Alpha Protector (Wolf Protectors Book 3)
Author: Bolryder, Terry
Date: 2015-06-08

Alpha Protector

Terry Bolryder

Contents

Copyright

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Epilogue

Sample of Double Dragons

Also by Terry Bolryder

Copyright © 2015 by Terry Bolryder

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Cover Design by Melody Simmons of eBookindiecovers

Created with Vellum

1

Today had been the ideal day for Asher Vale.

All the classes at the Vale family martial arts studio had run smoothly and been full of attendees. Business was booming, mostly thanks to Asher’s hard work and dedication. And his two brothers were happily married and out of his hair, leaving him to just do what he did best.

Take care of things.

Asher sat up from the place he was most often found in the dojo, the work desk, and shrugged off the day’s work.

He decided to reward himself with some time alone on the floor. Just him and the punching bags.

As he walked from the desk to the center of the floor, he shrugged off the long-sleeved gi he wore after helping in the last class and pulled off the compression shirt under it, revealing a long row of chiseled abs and huge pecs. Asher might not have been quite as tall as his brothers, but he made up for it in sheer brawn and size.

And whenever Asher wasn’t running the dojo or helping in classes, he was training like this.

Part of him envied Lucas and Jordan for leaving the dojo at early ages to go into professional MMA careers, a luxury Asher didn’t have since he was the next alpha of the pack and expected to take over leadership of the Vale clan when the time came. Which could be soon considering their father’s illness. But at moments like this, Asher was grateful he didn’t have to do interviews, show up at stupid events, or help train new teammates. It was just him and himself, all alone in the dojo he now owned.

And with the help of a few savvy investments and their recent boom in attendance from well-to-do shifters in the area, things were good for Asher. Very good.

Except for one thing.

Asher worked the heavy punching bag as fast as he could, going at full speed, feeling the strain of his muscles against the weight of it. It exhilarated and enlivened him. But after only a few minutes, he heard the front door to the dojo swing open, then close with a clack.

Ever since his older brother Jordan had gone on the road with his wife Senna, there was only one person who would come into the dojo at a time like this.

There was that one thing again.

Asher heard her footsteps as she came in. Could hear the click of her high heels. Probably coming back from that date she’d mentioned. Asher ignored it, continuing to punch and kick at the bag, hoping to avoid the inevitable.

The clicking stopped as shoes were removed prior to walking out on the mat. Asher counted the seconds until his workout was going to be rudely interrupted.

“Asher Vale!” came the words from behind him. As expected, it was Laurel, Lily’s younger sister, who’d been in the Vales’ care ever since Asher’s older brother Lucas had reunited with Lily several years ago.

Lily and her sister had been controlled and used as pawns by their father, and Asher and his brothers had gone to rescue her. She’d been living with them ever since.

Asher stopped the rocking of the bag from his last strike and turned to see angry brown eyes glaring up at him. Eyes that glowed with indignation in the bright fluorescent dojo lights.

Her dark, shoulder-length hair was straightened, and she was wearing a beautiful red dress that complimented her dark skin perfectly and wrapped every inch of her curvaceous figure.

“Yes, m’lady?” Asher replied with a sarcastic bow.

“What the hell is this?” she asked, holding up a folded piece of paper in her hands.

“How did the date go? This was number two or three with that guy, right?” Asher asked, dodging the question.

“It would have been if you hadn’t sent this email to him earlier today, basically threatening his life if he overstepped any boundaries,” she said, exasperated.

“I might have sent a few emails today. Who’s to say I sent that email though?” he replied, whistling to himself.

“Yes, because some random person by the name of ‘mma4life’ just happened to know my boyfriend’s email address and just happened to threaten unspeakable violence upon him,” she said, frustrated.

“I didn’t think he was quite a boyfriend yet,” Asher said, moving past her to pick up his shirt and gi top. “I guess we’ll never know now, will we?” He continued whistling as he put away his things.

The truth was he had indeed sent the email. And he was enjoying the fact it had worked so splendidly.

All it took was liberal use of the words “kill,” “dismember,” and “pulverize.” Mission accomplished.

“That’s the problem with you, Asher.” She followed him around, not letting up. “You say you want me to be happy. You say I’m like family, that you’re just trying to keep me safe. But then you pull crap like this every single time I start getting anywhere with any guys I meet. Sometimes you even set me up with them, just to do something that makes them run off and never return my calls.”

“That’s because shifter men, especially alphas, are complete tools and can’t be trusted. You have to be careful around them.”

It was ironic that Asher had not too long ago been a rebellious, bad boy himself. The tattoos that covered his arms from the elbow up that he’d gotten when he was still a teenager were proof of that. Until responsibility and pack duties had caught up to him.

