by Jenika Snow
He stepped up to the scarred bar and rested his battered forearms on the dirty wood. The scent of stale beer, sweat, blood, and of course cheap sex filled the small interior and had him crinkling his nose in distaste. It was the smell of desperation, and Slater’s was always filled with it. Of course, when Bram wanted a piece of ass it didn’t come any easier than it did here.
“Damn, Bram, looks like you nearly got your ass handed to you.” Whiskey, the roughened human who stood behind the bar, gave him a crooked smile. His teeth were a light shade of yellow from chain smoking, and overlapped each other in an almost distracting way. He may be harsh on the eyes, what with his long, graying and greasy hair, and crow’s feet that were so deep it was like they were etched into his flesh, but he was one hell of a human.
“You should see the other guy.”
Whiskey chuckled and turned to pour Bram a shot of Crown. He slammed the chipped glass in front of him, tipped his chin forward, and went on to help a scantily clad female. Her tits were practically hanging out of her elastic top, but of course Whiskey had zoned in on that immediately. Bram threw the liquor back and hissed as some of the alcohol hit his split lip and dripped onto a set of claw marks on his chest. Turning and surveying the packed bar, he noticed a group of four human females. The scent of their arousal was thick and obvious, even in the cloying stench of the bar. They giggled and whispered to each other as they looked around. No doubt they were trying to decide who they were going to let them take home. The girls that played hard to get didn’t come to this establishment, and Bram knew it wouldn’t take much sweet talking to have them dropping their panties and reaching for their ankles. Maybe he should have had more respect for them, but hell, when a female came up and all but rubbed her pussy on his thigh, she proved she was exactly how he saw her … cheap.
Just as Bram was about to make his way toward the females, the scent of honey invaded his nose. He instantly became hard, and his bear rose up as if it hadn’t just beaten the shit out of a lion shifter. Inhaling again, he turned around until the scent was directly in front of him. He didn’t miss the underlying aroma of a male panther mixed with the sweet aroma, and that had a growl leaving him. His immediate reaction surprised the fuck out of him. He spotted her, and everything else faded in the distance. There she stood amongst trash and decay, like a cool breeze. His analogy was something a pussy whipped male would say, but dammit he couldn’t help himself.
Mine.
That realization slammed into him so powerfully he stumbled back, gripping onto the bar behind him for support. He was unable to concentrate on anything other than the small doe shifter with the large grey eyes and innocent expression.
She is ours!
His bear roared out, tried to come forth again and go after what it really wanted, but for the first time in Bram’s life he held the beast back. Her long honey colored hair brushed along her hips, ones that were made to cradle him, only him. She was curvy, with hips that flared out, thighs that beckoned him, and breasts that would be more than a handful. His dick throbbed behind his fly, and his blood roared in his ears. He took a step closer, and although she was several feet away he could smell her. It washed away the dirty sex that filled Slater’s, was stronger than the scent of the fucking panther that lingered on her, and all he wanted to do was take her away. His bear was a violent asshole on the best of days, but being near her and smelling her had his animal calming for the first time in his life. It was a strange sensation, to not have that turbulent energy coursing inside of him, but a welcome one. This girl didn’t need to be in a filthy, violence filled bar that would tear her apart without a care of her innocence. He took another step, and another, until he was only a foot from her.
She didn’t notice him right away, but her apprehension and fear were a thick cloak that had that calmness she created in him vanishing. His bear was on alert, ready to take down whatever or whoever had caused their female to feel this way. Shit, he was acting like a mated male, calling her his, when she didn’t even know he was right before him. Her eyes scanned the interior, and he could tell she wanted to run, but from what? Did someone hurt her? Was she trying to escape from them? Those thoughts had an angry need traveling inside of him, one that wanted flesh between his teeth and the metallic flavor of blood on his tongue. He had always been intense, knew that his bear could take control if he wasn’t careful, and right now he was more than willing to let his animal out to do some real fucking damage to whoever had harmed her.
