Protective Instinct

by Katie Reus

  She just snorted and slid out of bed, turning her back to him and giving her ass a little shake as she headed for the closet. She wasn’t surprised when he moved lightning quick across the room and pulled her into his arms, tugging her back against his chest.

  One of his hands slid down her stomach before cupping her mound, teasing her clit. Just like that she was aching for him. Okay, she hadn’t stopped aching for him.

  Maybe I’ll just be a little late, he projected through their link.

  Grinning, she let thoughts of everything but Ryan go and melted into his arms.

  * * *

  “Esperanze didn’t want to come with us?” Teresa asked Nikan as they pulled into a parking spot in front of Gwen’s bakery. They were just a few doors down from Growling Bear, Kaya and Matt’s shop—and Teresa loved the name since Kaya was part of the Bear Clan of her human tribe.

  “She’s working on a special project for the cubs.”

  “Special project?”

  Nikan grinned as he slid from the vehicle. “Something to do with their science class. I’m pretty sure it’s just an excuse to blow stuff up. Whatever it is, the cubs are excited.”

  “Rafael and I want coffee,” Rosa said, her arm wrapped snugly around the big, quiet male as they stepped up onto the sidewalk.

  Teresa glanced at Nikan. “We can open the shop.” When he nodded, she looked back at her sister. “I want a vanilla latte and a blueberry muffin. Two of them. No, three.” She was freaking starving after last night—and this morning.

  Rosa raised an eyebrow. “You sure you don’t want blueberry syrup in your latte?”

  That made Teresa pause. “Do they do that?”

  “Oh my God, you have an addiction. No, freak, you’re getting the regular latte.”

  “You gonna share those muffins?” Nikan asked. When Teresa shook her head, he rolled his eyes. “Just triple that order, but get some variety for me. I’m hungry too.”

  The walk to the shop was short, but both Teresa and Nikan were observant as they strode down the brightly decorated sidewalk. There were signs for a flower festival happening the next weekend and the town had already started getting ready. Everything was gorgeous with potted flowers hanging along all the light posts. The rainbow of colors made her soul sing. It was a new season, both for her personally and in the literal sense.

  She couldn’t help the smile she felt tugging against her lips, wondered if that feeling would ever go away. It was hard to believe that she and Ryan were actually bondmates. Something inside her had been filled in a way that she could barely explain to herself. She wanted to reach out to him, to test their telepathic link, but knew he was working hard on something for Connor. Computer related of course. Probably hacking as that was a specialty of his. Still, she might nudge him later with some dirty talk. Even the thought of doing that made her cheeks heat up and she was glad no one could actually read her mind.

  “I’m glad for you and Ryan,” Nikan said, unlocking the front door, his words cutting through her wayward thoughts.

  “Thanks,” she murmured as he stepped inside in front of her. Male shifters always went into a room or building first, wanting to check out the safety situation. It was something that had been ingrained into them since they were cubs.

  Frowning, he inhaled deeply. She knew what he was scenting. Multiple humans.

  “The scents always linger here because of how much business they do. And it’s tourist season.”

  He nodded, but his frown didn’t decrease. “I’ll check the back storeroom.”

  “Okay.” She flipped the closed sign to open and started turning on lights. As she did, her phone buzzed in her pants pocket. Rosa’s name popped up on the screen, alerting her that she’d received a text from her sister. When she read the message giving Teresa the security code, her blood ran cold. She shoved the phone back in her pocket.

  She hadn’t even thought of that, but an alarm hadn’t been on when they’d entered the store. It could be nothing, but she wasn’t taking any chances. Turning away from the set of light switches above a display of wood carvings, she called out quietly, knowing he’d hear her even if she didn’t raise her voice. “Nikan.” She’d only taken two steps in the direction of the storeroom when she heard a brief growl, then a thud.

  Crap. Her claws descended even as she reached for the telepathic link between Ryan and herself. I think something might be wrong. I’m in the store and the alarm wasn’t turned on.

  He answered immediately and though it was a jolt to have someone else’s voice in her head, it soothed her to hear him. Why are you alone? Ryan’s panic hummed along their link.

