Free Van, Becca - Alpha Panthers [Terra-form 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Becca van Page B

she was smirking at me with disdain. Well, as far as I’m concerned, you can just go and fuck yourself.” April spun on her heels and began to walk away. She didn’t want the men to see the tears in her eyes. She didn’t want to stay here and be treated like a second-class citizen. She wanted to go back to her boring little apartment, with her boring nine-to-five job and her lonely existence. At least she knew she wouldn’t have to deal with stupid men who were so arrogant their heads were buried up their own asses.

    * * * *

    “I told you Vanessa was a bitch, Gage. I knew April didn’t have it in her to be mean for no reason. And as far I am concerned, she wasn’t being mean, she was defending herself. If that bitch had spat in my face, I would have killed her, and so would have you,” Saxon said.
    “Shit. I’ve really fucked up, haven’t I? What the hell are we going to do now?” Gage asked with frustration. He was really angry at himself for jumping to conclusions where Vanessa and April were concerned. Gage had always known what a conniving bitch Vanessa was. He hadn’t stopped to think at all. He had taken one look at his mate standing over Vanessa, with the bitch’s hair wrapped around her wrist, taken a look at Vanessa’s fearful face, and acted. He had let his previous bedding of the bitch, as well as her contrived innocent expression, rule him.
    Gage indicated for his seasoned warriors to go after their mate and lead her back to the palace. If she kept walking the way she was, she would end up in the middle of the lion clan’s pride. That was the last thing he wanted to happen, after Leo had been eying their mate as if she belonged to him. He watched as his warriors led April past them and she didn’t even glance his way. His warriors had surrounded her with their bodies, making sure she was protected from any danger as they led her back home.

    * * * *

    April couldn’t believe the change in the disposition of Gage and Saxon’s warriors. One moment they had been scowling at her as if she were an inconvenience, the next they were introducing themselves, being so courteous and solicitous, it was laughable. She had no idea what had made their demeanor change toward her, but she wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. She knew she wasn’t going to remember all their names, but she actually felt she was being accepted for who she was for the first time in her life. Maybe they had liked the way she stood up to her mates, and instead of frowning at her as they had been, now they were smiling and surrounding her to protect her.
    April vowed she was going to befriend these kind warriors and totally ignore her own mates. They were going to have to do some big-time groveling before she would let them back into her good graces. She had been really hurt when Gage had immediately thought the scuffle between her and Vanessa was all her fault. She had been defending herself and not instigating the fight as Gage had believed, and it hurt her to be on the end of his anger without him asking her side of the story. She pushed those thoughts aside when one of Gage and Saxon’s seasoned warriors called her name, bringing her out of her speculation.
    April was kept occupied by the warriors as they made their way back to the palace. It was dark by the time they arrived, and she was surprised to find herself in a great banquet hall. There were people everywhere, and she was feeling hurt and angry. She wondered why her mates hadn’t brought her to the dining hall before, instead of leaving it to their warriors to do so for the first time. Two of the warriors escorted April to a long table on a raised dais at the front of the room. She thanked the warriors she thought were named Tam and Stephan and asked them to join her at the large table. She didn’t want to be the only person sitting under the gaze of the curious people here. The two men sat down at the table, leaving gaps between them. She assumed the