“Well look at that, the gang’s all here,” Bren said as he shut off his car.
They were parked on Richter Street and ahead of them at the intersection, Porter could see a few police cars, a fire truck and an ambulance.
“What are you talking about?” Porter said as he climbed out of the car.
Bren was already out of the car and he slammed his door shut before pointing behind them. Porter turned to see Mal and Bishop getting out of Bishop’s truck. Ronin was already out of his car and he joined them as they headed toward Porter and Bren.
“Mal? What are you doing here?” Porter said.
Mal hugged him roughly. “Heath told us you and Bren were going to be here. Hello, Bren.”
“Mal. I’m not entirely surprised to see you and Bishop here but I’m a little perplexed by Ronin joining us,” Bren said. Ronin’s usual cheerful grin was replaced with a stony grimness and he stared briefly at Bren before turning to Porter.
“Porter, I’m sorry. This is my fault and I’ll do whatever I can to help.”
“It isn’t,” Mal said. “Maggie deliberately tricked you, Ronin.”
“Mal’s right,” Porter said. “You didn’t know she would use her coworker as a decoy.”
He turned to Mal. “I’m glad you’re here.”
Mal clapped him on the back. “Me too.”
Bren’s phone rang and he pulled it from his pocket and answered it. “Matthews.”
Porter growled impatiently and Mal squeezed his upper arm.
“Okay, thanks.” Bren hung up the phone. “I asked one of the techs to try tracking Maggie’s phone.”
“Did it work?” Porter asked eagerly.
Bren shook his head. “No, not really. It pinged off a tower near the outskirts of the city before the signal was lost. Vaughn probably took it from her and turned it off.”
“Fuck!” Porter snarled.
“It’s okay,” Mal said, “We’ve still got that shithead hyena over there. Let’s go find out where the fuck Vaughn has taken your mate.”
“Whoa, hold on,” Bren said as the shifters started forward. “I’ll talk to Jake. The rest of you can wait here by the car.”
“What? No!” Porter said. “If he doesn’t tell you where Vaughn is then I’ll - ”
“Beat it out of him?” Bren interrupted. “There are about four other officers at the scene, Porter. You go after Jake and the only thing that will happen is your ass will be back in a jail cell for assault. Stay here and I’ll find out what we want to know.”
“If you don’t?” Ronin said.
Bren grinned at the bird shifter. “I can be very persuasive when I want to be.”
He walked off and Porter gave Mal an anxious look. “I love her, Mal. I should have bitten her and claimed her when I had the chance but I didn’t because I wasn’t sure how she felt about me. I’m an idiot.”
Mal shook his head. “No, you’re not. Trust me, one of us biting their mate without asking first is enough. Besides, if you had claimed Maggie it would have just pissed off Vaughn.”
“What if we don’t find her before…”
Porter trailed off and made a low whimper. His wolf was alternating between bouts of rage and fear for his mate and he could barely control the urge to shift.
“We’ll find her,” Mal said confidently. “Well find her and she’ll be okay.”
“Officer Sallen, it’s nice to see you again,” Bren said.
The hyena stared suspiciously at him. “What are you doing here?”
“We need to chat,” Bren replied. He glanced at an officer who was talking to a firefighter. “Would you mind taking over for Officer Sallen?”
The officer nodded and took Jake’s place in the middle of the street. Jake walked slowly toward Bren. “What do you want?”
“Let’s talk over here,” Bren said.
He moved down the sidewalk until they were out of earshot of the other emergency responders.
“What do you want?” Jake repeated. “I’m busy.”
“I’m sure you are,” Bren said. “I won’t take up much of your time. I just have a couple questions for you.”
Jake grunted in reply. Bren shoved his hands into his suit jacket. “First question – what did you do with the drugs you took from evidence?”
Jake jerked all over and took a step back before glancing around the street. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”
“Really?” Bren said in surprise. “So, when Arlo Calden told me that you took the drugs from evidence that his brother was arrested for, he was lying?”
“That little fucking weasel don’t know shit,” Jake barked. “I didn’t have anything to do with that cocaine going missing.”
“How’d you know it was cocaine?” Bren asked. “I didn’t say it was cocaine.”
Jake hesitated and Bren laughed. “Jesus, you are one terrible cop.”
“Fuck you!” Jake snarled.
Bren glanced at his watch. “Tempting, but no. Here’s the thing, Officer Sallen. I have officers heading to your place right now. I’m assuming you aren’t so stupid that you stashed the cocaine at your place but hey, I’m a detective and I like to cover all the bases.”
