Secretly Mated(30)

“Spshhh,” Layna grunted. “In your dreams.”

“Wait, how did you know about my dreams?” Thwack. “Ow! Ryan, ya ass. How’d you find me in the dark with your regular ‘ol human eyes?”

“Magic,” Ryan deadpanned.

“Huh?” Magic answered, distracted.

“No, I meant… I found him by way of magic…” Ryan sighed. “Never mind.”

Owyn shook his head. The room was a black box of chaos as people tried to find their bearings. His eyes hadn’t adjusted yet, but that didn’t stop him from trying to get to Doc.

Following her scent, he found her near the kitchen door. She gasped sweetly as he pulled her into his arms and put a finger to her lips to warn her to stay quiet.

Mouth to her ear, he whispered, “You look beautiful tonight, Doc.”

Her hands curled around his neck, holding him close as her breath rushed past his shoulder.

“Thought about you all damn day, woman.”

“You did?” she breathed.

“Yes.”

His heart skipped a beat when she said, “I loved the flowers you left me.”

Diving for her mouth, he kissed her hard, needing to feel the softness of her lips giving to him. And she responded perfectly, nails digging into his nape, little tongue licking at him for a taste.

The darkness cocooned them in the midst of the clan, a secret. But this time, not one they’d continue to keep. What better place to break this agreement they’d made than in the dark, where it began.

There couldn’t be a more perfect moment to tell her.

“Christina,” he whispered reverently. She might be Doc to everyone else, but she was more to him. “I love you. I don’t remember a time I didn’t love you. I can’t fucking breathe without you. Be mine, Doc. Be mine without the secrets this time. And forever. Be mine always, and I’ll be yours.”

He felt the tremor that ran through her body as she clung to him. Smelled the tears that leaked from her eyes. He held his breath for her answer. This was his heart on a platter for her, but was it acceptable? Was it enough?

“You really mean it?” she gasped, hardly able to keep her voice low. But he didn’t mind.

“Baby, yes. What do you say?”

She buried her face in his neck, her hot tears burning his skin. “Yes.” He barely heard her muffled whisper. “Yes, yes, yes. I say yes, Owyn. Because I love you too.”

Emotion flooded him as his panther roared in triumph, eager now to get Doc alone and put his mark on her. She was finally going to be his, and the world was going to know it. No more loving behind closed doors. No more hoping she loved him too, because she did. He could feel it traveling through their mating bond.

And it. Was. Everything.

But the victory was short lived because in the next breath, Gash’s voice bellowed through the room in warning.

“They’re here! The bastards are here. We’re under attack!”

“Shit,” Magic spat, while the room went utterly still.

“I caught them on the camera at the bottom of the hill just before the electric cut out. Tow trucks. At least two. Lights flashing and shit, it’s their fucking war chant.”

“Tow trucks? The fuck?” Ryan asked, and Owyn could hear Gash checking the rounds in a Glock before handing it to the human. Tables were moving, doors closing, windows being locked tight.

“The pack I told you about, that runs with my old clan. They run a wrecking business. Call themselves the Junkyard Dogs. They do Felix’s bidding if it benefits them in some way.”

“Renner,” Bethany’s trembling voice stopped all the action in the room. “H-He went to check the lines. He’s out there alone. He doesn’t know this is an attack.”

Owyn froze in terror. Renner. Fuck. Fuck.

Rhys’s muffled whimper was the thing that spurred him into motion. “I’m on it,” he called, giving Doc’s cheek a quick kiss before bolting from the dining room.

He wouldn’t let Renner meet these assholes alone. He’d find him before they did, and bring him back.

And then… shit was on.





Chapter Eleven



Doc wanted to scream as she watched Owyn run for the hallway. Her cougar thrashed and clawed to get out, to go with him. To protect her mate.

Shit.

But this was Owyn. The male she loved. Always a hero, a defender, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. He was the hero of her heart, and now, hopefully, he’d catch Renner before it was too late.

“Eagan, Mason, Ryan, Layna,” Magic barked. “You’re with me and Gash. We’ll meet these shitheads out front. If they attack, we shift to protect our home.”

Murmurs of agreement made Doc’s head spin.