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“I know.” She lightly places her palm on my back, but it’s still slightly shaking. “Let’s go home.”

“No, I don’t want him to follow us.” I panic, I usually know what steps to take, but my cheetah is more in control now. I’m frozen. My human side fighting to stay still, if I don’t, my cheetah will fully emerge and then we’re all fucked. With what little reasoning I have left, I say, “Take my phone out of my pocket. Call Bash. He’s the closest. He’s strong enough to control me and the humans who may see me turn.” She does as I say. Bash is the logical choice instead of Ryker. He wouldn’t want to put Serenity in harm’s way, even if they are still in the area. My nails gouge into the hood further as my control rides the edge. All I can see is Saylor being taken, hurt, or worse.

What if I’m not strong enough to stop it? What if I let my guard down for one minute?

I distantly hear Saylor speaking to Bash but I can’t concentrate on the words. The yellow bleeds into my eyes and my cheetah’s vision takes over. I have never felt such blinding fury, even when the vampire twisted my life to shit. I finally found something good.

Something pure.

Something just for me.

“I will not allow anyone to take it away from us,” I thunder. Vibrations flood my body, the magic of the change skating under my skin.

I grimace, struggling to hold him back.

“Elijah,” Bash says harshly.

My nostrils flare and my head twitches his way.

Vampire. Enemy.

“No.” I hate them.

“Yes, you are scaring your mate,” he says firmly, coming closer.

“No,” I deny. I don’t ever want to make her fear me.

“Find the control.” He almost brushes my side.

“No one will take her from me.”

“I know. I know the feeling well. You can’t let the beast take over. You are in control.” He puts his hand beside mine. “Who will protect her if you lose yourself?”

“Never,” I snapped. “She is mine. Mine to protect.”

“She is. But you are putting her in danger being out in the open. Do. Not. Let. Him. Control. You,” he says.

“Fuck,” I say, gritting my teeth, cutting my lip open.

“Saylor,” Bash calls. “Come here.”

“No, don’t want to hurt her,” I cry in agony.

“You won’t.” He moves his hand to my shoulder. “You have to trust me.”

“You don’t know what you're asking.”

“I don’t. I don't know why you find it hard to trust my kind, but you have to. I have never hurt you.” He motions over his shoulder. “Look, my mate is here. I would never do anything to put Saylor in danger. Marie would not allow it, even if for some reason I did.”

I roll my bright eyes Marie’s way. “I can try,” I concede.

“Saylor,” Bash repeats and she continues to close in. “He will never hurt you, even when he is like this. He would rather kill himself than cause you any pain.” He moves back a step. “I want you to duck under his arm and get as close as you can.”

“Vampire,” I snapped.

“Trust,” he reminds me.

“Go slow. Wrap your arms around him.” She starts to do as he says but he stops her before she can dip under. “I need you to agree with something first,” he starts.