When He's Ruthless (The Olympus Pride 4)

Right then, the tiger unceremoniously dumped Davis on the floor, who quickly scrambled backwards until his back met a wall. The human’s eyes bounced from person to person. The Alphas, Aspen, Bailey, Alex, and Blair steadily stared back at him—all casually sprawled around the space, looking right at home.

The engine came to life, and then Luke drove away, muttering something to Farrell, who was riding shotgun. The plan was for her mate to drive around aimlessly. If the human was innocent, they’d let him live and ditch him somewhere. If he wasn’t innocent, well, his fate would not be a painless one.

The smell of fear permeated the vehicle as Davis gaped up at Camden, his face ashen, his breathing heavy.

The tiger glared down at him, looking so unnaturally calm it was eerie. “You know who I am.”

Swallowing, Davis wildly shook his head.

“Yes, you do,” said Camden, his voice flat. “You’ve been asking questions about me. I heard all about it. And, of course, I have to wonder just why you would have any interest in me.”

Davis’s panicked gaze again darted around the motorhome, examining every face, probably searching for a possible ally.

“If you’re wondering why they’re here, well, to be frank … they don’t trust that I won’t kill you. Don’t think that means you’re completely safe from me. They have no issue with me hurting you in order to get the info I want.” Camden took a lurching step toward the human, who promptly flinched. “Now, why don’t you tell me why you went around asking questions about me.”

Davis’s lips trembled. “I-I was just curious.”

“About?”

“Tiger shifters.”

“And why would that be?”

“I’ve always liked wild cats. Especially tigers. There’s so much that humans don’t really understand about them, though. I thought a tiger shifter might know things about full-blooded tigers that would help fill the gaps in our knowledge. So when I heard a local person was one of your kind, well, I thought maybe I could talk to you. I meant to, but then I was worried you might take offense or something.”

“You were just curious?”

Davis nodded twice, his eyes wide.

Blair saw Aspen grind her teeth, as if biting back words. It was clearly killing her to stay out of this.

Camden pursed his lips. “I suppose I can educate you on a thing or two. Do you know that, out of all the big cats, a tiger’s claws are the sharpest?” Lifting his hand, he squatted in front of Davis. “They can grow up to four inches long.” He sliced out his own claws, causing Davis to jerk in horror. “Mine are sharper. Longer. And I will drag them down your fucking face if you don’t tell me the truth.”

“I wasn’t lying, I—” Davis cried out as Camden lashed out wicked fast, leaving diagonal claw marks along his face.

The scent of blood laced the air, making Blair’s inner animal growl in approval. Her legs quivered with the urge to join in and sink her teeth into the human.

“Next time, I’ll slice deeper,” Camden warned him. “No more lies.”

Davis began to sob. “I told you, I didn’t lie.”

Camden sliced his claws down the other side of his face. “Yes, you did. I want the truth.”

“I gave you the truth!”

Camden struck again, clawing his chest this time, ripping cloth and mercilessly shredding skin. “The. Truth.”

“What I told you was true, I swear!” He choked on a pained breath as Camden buried his claws in Davis’s thigh. The human’s fists clenched as he stared down at the sight in disbelief.

“You can spout denials as many times as you want,” said Camden, still cool and composed. “But you’re mistaken if you think I’ll buy your bullshit.” Keeping his claws buried in the human’s thigh, Camden sharply twisted his hand.

Davis jerked with an agonizing cry. “Stop, stop, stop, please!”

Instead, Camden wiggled his claws. “If you want the pain to end, all you have to do is tell me what I want to know.”

“I did it for my friend!” the human burst out.

Camden withdrew his claws but kept his hand elevated over Davis’s thigh. “What friend?”

“A guy I know,” replied Davis, his breaths sawing in and out of him. “He wanted to be sure you were really the tiger shifter that recently fought with another tiger shifter. He wanted to know …”

“What?”

“Your habits, your address, if you were a loner.”

“Why? Why would he want to know?”

Davis squeezed his eyes shut. “He’s a poacher.”

Blair’s spine snapped straight, and her inner animal went very still.

“Poacher?” Camden ever so quietly echoed.

“He snatches shifters,” said Davis, shaking. “Sells fur or tusks or teeth or whatever. Sometimes even heads or full bodies.”

“Go on.”

“He wants your head and fur. He said there’s someone who’ll pay good money for them, but he didn’t say who. I-I think he works for some kind of company.”