The beast and the blessed novel by Ashley Breanne novel Chapter 121

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.

Joselin was a fucking angel in the hell that was my life. She 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 important thing in the world, even when it was nonsense.

It 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 would one day be placed was like a beacon, calling me to her.

I could do a lot with a ponytail and knew she would enjoy every second of it.

The 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, her head moving as she scanned the room.

That's right, baby. I'm right here.

When she didn't turn 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 of my word.

I watched 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 distance he placed between them, and guilt suddenly overshadowed my jealousy.

Joselin pursed her lips, facing the bar and away from me as she ordered a drink. The bartender, Joey, glanced up at me as she did so, and I nodded once, confirming that I would be the one paying for it.

I was relieved when I saw her turn again, trying to find me in the crowd but failing. Knowing that I had just made her happy with such a small gesture reminded me of how perfect she was and that she deserved more. I would give her more.

Her head dropped back, and she laughed as her date ordered his drink and was forced to pay. They stayed at the bar for a while, talking and sipping their drinks while I sat back and waited.

Eventually, Joselin stood. I felt 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 waited for him to choose between life and death.

Joselin shook her head, her ponytail swaying behind her. Her lips and cheeks puffed out slightly as she let out a breath of disappointment, walking away from him and toward the dance floor.

Her hips swayed side to side as she matched the beat, her hands running up her hips to her neck before holding 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 of light. She called me to her, begging me to watch as she lost herself in the music.

I growled as my eyes were forced away to the man moving up next to her, seeming to have moved past his reservation.

Joselin's tensed at the sound as she saw Holden approaching, but she still didn't turn to me. She knew I was here. She had heard me vocalize my anger but stayed where she was. Her body began to move more seductively as she stepped toward Holden, and he stepped back but danced next to her stiffly.