Intent on His claim (Beauty and the Beast #3)

Chapter 14

When I realised that Victor had flown out of harm's way, my heartbeat became less erratic and my mind rebooted. I scrambled out of the car, screaming, "Warren, stop!"

I ran round the car towards him. The intent on his every move, his absolute focus on Victor chilled me. "You have to listen to me!"

Arms banded around me, trapping mine to my sides, and I instantly struggled. In my ear, Roger growled, "Stop it. He's given in fully to the panther right now. He can't hear you."

"He'll always hear me," I ground out, afraid to believe him. Instead, I fought against his hold. "Warren!"

"I've got this," Ashley said softly, a low growl shaking her small frame as she moved into a crouch.

"Don't even think about it," Roger ordered. "I'm not letting him hurt you."

"Kill joy," she muttered but she stood up. She crossed her arms, watching Warren trying to hurt Victor. "We could always just let Warren kill him. Solves so many problems."

"You made a promise to me, Warren Strandton, and you're not breaking it!" I yelled at the panther just as his claws swiped at Victor, who had been lying on his back peacefully watching the clouds.

Victor growled and sat up, just managing to escape the questing claws. Warren stopped and gazed up at him calculatingly, preparing his next attack.

"Warren, please!" I begged on a breaking sob, realizing that Roger was right. He really couldn't hear me.

The majestic cat paused then turned and pinned me with a withering emerald gaze lit up from inside with an amber fire. All cat, I realised, savage and primal. Was that why I couldn't hear his thoughts?

When the words came, his voice was deep and harsh, laced with a fury that made me wince. "You were harmed! How can I not retaliate?!"

"It wasn't on purpose," I whispered in anguish as all the fight drained out of me. "He would never hurt me. I forced him."

"Are you making her cry?" Victor asked, anger turning his eyes a cold red as he stared calmly at Warren.

Great. They were both being over possessive jerks who refused to listen. I glared at Vic, letting him know how much I appreciated his butting in. Warren snarled at Victor, telling him to back off. Victor growled back and drifted lower, his ruby eyes reminding me of how he looked last night before he single handedly took down 5 vampires.... but Warren ignored him. "You forced his hand?" he mused, then looked at Ashley for verification.

She shrugged. "I just saw him bite her."

I blushed and tried to discreetly cover the bandage on my neck with my hand, but Warren's eyes told me how little good that did.

"He fed off you," Warren's voice was quieter now, and yet no less chilling. "Unforgivable in any context."

Ashley turned to me, her eyes as cold as Warren's. "He's right, you know. We shouldn't have to forgive him for this."

Above Warren, Victor made an allowing face and nodded, making me roll my eyes. "Please, Warren. I didn't go to all this trouble to keep him safe just so you could kill him."

"Not that anyone asked you to," Victor jumped in with an eye roll.

I glared at him. "Excuse you?"

"I told you not to, didn't I? I told you to get the hell away from me!"

I crossed my arms and huffed. "Like I ever listen to you."

"See, this is the problem. This is how we go away for some peace and little fun and we end up with you nearly dying!"