Alanna rubbed her cheek against him and he rolled his eyes closed. Marking her scent on him, that was what she did. His wolf howled for more, something permanent. He wanted to mark her as his and bear her claiming bite on his own skin.
“He bought out their building. They were the only ones served with a notice to vacate. They’ve been in the same spot for decades and he’s going after them to get to me. I agreed to one meeting with his suitor to buy them a little more time.”
“One meeting isn’t bad,” he lied.
Skies above, could she have a better heart? She’d always been the selfless, caring one out of them both. Her agreeing to Harris’s terms proved that hadn’t changed. He understood why she was there with the tiger, but that didn’t stop him from wanting to tear the man apart, piece by piece. Then do the same to Harris when he was done.
“This is just like before. He already had Navid stashed away in town, no doubt ready to force him on me. Only this time I don’t have a baby to ruin his plans.” She drew a shuddering breath. “You shouldn’t even be near me. Look what he’s already done to you—”
Wyatt leaned down and cut her off with a kiss. The feel of her lips was a balm to his rampaging inner animal. The wolf wanted blood. Harris’s, to be exact.
“I’ll make this right,” he promised.
“I’m scared, Wyatt. Really and truly scared of what lengths he’ll go to get his way.”
“Hey. Hey. What did I just say? I’ll make this right.” With rivers of blood and a mountain of bad behavior. Alanna would know a world where she didn’t have to look over her shoulder for tigers looking to steal her cub or force her into a mating she didn’t want.
He would be the one she mated. Willingly.
She straightened her shoulders and smoothed her dress. The frown dragging down her lips spoke volumes and drove his wolf mad. “I should get back. The sooner this is over, the better.”
Wyatt caught her wrist and spun her back around. Instead of stiffening and backing away like she’d done with the tiger, she pressed her palms against his chest. He tucked his fingers under her chin and pressed a small kiss to her lips. “I’ll be watching. Just say the word if you need any throats cut.”
“Tempting. Very tempting.” She trailed her fingers over his chest as she pulled away.
Wyatt locked his knees and balled his fists against stepping after her or tugging her back around. He waited three seconds before pushing out of the bathroom, snarling with every step.
His. She belonged to him.
His wolf snarled and threw himself at Wyatt’s control. Howls bounced around his head and claws slashed at his middle. The beast wanted out, to bathe in blood, to declare the gorgeous tigress as his and his alone.
Wyatt didn’t like watching her slide into a seat next to the tiger, either, but he understood. He swallowed back the possessive instincts that threatened to carry him across the bar and wrap a hand around the man’s throat.
“You smell like dog.” Navid’s lip curled in disgust. He adjusted his tie and cast a withering look around the bar. “I suppose it’s to be expected when they let anyone into the place.”
Alanna smiled as graciously as possible while murdering him with her eyes. “The owners are a wolf pack that offered aid to the town when we needed it. If anything, we’re the interlopers.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll be back in civilization soon enough.”
Keep walking. Keep fucking walking.
Wyatt ground his teeth together and stalked through the bar. One meeting helped her friends. One meeting bought them all a little time before Harris fucking Ayers made his next move.
He just needed one good shot at the fucker to end the threat to Alanna and himself and everyone else the bastard would roll over in his stupid fucking need to control everything around him.
“Where are you going?” Jensen called over the bar.
“Got something to do,” Wyatt growled as he strode for the door. He could already feel the rumble of the engine between his legs carrying him toward victory. One shot. He’d mow down every fucking tiger between him and Harris and take his one fucking shot.
“Might want to wait a minute. We got company.”
Wyatt turned to where Jensen nodded and cursed. “Of fucking course.”
He changed direction and cut off Russ and Bennett just as they neared Alanna’s table. “What are you doing here?”
“What’s going on?” the empty suit demanded.
“Oh, us?” Russ swirled a finger between himself and Bennett. “We’re here to make sure this goes off without a hitch. Wouldn’t want Prince Charming to lose his shot at the pretty pussy.”
“What did you say?” Alanna hissed.
“I said, keep your eyes on the prize, princess. No matter how much you like it doggy-style.”
