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“Let’s just go,” I said, walking over to him. He nodded, taking my duffel bag.

We both took a step toward the door when a hand clenched around my upper arm, dragging me back. “You’re not leaving with a fucking stranger.”

Danny.

I cried out in pain at the harsh tug backward, stumbling over my own feet.

The next three seconds were a blur of movement as Jensen plucked me out of Danny’s grasp and launched himself toward Danny, his fist making an impressive sound as it connected with his cheek.

“Don’t youeverlay a fucking hand on her again. You hear me?” Jensen snarled. Gone was his usual happy-go-lucky goldenretriever personality. In its place was a seething, furious, and dangerous alpha.

Despite the severity of the situation, my stomach did a little flutter.

Angry Jensen washot.

Danny was crouched over, holding his face with unbridled horror in his expression.

“Let’s go,” I muttered, tugging the back of Jensen’s shirt.

He glanced at me, the anger subsiding slightly but not leaving his expression entirely. With a surprisingly gentle grip, he took my hand in his and pulled me toward the door. His rental was sitting outside, and we both ignored the shouts from my family as we got in.

Danny watched in horror, still unable to compute that he’d just gotten sucker punched.

We were quiet for a moment when we pulled out of the driveway. Jensen was still radiating anger, and I wanted to give him a moment to calm down.

“Thank you,” I whispered eventually, tears still running down my cheeks.

He didn’t have to come for me, but I appreciated that he had. I could have gotten myself to the hotel just fine, but having him there to support me meant more than he probably realized.

He reached out, taking my hand in his. There was still an angry tension in his jaw, but I knew that wasn’t directed at me.

“Let’s get you home.”

Home.

That sounded about right.

Chapter 34

Cullen

Anger.

I hadn’t felt rage like that in a long time, but when I got the call that Bethany had been bullied by her family, I was livid.

Jensen hadn’t explained much about what had happened, only that Bethany’s family knew she was pregnant and had treated her badly, and the two of them were coming home immediately. Jensen had told the team he had a family emergency and bailed on the game.

They had hopped on the first flight back, so it only took them a few hours to get home. I had decided to let Sally cover the restaurant as I stalked around the entryway to the house, waiting on their arrival. Joey was at the zoo with one of her school friends, so she wouldn’t be witness to my sheer rage over Bethany’s knucklehead family.

When Jensen’s car pulled up and they got out, there was no missing the redness in Bethany’s eyes. Her hair was scraped back into a messy bun, and she was wearing one of Jensen’s hoodies and a pair of jeans. His clothing was huge on her, making her look even more vulnerable and tiny.

She was upset.

Thatinfuriatedme. I wanted to punch whoever upset her.

“Explain,” I demanded before she was even fully in the door. My ire made me short and snappy.

“Hello to you too, Cullen. It’s nice to be home.” Her voice was full of sarcasm, but I was more concerned with figuring out what the fuck had happened.