  I’m not. Nikan is in the storeroom but Rosa and Rafael are at the bakery. I heard something in the back and he hasn’t responded. The fear she felt for her packmate was sharp and real. Crouching low, she moved on quiet feet toward the back of the store, using racks of clothing and other items to hide her. There were too many scents in the store to get a lock on one thing or person. And the fact that Nikan hadn’t responded wasn’t good.

  Get out, Ryan ordered.

  I can’t leave my packmate. She snagged a heavy wood sculpture of a bear as she passed a display case. She could hear a shuffling sound now. It was faint. And two, maybe three, heartbeats. She prayed Nikan’s was one of them and he was okay.

  Ryan cursed savagely. Sit tight then, I’m calling Rafael. Damn it!

  When she heard a crash from the back, she couldn’t wait any longer. Her friend, her packmate, could be in danger. It took her a millisecond to debate whether she should be in human or wolf form. She could shift now but it would leave her vulnerable for too long while she underwent the change and she didn’t know what kind of threat was in the back. She couldn’t smell a vampire so it must be human. But there were too many damn scents to filter out to be certain.

  Remaining in her human form, she hurried around the display case that held the cash register, her claws out in one hand, the sculpture in the other. As she rounded the case a human male appeared in the entryway to the storeroom.

  She didn’t care who he was. He didn’t belong and Nikan was likely hurt. Maybe worse. She refused to dwell on that as she hauled back and threw the sculpture at him with all her might. The trajectory was spot on, hurtling right for his chest, but she saw something in his hand too late.

  A gun.

  Using all the strength in her legs she jumped over the display case. She’d rip his freaking arm right off. He raised it, fired. Something slammed into her chest as she flew through the air at the man who’d managed to avoid the sculpture.

  Pain splintered through her but she’d expected a bullet to hurt a lot more. Aww, hell. A tranquilizer dart, she belatedly realized as numbness started to flow through her body in one swoop. She rammed into the man, clawing his face as they tumbled to the floor.

  Everything was fuzzy, her movements getting slower as he howled in pain. She dug her claws into his ribs, the snap of his bone popping as satisfying as his screams, even as darkness crept in on her.

  Hold on, she ordered herself. She could hear Ryan in her head yelling at her, asking what was wrong, but she couldn’t focus.

  A set of boots came into focus. Not Nikan’s, was her last thought as darkness completely swept her under.

  * * *

  Tablet in hand, Ryan raced across the pack’s land toward the parking structure. Right now it felt like the Grand Canyon was between him and one of the SUVs. Raw fear sliced up his insides as he ran. He glanced down at the moving dot on the screen. “Still on the highway, heading in the same direction,” he said into his Bluetooth, giving Rafael the mile marker that Teresa’s phone had just passed.

  “We’re hanging back, but I’ve got the vehicle in sight. I don’t want to spook the guy. I don’t think he knows we’re tailing him.” Rafael’s voice was tight with worry. “Cops should be at the shop soon,” he added.

  Ryan didn’t give a shit about the dying or hopefully dead human at Growling Bear’s. But
he was worried about Teresa, and Nikan, who’d been pumped full of tranquilizers. The male was alive at least according to Rafael. Ryan knew Rafael and Rosa had hated leaving Nikan but they’d needed to track Teresa.

  “She fought back hard, Ryan. We’re going to find her.” Rosa’s quiet voice trembled but he heard the steely determination in her words.

  Hell yeah they were. He had to get to Teresa. Had to save his bondmate. He couldn’t handle the alternative.

  In his peripheral he saw Natalia sprinting out of their Alpha’s house, Connor and Liam not far behind. He’d sent Lucas to the house to get Connor but he wasn’t waiting for anyone. Not now.

  “I’m getting the gate,” Natalia shouted.

  He didn’t respond or acknowledge anyone as his legs ate up the distance. Within seconds Connor and Liam flanked him, running just as quietly, just as fast.

  When they reached the parking structure, Connor spoke. “I’m driving.”