Until someone as amazing as Laurel had been put under his sole care and protection.

“You say that, but I have yet to have someone try to make a move on me. It’s getting to the point that men are afraid to ask me out. You’re like the older brother sitting on the porch, pointing a shotgun at any guy that comes by the house, wanting to date me,” she said.

So maybe Asher had been a little too overprotective. But unlike her, he’d seen much worse things happen before. Had seen how aggressive and dangerous alpha males could be when they picked up on an unmated alpha female’s scent.

“I’ll back off a little, then, if that’s what you want me to do,” he said, turning to Laurel.

She stood in front of him, and though she was quite a few inches shorter, she exuded an air of superiority and confidence that truly bespoke the fact that she was an alpha female.

“No, there’s only one way to fix this,” she replied, confident and resolute. Whatever the solution was, Asher could tell she was set on it.

“And that is?” he replied, folding his arms.

“Asher Vale, I want you to mate me.”

Laurel had just dropped the bomb that had been stewing in her mind for weeks.

She watched as Asher’s dark, intense eyes turned from confusion to disbelief to outright bewilderment. His jaw came unhinged and dropped as he seemed to struggle with words for a minute.

“What? I… Are you joking?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at her

Asher was many things. Speechless was rarely one of them.

“No, I’m not. I’m totally serious,” she said, remaining calm. She had rehearsed this in her mind countless times. And his shenanigans tonight only further cemented the fact that if he was never going to let her get serious with a man, she would have to take the one right in front of her.

It didn’t hurt that he had rippling muscles all over him. Just watching him shirtless in front of her, arms crossed, accentuating each thick cord of hardened strength across his pecs, his shoulders, his arms, was enough to make her breath catch if she let it.

Asher rubbed the back of his head in consternation. “Why?”

“It’s simple. You’re an unmated alpha male. I’m an unmated alpha female. It’s just the way of things as shifters. You and I both know it. And as long as you’re around, there’s no chance I’ll get to know anyone else well enough to let them claim me. So you’re it, Asher.”

The fact that she’d always had feelings for him didn’t hurt her decision, either.

But she could never tell him. He’d never understand. Regardless of how she saw him, Asher would probably never see her as more than a little sister. That girl he was tasked with protecting.

Asher’s dark eyes glinted with indignation. “Oh, so I’m your last resort?”

“Because you give me no other choice,” she said, raising her arms. Sometimes he could be the sweetest, most protective man she knew. But at times like this, he was the most bullheaded person on the face of the planet.

Asher had basically been her only family aside from Lily, after he and his brother Jordan rescued her from the machinations of her father. Lucas, the eldest brother, had given the pack promise that the Vale family would watch over her and make sure nothing ever happened. But with Lucas married and Jordan distant from the family at the time, the responsibility fell upon Asher.

So Asher took her in, arranged a place for her to stay in their family home, and had her take classes from the dojo so he could always keep an eye on her while he ran things. And as the months turned to years, she became adept enough to be an instructor at the dojo and even helped Asher manage their affairs from time to time. But through it all, her heart had longed for more.

And she was tired of waiting for things to come around on their own.

“I’m sorry, Laurel. I have a promise to keep,” he said, turning from her and throwing his things in a nearby locker.

“Don’t you see, though? This is the only way you’ll be able to protect me the way you want. That is unless you’re able to give me some slack and let me just find someone,” she added, leaning against the desk he usually worked at.

The workout and the fact that they were alone made Asher’s scent clear to her. Dark, spicy, slightly bitter, like anise. Her wolf called for him, responded to his whenever he was near.

Asher appeared torn. He stood, tapping his foot for a minute, then with a huff, spoke. “Fine. I’ll back off,” he said, throwing on a T-shirt from the locker. “But if anyone lays a finger on you, I swear I’ll tear them limb from limb. Slowly.”

Laurel’s heart sank a little. It wasn’t the answer she’d hoped for. But she knew the idea was farfetched to begin with. And if she couldn’t be with Asher, then she wanted to do whatever was needed to get away from him.

She turned and started to walk out to her car. She needed to sleep this off.

“Oh, and, Laurel?” she heard Asher say behind her.

She turned back and paused.

“Nice dress, by the way,” he said, looking her up and down.

As platonic as he acted with her, sometimes she got the inkling the attraction might be mutual.

But if it were, he’d never made it obvious enough for her to ask about it.

“Thanks,” she replied, starting again for the door.

“See you tomorrow,” Asher said.

She left without a word.

Asher’s head throbbed.

After Laurel had approached him last night and demanded he claim her, he hadn’t been able to sleep a wink. Instead, he was up all night, thinking about her and what to do about the whole situation.

