Chapter Twenty -Five DOMONIC Draven is shivering before me , her body quaking with fear . What the fuck did I do ? I am suddenly alarmingly aware of the hostile stance I have taken with her since finding out from Gryffin that she reeks of a Panther Shifter . All of which stems from misplaced jealousy . Being as the shifter was feline he had ultimately been much easier for Gryffin to scent . The fact that Draven is my unbonded mate , makes it difficult for me to tap into anything other than her natural aroma . I wont be able to recognize the carry of anothers sex on her until she and I have bonded . I mean I would if shed slept with someone else recently but such was not the case . All Im getting from her is the pull the need the recognition that she is mine . The guys may have smelled him on her and had no idea it wasnt anything but normal . None of us had ever met a panther before . So none of would have known the scent . But Gryffin had . Hed known . So naturally I want to know who the guy is . The smell of anothers sex can only last up to a month unless of course it is mine . So whomever she was with had to be recent within the span of a couple weeks . Once I bond her , my scent and hers will mingle to become one and the same . But until then all I will get is her . But she doesnt know any of this and I just came off as some kind of psychotic overbearing jerk . Once I bond her ? What ? Am I going to ? No ! I cant ! But fuck if I dont want to . Shit ! I really , really want to . But I cant . That would be selfish since ultimately , she will have to leave . I reach out for her , trying to soothe her , to bring her back from wherever shed gone the moment I became such a reckless asshole . She jerks at my touch , her eyes flying open and her lip lifting in disgust . Dont touch me , she hisses . Dont you dare . Im sorry Draven , I sigh , my heart clenching at the dismissal I see in her eyes . I didnt mean to- Fuck you , she snaps . Fuck you ! How dare you ? First you call me a liar ! Now you want to touch me ? Go to fucking hell ! Then almost in a panic , she reaches into her pocket for her tips and begins counting them . A giant cloud of dismay crests over my person . What the fuck are you doing ? She glares at her money , not looking up at all . Well at least she isnt crying anymore . Draven ? What are you doing ??? I ask again . She finishes counting her bills and stands . Giving you what youve wanted since I got off the train . Im leaving . Then she bolts for the door. 1/3 Chapter Twenty Five In that one moment , the whole of my world seems to crash in around me. The fuck if she is ! I leap from the sofa and catch her around the waist , my arms clamping around her as she fights and claws to get free of me . Let me go ! She snarls , biting down on my forearm . No , I whisper , my lips against her ear. No, no please . I- Fuck you ! She shouts again , writhing and wiggling before sobbing in frustration then freezing completely. Draven please. Its late at night and theres nowhere else for you to go . Just stay. Give me a minute please. Just listen to me I- Fine , she hisses . But let me go . I dont want you touching me . Fuck that hurt . The burn in my chest is crippling in power . I drop my arms and tumble back onto the sofa, thankful that she doesnt flee. She turns around slowly , her sparkling green eyes full of manic anger . You want to know who the last person that fucked me was is that it ? She snaps, spitting each word like a bullet my way. Is that whats got you treating me like some sleazy- Hey ! I protest . I never called you- She chuckles humorlessly . You didnt have to . I lower my eyes . Youre right I shouldnt have- I told you ! She interrupts . I said I wasnt ready to talk about him ! I told you to give me some time . But no you had to push and push and push . She is angry now , tapping her foot like a madwoman . But as she stands there, her words begin to sink in . Melting against my questions to produce an answer that has been in front of me from the very moment I saw her bruises. Flaming hot dances through me at the realization . No , I choke out , trapping my face in my hands . Yes you son of -a-bitch . When I drop my hands to look at her , the despair in her breaks me . Her eyes are closed and she is crying again . Her body trembling as silent tears stream down her cheeks . What have I done ? I did this . I am an idiot . I will find that bastard and cut off a piece of him every goddamn day until his heart stops beating . Draven, I whisper, standing to take her against my body . Its alright . Ive got you now . Please, I say into her hair as she moans against my chest . Let me hold you . I need to hold you . Beneath my chin I feel her nod and I lift her into my arms to carry her upstairs to my room where I sit back on my bed and gently rocked her to sleep for the second night in a row . 2/3 14:05 Wed , Nov 13 . Chapter Twenty Five Finally , when all is quiet and she is limp in my arms , I pull down the duvet and settle her against the pillows . Shifting her only enough to take off her shoes and cover her up . While her body still quakes slightly from all of the tears shes shed , I sigh in relief that she is still here , still with me . Safe in my bed . She almost ran from me . I almost chased her away . But then , as I watch her , a cold realization hits me . Not only does this mean her stepfather had probably raped her . But he is a shifter . And … according to Gryffin that bastard is already here . 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