“Does your mark hurt?” he asked, his voice soft and concerned.
“A little,” she said, then nodded.
“Come here,” he urged, pushing her long hair off the side with the mark. Her body responded when he leaned in and slowly washed his tongue over the bite. He’d partially shifted, and the roughness of his tongue made her shiver again. “That should help.”
“What about your bite?” she asked, looking at the spot she’d marked. Hope frowned when she realized her small canines hadn’t left a huge mark. She made a mental note to correct that the next time they made love.
“Mine is fine.” He frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she blushed, wishing she could just melt away from the embarrassment.
“Do not lie to me, mate,” he bristled. “Did I hurt you?”
“No!” she gasped. “No, that’s not it.”
“Tell me,” he pushed, cupping her face with one hand. His warmth surrounded her and his mating scent filled the air with his concern.
“My…my bite is small,” she answered, looking at his neck.
“But it’s your bite.” He smiled brightly. “I will wear it with pride.”
“I’ll make it bigger,” she growled. “I want the other females to know you are taken.”
“I’m not going to deny you the opportunity to bite me again, my mate,” he chuckled. “I’m all for you marking me whenever you feel the need.”
“What if I need to do it again now?” she asked, licking her lips. His scent was driving her mad with lust, and she needed him inside her again.
Hope sucked in a breath when he flipped her over onto her back and entered her in one swift push. Ranger’s eyes sparked amber and his canines pushed out of his gums. Her own teeth thickened and she licked her lips as he tilted his head to the side.
“Mark me again, my mate,” he goaded. “I am yours.”
“I want that female found!” Boris Small paced in front of his Guardians. Each man had been hand-picked by himself. He’d found several of them in a small town up in Canada. They were savage beasts and exactly what he needed.
They’d stumbled upon an alpha and a Guardian when passing through town a few months prior. There was quite a fight, but he was able to best the alpha and take his life. The Guardian was sold to the Community for research. Who cared about that panther anyway? The fifty grand was what he needed to line his pockets and hijack the pride, forcing the pride to take his blood. It wasn’t until three very sexy female panthers came to him that he realized he was in the right place.
His attempt at starting a harem had been thwarted when the females’ families ran away with them. It didn’t matter, because he’d already marked them as his own. They’d return to him when he found them again and killed their handlers. It wasn’t like the females were worth anything other than birthing males to carry on his lineage. Any females born to those whores would be given to the Community to be researched…or killed. He really didn’t care what happened to them. Females were worthless, in his mind.
“You have two weeks to go out and search,” he continued. “Return to me when you are weak.”
The Guardians snarled their agreement and left the yard behind his new home. He’d get those females back if it was the last thing he did.
Chapter Eight
Ranger stood at the door to the training room, watching Hope work the heavy bag like a pro. Her brother had taught her well, and he felt pride in knowing she could take care of herself if the time came that he was unable to protect her.
That thought alone had been going through his head since he’d claimed her two nights ago. The ache in his leg reminded him that he might not be the male she needed. His gimp leg had never been a problem before, but now that he had a mate, Ranger was wracked with thoughts of not being strong enough for her.
“Hey.” Hope frowned as she approached. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” he replied, shaking the thoughts from his mind. “Nothing at all.”
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” she said.
“I need to run,” he announced, pulling his mate against his chest. “I need to let my panther free, and I’m off work for the day.”
“Want me to go with you?” she asked cheerfully. He hated to let her down, but he needed to shift alone.
“No,” he answered. “I want you to stay here. I won’t be far if you need me.” Ranger kissed her cheek and started to back away, but a small hand landed on his forearm. When he looked up, Hope’s eyes had narrowed.
“Why do you not want me to run with you, Ranger?” she questioned, closing her hand down tighter as he started to move away again. She wasn’t going to let him go.
“Just stay here,” he growled.
“Nope.” Her one word answer and gritted teeth assured him that his mate was getting pissed at him. “You tell me the truth, Guardian. I can scent your deceit.”
“Fuck,” he moaned, running a hand through his short-cropped hair.
“Yeah, fuck,” she replied. “Answer me.”
“Come here.” He sighed deeply, pulling her over to the bench against the wall so she could sit down and rest. Ranger, however, paced in front of her. He had to suck up his pride and tell her. Hope was his mate and she needed to know everything. “My scar isn’t just a scar.”
“Ranger?” she worried, taking his hand so he would stop pacing and look at her. “Tell me.”
“It’s not as glorious as it should be,” he chuckled, rolling his eyes. “I was mauled by a natural bear about seven years ago and lost a lot of blood. By the time I woke up in the forest, I was unable to shift to repair anything because the animal took a lot of the muscle with him. The aches get to be too much, and I have to shift at least three times a week to ease the pain.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this?” Hope gasped, tightening her hold on his hand. Ranger didn’t want her pity. He only wanted her understanding. He was about to walk away again when she stood up and pulled her shirt over her head.
“What are you doing?” he frowned.