She was his, and there was nothing that was going to take her away from him. Nothing.
When her sorrow-filled eyes landed on him they widened. He towered over her five-foot-two frame by easily a foot, and for a moment he felt like a monster about to tear into a lamb. He could only imagine what she thought of him. He wore no shirt, and sweat and blood covered his chest, arms, and hands. His wounds were nasty as fuck, and that was only the ones he could see. He probably looked like he had just killed a man, nearly had, too, but he didn’t want her to look at him as though he would hurt her. He let his eyes travel down her body. Her collarbones were delicate, and his tongue swelled to trace the path, to rub his smell all over her, let his canines scrape the flesh just enough to open the skin and let his scent in, and then everyone would know whose mate she was. His dick throbbed with the thought of having his mark on her, his sign of ownership. He sounded like a domineering womanizer, but he was a shifter, one that was more bear than human, and he had just found his mate.
That realization had a low grumble of pleasure leaving him. She was his mate. His. Mate. All he could think about was her, about keeping her safe and touching every part of her. It was a douche-bag thing to say, but he couldn’t help it, and he made no apologies. He had known if this moment ever came in his life it would be instantaneous, and right now he was running on pure instinct to claim her. Those carnal desires were telling him to focus solely on her and woo her until she melted in his embrace.
Mine.
His need to take her, mark her, and let every fucking male on the planet know she was his slammed into him again, and again, and again.
Make sure every male knows that if they fuck with her you’ll rip their balls off and snap their necks.
It was his bear wanting to make that thought a reality, but Bram agreed one-hundred percent. This little doe was theirs, and he wasn’t going anywhere until she was irrevocably his. It was as easy as that, and when this was all said and done she would be under him and giving herself to him completely. He dared anyone to come forth and try to take her out of his life. At the very thought of that happening he growled low in his throat, and he saw and heard her swallow in clear apprehension.
Leaning down so they were eye-to-eye, he said without trying to hide the wild bear inside of him, “You’re mine, little deer.”
Her eyes widened further, and the scent of fresh fear filled his nose. She had no need to be frightened of him, but she did have every right to be afraid. Bram was going to claim his mate, and he was going to do it fucking hard.
Chapter Two
Kenzie had been ready to bolt out of the bar, but then this alpha bear had come thundering over, claiming she was something to him, and that plan had gone down the drain. Now it was too late for any of that. He stood in her way, blocking her only escape. Her one chance was shot, all because this asshole thought he was going to get in her pants.
Kenzie craned her neck back and stared into the intense blue eyes of the bear shifter in front of her. He was covered in blood and sweat, had so many wounds on him she couldn’t even count them all, and had a face like a fallen angel. There was a nasty gnash above his right eye, a fresh bruise forming along his left cheek, and his full bottom lip was split. He had clearly been in a fight, and if he was walking around as if there wasn’t anything wrong with him, Kenzie didn’t even want to see what his opponent looked like.
“What’s your name, little doe?”
She didn’t like him calling her that, didn’t like this d
ominance that clung to him like a second skin, and having him this close had her getting a straight shot of pure adult male bear. It was intoxicating. Kenzie swallowed the second lump that had formed in her throat since this alpha male had come up to her. Her heart thundered, and she couldn’t quite understand her body’s reaction to this stranger. He couldn’t be any better than these trashy humans and shifters that filled the ratty bar. His appearance alone sent warning bells through her. Not only was he torn up to bits, but she also could see how attractive he was. He was tall and muscular, and a part of her wanted to lean closer, close her eyes, and breathe in deeply. It was a ludicrous feeling, and certainly not one that she played on. Those thoughts immediately gave way to the fear that Rook would see her, catch her doing something totally innocent, and he would turn into a completely different person. It was the Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde routine, and although she had seen it enough times that she should have been immune to the violent changes in him, she wasn’t. Fear and caution were always at the forefront of her mind. Kenzie knew how to tread lightly around Rook, knew that the panther shifter thought of her as his possession.
