Chapter 179 - Throw down (1/2)
A faint sound woke Arei from a perfect slumber. His eyes quickly surveyed the room with the aid of the faint glow from the television. To his happy surprise, Jos was nestled snuggly against him. He kissed the top of her head as a warm smile spread across his lips. His eyes moved to the empty side of the bed where Shelly had been fast asleep the last, he'd recalled. His eyes fell on the faint light emanating from the cracked bathroom door. He held Jos's sleeping form closer to him as he rolled over her slightly to retrieve the remote that had been discarded on the far side of the bed. He'd barely reach it when the door to the bedroom opened. Jos let out a m.o.a.n as he released her down onto the bed, letting the remote drop as his eyes meet the shocked stare glaring back at him from the door.
Russ had snuck out of the room he shared once again with Ry the second the gigantic man had stepped into the bathroom. A quick text to Raven had provided him with Jos's room number along with the passcode to get inside. It hadn't taken him long once inside to follow the soft sound of music to the bedroom at the far end of the hall. Quietly pushing the door open, he'd thought to surprise her... but it was he who stood in the doorway in open mouthed shock. ”What the f.u.c.k is going on here!” Russ yelled out in anger.
Arei pressed his fingers to his lips to quiet the boy, but it was no use. A soft m.o.a.n brought both men's attention to the groggy aqua eyes that were struggling to focus against the faint light of the room and the heavy sleep that had settled.
”Russ?” She asked as she lifted to a half sitting position. ”What are you doing here?” She asked groggily.
”What am I doing here? What the f.u.c.k are you doing here? It's only been two f.u.c.k.i.n.g days since the last time I've talked to you and you what? Fell the f.u.c.k into his bed? He fell into yours? What the f.u.c.k, Joslyn?!” Russ yelled as anger built within him.
Jos scrunched her brows and turned to Arei, registering their closeness for the first time. Her eyes moved over the bed as Russ continued hurling insults at her. ”But...” She couldn't even ask where Shelly had gone before he was interrupting her again.
”What the f.u.c.k is wrong with you? Are you f.u.c.k.i.n.g drugged? Did this bastard slip you something or are you just naturally a whore? Is that part of the curse? You have to continuously sabotage your own f.u.c.k.i.n.g relationsh.i.p.s?” His angry eyes locked on hers as waves of an impending shift rippled through his body.
Jos couldn't answer, she could only stare wide-eyed as his long sting of insults continued to pile up in accusation. Her mind struggled to keep up with the furious words, until she couldn't take any more and covered her face with both hands. Tears instantly soaked her palms as her own cries began to drown out the hate-filled words.
Arei's eyes widened as he realized the boy's anger was directed directly at Jos this time, and he was on the brink of losing control. ”You need to get out of here now!” Arei yelled loudly over Russ's continued badgering and belittling words. He quickly pushed himself up from the bed blocking Russ's view of the now crumpled Joslyn. He wanted to comfort her, but more importantly, he wanted to get the kid out of the room before he lost complete control and did something, they would all regret.
”Move the f.u.c.k out of my way.” Russ growled in an angry, animalistic rumble.
”No. You need to leave this room. Get out of the suite now.” Arei said forcing his voice out in a calm yet forceful tone.
”Is that a threat?” Russ stepped farther into the room. His usually blue eyes had turned purple with the streaks of red that now filled them. His arms and legs had already begun to shift causing the straps of the flip flops he wore to break apart.
Arei didn't have a chance to respond as the half wolfman stalked slowly, calculatedly toward him. Jos forced herself between the two men.
She realized her mistake as she thought to protect Russ by holding Arei away. The second her hands connected with the thin fabric of Arei's tee, a low growl rumbled, sending chills up her spine. Jos cried out as sharp claws sank into her upper arm. She glanced over her shoulder only to find glowing red eyes staring intently down at the scar visible from below the thin strap of the tank top she wore. ”Mine.” The inhuman words rumbled through her body as she watched sharp, exposed teeth line up and lower to the scar.
”NO!” Arei called out breaking the heavy tension of the room. His hand shot out rapidly past Jos's face catching the neck that was more creature than man. He pried the sharp claws from her arm as carefully as he could still holding the wolfman hybrid by the neck tightly. He saw the snarl of the creature's upper lip and sensed the movements seconds before another clawed hand shot over Jos's head. ”Duck, Kitten!” Arei called out as he quickly released the throat to block the sharp blow of an outstretched clawed hand. He twisted both wrists in his grip downwards as the beast snarled into his face. ”Find Shelly! Bathroom!” He called before using his grip on the wrists to shove Russ backwards.
Jos watched as the barely recognizable form of Russ was hurtled through the door and into the opposite wall. She watched as Arei moved toward the door. ”Arei wait! Please... don't hurt him!” She cried, but her words only seemed to upset the beast more. She watched as the beast's hot gaze moved from hers to Arei. The beast pushed itself away from the walk, lowing his shoulders and neck as he stood.