Page 80 of Claiming His Rejected Mate

But I have spent every day since trying to undo that.

I ease my grip slightly. “It’s over, Damon. Stand down.”

His body sags slightly, his breath coming in short bursts.

And then—

A blur of movement.

A snarl.

Hazel.

She comes out of nowhere and strikes before I can stop her.

Her claws sink into Damon’s side, deep and unforgiving. Blood spurts against the ground, against her skin.

Damon gasps, his body going rigid. His hands tremble, his eyes wide in shock as he crumples to the dirt.

She’s breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling in sharp bursts. Her eyes are wild, dark with something raw.

Damon took everything from her. He shattered her life, turned her world into ruin. And now?

She has returned the favor.

We watch as his body stops moving.

I approach her slowly, her eyes still glowing with her anger myvoice low. “I had sworn I was going to kill him.”

She exhales sharply, but she doesn’t turn. “He was the reason my life has been hell. I wanted justice just as much.”

I step closer. “To be honest, it feels like we did it together. watching you dish the final blow was more satisfying.” I put my hand around her and pull her in.

Her laugh is dry.

Silence stretches between us. I understand. Everything she feels is squeezing my chest tight and I know she needed that release.

My chest tightens with something raw. Pride. Possession. A need so deep it burns.

“Brother!” Nina's voice tears from across the battlefield. I turn to see her running toward us.

She falls to the ground and takes Damon's lifeless body in her arms. Then, she looks up at Hazel.

“You…” she hisses with all the bitterness and vile in her body.

She lets go of Damon and stands, her fangs lengthened, her claws unleashed, ready to strike. She goes for Hazel, slashing at her. Hazel keeps a good distance, dodging every attack. I can feel Hazel's next move and I move to make sure she is in the right position. I grab Nina's hair and pull her back. But blinded by her rage, she slashes her hair off and lunges for Hazel again. But that gives Hazel the opening she needs.

We both go in for the kill. Hazel's dagger goes into Nina's belly and my claws slash across her throat.

“You were never an option to be mine, Nina. It was always Hazel.” I know she heard my words. A tear falls from her left eye. Hazel and I pull back and her body crumples to the ground.

“Are you alright, my love?” I ask, checking Hazel for injuries.

“Better than ever,” she pants, the satisfying smile on her lips makes her look like a war-soaked goddess. She wipes sweat from her forehead, streaming our enemies’ blood on her face. My goddess of vengeance. I could stare at her all day.

But I don’t have time to dwell.

Because I still have unfinished business.