The Beast And The Blessed

Fifty: Killian

Killian’s P.O.V.

The man grunted loudly as I gripped him by the neck, slamming his back against the truck of the large pine tree. Before tonight, I had nothing against his kind. The bear shifters kept to themselves in the forest. They didn't bother building cities or living in them. They preferred to be in the wild. They had cabins and huts. Some even lived in caves. 1

I wanted to scoff at that, but it was their choice.

Bears were known to be more instinctual and animalistic. They were also naturally more violent.

But tonight, I was ready to declare war against them if he caused any more delay in me getting back to my mate.

"Put him down!" Charlie screeched as she burst through the tree line, baring her teeth at me.

My head tilted to the side in my Lycan form as I watched her rush toward me. She stood at his side but made no move to forcefully remove my claw from the man. She knew if she did, I would just rip his throat out and be done with it.

But what pissed me off, even more, was that he didn't fight back. I was itching for a fight. For every second I was kept from my mate, I was getting more on edge.

"He attacked one of my men, Charlotte. You know the rules." The snarl behind my words made her eyes widen in fear, terrified for the fate of the man who carried her scent. Their intimacy was the only thing holding me back from ending his life.

"It was self-defense." His statement was void of emotion, but I could see the anger burning in his eyes. He wasn't submitting, but his animal was also not at the surface. He had an incredible amount of control. It would take a strong shifter to contain their beast when their life was being threatened. ’ He attacked me first as I was minding my own, turning in for the night."

I narrowed my eyes as I scanned his face, but there was no sign of deceit. Blood was thick in the air, and I smelled it as soon as I reached the edge of the city. My hand loosened from around his neck as I held his stare.

of my guards only reinforced my suspicion that the bear was speaking the truth. Xander was bleeding far more than the man before me, and I knew without a doubt

for years, determined to be the one to lock down the princess and get all the benefits that come with the title. Only he seemed to be oblivious to the fact that she could not stand him. Nor did he accept that I would rather kill him before letting

commander in my guard, one of my head warriors. But he fucking earned it. He was allowed to demand respect from those below him because they were below him. He had worked hard to become their commander, and even I

who were always pushing for more power. I had been stupid to ever let Lindsey into my bed, and I still needed to deal with her

a few dates with Charlie, trying to hide what a despicable weasel he truly was, so he

he failed. It had been my goal to let Charlie make her own mistakes and learn for herself. I knew she wouldn't listen to me if I told her that she could not see him anymore. That would have only pushed her closer to him. Instead, I let him court her, keeping a close eye on the man

and she saw

from the poisonous man, but

came home every now and then as it currently stands, but if I had killed her chosen

I still would have done

deserved better than him, and I would stand by

up!" Charlie snapped, taking a step forward but stopping when the bear pressed further into my claw so he could reach her hand and keep her at his side. My gaze narrowed as their fingers intertwined in an

common trait among bear shifters, held no concern for his own safety. He didn't care that I still had the upper hand and could end him before he could blink. He

looked at me suddenly

but stopping when I turned to him, placing my back

Princess?" My eyes burned, and I heard the overlapping in my voice of my beast and

through the trees made Xander's eyes widen, but I refused to turn and look as I had

son, shifting back to his skin and dropping his

a young and ignorant boy!" Braxton begged, knowing my intolerance for

take offense to his father's statement of being a

my mate, and I grew angrier that I was not with her at the moment, knowing