“Mr. Coleman?” an officer asked as he approached. Ranger had no desire to speak, walking past the lawman like he was nothing more than a ghost. His only concern was getting to Hope.
Evie was there to open the door to the Chevelle, stepping aside as he approached. The first thing he scented was his mate’s tears…the second was the stench of the men who had touched her. He would forever remember their unique scent. He’d need it later when he found them and killed them.
“Hope?” Ranger spoke softly as he put a knee on the seat. Ducking his head, he leaned into the car, finding Hope curled into a ball on the bench-style seat.
“I’m sorry,” she moaned. “I had to fight them off.”
“Shh,” Ranger cooed. “You did the right thing, Hope. Let me hold you and make the pain go away.”
He didn’t wait for his female to move, using his strength to scoop her up into his arms. He shifted his weight and ignored his leg when it protested. As soon as she was settled on his lap, Ranger carefully picked up her right hand and pressed the back of her knuckles to his face, kissing her wrist when she sighed in relief.
“Where else does it hurt?”
“My arms,” she replied, pulling up the sleeve on her shirt to reveal red marks from the men’s hold. There’d obviously been some slight bruising, but her enhanced healing had already begun, fading them into nothing. Ranger was relieved that he didn’t see the damage firsthand, because he was sure he’d have been arrested on the spot for murder.
“Mr. Coleman?” The same officer approached the vehicle slowly, squatting down to be at eye level with him and his mate. “Do we still need an ambulance?”
“No,” Ranger answered, tightening his hold on Hope. She closed her eyes and nuzzled into his neck. “My mate is okay now.”
“Hope? We need to ask you a few questions,” the officer continued. “Are you able to do that now?”
“Yes,” she replied, pushing back from Ranger so she could get out of the vehicle. Ranger held onto her hand, refusing to leave her side.
“You don’t have to answer anything,” Ranger said, taking a protective stance next to his mate. “You’ve been through a trauma.”
“No, I haven’t,” she scoffed, turning her head to glare at him. “I was approached, attacked, and almost kidnapped. I took care of myself. I took care of the young females, too.”
“Yes, you did,” the officer added. Ranger didn’t like the way the human male looked at his mate. The rumbling growl that bubbled out of his chest was a clear indication to the lawman that she was his. Jesus, what was wrong with him? Any male that got close to her was going to die if they didn’t stop looking at his mate with lust.
“I’ll answer what you need to know,” she began, ignoring Ranger’s protests, “but I would like to go home as soon as possible.”
Evie walked over with Calla close to her side. Kye was visibly shaking as his eyes narrowed on the police cruiser that was pulling away with two of the three men inside. Another vehicle left the lot right behind the first, with the last man cuffed in the backseat.
Hope replayed everything that had happened. Ranger and Kye stood behind the females as they were questioned one final time. There was no way they were going to let anyone get close to them again.
“We were just coming out of the store, and when we approached the car, these men jumped out of that old pickup truck.” Hope paused to point to the older model Ford that was currently being loaded up on a flatbed tow truck. “They wore those weird capes and kept saying the Community sent them on a mission from God.”
“News reports were just released where they were calling for the eradication of the shifters.” The deputy cursed, running a hand through his short, brown hair. When the females gasped, backing toward the males, the lawman held his hands up. “Wait! Sheriff Lynch has informed us that we are to protect you and your pride. No one is going to harm you.”
By this time, Ranger’s blood was boiling. He’d had enough of outside forces trying to take females from their pride. “What about those men?”
“Those men are not even a part of the Community,” another officer said, shaking his head. “They’re just some trouble causing locals who are constantly in our cells. If it’s not one thing with them, it’s another.”
“Are you just going to let them go?” Calla asked, finally speaking up for the first time since they’d arrived.
“No,” he replied. “This time they will be charged with a hate crime. We will make sure they do not harm you again. You can go on home now. I’m sure Sheriff Lynch knows where to find you.”
“Thank you.” Hope nodded, waiting until the officers left to turn around to face Ranger. “I’ll drive the girls home.”
“No,” he snapped. “I’ll drive you home, and Kye can take my truck.”
“But,” she began. A hard glare from Ranger made her pause.
“I’m not budging on this. Talon is on edge, and so is the pride. I need to keep you with me,” he said. “You are my mate, and I know you can protect yourself, but right now, my beast is prowling, needing you home.”
“Okay,” she whispered, letting him wrap his arms around her so he could pull her to his chest.
“I’m proud of you, angel,” Ranger whispered into her hair. “You did well.”
The ways of their world didn’t work like those of the humans. Sometimes, you found your mate first and love would follow. No rules were set in stone as to how long that took. For Ranger, he already knew that he’d fallen for this female and fallen hard. His panther purred inside his head in agreement.
Sheriff Lynch was waved through the gates of the pride as soon as he arrived, driving as fast as he could to get to the alpha’s home. The moment he walked into the main house, all hell had broken loose. Females were in the living room, holding their cubs as they wept.
“Fuck,” Garrett cursed, turning for Talon’s office. He didn’t even knock before opening the door. Talon was pacing a hole in front of his desk, stopping when the lawman entered the room.
