“He needs me,” she roared, and the wolf with the bolt cutters jerked his head in her direction. Owyn too. And probably the others.
Shit. He’d heard. Owyn had heard.
Had she endangered them all?
“See,” Bailey said. “You’ll distract them like this. Let them fight. Let Owyn’s panther know you’re safe so he can find a way out!”
“Keep it together, Doc,” Clara murmured, shuffling from foot to foot, the gun Gash had given her hanging from the hand at her hip in case she needed it.
She and Bailey were ready to protect the others in the kitchen. Clara was willing to leave her mate out front fighting the battle before them. She had that much trust in their cats even though she was human. Even though her eyes were sick with worry and her gaze kept darting to Eagan outside the window.
Breathing heavy with rage, Doc honed in on that emotion, blocking out the sheer panic at seeing her mate threatened. Those wolves wouldn’t rattle her like this. She’d do what Magic asked. Take care of his mate, and trust that Owyn could take care of himself.
“I’m good,” she muttered, shaking Bailey off. “I’m okay.”
As she stared out the window, she focused on sending Owyn all her love through their mating bond. She’d make him stronger from afar. And when this was all over, she was going to mark the hell out of him.
And demand the same in return.
***
A booted foot kicked the back of Owyn’s legs, and his knees hit the ground, the impact jarring his teeth. Whooping and hollering from the wolves on the trucks filled the night air.
He spat blood in the dirt before glaring up at the male who’d gotten the best of him in the woods. The sides of his head were shaved into a mohawk and he wore more chains than Marley’s ghost. His eyes gave off a crazy glint, like he couldn’t decide whether to laugh or scowl.
A sucker punch with a fucking log. No honor in that. Owyn hadn’t even had time to shift. It told him everything he needed to know about these wolves. They were nothing like his friends in Cedar Valley.
The other asshole with the crowbar—no, those were cutters—stepped in front of Owyn to face the clan.
“Alright, good little kitties,” he drawled sarcastically. “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Rigor.” He stood tall and pressed his hand to his chest as if he was secretly a gentleman, introducing himself in a room full of ladies wearing puffy dresses. “And this is my crew. They’re a little wild, I’ll admit, but there’s no need to worry. We have no beef with you. As long as you cooperate, we’ll be in and out of here, lickety split.”
Magic hooked his hands around his hips, turning his head to spit on the ground, and Owyn had to give him credit. He looked murderous. His hair hung in his face, framing eyes that promised pain. Owyn prayed Josie and Bethany were somewhere safe.
“Well, you’re a right-bad little puppy, aren’t you,” Magic smirked. “Coming in here with your horns blaring and lights flashing. Was that supposed to scare us? What’d your boss tell you about us? That we’d cower at a little noise? We look weak to you, fuckhead?”
Rigor stiffened, but then smiled, like he was talking to a petulant child. “You look small to me. That’s what you look like. But alas, I’m not here to compare dicks. I’m here for Gash.”
His gaze leveled on the cat who’d inadvertently brought all this trouble to the lodge in the first place.
Magic crossed his arms over his chest. “Well, you’re not fucking getting him. He’s one of ours now, under our protection.”
“Do you even know what he is? What he’s done?”
“Doesn’t matter,” Magic growled. “He’s ours.”
Rigor looked genuinely surprised, his brow lifting and bolt cutters pausing mid swing. “That the way of things then?”
Magic gave a single nod, and Owyn’s gaze caught on Gash. The war in that man’s eyes was epic. Guilt clashed with hope, clashing with regret, clashing with fury, clashing with appreciation. The big guy was having trouble dealing with the unconditional acceptance the clan offered him. He’d found more than a group of cats to live with. He’d found a family. And now they were threatened because of him.
Owyn knew it was taking its toll.
“You welcome a murderer into your home with open arms, and when he brings trouble your way, you just… defend him?” Rigor laughed humorlessly. “Maybe you are stupid after all.” He spun on his heel and stared down at Owyn, thoughtful. “Good thing I have a backup plan.”
A growl ripped from Owyn’s throat, but he held his panther back. If he changed, the wolves would too, and then any hope of this going right was out the window.