Taming His Mate(7)

Panic kicked her heart rate into overdrive. She tried to move aside, but one of the men behind her grabbed her upper arms, his fingers digging into her flesh hard enough to leave bruises. The man in front of her stepped closer, an angry sneer marring his ugly face.

“You Los Lobos folks aren’t too hospitable, are ya?” His face radiated a menace that scared the shit out of her. She might have a chance against one, but there was no way she could take on three men with any odds of success. If only she could shift….

“A friend stopped here a few weeks ago, and we haven’t heard from him since. Mind telling me if you’ve seen him?”

Despite the fear thrumming through her body, she glared at him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. No one’s passed through here recently.”

“Somehow, I don’t think I believe you, sweetheart. We’ve been watching this town for a while.”

The grip on her arms tightened, preventing her from pulling free. It was evident she wouldn’t make it to the bar, so she did the next best thing. She screamed at the top of her lungs. The human piece of shit in front of her slapped a rough hand over her mouth, cutting off her yell.

“I know for a fact Marston was here. I spoke to him while he was camped in the woods on the north side of town a few weeks ago.” His hot breath reeked of garlic and whiskey, and Kate gagged behind the hand over her mouth. “That’s right. I know there are strange, unnatural things happening in this town, and I intend to get to the bottom of it. And you’re going to tell me what the hell I want to know one way or another.”

His cruel gaze swept over her body, making her skin crawl. He raised his other hand to cover her chest, squeezing her breast in a painful grasp. “You’re a pretty little thing, you know. How about we have a bit of fun, John?”

“Get the fuck away from her.”

Kate had never been so elated to hear Stephen’s voice than she was in that moment.

The bastard’s hands fell away, and the grip on her shoulders disappeared. Off balance and shaken, she would’ve fallen on her face had Stephen’s strong arms not wrapped around her. She sagged against him as he led her to where her brother, Damien, Gee, and a few other imposing members of their pack had gathered. Each man wore the mask of a predator, waiting for any excuse to rip into the human males who’d trespassed onto their territory and touched one of their own.

One of the humans raised his hands in surrender. “We’re just looking for our friend. That’s all.”

Stephen shoved Kate behind his back, and she clung to him like a lifeline.

“I don’t give a shit what the hell you’re looking for. Get the fuck out of Los Lobos. You’re not welcome here.”

The man who’d threatened her straightened his shoulders. “We’re not leaving until we get the answers we came for.”

Behind her, a low growl pierced the air. With his brows lowered in a scary-ass glare, Gee took an intimidating step forward. “I’d advise you to get the fuck out of our town.”

Narrowing his eyes, the human scanned their group. “I’ll see ya around.”

No one budged a single muscle until the trio of humans loaded into their SUV parked across the road and sped down the dark stretch of highway leading to Collins. Intuition told Kate this wasn’t the last they would see of the men.

Had Marston somehow managed to tell others what he’d witnessed in the woods before the pack made the asshole disappear for good? They knew far more than they should. Their open hostility was a clear indication. These had to be the hunters Stephen spoke of a few days ago.

Before she could think more of it, Stephen’s concerned face filled her vision.

“Are you alright?” His warm palm cupped her cheek.

Regardless of her best effort not to cry, tears welled in her eyes. “I’m okay. Just a bit shaken.” She bit her lip. “They know something, Stephen. What if they come back?”

The next instant she was crushed against his chest. “It’ll be alright. The pack’s protected, and I won’t ever let anything happen to you, Sunshine.”

His tender words unleashed a tide of despair in her. With her head tucked against his neck, tears continued to track down her cheeks. She wanted to apologize for running away from him. For not having the ability to protect herself like other shifters. And more important, for not being the mate he deserved.

Kate pushed away from him and dried her eyes with her shirtsleeves. “I just want to go home.”

“I’ll take you.”

She glanced up. “I can drive myself.”

The muscle along his jaw ticked, and he wore an expression that cautioned her not to argue. “I said I’ll take you.”