Jake’s tanned face had turned pale and he licked his lips compulsively as Bren cocked his head. “Were you a naughty hyena and stashed the cocaine at your place? Wait, wait – let me guess – under the toilet tank lid, right?”
“I wasn’t even at the precinct the night it went missing,” Jake said hoarsely. “Ask Vaughn. He’ll tell you I was with him the whole time.”
“Didn’t you hear?” Bren said. “Vaughn resigned today.”
Jake’s mouth dropped open. “What?”
“Yes. Not even two hours ago. Sent an email to the captain and resigned. He didn’t tell you?”
“I – no, he didn’t,” Jake said as his hands clenched into fists.
“Interesting. I have a theory I want to share with you, Jake. Do you mind if I call you Jake?”
Jake shook his head as his hands clenched and unclenched.
“Good. First – here’s what I know, Jake. I know that Vaughn told Mr. Arlo Calden that he’d make the evidence against his brother disappear in exchange for information about Porter. I know you were at that meeting because Arlo has already identified you as being there. Now, since you look like you’re going to vomit on your own shoes, I’m confident Vaughn had you take the evidence and that it’s currently at your apartment about to be found by your coworkers.”
Jake stared silently at him and Bren shifted slightly. “Now, here’s what I think and I’m going to make it short and simple because you’re stupid and I’m on a time limit. I think you and Vaughn went to the bar, used the key that Arlo gave you, murdered Bud Sindle and then framed Porter Burke for it. Does that sound about right?”
Jake didn’t reply and Bren leaned a little closer. “Porter’s already free because the two of you did a shit job at trying to frame him. Vaughn’s left town because he got what he wanted – Maggie. What did you get, Jake?”
“I - I don’t know what you’re - ”
“I’ll tell you what you got. You got left behind holding stolen evidence and on the hook for murder. Vaughn’s gone but you’re here. At the very least, you’re going to prison for tampering with evidence. But between you and me – I’ll do everything in my goddamn power to make sure you go to prison for Bud’s murder. You’ll be in general population, Jake. No protection.”
Jake made a sound that was a cross between a whine and a growl. Bren placed his hand on the handle of his gun and gave him a hard smile. “But hey, it’s your lucky day, Jake.”
“What do you mean?” Jake rasped.
“I’m willing to get the DA to cut a deal with you, ask her to charge you with manslaughter instead of murder because I know you were just following Vaughn’s orders, right? If you tell me what I want to know, maybe you won’t spend the rest of your life rotting in prison.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Where’s Vaughn?”
“I don’t know,” Jake said.
“Don’t bullshit me,” Bren replied. “You have thirty seconds to tell me where Vaughn is or I tell the DA to go after you with everything she’s got.”
Jake licked his lips again and studied the sidewalk for a few seconds. “Vaughn has a cabin outside of the city. He – he might be there.”
“Well done, Jake,” Bren said warmly. “Exact address please.”
Jake recited the address and Bren smiled at him. “Turn around.”
With another low whine, Jake turned around and Bren handcuffed him before squeezing his shoulder. “Jake Sallen, you’re under arrest for evidence tampering and the murder of Bud Sindle.”
“What do you think?”
Maggie studied the cabin. It was small, just one large room with a tiny kitchenette on the left side and a small living area on the right. A loveseat sat in front of the fireplace and an old and worn wingback chair was to the right of it. A bed was against the back wall and she suppressed a shudder when Vaughn put his arm around her and kissed her temple.
“Do you like the bed, sweetheart? It’s very comfortable but you’ll find out for yourself soon enough.”
This time she did shudder and Vaughn’s grin widened before his nose wrinkled. “You fucking smell like that wolf shifter. Maybe I should punish you for letting him mark you.”
Metallic tasting fear flooded her mouth and Vaughn inhaled deeply before licking her cheek. “You taste delicious when you’re afraid, Maggie.”
She bit back her panicked moan and pulled away from him. “I – I have to use the bathroom.”
“That door right there.” He pointed to the door just past the kitchenette before rubbing the goosebumps on her arm. “Are you cold, sweetheart? I can build a fire.”
She nodded even though her goosebumps were from fear. He clamped his hand down around her wrist and squeezed hard. “I love you, Maggie. I know you don’t believe it but I do.” His black eyes glowed. “Tonight, I’ll take you to my bed and take the sweet gift of your virginity. I’ll erase that fucking wolf shifter’s scent with my own and you’ll be mine forever. I won’t let anyone hurt you,” he brushed a strand of hair away from her trembling lips, “touch you, take you from me. Do you understand? You’re mine now.”
“Please,” she whispered as he bent his mouth toward hers, “I really need to use the washroom.”
