Claimed by Two Navy Shifters Page 3

  “Don’t even think about it.” Warren’s voice was threatening as he jammed himself onto the same step as Leo.

  “Lay off.” Leo pushed him back. Warren’s foot landed on the bottom step with a bit too much force and it creaked loudly before finally breaking. His leg dangled for a minute before he hoisted himself back up. Leo burst into laughter.

  “Oh my God, are you alright?” Roxie rushed to his side, cupping his face in her hands. “You didn’t get hurt, did you?”

  Warren shook his head and smiled, gently resting his hand on top of hers, his brown eyes growing warm. “I’m okay, thanks. But maybe you should help me the rest of the way by holding my hand…”

  “You don’t need to hold her hand. You can make it up by yourself.” Leo snapped.

  “Sure.” Roxie grabbed his hand and guided him the rest of the way while Leo was left to glare, his blood boiling. He couldn’t believe Roxie was giving that mangy mutt her attention.

  They reached the third floor. Roxie rummaged through her bag, fishing out a key. She opened the door. The inside of her apartment forced Warren to stop in his tracks. The couches in the living room were a putrid green color with some of the springs popping out of the cushions. The wallpaper was peeling. The carpet, which looked like it had once been white, was now a gray color, with various stains all over. He couldn’t understand how anyone could live here.

  “Sorry about the mess…” Roxie mumbled, embarrassed about her living situation.

  “It’s not a problem. Don’t worry about us. Just go make yourself even more beautiful and we’ll wait here.” Leo pushed Warren aside, sitting down on the couch. It creaked under his weight, sounding like it would collapse at any minute.

  Roxie smiled at him, thankful that he wasn’t making a big deal out of her apartment. Warren eventually sat down on the loveseat, but immediately sprang back up as it moaned. “Do you smell that?” He asked. A part of the room smelled like something had died.

  “It’s probably a mouse or something in the floorboards.” Leo shrugged.

  “How can you be okay with this?”

  “Making a big deal out of it isn’t going to make her feel any better. She’s obviously going through a hard time and you pointing out the condition of her home is only going to make things worse.” Warren was actually surprised when Leo said that. It wasn’t like him to consider the feelings of other people. He narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

  “Since when do you care so much?”

  “Care about what?”

  “Other people.”

  “I always cared.”

  “Yeah right. Or have you forgotten that you are the reason my entire pack is dead.”

  “Oh, please. You know that wasn’t my fault and in any case, how much longer are you going to hold that against me? It could’ve happened to anyone.”

  “If you had just listened to reason and followed orders – like everyone else, I would still have a family.”

  “You forget that I lost a part of my clan as well.”

  “My pack got eradicated. Their body parts were scattered all over the place. You try living through that.”

  “I did.”

  “You’re heartless.” Warren spat. He pulled out the necklace he always wore. “How would you feel if you were the last living member of your pack?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Then stop acting like you did nothing wrong!”

  “I didn’t. I did what I had to!”

  “Right, cause killing a bunch of innocent people is exactly what you were supposed to do.” Warren was getting red in the face, the hair on the back of his neck standing on end. He was ready to rip this guy’s throat out. “You killed them.”

  “It was an accident.”

  “You want to try saying that again?”

  “Is that a threat?” Leo got up from the couch, barring his teeth. “Because I think it’s high time we finished what we started.”

  “I’ve been thinking that since the moment you ran away, limping.”

  “You were as good as dead and you know it.”

  “Well, I’m not and don’t you forget that. One wrong move and I will make you pay for what you did. You’re just lucky this girl keeps protecting you.”

  “You know, you should really stop pursuing her. You’ll just get hurt when she finally picks me.”

  “Please. Why would she pick you?” Warren ran his fingers over his hair. “You’re just some knucklehead who likes to stir up trouble.”

  “And you’re just some mangy little mutt who can’t stop crying about his family. Want me to throw you a pity party?”

