Maximus
Those three little words, “We’re done here,” had been buzzing in my head from the moment I got over the feel of his teeth on my neck. They probably never should have been spoken but I couldn’t help it, no, I could. I just wanted to see the look on his face when I walked out of this room with another man. I wanted to see if my words would have the effect I wanted. I wanted to see him lose it, wanted to see if it pissed him off. One minute he’s treating me like a cheap slut and then in the next he wraps his arm around me and tries to act possessive of me in front of Donny?
What I found when I uttered those three little words was a rage that had me fearing for Donny’s life. Shane cocked his head to the side, his eyes going the coldest I’ve seen them since I walked into this room, and his body relaxed in a way that seemed odd with the situation.
Donny gripped my hand and pulled me close. His scent was all wrong but I was comforted by his familiarity. His large hand came up and cupped my cheek and his eyes roam my face. A sadness touches the corners of his eyes but he says nothing. My gaze flickers behind him and what stares back at me has me freaking out. Murder.
Tuning from me, I feel Donny walk away but still, I can’t look away from the seething monster. Donny walks over to the table where Shane is standing and I hold my breath at their proximity. Donny grabs the wipes and doesn’t even bat an eye in Shane’s direction before he walks over and pulls a few from the container. Returning to me, he lightly wipes my face and my cheeks flame as I realize I still have Shane all over me. I must have missed some when I wiped earlier. I still don’t know why he’s treating me like I’ll shatter into a million pieces. He pulls me in for a gentle hug and I stare at Shane as he watches us.
In the blink of an eye, Shane is cowering over me, the sickening sound of the cracking of bones fills the air, and the giant that is Donny is forced to his knees. Lifting my chin, I stare at the scene in front of me. Shane smiles for the first time, but it doesn’t reach his eyes as he stares down his nose at Donny, he has Donny’s arm twisted at an odd angle and I know he’s broken something. His eyes flash yellow and I know that if I don’t step in now, his wolf will push forward.
“I found one,” he growled.
“Let him go!” I cry out. Instead of reaching for my friend, I take a step forward and grab Shane’s arm. He doesn’t look at me, but his grip tightens as he pulls Donny’s arm further back. “Shane!” I yell. Slowly, he turns his head to look at me, his eyes locking on my eyes and trailing down to my lips before landing on where my hand clenches him. Obsidian eyes turn yellow as he turns to look into my eyes.
“I never said I was finished,” Shane’s wolf said calmly.
I blink. I’m caught off guard. I swallow and know that I need to choose my next words wisely. Being stubborn and having attitude with Shane when it’s just the two of us is one thing, doing it when his wolf has Donny at his feet is another. If he wanted to, he could rip his arm clean off, and worse. So much worse.
“I’ll stay here with you, if—”
“Maximus,” he growled.
“What?” I asked confused.
“My name is Maximus,” he repeated, his voice rumbled with every word.
“Okay… I’ll stay here with you Maximus, if you let my friend go,” I said carefully.
“What did I say earlier?” Maximus asked, ignoring my words. I looked at him confused. “I said I don’t share. This human doesn’t look at you like a friend. There’s lust and possession in his eyes and I don’t like that. I want to pluck them out. I want to kill him,” he said, his voice velvety and smooth as he talked about ending a life.
“Please don’t,” I stuttered. “He’s one of my only friends and I’m fond of him,” I whispered pleadingly. Shane obviously hates me, but his wolf might not. Why would he? He’s the other half of me. He’s supposed to care for me, protect me, even…. love me. If I can appeal to him in just the right way, I know he’ll listen. “I’ll be really sad if you kill him.” I didn’t know if my words would reach him but all I could count on was the possibility that my mate’s other half would care. The wolf whined as he looked back and forth between me and the man on the floor.
“I don’t want you to cry, not anymore,” Maximus whined sorrowfully. I didn’t know what he meant but I held his gaze and he released Donny. He grunted as his arm dropped. Without looking at him, I waved him away with my hand.
“Go Donny. Leave me,” I whispered calmly.
“I’m not leaving you. I’m taking you home,” he groaned. I take back what I said about he being ballsy, he was stupid, definitely stupid. Maximus growled and I stepped in between the two men. I reached up and placed my hands on his chest. Yellow eyes stared down at me as if I were the only person in the whole world, no, as if I were his whole world. My heart panged painfully. Why were they so different?
“He won’t hurt me Donny but I can’t say the same for you. Leave now while you still can. I’ll talk to you later. I can explain later,” I promised. For a minute, I prayed Donny would get up, when he finally did I let out a breath of relief.
“I’ll be outside if you need me,” he grunted.
“No, go to a hospital. I’ll message you later,” I promised. The sound of footsteps receded and the door closed as he went out. “Why did you come here?” I asked the wolf. His arms wrapped around my waist and I was hoisted up so he could rub his face against mine.
“I wanted to see you,” he murmured.