Moonsong (21 page)

“Listen to the lady, let her go.” The deep voice cut through the stillness of the stunned restaurant as Cutter stood inside the doorway, eyes focused on where Chase still gripped her. Amelia felt almost dizzy with relief at the sight of Cutter and Chase did let go of her. His eyes narrowed dangerously at his rival and he launched himself back over the counter again in one smooth, fluid movement, advancing slowly. “You want to take this outside?” Cutter growled, holding his ground, not in the least bit worried by Chase’s advance.

“Works for me, I’d hate to get blood all over in here,” Chase’s teeth gleamed in an obscene mockery of a smile.

“It makes no difference to me where you bleed,” Cutter shrugged, deliberately turning his back on the younger man as he went for the door.

“Motherfucker…” Chase launched himself at Cutter’s unprotected back, but the older man had been expecting it, and neatly stepped aside, using Chase’s momentum to shove him into the doorjamb face first, twisting his arm painfully behind his back. The scream of warning died in Amelia’s throat as Cutter took the charge in stride.

“And here you didn’t want to bleed inside,” Cutter clucked his tongue at the young man’s bloody nose smearing against the door frame. “I see they’re not teaching you whelps about fair play anymore, I guess things have changed from my day. You want to try this again? I have to warn you though; I know a thing or two about not fighting fair myself.” He twisted Chase’s arm painfully for emphasis.

“Let me go you old fuck, I’ll show you what they’re teaching these days,” Chase spat a mouthful of bloody phlegm onto the floor.

“There you go bleeding in here again; I think you owe the lady an apology,” Cutter looked back and gave Amelia a quick wink.

“Screw your apology, let me go and I’ll show you who’s sorry.”

“I think we can all see who’s the sorry one,” Cutter muttered, pushing the door open with his foot and marching Chase outside, out of earshot of the patrons inside.

Cutter looked so calm and in control; Amelia tried to take strength in that, returning the playful wink with a faint smile. Part of her wanted to follow them outside, demand that they talk like civilized human beings, but she recognized that wasn’t possible anymore. There wasn’t anything civilized in the way the two men behaved around each other. Her face pressed to the glass, Millie watched them in the parking lot, ready to jump out there at the first sign of things getting really out of hand.

Deliberately keeping his back to the café, Cutter didn’t want Amelia overhearing the conversation one bit. “Now listen here, you little shit. You ever lay a hand on my woman again, mark her in any way or even breathe on her too hard, and I will hunt you down and flay the skin from your body.” The hand at Chase’s neck slowly shifted to a massive claw, razor sharp talons pressed to the soft hollow of his throat.

“And you know I can do it, don’t you boy?” Cutter’s voice was low and dangerous and every bit as menacing as the threat given. He pressed the claws just hard enough to prick the skin, the bright, coppery smell of blood bursting forth at the action.

With a shove, Cutter let Chase go; at the ready should he be foolish enough to attack him there in the open with townspeople pressed to the windows, watching the entire exchange.

“Your woman?” Chase took a step forward, but caught sight of those eyes upon him. Without another word, he turned and stalked off, the squeal of tires heard scant minutes later.

Cutter watched him disappear from sight before he turned around, the grin of satisfaction on his face fading once he caught sight of Amelia’s face. Quick to return to her side, he gently pulled her out with him to get a breath of fresh air. “Are you alright?” he asked, searching her face for some sign of what she thought about the crisis averted.

“Me? I’m… I’m fine…” she nodded, voice trembling with the aftershocks of adrenaline coursing through her veins, first out of fear for herself and then for him.

“I should kill him for marking you,” he growled, fingers tenderly stroking over the red welts already rising on her skin.

“I don’t want anyone killing anybody,” Millie took a long shuddering breath.

“That might be the only way to settle this.” Cutter’s voice betrayed no sense of remorse over such a statement, merely pointing it out.

“No, I can’t accept that. Chase might be a bastard sometimes, but he doesn’t deserve to die just for loving me.”

“That isn’t love,” Cutter snorted derisively. “That’s lust pure and simple, both for dominance over you and the power you would bring him.”

“I don’t care; promise me you won’t kill him,” Amelia pressed, looking up at Cutter anxiously.

“Amelia…” Cutter let out a drawn out sigh. “What do you want me to do if he comes after me again, use harsh language on him? Because I can guarantee this isn’t over for him, not by a long shot, and the next time he’ll be looking to get rid of me permanently.”

She knew he was right, but the thought of violence on either side made her feel sick to her stomach. “I don’t know just… promise me you won’t kill him unless you have to,” she pleaded, and Cutter shook his head with a laugh.

“Alright, darlin’, I promise. Feel better?”

Millie went into his arms, resting her head against his chest, taking the solid comfort he offered before realizing the people inside the café were likely still watching them. “Uh… Cutter?”

“You’re the breathtaking one,” Cutter placed a kiss on her forehead. “Like I said, sometimes the beauty is easy to see; the piece of wood just told me where to find it,” he smiled against her hair.

Allowing herself that moment of peace and comfort, it was with regret that she pulled away. “I should really get back to work; I’ve still got another four hours to my shift.”

Understanding dawned on her then and she considered things for a moment. “I don’t think he’ll try anything, it’s not me he wants to kill remember?”

“He’s dangerous. And it’ll get worse the more desperate he grows.”

“Where else am I supposed to go then?” Amelia looked up at him. Had he really thought it all through or was he simply reacting to the situation at hand? It wasn’t like she had a whole lot of options in a town that small.