“Your name, sweetheart, what is it?”
The bear inquired again, and Kenzie felt a cold sweat start to cover the length of her spine. He took a step forward, and she took one back. She glanced at Marek and Tank, but the cougar shifters were still occupied with a blonde and redhead who looked like they had been ridden hard and put away wet. Any moment now Rook would come out, see this bear speaking to her, and automatically think the worst. She didn’t want him hurt because of her, and although there was no doubt he could handle himself, Rook was a psychopath.
“Baby, I don’t think I have ever had to work this hard to get a female’s name before.”
Her back met the hard, cold wall, and she turned her attention back to him. He towered over her. Although he easily outweighed Rook in muscle mass and was several inches taller than the panther, Rook was a sadistic bastard. He believed in pulling fingernails off, breaking kneecaps, and torturing his victims until they complied with whatever he demanded of them. As she stared into the male’s bright blue eyes, took in his dark hair with a faux hawk style, she felt something shift inside of her. Deer were known to be on the skittish side naturally, and she had never been any different, but for some inexplicable reason she found herself opening her mouth and telling him exactly what he wanted to know.
“Kenzie.” She licked her lips, and he lowered his eyes to watch the act. “My name is Kenzie Harlow.” She sounded out of breath, and her chest rose and fell with such force her breasts were almost touching his abdomen. She didn’t like how he made her feel so off balanced, and how she felt like her body would burn up alive just by being in his presence. Kenzie didn’t even know his name, yet she felt this unexplainable pull toward him, one that she wanted no part of. Before he could say anything in response the scent of Rook invaded her nose. His scent was a strong mixture of his expensive, suffocating cologne and his underlying vileness. It had always made her gag, but for some reason Rook’s odor was pushed away by this bear’s naturally arousing aroma. His gaze was still on her lips, but when he inhaled a low, vicious rumble left him.
“Who the fuck are you, and what in the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Rook’s deep, clipped voice came through like a serrated knife to her belly.
Kenzie tensed, and she noticed her mystery bear took note of that fact. His jaw hardened, and a muscle under his left cheek jumped violently. He kept his body right in front of hers, blocking Rook from her vision. Ever so slowly he turned only his head, and she could imagine how he looked: fierce, commanding, and wouldn’t take shit from anyone, the sadistic panther shifter included. How strange for her to feel something so magnetic for a male that had just walked up to her and claimed that she was his. It was absurd, and she should have been offended and disgusted, but she would be lying if she didn’t admit she liked it … a lot.
“Man, boss, we didn’t even realize some prick had approached her.” Tank’s voice was gruff from years of smoking.
“Want us to take him out back?” Marek asked with an excited tone in his voice. Although Rook’s right hand men were all too ready to do some dirty work, she didn’t miss their apprehension. They should be wary, because Rook always expected to be obeyed, and those two had turned their backs on her. Kenzie had welcomed the small reprieve from always being guarded, but now they would all pay, and she would know Rook’s wrath more intimately than any of the others.
“Shut the fuck up, you two,” Rook snapped out, and everything became eerily silent. “You fucked up by not watching my property, and I’ll deal with you two later.” A beat of silence surrounded them, and then he was speaking again. “I asked you a question, bear.”
The air around this bear shifted dangerously, and the hairs on her arms stood on end from the electricity that came off of him. “Who the fuck am I?” Her bear turned fully around but made sure to keep his body in front of her, blocking her from all prying eyes, Rook’s included.
Her bear? Where in the hell had that come from?
