Page 62 of Rocky Top

He blinked, all fake surprise. “Just passin’ through, brother. Thought I’d enjoy the local…flavor.”

His eyes slid past me to Birdie again.

Mine.

“Birdie,” I snapped, not even lookin’ back. “Go find Eliza. Now.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” she bit out.

“Birdie,” I growled low, the kind of sound that shut up full-grown wolves. “Now.”

She huffed like I’d kicked her damn dog, but I heard her boots crunch away.

The bear chuckled, deep and mean. “Aw, come on. I was just gettin’ to know the local talent.”

“Try it again, asshole. See how many teeth you leave with.”

He took another step, like he wanted to test the waters. “She smells like you,” he said, grinnin’. “But she ain’t marked. That mean she’s up for grabs?”

That did it.

I swung first, caught him right in the mouth. Bone cracked. The clubhouse exploded.

Tables overturned. Bottles shattered. Cheers went up from the brothers who knew how to shut the fuck up and enjoy a good old-fashioned dominance throwdown.

He hit back, hard. Fucker had fists like cinderblocks. My vision sparked red, but I didn’t stop swingin’. I wanted him to bleed. I wanted him toknowhe’d made the worst fuckin’ mistake of his life.

“You ain’t welcome here,” I snarled, slammin’ him into the wall hard enough to rattle the Wild Dog’s bones.

He grinned through a bloodied lip. “You gonna cry, pup?”

“Gonna rip your fuckin’ throat out, see how funny you are with your windpipe on the floor.”

We went down hard, fists, elbows, knees. The bear tried to use brute strength, but I fought dirty. Fast. Vicious. Like a wolf backed into a corner. He got a few good shots in, split my lip, bruised my ribs, but I drove him into the floor and straddled his chest, hand at his fat throat.

My claws itched to break free. I wanted toshiftand tear into him.

Then I heard Knox.

“Rocky.That’senough.”

I didn’t let go right away. My fingers tightened around the bear’s windpipe.

“Rocky!” he barked again.

Reluctantly, I released. Stood. Breath heaving. Hands stained in someone else’s blood.

The bear wheezed, rubbin’ his throat, still grinnin’ like a lunatic. “Message received,” he rasped, shovin’ to his feet. “But you can’t keep her forever. You know how this works. The council wants answers.”

My fist twitched again. “Message received. Get the fuck out of my town.”

He backed toward the door. “This ain’t over, pup.”

“You’re right,” I muttered. “Next time, I ain’t stoppin’.”

The door slammed behind him. The silence that followed was thick as diesel smoke.

I turned, and there she was.

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