  Warren was just about to lose his temper when Roxie reentered the room. She had changed into a white peplum dress that hugged her curves to perfection. The sweetheart neckline was barely enough to contain her large breasts. The two men could do nothing but stare at her.

  “Wow… you look divine…” Leo muttered.

  Roxie giggled. “And you’re still quick with those compliments. Anyway. Should we get going?”

  Leo nodded, holding out his hand for her. She took it with a smile, nodding her head at Warren. “I hope you don’t mind. Can’t have you two getting jealous if I show one of you more attention than the other.”

  “It’s fine,” Warren said through gritted teeth as he watched his enemy walk off with the beautiful girl. Inside his chest, however, his wolf was starting to become possessive. Why are you letting him touch her? Why are his dirty fingers on her body? Stop it. Stop it, now.

  Warren nearly growled but kept his composure. If he fought Leo now, he would look like a brute and Roxie would no doubt hate him for it. Still, he gnashed his teeth together in hatred. In the end, he would make sure he got the girl. There was too much longing in his chest to ever let her go. He wouldn’t rest until she was his mate.

  ***

  Surprisingly, the trio managed to have a decent dinner at the steakhouse. They had some pleasant conversation and made it through the evening without the men snapping at each other.

  Roxie was enjoying herself. It felt nice to be in their presence and it was great to be out of the house, doing something other than working. “Hey, do you mind if we go to a nightclub or something? It’s been a long time since I’ve danced.” Roxie suggested once they were outside.

  “Sure. I know this great place in town.” Leo smiled at her. “And I’m not going to say no to seeing you dance.” He winked at her. She smirked in response, her dark eyes sparkling with mischief.

  High overhead, the moon was almost full. Roxie had a drink at dinner and was starting to feel rather flirty, hoping the night would never end. Warren was getting anxious, the moon’s grip becoming powerful, but he wasn’t about to succumb now and let Leo run off with the girl. He wasn’t going to lose to him.

  “Here we are.” The nightclub was packed. The line went all the way around the building and into the following street.

  “Damn… we’re never going to get in if we have to wait in that line.” Roxie frowned.

  “Don’t worry.” Leo walked up to the bouncer, who immediately recognized him.

  “Hey! Leo! What are you doing here? Back from the Navy Seals already?”

  “Been back for a while.”

  “Why haven’t I seen you around?” The bouncer asked, unclipping the barrier. “I’m assuming you’re here with this lovely lady.”

  “That’s right.” Leo grabbed her. Roxie offered a flirtatious smile.

  “Well, I hope you have fun in there, man, and call me some time, we need to catch up. I’m sure you have some killer stories to tell.”

  “Killer alright,” Warren mumbled, stepping forward.

  “Whoa there, bud, you’ll have to wait like everyone else.”

  “Oh, can’t you make an exception for me?” Roxie asked, placing her hand on the bouncer’s arms. Her eyes seemed to shimmer and he found himself unable to deny her. She looked back at Warren, grabbing his hand and pulling him forward. “C’mon, I want to dance.
”

  To everyone’s surprise, the three of them actually found great harmony on the dancefloor. Roxie was sandwiched between the two men, alternating who she grinded against. Leo was more provocative since he always grabbed her hips and kissed her neck whenever it was his turn. Warren, on the other hand, took his time to enjoy her body, bringing her close. He sniffed her hair, getting drunk off the scent. He pulled her close, making her feel like the only girl in the world.

  Throughout the night, Roxie couldn’t stop smiling. She had needed a night like this. A night where she could just unwind with two handsome men. Her life might have been falling apart, but at least in that very moment, everything seemed okay. Even the men were getting along.

  Chapter Four

  Just as the sun was coming up, Leo pulled up to Roxie’s home. “Well… I guess this is goodbye…” She hesitated, looking at both men in turn. She didn’t want to leave them just yet. She wanted to enjoy their presence just a little bit longer.

  “I don’t suppose either one of you want to come up and grab some coffee.”

  “I can’t…” Leo looked disappointed.

