burst through the doorway in a single lump, I turned immediately for the female.

I knew precisely where she would be located as her scent was so strong I could have identified her in pitch darkness if necessary.

She was just as lovely as I thought she would be.

She was small — at least, small compared to the Elkik.

For a human, she was very tall and powerfully built. She was not a tiny dainty human female like others I had seen in other lineups. They were sweet in their own way but to find a tall human female, strong as a warrior and with a powerful body to boot…

I felt the growl escape my lips and immediately quietened it.

Such growls were not for the ears of a mate — notmymate, at least.

I would treat her with every ounce of respect I could summon.

At least for the moment.

Once I had her alone, there was no telling how I might respond.

But by that point, it would be too late and I could Claim her with every inch of me.

The other males, so blinded by their desire, did not see the obvious pearl at the room’s center, and instead paired off with the other, lesser females.

They were lovely too, in their own way, but they were invisible to me.

I was aware of nothing but that delicious human standing not more than half a dozen yards ahead of me.

As the other females on her left and right were picked off one by one and dragged from the room, I moved slowly toward her so as not to scare her.

The other females all looked terrified and I promised myself I would not see that look on my own mate’s face.

Then another male approached her, and I realized I had been staring at her too long, that I had let my own desire for her allowanotherto get close…

I wouldn’t stand for that. Not so long as I still drew breath.

I lowered my horns and ran at the creature, snagging his claw in midair.

He would not touch a single inch of her skin!

I drew my fist back and backhanded the male across the face, knocking him to one side.

He drew his horns back and snapped them against me as we butted heads.

There wasn’t a single muscle of hesitation in my body and I wouldnotback down — not while the female’s scent filled my nostrils.

He would have tokillme before I would give her up.

He must have sensed my refusal to back down as the creature blinked in surprise — only for a moment — but it was enough.

He was going to back down. I kept a close eye on him in case he suddenly decided to change his mind and waited until he was gone before I approached the female.

In the calmest voice I could manage, I asked her:

“Are you all right?”

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