Tyler.
The tears glimmering in Arya’s eyes were enough to rip me apart. It physically hurt to see her cry and I was fighting the resilient urge to smash Felix’s head against the wall. Who did he think he was? I was the Alpha, goddammit and the ruler of this pack. If I wanted to mate with a freaking unicorn, it was nobody’s business.
Several of the wolves were already becoming agitated. I could see it. These were people who would jump if I asked them to, while asking how high. Felix might be bold but he wasn’t stupid. He wouldn’t dare make an attack in front of wolves he knew would rip him to shreds before he even took a step forward.
All he had were threats.
“Even if she weren’t in the picture, I would consider all the women in this city first, old and young, before I thought of your daughter,” I sneered, knowing that would provoke him.
A murmur of surprise swept through the crowd as all eyes turned to Felix. He’d crossed a line. Calling Arya names? He could take his investments and shove them far up his ass. Next to me, she tensed, so rigid I thought she would break. I longed to hold her close to my chest and keep her there, an assurance that nothing would happen to her as long as I drew breath.
But it caused me to think. How deep did her scars run? How much damage had been done to her that she hadn’t even flinched when Felix fixed her with that venomous stare? I didn’t want to think about it. Not now.
“Don’t embarrass me in public, Tyler,” Felix growled, his hold on the wine flute tightening. “I won’t let you.”
“And what are you going to do about it?”
He squinted, staring me down. I returned his gaze. No one, absolutely no one, threatened me in my own house. If Felix needed a little reminder of who the boss was here, then he would get it. I was not that man anymore who left just because he didn’t want problems. Times had changed. I could not get the Crests back but there was no way I was losing my authority with the rogues.
Granted, Felix’s daughter was beautiful and there was a time when I thought something could happen between us due to my business dealings with her father but all it had taken was one conversation and I realized I’d never met a vainer woman. To make matters worse, Felix had secured her a position in my company, which meant I had to see her every day.
I had no idea why he was hellbent on me marrying his daughter but I would admit that it was a ridiculous notion. Just because he was Rogue City’s biggest investor didn’t mean I owed him anything.
The hand on my arm squeezed. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Arya inhale shakily. I didn’t want to scare her but I was not going to sit idle and watch anyone insult her honor. I had been itching for a fight. Things had been calm for too long. Maybe beating the shit out of Felix would do something in the way of satisfaction.
Arya was going to be my Luna someday—and soon, if I could help it—and I would make sure she was respected and feared just like I was.
“You can't be serious,” Felix’s face was a mixture of anger and shock. “You're going to mate with this outsider? What about my daughter? I've invested too much in your enterprises to see them crumble because of this. Think this through.”
I met his man's gaze with unwavering determination. “My decision is final. Arya is my mate.”
“We had an agreement.”
“No, we didn’t.”
With a furious snarl, Felix began to shift, his body contorting and morphing until a massive black wolf stood in his place. The wolves charged, creating a circle around him to put obstacles between us. For good reason, because my eyes narrowed and my blood boiled.
“Who do you think you are?” I asked him bitterly. “Shifting in my own home to attack me?” I gestured for my men to clear the path so I could circle around his wolf. “Everything that is Rogue City was built by me. Me! Before you, there was Rogue City and after you, it’ll stand.”
A silence traveled around the room. Hell, the party hadn’t even started. Felix had not only insulted Arya, but he’d ruined the party too. I was fighting everything inside me to be still when all I wanted to do was wrap my hands around his neck and squeeze.
“Threatening me?” I scoffed. “Insulting my mate? I should kill you where you stand!”
I could feel the fear rolling off him. His wolf growled lowly, its head turning to watch my every move. For so long, I’d tolerated him and his vices, telling myself I didn’t care that he was too controlling and opinionated because all I was concerned about was his money. But now? He’d gone too far.
“No one threatens me, Felix Steele, and certainly not in my house or my city. If you don’t like how I run my business, then leave.”
For a long time, he didn’t move. No one did. I risked a glance at Arya and saw the fear and defeat in her eyes. I knew she was thinking that she wasn’t worth fighting over but boy was she wrong. I’d never met a woman I wanted to go to war for until her. She was everything and so much more. How couldn’t she see that?
“This ends here.” My voice boomed with authority. “The next time anyone undermines my authority in this city is the last time they do anything at all. Is that clear?”
A murmured agreement spread through the crowd. Felix, obviously realizing he couldn’t fight me, at least not alone, reverted to his human form, the dark energy dissipating. Without a word and with a final resentful glance at me, he walked out of my house, stark naked.
I’d deal with him later. Swinging on my heel, I rushed towards Arya, gathering into my arms. “Are you okay?”
She sniffed, nodding. “Yes, but you didn’t have to do that. I’m not worth it.”
I was right, after all. Grabbing her face in my hands, I smiled at how cute she looked with her big round teary eyes. “Never say that again. You’re everything. You’re worth the entire world and then some.”
“Tyler,” she whispered. “I’m not sure I can do this.”
My heart ached for her. “Yes, you can. You can do anything because you’re strong. You might not see it but I do. And I’ll protect you. Always.”
She wrapped her arms around me and rested her head on my chest. This woman who was starting to mean the world to me. For the longest time, I didn’t have anything to fight for. Arya gave me a reason to keep going and there was no way in hell I would let her go now that I’d found her.