Page 9 of Claimed

I lean in and I’m growling in Joel’s face.

Her small hand starts to quake in my grip.

“Whoa. Let’s calm down,” Linc tries to diffuse the situation.

“Let’s get the fuck out of my way,” I offer an alternative.

“Grey. Buddy…” Jase tries. “Be reasonable. She tried to murder Ty. She’s obviously the one who poisoned the other guys. She’s–” He gestures to her.

“Mine is what she is. I already told these guys. Either I take her home with me or I stay here in that cell with her tonight and claim her there.”

I don’t want their eyes on her. I don’t want her scent in their nostrils. Yeah, these are my pack brothers, like real brothers to me. But this woman ismymate, and nobody belongs near her now. I need to claim her. Mark her. Take her home. Cover her with my scent. Fill her with it. Away from all other males.

“Claim me?” she whispers, sounding horrified.

My eyes dart to her face. She’s absolutely terrified.

And now her eyes widen. “Your eyes are glowing. They’re like… like… molten mercury,” she whispers.

I lean in and inhale her skin at her throat. “Time to get you alone so I can light you up, too, Blossom.”

She gulps down a swallow as her eyes widen further.

I turn to the guys. “This is not negotiable. Either I take her home or you lock us in. But if you do that and make me claim my mate on that cold, dirty floor downstairs for the first time, I won’t forget it.”

“Greyson,” Linc touches my arm. “What if she–”

I lean forward and snarl, “Take a vote! Decide. Because I need to claim my mate. Now.”

“Holy cow,” she whispers. “I think you’re confused.”

“I’m not,” I vow.

“Maybe because my scent was disguised. I… I dabbled with some potions and–”

“You’re mine,” I state. “Every cell in my body knows it.”

“Maybe you’re confused,” she whispers again, eyes bouncing to the other guys and then hitting the floor.

Absolutely not.

“Wh-what do I smell like to you guys?” she asks timidly, eyes pointed at her feet.

“You smell like you’re Grey’s,” Linc answers firmly while pointing his eyes at me. “Smell the gunpowder stronger outside now. There’s a mild trail. Want me to hit it, brother? Find the gun?”

“Yeah,” I say, grateful for the way he answered her. If I’d seen any of their noses twitch I might have lost it.

“I’ll report back,” Linc says.

“I’ll reach out when I’m ready. I’ll be busy. Unless you all insist I’m staying in that cell. Am I stayin’ or goin’?” I demand.

None of them look like they want to stop me from leaving.

Good. I really don’t want the first time I claim my woman to be in that cell. Though if it were the only option, I’d have no choice but to take it.

They move out of my way, and I scoop my trembling, barefoot mate into my arms and walk past them.

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