Page 59 of Mane Attraction
Yet when her green eyes found his massive lion form, relief flooded her features. “Lev!” She stumbled toward him, her voice breaking with exhaustion and gratitude.
But the moment of reunion shattered as Crispin’s lion exploded from the undergrowth behind her, his pale blonde mane flying as he launched himself toward Xelene’s vulnerable back. The bastard’s golden eyes blazed with murderous intent, his massive frame built for destruction.
Lev’s restraint—every lesson in control and mercy his father had drilled into him—evaporated like morning mist. This wasn’t about honor or fair combat. This was about a coward who’d dared to touch his queen.
With a roar that shook the trees, Lev launched himself between Crispin and Xelene, his superior size and weight slamming into his enemy with bone-crushing force. They went down in a tangle of claws and fury, rolling across the forest floor as Lev positioned himself protectively near his mate.
You worthless pretender,Crispin’s voice snarled through the lion’s telepathic link, his mental tone dripping with venom.Playing king while hiding behind your mate’s skirts and her lucky discovery of our plans. You’re nothing without her expertise.
That’s where you’re wrong,Lev projected back, his mental voice carrying the absolute authority of an Alpha.She doesn’tmake me something I’m not, she enhances what I’ve always been.
Crispin’s response was a vicious swipe aimed at Lev’s throat, but the desperate attack was sloppy, driven by rage rather than strategy. Lev ducked and countered, his claws raking across Crispin’s flank, drawing first blood.
I wanted to kill her slowly,Crispin spat, circling Lev with predatory intent.Make you watch as I tore her apart. But killing you first works just as well.
You’ll never touch her again,Lev vowed.
The battle continued with renewed savagery. Crispin fought like the cornered animal he was—desperate, hateful, and increasingly reckless. His attacks came in wild rushes, all aggression and no finesse, the exhaustion of being hunted finally showing in his movements.
Lev, by contrast, moved with deadly patience. Years of training under his father’s demanding eye had taught him to wait for the perfect moment, to let his opponent’s fury expose their weaknesses. When Crispin lunged for his throat again, Lev twisted aside and struck low, aiming for the tendons in his enemy’s hind leg.
But Crispin’s desperation made him unpredictable. As Lev committed to the attack, Crispin pivoted and raked his claws across Lev’s shoulder, the blow deep enough to send hot blood streaming down his golden fur.
The pain momentarily threw Lev off balance, and Benjamin seized the opportunity to leap into the fray. His friend’s darker mane flew as he tackled Crispin from the side, his own claws finding purchase in the traitor’s ribs.
Stand down,Lev projected to Benjamin, even as he shook off the wound’s effects.This is mine to finish.
Benjamin immediately disengaged, understanding flowing between the lifelong friends.
Crispin’s exhaustion was showing more now, his movements sluggish as blood loss and fatigue took their toll. When he charged again, Lev was ready. He sidestepped the clumsy attack and used Crispin’s momentum against him, slamming the traitor to the ground and pinning him with his superior weight.
Crispin’s pale eyes widened as Lev’s jaws closed around his throat—not the quick kill of a warrior’s death, but the slow, deliberate execution reserved for those who threatened an Alpha’s mate and family.
This is for my father,Lev projected as his grip tightened.And for every moment of fear you caused her.
The life drained from Crispin’s eyes as Lev held his grip until the last flutter of his enemy’s heartbeat faded into nothing. Only then did he release the corpse and step back, his lion form trembling with residual rage and protective instinct.
The shift back to human form left Lev naked and blood-streaked, but he barely noticed as Xelene rushed into his arms. Her small hands cupped his face as she searched his eyes, her own bright with unshed tears.
“Thank you for saving me,” she whispered, her voice shaking with emotion. “I didn’t know if I could keep running. He was getting closer, and I thought?—”
“You’re safe now.” Lev’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her against his chest. “No one will ever get close enough to hurt you again. I swear it on my life, on my crown, on everything I am.”
THIRTY-EIGHT
XELENE
The warm sand between Xelene’s toes felt refreshing as she walked hand in hand with Lev along the pink shoreline, the twin suns casting their golden and orange light across the gentle waves. A week had passed since that terrifying night in the forest when Crispin had kidnapped her, and the transformation in both her and Lev’s lives had been nothing short of miraculous.
Look at him,she thought, stealing a glance at Lev as he pointed out a school of silver fish darting through the coral-tinted water.
The man walking beside her bore little resemblance to the notorious playboy prince she’d first met in his father’s office. This Lev moved with absolute confidence and self-assurance, his broad shoulders carrying the weight of kingship with an ease that made her chest swell with pride.
“The council meeting went well this morning,” Lev said, his thumb tracing circles on the back of her hand. “Mason’s proving to be exactly the kind of advisor we need. No hidden agendas, no political maneuvering—just honest guidance.”
“Unlike his predecessor,” Xelene replied, her voice holding a note of satisfaction. Elder Mason had stepped seamlessly intoChristoph’s former role as head of the council, bringing integrity back to the pride’s governance. “It’s amazing what happens when you remove the poison from the well.”
The past week had been a whirlwind of pride events that showcased Lev’s evolution from reckless prince to worthy king. Xelene had watched with growing admiration as he handled disputes with wisdom, addressed concerns with genuine care, and demonstrated the natural leadership that had always existed beneath his rebellious exterior. The pride members who had once whispered doubts about their future king now looked at him with respect and genuine affection.
