“Then why’d he go and kill werewolf livestock?” His scheme made sense to attack the cattle of werebears, but why kill his own pack’s animals?
“I don’t get that part, either.”
Steven struggled against his captors, then let out a laugh. “Why? Because it was fucking fun. But shit. I’d have had more fun if you two assholes hadn’t shown up. She’s smokin’ hot, that mate of yours.”
Rick hadn’t planned it, but it felt good to punch the guy. Steven fell back and would’ve gone to the ground if Jacob hadn’t kept him upright. Rick shook his hand out, but was sure that any amount of pain, even if he’d broken his hand, was worth the slug he’d given the werewolf. Funny thing was, it was the only time he could remember getting to hit a werewolf without ending up with a pack of biting dogs at his heels.
“Feel better?”
He grinned at Jacob. “Yep. How about I give it another one?”
He had his arm back, ready to punch Steven again, when Gunner snagged his arm in midair.
“How about we go and find our mate? I want to know why she was in that pasture to begin with. Let them handle this asshole.” Gunner turned his arm loose, then nodded at Jacob and Jayden and sprinted away. He stopped after going a few feet. “Are you coming, bro, or not?”
“I am.” Rick wanted to have another go at the lousy werewolf that had cost him livestock and almost his mate. Instead, he fell into step next to his brother, shifting back into his bear form.
They ran side by side back to the place where they’d left Mallory, but she was already gone. He put his nose to the ground, picked up her scent, then started running again. She was headed away from their home, toward the main road leading back into Shatland.
With every step he took, he relived the argument by the mutilated cow and her calf. When would he learn to hold his temper? He’d been torn up about the cattle and had taken it out on her.
He ground his teeth together as the wind whipped over his fur. What would his life be without her? He hated to even think that it might happen. And Gunner? Hell, if she left, he’d never forgive him.
If she gave him the chance, he’d spend the rest of his life making it up to her. That and he’d learn to keep his big mouth shut.
He glanced at Gunner, saw the tension in his muscles, the worry in his amber eyes. How had Gunner kept from tearing into him when he’d fucked things up? He didn’t deserve either a good brother or a good mate. But if he got the chance, he’d try his best to make them proud of him.
He almost collapsed in utter relief when they caught up to her a quarter of a mile away from the main road. Although they hadn’t had time to talk about it, Rick stayed in his bear form, glancing at his brother every so often to see if he was ready to change back. Gunner kept running, his huge paws throwing up dirt as he loped in front of her, then swung his body around.
She let out a small cry, spun around, and tried to run in the opposite direction. Taking his cue from his brother, Rick darted past her, blocking her way. Her eyes were wide and her hair was in tangles.
“Leave me alone!” She darted to the left and straight into Gunner’s human arms.
He’d shifted just in time to catch her, then tossed her over his shoulder. Rick shifted, too, and kept to his brother’s heels.
“Calm down, Mallory. We only want to talk to you.”
“Put me down, damn you. I saw what you are. Let me go.” Her body rocked on top of Gunner’s. “I saw you. I saw all of you.” The fear and anger in her eyes grabbed him, daring him to lie to her. “And the wolves that ran past me. They’re all werewolves and you’re both bears.”
“Mallory, I told you what we are.”
“No. I mean, yes. But did you really think I’d believe you?” She let out a groan that was as close to a growl as a human could make.
“That’s right. Now you know the truth.” Rick paced closer as she continued to beat her fists against Gunner. “You saw what we are and I’m sorry we didn’t tell you before now. At least, not in the right way. We’re what we are, but you know who we are, too. Remember that.”
She paused, flattening her palms against Gunner’s back so she could lift her head. “Let me go.”
Love, unforgiving and all-encompassing, tore through him. Her tone was filled with sorrow and pain, pain that wracked him with guilt when he thought of how he’d treated her. If she didn’t accept them and left, then he’d blame himself. If he’d been less of a grouch, if he’d shown her more love, then maybe she could’ve looked past their alter-identities. He’d been so hell-bent on finding the rogue werewolf first, that he’d lost track of what was really important. If she stayed, that would all be in the past.