“You better have brought me some answers,” Talon ordered, his eyes throwing amber sparks as his animal pushed for release.
“Nothing,” he replied. “I have nothing other than what was just released on the television.”
“Nothing?” Talon bellowed, his canines pushing forward. The whines of his pride were heard coming from the front room. The four Guardians in the office snarled from their alpha’s tension. Everyone was on edge, and he understood their worry.
He was terrified.
“I’ve had no visions of harm coming to the pride by way of the Community,” he replied, slapping a folder down on the desk. “This is all I have on them. The business permits, the address of a residence, and a name that cannot be found in any database.”
“Seriously?” Booth gasped, leaning over to read the information. “What the fuck are these visions? I thought you couldn’t tell the future.”
“I can have visions,” Garrett admitted. “Well, I used to have visions. Back when I was watching over Liberty, I was given the ability to see any human harm that came her way, then they recently came back in flashes. Now…nothing. The visions are sporadic and of no use. All I see are the protestors.”
“Why are you not seeing them?” Talon frowned. “I thought you were here to protect us from the humans.”
“That’s what I was sent here for,” Sheriff Lynch replied, touching the information on the business permit. Talon picked up the folder and read the information, a vicious snarl leaving his throat as his eyes widened. “Are there any paranormal entities in North Carolina?”
A round of curses lit up the room as everyone came to the same realization. “Get Kraven in here now!”
Booth rushed from the room as Talon picked up the folder, reading the information the sheriff’s department had on the Community.
“My Guardian and brother rushed into town to get to his mate and Evie,” Talon began, the skin on his arms rippling with the need to shift and hu
nt. “Your deputies have caught three men who dared try to abduct my females. I will not stand around and wait for this to be dealt with by human laws.”
“Those men are not your problem,” Garrett stated. “They’re copycats. They jumped on the wrong bandwagon and will now pay dearly for their actions.”
“I. Don’t. Fucking. Care!” Talon blared. “I want this Community stopped, or so help me Garrett, I will go after them myself.”
“The protests are beginning,” Garrett informed him. “This is about to get worse before it gets better. Do you still have those weapons?”
“Yes, I do,” Talon nodded. “And my Guardians will be armed with them from now on.”
“Good,” Garrett agreed. “I do not know what is going on, but I will get to the bottom of this.”
“Sir?” Kraven asked as he entered the room.
“This is Sheriff Lynch. We need some information on your pride in North Carolina,” Talon ordered.
“What do you want to know?” Kraven growled, his eyes sparking amber. “I’ll tell you everything if you can get Boris Small out of power.”
“Boris Small?” Garrett gasped, his eyes narrowing.
“Yeah,” Talon snapped, holding the folder up so everyone could see. “The same man whose name is on those business permits.”
“This is why I cannot see anything that has to do with the Community anymore,” Garrett stated in disbelief. “He’s a shifter?”
“Yes,” Kraven answered. “A very dangerous male, too.”
“If the paranormal are working with your human enemies,” the sheriff snarled, “I am blind…useless.”
Chapter Thirteen
Ranger stood at the end of the line of Guardians on the front lawn of the alpha’s home. Eleven Guardians were poised at attention as Talon paced, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Boris Small is working with the Community,” he started, holding up his hand when the line of males growled. “He needs to be stopped, and this is where I need you. I require four males to travel to North Carolina to meet up with the rightful alpha of the pride and remove Boris Small from power. You have two weeks to execute this order and return to me.”
“No!” Two female voices cried from the front door. Mary Grace and Nova stood there, tears falling from their eyes. The females were very pregnant and obviously had been eavesdropping on Talon’s conversation. Winter and Savage turned to intercept their mates as they came toward the line of males.
“I’ll volunteer.” Noah was the first to step forward.
“I’ll go,” Booth offered.
“As will I,” Storm growled.
“I’ll go,” Dane volunteered. “I do not wish my brothers to be separated from their mates.”
“No.” Ranger stepped to his friend’s side, lowering his voice. “I need you to stay and take care of my mate.”
“Ranger, don’t do this.” Dane frowned. “You could be hurt or worse.”
“I have to avenge her,” he vowed.
“The fuck you do.” Dane placed his hand on Ranger’s shoulder. “I’ll go for you.”
“Make your decision,” Talon ordered, pinning both men with a hard stare.
“I’m in,” Ranger offered as he turned toward his alpha, hearing a soft, feminine gasp sound from behind him. He didn’t even need to look to see that it was Hope.
“Fuck,” Dane cursed under his breath.
“Ranger?” Hope called out, but he didn’t move from his position in front of his alpha. “Damn it, Ranger Coleman! Look at me!”
“Answer your mate,” Talon demanded, raising his chin to indicate that Ranger was free to leave the meeting.
When he turned around, he expected to find her crying like the other females, but what he found was the look of fear on her face. Her sparking amber eyes were wide, and even though there were no tears, his mate’s bottom lip quivered.
“Hope,” he cooed as he approached, hoping he could ease any fears she had.
