Entitled prick

Claire

Connor's words rings in my ears, heavy and sharp like they cut right through the fear. Not a single hair on my head touche None of these men making it out alive. No ashes left of Tyler.

Chills race down my spine, and I stare at him, searching his face for any sign he's joking. He has to be, right? This is Connor, my best friend, the guy who teases me about bad takeout and steals my fries. He doesn't talk like some deadly enforcer. Or does he? The way he said it, so calm and certain, makes my stomach twist in a mix of terror and something hotter I don't have time to unpack.

"Connor," I start, my voice shaky but trying to stay steady. "That has to be a joke. You didn't actually mean—"

He cuts me off with a look, his hand still firm on my wrist. "Stay inside. I'll go out and handle this."

I yank my arm back, shaking my head hard. "Like hell I will. You think I'm just going to sit here like some damsel while you play hero against my crazy ex and his goons? No way. I'm coming with you."

He stares at me for a long beat, jaw tight, eyes flicking between me and the men outside. I can see the reluctance there, the way his shoulders tense like he wants to argue. But I lift my chin and hold his gaze, letting him see I'm not backing down. Not on this. I've dragged him into enough of my pack drama already. If anyone's facing Tyler, it's both of us.

"Okay," he says finally, exhaling through his nose. "But you stay behind me. No rushing ahead, no talking unless I say so. Got it?"

I shrug, nodding once even as my heart pounds. "Yeah, yeah. Behind you. Let's just get this over with before they decide to start shooting for fun."

Connor opens his door first, slow and deliberate, like he's got all the time in the world. The cool air rushes in, carrying the scent of exhaust and tension.

I push my own door open right after, stepping out onto the gravel that crunches under my sneakers. My legs feel a little unsteady, but I keep my face neutral, refusing to show weakness in front of Tyler or his crew.

The second my feet hit the ground, Tyler moves. He pushes off the hood of our car and rushes toward me, arms out like he's about to grab me and drag me back where he thinks I belong.

"Claire, get over here. Now."

But Connor's faster. He steps right in front of me, one arm shooting out to block Tyler's path, his body solid and unyielding. Tyler stops short, nearly colliding with Connor's chest, and the air crackles with pure rage from both of them.

Connor's voice comes out low and controlled, but there's an edge to it that sends another shiver through me. "Are you being delusional and insensitive right now, or what? What exactly do you want with Claire? You obviously don't need her. She's cursed, wolfless, useless to your plans. Not worth anything for you or the pack. So why don't you just quit while you still can?"

Tyler clenches his fists at his sides, his face turning redder by the second. His eyes narrow on Connor, then flick to me like he can't believe I'm standing here with someone else.

"She's my woman. I have every right to do whatever I want with her. You don't get to question shit."

Connor stays quiet for a moment, letting the words hang there. The armed men shift their weight, guns still raised, but nobody fires yet. I can feel the tension building, thick enough to choke on.

Then Connor speaks again, his tone dripping with disbelief. "You think the world revolves around you or something? What kind of entitlement makes you think you get to decide who Claire's with or what she does?"

Tyler fires back immediately, stepping closer even with Connor blocking him. "I know she's just angry right now. She'll forgive me. I'm not letting you take her anywhere. Claire doesn't like other men touching her. Never has."

A sarcastic laugh bubbles out of me before I can stop it. "Oh, please. You really believe that? After everything?"

Connor smirks, that same hot, confident curve of his lips from earlier. He glances back at me for a split second, eyes locking with mine in a way that makes my breath hitch.

"Is that so Tyler? We should see about that."

Tyler opens his mouth to respond, probably some more possessive bullshit, but Connor doesn't give him the chance. He turns to me fully, his hands landing on my waist with a grip that's firm and possessive. Heat floods through me at the contact, his fingers pressing into my sides like he owns the space between us. Before I can even process it, he pulls me in close, our bodies flush, and crashes his lips onto mine.

The kiss hits hard and deep, nothing gentle about it. His mouth moves against mine with raw hunger, tongue sweeping in like he's claiming every inch.

I taste the intensity there, the frustration and want all mixed together. One of his hands slides up my back, tangling in my hair to angle my head just right, while the other stays anchored at my waist, pulling me tighter against his solid chest. It's hot, unhinged, the kind of kiss that makes my knees weak and my mind blank out everything else. Sparks shoot down my spine as he deepens it, his body hard and warm, smelling like soap and that faint cologne he always wears.

I kiss him back without thinking, my hands fisting in his shirt, because damn, this feels too good to fight in the moment.

Tyler's eyes go wide, pure fury twisting his features. "What the fuck? Shoot him! Release the bullets on that bastard right now!"

Everything blurs. In the span of a blink, Connor's no longer pressed against me. I stumble back a step, lips still tingling, trying to catch up. Then I see it—Tyler's feet dangling off the ground, his body lifted clean into the air. Connor's hand wraps tight around his throat, muscles corded with power as he holds my ex there like he weighs nothing.

Tyler's face turns purple, hands clawing uselessly at Connor's wrist, gasping for air that won't come.

Connor's voice drops low, lethal, sending my heart racing into overdrive. "I've been dying to kill you, bastard Tyler Bennett."

He growled and I stumbled back to steps, that was when my gaze traveled down to his fingers, they were pure midnight silver.

No fucking way.