by Jane Jamison
“One of us will go with you.”
She glared at him, feeling as though he’d tricked her. “No. How’s it going to look? I’m already having a hard enough time trying to get men to sign on with me. What do you think having one of you three playing bodyguard is going to do? They’ll laugh their asses off.”
“We’re going to work for you, baby.”
“I thought you were kidding about that. Besides, you have a ranch to run.”
“We do. But we can still work for you. We’ll get your business up and running, get you some new employees, and then we’ll bow out.” Collin shrugged. “Simple, right?”
“Actually, it’s not a bad idea, so I’ll take you up on the idea. Especially since Lenore gave me my first job. But—” She whipped her finger in front of them, silencing them before they could speak. “I’m still going into town alone. Nothing’s going to happen to me. I promise I’ll be extra careful and look both ways before crossing the street.”
“You’re a hardheaded woman, you know that?” The sparkle in Devin’s eyes betrayed his stern tone.
“I have a feeling I’m going to need to be hardheaded if I’m going to be your mate.”
The happiness that filled their faces made her heart swell with love.
“Are you only saying you’re our mate so we’ll let you go?” asked Collin.
“No. But if that works, then great.” She took his arm. “I’ll be fine. I promise.”
“Let’s be sure of that.” Devin strode over to the hallway table and pulled something out of the drawer.
“A gun?” She shook her head, refusing it as he held it out to her. “No thanks.” She might as well tell them. “Besides, I already own a gun.”
Devin frowned. “Why? Did something else happen?”
“No. I just wanted a little protection. A woman alone in a new town can’t be too careful.” Shit. I shouldn’t have said that.
“That’s exactly what we’ve been saying,” added Collin.
“Do you have your gun with you?” asked Devin.
“No. I don’t carry it around.”
“Then you take ours while you’re in town. That’s the deal. You take the gun for protection, and we’ll let you go into town alone.” Devin cocked an eyebrow. “What’re you going to do? Take it, or stay here?”
They were at an impasse, and she realized it. “Fine.” She gingerly took it from him. “Is the safety on?”
“Do you know how to handle a gun? We can show you real quick.” Will ran his hand through his hair, worry etched in his creased forehead.
“She sure as hell knew how to handle it before,” added Devin.
“Pulling the trigger doesn’t mean she knows how to use it safely.” Will grinned. “But I guess that’s a good thing. If she was a better shot, you’d be lying six feet under right now.”
“Don’t remind me.” She studied it. “This one doesn’t have a safety, does it? I know that’s the growing trend, but it still makes me nervous not having one. Still, I’ve had lessons so I can handle one all right. I’m no expert, but I can hit a target.” She couldn’t help but grin at Devin. “At least, most of the time.”
“Funny. Real funny.” Yet he smiled back. “Keep it in your purse just in case. If nothing else, it’ll make us feel better knowing you have it.” He arched an eyebrow and shot her a pointed look. “Just watch who you’re pointing it at.”
“Okay, Devin, I’ll be careful. But I’m not taking it out of my purse unless I have to.” She put the gun in her purse then hugged it to her, both hating the fact that she had to carry a gun and feeling a kind of relief that she did. “Now can one of you please drive me into town? I need to talk to as many possible workers as I can.”
“I’ll take you.” Devin waved Will and Collin aside. “You two can get going on the chores.”
“Damn it. Did you notice how he managed to be the one to take her? You be careful like you promised.” Yet Collin smiled. He kissed her on the cheek then headed for the kitchen and the back door. “Come on, Will. You’re with me.”
Will groaned then paused long enough to plant his own sweet kiss to her other cheek. “Don’t believe Devin if he says you’ve run out of gas and wants to park on the side of the road.”
She laughed, touching his arm as he passed her. “Got it. No make-out session on the way to town.”
“Shut the fuck up, Will.” Devin scowled at his brother’s back. He waited until they were out of sight then turned toward her. “Shortcake, when you get back home, there’s something we need to tell you.”