He stepped back and released her wrist. “Of course. Go and freshen up. I’ll start a fire and we’ll have a nice dinner before we go to bed. We have an early start tomorrow.”
“Why? Where are we going?”
He just smiled at her before pushing her gently toward the bathroom. “Go, sweetheart. We’ll talk about it later.”
“I’m going with you,” Porter said to Bren.
“We all are,” Mal said.
Bren shook his head. “No. I’ll call the precinct, get some backup and drive out to Vaughn’s cabin. If he’s there with Maggie, we’ll arrest him and bring Maggie back to you.”
“She’s my mate!” Porter snarled at him. “I’m going with you and you can’t fucking stop me.”
“You owe us,” Bishop said suddenly.
Bren raised his eyebrow at the grizzly shifter. “Owe you for what?”
“We let you come along when we saved Kat and Ronin at the lab.”
“Technically you didn’t let me come along,” Bren said, “In fact, you lied to me about Kat and Ronin. I followed you to the lab and then saved your ass.”
Bishop flushed and made a low growl. “We’re going, Matthews.”
Bren sighed loudly and Mal said urgently, “Bren, he’s a hyena shifter and insane. You’re going to need shifters to help you. What happens if he has members of his pack there with him? You’ll need us.”
“You’re civilians. If one of you gets hurt, I’ll lose my job,” Bren said.
“We’re not going to get hurt,” Mal said patiently. “You’ve seen what we can do.”
Bren hesitated and Porter glared at him. “I don’t care what you say. I’m going after my mate. We are wasting valuable time. The longer Vaughn is alone with Maggie, the more likely he’ll hurt her. We need to get to them now.”
“Fine,” Bren said abruptly. “Let’s go.”
* * *
“You’re not eating, sweetheart,” Vaughn said irritably. “I made dinner, the least you can do is eat it.”
“I’m not hungry,” she said. She pushed her plate away as Vaughn sighed.
“Are you always going to be this stubborn?”
“I want to know where we’re going tomorrow,” she said abruptly.
His face lit up and he leaned back in his chair before staring at the flickering flames in the fireplace. “We’re starting our new life tomorrow.”
“What do you mean?” She asked cautiously.
“We’re leaving the city. By this time tomorrow night, we’ll be in Europe.”
She gaped at him. “What? I – I can’t move to Europe.”
“You can and you will.”
“I don’t have a passport,” she said. “I can’t travel internationally without one so - ”
“All taken care of,” Vaughn said. “Your new name is Maggie Thompson, by the way.”
“What?” She whispered.
He stood and took the plates to the small kitchen. “I took the liberty of getting us both new ID’s and passports. I’m now Vaughn Thompson and you’re my wife Maggie. I booked us flights yesterday.”
“We – we can’t leave,” she said. “We don’t have jobs or money - ”
“No, you don’t have any money,” he said. “My dad was a real asshole. Did I ever tell you that while we were dating, sweetheart?”
She shook her head and Vaughn piled the dishes in the sink before returning to the small table and sitting beside her. He took her hands, scowling when she tried to pull away and tightened his grip.
“He was. Beat me and my siblings when we were young, beat my mother too – although just between you and me, that bitch deserved the beatings. She never figured out when to keep her mouth shut, you know?”
Maggie didn’t say anything and Vaughn rubbed his thumb across her wrist. “Anyway, I was the oldest and my dad beat the shit out of me the most. I hated my old man and moved out when I was sixteen. I had to live on the streets for a few years but it was still better than being around my father. I hadn’t talked to him or my mother in years until two months ago when a lawyer tracked me down. Turns out, my old man is dead. Hell, my mother too. She died nearly three years ago. Official reason of death was a fall down the stairs but I’d bet my left nut that the old man shoved her down them. Anyway, my baby brother murdered my old man – cut him up into tiny pieces and tried to use lye to dissolve his body in the bathtub. Guess he was tired of the beatings from my father.”
Maggie gave him a horrified look and Vaughn grinned chillingly at her. “He deserved it, Maggie. Trust me. So, this lawyer contacted me because it turned out my old man was sitting on a fucking fortune. Over a million bucks and guess who he left it to? His oldest. Didn’t leave nothin’ for the other six kids and they’re super pissed about it. They’re thinking of contesting the will – idiots.”
Maggie stared blankly at him as Vaughn squeezed her hands. “They don’t deserve any of the money. My father beat me more than any of them and I like to think this is his way of saying he’s sorry for what he did to me when I was a kid. I’m not letting them get a single cent of that fucking money. It’s mine, Maggie.”
Dark fur was thickening across his jaw and she leaned back in her chair as his hands tightened painfully on hers. “We’re going to start our new life together. Far away from my family and that fucking wolf shifter.”
