Caught Beast Mate(27)

“She’s a fine mate,” Zarik said.

I snapped my eyes up. “You have no business speaking of my mate.”

“The heart does what it wants. My Jorta was sweet too. Golden hair. Like Mayhem’s, like Sienna’s.”

“Mm-hm. Keep talking.”

“You are not suited to mate.” He was right, of course, so I ground my teeth. “I could let her out and bring her here provided you and I agree to do what humans have done in this community.”

My missing foot began itching. In my mind, I kicked his head with it. “What…what are you talking about?”

“You failed at mating. You can’t protect her, you can’t have her, and you can’t give her up. I have long lost mine. We can help each other. Sienna is better protected and cared for with two of us than only with you.”

Motherfucker. I reached for the teacup and slammed it on his temple. Hot liquid burned his face, and blood trickled down the side. With everything I had, I threw myself on him. We fell to the floor, and I covered his body with mine, landing three rapid strikes to his bleeding temple. With my other hand, I swiped his knife and pressed it to his throat. “Open your mouth,” I said, “or die. What the fuck is wrong with you? The earth life got to your head. You forgot who you are and what we are. We are beasts. We do not share our mates.”

Zarik opened his mouth because he knew what he’d done.

I reached inside, took his tongue and…flung the knife into the wall. I had every right to cut it out, but I couldn’t. For better or worse, Sienna liked this motherfucker, and the last thing I needed was more friction between us. If I cut his tongue out? There would be friction.

I banged my forehead against his nose. A crack sounded. Zarik howled in pain, his scream nearly blowing out my eardrums.

Hasel barged into the room.

I sat up and wiped his blood off my face, then smeared it over my chest. “You will bring me my mate. And the next person who speaks a word to her will lose their tongue. Are we clear?”

She crouched by Zarik. “What have you done?” she asked him.

“Are we clear?” I asked.

“Y…es.”

“I’m assuming authority here. You will follow my orders, or you may leave.”

“Vice is coming for you,” she spat and cradled Zarik’s head.

“But he isn’t here yet.”



Zarik and Hasel left. My hands shook as I wiped his blood from my chest with a towel. Bloodlust rode me. I wanted to devour that male. But I’d already wasted every bit of energy on him when I needed it for healing. I couldn’t grow a leg, but I would heal faster if allowed some stress-free rest. With Sienna in the cage and away from me, I wouldn’t rest, wouldn’t heal, wouldn’t want to do anything other than be near her.

Her presence alone would heal me.

Zarik should’ve known better than to speak of my mate. I didn’t care if he was lonely or thought her the prettiest girl in the world—which was true. A beast didn’t speak of another beast’s mate. A sure way to die.

I didn’t know if mating was different with Mayhem’s tribe, but I wouldn’t allow such things. I had a duty to defend her honor and make an example of him. Nobody would fuck with my mate. Not these hunters and not the humans.

Fifteen minutes later, Hasel returned alone. Without a word, she cleaned up and mopped the blood off the floor. Once done, she leaned the mop against the wall and rested one hand on her hip. “Zarik couldn’t hold his tongue.”

“Nope.”

“Shall I cut it out?” she asked.

“Leave it.”

“Had I known you were alive, I wouldn’t have asked her to give him attention.”

“What kind of attention?”

“She braids his hair.”

“Petting. She’s petting him.” I smiled. “I will end him.”

“I raised that boy. He is like mine. They all are. Their parents, relatives, families were hunted and killed by your Alpha Nie. Believe me, we know we have the Alpha’s beast among us, we know you believe us second-class citizens.”

“Alpha Nie was your Alpha too.”

“Never. Alpha Beast is my alpha. That boy brought us here and put Mayhem in place as the Keeper of Earth, gave him almost as much power as his own brother. Alpha Beast understands we can conquer anything together. We must not fight amongst each other. Zarik will learn from this.”

I’d’ve thought Hasel would reprimand me for breaking Zarik’s nose, but I was wrong. Hasel seemed to believe he needed a lesson and approved. A savage female. Unlike my gentle mother, whose idea of savagery was cursing at the dinner table.