  Warren was actually surprised, but since it was now the day of the full moon, he knew it would be dangerous to be alone with her. “Neither can I.”

  Leo raised an eyebrow in Warren’s direction. He had been certain that the wolf would have pounced at the chance of being alone with her.

  “Well then, I guess we’ll have to call it a night. Thanks for the amazing time, boys.” She smiled, kissing Leo on the cheek.

  Warren’s rage ignited and he was just about to slash his opponent across the neck when Roxie leaned over and kissed him as well. The two men looked completely stupefied.

  “Would one of you mind letting me out?” She asked when neither one of them moved.

  “Sure. I’ll be walking anyway.” Warren opened the door before helping her out. His fingers lingered on her hips. Their eyes locked. He could feel their faces gravitating together as if they were just about to kiss when Leo cleared his throat a little too loudly. Roxie jumped, the moment ruined. Warren sighed under his breath, knowing he would just have to wait to make his move. He wanted her. He wanted her more than anything else, but he wasn’t willing to jeopardize her safety just to get his fix.

  Roxie ended up prying his fingers off of her body before she disappeared into her apartment. The moment she closed the door, she let out a loud sigh. It felt like she had been holding her breath the entire time she had been with the men. Her whole body shook and her instincts threatened to take control.

  She yanked the door open, hoping to catch them still there, but they were already gone. Her eyes flicked and she felt her desire grow to insurmountable levels. “What has gotten into me…?” Her stomach tied into knots and her vision blurred. “Could it be…?”

  Dropping her bag on the ground, she dashed into the bathroom. Just as she suspected, her eyes now resembled those of a feline. The slits that now served as her pupils stared back at her. “Could one of them be my mate… but which one…?” Roxie thought aloud, her hormones raging through her body. Her nails were already growing exceptionally long.

  She tried to calm down, but all she could think about was the two men.

  Leo? He was exceptionally sexy. She could just imagine the packed on muscle that was hiding underneath his shirt. Plus, he had one of the sexiest voices she had ever heard… she could just picture him pinning her to the bed and whispering in her ear as he made sweet love to her. In her mind, he was rocking the bed hard and her body was at his complete mercy.

  The fire between Roxie’s legs ignited into a raging flame. She moaned, her eyes turning green. She was close to shapeshifting and yet, she couldn’t stop thinking about her companions.

  Warren? He wasn’t quite as provocative as Leo, but he was just as sexy. Roxie wanted to pull that hair tie out of his hair and let it fall down his shoulders. She wanted to run her fingers through it, pulling it as he went down on her. His tongue lapping at her juices, working faster and faster.

  Roxie couldn’t hold back any longer. She moaned, her body contorting in the process. In the blink of an eye, a large black jaguar had filled up most of the space in the small bathroom. She paced back and forth, her body raging with energy.

  Claustrophobia kicked in and she could no longer stand to be trapped in the small room. She tore down the wall, running right into her bedroom where she broke through the window and jumped onto a nearby tree branch. She balanced gracefully before jumping to the ground, landing on her feet.

  I need to burn off some steam, she thought, running at full speed into the forest that lined her home. She ran faster than she ever had before, barreling through the trees.

  What if I can’t choose the right one? She questioned herself, fearing that she might fall for the wrong man. She couldn’t quite pinpoint which one of them was supposed to be her mate. Both of them attracted her in ways she couldn’t quite understand, but she had to make a choice.

  She spotted a large deer and slowed down, crouching into the tall grass. In the darkness, just before dawn, her sleek black coat made her nearly invisible. She took her time to stalk her prey, getting closer and closer as the unsuspecting deer nibbled on a nearby leaf, thinking it was safe.

  It has to be one of them. But which one would end up going to bed with her? Which of the two would make her scream until she dug her nails into their back and marked them as her own. She could nearly taste their flesh on her lips… her teeth digging into their neck, leaving behind a hickey.

  Her body exploded, springing as if she had been wound up for too long. The deer didn’t stand a chance.

