Page 48 of Beastly Mr. Buchanan
I don’t know how Mr.Carter got him on the mat—or what the man hopes to prove—but Declan’s reluctance is painfully obvious to me.No matter how many times Mr.Carter hits him, he never swings back.
“Mr.Car—”
My toes catch on the edge of the mat, and I fall forward with an embarrassingoomph.I roll onto my side.
Connor Pen, Hilary’s husband, squats beside me and offers to help me up.
Declan’s massive frame streaks across my vision and tackles him.
My shout merges with everyone’s surprise.
My stomach drops at the feral rage in Declan’s eyes.
Mr.Carter strides with calm purpose toward Declan even though he sits on Connor’s chest and chokes him with both hands.
The moment Mr.Carter touches Declan, he disappears under my fiancé’s demonic fury.I scramble to my feet and rush forward.
Declan defies all logic with his brute strength as he holds both men down by their throats.
Neither of his captives are weak fighters.They twist and buck, searching for an escape, but Declan doesn’t budge.
He’s not attacking them.He’s protecting me.
I dart around Mr.Carter’s head, slide to a stop on my knees in front of my beast, and grab his ears.
“Declan, stop.I’m okay.I’m not hurt.Let them go.”
Awareness flickers in his glazed eyes.He releases his prey, wraps his arms around me, and buries his face in my chest.I pull him tighter to me, my heart shattering as his entire body trembles, and I turn to glare at Mr.Carter.
“What were youthinking?What was the point?Why would you—”
“He was right, cupcake,” Declan mumbles into my cleavage.
I grind my teeth together and take several deep breaths, but my fury doesn’t fade.
“Right about what?That you have trauma?”
“That I’m not a monster.I’m not cursed.”
Confusion dulls my rage.I grab his head and lift his face.Despite the glaze of shock in his eyes, fresh hope grows in his soul.
“My beast serves a purpose, Karey.That purpose is you,” he whispers.
I blow out an exasperated breath and tuck him back against my chest.
“I already knew that.You didn’t have to trigger yourself when you could’ve just asked me, you numbskull.”
He chuckles and tries to burrow under my skin.
I meet first Mr.Carter’s then Connor’s eyes.They planned this, albeit hastily, and by the rings on their necks, their egos aren’t the only things bruised, but both accept their wrongdoings and won’t bait Declan again anytime soon.I glance at Hilary.She stands with her fists on her hips.
Connor won’t find any sympathy from his warrior goddess, and that alone soothes my rage.
“You’re okay, my big savage beast.I’ve got you.We’re going home now,” I murmur into his hair.
He nods and shakes, but unlike how I coaxed him with smiles and treats in middle school, this time I lead him to the car in silence.
I’ve never been so angry in my entire life.Not because of the betrayal or gross overstepping of Mr.Carter and Connor, but because Declan dared put himself in such a dangerous situation for no fucking reason.