But time stood still for no one, and the early morning class was about to begin.

Asher had spent the last few minutes getting to know a new student at the dojo by the name of Jacob. He was probably around Laurel’s age, a few years younger than Asher, and full of vivacity and eagerness to try out mixed martial arts. His shifter family had recently moved to the city from out in the country, and at a friend’s suggestion, he wanted to come visit the dojo.

Asher’s dojo had the luxury of only having shifter clients, which was part of why it was so popular. Privacy was a huge commodity in the shifter community.

While Asher was telling Jacob how the classes worked, they were interrupted by Laurel coming in to set up for class. To Asher’s surprise, Laurel arrived five minutes early like she always did, went into the women’s changing room, and reappeared wearing her gi, greeting Asher like nothing had happened last night.

Like she hadn’t just blown his mind by suggesting he mate her.

“Laurel, this is Jacob, a new student. He’ll be attending your class today,” Asher said cordially. It was always important to put clients first.

“I’m Laurel. Nice to meet you,” she said, offering her hand. “Hopefully Asher here hasn’t said anything he’ll regret,” she added, giving a fake laugh and throwing a sidelong glare at Asher.

Jacob took it and gave a handshake. “No, not at all. So do I call you Laurel-sensei or something like that?” he asked.

“Nope, just Laurel,” she replied, sizing up the new recruit.

Asher supposed some might consider Jacob handsome. He had short blond hair, blue eyes, and was probably just an inch over six feet, so shorter than Asher. Not terribly buff, but not skinny either. He’d probably make a good enough student.

Laurel showed Jacob out onto the mats and then came to the head of the class to start with warm-ups, then training.

Asher ruminated on the success of the dojo while he got some things done at his desk. It wasn’t like the old days when shifters ran around in their wolf forms and fought like wolves. Most wolves, especially those living in the city, had to learn ways of defending themselves from shifters encroaching on their territory or threatening their families, without changing their forms. Mixed martial arts naturally came to be the preferred method for many of them.

As he worked on the month’s financials, his ears pricked as he heard Laurel’s voice addressing the class.

“Okay, I need a volunteer. Jacob, do you mind?” she asked.

Asher turned from the desk to view the class. This could be interesting.

Jacob came up shyly, and Laurel then demonstrated how to bring someone to the ground from behind, wrapping her arms around Jacob’s midsection, then gently swiping a leg under his to pull him to the ground, straddling him. Jacob blushed, but Asher ignored it.

Probably just first-time awkwardness working with a female teacher, Asher thought.

Despite the size difference, Laurel’s technique was great. It wasn’t until they reversed and Jacob did the same to Laurel that Asher started to feel extremely annoyed. Seeing his arms wrapped around Laurel, then slowly bringing a leg under hers and moving into a position on top of her bugged Asher, even though he was just doing exactly as she’d instructed a minute ago.

Mine, that annoying voice inside him growled again. He shook his head. He’d ignored it for years and he would continue to do so. He’d keep his promise.

There was an odd number of students, so Laurel paired off with Jacob as she instructed the rest of the class on a variety of jiu-jitsu grappling techniques. Every time Asher turned to go back to his work, he would hear Laurel laugh and turn to see her and Jacob tangled up on the ground, Jacob’s inexperience making things more awkward than it would usually be between a teacher and a student.

The fact that Laurel was an unmated alpha probably factored in as well. Asher knew what it was like to be around an alpha’s scent, how arousing it could be, how it could drive your wolf crazy with desire if one wasn’t careful.

But with Laurel, duty came before anything else, and he’d gotten accustomed to her scent long ago, so his feelings wouldn’t get in the way of anything. So he could fulfill his pack promise to her.

In spite of that, every time he could hear Jacob and Laurel laughing, he was filled with a sudden urge to throw on his gi, go onto the floor, and take over Laurel’s place as Jacob’s partner.

He’d show Jacob what two hundred twenty-nine pounds of pure muscle felt like on top of him.

“Keep it in your pants, Jacob,” he muttered to himself, trying to ignore the sound of the two of them chatting, and going back to the spreadsheet he was working on.

The class took way too long to finish, and at the end, Laurel congratulated the students and offered words of encouragement to everyone.

Asher waited for Laurel to walk past his desk and give him an update on the class like she usually did. But she didn’t.

He stood and turned to look. Most of the students were picking up their things or lingering and chatting with friends before the next class started. But in the corner, he saw Jacob talking with Laurel. He looked embarrassed and a little shy, as if asking Laurel something.

Asher’s common sense told him to ignore it, but he just couldn’t. Something about the whole thing put him on edge. