Chapter 4

Dead silence slammed down on the plaza.

Every male stared at Catherine as if she had just lost her mind. A fragile, precious female choosing a cursed snake shifter? It broke every rule of their reality.

Amon's hand flipped over. He gripped Catherine's hand back. His grip was almost painfully tight, his fingers trembling against her skin. The golden slits of his eyes dilated, swirling with a dark, obsessive heat.

Barrett's face turned the color of bruised plum. He slashed his hand through the air. "Absurd! You don't know what you are saying! You don't know how cold-blooded and selfish snake shifters are!"

He pointed a thick, accusing finger at Amon. "They have no emotions! Their rutting season makes them violent and insane! He doesn't know how to care for a fragile female. He will break you!"

The crowd of males roared in agreement, hurling vicious insults at Amon's bloodline.

Monster. Cold-blooded freak. Killer.

Amon's body went rigid. The air pressure around them dropped drastically. Black scales began to push through the skin on his neck, his beast form fighting to break free under the weight of his rage. The ground beneath his feet cracked.

Catherine felt the cold sweat on Amon's palm. She squeezed his hand harder, trying to anchor him.

She glared at Barrett, her chin tilted up. "All I know is that when I was about to die, he was the one who fought for me. Where were all of you?"

The words slapped the crowd into silence. Jett's face flushed red, and he awkwardly stepped back into the throng of men.

Barrett took a deep breath, his chest puffing out as he tried to regain control. He forced a sickeningly sweet smile onto his face. "Beautiful female, you are new here. You don't understand our laws. By tribal rule, a new, unbonded female must have her mates assigned by the Chief to ensure her safety."

He gestured to two massive men standing nearby, both covered in tribal tattoos. "These are tiger shifters. They are the strongest. They are the best choice to protect you and give you powerful cubs."

A terrifying, inhuman hiss ripped from Amon's throat.

His right arm completely transformed. Thick, black scales covered his skin, and his fingers elongated into razor-sharp, lethal claws. He threw himself in front of Catherine, his golden eyes burning with a suicidal fury.

"She said she chose me," Amon snarled. His voice sounded like it was scraping over broken glass. It was the sound of a man ready to burn the world down.

The two tiger shifters instantly dropped into a fighting stance. Their hands morphed into massive, fur-covered paws with unsheathed claws. Low growls vibrated in their chests.

Blood was about to be spilled. Catherine knew Amon was strong, but if he killed the Chief's men, they would never survive in this world.

Without thinking, Catherine stepped around Amon. She planted herself directly between his lethal claws and the two tiger shifters.

She stared dead into Barrett's eyes. Her hands were shaking, but she forced her voice to stay steady. "If your tribe's rule is forcing me to do something against my will, then I will leave this tribe right now."

The crowd gasped.

A female with no abilities leaving the safety of the tribe was a guaranteed death sentence. But to Barrett, losing a female was the ultimate failure. Females were the rarest, most vital resource for their survival and evolution.

Barrett's confident mask cracked. Panic flashed in his eyes.

"Don't be reckless!" Barrett quickly raised his hands in surrender. He gritted his teeth, swallowing his pride. "Fine. If you insist, you can stay in Amon's cave for now. But the rule stands: until you are marked, every male in this tribe has the right to court you."

Catherine knew that was the best deal she was going to get. She gave a curt, cold nod.

Amon didn't wait for another word. He turned, scooped Catherine up into his arms, and walked away. His long strides ate up the distance as he headed toward the steep cliff face at the edge of the settlement.

As they walked past the wooden cabins, female shifters peeked out from their doorways. Their eyes were filled with toxic jealousy.

A female with bright red hair, standing outside a cave near the cliff, sneered loudly. Catherine noticed the way the red-haired female's gaze lingered on Amon's broad back for a fraction of a second-a toxic mix of lingering obsession and bitter rejection-before she turned her venomous glare toward Catherine. "A pretty face means nothing if she's stupid. Choosing that cold-blooded freak... she'll be tortured to death during his rut."

Amon's steps faltered. His spine turned to steel. He didn't turn his head, but Catherine felt the violent shudder that wrecked his massive frame. He started walking faster.

Catherine rested her head against his hard chest. She reached up and lightly touched his jaw. "Don't listen to them. I trust you."

Amon's Adam's apple bobbed hard. He pulled her tighter against him, burying his face in her hair as he carried her up the rocky path.

They reached a large, natural cave carved into the cliffside. It was isolated from the rest of the tribe.

Amon walked inside and gently set Catherine down on a wide stone bed covered in thick, soft animal furs. He pulled his hands back immediately, as if her skin burned him.

He dropped to his knees beside the bed. The terrifying, lethal predator from the plaza was gone.

He looked up at her. His golden eyes were wide, swimming with a crippling, agonizing vulnerability. His jaw ticked as he struggled to force the words out.

"Do you..." Amon's voice broke. "Do you really not hate me?"

Catherine looked down at this massive, powerful man kneeling before her, looking at her like she was his entire world. Her chest ached. She reached out, placing her hand gently on his cheek, and nodded.