by Ruby Shae
“You’re right. You will always be safe, because my mind won’t be clouded with the responsibility of a mating.”
He watched several emotions cross her face, and for the second time in five days he felt like the biggest asshole on the planet.
“Fine,” she said. “Can you drive me to my car, please?”
“Your car got vandalized last night, but I can take you to Logan’s office. He has a car waiting for you.”
“Great.”
They drove to Price Security in silence, and when he pulled into a parking space, she jumped out of the truck and ran inside before he had time to shut off the engine. He let her go. She needed time to talk to her brother, and he needed a minute to steel his resolve.
He was an assassin, a trained killer, and he’d been on millions of missions. He’d lost friends and partners, tortured and killed enemies, and seen a lot of things he wished he’d never seen. None of that compared to this.
Denying his mate was the hardest thing he’d ever done.
He walked into Logan’s office, and the look on the man’s face confirmed Layla had told him everything. For a moment, he wasn’t sure his new boss would acknowledge their previous conversation, and he knew he couldn’t work with a man who didn’t keep his word.
“Tobias,” Logan said. “Layla filled me in on what’s been going on between you two, and she’s asked me to take you off the mission. Under the circumstances, I have to agree with her.”
“Who will protect you, then?” he asked, putting up a fake fight.
“I will protect myself,” she said. “He knows about the guys in the bar, too.”
She had to be really upset with him to divulge that information to her brother.
“Looking back, I think I overreacted,” Logan said.
“Someone is after you,” Tobias told her. “If you don’t want me around, fine, but you need to be careful, and stay away your friend, Danny.”
“You don’t get to tell me who I can or can’t talk to,” she spat. “Only a mate can do that.”
She rushed past him, and exited the office.
“Damn, that was brutal,” Logan said.
“Tell me about it.”
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and tried to calm his animal. When the wolf stopped pacing, he looked up and caught Logan watching him.
“Are you going to be okay?”
“Yeah, it should only be a couple more days. He’s getting sloppy.”
“Is it Danny then? That guy she dated a couple of times last year?”
“Yeah, it’s him,” Tobias confirmed. “I’ve been doing a lot of digging, and I uncovered a ton of shit.”
“I look forward to reading your report,” Logan said. “Personally, I can’t stand him.”
“Me neither. He’s a real piece of work.”
About an hour later, Tobias made his rounds and watched the activity in the coffee shop from several vantage points he’d scoped out over the past week. He’d acted as bodyguard several times in his career, but surveillance was where he specialized.
Danny would make his move soon, and though Tobias didn’t know the details, he was damn good at his job.
The weak bear’s days were numbered.
Chapter Seven
Layla sipped her coffee and looked out her apartment window. The stars sparkled in the clear evening sky and the full moon cast a hypnotic glow across her kitchen table. The orb called to her and her bear, and she decided to go for a run.
She dumped the rest of the warm brew down the sink and tried, for the millionth time, not to think about Tobias, or the way he’d filled her the night before.
Why had he followed her to the spring? Why had he unmasked his scent?
Don’t think about him!
If only she could stop.
He’d followed her because he’d wanted sex, plain and simple, and she’d been lusting after him all week. He’d had to have smelled her arousal, especially in the ring. She should have asked questions, but when he’d revealed his scent, she’d stupidly believed he was finally accepting her.
And then she begged him to fuck her.
Multiple times.
When he’d taken her from behind, she’d thought it was because his wolf had insisted. Making love in the forest had felt wild and primal, and she’d wanted him to dominate her. Now she understood the real reason.
He hadn’t wanted an accidental mating.
Worse? They hadn’t used a condom.
What if she got pregnant?
Her brother would force him to help support the child, and Tobias would be in her life forever. One day he would find a new mate, and she’d be shy, quiet, helpless and in desperate need of rescuing. In a nutshell, she’d be perfect, and they’d live happily ever after.
In the meantime, Layla would live out the rest of her life alone. No man wanted a woman who could take care of herself, especially not a shifter male.
She was good for a wild fuck, but not much else.
She grabbed her keys, ensured her door was locked, and raced down the stairs leading toward the parking lot. She should have gone to work, but instead she’d stayed cooped up all day, and the solitary time was about to drive her insane.
As if by rote, she maneuvered the rental along the dark streets of the city until she arrived in the tiny, undiscovered parking lot near her favorite spot in the forest.
She got out of the car, tucked her keys in her pocket, and inhaled deep. Instead of dirt, trees and nature, something almost chemical tickled her nose for a second before it vanished. Only then did she realize her favorite spot would be forever tainted with memories of Tobias.
She was just about to get back into the car when another vehicle sped into the tiny lot and parked behind her, effectively blocking her in. She immediately recognized Danny’s car, and alarm bells rang in her head.
Stay away from your friend, Danny…
“Hey, beautiful,” he said, after he climbed out of the car.
“Hey, Danny. What are you doing here?”