Maggie stared wide-eyed at him. She was in the grip of fear so deep she felt faint from it. Vaughn was going to take her to another country and she’d never get away from him. She’d be his prisoner for the rest of her life.
She wished bitterly that she had convinced Porter to bite her. She loved him and it suddenly didn’t seem to matter to her that it was only Porter’s wolf who wanted to claim her.
It’s better that he didn’t. Vaughn is going to kill you when he discovers you’re not a virgin. If Porter had claimed you as his mate, your death would destroy him.
She took a shuddering breath. Her inner voice was right. She was just being selfish. Going with Vaughn was the right thing to do, even if she was about to die. Porter had done so much for her and gotten nothing for it. He would be out of jail by now and free. He could live his life and forget that he’d ever met her. He would be safe and that’s all that mattered.
Do you really think that Vaughn actually confessed to killing Bud?
The thought nagged at her and she cleared her throat. “Did you really tell your captain that Porter didn’t kill Bud?”
Vaughn grinned at her. “What do you think?”
Her heart sank and she pushed back her chair. “The deal was that I would only go with you if you got Porter out of jail.”
He laughed. “Relax, sweetheart. Maybe I didn’t exactly tell the captain that the wolf was innocent but the charges won’t stick. Honestly, I didn’t have a lot of time to set him up so if he gets himself a good enough lawyer, he’ll go free.”
He laughed again. “It was a piss-poor set-up job to tell you the truth but since all I needed was him to be in jail long enough for you to accept my proposal, it didn’t really matter. Did it?”
“You’re a monster,” she whispered.
His grin faded and turned into a scowl. “No, I’m your mate. You need to get used to the idea, Maggie.”
“You aren’t my mate,” she said in a low voice.
A kind of madness was stealing over her. Porter was still in jail and if Vaughn didn’t kill her, he was taking her out of the country tomorrow. If she didn’t figure out a way to escape from him, they’d never find her. Her gaze drifted to the poker by the fireplace as Vaughn growled under his breath.
“You’re mine. Come on, it’s time for bed. Once I’ve taken your virginity, you’ll realize you belong to me forever.”
She took a deep breath and stood up before walking to the fireplace. She held out her trembling hands and stared at the flickering flames. She needed to make Vaughn angry, she needed him distracted and furious with her. If he didn’t kill her immediately, she might have a chance to knock him out with the poker and escape into the woods.
“The bed, Maggie. Now,” Vaughn said forcefully.
“I’m not a virgin anymore, Vaughn.”
There was silence behind her and she turned around and casually backed toward the poker that was resting against the fireplace. Vaughn was staring at her and as his face turned red, she backed up even further. The heat of the fire soaked into her legs as Vaughn stood up abruptly.
“What did you say?” He whispered.
“I’m not a virgin anymore.”
“No,” he said. “No, you’re lying.”
She made herself laugh scornfully. “I’m not lying. I’ve been dating Porter for weeks. Did you really think I wouldn’t sleep with him? I gave my virginity to him.”
“No,” he said again.
“Yes,” she replied almost gleefully. “Did you really think he would mark me if I hadn’t slept with him?” She grinned at him. “I’ve fucked him repeatedly, Vaughn. And you know what? It was incredible. His dick was huge. I’m so glad I waited to give it to him and not you.”
She flinched and wrapped her hand around the poker when Vaughn screamed in rage and flipped the table over. He turned and punched the wall, driving his fist through the boards with a sharp crack before screaming again.
“You bitch! You goddamn whore! That was for me! It was mine!” He shouted.
He slammed his fists down on the small bookshelf against the wall. It cracked in half and books spilled to the floor. He howled and screamed and pounded on the wall again.
“I’ll kill you for this! Do you hear me, you stupid bitch? Do you - ”
“Vaughn,” Maggie spoke in a low voice and the hyena shifter whirled around.
She was standing directly behind him and he blinked at the poker that was raised above her head. She swung it down in a whistling arc and he screamed wild laughter and threw his arm up. The poker hit his arm with a loud heavy thud and he shrieked in pain as Maggie grunted and swung the poker across his face. It caught him in the jaw and he yowled with rage and pain as blood flew from his mouth. He fell to his knees and gave her a look of dazed confusion.
She raised the poker to hit him again and squealed in surprise when he grabbed her calf and yanked her off her feet. He knocked the poker out of her hand and grinned at her as blood dripped down his teeth. His fangs were out and fur was sprouting across his face.
“You’re dead,” he muttered.