Wyatt wasn’t sure who growled louder—him or Alanna. Her eyes flared a bright amber and he swore he saw the flash of fangs.
“Say another word,” she dared. “I’ll present my father with your shriveled limp dick and tell him where to find the rest of you.”
Wyatt grinned like a madman. Holy fuck, she was the woman for him. “Better listen to the lady. Wouldn’t want to see your guts spilled all over the floor.” He shrugged up a shoulder. “I mean, I wouldn’t care, but it might sting you a little.”
“You’re defending this dog?” Navid scoffed.
Alanna rounded on him. “I’m the one you’re pissed at here? Not the fuckers making innuendos?”
Russ pursed his lips in a loud kiss for Wyatt. “Keep talking. You’ll be seeing the boss sooner than you expect.”
“Looking forward to it. We have a score to settle. You though?” Wyatt jerked his chin toward the door. “You should clear on out before you piss me off.”
“Way I see it, you shouldn’t even be here. Weren’t you supposed to clear out days ago?”
Wyatt threw his arms wide. “You’re more than welcome to try making me.”
“Let’s go,” Navid said under his breath.
Alanna shook him off. “Don’t touch me.”
“We’re leaving,” he insisted.
Russ growled, long and low. His eyes flashed with his inner beast. “Gladly,” he snarled and threw a punch.
Wyatt glanced over his shoulder, feeling the rage build up inside him. The stupid tiger had his hand around Alanna’s elbow. Her eyebrows furrowed together, eyes latched on his, while she tried to pry the asshole’s fingers off her.
He whipped around and connected a punch with Russ. The second hit Bennett in the nose. Blood spurted under the sharp crunch of a break, but Wyatt wasn’t done. Two more punches knocked Bennett to the ground before Russ pinned Wyatt’s arms to his chest in a bear hug.
Wyatt snapped his head back and nailed Russ in the nose. The man yelped and dropped him, then clawed his arms together to try capturing him again. Wyatt dodged the first grapple attempt and stepped into the second with a hard blow to the ribs.
Bennett attacked him from behind, jamming his elbow into his neck and socking him right in the side. Wyatt stumbled enough for Russ to recover before he ping-ponged between both fuckfaces.
He laughed wildly, his wolf howling away inside him. The slam of his fist into Russ and Bennett was almost as good as punishing old Harris himself. They were extensions of the bastard, his proxies, and Wyatt wanted to make them all pay.
Threaten Alanna? Force her into shit she didn’t want? He was out for blood.
Then Ellis was there, barreling through the middle and peeling them off one another. Fucking bouncer ruined the fun. Bennett disagreed with the treatment and received a cuff to the head that sent him to his knees.
“You good, or do we need to take this outside?” Ellis rumbled. He held Russ by the scruff of his neck.
“I’m good.” Wyatt kicked Bennett in the side for good measure. “Stay down, dickhole.”
Breathing hard, he wiped the blood from his mouth and turned to find Alanna and the other tiger gone.
&
nbsp; Mother fucking fuck.
Chapter 13
Alanna tumbled out of the sports car before Navid even pulled to a stop. She dug in her purse for keys as she stalked toward her door.
“Alanna!” Navid called.
“Leave me alone,” she shouted without looking behind her.
She just wanted inside and away from the disaster of an evening. She couldn’t get the image of Wyatt’s eyes going dead out of her mind, or the furious punches he threw before Navid dragged her out of Dark Horse. He’d been a whirlwind. Impressive, dangerous. Deadly.
She didn’t envy the two he took on. Hell, she wanted to unleash a little of the fire herself.
Strong fingers gripped her shoulder before she made it to her door. Navid whirled her around, his face a mask of cold fury. “You will apologize for that display tonight.”
She tried to shrug out of his grasp, but his fingers dug into her shoulder. “I have nothing to apologize for,” she snapped.
Navid’s eyes flashed dangerously. “I took time out of my schedule to come to this backward little hole in the ground because I was promised a mate of superb bloodlines.”
“Get off of me!”
