Page 15 of Midnight Bond (Wolves of Midnight #5)

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“She’s MINE!”

It happened so fast that the bellowed statement didn’t register right away.

One second, Jagger was standing in the ballroom’s entrance, and the next, storming like a freight train toward Theo.

The male holding me finally let go, and with a growl, met Jagger head on.

Screams and protested shouts lit up the dance floor as the two males collided and began to fight like possessed demons.

I’d seen werewolves fight before, but not like this. Theo was juiced up on testosterone, whereas Jagger actually looked like a raging demon from the fiery pits of hell.

Within seconds, it became painfully obvious who the stronger male was.

Both landed vicious blows on each other, but even though he was still in human form, Jagger was more powerful by far.

As he hit Theo so hard that he stumbled and nearly fell, the guests on the dance floor shuffled back to give them room.

One glance and it was clear that they’d formed a ring around the fighting pair.

Not for protection, but to watch the match like it was a spectator sport.

Torn by what to do, I took a step toward the fight, only to be hauled back by another male. Jagger’s head suddenly snapped in our direction, his blazing red eyes locking on the male who’d grabbed my arm. Theo took advantage and rushed Jagger, cocking his fist back to punch him squarely on the jaw.

I opened my mouth to warn Jagger, but before I could, he whipped up a hand and caught Theo’s fist midswing. One savage twist later and Theo was howling in pain. As he curled forward, cradling his broken wrist, Jagger gripped him by the throat in a vicious hold and yanked him close.

“You will never, ever touch my mate again,” Jagger growled in the face of the defeated male.

My jaw practically fell to the floor. Did he just . . .

Did he just say mate?

Dumbfounded that he would say such a thing, I almost didn’t see the move coming in time. Just like he’d done with the human orderly at my parents’ house, he brought his other hand up to grip Theo’s head.

Realizing what he was about to do, I snapped out of my shock to cry, “Jagger, no! Don’t kill him.”

He froze, a split second away from breaking Theo’s neck, from killing him. But he didn’t let go. Didn’t back down.

My words weren’t enough. I could see the truth of it in the murderous way he continued to glare at Theo.

Without thought, I rushed forward to rest my hand on one of his arms. This close, I could feel the hot fury pouring off him.

Feel the tremor of barely-restrained rage just beneath his skin.

His arm flexed beneath my touch, making the muscles feel like ropes of steel.

He didn’t turn to me, but I somehow knew I had his full attention.

Opening my mouth before I lost my chance, I spoke as calmly as I could, “This is my fault, not his. Please don’t punish him for my actions.”

It was the truth. I’d all but served myself to Theo on a gold platter, and he’d been so doped up on pheromones that he hadn’t realized I’d changed my mind. I didn’t blame him for how far things went. I blamed myself for not knowing what I wanted.

Jagger didn’t move a muscle for several painfully long moments. Neither did Theo. His testosterone trip had reached a grisly end, and it was clear that he knew how close he was to death. Still touching Jagger’s arm, I felt the moment something shifted in him.

He abruptly let go of Theo, only to get in his face and snarl, “If you come near her again, I’ll rip off your head.”

Theo’s throat spasmed, and he quickly nodded before lowering his head deferentially.

Jagger continued to stare at him as if reconsidering his decision to spare his life, then suddenly turned to me. Overwhelmed by the full might of his red gaze, I didn’t see the move coming until it was too late.

A gasp left me as he threw my body over his shoulder cave-man style and strode toward the exit. Everyone gave him a wide berth, their gazes carefully fixed on anything but me. I couldn’t blame them. He was barely in control, and I knew they’d seen his blood red eyes.

Only a hybrid werewolf with a demonic spirit familiar could make their eyes glow red like that.

No one here stood a chance against him in a fight. Including me.

As he stormed from the ballroom, some of my shock faded, allowing room for other emotions. They flushed hotly through me, making my face heat with embarrassment. He’d crashed the gala and was now carrying me away like I was an insubordinate child. I’d never felt so humiliated in my entire life.

Feeling tears sting my eyes, I said through clenched teeth, “Put me down, Jagger.” He completely ignored me, passing through the lobby at a fast clip. “I need to collect my things.” Silence. “Jagger.”

Something in my voice must have finally gotten through to him, because he started to slow.

Feet away from exiting the front doors, he stopped and lowered me to my feet.

The second my heels touched the ground, I spun around and stormed through the lobby, retracing his steps.

As I neared the ballroom again, I heard a warning growl rumble from him, but I ignored it.

At the last second, I veered left and made for the side door that led to my cabin. Jagger followed in my wake, his presence like a malevolent specter about to attack at the slightest provocation. My only comfort was knowing that he wouldn’t attack me. Just anyone who dared come near me.

Sudden anger chased my humiliation away, and I wrenched open the door so hard that it smacked against the wall, shattering the glass. Too enraged to feel bad about it, I stepped over the mess, making a mental note to pay for it later.

Jagger didn’t comment, silent as a tomb as he closely trailed me down the shoveled path.

It had begun to lightly snow, but the cold flakes melted the second they connected with my flushed skin.

When I reached my cabin, I expected Jagger to wait outside while I packed my things, but he came in right behind me and shut the door with a loud bang.