Maggie screamed and kicked frantically at his head with her other foot. The toe of her sneaker caught him just below the eye and he yelped in pain. His grip on her leg loosened just a little and she kicked him in the chest. He barked loudly and released her calf as he grabbed at his chest. Maggie scrambled to her feet and backed away as he shook his head. Blood flew from his mouth to spray across the floor and he glared at her.
“Stay where you are,” he wheezed as Maggie backed away.
He was already trying to stand and with a frightened cry, Maggie turned and fled out the door of the cabin. It was dark and the light rain that was falling made the air misty and cool. She ran straight for the woods, head up and fists pumping at her sides as Vaughn barked and yipped into the night air. It sounded like he was already running after her and ignoring the urge to look behind her, she forced herself to run faster.
* * *
“This has to be the place,” Bren said as they pulled into the driveway of the small cabin. There was a car parked to the side of the cabin and the front door was wide open.
“Okay, the plan is – son of a bitch! Porter, get back here!”
Bren climbed out of the car and muttered another curse. Porter had already disappeared inside the cabin and he wasn’t surprised when the giant grizzly ran by him followed by a grey wolf and Ronin.
They had just reached the cabin when Porter came running out.
“She’s not in there!” He gave the wolf a wild look of panic. “There’s blood on the floor and her purse is on the counter but she’s not there.”
The wolf barked at him as Bren joined them. Porter nodded. “You’re right, okay, you’re right.”
He lifted his head and inhaled deeply before turning in a circle and inhaling again. A look of relief crossed his face and he studied the woods to his left. “Her scent leads that way.”
“Can you smell Vaughn?” Bren asked.
Porter nodded as he gave Mal another fleeting look of panic. “Yeah. He went after her.”
He suddenly stripped and shifted to his wolf form. He barked at Mal and Bishop before running into the woods. They chased after him and Bren and Ronin followed.
* * *
Her heart thudding painfully in her chest, Maggie stumbled through the dark woods. She had a stitch in her side and she had twisted her right ankle trying to climb over a fallen log. She limped quickly, turning her head from side to side and listening intently for any noises. Vaughn was in his hyena form, she had heard him barking and yipping excitedly not five minutes ago, but now there was complete silence.
She forced herself to limp faster. Maybe she could climb a tree and hide in it until dawn. She had no idea where she was going and she was most likely moving deeper into the woods and away from help. Once it was light, she would double back to the road and hope that a car came along and found her before Vaughn stumbled onto her.
Stumbled onto you? Maggie, you idiot, he can smell you. He’s a fucking hyena remember? You need to find a weapon and kill him. That’s your only chance. He’ll kill you if –
“Maag-gieee, come out come out wherever you are.”
Vaughn’s voice drifted out of the dark and she froze in terror as her heart stuttered to a stop. It started up again after a couple of beats and she pressed her hand against her chest and tried to breathe shallowly.
Run, Maggie! Her inner mind screamed at her. He knows where you are! Run, you fool!
She darted forward, screaming in terror when a hand shot out of the dark and wrapped around her wrist. It jerked her to a halt and she beat frantically at the hand, gouging it with her nails as Vaughn made a low chuckle and stepped out of the bushes.
“You shouldn’t have run, sweetheart,” he crooned to her. He was half in his human form and half in his hyena form. She screamed again and his hand, covered in wiry black hair and the nails long and sharp, squeezed her wrist painfully.
“Shh, sweetheart,” he said. “You’ve left me no choice. This is your fault for giving what belonged to me to the wolf shifter.”
He grinned at her as more dark hair sprouted on his face. His fangs were long and gleamed dimly in the darkness as he shook his head. “Such a shame, Maggie.”
“Vaughn, don’t - ”
A burning pain in her abdomen took her breath away. She stared at her stomach as warm liquid splattered over her shoe. She blinked slowly as Vaughn yanked his hand away from her stomach. It was covered in a red liquid and she studied the ropy flesh that was bulging from the rip in her t-shirt.
Were those her intestines? She wondered numbly as more blood flowed from her stomach to soak into the ground. She touched the bulging flesh as pain speared through her belly and Vaughn laughed again. He dropped her wrist and lengthened his claws again as he raised his hand to her throat.
“Goodbye, Maggie,” he said softly.
Darkness was edging her vision and she blinked rapidly. She needed to run but her legs were completely numb and the pain in her stomach was growing steadily worse. She pressed her hand against the loops of intestines slipping out of her belly and watched as Vaughn’s hand dropped toward her throat.