Atticus ran into the night, Ginny right behind him. They weren’t the only witnesses. More lights flicked on in other apartments. Curtains twitched aside so curious eyes could check out the commotion.
“I wasn’t even bothered by the fact that you’d whelped once. I need cubs. That was proof you could give them to me.”
“I’m not giving you anything.” Revulsion rippled down her spine. Her tigress rose up inside her with a snarl. Sendings flashed through her head, each one more murderous than the next. Only one man would touch her. No one else would claim her except Wyatt.
Her boy, her wonderful boy, ripped himself free of Ginny’s arms and drove straight for Navid. Atticus shoved and snarled until Navid let Alanna loose and grabbed Atticus by the scruff of his neck.
“This is the cub?” he laughed. Atticus struggled to break free. “He has spirit, I’ll give him that. More spirit than intelligence, I’d say. No wonder the boy needs the guidance of his grandsire.”
Atticus froze and whipped his attention back to Alanna. “What is he talking about?”
Oh, fuck.
“Quiet, boy,” Navid said in a sharp voice. He released his grip on Atticus suddenly, sending the boy stumbling before he caught himself.
Alanna rounded on him. “Don’t correct my son.”
“Who is this shitbird?” Atticus demanded. “Who is he talking about?”
“Disrespect me again, cub,” Navid warned in a tight voice. He narrowed his eyes on Alanna. “Your dalliances with that wolf have resulted in a wild, disobedient child. Our cubs will know better.”
“Mom,” Atticus nearly shouted. “What is going on? You can’t have cubs with this dick weasel!”
Navid moved swiftly, and backhanded Atticus.
Alanna roared into action, shoving her cub behind her and squaring up to the big male. Amber bled into her eyes and claws bit into her palms. Her gums ached with the press of fangs. “Don’t come near me or my cub again,” she snarled, voice full of her inner tigress.
The beast demanded more. Atticus deserved retribution. She’d take it out of the tiger’s flesh, one strip at a time.
Her vision swam with red. No one hurt her cub and survived. No one.
Her beast ripped out of her with a savage roar. Defend her cub. Defend herself. Run off the bastards that thought they could control her. She was a motherfucking tiger, powerful in her own right.
Navid’s face twisted with fury. “Know your place,” he hissed, form shimmering with his own shift.
Alanna crouched low, ears pinned back, and swiped claws at the male trying to crowd himself into her space. Her place? In Redwater, with her cub. In her own den, with a mate of her choosing. Her place was wherever the fuck she wanted it to be.
She circled with him, keeping Atticus at her back and Navid at her front, and refusing to give him the space to jump her and force her submission.
They charged each other, back and forth, neither willing to give up the battle. She had too much to lose; he had to keep his pride.
Alanna roared when Navid swung to the side and slashed a paw down her ribs. She twisted around and snapped her fangs in his face, narrowly avoiding the move designed to clip her legs out from under her.
The roar of a motorcycle reached their ears and gave her pause. The tigress flashed her fangs at the hell about to rain down on Navid.
A single headlight slashed over the scene as Wyatt drove right next to them and kicked the bike into place. Blood dotted his shirt and the skin around one eye had darkened with a bruise. Still, he launched himself at Navid, clothes shredding in an instant as a huge white wolf took the place of the man.
Like a coward, Navid turned tail when the fight went from one smaller female to two against one. He backed off as soon as Wyatt stepped even with Alanna. His form ripped apart, leaving a man breathing hard. Blood dripped from wounds over his torso and legs.
“You’re choosing this dog over a lifetime of comfort.”
At her side, Wyatt snarled. His ears flattened and he bunched low, ready to jump again.
Alanna nudged him with her cheek and carried the touch down to her shoulder. His growl still sawed in and out with every breath, but tensed muscles ready to uncoil relaxed.
If she had any doubt before what he was to her or she to him, Wyatt showing up and immediately fighting by her side proved himself. He had her back with zero hesitation. That wasn’t the action of a man who was beyond saving or without a good bone in his body. No matter his wild side or all the bad in his past, he was there when she needed him.
