What? I don’t understand, Eve. What’s he talking about?
Images flooded Braden’s mind, the phone calls, texts, emails, the notes, the dead animals… What had been done to Eve, what the stalker had taken from her—it’s no wonder she’d reacted so badly when Braden had first tried to claim her as his mate.
Eve shook her head with a lingering expression of disbelief as anger and denial fought to dominate her emotions.Things got so bad I lost my job, my car, my home… It’s why Tom invited me to the cull. Or so I thought.“Please tell me you didn’t do these things, Tom. Please tell me you aren’t the asshole who ruined my life!” she screamed.
“Ruined your life,” he scoffed. “I saved your life! You need me, Eve. You need me to take care of you. Without me… Without me, you’d be nothing.”
Braden growled, baring his teeth—a warning. Eve had faced unimaginable horror at the hands of Tom Ellis, and first gen or not, Braden would make him pay.
“You’re nothing,” said Eve. “Braden is everything.”
His head whipped toward Eve—his gaze knife-like in its penetration. “I’d rather see you dead than with him. I’ll see you both dead.” Tom charged Braden.
Braden shoved Eve away as the powerful lycan, already transformed to anthro-form, plowed him against the wet flowstone. He clung to Tom as fists pummeled his ribs. He needed to stall—needed to make sure his mate—his life—could get to safety before he and Tom began their fight to the death.
Run, Eve. Run now.
