But Birch being here is a bigfuck youand I can’t let it stand.
I don’t want to.
My lip curls, baring teeth I know are a little too sharp to be human.
“Oh shit.” It’s whispered from the pub across the road, but it’s loud and clear to us. The guy pales as we all turn to look at him. But it’s not him my gaze lingers on.
It’s the other one.
The man opposite him: slim, blond, hot. A lock of hair falls across his forehead as he draws his plump bottom lip between his teeth. Something about that mouth, that sharp jawline, is surprisingly familiar, but I can’t place him.
He’s also the one who called out to Kira.
His gaze snaps to mine, and once again I feel that tug between my ribs, that spark of interest, and I cut that shit off at the knees, because now really isn’t the fucking time.
And he’s human.
I don’t care how hot he is, I’m not going there.
Not again.
Still, it’s harder than it should be to tear my gaze away from him.
Gritting my teeth, I turn back to Birch, growling softly, too low for human ears. “This is happening. Whether you want an audience or not is up to you.”
He snarls back. “You’re a fucking psycho. Fighting here could get us all killed.”
He’s right, but I’ve got bigger fucking balls than him and it’s no surprise when he signals his men to get on their bikes.
Before he starts his engine, he points a finger at me and hisses, “The clearing two miles past the A483 turn off.”
I nod, but then he has to go and add, “By the way, I saw Beth the other day. She looked good. Missing fingers or not, I’d still fuck her.” He grins, but his eyes are cold, hard. “She was all on her own, ripe for the taking. Maybe I will. Maybe I’ll show her what she’s missing by spreading her legs for yo?—”
My fist connects with his face.
Rage floods my body, white-hot and fierce, as I haul him from his bike onto the ground.
Somewhere in the back of my mind, I know I’ve played into his nasty little hands, but I’m too far gone to care. Beth is my sore spot, the tender underbelly that he knows exactly where to poke to get a rise out of me.
I should know better, Idoknow better, but for whatever reason, it gets to me today in a way I can’t ignore.
We’re in full view of more humans than I’d like, but that doesn’t stop me from punching his fucking face in or Birch from ramming his knee into my groin.
“Fuck.” Goddess help me, that hurt. Pain radiates throughout my lower half, eyes watering from the way he grinds his leg into my cock and balls. If I could catch my breath, I’d curse him out for that, but I’m too busy sucking air into my lungs.
I want to use my teeth and claws—fighting without them feels wrong on so many levels—but I can’t risk giving those watching the proof they need that we exist.
But Birch can’t use his either, so we roll around on the floor, trading blows until our respective VPs tear us apart.
“Enough!” Callum hisses, grabbing my shoulders and restraining me. I snarl, can’t help it, but his words break through the haze and I nod. I’m suddenly all too aware of the silence from the pub over the road.
We need to wrap this up quickly before someone calls the police. If they haven’t already.
“Now fuck off,” I hiss. “If I see you or your men here again, I won’t be so nice.” I smile with all my teeth and Birch bares his in a matching one.
“Keep yours out of my fucking forest and we won’t have a problem.”
His words piss me off because wewerein his territory. I’m pretty sure he’s just guessing though, because there’s no way we left any scent trails. We’re too smart for that. I shrug, because I know that’ll piss him off.