“Is it serious? Or are you going to tell me I have bad breath?” Again, her joke fell flat. He didn’t so much as smile. “Wow. So it is serious.”
“Yeah, it is, but it can wait. We need time to talk with all of us here.”
“Is it bad? Did I do something wrong?” Were they worried about her past? Had it finally sunk in that she’d killed her best friend?
He pulled her against him. “Of course not. You could never do anything wrong.” He held her away from him, studying her. “And, no, it’s not bad. Just…different.”
“Like your eyes?”
“Yeah. Like that. We’ll explain about the amber color thing, too.”
Suddenly, she wished she could stay and have them tell her right then. “Okay. Tonight we’ll talk. Before we get into bed again.”
“Definitely before. Now let’s get you to town. The faster you get your work over with, the faster you’ll get back here.”
They were out the door and halfway down the steps when Devin turned back. “Damn it. I forgot my keys. You go on and wait for me in the truck.”
“Okay.” She continued on, her mind occupied with what they’d tell her later on. As long as they still wanted her, she could handle anything they said.
I wonder what they want to tell me.
She pulled the passenger side door open then bent forward to gently place her purse on the floorboard before getting into the cab. A hand around her mouth muffled her cry as she was jerked backward.
“It’s time for payback, bitch.”
* * * *
Devin came to with his brothers helping him to sit up. “What the fuck?”
“Are you okay, man?” Collin clutched Devin’s hand and pulled him onto his feet.
Devin stood, albeit a bit wobbly, and put his hand to the back of his head. “Someone hit me right after I stepped inside the house Fucking bastard took me out. How long have I been out of it?”
“Not long. I guess it’s a good thing Collin forgot his phone. If we hadn’t come back…” Will looked around, searching the living room. “Where’s Arizona? Didn’t she come inside with you?”
Fear catapulted Devin toward the front door. “Fuck!”
The three men hit the door at the same time, yanking it off its hinges in their haste to get outside. Devin’s wolf lurched toward the surface, clawing its way to get free. He couldn’t have stopped the transformation if he’d wanted to.
And he didn’t want to.
* * * *
Arizona struggled against Duke. He had his arm under her breasts, locking her body against his. His hand covered her mouth, stifling any attempt at a scream. Kicking and writhing, she fought against him, determined not to let him win.
But the man was too big for her. Even as she realized her fight was futile, she kept struggling, scratching and clawing at him.
He cursed and threw her to the ground, the air knocked out of her. Before she could do more than gasp, he had his hand over her mouth again. Horror filled her as he tore at her clothes.
“I’m going to fuck you then break your fucking neck, bitch. You never should’ve screwed with me.”
Her cries were nothing against his palm, her kicks and scratches ignored as though they didn’t hurt him at all. Yet, if she was going to die, she’d die fighting.
Suddenly, something huge and furry barreled into Duke. She sucked in a breath and pushed into a sitting position.
Oh my
stars.
What she saw was unbelievable. Three enormous wolves had Duke pinned against the side of the pickup. Each had dark-brown fur, their tails laid low and their ears flattened against their heads.
She hated Duke. But hating a man and wishing him harm were two different things. “Duke! There’s a gun in my purse inside the truck.” She wasn’t sure he could turn around without the wolves pouncing on him, but if he had any chance, he’d have to try.
Getting onto her feet, she paused, unsure of what to do next. Should she run inside the house and get Devin? Why hadn’t he come back? Should she pick up a tree branch lying close by and try to scare off the wolves?
But Duke didn’t try to get to her purse. Instead, he snarled at the wolves inching closer to him.
He’s crazy if he thinks he can fight them off.
Yet, in the next moment, she was sure she was the one who’d gone insane.
Duke’s body started changing. His arms bent at odd angles. Fur rushed over his skin, replacing human flesh. His clothes tore apart as his body morphed, growing larger in some areas and smaller in others.
