No Caging Me

I Dare You

The atmosphere shifted from chaotic to lethal in a heartbeat.

​As Riker loomed over them, his molten gaze dropped from my face to Aiden’s hand, which was now in my silver fur. To the Lycan, that wasn't a gesture of friendship; it was a violation. His mate—his soul’s anchor—was being touched by another male. A male he needed to remove from existence. one that was an obstacle for a full claim. Make an example out of this male so no one ever thought to touch what was his again without having a death wish.

​Aiden felt the temperature in the clearing drop. Riker’s upper lip curled back, revealing fangs that looked like daggers, and a guttural, bone-shaking snarl ripped from his chest. It was the sound of a predator claiming his territory, a warning that he was one second away from tearing Aiden’s arm from his body.

Aiden felt his heart stop.

​But I didn't cower or melt like any other female with her mate. I tensed and stood. (I will murder this asshat. I will rip out his intestines and feed them to him. He dares threaten my people in front of me after crashing through our territory like a moron on steroids? Who does he think we are? pushovers?)

​Before Riker could take a predatory step, I stepped in front of Aiden. I planted my paws firmly in the dirt, shielding the future Alpha of the Trinity pack and my best friend with my own shimmering body.

​My hackles rose like silver needles along my spine. My own snarl erupted—a sharp, melodic, yet terrifying sound that echoed the Fae’s ancient defiance. I hunkered down, my weight shifted back on my haunches, ready to spring. My golden eyes burned with a clear message: Touch him, and I will end you. Make my f*****g day. I will taste your blood before I bathe in it and then I'll deal the consequences.

​Riker froze.

​The massive Lycan blinked, his ears twitching forward in utter bewilderment. His wolf was screaming that he needed to protect me, to claim me, to drive away any other male—yet here I was, his fated mate, baring my teeth at him to protect a "mere" wolf. His wolf for the first time in his life almost whimpered like a pup.

​The rejection hit him harder than a physical blow. The absolute certainty of the Lycan bond met the stone-wall independence of the Fae, and for the first time in his life, Riker Strife didn't know where to go from here. The strategic mind that never failed him left him completely in this moment.

​Confused and wounded by the redirected aggression, Riker took a stumbling step back. The raw power he’d brought into the clearing flickered. He lowered his head slightly, his eyes searching mine, looking for the bond he knew was there—only to find a silver warrior ready for war. Was he mistaken? Was there something wrong with him? With me?

​Aiden stood behind her, his breath hitching in his chest. "Hex..." he breathed, his voice barely a whisper. "You’re... you're protecting me from a Royal? Are you f*****g mad? He's your fated mate. You hurt him, you hurt yourself. Why aren't you swooning? Are you f****d in the head?"

​I didn't look back. My gaze remained locked on Riker, my Fae blood singing with the thrill of the challenge. I didn't care about his rank, his size, or the strange pull in my chest. No one—not even a Lycan King—was going to come into my home and threaten my friend. (You're welcome, Dickhead. He was going to tear... wait a f*****g minute. Did you just say fated mate? Sure, he's hot and smells good but I'm not feeling commitment. I'm feeling "hop on it and leave come morning.")

Aiden froze again. "You're part Fae. You have to be... Fae don't have... No! I am not saying that s**t out loud. That's a you and him talk. preferably when I'm far the f**k away and not in range of the rest of the pack when he inevitably flies off his hinges because you're naturally a brat." He mutters as his hands fist in his hair.