“I came to see you,” he said, “but I wasn’t sure you would come. Especially after what you did last night.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’m getting ready to leave, so I need you to move your car.”
“You’re not going anywhere, beautiful.”
He took a step forward, as if to kiss her, and she pushed him away.
“Still so strong and feisty,” he said. “I’ve always liked that about you. Why wasn’t I ever good enough to tame your bear?”
“What are you talking about?” she asked.
“You and me,” he said. “You fuck everyone, so why wasn’t I good enough to fuck?”
Shit!
Tobias had been right all along! Why hadn’t she trusted him?
The simple answer was because he’d broken her heart.
“Danny, you know why,” she reasoned. “There wasn’t a spark between us. My bear needs a spark or nothing happens.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he said. “I wonder if four panthers can tame your bear.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said,” he raised his voice, “I wonder if four panthers can tame your bear.”
He was working with panthers now?
She scanned the forest, trying to anticipate the direction of the attack, but she couldn’t see or smell anything.
This was it, this was the day she was going to die. Some wounds couldn’t be healed, and while she could probably fight off Danny and two panthers, she couldn’t fight off five men. She wasn’t that skilled.
Suddenly, the smell of crisp coffee and chocolate filled her nose, and Tobias stepped out from a copse of trees behind Danny. The bear was too weak to smell her mate, and she concentrated on keeping her joy masked in uncertainty.
For such a large man, Tobias moved with a gentle grace, and he’d impressed her with his ability to move without a sound from day one.
“No, but one wolf can,” Tobias said.
“How much did they pay your weak ass?” Tobias asked, dropping a pile of syringes on the ground in front of Danny.
“What were you going to let them do to your friend?” Tobias asked, twisting the knife. “There’s enough drugs in there to demobilize three bears. Were you going to watch her lay there helpless while they fucked and killed her?”
“She tricked me,” Danny yelled. “I deserve a piece of that ass after she strung me along, and then said I wasn’t good enough.”
What the fuck?
He was insane.
“You’re a piece of shit,” she said. “I can’t believe I trusted you.”
“His friends are dead,” Tobias said. “Do you want me to kill him, too?”
Yes!
She wanted him dead, but she knew Tobias would never accept her if she made that choice. If she kept Danny alive, maybe one day she and Tobias would have a chance. It was hard not to wish things were different, but would she still want him? Love shouldn’t make you turn away from your true self, but she didn’t want him to view her as a monster, either.
“You can’t,” Danny yelled. “It’s against clan law.”
“No,” she said, finally. “Take him to Logan and let him stand trial.”
Logan would kill him anyway, but at least she wouldn’t be responsible.
“Wrong answer, sweetheart,” Tobias said.
He pulled the knife out of Danny’s shoulder and slit the man’s throat in one smooth, clean thrust. Blood gushed out of the wound, and Layla had to turn away.
Tobias came up behind her, turned her around and hugged her tight. His huge body hid the gory scene behind him, and she buried her face in his chest and inhaled his heavenly scent.
“Logan is on his way with a clean up crew,” he said, kissing the top of her head. “I’m sorry you had to see that, but it’s my right to kill anyone who threatens the life of my mate.”
She wrapped her arms around his waist and held him in a death grip as the tears started to fall. He hadn’t left her; he’d only wanted her to believe he had. A second later, he clarified what she’d already figured out.
“You’re mine, sweetheart, and nothing is ever going to change that, but your safety was more important than our mating. I couldn’t risk losing you, and I had to prove to the alpha, and Logan, that I could do a job without letting my feelings get in the way. I love you, and I hope you’ll forgive me.”
“You put me through hell,” she said, looking up at his blurry image.
“I know,” he said, “but I’m willing to spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”
Three huge trucks pulled into the tiny lot, and Tobias steered her toward her brother’s vehicle. He left her with Logan while he filled Mason and Jacob in on the details of their attack.
“Everything okay now?” Logan asked.
“You knew?”
“Yeah, I knew,” he confirmed. “I’m sorry I deceived you, but I thought it was for the best.”
“I forgive you,” she said, giving him a hug.
“What about Tobias? Do you forgive him?”
“I do,” she said simply.
“Good,” he smiled.
“You approve?” she asked, incredulous.
“Yes, he’s a good man, and I’m not that unreasonable.”
They both burst out laughing and that’s the way Tobias found them.
“Ready to go?” Tobias asked.
“Yeah,” she nodded.
“Here you go man,” Logan said, handing over the keys to his truck. “Take good care of her.”
They all knew he wasn’t talking about the truck, and Layla kissed him on the cheek.
“I love you, bro.”
“See you guys tomorrow.”
Logan turned and walked toward the scene, and she and Tobias went home.
Together.
***
“I love you,” Tobias said.
He tucked a lock of Layla’s hair behind her ear and looked into her steel gray eyes. They stood in his living room fully dressed, but they both knew what would happen next.