His mate turned on her heel and marched away, leaving him standing there with his mouth hanging open and his hands held out. He cursed loudly and started after her. For a moment, he didn’t know where she was going. It wasn’t until she started across the road leading to the cabin they’d acquired from Noah that he realized she wanted to hash out his decision at home.
This couldn’t be good.
As soon as the door closed, she rounded on him and punched him square in the jaw. “Are you fucking crazy?”
“What the hell, Hope?” he snarled, rubbing the spot she’d hit. Fuck! That hurt!
“He will kill you!” She began to pace, shaking her hand as she moved away from him. “Your fucking face is as hard as your damn head.”
“Would you stop pacing?” he begged, reaching for his mate, but she jerked away and narrowed her eyes. “Did you not hear me? I will kill him for harming you.”
“I promise you have never seen a male like Boris Small,” she warned.
“Boris Small will not hurt me,” he promised, finally capturing her slight body, absorbing her scent. She was still fertile, and he had to remind himself that now wasn’t the time to mount her. “We are trained, Hope. He is careless. This will be an easy takedown.”
“He will scent me the moment you get within fifty feet of him,” she explained, taking his shirt with her fists, tightening her hold on him as if she could use her strength to keep him from leaving.
“Hope, my angel,” Ranger sighed, reaching up to cover her fists with his own. “Let him try. I will kill him with my human hands and wallow in his blood in my panther form.”
“Please…don’t go,” she whispered, looking at her feet. When his mate’s eyes raised, they were completely amber and her panther whined in fear.
“I must go,” he replied. “This is for you, Hope. Your beast needs to live without fear.”
“She can live in fear as long as you are alive,” Hope whimpered. “If you go up against Boris Small, you won’t be coming home to me.”
Ranger didn’t think twice about capturing her lips for a heated kiss. His hand tangled into the back of her hair and made a fist to hold her in place. The need to be close to her was heavy in the air.
“I have to leave in the morning,” he panted. “Tonight, I’m going to show you exactly what I’m going to do to you when I return to celebrate your freedom from your past, my mate.”
The sound of tearing fabric was followed by the erotic sounds of their mating.
Ranger gritted his teeth against the sound of the female’s cries. Everyone was on edge because their Guardians were leaving the pride. Even with Talon’s calming presence, their people were worried and fearful of the events that would take place in North Carolina.
He tossed his bag into the back of Booth’s SUV and left to go find his mate. She’d awoken early and had left their cabin. He knew where she was and he wanted to wait until she’d worked off most of her fear and anger before he said his goodbye.
Being a Guardian with a mate wasn’t always easy. Their mates came first in all things, but the pride was a damn close second. The need to kill Boris Small was relevant, and she knew that. In fact, she’d said it herself when she had arrived at the pride that the male needed to be taken out.
Pride members mingled around, watching silently as the Guardians packed their things. The new Guardians, Taze included, stood close by. Ranger started to leave to find his mate when he was approached by his brother.
“We will take care of the pride to the best of our abilities while you are away,” Axel promised.
“You will do fine,” Ranger replied, shaking his brother’s outstretched hand. “Take care of my mate.”
“Always,” Axel vowed.
“Speaking of…” Ranger paused, looking around at the other pride members. They were all staying close to the ones they loved. “I need to go find Hope.”
Gravel crunched underneath his boots as he walked toward the dorm. Hope was angry with him; her panther was scared senseless. He’d do
anything to make the two pieces of who she was whole again.
He stood in the doorway, watching as she threw punch after punch at the heavy bag without wearing any gloves. Ranger’s heart broke knowing she didn’t want him anywhere near Boris Small, but she had to know she wouldn’t be safe until that male was taken out of power.
As soon as he took the first step over the threshold, he froze. Hope stopped the bag from moving, leaning her head against the red leather. Her shoulders began to shake as the sound of her sobs reached his ears.
“Come here,” he whispered as he walked over and took her into his arms. “Do not cry, my mate.”
“My beast is cowering, and it’s making me feel anxious,” she whispered against his chest. “I’m afraid for you, Ranger.”
“Look at me, Hope,” he urged, cupping her face tenderly. When she looked up, her panther was close. Glowing amber eyes met his icy blue ones. His beast prowled but didn’t push for release to calm his mate. “I promise you that I will return home to you.”
“How do you know that?” she cried, slamming her hands against his chest. “You don’t know that!”
“Shh,” he cooed. “I refuse to let the afterlife take me when I just found you.”
She didn’t say anything for several seconds. Eventually, her features relaxed and her human eyes returned. Ranger leaned in to press his lips to hers, feeling his panther calm at the touch.
“I love you,” he admitted, closing his eyes. “This is new, Hope. Damn, I feel you in my heart. I feel you in my soul. If this is love, then I want to capture it and hold it forever.”
“You…love me?” she stuttered.
“How could I not?” He winked, silencing her with another press of his lips.
Chapter Fourteen
As they approached the Tennessee state line and headed into North Carolina, a hush fell over the truck. Ranger mentally prepared himself for the fight that was about to come. Their destination was a little town called Missile Springs. Apparently, the entire town was made up of Hope and Kraven’s old pride. There were no humans.
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