Okay, maybe he really was an idiot. I had a hard time not rolling my eyes.
“Of course. You want to know if she screams with you the way she screamed withme,” he mocked. “You want to hear about the screams of her first time and—”
My lion lunged inside of me, roaring and reacting fiercely enough my body actually moved. The guard swore under his breath, but I got my lion under control.
“Youraped her, you fucking monster,” I said with a snarl. “No, I don’t want to hear you brag about that. I would vomit all over before taking your fucking head before the guard could react.” I snorted when they both froze. “I’m not just a lion but a man who grew up in one of the roughest packs in the world and as part of the mob.
“You’d be dead before this nice guard could even blink. I’m that fucking deadly even with my fucking lion bound.” I felt better when Kenneth swallowed loudly. Good, now I had a card to play. I leaned over on the table and gave him my evil smile I’d perfected for years. “And I will come back if you so much asutterthat evil.
“If you tell one soul such things—suchhorrorsyou committed against my mate. Look into my eyes and see it, Kenneth. See your death because fuck, would I enjoy it. I would fucking love it and tear you apart. Aurora is dead to you and it’s best—”
“You’d be in prison and—”
“Yeah, wouldn’t be my first time,” I drawled, chuckling when his eyes went wide. “Oh yeah, fucker. You better look into who I am before you even think of fucking around with me. I have piles of favors owed me.” I stood with a smirk. “Includingenough powerful people that I’m fairly sure I could get off with temporary insanity.”
“I’d vouch for it,” the guard muttered, shrugging when we both looked at him. “I’m not even a shifter, but if someone bragged about raping my mate…” He adjusted his neck like he couldn’t even fathom it.
“Exactly,” I agreed, focused back on Kenneth. “She’s dead to you, right?” I snarled when he hesitated and slammed my fist down onto the table, knuckles first so it would hurt.
I didn’t care. I wanted it to hurt so I kept control.
And it worked because themetaltable dented and broke.
“Aurora’s dead to me,” Kenneth said from the floor with a groan. “I’ll never speak of her again unless I’m required to by officials. And nothing personal.”
Oh right, his hands had been cuffed to the table. Fun outcome I hadn’t been going for.
“Good boy,” I purred. “Smart move for once, Kenneth.” I glanced at the guard and shrugged. “Bill me for the table.”
He snorted, but I felt bad for the worry I scented. Yeah, he was going to be spanked for that.
I’d fix it or make it up to him. Handling Kenneth was more important.
I left and was shocked at who I found waiting for me.
“This can’t be good,” I sighed, scrubbing the back of my neck to let out the tension I was now feeling.
“Chill your fur,” Gerald Woods chuckled. “I’m here to check on you and help.”
He really was. I could sense that, but he was still a lion which put my lion on edge.
Something he immediately noticed. “And you need help with this.” He gestured to my body knowing I would catch on. “Lions aren’t your enemy, Creed.” He sighed when I snorted. “Yeah, fair, and skepticism isn’t unhealthy. I’ve seen too many assumethey were safe because they were with their own species and we know that’s bullshit.”
“Or just trusting other shifters which I’m the poster child for how stupid that is,” I agreed, chilling a bit and reminding my lion he had helped our mate. “I don’t know how to change it.”
“I don’t have the answers either, but you’re not the first loner lion I’ve brought back before they went feral,” he said gently. “We recognize our own.”
I studied him closely. “I find that shocking given the Woods pride is—”
“Come on. You’re too smart to believe bullshit,” he grumbled. “Just like the NYC pack is prosperous because of the good leadership and everything boasted there.”
Yeah, more than fair and I said as much. “So, what are you proposing?”
“Let’s start easy. Your lion needs to see another lion as a friend—that we can be.” He pushed when I hesitated. “It helps me too. I don’t have a great relationship with my family, and I need other lions to keep me from becoming a loner. I’ve got a place in Atlanta safe to run. Let’s just get some energy out and—you need it after this.”
Yeah, I really did. So I accepted, thanking him for helping to make this happen and checking in. That was beyond decent of him.
I talked to him about what happened and where my head was as we headed to the portal. Then as we went to where he said it was safe to let our lions out. I felt better when Gerald admitted he would have had to do the same.