  ***

  Warren didn’t stick around for very long. The moon was still high in the sky. The sun had yet to arrive and take its place. The lunar hold on him was getting stronger by the minute. He quickened his pace, making sure he was out of eyesight before he allowed his instincts to take control.

  He ended up running, his feet pounding against the icy sidewalks. His human lungs burned with the task, but he didn’t care. He wanted to put as much distance as possible between himself and that good-for-nothing bear.

  He approached his old hunting grounds – where his pack used to live – when they were still alive. The memory stung him like someone had driven a red-hot knife right through his chest. Warren stopped, his breathing ragged just thinking about it.

  The territory of his pack reminded him that he was the only one left. The necklace he wore seemed to come alive, burning a hole through his shirt. Enraged, his body turned into a wolf. He howled at the dying moon. Warren was in agony. No shifter should ever be without his pack, but he was destined to be a lone wolf.

  Feeling angry, he rushed forward, running blindly. His feral body was a lot more capable of running long distances. He ran and ran until he arrived at the river, lying down beside it.

  Back when he was just a pup, he used to come here all the time. The fish that frolicked in the water always seemed to fascinate him. Countless times, he had tried to catch one, but they always seemed to avoid his grasp. Even as he grew older, the task didn’t get any easier.

  Most of his human life was spent avoiding the water and the disappointment that came with it. This small task, which should have come easily to him, just marked him as a failure. The pack laughed at him. No one thought he would amount to much, especially if he couldn’t kill a measly fish with his claws and fangs.

  That’s why he joined the Navy Seals with the rest of the pack. The fact that he was the youngest among them didn’t stop him. Being 18 years old meant he could enlist. He was going to prove himself, even if it meant his death. It never even crossed his mind that he would come back as the lone survivor…

  Warren swatted at the water. A lone fish swam up the stream, struggling against the current. The wolf swiped at it, but just like every other time, it scurried away.

  Despite it all, there was one time he successfully caught a fish. He was overseas. His partner –
Leo – was going out to get some food and invited Warren along. They were best of friends back then, even acted like brothers, covering each other’s backs. They did everything together.

  “C’mon, we’re going to catch some fish.”

  Warren was hesitant. Fishing was his biggest weakness. “Maybe I should just collect firewood.”

  “Missy and Jasmine are already working on that. You wouldn’t want to be caught doing a woman’s job, would you?” Leo punched Warren on the shoulder, teasing him.

  “Fine.”

  Once at the river, Leo turned into a bear, his body massive. It was the first time Warren had seen the man shapeshift. Everyone knew the team was composed of shapeshifters. It was the reason they had been grouped together.

  “Wow…” Warren whispered in admiration as Leo effortlessly caught the fish in his claws, tossing them onto the shore. Sometimes, he would dunk his head in the water, snapping his jaws shut around his helpless victims before gobbling them up.

  “Now you try.” He said, turning back into a man, water dripping down his chiseled body.

  “I don’t know…”

  “C’mon. If you don’t, I’ll tell everyone that you’re scared of fish.”

  Warren turned red in the face. “Fine.” He didn’t want anyone to think he was a coward. Turning into a wolf, he tried to mimic what Leo had done. To his surprise, he caught a fish on his first try. That feat, although seemingly insignificant, was one of Warren’s proudest moments.

  Warren shook his head, reluctant to be reminded of those times. That brotherhood was long gone. Leo was dead to him as far as he was concerned. If it wasn’t for that dumb bear, his pack would still be alive. Feeling outraged, Warren slammed into the water, grabbing the fish in his jaw and smashing it to bits. He ate it, bones and all before he rampaged through the woods, looking for something else to pick on.

  It wasn’t long before he spotted two brown bears. The two animals were about to climb a tree and go after a beehive. Warren slowed his pace and hid behind a bush. If his pack were still alive, it would have been easy to ambush the creatures. Now that he was alone, it was going to be a little harder to take them down.