Her tigress offered one last snarl to the unworthy male at her front before packing herself away. Alanna rose to her feet and threaded her fingers in Wyatt’s fur. “He’s a wolf, he’s my cub’s father, and he has more honor than you could ever hope to achieve.”
“You’re making a mistake,” Navid sneered.
“My only mistake was agreeing to this meeting in the first place. Call it a soft heart.” She jerked her chin to his sports car, the door still hanging ajar from where he jumped out to chase her down. “Go back to my father. Tell him I’m not accepting any mating offers, no matter how many threats he lays on my doorstep. He has no business trying to sell me off and take my son.”
Navid stepped forward with another snarl. Wyatt immediately jumped forward and snapped his jaws at the man. With a last glare, Navid slid back into his car and revved the engine.
Wyatt’s shape snapped and cracked with the swift shift back to his human form. He cupped her cheeks and forced her to look at him. “What happened? What did he do?”
Alanna glared after the sports car peeling out of the parking lot. “He hit Atticus,” she gritted out.
“He hit—” Wyatt cut off with a curse. His voice dropped deathly low. “I’ll kill him.”
“No, you won’t,” Alanna snapped back. “He’s mine if he ever comes near us again. No one touches my cub.”
They both turned at a polite cough to their sides. Ginny approached slowly and laid a robe over her shoulders while carefully averting her gaze from Wyatt. He grinned ruefully and padded back to his motorcycle where he pulled out a pair of jeans.
“Atticus is inside,” Ginny murmured. “You need to talk to him.”
Alanna squeezed Ginny’s hand and turned her gaze up to the stairs to her front door. Nothing pleasant waited for her upstairs, but that was parenthood sometimes. The bad paired with the good, and she was in charge of it all. “Thank you.”
“You love him and you did your best for him. He’ll see reason, even if it isn’t tonight.” Ginny pressed a hand to her heart and let off a little laugh. “I’m going to have a big glass of wine to calm my nerves as soon as I get home. You were ferocious, my dear.”
Alanna was quiet as she waved Ginny goodbye and mounted the first step with Wyatt behind her.
The warmth at her back was a comfort against the chilliness ahead.
Atticus shove to his feet as soon as they crossed the threshold. “You lied to me,” he muttered darkly.
His eyes churned with the amber of his inner tiger before narrowing to sharp slits. An unexpected shift was the last thing they needed.
Alanna stood her ground. “Let’s sit down and talk about this.”
His eyes flashed brighter and his lips peeled back. Sharp anger burst through his scent as he balled his hands into fists. “You lied!” he shouted.
Alanna reached for him, but he shoved her. Hard. She stumbled backward and landed on her ass.
Regret flashed briefly across Atticus’s face before he turned stony angry again. “You lied,” he repeated. “I have family. You kept them away from me my whole life!”
He stormed into his room and slammed the door.
Wyatt growled and started after him, but Alanna pulled him back. Guilt and regret built inside her chest and squeezed her heart. She’d tried to do right by her cub, but he obviously didn’t think so.
He was right. He had a family. She’d kept them away. No matter how sound her reasons, the angry, hurt teenager wouldn’t understand without explanations. She owed him that much.
“I need to do this,” she said wearily. “He needs to hear it from me.”
Wyatt stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “I’ll keep an eye on his window tonight. Make sure he doesn’t sneak out on you.”
“That won’t—” Alanna shook her head. “Actually, that’d probably be extremely helpful.”
“Consider it done.” Wyatt bent and pressed a kiss to the crook of her neck. “Tell me if you need anything. I’m in this with you.”
Her eyes slid closed and she lifted a hand to the back of his head. After so long without him, she found it hard to believe he was truly there. She needed to feel him to make sure she wasn’t imagining anything.
He was solid. Present. Ready to take on a freaking tiger with her, then face their son’s anger. Alanna wasn’t sure which one was the scarier threat.
“Go on,” she urged after a moment. With another kiss goodbye and good luck, Alanna changed into proper clothes and knocked on Atticus’s door. When he didn’t answer, she took a seat against the wall and stared at the ceiling.
Tequila and Tigers: Book Two: Shifters and Sins Page 9