Before he could slice her throat open, loud howling filled the night air and a dark shape came hurtling out of the darkness. It hit Vaughn like a freight train and threw him into the air. Vaughn shifted to his hyena form as he landed on the ground with a hard thud. Snarling loudly, he jumped to his feet and bared his teeth at the dark brown wolf standing protectively in front of Maggie. Maggie fell to her knees as the wolf barked harshly and leaped for the hyena.
* * *
His mate’s scream of terror sent his wolf into a frenzy of anger. Howling madly, Porter raced through the woods toward the sound. Her scent was growing stronger and his wolf growled in fear and anger when the metallic smell of his mate’s blood drifted to him. His brother and Bishop were close behind him but he ignored his brother’s barking. His mate needed him.
He dodged past a tree, the rain clinging to his fur, and howled loudly before leaping for the hyena shifter who was attacking his mate. He sent him tumbling to the ground and he snarled with satisfaction as the hyena jumped to his feet. He barked at his brother to stay back – Vaughn was his to kill – and leaped for the hyena. He sank his fangs deep into the hyena’s shoulder, tearing him open to the bone. Vaughn screamed loudly and twisted away as Porter tried to sink his fangs into his throat. He caught him in the back instead and he sank his fangs in and shook the hyena roughly as it dropped to the ground. He released him and blinked in surprise when Vaughn immediately shifted to his human form and rolled to his back. He held his hands up, blood pouring out from his shoulder and made a harsh, moaning cry.
“Please,” he begged, “please no. Don’t kill me!”
Mal was barking at him but Porter ignored it. He stared at the frightened man on the ground and bared his teeth. Vaughn needed to die for taking his mate. Before he could rip the man’s throat out, there was the sharp retort of gunfire. Porter’s head jerked up and he stared at Bren who was standing a few feet away. Bren lowered his gun from where it was raised to the sky and pointed it at him.
“Let him go, Porter.”
Porter growled at him and Bren took a step forward. “Let him go. He’s surrendered. I’ll arrest him and he’ll go to prison.”
Porter shifted to his human form and bared his fangs at Bren. “He deserves to die.”
“Walk away, Porter,” Bren advised quietly.
“Or what? You’ll shoot me?” Porter snarled.
“Porter, do what he says,” Ronin said as Mal and Bishop shifted to their human forms.
“Porter,” Mal said.
“He deserves to die, Mal!” Porter shouted at him. “He tried to take my mate.”
“I know,” Mal said, “but if you kill him now, Bren will arrest you and you still won’t be with your mate. Is that what you want?”
Porter hesitated before glancing at Vaughn. “He deserves to - ”
“Porter.”
Maggie’s soft whisper made him whirl around. He realized for the first time how strong the scent of his mate’s blood was and his wolf made a low whimper of fear as he stared at Maggie. She was on her knees with her hand clamped over her stomach and blood was flowing down her legs.
“Maggie!” He forgot completely about Vaughn and ran to his mate as she slowly tipped over. He caught her before she could land on her face and sat on the wet ground, easing her into his arms.
“Darlin’, let me see.”
“Hurts,” she whispered. Her face was deathly pale and her entire body was trembling. “Hurts, Porter.”
“Let me see, darlin’,” he said as he kissed her cold forehead. “Move your hand so I can - ”
Mal’s sudden shout of warning was drowned out by Vaughn’s howl of rage. Porter instinctively covered Maggie’s body with his own as the hyena leaped for them both. He flinched at the second gunshot and the hyena flew backward as the back of his skull exploded in a spray of brains and blood. Vaughn fell to the ground, his body shifting back to his human form. His black eyes stared blankly into the sky as Bren lowered his weapon.
“Well, fuck,” he muttered.
“Maggie!” Porter gave her a look of panic as she slumped against him. He pulled her hand away and a howl of fear burst from his throat as the others crowded around him. Maggie’s stomach was torn open and he could see her intestines hanging out.
“NO!” He screamed as Maggie’s eyes rolled up in her head. “Maggie, no!”
“MOVE!” Ronin was suddenly trying to pull Maggie out of his arms.
“Don’t touch her!” Porter screamed and tried to pull her closer.
“Mal! Bishop! Get him away from her!” Ronin shouted.
Porter struggled furiously as Mal grabbed one arm and Bishop grabbed the other.
“Stop it!” He howled at them as they dragged him away from his mate. “Maggie! MAGGIE!”
He sank his teeth into Bishop’s forearm. The bear shifter grunted in pain but refused to release him. They pinned him to the ground and he released Bishop, spitting out his blood as he snarled at Mal.
His brother shook him hard. “Porter! Stop! Ronin can save her! Just stop!”
He slumped against the ground as Bishop pressed his knee into his abdomen. “What?” He said hoarsely.
