Page 41 of Let Us Prey
Fuck, this girl is gonna kill me.
True to form, Heather Whoever scoffs, dramatically flipping her peroxide hair like some sort of Valley pred. “Didn’t you learn your lesson the last time, Double D? You’re no match for me.”
Delores’ baby blues narrow in a way that makes my dick twitch again. “Maybe I wasn’t then, but you also never gave me a fair fight. This time, I want to see what you’ve got, without backup or dirty tricks. Just you versus me.”
The class has gone silent, with the other preds wisely staying out of the way, including the other Council heirs. Unmistakable panic flashes in the Heather’s eyes as she frantically looks at me. “Professor! I will not place one toe in that ring without my family’s lawyer present. You need to be theresponsible adulthere and tell DD to back off!”
Oh, you think I’m gonna save you?
“What’s the matter, princess?” I goad, not even ashamed to admit Delores’ aggression is turning me on. “Are you afraid to face abunny?”
One of the other piranhas giggles, earning her a death glare from her supreme ruler. As expected, the threat of losing face is greater than the risk of breaking a nail, and the Heather grumpily shuffles after Delores into the center of the ring.
I can’t wait to see this.
“All right, Blondie and budget blondie,” I begin. “Let’s go over a few ground rules before you—”
I don’t even finish my sentence before Delores attacks. Her fist catches the Heather under the chin, the loud crack still echoing off the surrounding forest when the second hit cuts across her left cheek. Before the shrieking princess can even recover, Delores swings a leg and takes the bully’s feet out from under her.
HOLY FUCKING SHIT!
The Heather lands on the ground like a sack of potatoes, but Delores doesn’t give her an inch. Pinning the piranha beneath her with a knee to the chest, she almost pulls off the other girl’s ratty weave entirely as she yanks her head back, exposing her throat.
“You pretended to be my friend, you fucking two-faced bitch,” Delores croaks, that fury of hers so intoxicating I barely notice the impressively sharp claws extending from her right hand as she readies to strike.
Fuuuuck, she’s beautiful.
“Uhhh… maybe youshouldstep in, Cash?” Zhenga’s voice snaps me out of my daze and I sharply nod, clearing my throat.
“That’s enough, ladies!” I bark, briskly clapping my hands to snap Delores out of whatever super fucking hot state she’s fallen into. “Clearly, our token prey is not a bunny to be messed with. Or maybe kung fu fish here should have paid more attention during her overpriced lessons. Either way—class dismissed!”
Delores stands and silently leaves the ring, avoiding my gaze as she grabs her bag and quickly heads toward the main campus. I move to follow, but the piranha who just got her ass handed to her scrambles to her feet and blocks my path.
“Youwillbe hearing from my lawyer, Professor! What just happened violates, well…something,I’m sure.And if you think I’m going to stand for thatslutputting her prey hands on me again… ”
My hand is around her throat so fast, she can only release a surprised squeak before I cut off her air. “Don’t you ever talk about her that way again,” I growl directly into her face, my vision going red as I start to half-shift. “And if I hear about you going anywherenearDelores in the future, I will bring the full wrath of my family down on your empty little head. Do I make myself clear?”
She manages to nod, so I release her to suck in a ragged breath before she mutters something about how “pred lives matter.” Regaining control, I realize not only are her idiot followers watching the show, but one of them has her phone out like she’s been recording it.
Oh, no, you don’t.
“Give me that,” I command, stalking over to the amateur paparazzi to snatch the DiePhone out of her hand and slam it to the paved ground so hard it shatters. Before bobblehead number two can open her mouth, I point a thick finger in her plastic face and sweep my gaze over the Council heirs. “What I said goes for the rest of you as well. Anything you do to Delores Drew will come back on you tenfold. As far as you’re concerned, she’s a Romulus now, so tread carefully. Now get the fuck out of my sight.”
They scatter like startled pigeons and something deep in my chest—something that’s been lodged in there for years—shifts the tiniest bit.
Before I can examine the strange sensation, Zhenga gives a low whistle from somewhere behind me. “Well, well, Cash… should we make wedding arrangements now, or wait another week for you to officially propose?”
I turn to retort, inwardly groaning as I see who joined her during my rampage. Dakota Volkov is a grizzly shifter, and another regular opponent of mine in the ring, but she also runs her mouth like it’s her job. What happened here today will make its way to Bloodstone by nightfall, if she has anything to do with it—not that it matters.
Since they already sent me away for exactly this.
Stomping past the rumor mill, I remove the rest of my clothes and shift, hoping I can catch up with Delores before she gets to her next class. Following her scent—fuck,she smells good—I track her as far as the Shird, but she’s already disappeared inside.
I watch the main entryway for a while, just to make sure none of the idiot piranhas think they’re going to show up for immediate revenge. They shouldn’t take my threat lightly, but privileged entitlement goes a long way, and I absently wonder if I’ll be forced to make an example of one of these rich bitches before they understand how serious I am. In the end, I’ll always do whatever it takes to protect my pack.
My pack...
Fuck. I called her a Romulus, too.
