Page 41 of Crimson Heart

“If you’re not out in the next 60 seconds, I’ll drag you out myself,” Jude warned.

Byron didn’t doubt that Jude would do just that. Not wanting Charlotte to experience that humiliation, he rose and helped her out of the tub.

“I’m coming, asshole!” Charlotte yelled in the direction of the door.

Byron took her chin to make her look at him. “It’s probably better if you don’t provoke him right now.”

He surprised himself with his words. In general, he wasn’t the kind of guy who shied away from a confrontation, and he certainly would have that confrontation with Jude shortly, but it was best if Charlotte didn’t anger her brother too much.

“It’s better if you appeal to his heart,” Byron murmured only for her to hear. “I assume he has one. After all, he’s mated with Danielle. Remind him that he followed his heart, so he has to let you follow yours.”

Charlotte met his gaze, and a soft smile played around her mouth. “You’re right.”

He wrapped a large bath towel around her, then took a smaller one to wrap around his lower half. They had left their clothes in the bedroom. With another nod at Charlotte, he walked to the door and opened it.

Jude and Austin stood a few feet away, pinning him as he came out of the bathroom, Charlotte behind him.

“I said get dressed,” Jude snapped.

“Clothes are in the bedroom,” Byron bit out, before he looked over his shoulder at Charlotte. “Go ahead, get dressed, please. I’ll wait here.”

When Charlotte disappeared into the bedroom and shut the door, Byron turned back to her two brothers.

“If you hurt Charlotte,” Byron began in a low and steady voice, “I will punish you. Charlotte is mine, and I’ll do anything to protect her. Even from you.”

Jude scoffed. “That’s rich coming from you.”

“You say that as if you know me. Trust me, you don’t. You don’t want to know what I’m capable of where the woman I love is concerned.”

Jude didn’t reply.

Instead, Austin did. “Be careful, Byron. You mess with Charlotte, you mess with the entire Werewolf Alliance.”

He was aware of that. But he wasn’t afraid of them. All he was afraid of was losing Charlotte.