Page 85 of Savoring Her Snake

“Stanly, I’m not.”

“You think you are his,” he hisses, stomping close.

“Yes.” I don’t see his fist coming. The pain explodes across my cheek. The expression, seeing stars, is an actual thing. My face throbs in time with my heart.

“No,” he screams, his claws scraping the metal beside me as he drops his head. “He can’t be. No one even knows what he is. What the fuck is he? I have never smelled someone like him.” He looks at me through narrowed eyes. “He doesn’t need you. I do. I need you to love me.”

“Levi will never speak to you again,” I threaten, hoping the friendship means something to him.

“Fuck, Levi.” He shakes the table. “He never supported my love. The second a better opportunity came along, he ran. He left me and the prospect of all that money. He was the best fighter, and we could have had it all. I could have you, and we would have been true brothers. I would have paid it all back, and we could have lived in luxury.”

“He loves you. He wouldn’t want you to do this.” I rotate my wrists, and the restraints dig into my skin. “You were there for him when he needed someone. How can you throw that away?”

“He did. He threw me away.” His fingers turn white. “Levi doesn’t matter. You matter.”

“Is that why you have me chained?” I hiss.

“You wouldn’t listen. It’s been years of begging for scraps. Would you have had dinner with me? If you would have answered my calls?” He leans his forearms beside me. My emotions show on my face. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

“What are you going to do? Make me love you?” I lift my head. “Do you think this is the way to get me to love you?”

“I need you to listen,” he growls, and I drop my head.

“Fine. Here I am. It doesn’t look like I have a choice.” If I was a snake, I could slither out of these chains. I want to go home and never leave the basement.

“Jules, I won’t hurt you.” I turn my head and lift a bloody brow. “Anymore. I just want us to be together. We are perfect for each other. You can talk to Levi. He’ll start fighting again if you insist. We could go anywhere. Live anywhere with the money I’m getting. I want to change you. Make you a coyote. You’ll be beautiful. We can make babies.” He drags his finger over my neck, leaving a trail of blood that drips down my face. “Your mom offered to stay with the kids when we want time alone. She would love them. She promised to be a good grandma. You have to give her a chance to show you she has changed. Her life is different now. She is getting married, and she wants to spoil our kids. She said she will apologize. The mistakes she made won’t happen again.” I exhale harshly and blink the blood from my eyes.

“I can accept my role in not seeing your obsession and putting a stop to it. I can accept the fact that you kidnapped and chained me. I am helpless and should feed into your love and give you hope. I can’t accept your devotion to my mom. I don’t care that she fucked hundreds of men. I am all for taking control of your sexuality and the partners you choose to share your body with. What I can’t accept is doing that in front of your young children and causing damage that will last a lifetime.” He straightens. “The only thing I can thank my mother for is giving us life. I will be thrilled to never see her again. No apology will erase years of abuse and neglect. How could you think I would want her to be a model to children? She slept with you, dreaming of your money, while encouraging you to continue to love me.” He flinches and presses his lips together. “I would kill her before she got her hands on any kids of mine. By the way, you will not be the father.” His face reddens, and his claws grow. “Levi wants something better. I’m so fucking proud of him for waking up from the dreams you convinced him were his. I will never encourage him to go back to fighting. He isn’t your paycheck to tide you over until the money comes in. Get a fucking job. I don’t love you. I will never be with you. I am not your mate.” I lift my body as far as I can toward him. “Heath is. Heath is my mate and he will be the only one to give me kids. Keep me chained. Beat me. I will never give in to you or my mother. Just know, with Heath, it is my choice and desire to be restrained.”

“You bitch,” he snarls and lifts his hand.

“I wouldn’t do that,” a voice says. He turns sharply, his hand hanging in the air, and I see Sally standing in the door. “There is a very pissed-off man heading this way. He will not like to see the blood on her face.” She walks further inside, and River follows. I could cry in relief.

“Who the fuck are you?” Stanly asks, turning to face them, his hand dropping.

“I’m sad,” she sighs.

“Everyone should know you, Sally,” River drawls.

“Thanks, wolf.” She grins.

“Rabbit,” Stanly sneers.

“I get that a lot.” Sally saunters closer, and Ava and Kerian enter. “I don’t give a shit about your opinion. If we were judging by species…” She shakes her head sadly. “Hon, you are the worst.”

“Listen, bitch.” He takes a step in her direction.

“I wouldn’t do that either,” River threatens, stepping close to Sally's side. “Heath wants to kill you himself, but if you make a move on her, I’ll face his anger and kill you.”

“Who are you?” Stanly steps away from me and into the middle of the room.

“Me?” River presses a hand to his chest. “A concerned friend. We are here to make sure you don’t run.”

“You didn’t think about who you were kidnapping,” Sally says.

“And who she is connected to,” River adds.

“Or her mate,” Kerian says. Ava is slowly walking to the left, Kerian following close.

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