LOVING THE MADMAN

Taking Out The Trash

I remained there, shocked at the man's audacity and by the vicious speed at which Troy had struck. He'd moved so fast and grabbed him so maliciously, the bastard hadn't even seen it coming.

Now, Troy had him by the collar, dragging him closer, as he seethed with rage.

The man's nose was already healing, being a wolf too, but he'd felt the impact of that first punch. Hell, I'd felt it too.

The collective "oohh" from the people nearby confirmed we all felt it.

My face grew red with shame as I became painfully aware of my dress... of the way the fabric clung to my hips, the way my skin felt exposed.

I swallowed the thick lump gathering in my throat, refusing to cry. At least not here or in front of all these people.

But I had never been humiliated like this before, and it affected me so badly I couldn't even name what I was feeling—anger, shame, shock, all of it rolled into me until I couldn’t sort it out.

My hand rose up to adjust the neckline of my dress in a bid to hide my cleavage, like it could fix the moment.

I held my breath the entire time, terrified someone else might say something just as vile... terrified of what Troy would do if they did.

We were back at the festival now, and although we were off to the side, the noise had been enough to draw attention.

Zephyr and Lyla were the first to notice. They were already headed our way, followed by my father and three of my brothers.

No. No. No. This could spiral fast.

I glanced at Troy, who hadn't loosened his grip on the man.

"I dare you to say that again," he growled through his teeth.

"Troy," I whispered, inching closer to touch his arm. "Please."

He didn't even look at me.

"Athena!" my father's voice cut in sharply as he reached us. "What's going on here?"

His eyes moved from Troy to the man, then to me, and I could see the anger lurking there.

My eyes lowered to the floor as I grew red with embarrassment. "He said something… vile," I muttered, clutching my dress. "About what I'm wearing."

A strained gasp caused me to look up, and I realized Troy's grip around the man's collar had tightened.

Now he was babbling apologies fast and desperately as he tried to wriggle free.

Slade, who had stayed quiet, containing his anger because Dad had been the one in charge, snapped when he saw my distraught face.

He stormed forward and grabbed the man's arm, trying to tear him from Troy's grip, but Troy didn't budge.

Instead, he turned slowly to face him, glaring dangerously.

Tension brewed in the air as the look between them grew charged with dominance and rage.

Neither was willing to back down.

Just as I opened my mouth to speak, to stop it before it became a full-blown fight, my mother's voice interrupted.

"Oh, darling. Where were you?" She asked gently, taking me into her arms. "Are you alright?"

I nodded quickly.

"What happened?"

"She needed the restroom," Troy answered on my behalf, his focus shifting away from Slade. "I escorted her."

Slade seized the opportunity, finally managing to rip the man free from Troy's grasp.

Dorian and Ares immediately came to stand beside him, while Robin was nowhere in sight. If he'd known what happened, he would've been here by now.

The man stammered out more apologies, already in tears as Alpha Zephyr stepped in to handle things, while my father's eyes watched Troy with suspicion.

Words were flying, but I barely heard any of them. My head was buzzing too loudly with shame and adrenaline. With unwanted longing, because of the way he had defended me, and the heat of Troy's arm touching mine.

He stood beside me, even as I was in my mother's protective arms. But I felt his presence the most.

Robin's arrival made me snap out of my thoughts. One look at my troubled face told him enough, and his eye grew dark with fury.

After Slade, he had the scariest temper.

Alpha Zephyrus was still trying to settle the situation, but my brothers weren't having it. Once again, I'd stopped listening, staring ahead instead, numb.

The offender's Alpha arrived shortly after, panting with panic and bowing in apology before dragging his Beta, who was named Brock, away. Three of my brothers followed him, without saying a word. But Slade stayed.

He moved forward, slipping between me and Troy, and pulled me from my mother's arms.

"You're staying with me for the rest of the night," he said stiffly, sending one last glare at Troy.

I didn't even get to argue before he tugged me away, and I stumbled after him, glancing back over my shoulder.

Troy hadn't moved.

His face was expressionless, but his eyes stayed locked on mine, even as the crowd swallowed me whole.

Slade finally stopped walking once we were out of sight, letting go of my hand.

"Why'd you pull me away like that?" I demanded.

"That man's trouble."

"Huh?"

"Ryder," he said, almost defensively. "I don't like how he looks at you. He's nothing but trouble."

I stared at him in disbelief. "I was assaulted," I pointed out, stepping closer. "Troy stood up for me, and you're telling me you pulled me away because you think he's “trouble”?"

Slade stared at me, folding his arms. "Look, I'm sorry about that, little sis. But Robin will take care of that fool for even daring to speak to you."

I shook my head, rolling my eyes. "I can't even stand you right now, Slade."

I brushed past him.

“Hey,” he called after me softly. "Where are you going?"

I ignored him, walking with no destination in mind. Eventually, I found shelter beneath one of the temporary stalls, sitting on a plastic chair.

The night air smelled of food and burnt wood from the bonfires and torches lining the path. I shut my eyes, taking in a deep breath as I tried not to think about the Beta's words…the way his eyes had trailed over me lewdly.

Images of Troy’s face replayed in my head… His expression when the man had spoken. The deadly glare.

He’d gone from stillness to violence in a second, and it frightened me. But another part of me felt something close to pride. He had done that for me. He had ended it before it turned into something worse, and for one freaking second, I had felt completely safe.

What did that mean? What did it say about him… about us?

And why was the longing I had for him so strong?

It was frustrating how one man could make me feel this way.

Troy and I didn't exchange another word for the rest of the night. I kept stealing glances at him, hoping he'd look my way, but he never did. He stood in his position, staring straight ahead like I didn't exist.

The festival carried on. I danced with anyone who asked, pasted on smiles, made idle small talk, and pretended to enjoy myself.

When the night finally ended, my parents stayed to thank Zephyr for hosting. I was a step behind them, glancing once more toward Troy. The jerk ignored my existence.

My chest ached as I realized I'd have to leave without even a look from him.

Once the formalities were done, we filed into our family SUV, a 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe. Everyone seemed in high spirits, sharing their highlights of the night, but I sat quietly, lost in my thoughts.

Dorian, seated beside me, was silent too, his brows drawn together in concentration.

"You're awfully quiet," Robin teased from the back seat. "Thinking about that hot brunette you were talking to? What was her name again?"

"Not thinking, i***t… listening in on something." Dorian corrected, turning to look at me.

"Listening to what?" Ares asked curiously.

Dorian sighed. "The i***t who harassed Athena seems to have gone missing." He frowned a bit. "As we left, I heard them talking about it. Alpha Victor sounded rather concerned."

My stomach flipped.

Slade, sitting on my other side, turned to give me a look, but he said nothing.

"You four had nothing to do with it, do you?" Father asked from the driver's seat, eying them in the rearview mirror.

"No," they said in unison.

"Although I wish we had," Ares muttered under his breath. "f*****g scum"

"Good," Mother said from the front seat, ignoring Ares's comment. "Then it’s no business of ours.”

Robin guffawed under his breath. "Well, would you look at that… Someone took out the trash for us."

"Yeah," Slade added, still watching me carefully, his frown deepening. "I wonder who."

The implication that he suspected Troy was clear.

Heck, I… suspected Troy.

Suddenly, I felt cold.

If he had done it… If he had indeed killed a man for me… I didn't know whether to be terrified or exhilarated.

Because it certainly meant one thing. He cared about me that much.

The Madman cared about me.