Yeah. He probably owed her one. Anna was fuming. She did not need or want anyone’s pity. Sandra was wrong. She deserved better. Lance might be handsome, but he was just another playa and Anna had no time for that in her life.
Humiliation rolled off her in waves. It might sting for a while, but she would do better next time. She just needed to find a ride. No way was she standing around, waiting for Lance to finish his little tete a tete?
Fuck that. She was getting out of there.
Five
“Brenda,” finally, Lance found his voice.
“Don’t touch me ever,” he growled with his Tiger barely contained.
Fucking fuck. The she-Cat had waylaid him. He didn’t even know she would be here tonight. What the hell? The woman was a troublemaker and probably finagled a ticket from some unknowing schmuck. But why she thought he’d be interested was beyond him.
His Tiger snarled, scratching against his skin. He didn’t want her anywhere near him. When she’d pushed his sweet Anna aside, he almost went nuts. The female had her claws on his chest before he could get his Tiger under control.
It was touch and go, but finally he managed to rein in the beast. Only it was too late. Anna had walked away. The stiff set of her shoulders told him he’d fucked up. He had no wish to harm Brenda, but she needed to get the fuck off him now.
“What the heck, Lance?” she pouted.
“I said move. You and I are not a thing,” he growled, “Annalia!”
Lance called after her, moving around Brenda. He dismissed the Tigress without a backwards glance. Where did Anna go? His beast roared angrily. Pissed that he’d allowed Brenda to put her hands on him. Even more pissed that Anna had stormed away. The scent of her hurt and anger clawed at him. Fuck, he had to make this right.
“Lance, what happened?” Gerri Wilder came growling his way, and it was all he could do not to bowl the woman over, “Where is Anna?”
“Gerri, I fucked up. She walked away. Fuck!” He pulled on his hair, and turned his head, sucking in air to try and catch her scent. There were too many smells, though. Too much perfume and shit.
“Dammit! She’s my mate. She doesn’t understand. Brenda touched me, Mrs. Wilder. My Tiger was so enraged, I couldn’t move,” he growled and tried to move around her, but the stubborn woman wouldn’t budge.
“I see, and do you think you are in any shape now to go after her? You look like you’re hunting a gazelle. Get a hold of yourself,” Mrs. Wilder snapped her fingers, and his eyes flashed to hers.
“Need my mate,” his fangs protruded from his mouth, and fur peppered his face.
“For fuck’s sake! Move it, you big pussy,” she grabbed him by the arm and pulled him towards the back of the event.
Luckily, almost ninety percent of those in attendance were Shifters or their mates. If he went furry, there wouldn’t be a huge scandal. Just a teeny weeny one.
Hey! Get your mind out of the gutter. Besides, if that was the case, it would be a HUGE fucking scandal. Grrr.
Lance was losing his grip on his Tiger. He’d upset his sweet Annalia. That damned she-Cat had touched him and he froze. It was all he could do to stop his beast from reacting with claws and fangs. A roaring snarl went through him, fur peppered his cheeks, fangs protruded from his gums.
Then it hit him. The scent of chocolate and spiced cherries had him stopping in his tracks. He recognized it as her. His Annalia.
Mine. The sound of her familiar voice both soothed and agitated him further. She sounded different, both breathless and annoyed. The combination confused him as he stalked towards the direction her voice was coming from.
“Where are you running off to?”
“Yeah, a sweet little piece like you should be on the dance floor with someone like me?”
It was two men from the local Hyena Pack. Those bottom-dwelling pieces of shit did not belong here. And they certainly did not belong touching his mate.
“Ex-excuse me, I-I am trying t-to leave,” she was gasping her words.
Like she couldn’t get enough air. Her sudden pallor worried him. Had he done this to her? Fear and anger raged through him. Mostly at himself. But some of it was aimed at the two fuckers standing way too close to his mate. The larger of the pair of Hyena Shifter lifted a lock of her hair and bent down to sniff. That was all it took. Lance saw red.
“Lance,” Gerri cautioned, but he was too far gone.
“Mine,” he leapt across the hall, and had both men by their throats.
The Hyenas were strong, but no match for his enormous beast. Especially when his animal was so enraged. He shook the men, snarling ferociously.
“Annalia! Your pump?” Gerri asked his mate, snaring his attention. The she-Wolf ran towards the coat check when his mate pointed in that direction.
Pump? Oh shit. Now it made sense. He turned back to the two struggling assholes and banged them together once to get their attention.
“Get gone,” Lance snarled, tossing the men across the floor.
He ran to where Anna had pressed herself against the wall, crouching in front of her, hands raised. Fuck, she was scared. Her face was ashen. Tears streamed down her face.
Lance had never felt so helpless and frightened in his life. Her scent was sharp. Hurt, discomfort, fear. Her emotions batted against him, a thousand blows he more than deserved. Fuck. He was a total piece of shit.
“I’m sorry, so sorry. Please baby, I won’t hurt you. Never hurt you,” he murmured, “Just gonna get you help. You can tell me to fuck off afterwards, but I need you to be okay, first.”
Lance lifted her off the floor. He rushed to where Gerri was currently rummaging through the closet to find her coat.
“It’s the black one,” he growled cradling his precious cargo close as he sat down on the bench rubbing her back in large circles with his left hand.
“Look at me, love, it’s okay. You’re okay,” Lance breathed in and out slowly, encouraging her to follow the pace he set.
She had some color back, but she was still wheezing. He felt helpless, stupid. Like a total asshole. All in that order too.
“Here,” Gerri tossed it towards him, and he plucked it out of the air with his right hand.
“Here, love,” he held the pump up, shook it once, and she leaned forward to suck in as he pressed on it.
Annalia sucked in the medicine greedily. Trembling slightly in his arms like a flower petal at the mercy of a winter storm. Just as beautiful too. She nodded and he held up the pump.
“Again?”
Yes, she needed it again. He understood. Lance shook the pump one more time and pressed the medicine into her mouth. Finally, after some minutes, she was breathing calmly.
“Thank you,” her raspy voice met his ears, and he closed his eyes.
Thank fuck. She was okay. No thanks to him.
“Annalia, I-”
He wanted to explain, but she shook her head and turned to Gerri. He felt her tremble, knew she was weak and hurting. All because of him. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
“Gerri,” her voice was rough, “Can you take me back?”
“Of course,” Gerri glared at Lance, taking Annalia’s hand, she helped her stand. Then the woman was leading his mate away.
It was too much, too soon. He’d met and lost his mate in the span of a few hours. Lance’s Tiger clawed furiously against his skin. The beast wanted out.