“I’m going to tell you exactly what happened to me and the struggles I deal with daily.” Hope reached for his hand and rested the tips of his fingers on her scar. The thickness of the white line was similar to his own. “I have aches and pains, too.”
“Are you hurting now?” he panicked, using his other arm to wrap around her waist. When he tried to pull her closer, Hope shook her head.
“No, I want you to see me…all of me,” she replied, taking a deep breath before she turned to the side to show him the entire scar. “This is what’s left of what happened in my old pride.”
“I see you, my mate,” he replied without breaking eye contact.
“Boris Small came into our town three days after our old alpha and Kraven went missing,” she began. “His Guardians rounded us up, forcing us to our knees. We had no other choice but to accept him. It took a couple of weeks before he started making advances toward a few females, me included.”
“How did this alpha harm you?” Ranger interrupted.
“One night, I was asleep in my bed when Guardians broke into my cabin. They took me and two other females out into the woods. Boris demanded we accept him as his mate.”
“He wanted a fucking harem?” Ranger roared in disgust. Boris Small was a dead man as far as Ranger was concerned.
“When I told him that I would rather die than be his mate, he punched me.” She took a deep breath. “I stood up to him, giving him back what he gave me, but he was stronger…”
“Hope,” Ranger whispered as she paused. His heart beat wildly in his chest as his worst nightmares were right in his face.
“I…I punched him,” she continued, looking at her feet. “He ordered his Guardians to hold my arms. He cut my clothes away, but when I spit in his face, he decided to take his knife and carve a line down my side. I think he wanted the other females to know that defiance of any kind was rewarded with punishments.”
&
nbsp; “Did he touch you in any other way?”
“No.” She frowned, thinking for a moment. “I think he would have if the rightful heir to the pride hadn’t fought to get to me.”
“Who is that?” Ranger growled, wanting to know everything.
“Thorne Blackwell,” she sniffled. “His father was the most caring alpha we’d ever had. Boris Small used the females against him by holding our safety over his head to make him submit.”
“Where is Thorne now?” Ranger asked.
“I think he is still there,” she said. “I’ve had no contact with the pride since Kraven hid me away and the two other females disappeared.”
“Didn’t you say they were safe?” Ranger asked.
“Yeah, we were held in a cabin on the property by the Guardians for a long time.” She cursed in disgust before continuing. “We were not allowed to shift, but I tried anyway. They kicked me and eventually, I passed out. I woke up three days later in my own blood. It took them another two days before they allowed us to shift. When I woke up, I’d found that Jani and Val had been cut up, too.”
“I will kill him,” Ranger vowed, cupping her face tenderly. “This is my promise to you, my mate. Boris Small and his Guardians will be removed from power by the Shaw pride.”
“I just don’t want to be anywhere near him when he is taken out,” she shivered, “I’m not afraid of anything, but my panther is terrified of him.”
“It’s going to be okay,” Ranger said, kissing her forehead. “You said you have pain?”
“Occasionally,” she answered. “If I don’t do anything for several days, I get stiff.”
“Like that day at the alpha’s home when you grabbed your side?”
“Yeah.” She sighed, looking out the window. “It looks like it’s going to rain, but I don’t care. I’ll run with you.”
“Okay. Let’s go.”
Before Hope could walk away, Ranger stopped her to look at the scar. It was just as nasty as the one on her panther. He’d keep a watch over her and make sure that she wasn’t in any discomfort. The mating pull did that to the males. It didn’t matter how tough or strong the women were, the males still made sure their comfort and safety came first and foremost.
“I’m so sorry this happened to you,” he whispered, using his thumb to softly trace the scar.
“Well, it did, and I have to get over it.” Hope shivered slightly before taking both of his hands into hers. “I can’t dwell on the past, Ranger. It’s toxic. I just look forward to the next day and hope that the past I’ve lived through doesn’t come back to haunt me.”
After their run, Hope made her way to the alpha’s home where she found her brother sitting on the edge of the couch, his hands folded in front of him while he spoke to one of the females. Ranger had taken off to check things at the gate, promising he’d be back as soon as possible.
The female that Kraven was talking to was a beautiful blonde who was expecting a cub in a few months. She believed her to be the Guardian Savage’s mate, Mary Grace.
“Hey, sis!” Kraven smiled as she approached. “Have you met Mary Grace?”
“No.” Hope smiled, holding out a hand to the female. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Same to you, Hope,” Mary Grace replied. “I’m sorry I haven’t been around. I’ve been resting a lot lately.”
“How do you two know each other?” Hope asked, frowning at her brother.
“Your brother was my savior when I was kidnapped by that medical lab.” Mary Grace looked toward her brother and smiled sadly when a haze of guilt washed over his eyes.
“I wouldn’t quite call me a savior,” Kraven replied, gritting his teeth.
“You helped save my mate, and that’s all that matters,” Savage said as he entered the living room. He shook hands with Kraven before turning to his mate. “Are you ready to head over to see the healer?”
“Yes,” she smiled, looking up at her mate, “I’m ready to see our cub. I want to know what we are having.”
“Winter and Nova are there now,” he chuckled. “They are finding out today, too.”
