Page 36 of Alpha's Touch

Love.

Something hot and fierce surged through Preston veins.

Fueled by desperation, Preston drove his knee upward with vicious force, connecting solidly with Antonio’s groin. The vise-like grip on his throat slackened as Antonio doubled over with a choked howl, clutching himself in agony.

Air surged back into Preston’s lungs as he staggered away from the sink. The oxygen hit his system like a powerful jolt, fueling the rage that had ignited inside him.

“You little bitch,” Antonio wheezed.

Something inside Preston snapped. Months of terror, of fleeing, of constantly looking over his shoulder… It all erupted into volcanic fury.

“I never loved you!” he screamed, his voice raw and unrecognizable even to his own ears. Preston lunged forward, fists striking Antonio’s face, his chest, anywhere he could reach.

Antonio stumbled but steadied himself against the wall, his face twisted with pain and anger. “You ungrateful little—”

“Shut up!” Blood splattered across the white tile as his knuckles split open Antonio’s lip. “You made me think I was crazy,” he shouted, slamming a fist into Antonio’s gut. “Made me question everything I knew.” His voice cracked with the force of his words. “I was so fucking terrified of you!”

Antonio tried to grab his wrists, but Preston was beyond restraint now. He kicked and punched, his body driven by pure instinct. “You’re the monster,” he shouted, the realization hitting him like a lightning bolt. “Not Zeppelin. You!”

Antonio recovered quickly, wiping blood from his split lip with a slow, deliberate thumb. His eyes narrowed to slits, cold and reptilian. “I’m going to enjoy making you suffer for that,” he snarled, before launching himself forward.

His fist connected with Preston jaw, the impact sending a burst of white light across his vision. Pain exploded through his face as copper flooded his mouth, teeth slicing into soft cheek. But Preston refused to go down. Not now. Not when he’d finally found the courage to fight back. Not when he finally had something worth fighting for.

He staggered but remained upright, tasting blood and defiance on his tongue. “Is that all you’ve got?” he taunted, shocked by his bravery.

Antonio’s face contorted, veins bulging at his temples, eyes wild with murderous rage. His arm cocked back, knuckles white.

The bathroom door exploded inward, tile dust raining from where the handle punched through the wall. Zeppelin’s massive frame filled the doorway, tendons visibly straining beneath his skin. When his honey-brown eyes locked onto Preston’s bloodied face, something ancient and merciless awakened behind them.

The growl that followed raised every hair on Preston’s body.

One heartbeat Zeppelin stood in the doorway, the next, his weight slammed Antonio against the far wall.

Antonio’s scream cut off abruptly as Zeppelin’s claws tore through flesh and muscle. Then he crumpled to the floor.

Preston stumbled forward, his legs suddenly boneless. Zeppelin caught him, strong arms wrapping around his waist, pulling him close.

“I fought back,” Preston whispered against Zeppelin’s chest, his voice tinged with wonder. “I actually fought back.”

Zeppelin’s hand came up to cradle the back of Preston’s head. “You did, sunshine. You fought like a fucking warrior.”

Preston leaned into the embrace, his body trembling with adrenaline and relief. Over Zeppelin’s shoulder, he watched as the pack efficiently dealt with Antonio, carrying him out of the bathroom He should have been horrified by the violence, by the blood pooling on the tile floor, but all he felt was a profound sense of safety.

“He found me,” Preston murmured, his words muffled against Zeppelin’s shirt. “He was watching us.”

“And now he’ll never watch anyone again,” Zeppelin promised, his voice a low rumble against Preston’s ear. “You’re safe. He can’t hurt you anymore.”

Preston nodded, wincing as pain radiated from his bruised jaw. Tentatively, he touched the tender spot where Antonio’s fist had connected. It would be a spectacular bruise tomorrow, but he found he didn’t care. The physical pain was nothing compared to the months of psychological torment Antonio had inflicted.

“Let’s get you home,” Zeppelin said, carefully examining Preston’s face. His thumb brushed gently over the swelling skin. “Chase and the others will handle this.”

As Zeppelin guided him out of the bathroom, arm protectively around his shoulders, Preston took a shuddering breath.

The monster was dead. And Preston was finally, truly free. He could put down roots with Zeppelin, his mate and the love of his life, and the furry family he’d inherited. Because Zeppelin was there now. He would always be there. He replaced that fear with absolute certainty.

THE END