  Ryan was barely holding his wolf in check so he didn’t bother arguing. He jumped into the passenger side of the chosen SUV and looked at the tablet again. The dot was still moving, heading toward the ski lodge. “It hasn’t turned off yet,” he said to Rafael. “What’s your visual?”

  “Just went around a bend, but there are two cars in front of us so we’ve got some distance. Guy’s not driving erratically.”

  Good. Ryan still couldn’t link with Teresa telepathically but she was alive. He could feel their bondmate connection clearly. That was the only thing letting him keep his sanity. He’d just found the courage to bond with the woman he loved, he couldn’t lose her now. Fate couldn’t be that cruel.

  The SUV slowed to a roll, not stopping as they pulled through the gate. Natalia jumped in the backseat with Liam, and Connor was already hitting the accelerator before she’d closed the door.

  “They’re slowing down.” Ryan’s heart rate kicked up as he zoomed in on the map, using different programs to gauge the landscape and location. “When they turn off, keep going.”

  “You sure?” Rafael asked.

  “Yeah. The road is a dead end. They’re either going to head to what looks like…” He zoomed in even farther and pulled up one of his favorite programs for a real world view. “It’s a huge cabin, owned by the ski resort. They’re either going there or they think they have a tail and are testing you. Pull off to the right at the next turnoff. If they’re worried you’re tracking them, they’ll loop back out and you can pick them up again. If this is their final destination there’re no other roads for them to lose you on. Not even service roads.”

  “Okay.”

  “Nikan’s okay,” Liam murmured from the backseat. “That human is dead though.”

  Good, Ryan thought. He’d heard Liam talking on the phone but had tuned the conversation out until now. He turned in the seat, pinning Liam with his gaze. “Did Parker give you a name?”

  Technically the Sheriff shouldn’t have given Liam any information, but Ryan was betting the man wouldn’t be following the rules at the moment. Liam nodded and rattled off an unfamiliar name and even the address listed on the human’s driver’s license.

  Ryan’s palms were actually damp as he input the information into multiple databases. Right now he was only concerned with finding Teresa but they needed to know who this human was, who he had alliances with. He could be part of the APL or he could be working with vamps if this whole shitstorm was indeed related to vampires.

  “The dot’s stopped moving,” Ryan rasped out, barely hanging on to his control as his animal surged to the surface. His wolf was rabid, clawing at him, telling him to shift and destroy anything and anyone that got in his way.

  “We’re seven minutes out.” Connor’s voice was quiet, soothing as he placed his free hand on Ryan’s shoulder. “It won’t take us long to get up the mountain. They didn’t go far.” He was just stating the obvious, what Ryan could see for himself on the screen, but still, his words had a semi-calming effect.

  His claws had sprouted and Ryan knew he might not make it. He was trying to retain his human form but his wolf was clawing viciously. “When we hit the turnoff, I’m jumping out and tracking in wolf form.”

  “I’m going with you,” Natalia said.

  “Me too,” Connor and Liam said at practically the same time.

  “I kill whoever took her.” Ryan’s voice was guttural, his wolf just about to break free.

  “We know.” Connor didn’t even pause.

  That was that. The person or persons who’d dared take his Teresa were dead.

  Chapter 10

  A dull throb pulsed through her skull and a scorching pain pierced her wrists, but Teresa forced herself to remain still. She smelled…dirt, clean laundry and, ugh, she couldn’t sift through anything else. She was indoors, that much she was sure of. There was a dampness to the room or space she was in. Not musty but chilly and damp. She was also very aware of the silver chain secured around her wrists, which were unfortunately behind her back. At least she hadn’t been injected with silver. This just weakened her, didn’t poison her internally. She’d be in a lot more pain if she’d been directly injected.

  Ryan? She tried their bondmate link, hoping she had enough strength to communicate with him.

  Teresa! Are you okay? Where are you?

  Relief rushed through her at the sound of his deep voice in her head. I’m…hold on.

  She heard heartbeats but couldn’t sense anyone directly near her. Didn’t mean they weren’t though. Taking a chance, she opened her eyes. I’m in a room, basement I think. There’s a flickering light above a washing machine and dryer. Yeah, it’s definitely a basement. It looked creepy, but she left that part out. I hear two heartbeats, upstairs somewhere.