“Ronin can save her,” Mal repeated. “Just calm down.”
“What the hell is he doing?” Bren said in a low voice.
“Let me up!” Porter struggled against Bishop’s weight and the grizzly shifter glanced at Mal. Mal nodded and they let him sit up, keeping their hands on his shoulders as he stared past them.
Ronin had Maggie in his lap and Porter watched in confusion as he pushed up Maggie’s torn shirt and lowered his face to the wound.
“What is he doing?” Porter whispered as tears flowed down Ronin’s cheeks.
“Is he…crying?” Bren said.
The tears flowed steadily onto the wound in Maggie’s stomach and Porter tried to break free when Maggie’s eyes opened and her entire body stiffened. She shrieked repeatedly and tried to twist away as Ronin held her tightly.
“Maggie!” Porter shouted and renewed his struggles.
“He’s healing her!” Mal said. “I promise he’s healing her, Porter! Just wait!”
Maggie’s screams died out and she slumped in Ronin’s lap. Porter studied her pale face before dropping his gaze to the wound in her stomach.
“What the fuck?” He whispered.
Mal and Bishop released him and he scrambled over to Maggie, pulling her out of Ronin’s arms and into his own.
“Maggie?” He said as he touched the smooth skin of her stomach. The wound was completely healed, nothing was left but streaks and smears of blood on her pale skin and she gave him a dazed look of incomprehension.
“Porter? What happened?”
He pressed kisses all over her face before tucking her against his naked chest and staring at Ronin. The bird was sitting cross-legged in front of him and he smiled at Maggie. “Do you feel better?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“What did you do to her?” Porter said.
Ronin glanced at Mal who crouched next to Porter. “Ronin’s a phoenix. He can heal with his tears.”
“Of course he can cry on someone and heal them,” Bren said suddenly. “That’s not fucking weird at all.” He snorted loudly before nudging Vaughn’s body with his foot. “Don’t suppose you can heal this, huh?”
“I can’t bring back the dead,” Ronin said.
“Right,” Bren sighed.
“Why would you want to?” Bishop growled at him.
“No reason,” Bren said with another sigh.
Mal studied him for a moment. “I guess it’s not going to go over well with your father or the press when they find out you killed the shifter who saved your father’s life.”
Bren just shrugged. “I need to call this in.”
He pulled out his cell phone and walked back toward the cabin as Mal said, “Let’s go back to the cabin for our clothes and give Porter a few minutes alone with his mate.”
Ronin climbed to his feet and Mal squeezed Porter’s shoulder before the three of them followed Bren toward the cabin.
“Ronin!” Maggie called.
The bird shifter stopped and turned to stare at her.
“Thank you,” she said.
“You’re welcome, Maggie.” He suddenly grinned at her and tipped an imaginary hat before walking away.
Porter cupped Maggie’s face and kissed her with a desperate need. She returned his kiss and when they broke apart he whispered, “I love you. I love you, Maggie.”
Tears started to slide down her cheeks and she whispered, “I love you too.”
“Thank God,” he muttered before hugging her tightly. He touched her stomach again, ran his fingers over the soft skin as she pressed kisses against his throat.
“I want to claim you as my mate,” Porter said.
“You or your wolf?” She said quietly.
“Both,” he replied. “I can’t live without you, darlin’. I was denying everything I was feeling for you and trying to pretend it was just my wolf because I’m an idiot, and because I was afraid I would scare you away. But I can’t deny it anymore. I love you. Please, be my mate.”
She studied his face for a moment before touching his face gently. “Yes.”
His grin lit up his face and she smiled sweetly at him.
“It’s forever,” he said abruptly. “Wolves mate for life, Maggie. Do you understand what that means? Once I claim you, you’ll be mine forever. Other shifters will know you belong to me.”
“I know,” she said.
He stroked her wet hair. “I just want you to understand what you’re agreeing to. I’ll understand if you need to think about it or - ”
“I don’t,” she interrupted. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” She tilted her head so her throat was exposed. “Bite me right now, Porter.”
He bent his head and kissed her soft skin. “No, darlin’. Not here, not when you’re covered in blood and Vaughn’s scent. Can you stand?”
She nodded and they climbed to their feet. He took her hand and kissed the grimy knuckles. “Let’s go home, my mate.”
* * *
“Better?” Porter asked as he towelled her dry.
Maggie nodded and dried the drops of water from Porter’s chest. It was close to three in the morning and it had taken far longer than she would have believed to give their statements to the police. Mal and Bishop had driven them back to Porter’s place and they had immediately hopped into the shower together. Porter had washed her entire body before quickly washing his own.
