Dean.
His shadow looms, sudden and fierce, a flash of pure fury in his eyes as he takes in the scene. He lunges, and in one swift motion, he’s on her, yanking Jenny away from me with a strength that makes her stumble, a surprised yelp slipping from her lips. She recovers quickly, squaring herself between us, a dangerous glint in her eyes as she crouches slightly, possessive and animalistic—like a lioness standing guard over her prey.
“Get away from him.” Dean’s voice is a dark, dangerous growl, raw and full of a threat that sends a shiver down my spine, as if his words alone have reached out to claim me.
Yes. Him. I want him, need him.
I take a shaky step toward him, but Jenny’s hand slams against my chest, halting me in place. Her nails dig sharply into my skin, cutting through the haze in my mind just enough to remind me of her presence, her hold.
Dean’s eyes blaze with a feral intensity, every inch of him radiating primal energy. The moment he sees Jenny’s hand on my chest, it’s as if something deep within him snaps. He lunges forward, no longer the composed alpha I know but a creature driven by instinct, raw and unfiltered.
“Get away from him!” Dean’s voice is a thunderous growl, echoing in the small bathroom, reverberating through my verybones. It’s a command, a declaration that leaves no room for defiance.
Jenny freezes, eyes wide with surprise, but her smirk quickly returns, a mix of amusement and contempt. “What are you going to do, Dean? Protect him? You’re too late.”
Without waiting for a response, she pushes me back again as if I’m nothing more than a pawn in her twisted game. But Dean doesn’t hesitate. He closes the distance between them, his body coiling with tension like a predator ready to strike.
“You’re not worthy of him,” Dean snarls, his voice dripping with a venomous protectiveness. He steps forward, a force of nature, each movement radiating authority. It’s a side of him I’ve never seen—more animal than human, fueled by a fierce instinct to claim and protect.
Before I can comprehend what’s happening, His hand wraps around Jenny’s bicep, ripping her away from me with a strength that seems almost effortless. She gasps, surprise flickering across her face, but it quickly morphs into anger.
“Let go of me!” she screams, struggling against his grip. But Dean only tightens his hold until she yelps, his gaze never leaving mine.
“Chad,” he says, voice low and steady, “are you okay?”
His eyes lock onto mine, grounding me amid the chaos. For the first time, I feel a sliver of clarity pierce through the fog of my instincts. I nod, even as my heart races.
I’m safe. I’m with him.
Dean’s focus sharpens, narrowing back on Jenny, who continues to squirm against his hold. “You’re done here,” he growls. There’s a promise in his tone, a threat that sends a shiver down my spine. “We’ll deal with you appropriately soon.”
“Don’t think you can just take him from me, Dean,” Jenny hisses, her composure faltering.
“I’m not taking anything,” Dean retorts, a fierce growl rumbling from deep within him. “You’re the one who doesn’t belong.”
With that, he drags her from the bathroom, her protests fading as he pulls her away. I slump against the sink, my body shaking uncontrollably, the aftermath of fear and my full-blown heat still swirling in my veins.
I don’t know how long he’s gone. There’s a little commotion, flashing lights, maybe, then silence.
When he returns, he’s alone, and my breath catches at the sight of him. His expression is a mix of anger and concern, eyes scanning me as if making sure I’m truly okay. Without a word, he wraps a plush towel around my shoulders, the softness contrasting with the turmoil I feel inside.
“Come here,” he says, voice low and soothing. He draws me into his arms, the warmth radiating from him washing over me like a balm. I melt against him, seeking the safety he offers. I can feel his heart beating against my chest, strong and steady, grounding me in a way I desperately need.
“Let’s get you back to the nest,” he murmurs, his voice thick with unspoken emotions. He lifts me effortlessly, cradling me against him as he carries me from the bathroom. The world blurs around us, and I can only focus on the sensation of being held by him, the solid strength of his body providing an anchor against the storm raging within me.
As he carries me, I press my face into his neck, inhaling the familiar scent of him—a mix of forest and earth that is uniquely Dean. It comforts me, reminding me that I’m safe. I feel the tension in my body slowly easing as we reach the nest.
Mason and Lakelyn are still asleep, blissfully unaware of the chaos that has unfolded. But I can’t focus on them. All I can feel is the burning desire coursing through me, amplifying my need for Dean and erasing even the memory of Jenny. My instinctsroar to life, overwhelming every rational thought, leaving only a primal craving in their wake.
As Dean gently sets me on the bed, a surge of need propels me to reach for him, pulling him down alongside me. He groans in surprise, then gives in, pressing against me, igniting a fire in my core.
“Chad...” he murmurs, a warning laced with desire in his tone. But I’m too far gone, too lost in the haze of desire to care about the consequences. I want him—need him—now more than ever.
I tangle my fingers in his hair, drawing him closer, my heart racing as I feel the heat radiating off his body. “Don’t fight it,” I whisper, echoing her words but meaning them in a completely different way. “Just… be with me.”
The intensity in his gaze sharpens, a flicker of something raw and primal igniting within him. He presses his body against mine, and my breath hitches as I feel the undeniable connection between us. It’s electric, a magnetic pull that thrums with urgency.
“Chad, we shouldn’t—” he starts, but I cut him off, capturing his lips with mine.
