“Let me see how bad it is.”

He turned on her and snarled, pure rage in his expression. “I told you to you go to your apartment.” His other hand shot out and gripped her arm. “I’ll take you there myself. This is what happens when you don’t listen to me.”

She was shocked at his rage and the way he practically dragged her to a Jeep. He didn’t hurt her but he was abrupt as he steered her into the passenger seat, stomped around the front of the Jeep and climbed into the driver’s seat.

The engine started and he snarled at Smiley who approached.

“You’re done escorting Zandy. Take Richard back to work. You didn’t protect her.”

Smiley looked shocked and his mouth opened to defend himself from the verbal attack but Tiger punched the gas. The Jeep shot forward and Zandy grabbed hold of the seat and the bar in front of her since the things didn’t have doors.

Tiger refused to even glance her way as he drove quickly back to her building. One hand stayed on the wheel while the other kept hold of his bleeding cheek. Hot tears filled Zandy’s eyes. He’d gotten hurt protecting her and he obviously blamed her. She couldn’t have guessed some crazy, bald New Species would attack her.

He finally spoke. “I told you to leave the cafeteria but you refused. You don’t know us or what we are capable of. You aren’t in your world.” He growled the words and each one of them hurt her feelings. “You aren’t to leave here until you’re out of heat. I won’t be fighting other males again to keep them from showing you just how unlike human males we are.”

He stopped the Jeep in front of the apartment building and Zandy didn’t wait for him to turn off the engine. She jumped out and quickly walked toward her door. Two New Species were standing on the sidewalk and they parted to allow her to pass. She didn’t glance at either of them as she hurried toward her door.

“Zandy? Where are you going? We’re not done talking,” Tiger snarled.

She kept going and blinked furiously to hold back her tears. The front door wasn’t locked—no need for it since officers were stationed outside the building at all times. The door closed firmly behind her and she spun, twisting the locks. Seconds later Tiger tried to open the door.

“Zandy? Open up.”

The tears fell. She had been terrified when Vengeance had come after her. Tiger blamed her but it wasn’t her fault some of them were freaky about ovulating women.

“Fuck you, Tiger. Go teach your men some control. It’s not my fault what happened.”

The door shook when he tried to jerk it open. “Zandy? Open this door.”

“Did you hear me? Fuck off.” She wiped at her tears. “How dare you yell at me for being a victim? Screw yourself.” She turned her back on the door and rushed into the bedroom.

He punched the door and she winced from the sound. He didn’t kick it down though, something she was pretty sure he could have done. It hurt that he’d blamed her. He was wrong for that and she wasn’t going to take that bullshit from anyone. Even him.

* * * * *

Tiger was furious as he listened and heard the sound of water inside the apartment. Zandy had turned on her shower to avoid hearing him knocking. He lowered his hand and turned to face the two males watching him. He glared.

One of them hesitated. “Is everything all right, Tiger? We smell that you have been in a fight with Vengeance and you are very angry with the little female.”

Tiger gritted his teeth. “She started her heat cycle and wouldn’t leave the damn cafeteria. I had to fight off Vengeance so he didn’t tear her clothes off and force himself on her. I’m pissed.”

“I smelled her fear,” Torrent admitted softly. “It was strong and she had tears in her eyes.”

Tiger suddenly felt like shit. He’d been so angry he hadn’t noticed her fear or her tears. He’d been oblivious in his rage. If he hadn’t been there Zandy could have gotten hurt. He was ready to kill Vengeance. The damn male was out of control.

“We’ll make sure she’s safe,” Tree promised. “We’re trained well about human females. They don’t understand how some of our wilder males will react to something they don’t give a second thought about. I’m sure she didn’t mean to start trouble.”

Tiger nodded. “I’m going to go have a chat with Vengeance.”

Tiger spun away and went to his Jeep. He wanted to kick some ass and he knew a male who would be damn sorry for attacking Zandy. He grew angrier every mile he drove until he reached his target’s home. He turned off the engine and climbed out.

“Vengeance!” Tiger tore at his shirt, kicking his shoes off as he neared the house. The door was unlocked and he barreled inside. The male he sought sat in a chair facing him. “Get up. Go outside. We’re going to fight.”

Ven slowly rose to his feet. “I expected you.”

“I’m sure you did.” Tiger backed out of the house. “You touched Zandy.”

The canine lumbered outside, limping from their earlier fight. Tiger rolled his shoulders as he stopped some distance from the house. He expected Vengeance to come at him but the male just hung his head while he kept his arms loose at his sides.

“Fight me.”

Vengeance’s chin lifted and he grimly met Tiger’s glare. “I won’t hit back. I know what I did was wrong. Punish me.” He put his hands behind his back and locked them there.