Ares did not wait for a rebuttal. He brushed past her, his shoulder narrowly missing hers, and continued forward. A strange heat began to crawl beneath his skin, centering in his chest where she had nearly collided with him. He tightened his jaw, his mind racing with a confused agitation. What is wrong with me? he thought, his pulse thudming a little too loudly in his ears.
"You..."
Rhea started to surge forward, but Tavian moved with desperate speed. He clamped his palm firmly over her mouth, his other arm hooking around her waist to anchor her in place. He held her back with everything he had, his eyes wide as he watched the Alpha's retreating back.
Rhea stopped struggling and turned a lethal glare toward Tavian. The intensity in her eyes was so sharp that Tavian yanked his hand away instantly, as if her skin had physically burned his palm.
"What did you do that for?" Rhea barked, spinning around to face him fully.