The ride to his apartment had been quiet and uneventful. In fact, it had almost been too quiet. Layla had stared out the window the entire time, and then she’d wordlessly followed behind him as he led the way to his apartment.
She grabbed his hand, pressed it against her cheek, and inhaled deeply. She closed her eyes for a second, and when she opened them, he saw her feisty strength and determination.
“Are you sure about this?” she asked.
“Positive,” he said.
“Because I’m not going to change,” she continued. “I’m never going to be a girly-girl. I’m not going to stop fighting, and I won’t let you win in front of your friends just because.”
“Good, I’d be angry if you did,” he said. “It’s always been you, sweetheart, even before we met for the first time. It’s always been you, and I love you just the way you are.”
“I love you, too,” she whispered. “So much.”
He reached out, grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled her closer. When she didn’t protest, he pushed the fabric up her waist until the edge of her black lace bra peeked out underneath. She raised her hands in the air, and he pushed the garment over her head.
He unhooked her bra, and then slowly pulled the lacy fabric down her arms, revealing her perfect, round breasts. The dark, deep rose-colored nipples were hard, and they reminded him of ripe delectable berries. He couldn’t wait to close his mouth around them again.
He dropped the bra on the floor, and kneeled down in front of her. He hooked his thumbs in the waistband of her panties and shorts, and slowly pulled the clothes down her legs.
When she was completely naked, he sat back on his heels and admired her.
“You are so beautiful,” he said.
“Thank you,” she smiled, shyly.
He knew he’d shaken her confidence, but he didn’t want shy. He wanted her loud, wet, and begging. He placed a chaste kiss on her mound.
“Go get on the bed and spread your legs wide for me,” he said.
She narrowed her eyes, and he smiled.
“Unless you want me to take you right here on the floor,” he growled.
She glanced around the room, and he knew the minute her confidence returned.
“On the floor it is,” he said, grabbing her hand. “Put your knees over my shoulders.”
She slid one knee over his shoulder, and he helped steady her buy holding onto her lower back. She gripped his head and looped the other knee over, trying to keep her weight in her ass and avoid his face. That wasn’t what he wanted. He shoved his face into her cunt as he lowered her to the ground.
Their combined strength made for an easy landing, and he shoved his tongue inside her core.
Holy hell!
She tasted like vanilla, too, and he knew he’d never be able to get enough.
He swirled his tongue around the rim of her hole, and then jabbed it inside her pussy, over and over again. Every time he went deep, his nose pressed against her clit, and Layla thrashed below him. He anchored her to the floor by laying one of his arms across her abs, but she was strong, and she wiggled beneath him while begging for more.
More and more of her essence coated his tongue, and he lapped up every drop, until her pussy contracted around him and he knew her orgasm was imminent. She protested and pulled his hair when he pulled away, but then screamed when he latched onto her clit and shoved two fingers into her soaking wet pussy.
He moved the digits in and out as the orgasm ripped through her body, and pain erupted in his shoulders when her claws extended and sank into his skin. Instead of being turned off, his dick throbbed, and he needed to get inside her ass soon as possible.
“Fuck, I’m going to come, sweetheart,” he said, trying to unfasten his pants.
&n
bsp; Layla grabbed the heavy denim material in both hands and ripped the fabric apart. A button went flying, the zipper came apart, and several threads of material laid all around them.
Together, they pushed the scraps of his pants and boxers down, and he shoved his rock hard cock into her warm, soft core.
“Oh, my god,” he growled.
If he moved, he would come, and he didn’t want to ruin their mating ritual for her, but he couldn’t go another minute without marking her.
“Mark me, Tobias,” Layla said, softly. “Make me yours.”
He sank his canines into her neck and fucked her hard and fast. Seconds later, Layla latched onto his neck, and a burst of light filled the room. It exploded into a firecracker of gold sparkles before everything returned to normal, and he felt her soul intertwine with his.
In Deals Gap, the mating was formed with only the male’s bite, but Violet had warned him that the bears were different. He and Layla were connected now, forever, and it felt amazing.
“You are my life,” he whispered, licking her wound closed. “My everything.”
“My mate,” she said, running her hand over his head. “My wolf.”
“My feisty she-bear,” he countered.
Her laughter and joy filled the bond, and wrapped around them.
He’d finally found a place to call home.
Epilogue
Two months later…
Layla looked around the hall and smiled.
Becca and Logan were celebrating their engagement, and though they were basically already married, it was a grand party.
Almost all of the future wedding guests filled the large room, including Becca’s human family and friends, and there was an abundance of food and drinks. Music constantly pulsed through the DJ’s speakers, and a dance floor had been set up in front of the booth. Near the bar, a pool table had been brought in, and she spotted Tobias racking up the balls.
She walked over to him, slid her hand in his back pocket, and kissed him on the shoulder. In turn, he kissed the top of her head.