  She was on her back so she rolled to her side. Even that slight movement sent pain splintering up her arms. The silver felt like fire scorching her skin.

  I’m on my way to get you, sweetheart. I tracked your phone to a cabin on the ski lodge’s property. One of the remote cabins. Even through their link she could hear his fear for her.

  At the sound of a door handle turning, panic punched through her and try as she might she couldn’t contain her emotional reaction. How far out are you? Someone’s opening the door and I’m chained with silver. And it hurt something fierce. She knew she’d have blisters and was glad she couldn’t see the damage the metal was doing to her skin.

  I have the cabin in my sight and I’m closing in. Maybe twenty yards now. There’s a human outside smoking a cigarette. Hold on, baby. I’m coming.

  A human took me. Oh my God, how’s Nikan? She’d forgotten about him until now, which just heaped guilt on top of her.

  Fine, don’t worry about him. Focus on staying alive. I’ve got Connor and Liam with me. Do you know how many kidnappers there are?

  I just hear the two heartbeats, but if the human is outside I don’t think I’d hear him. There must be three.

  Okay, so two inside and one outside.

  Teresa squinted at the sudden rush of light as a tall, statuesque blonde stepped onto the first stair that led to the basement floor and flipped the overhead lights on. Shit, a female vamp opened the door. Talking to Ryan had kept her calm and focused but seeing her captor, or one of them, coming down the stairs with glowing amber eyes and a blade gripped tightly in her gloved hand made Teresa’s stomach drop. She’s got a knife, you better freaking hurry!

  I’m almost there, sweetheart. Just hang on. Please fight and hang on. Love and fear slammed through their link in equal measures.

  She focused on the love, needing to draw on his strength right now. While Teresa could fight, she was trussed up like a turkey and the silver weakened her. Shaking her head, she tried to clear some of the cobwebs from her brain and compartmentalize her growing panic as the woman reached the bottom of the stairs. She was alone, but Teresa could now scent someone else upstairs, in addition to hearing them. Another vampire.

  “Who are you?” she managed to squeeze out, her voice rasp
y. A wave of nausea swept through her, probably from the combination of the silver and the remnants of the tranq in her bloodstream.

  In the blink of an eye the blonde crossed the twenty feet distance from the stairs to where Teresa lay on her side. Yep, vampire. Not that she’d had any doubt. Vamps had a distinctive scent. Still wild, but not earthy like shifters.

  Smiling creepily, the female knelt down next to Teresa. Her head tilted to the side a fraction as she eyed Teresa like she was dinner. “I’m Frida, and your whore sister killed my maker.” Despite the almost musical quality of her voice, Frida’s words were like fingers on a chalkboard. The evil and hate behind them sent another swell of nausea through her.

  Great, so this was about revenge. Still, Teresa managed to keep it together. She had to hold on until her packmates showed up. “It was self-defense,” she said quietly.

  On a snarl of rage Frida struck out, slicing at Teresa’s upper arm in a long, jagged cut.

  White, hot pain exploded along her arm, but she tightened her jaw, refusing to cry out. It was what this female wanted no doubt.

  Teresa! Ryan’s voice shouted in her head. He must have sensed her pain.

  I’m…fine. And that was all she could manage.

  Hold on. I’m about to breach the house.

  Teresa held back any sense of impending relief. She couldn’t let this female sense it or she might just kill her right here. “What do you want with me?” Fire licked up her arm, her blood warm on her skin, but she forced herself to ignore the pain. She needed to keep the female talking, distracted.

  “Your sister took from me. I’m going to take from her. But I’m going to have fun with you first.” She dragged the edge of the silver blade along Teresa’s open wound.

  That alone was enough to make tears sting her eyes against her will. She still refused to cry out though. At the same time she heard a slight shuffle upstairs, Frida turned toward the stairs with a frown.

  It could be Ryan or it could be the female’s partner. Teresa didn’t care who it was. If there was a chance it was Ryan, she couldn’t let this psycho vamp get the jump on him.