“Mom, he’s my mate—” Hadley starts.
“A Tiger? Really?” the woman cuts in, horrified. “I cannot believe you’ve shamed this family like this?—”
“Shamed you?” Hadley fires back, stepping out from behind me just enough to glare at her. “Are you serious right now? Judd, get lost. No one wants you here!”
Judd raises his hands like he’s trying to stay neutral.
“I mean—I was just—your mom said?—”
“I don’t care what she said,” Hadley snaps.
“You heard her. Get out!” I snarl, but he doesn’t move fast enough.
So, I take three steps towards him grab him by the collar, and toss his furry ass right out my front door.
Then I go back to my mate, fangs bared, chest heaving.
I have never hit a woman—but I have to admit, I’m close.
The audacity of her mother doing this—of bringing that man here to my place—is unparalleled.
And downright nasty.
I growl low and deep. My irritation on display for all.
Hadley lifts her hands and places them on my chest, moving as close to me as she can get.
Good mate, my Tiger chuffs.
One of the sisters—tall, composed—touches their mother’s arm.
“Mom, we should go,” she says quietly.
The other one?
Is staring.
Right at me.
Specifically—she’s staring at my dangly bits.
My patience evaporates.
“Yeah,” she says, smirking. “Little sister looks like she is doing okay to me.”
I snarl.
Deep.
Warning.
Because that?
That’s quite enough.
Then I do what any rational, newly mated Tiger does when strangers invade his territory and upset his mate.
I roar.
