Page 31 of Rejected By the Shifter King

In a blink of an eye, Lysander had Estrella tucked safely behind him while all the other Lyccans had drawn their weapons out.

Everyone that is...exceptMisty.

All at once, he realized that she was the key to keeping him from losing control, and he deliberately focused his gaze on Estrella's sister-in-law. Because his beast didn't trust anyone with a dick, Misty alone was capable of keeping him from going on a rampage and start snapping necks and biting people's heads off.

So focused was he at keeping himself in check that it was only when they were walking back to the apartment building that Lysander belatedly became aware of his wife's growing distress. He was instantly agitated, and he growled for her attention inside her mind.

WHAT'S WRONG?

Estrella only shook her head, not trusting herself to speak. The moment she opened her mouth, she had a feeling she'd end up crying instead.It hurt. It just hurt.

Lysander's agitation grew. WHO...HURT...YOU?

Estrella bit back a sob.Oh God.She had forgotten he could read her thoughts.Again.And she couldn't afford to do that. Not now. Not about this.

WHAT ABOUT...NOW? WHAT...IS THIS?

But when Estrella didn't even turn to meet his eyes, Lysander didn't even think twice. He shifted out of his form in the next second, unwilling to accidentally hurt his wife with his claws.

A blast of icy wind was only her warning, and as her head jerked up in shock, she saw the elevator doors closing on the two of them just as Lysander shifted out of his current form.

In the next moment, he had her trapped between the wall and his naked body while his hands cupped her face. "What's...wrong?"

She shook her head even as her eyes started smarting.

"Tell...me." His voice came out in a roar. "Who...hurt...you!"

The irony of it wasn't lost on her, and she started to cry.It hurt. It hurt. It hurt.

His snarl of frustration could've frightened away grown men and sent them scurrying, but his lips were tender and gentle as he kissed her cheeks and licked her tears away. "Tell...me. Can't...stand. Seeing...you...hurt."

But this only made his mate cry harder, and he swept her up in his arms as the elevator doors opened. Alain and Aluin were already waiting at the hallway, and their faces turned expressionless the moment they saw their prince walk out of the elevator naked and with a sobbing princess in his arms.

This probably meant the rest of the today's meetings would have to be rescheduled, Aluin thought as they took their usual positions. But if making up would also make Lysander a little less moody and unpredictable...

The twins exchanged glances as Alain opened the door for the royal couple, and Aluin waited for his brother to pull the door shut before asking, "You're thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Of course." Come hell or high water, they would do whatever it took to ensure that their prince's marriage was consummated before the day was over.

****

ESTRELLA STARTED STRUGGLINGthe moment Lysander tried undressing her. "No!"How dare he?Anguish rose inside of her at the sheer gall of his actions, and she worked harder to free herself even as her tears fell faster.It hurt. It hurt. It hurt.

The words that kept echoing in her mind was driving both man and beast crazy. Neither could stand the pain and despair that Estrella was drowning in, and because she stubbornly refused to explain why she was hurting, there was only one thing left to do.

"Nooooooooo!"

But her cries of protest and struggles proved futile as the ripping sound of fabric filled the room. One by one, torn pieces of her clothes fell to the floor. Her dress. The lace cups of her bra. And finally, the scrap of silk that protected her femininity.

"No, no, no!" She clawed and struck his chest with her fists, trying to get away, but he was just too powerful, and another sob tore out of her throat as he succeeded in having her flat on her back on the bed. She tried kicking him away, but not a single kick landed, and soon he was parting her legs wide open—-

Panic consumed her.

For him to take her virginity, knowing that hestillwanted another woman—-

Pain devoured her.

NO, NO, NO, NOOOOOOO!