Stay Away From Me

Ronan POV

She stopped breathing when I got near her. Literally. For a second, I thought the human was going to faint right there in my room. 

Is she stupid or what? Is every human dumb?

“What are you doing in here?” I demanded. She flinched, but I commended her for not evading my gaze.  Most people couldn’t hold my gaze. Her chest rose sharply before she finally allowed herself to breathe.

“I was told to be here.”

“You can't stay here. Get out.” I pointed toward the door.

“I don’t know where to go.” 

Not my problem.

“I don’t know anyone here,” she continued quietly.

“No one has shown me around.”

Something in her voice irritated me, maybe because she sounded so lost. Maybe because part of me almost cared. I grabbed her arm, and the second my skin touched hers, something strange shot through me, like lightning.

I nearly released her, but instead, I tightened my grip and dragged her into the hallway, shoving her away.

"I don't care. Just get out," I growled. Before she could respond, a voice cut her.

“What a shameless slut!” Sadie appeared beside me, glaring down at Josie.

“Already trying to seduce him.”

To my surprise, Josie glared right back. There was no fear in her eyes. Just anger. Interesting little human.

“What is going on here?” The icy voice instantly silenced my mate. Grandmother.

The Matriarch strode toward us with my sister, Flora, beside her.

“Lady Gigi! Princess Flora!” Sadie screeched, rushing forward, but one look from Grandmother stopped her dead in her tracks. The older woman had never liked Sadie. Her attention moved past all of us and settled on Josie.

The human straightened immediately. I could see her nervousness. Everyone was nervous around Gigi.

“Josephine, correct?" Josie nodded. Grandmother gently lifted her chin and scrutinized my wife's face. Several long seconds passed. Then she nodded.

“You're beautiful as a rose, Josephine.”

Sadie made a strangled sound that made Flora almost laugh. Years of trying to earn Grandmother’s approval, and the human got it within thirty seconds.

“Welcome to the family,” Grandmother said. “If you need anything, you come to me.”

Josie’s eyes widened.

“T-Thank you, ma’am.”

Grandmother turned to leave, but then she stopped. Slowly, and dangerously, her icy blue eyes landed on me.

“And Ronan.” I already hated whatever was coming next.

“A man does not put his hands on a woman. It's crass, dear. You're a king."

When Grandmother disappeared, Flora immediately grabbed Josie’s hands.

“Hi! I’ve been waiting forever to meet you!” she exclaimed in excitement, and the human smiled.

A real smile. Soft and delicate. Pretty as a rose indeed. I was annoyed by my own thoughts.

“Ronan, you can’t let her stay in there!” Sadie hissed.

I muttered something to calm her before heading straight for Grandmother’s study. I didn’t bother knocking.

Gareth was sitting across from her desk. They both looked up.

“I have to share a room with her now?” I roared, windows shook, but Grandmother didn't seem impressed.

“For the marriage to be legally recognized,” Grandmother said coolly, “it must eventually be consummated.”

I stared at her, then at her right-hand man. The traitor shrugged. I was going to lose my mind.

“I have a mate!” My voice echoed through the room. Sadie’s falling apart because of this. They didn't care.  I had sacrificed enough. I married a human for peace, for my people. That should have been enough.

“I’m not doing it,” I declared and stormed out and marched back to my room.

I found Josie sitting on the bed. My bed. In two strides, I crossed the room, and my hand wrapped around her throat. Her body froze, and I smelled her fear. Good.

“Listen carefully.” My voice dropped into a growl, eyes glowing.

“Stay away from Sadie and stay the fuck away from me.”

I leaned closer. “And I will never sleep with you.”

For a second, she stared. Then her eyes narrowed, and relief flashed across her face. Actual relief. WHAT THE FUCK

“Good.” Her response felt like a truck hit me.

“I don’t want to sleep with you either.” My grip instinctively tightened around her neck. She had some nerve!

“You could’ve rejected this marriage.” Her voice trembled, but she didn’t stop. “You’re the all-powerful Lycan king, aren’t you?”

She winced when I squeezed hard, and Rafe whimpered. '

Enough, you're hurting her, you idiot!'

Pathetic lycan. I ignored him.

“You think you know anything?” I growled. This human was getting on my last nerve. She tapped my wrist, weakly pushing me away. I finally released her. She dropped to her knees, coughing hard. I hadn't meant to frighten her that much.

Josie's eyes welled with tears, yet she somehow managed to glare at me. If she had a knife, she would have stabbed me; no doubt about that.

I left in a hurry before I did or said something I'd regret because Rafe was acting strangely around the human. He was curious about her and didn't hate her. Josie fascinated him while I found her exhausting.

The cool night air hit me as I shifted into my lycan form and ran. The forest blurred around me, and trees flashed past. For the first time all day, I could breathe. But suddenly, I felt like I was being watched.

I stopped instantly. The forest had gone unnaturally still, and Rafe rose. I turned, and then I saw them, dark eyes that flashed red, watching me between the trees. It had no scent. Nothing. I lunged, and the creature moved. Fast, too fast. The eyes vanished into the darkness, and I raced after them, but they were gone.

I skidded to a stop and tried to track it. There were no tracks.

Unease settled deep inside me, I couldn't stop thinking about those eyes. My gaze drifted to the castle, settling on the window of my bedroom.

The human was in there, and that just unsettled me more. I looked back at where that thing had disappeared.

Why today, why tonight?