Now, he wrapped the towel around her and combed her wet hair before leading her out of the bathroom and to his bedroom.
“Get into bed, my mate,” he said.
“Where are you going?” She asked.
He squeezed her hand. “You should eat something.”
“I’m not hungry,” she said. “Please, Porter. Get into bed with me.”
He hesitated and she gave him a pleading look. “Please, honey.”
He climbed into bed and she clung tightly to him. He stroked her hip and side before kissing the top of her head. “Get some sleep, darlin’.”
“No,” she said.
He laughed softly. “It’s late.”
“I don’t care. I want you to claim me right now,” she said.
“Maggie, maybe you should sleep on it and we can talk about it when you’re not so exhausted.”
She sat up, letting the covers drop to her waist and smiled inwardly when Porter’s gaze dropped to her naked breasts. “Have you changed your mind about claiming me?”
“Of course not,” he said. “I just don’t want you to regret - ”
“I won’t. This is what I want and a few hours’ sleep isn’t going to change my mind. Claim me right now or I’m going to my own apartment.”
He growled and sat up before pushing her onto her back on the bed and hovering over her. “You’re not leaving. You belong to me.”
She smiled at him. “Then prove it.”
He studied her face and she grabbed his head and yanked his mouth to hers. She kissed him hard, pushing her tongue past his lips to stroke his tongue. He groaned into her mouth and returned her kiss, cupping her breasts and teasing her nipples until she was gasping and twisting beneath him.
She reached down and stroked his cock, squeezing firmly until he was moaning and thrusting his hips against her. She tried to urge him between her legs and made a harsh cry of disappointment when he pulled away and sat up.
“Just a minute,” he rasped as he leaned over and grabbed a condom from the nightstand. He quickly rolled it on and she spread her legs wide when he moved between them. He propped himself up on his hands above her and rubbed the head of his cock against her clit. She gasped and raised her hips, rubbing her pussy against his cock as he made a low growl.
“I need to be inside you, darlin’,” he whispered.
“Yes,” she said as she slid her arms around his waist and tugged him closer. “Please.”
He pushed into her with one hard thrust and she clung tightly to him when he started a slow slide and retreat rhythm that sent lightning bolts of pleasure through her entire body. She met each of his thrusts eagerly and urged him to move faster. He refused and she pounded on his back in frustration. He buried his face in her throat and kissed her soft skin repeatedly as she gasped and moaned.
“You feel so good, darlin’,” he whispered into her ear before sucking on the lobe.
“Oh please, Porter,” she moaned. “Bite me,”
He pulled out of her and she smacked his chest in anger. He grinned at her before hooking his hand around her waist. “Flip over.”
He helped her flip to her stomach and cupped her hips before pulling her to her knees. She spread her legs eagerly and lowered her upper body to the bed as he ran his hand over her ass. She keened with pleasure when he slipped his hand between her legs and rubbed her clit. She ground her pussy against his hand and he squeezed her ass with his other hand before pushing up against her and guiding his cock to her entrance.
He pushed in again, holding her hips to keep her in place and Maggie squealed happily when he made three hard and rough strokes.
“Better, my mate?”
“Yes,” she panted. “I need more.”
He held her hips firmly and thrust in and out as she rocked back to meet him. His pelvis slapped against her ass and he reached under her and rubbed her clit. She screamed and arched her body as she shook wildly and came hard on his cock. He tried to retreat but her pussy squeezed him so tightly that he made a loud groan and bent over her.
His hard body pressed against her back and he groaned again. “I love you.”
She squeezed him again and gasped when she felt his fangs press against the back of her shoulder. He paused and she whispered, “Do it, Porter. Make me yours forever,” before squeezing his cock again. He howled against her skin and thrust hard and fast before sinking his fangs into her flesh.
Pain and pleasure rolled through her at once and she arched her back as Porter growled and bit more deeply as he came deep inside of her. The bite set off another orgasm, this one so violent that she shook uncontrollably as she screamed his name. His arm around her waist kept her from collapsing against the bed. He retracted his fangs and licked the bite mark on her shoulder before lowering her to her stomach on the bed.
He pulled out of her and threw the condom in the waste bin. He curled on his side next to her as she panted and moaned lightly. He licked the bite mark until the blood stopped and then rubbed her back soothingly.
“My mate,” he whispered into her ear.
Feeling shaky and weak, she rolled to her side and stared blearily at him.
“Porter?” She whispered.
“What’s wrong?” He asked as his hand tightened on her hip.
She shook her head. “Nothing. That just – that was amazing.”
He grinned at her and she cupped his face and kissed him lightly. “I love you, Porter.”
“I love you, my mate.”