RETH
The call erupted from his throat—so deep it came from his toes. It ordered the other males around the fire hear and submit. They all fell back, away from both Reth and Elia, giving the women room. But most of the females were giving up too. A moment later, only the lioness that challenged Elia remains. Much as Reth would have liked to tear his arm out of the female's grip, this had to be Elia's fight. He watched her continue to stalk towards the woman touching him and he repeated the call, saw her chest rise and fall in response.
She padded over to the woman, so close her scent was strong despite the smoke, and Reth huffed again. Without taking her eyes off the other female, she lifted a hand to his chest and spoke through her teeth.
"Let go of him," she said through her teeth.
"Why?"
Elia blinked. "Because he's my mate. You're handling my mate like he belongs to you."
"But you don't want him," the woman growled.
