Arden’s Mate(46)
Steve never finished, a steaming mad Arden grabbed him and threw him across the room.
Shit, she should have seen this coming. Someone, probably Grayson, had called Arden. Easing out of the seat, she shot Grayson a death stare as she rushed to grab Arden as he lifted up a struggling Steve. “Stop. Arden, don’t hurt him. Stop this now.”
Arden snarled and lifted a twitching Steve.
Remy yelled, “Grayson, help me now before he kills him.”
The wanker leaned against the bar with a smirk on his face. “I don’t know, from what I heard I think the guy needs killing.”
“Grayson, if you don’t come over and help me now, I swear I will skin you alive and make some pretty leopard print shoes. Steve is just a friend.”
Grayson shrugged and lazily stretched before slowly walking toward her.
In the time she’d argued with Grayson Arden had punched Steve and threw him again. Steve couldn’t even get in a word to say anything.
Remy ran to Arden again, grabbing him. “So help me God, stop it now, Arden, or I swear to you I will sleep somewhere else.”
That gave him pause enough for Grayson to hold him. “Arden, I think we should find out more info before we kill him.”
Remy knelt down beside a battered Steve. “Oh, Steve, I’m so sorry. She helped him up and to a sofa seat against the wall.
Arden snarled and lunged against Grayson.
“Someone get me some ice,” she yelled.
“I’m kinda busy here,” Grayson drawled.
“I wasn’t talking about you, idiot. There is like twenty or so men standing watching right now.”
A couple of minutes later a guy placed a bucket of ice and some cloths beside her. “Thank you.” She used the cloth to clean Steve’s cut lip. “I’m so sorry. Here you come to check to make sure I’m okay, and now you’re getting beaten up.”
“Are you sure you’re fine? He doesn’t hurt you, does he? I can get you out of here and someplace safe if he does,” Steve whispered.
Remy knew all the shifters could still hear his whisper. Arden growled.
“That’s sweet, but Arden would never hurt me. Drive me crazy insane, yes, but hurt me, no. Arden is like those guys who helped that night.”
“Do you go out with them fighting those creatures? You were amazing climbing up its back.”
Remy cringed at Arden’s, “What!” Grayson couldn’t hold him and he came to her, picking her up. “What’s he talking about, Remy?”
She patted his arm. “Nothing. He’s delirious from you throwing him.”
“Do I have to beat it out of him?” Arden snarled.
“No.” She moved off him and stood in front of him.
“I’ll tell you without you beating it out of me,” Steve said weakly.
Fuck. She didn’t want Arden to know she fought the demons while she was away. She slumped to the floor next to Steve, picking up a cloth, and continued cleaning him up. “It’s your funeral,” she muttered.
Steve pushed her away. “I think it’s best if I fix myself up. Your man is pretty possessive, and I like being alive.”
Arden sat on a seat in front of Steve, gathered Remy onto his lap, and told Steve to tell the story from the start. Steve told them what had happened the night she decided to come home. Arden listened intently. When Steve had finished, Arden’s hold on Remy was tight, and she knew she was in deep shit.
Arden was deathly quiet as he stood, holding her in his arms. He carried her out of the pub, and for once Remy knew to keep her mouth shut.
* * * *
Arden was hanging on to sanity by a thread. Not only had Remy gone on a date, but she fought demons and climbed onto one’s back.
He’d parked the car in back of the pub, because he’d wanted to be stealth and hear what this Steve guy was about. Grayson’s car was the only other one back there. He opened the passenger door and placed her on the seat, and that’s when Remy spoke, breaking the thread he’d held.
“I’m safe. I only did it to help. I shouldn’t have put myself in so much danger, but Faith and Kirby do it so I thought I could.”
His wolf took over and it want to show their mate who she belonged. That she would never think of another man. He ripped her clothes off and she backed up onto the seat. Arden flipped her around and palmed her bare arse.
“Arden.” Her voice was a husky rasp.
He tore his own cloths off and spread her legs. “Mine.”
She moaned, “Yours. I promise I’m only yours.”
He smacked her arse and she squealed. “Never again. No one but me will see what’s mine.” Arden was furious so many men had seen Remy naked. It was bad enough they’d seen her when she melted the bridal shop.