She watched, stunned as Duke changed into a huge tiger.
This isn’t real.
Yet, it was as real as the sun shining above her.
The huge cat threw its body into the air, leaping over the heads of the large wolves. But it didn’t get far. With eyes blazing amber, the wolves spun around and jumped for the cat, catching it by the hind legs. The cat went down, screeching as the wolves surrounded it.
She had to do something. Waiting for the Brannigan men to realize something was wrong wasn’t an option. Running as fast as she could, she made an arc around the fighting animals to get to the pickup. She pulled open her purse and whirled around.
But which beast did she shoot? The cat or the three wolves? She prayed she had a full clip in the gun then lifted it above her head and pulled the trigger.
All four animals spun toward her as the report of the gun echoed around them. The three wolves suddenly backed off but kept close to the cat. The cat that had been Duke turned toward her, putting himself between her and the wolves.
She knew an instant before he crouched and then leapt into the air that he would attack her. Duke had risked coming to the Brannigans’ ranch in broad daylight to get his revenge. Why should he stop now? Without thinking, she pointed the gun and pulled the trigger a second time. And a third. And a fourth.
One bullet struck him in the middle of his broad chest. Blood burst outward.
The next bullet hit his neck, hitting a crucial artery.
The third bullet added a second hole to his chest, knocking him backward.
The last bullet, the one she’d shot more on instinct than by putting him in her sights, struck him right between the eyes.
The tiger’s body rammed against the side of the pickup with a loud thud. Falling to the ground, it began to change back to his human form until, at last, Duke lay still, his lifeless gaze staring up at her.
She slumped against the side of the seat. Still holding the gun, she forced herself to gain control of her shaky hands and lifted the gun again and prayed she had enough bullets.
The three wolves padded toward her. Yet now their tails were swishing back and forth and their ears were pricked forward. Almost as though they were dogs and she was their master.
“Go away!” She didn’t want to shoot them. Killing Duke, even if self-defense, had been hard enough. She doubted she could shoot all three of them before one pounced on her. It would take only one quick swipe of a large paw to kill her.
Then suddenly, just as her finger was on the trigger and easing it back, their bodies began to blur. Like Duke, they were changing. Her breath hitched in her throat as she slumped against the truck.
Shit. Shit. Shit. It can’t be happening again.
Legs broke and reformed. Their large heads grew smaller, their snouts disappearing. Noses formed as pointed ears became rounder, smoother. Fur vanished and smooth, tanned skin replaced it.
Her bottom hit the ground the moment she recognized who they were. “Collin?” Her gaze jumped to one man then the other. “How is this possible?”
They came toward, the three gorgeous, naked men she loved. As they neared her, they squatted next to her.
Devin held out his hand. “Don’t be afraid.”
Her answer surprised herself. “I’m not.” One glance at Duke’s dead body was enough to confirm it. “At least, not any longer.”
“Do you understand what we are?” asked Collin in a tone that spoke of his love for her.
She drew in a long breath. “You’re shape-shifters. Real, live shape-shifters.”
“That’s right,” added Will. “We’re men who can change into wolves.”
“And Duke could change into a tiger.” Saying the words helped. “I shot him.”
“You didn’t have any other choice.” Devin lifted and eyebrow. “It’s okay. It’s over now.”
She was surprised again when her hand didn’t shake as she put it in his. “Yes. It’s over.”
“You’re still ours, right?” asked a worried-looking Collin. “Now that you know what we are?”
The realization of all the odd things she’d seen and heard around Fate hit her. “That’s why your eyes change to amber. That’s why people call each other mates.”
“Yes. Fate is filled with all kinds of shifters.” Devin pulled her to her feet and into his arms. “Come on. Let’s go inside.”
