Chapter Forty Eight: Harvey's Ultimatum

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After I laid Imara down and comforted her to sleep, I stepped outside to where the guys were waiting for me.

We walked a bit to let her rest without any disturbances.

Frank began to speak, "Har-"

"I don't want to hear it," I declared, my voice laced with anger as I stared at him intently.

"From any of you," I said, looking at the rest of the guys.

I stared them down, my eyes narrowed to slits.

"So not only did you make my mate cry, but you also hurt her feelings and made her think you didn't care for her, as a friend, only as a mate, which I think is right, and you don't care. You're just playing your part."

My words hung heavily, each one a pointed reminder of their actions and their consequences.

Everyone started to speak all at once frantically, saying things like

"No!"

"That's not true!"

"Impossible!,"

"I do care!.

Their voices clamored, a cacophony of protest and defense.

I snapped, my tone laced with a steely threat, "I said I don't want to hear anything out of any of you!" The words echoed in the tense air, cutting through their attempts to explain or justify their actions.

Their silence hung heavy, suffocating, like the weight of a verdict about to be delivered.

I continued "You know what I see? A bunch of males who feel entitled to more than Imara offered. You disregarded her wishes and acted selfishly!

I scoffed, "Who are any of you?! That she has to take time out of her day to explain herself and hope you understand her, when you all do! but just had to act like you didn't so she would give you a chance? You didn't have the right to even suggest!

"We all know, according to the rules of males and females, you couldn't even do half of the stuff to any female that you did to Imara and come out unscathed.

Looking at them bewildering, I said, "I gave room to males who aren't her guardian or mates, and this is what you do?!" My voice thundered, the weight of my words pressing down on them. They hung their heads in shame.

"I growled, completely furious. "Now I'm beyond angry. She's my mate, not yours! And I've had enough." I let out a roar of frustration and protectiveness.

I growled a signal, and they were surrounded by guards.

"Since you all want to pressure my love, now it's my turn to do the same to you." The atmosphere crackled with tension as the guards closed in around them.

"You walked into our house and confronted her. Let me remind you of your wrongdoings.

No unmated male is allowed into any female's house, only mates and guardians.

Then pressuring a female to make a decision to take you as a mate is another one.

Oh! and hurting a female in any way!"

I gestured to the guards, signaling them to attack. With a swift transformation, I lunged forward, knocking Frank to his knees and knocking him over with a fierce swipe of my paw.

"You made her cry, and she felt like she was making you guys suffer, when she had already said no!" I roared.

I turned my attention to Nicholas, landing on his chest and letting out a fierce growl, as I shook him, while the guards dealt with the others.

"She felt stressed and nervous talking to you all, having to explain herself! A female shouldn't have to explain herself to any male about her choice!" I seethed, locking eyes with Steve who had backed up against a tree, whimpering.

"After she poured her heart out, you all just left without a word. She had to retreat and sleep, attempting to heal her wounded heart, much like a leopard recovering from its wounds!"

With deliberate, measured steps, I stalked towards him, knocking and pinning him to the tree, while the guards continued their attacks.

I turned my attention to John, who was desperately shielding himself from the attacks. With a growl, I ordered the guards to back off. Gripping him by the neck, I hurled him away and he slammed into a tree. The rest of the guys, realizing their wrongdoing, continued to protect themselves from the onslaught.

"Not many females possess even a fraction of the kindness that Imara does, and this is how you choose to treat MY MATE?!" My voice echoed with righteous anger.

I had them surrounded, feeling the weight of their own actions and beast pressure.

Their whimpering and weakened state were a testament to their inferiority in the face of James and the guards, who held more authority.

"This is what you did to Imara," I growled, my voice a low, menacing rumble.

"You surrounded her, pressured her, made her feel like you do now."

My tone dripped with contempt. "That isn't love; it's manipulation, obsession, a sick infatuation that can harm her! You wanted to force her to choose you and deal with the guilt later. I will not tolerate it!"

Their cries of apology echoed in the tense air.

"Are you truly sorry?" I demanded, eyeing them with a mix of sternness and suspicion.

Some nodded, while others managed to murmur a stifling "yes."

"Good," I stated firmly, a signal to the guards. They promptly ceased the beast pressure, leaving the guys slumped, trembling with a combination of fear and exhaustion.

"Now, I'm adding even more pressure to all of you," I continued, my voice dripping with intensity.

"Any other male would have disfigured you, ensuring no female would ever desire you again, or simply killed you. I'm only giving you two options. You will go in there and apologize to Imara, accepting the role of being her friend only. And that's only if she chooses to accept it."

"Or you will leave now and never come back!" I declared, my voice unwavering. They stared at me in shock.

"You've already hurt her several times, and I will not allow it to happen again. I'm not concerned about any attempts to return. You would not be safe, and I'm sure everyone here understands that," I added, gesturing to the guards and male villagers who were present.

They nodded in somber agreement. Frank, barely able to get the words out, asked, "What if she doesn't accept?"

"I gave you two options!" I reminded them firmly. They looked defeated, struggling to rise. Eventually, they managed to stand, preparing to leave.

Nicholas, holding his side in pain, said, "I will go and prepare a gift." Steve and John supported each other, clearly shaken.

As I watched them walk away, I reflected on the importance of maintaining open communication with Imara. She had shown incredible strength in not succumbing to their pressure.

It's crucial for me to help her navigate the nuances of our planet compared to hers. There's a clear disparity, and while she may have viewed their attempts as simple communication, they were, in reality, hoping she would yield and choose them, recognizing her kindness and care for them.

That isn't right, and I will not let it pass. Once you let them get away with pressuring you, they will do it even more.

Males are naturally dominant and selfish, even those willing to be part of a female's family with a mate. It is not uncommon for males to fight for favor.

There are many males set in their ways, desiring a female for themselves, some don't pick a female for that reason.

Some act rootless, while others create chaos within their female mate's family, attempting to undermine or pressure them.

I know Imara is stronger than that, she stood her ground, but I'll stand by her nonetheless for cases like these. I won't tolerate males willingly hurting her feelings for selfish reasons, exploiting her kind nature. I'll be her eyes, ears, and the threat to safeguard her in every way.

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