“Oh,” Mary Grace chuckled. “Maybe we can have one of those gender reveal parties.”
“Whatever you wish, my mate,” Savage replied, completely enchanted by his mate. They said their goodbyes and walked out the back door without another word.
“I haven’t seen you,” Kraven interrupted as she watched the couple walk hand in hand through the yard.
“I’ve been busy,” she blushed, knowing she had to tell her brother what had happened between her and Ranger.
“You look happy,” he told her, standing to his full height. His long, black hair was similar to hers and they looked alike in so many ways. There was no denying they were siblings. Kraven was twenty seven and Hope was only a year younger than him. Their parents were older when they’d mated, and old age had taken them a few years ago. They were all each other had, but now they had a new pride that was becoming a new family to Hope. She prayed that Kraven liked it there as much as she did.
“That’s why I came to talk to you,” she said, a grin forcing its way to her lips. “I’ve found my mate.”
“Who?” Kraven asked, his eyes narrowing.
“The Guardian, Ranger,” she replied, waiting for her brother’s response. His face froze for a few seconds before just the corner of his lip lifted into a smile.
“I like him,” Kraven replied. “He better treat you right.”
“I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.” Hope rolled her eyes and wrapped her arms around her brother’s waist, being as he was one of the few males she could touch without being in pain. Only her blood family, mate, or alpha could render her aide in the event something happened. The females talked about the burning sensations of an unmated male’s touch, and she had no desire to be on the receiving end of that anytime soon.
“Have you told him about what happened to you?” Kraven asked.
“Yes, he knows everything.” She sighed. “I like it here, Kraven.”
“I do too.” He smiled at his sister, pulling Hope into his arms so he could hold her tight against his chest.
“I think we found a new family,” she said, closing her eyes and absorbing her brother’s affection.
“It’s where we belong,” he replied, kissing the top of her head.
Chapter Nine
Ranger walked alongside his alpha as they placed flags for a new fence on the property Talon had purchased the day before. The empty property would double their current land mass, ensuring the pride would have plenty of room to roam free without any worries. The expansion of the pride’s land also meant that they could welcome new members, increasing their size.
“The new property line runs to that tree,” Talon announced, pointing off to the south. “I need fencing installed with cameras as soon as possible.”
“We can have the property secure in three weeks,” Ranger promised. “Until then, the pride doesn’t need to be back here.”
“I remember a time when we didn’t need all of this security,” Talon said sadly, shaking his head as if he couldn’t believe what was happening in their world. Ranger agreed, but would leave the decisions about safety to his alpha. “Times are changing, my friend.”
“That they are,” Ranger agreed, moving to place the next flag along the property line. “I have the equipment needed for cameras, and I will install them myself.”
“Good.” Talon nodded, walking toward the west. He’d occasionally look at the aerial map they’d printed, ensuring the accuracy of their quest to secure the land.
The males worked for another hour, finally making their way back to the fence for their existing land. Talon marked something on his printout and scanned the area again. “I think we have it marked properly.”
“I’m on patrol for the next few hours,” Ranger stated, feeling a bit of unease.
“Shift, and I will take your clothes to the dorms,” Talon offered.
Ranger stripped and shifted, taking a moment to stretch and absorb the relief in his damaged leg. His alpha scooped up the human clothing and rested his hand on Ranger’s head. “I’m proud of the Guardian you have become, Ranger.”
Ranger’s human side welcomed the praise, knowing Talon was well aware that in almost any other pride, he’d be ousted because of the injury that would never repair itself.
The alpha held the gate open to the back of the property, allowing the animal to proceed through. Ranger’s panther trotted off to make his rounds along the fence line, taking a moment to scent the area. His nose touched the ground periodically, looking for anything that didn’t belong.
An hour later, feet pounded through the forest and his name was being frantically called. Ranger ran toward the sound, halting in his movement when his baby brother came into view. His panther snarled, knowing something wasn’t right.
“You need to hurry,” Axel huffed. “It’s Hope.”
“Hope?” a young female called out as she stood in the doorway to the Guardian’s training room. Hope grabbed ahold of the bag she’d been hitting, slowing its movement.
“Yes,” she panted, using the back of her forearm to wipe away the sweat from her brow. “Who are you?”
“My name is Calla Marshall.” Hope eyed the small female as she took a step inside the room. She was looking around with big, icy blue eyes and wringing her hands nervously. “Are there any males here?”
“No.” Hope frowned. Why was this female so scared? “It’s just me. Come in and take a seat. You look nervous.”
“I am,” she admitted.
“Care to explain?”
“Rumors are going around that you are training to be a Guardian,” Calla blurted out.
“Ah, no.” Hope grimaced. “I’ve been trained to fight by my brother, Kraven. I’m here training, strengthening. It’s just something that I do. There is no way I want to be a Guardian.”
“I was wondering if you could teach me how to fight?” Calla looked around at the equipment and cursed. “Oh, what the hell am I doing? I know nothing about this stuff.”
Ranger (Rise of the Pride, Book 5) Page 7