“But you’re there, major bonus points on that side,” Amelia smiled back at him. True, it might not be the ideal place to live, but it sounded pretty damned good compared to returning to her grandmother’s house. “Are you sure about this? I mean, what about your peace and quiet?” Millie pressed, not wanting him to do something on the spur of the moment he might regret later.

“It’s the only way for you to be safe, and besides… I can think of ways to keep you nice and quiet.” A smug grin passed over his face before he covered her mouth with his, ignoring the very public surroundings. “I’ll pick you up after work then?”

It took Amelia a few moments to recover from the kiss, and then practicality kicked in. “I have my own car with me, besides I have to go home first and take care of things there.”

The frown instantly returned to his face. “I don’t like the idea of you going back there, and especially not alone.”

“It’ll be fine, like I said; it’s not me he wants to hurt, if he’ll even be around. And if you come then there’s likely to be a much bigger scene don’t you think?” she pointed out, lightly rubbing his back to soothe the knot of tension that sprang up there so quickly.

“I still don’t like it; they’ll try to keep you from leaving once you let them know where it is you’re going.”

“Let them try and stop me,” Amelia shrugged unconcerned. What were they going to do, lock her in her room? “Besides I have to tell her.”

“Tell her what exactly?”

“That I’ve made my choice. I’ve chosen my mate.”

Cutter reached for her again, crushing her to him as he buried his face in her hair. “Are you sure, Amelia? It’s a big decision. I don’t want you to feel like you have no choice because I forced the issue.”

“Don’t you want me to choose you?” Doubt began to creep into her thoughts. Just because she’d chosen him didn’t mean he was ready for something like that, especially given his past.

“Hell yeah,” Cutter chuckled in response. “I’m giving you one last chance to come to your senses before I never let you go.” He breathed in her sweet scent before letting her go enough to see the expression on her face. “You honor me with your choice,” he said formally, and the words made an almost audible shift to Amelia, somehow cementing things between them in a way that went beyond mere words.

“Well then, I’d better get back to work before I don’t have a job to get back to and you end up stuck with me night and day. I’d hate to drive you completely insane within the first week,” she grinned.

Cutter placed a chaste kiss on her lips and released her. “I’ll see you tonight?”

“Tonight,” she replied, walking backwards towards the front door, eyes sparkling with promise.

Chapter Twenty

The house seemed unnaturally still as Amelia entered, nervously listening at the front door despite her brave words to Cutter at the café. She wasn’t looking forward to the confrontation or Adele’s reaction to the news, but it had to be done if she wanted to make a clean break and start her new life with Cutter.

Deciding she was being a ninny, Millie started up the stairs but barely reached midway when Adele’s voice rang out. “Amelie… a word with you.”

Freezing on the step, Millie turned slowly, managing to keep from cringing like a guilty child as she descended to join her. Adele’s spine was so rigid and erect; it looked as if she bent even a fraction she might shatter. Adele turned without a word and headed to her study, trusting Amelia to follow.

Amelia was silent, preparing herself for a string of accusations or maybe a lecture. She planned on letting her grandmother vent good and long, get it all out of her system before she stated her position. Only Adele didn’t seem to be cooperating with that plan of action, she merely took a seat behind her desk and regarded Millie evenly with her steely gaze.
Two can play at that game…
Resolving not to give her any more ammunition than she already had, Millie waited for her to make the first move.

The woman’s spine grew even stiffer, her lips compressing into a thin line while Amelia boldly met her gaze. “Well? What do you have to say for yourself?” she demanded finally.

“What do you mean?” Millie asked, making her work for it. It wasn’t like she was ashamed of her feelings for Cutter, no matter how they destroyed Gran’s plans for the future of the pack.

“Well, it’s gonna be kind of hard not to, considering I’ve chosen him to be my mate, unless you’re going to disown me for doing so,” Amelia pointed out.

Adele’s eyes blazed with an intensity that scared the glib tone right out of Amelia, and she snapped her mouth shut, wondering if she’d pushed back too hard. But still, it was
her
life, and they had to get used to the idea that she’d made her choice whether they agreed with it or not.

“You’re obviously incapable of making such a decision on your own,” Adele said finally, as though she’d come to a conclusion in her mind.

“Look… just because you don’t agree with my choice, doesn’t mean…”

“It’s clear to me now that I’ve handled this badly; your judgment has proven to be as faulty as your father’s,” Adele interrupted brusquely. “I’ll relieve you of the burden of choice. You may return to your room for now,” she waved her off as though shooing an annoying insect.

Amelia stared back at her in shock. “I’m a grown woman, not a teenager, so what makes you think you have a say in this at all? I’ve already made my choice, I’m sorry if you don’t like it. Actually no, I take that back. You’ve taken me in and given me a home, for which I am grateful Grandmother, but if you’re not interested in what makes me happy then, no, I’m not sorry at all. That’s the way it has to be.”

“I don’t give a damn what your foolish romantic heart thinks will make you happy, you selfish girl. This prophecy has been centuries in the making, and I won’t let you destroy my chance to make this pack great over your naïve choices. You will return to your room and when Chase returns I’ll send him to you, and we’ll end this charade.”

“You’re seriously nuts if you think I’m gonna go upstairs like a good little girl and let you shove Chase under my nose again.” Amelia rose from her seat, backing towards the door. “I’ve tried reasoning with you, and clearly reality stepped out of here a while ago, so I’ll just be on my way…”