“Give us a chance to explain.” Her sad expression stabbed into him. “Please.”
She blinked, obviously surprised that he would add that word. “Will you hurt me?”
It felt as though she’d stabbed him in the gut. “Baby, we’d never hurt you. We’d rather die first.”
She blinked again, once more thrown by what he’d said. Another sharp pain hit him. To have his mate look at him that way, to think that she even had to wonder if they’d hurt her, cut him to the core.
“Put me down.”
“Put her down, Gunner.”
She landed on her feet, a bit wobbly. Or had she, for a moment at least, thought to run?
“Are you planning on carrying me to a cave?”
He smiled, thankful that she still had her sense of humor. “Nope. At least, not until wintertime.”
* * * *
Their moods as they walked back to the house kept them from talking about anything except the rogue werewolf. They filled her in on what had happened and how the werewolves had caught the killer. She asked more questions about the werewolves and what would happen next with the killer, but none of her questions were about them or the werebears inside them.
They didn’t ask her why she’d been in the field or why she’d run for the main road. They didn’t have to.
It all seemed so matter-of-fact, so normal like three friends out for a stroll. Until they came closer to the house. Then she had no choice but to speak.
“I know you won’t hurt me.”
“Good. We never would in any way.” Gunner took a step closer to her, but she moved back. It was too soon to have his touch and the wonderful sensation that was back overtake her thoughts.
The men she loved were werebears. Nothing could’ve prepared her for that. Her mind still couldn’t get that wrapped around it.
“Come inside, baby. We need to talk.”
She laughed, an edge to the sound. “We need to talk? Ya think? I heard you talking to Jacob and then I saw you. All of you.”
Rick held the front door open. “Mallory. Please.”
She couldn’t have said no to him then. Not with the yearning she saw in his eyes. Once she’d passed by him, however, the fear that had caused her to run came rushing back. She darted up the stairs and dashed to her bedroom.
Logic had gone out the window when she’d seen a man change into a wolf. Not thinking, she scurried to the other side of the huge bedroom.
They’d had sex in that bedroom and she’d been so happy. Now that time seemed so long ago. Since then, her perception of the world had gotten thrown out like an antiquated notion from the past. The men she’d come to love—still loved—had turned out to be creatures from the pages of a fantasy book. She should’ve seen the signs that they were different earlier, but she’d gotten involved too fast. Her heart hadn’t given her mind time to catch up. And then when Gunner had told her, how else should she have reacted except to think he was kidding? That he was just trying to break the tension between her and Rick?
Even accepting what she’d seen as true didn’t prepare her for Rick putting a key in the door and turning the lock. What was he doing? She raced to the door, then backed up as Rick got in her way.
Rick tugged a dresser open, then tossed jeans and a shirt to Gunner before grabbing clothes for himself.
Her eyes darted to the window. Could she escape that way? Did she even want to? Part of her screamed for her to flee. Another part, the part of her that had longed to fall in love, to find a man who would share that love, told her to stay.
Why couldn’t they have been normal men? And yet, if they were, would she still love them with every ounce of her being?
“We need to talk.”
“You already said that. And we will. But are you locking me up for good, Rick? Like a prisoner?”
“Of course not.” Gunner glanced at the door, then shrugged. “At least, not for good. We just need you to give us time to talk. We wouldn’t want you to run away before we’re finished.”
“And you need to keep me in this room to do that?” Her nerves jumped, her adrenaline powering up. “Unlock that door right now.” She had to get out. “You can’t keep me against my will.”
“We aren’t. Not really. I promise. All we ask is that you listen to us.” Gunner jogged to the side, nixing her second attempt to get by them. “Please, baby, just listen. When we’re finished, if you want to leave, then you can.”
Rick plopped into the nearby arm chair, then put his head in his hands. He groaned, then lifted his head.
“Mallory, we want you. Not for a few days, but forever. You’re our mate.”