I finally whirled toward him, my fury spilling over. “What the hell was that back there? You almost killed a male for touching me and then lied about me being your mate. What is wrong with you?”

I was practically screaming in his face, tears of rage streaming down my cheeks, but he didn’t say a word.

Completely losing it, I shoved his chest and shouted, “I’m sick of you treating me like a child, Jagger.

I have every right to find a mate. Hell, I can have sex with whoever I want to, including Theo.

I can engage in a freaking orgy if I feel like it.

But you screwed it all up and scared everyone away like you always do.

I hope you’re happy, because I most definitely am not.

I’m miserable, and it’s all your fault!”

When he still didn’t speak, I shoved his chest again. And again. And again. It was like striking a brick wall, and my inability to move him even an inch made me angrier by the second.

Just as I was about to tear into him with words again, he finally reacted.

One swift move, and he had me pinned against the door with my arms locked above my head.

I gasped and struggled to break free, but his much larger body had thoroughly trapped me.

Glaring daggers up at his glowing-red eyes, I hissed, “How dare—”

Before I could finish, his mouth crashed into mine.

Just like that, everything screeched to a halt. I stopped struggling. Stopped breathing. Every inch of me was shocked senseless.

Jagger. Jagger was kissing me. Well, if you could call what he was doing a kiss.

The press of his lips was anything but soft. It was hard. Bruising. Punishing.

He tightly gripped my wrists, using his body to render mine completely immobile. I waited for panic to fill me, for fear to take me hostage. Instead, my body burst awake like a firework, and a breathy whimper escaped me.

Jagger swallowed the sound, kissing me harder, harder, harder. My lips parted under the assault, and he delved his tongue inside my mouth. The second it touched mine, he jerked away from me and stumbled back.

Without him there to hold me up, my arms fell limply to my sides and I weakly slumped against the door.

Struggling to catch my breath, I peeled my eyes open to find him standing in the room’s center with his hands tightly balled into fists, his chest heaving and his eyes squeezed shut.

He stayed like that for a full minute. Then two.

With the taste of him still dancing on my tongue, I stayed where I was, in too much shock to break the silence.

After another solid minute, he slowly reopened his eyes. I immediately saw that they’d returned to their blue-gray color, but I saw something else too. Something that made the fireworks still sparking in my body turn into pinpricks of ice.

He looked devastated. Like he’d just made the worst mistake of his life.

And then he did something that instantly made me feel like a piece of dirt. He raised one of his fisted hands and wiped his mouth—our kiss—onto the back of it.

The pinpricks of ice went straight for my heart, and I visibly flinched as they impaled the vulnerable organ. Jagger didn’t notice. He’d already turned away from me to begin packing my things. I let him, in too much pain to move or speak.

But when he dropped some clothing onto the bed and said, “Get dressed,” my hurt quickly morphed into anger once more.

“Make me,” I snottily replied. Okay, not my best comeback, but I could still feel the pressure of his mouth on mine and his taste on my tongue. My brain wasn’t fully back online yet.

He paused in his packing but didn’t glance my way.

After a tense moment of silence, he grabbed the clothing and stuffed it into my bag.

A petty sense of victory filled me, but it faded a few minutes later when he finished packing the suitcase and strode toward the door with purpose.

I immediately knew what he was planning, noting too late that he’d packed my purse as well.

Still leaning against the door, I crossed my arms over my chest and stood my ground.

No way was he going to—

In one smooth move, he grabbed my arm and somehow managed to exit the cabin with me in tow while carrying my suitcase. Once outside, I tried to jerk my arm free, but his fingers were clamped around my bicep like iron shackles.

“Jagger, I swear,” I said in a deathly quiet voice as he forced me down the path toward the parking lot. “If you don’t let go of me in two seconds, I’m going to scream bloody murder.”

His hand on my arm immediately vanished. But when he kept going with my suitcase, I stomped after him with an annoyed growl.

“I can’t drive back without my keys,” I called as he swiftly pulled away, his legs so much longer than mine. “Jagger. Jagger.”

Without slowing, he finally replied, “You’re riding with me. I’ll send someone to pick up your car.”

I stopped dead in my tracks. Feeling my anger swiftly reach a tipping point once more, I snapped, “Like hell I am. I’ll just stay here.”

Before I could make good on my threat, he abruptly whirled and stormed toward me.

A startled squeak lodged in my throat, but I managed to stand my ground instead of run like I really wanted to do.

Prepared to fight like a feral beast if he tried to throw me over his shoulder again, I wasn’t ready when he stopped directly in front of me and said in an eerily soft voice, “You either come with me willingly, or I’ll tie you up and stuff you in the trunk. ”

My mouth fell open. Seeing the truth of his words in his piercing gaze, all I managed to get out was, “You wouldn’t dare.”

His gaze hardened. “Try me.”

Knowing that I’d lost, a feeling of helplessness stole over me. Still, I refused to look away, wanting him to see the truth of my words when I slowly said, “I hate you.”

He stared at me a moment more, his expression unreadable. Then he turned to walk away again with my suitcase, but not before I heard him mutter, “Good.”