My head jerks up momentarily to ensure that she’s far enough away, but then I look back down, only to have the cadet pummel me in the eye. With a roar, I grab him by his shoulders and throw him into the wall, where the back of his head meets a protruding stone. I land a heavy punch to his unblocked ribs. His eyes roll back into his head, knees buckling.
Vessa’s harness clatters to the floor. “Don’t hurt him!” she cries.
My fingers cinch around the boy’s throat. As my vision tunnels, my canines elongate, ready to tear him open. Tripp’s eyes flare with a warning glow in response, his own fangs coming forth. Hair raises on my arms, itching with the urge to let my pelt take over. To give into the beast and soak my claws with the grunt’s blood.
“Take this outside,” Tesni orders. “Before you break my equipment.”
Tripp writhes beneath me, begging for oxygen. The flare in his eyes dims. Staring back through a blood-red lens, I hear my mate’s voice.
“Axe, please. He’s just a kid.”
Qinnu tries to diffuse the tension with a chuckle. “Exactly. Can you really blame him?”
Vessa caresses my forearm. A tingle travels beneath my skin. “Stop this,” she pleads. “This isn’t you.”
Heaving a growl, I release the boy’s neck, slamming him on the mat. I turn to shield her from him. Sweat gleams along her face and breasts. My cock goes hard as granite at the sight.
Tripp chokes. “I-I’m sorry, Alpha, honestly, I didn’t?—”
I lunge at him again. “Don’t direct that apology at me.”
He wipes his mouth, shifting his gaze. “Apologies for my disrespect, Vessa. I accept whatever consequence?—”
“It’s fine,” she interrupts. “But the two of you need to stop acting like barbarians.”
“You’ll be sitting out of training for a week,” I bark at the cadet. “I want you back on patrol. Any leisure time you have, you’ll tend to the locker rooms.”
Tesni scowls. I may as well have just issued a restraining order.
“Find her a different training partner. Preferably one that thinks with their head.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Vessa hisses.
My hands seize her waist, pinning her against the rock wall.
Settling in its deepest timbre, my voice finds her ear. “You listen here, Moonshine. The second I caught him lusting for your tight little body, I could have gutted him right then. But I didn’t. Because you’re right. He’s a kid. And he’ll have this one chance to learn to control his instincts. The next time I catch a male waging a dangerous game like that with my woman, I won’t hesitate to sever his jugular.”
Vessa raises her chin. “I might be your mate, butI am notyour possession. Don’t diminish me when you speak.”
My nose lowers to her damp neck, drawing in the maddening pheromones. “Do you have any idea where all the blood rushes to when you challenge me? Would you like me to show you?”
“You’re an animal.”
Smirking, I press my full weight against her. “Don’t you forget it.”
Vessa’s heart skips a little beat when my thigh slips between her legs. “We still have an audience.”
“Good,” I rasp.
I’ve got half a mind to peel these clothes off and take her right here against this wall. Lick every inch of skin. Fist my fingers around her silk ponytail. Kick these legs open and thrust inside of her until she’s hoarse from screaming that she’s spoken for. Maybe then this horny little cadet will take the fucking hint.
Brown eyes are vexed as they address me. “You need to calm down.”
Slender fingers splay along my chest, pushing me away. With my next exhale, the furious beast inside yields to her. Withoutanyobjections.
Qinnu helps Tripp up to his feet. “The next full moon is going to be the death of you, brother,” he huffs at me.
Tesni shakes her head. “I doubt he’s gonna make it to Saturday.”