“What about—” She didn’t want to look at Duke again, not when another, horrible realization hit her. “Oh God. I killed him.” Tears came unwelcomed and unrestrained. “I’ve killed again. I’ve taken another life.”
Sobs wracked her body as Devin and his brothers supported her, urging her back inside the house. They took her upstairs to their bedroom. While murmuring words of love, they tenderly undressed her and put her into the bed. Pulling the covers up to her neck, she cried, her cries burning her throat. Sometime later, as the sun grew higher in the sky, exhaustion took her into a deep sleep.
Epilogue
Arizona rubbed her eyes and looked up from the computer. “How’d it go today?”
Collin, Will, and Devin strode into the living room where she’d commandeered a corner to put a small desk and her computer for her work area. Although she’d worked at the site where Lenore’s new barn was being built, she’d had to return home to the ranch to work on the accounting books as well as to follow up with promising leads for more work.
“Fine. Smith is turning out to be a good foreman.” Devin collapsed into the armchair. “I enjoy the work, but I’ll be more than happy to get back to the ranch tomorrow.”
Thanks to the men—her men—hiring on as her temporary employees, she’d managed to hire even more men. Having the men she loved as her employees was fine and she appreciated their help and support more than she could ever say, but she’d feel a lot better when they got back to being their own bosses and running the ranch. “Are you sure he’s ready to take the lead?”
“Sure.” Collin had grabbed four beers in the kitchen and passed them around. “Besides, it’s not like you’re going to let them handle things on their own. Knowing you, you’ll be there five times during the day.”
“I’d be there all day long.” She pushed the laptop back. “Hammering beats the hell out of staring at a screen.”
“Amen to that, babe,” added Will. “Have you told your friends anything yet?”
“Not yet.” How was she supposed to tell her girlfriends about her men? Although Devin had filled her in, letting her know that the men Krystal and Stella were interested in were also part of their pack, she didn’t feel as though it was her place to tell the others. Their men would decide when and where to tell them.
Devin took a long swig of his beer. “Quinn Mallory stopped by right after you left.”
She twisted toward him. They’d been waiting for the pride to make their decision concerning Duke’s death. �
�What did he say?”
Devin’s dark gaze met hers dead-on. “They’re calling it what it was. Self-defense. Truth is you probably did them a favor. Now they don’t have to deal with what Duke tried to do to you.”
“Don’t say that.” Her throat threatened to close up. “I killed a man. There should be consequences.”
“Baby, you did what you had to do to stay alive. Duke would’ve torn your throat out.”
Her mind may have accepted that as the truth, but she still ached whenever she imagined him lying on the ground, blood seeping out of his dead body.
“Maybe I could’ve stopped him. If I hadn’t shot him so many times, or in the head, he might still be alive.”
They were on their feet and surrounding her as they so often did. Collin put his hands on her shoulders and forced her to meet his gaze. “Stop beating yourself up. You had no choice. The bullets you put in his body would’ve slowed him down, but they wouldn’t have killed him fast enough. It’s not easy to kill a shifter, but shooting them in the head is one of those ways.”
“He’s right, and you know it, shortcake. It was you or him.”
“I know. But it’s more blood on my hands.”
Will tugged her to her feet and draped her arms on top of his shoulders. “Let’s talk about something more pleasant.”
As she’d had to do so many times before, she pushed the thought of Duke—and Darla—away. No matter what they said, no matter how hard she tried to believe it, she’d always hold herself accountable for their deaths. Some way, somehow, she’d make right by them, even if it was only by helping as many people as she could in any way she could.
“And what would that be?” she asked.
“I can think of a few things.” Will began dancing to unheard music. “Like you becoming our mate.”
“I thought I already was. Or is there a ceremony we need to have?”
“It’s not necessary unless you want one, baby.” Collin smiled as he leaned against the stair railing. “We can throw a party or do it up right like a real wedding.”
Happiness filled her as Will spun her around. “Like you said. Not necessary. I’m already yours through and through.”
