The Beast And The Blessed

Sixteen: Tobias

Tobias's P.O.V.

This was the last place I wanted to be, but it was where I needed to be. The music was too loud, and the smell of alcohol and body odor was offensive. Still, I was here, watching and waiting.

Joselin hadn't agreed to be mine yet. We weren't together, but I would be damned before I let her go on a date with another man.

I hadn't felt threatened when she had been sleeping with random people. But her going out on a date with a man who looked at her the way that only I should was not going to stand.

I took a sip of my water, my eyes on the door as I waited for her to enter. If they were going dancing, this was where she would be. It was her favorite place because it was right by the bunkhouse, so it was filled with guards who were used to her, and very rarely would anyone care if she was among them.

It was the town's people who didn't know her that had a problem.

Several of my pack members nodded at me in greeting but didn't bother approaching me. They knew I wouldn't talk to them unless I had to. They didn't mind. I had risked my life for many of them in the past, and they knew my silence was nothing personal.

I used to talk. I used to talk a lot.

My father hated it.

He beat me, telling me to keep my mouth shut. He said it made me a good warrior to know my place, respect my superiors and not waste my breath on those below me. It wasn't until I was older that I realized he wanted me to keep silent so no one would know he would torture me at home despite knowing our neighbors could hear it.

They knew about my home life and did nothing to help me or stop him, and

I would heal before anyone could see it.

But then he got his hands on Ana. I was just a young teenager, practically a kid still. Those words would haunt me forever. 'You sound just like your father.'

Just like that, his life-long lesson finally stuck with me. I didn't want to sound like my father.

Joselin was my escape.

was the only one it was safe to talk to, and she loved when I spoke. She would listen to everything I had to say like it was the more

was impossible to miss Joselin as she entered the bar. Her long white hair was in a high ponytail, and I felt my eyes burn to the black of my beast. She rarely wore her hair up, and I fucking loved it. The way it emphasized her neck and where my mark

and knew she

The music drowned out his words from reaching me, and I watched closely as she

baby.

in my direction, I leaned back in my chair. She wanted a night out, but I had laid the rules down very clearly, and I was a man

but he stiffened as she leaned toward him, inching away. Her smile fell as she noticed the distance

The bartender, Joey, glanced up at me as she did so, and I nodded once, confirming that I would be

that I had just made her happy with such a small gesture reminded me

pay. They stayed at the bar for a while, talking and

my pulse rise as she gestured with her head to the dancefloor, staring at the queen's brother expectantly. He was hesitant, and my teeth ground together as I

and cheeks puffed out slightly as she let out a breath of disappointment, walking away from

holding them above her head briefly. As I watched her move, I couldn't stop the purr of pride

were forced away to the man moving up next

my anger but

dried as I watched Joselin roll her hips with the beat, her ass perfectly in my

woman wanted to dance, and

one

the chair sliding back against the flooring with a noise of protest that was muffled by the music.

guards stepped between them. Holden smiled, grabbing her hand and spinning the woman out. The kid knew

my finger before pulling on it lightly, making her look up. Goosebumps rose along her skin as I dipped my

me over the speakers, but she did. She heard me loud and clear as I kissed her

my hold as she leaned back against my chest.

before she was grinding on me, rubbing her perfect ass against my body. I swayed with her, refusing to lose contact. Even

publicly made my interest known. There was no doubt that most of them knew of my attraction to Joselin, but I wanted every last one of them to know. I didn't want anyone

She took my other hand off her hip, guiding it up her side,

how good we would feel together with less clothing, but I promised her she could dance. So, I let

soft skin at the bottom of her tight, little black dress. I didn't care who was around

before coming back up. I