“Come here, Kenzie. Now.” To anyone else they wouldn’t have picked up on his intense anger, because Rook was a professional at keeping himself in check, but Kenzie knew better. She heard the threat laced with his words, one that was just for her. Even if she hadn’t approached the bear, hadn’t said more than a few words to him, this would ultimately be her fault. She had been so close to escaping when Marek and Tank had turned their backs on her, but now that was out of the question. She knew all eyes were on them, and there was no doubt they wanted to see a brutal fight, wanted to taste the blood thicken the air, and be witness to the killing of another. These people were savages and cared about nothing but their entertainment. In so many ways they were just like Rook and his henchman. She didn’t want to see anyone hurt, especially this man that had showed her the first ounce of genuine kindness and interest since her parents died. It wasn’t just about sex, because she could smell a deeper interest coming from him as he had looked at her.
“You better answer me, boy.”
The bear in front of her stayed calm, despite Rook’s words, but there was no masking the scent of his rage.
“What are you doing with my property?”
Kenzie tried to move from behind the bear, but he threw his arm out, successfully locking her in a cage of bone and muscle.
“I’m Bram Wylde, the male that is going to kick your sorry fucking ass for thinking this female is your property, because I sure as fuck can guarantee she is not yours.”
Kenzie’s heart felt like it would burst from her chest. She could hear the blood rushing in her ears, felt the hard, frantic beat of her pulse in her throat, and knew that things had just gone from horribly wrong to devastatingly worse. Again she tried to move past this damaged stranger, but it was like trying to run right through a brick wall. She wouldn’t see someone hurt because of her, not even if that someone looked like he could handle his own in a back alley fight.
“Please, just let me go.” She pleaded with him, but it got her nowhere. “I’m not going to be the cause of someone getting hurt when I can easily stop it.” Just thinking about going back with Rook had bile rising in her throat, but knowing that if this stranger, this bear that was selflessly putting himself in front of danger for her, died because of her fear had nausea assaulting her. That was a far worse thought than being Rook’s captive.
“Baby, no way in fucking hell am I letting you go anywhere near that asshole.” Bram’s voice was just as sharp as Rook’s had been, and Kenzie lifted her eyes up to his. She couldn’t see his face, but his profile showed steely determination and concentration.
“Boy, I don’t think you know who you’re messing with.” Rook undid the first few buttons of his shirt at the collar and grinned. Marek and Tank took a step forward, but Rook held his hand out to stop them without breaking eye contact with her protector. Why was this stranger even willing to go head-to-head with a madma
n like Rook? He didn’t know her, so the only other logical explanation was he had to be just as crazy as Rook.
“I think you should ask yourself that same question.”
The deep vibrations of Bram’s voice went all the way through her once more. Kenzie couldn’t help but shiver from it. God, if Rook didn’t kill her over this then he would certainly make sure she hurt. What she wouldn’t let happen was someone she didn’t know get killed, and if this continued to escalate that was exactly what would happen. Rook didn’t fight fair, and it was when he pulled out his knife, or even his Glock, that people all around got hurt.
“Bram, please, let me go to him.” Saying his name had her mouth drying, but another part of her body becoming uncomfortably moist. God, she was sick in the head to be aroused in a situation like this, and for someone she didn’t even know. How badly was she broken that she couldn’t even control her basic urges? Bram shifted on his feet, and although she felt this change in him as soon as she said his name, he refused to look at her. Instead he had this stare down with Rook, and with each growing second she felt the tension and hostility rise.
“You’re blocking what’s mine, and I don’t ever ask twice for something, but I’m feeling generous. So, get the fuck out of the way, or I’ll have no choice but to take you out.” Rook cracked his knuckles, and a sadistic grin widened over his face. She knew that look. It was one where he was itching for a fight, and if he didn’t get that aggression out now, he would exact that violence on her.
Bram refused to move, but none of that mattered because in the next moment the sound of a human female screaming pierced the room. The sound of bones cracking was like a thousand apples being bitten into at once. Marek and Tank shifted into their cougars, but they wouldn’t have done so without some kind of signal from Rook. Things were about to get violent, and there was nothing Kenzie could do but warn Bram and try to urge him to leave while he was still alive.
