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.

and she loved when I spoke. She would listen to everything I had to say like it was the more important thing in the world, even when

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

do a lot with a ponytail and knew

man, Holden, was right behind her. This time, he kept his hands to himself, and I grunted in approval. He leaned in, whispering by her ear. The music drowned out his words from reaching me, and I watched closely as she perked up with a confident smirk,

right, baby. I'm

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

them closely, waiting for him to slip up, but he stiffened as she leaned toward him, inching away. Her smile fell as she noticed the

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

made her happy with such a small gesture reminded me of how perfect she was and that she deserved more.

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

staring at the queen's brother

out slightly as she let out a breath of disappointment, walking away from him

them above her head briefly. As I watched her move, I couldn't stop the purr of pride and pleasure. With her arms up, it was like she was a beacon

were forced away to the man moving up next to her, seeming to have moved past his

she saw Holden approaching, but she still didn't turn to me. She knew I was here. She had heard me vocalize my anger

watched Joselin roll her hips with the beat, her ass perfectly

couldn't take it anymore. My woman wanted to dance, and I promised

the only one she would be dancing

by

her confidence wavering as one of the female guards stepped between them. Holden smiled, grabbing her hand and spinning

as I picked up a piece, wrapping it around my finger before pulling on it lightly, making her look up. Goosebumps rose along her skin as I dipped my head down, my lips brushing her ear as I growled out my

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

body trembled in my hold as she leaned back against my

swayed with

nerve to come out tonight with another man still. Yet, I was also the happiest I had ever been as my pack watched as I 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

on her lower back. She took my other hand off her hip, guiding it up her side, over the swell of her breast, and to her chest.

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

moved down to her thighs, feeling the soft skin at the bottom of her tight, little black dress. I didn't care who was around us or how many people saw. I wanted

as she dipped to the floor before coming back up. I reached down, adjusting myself in my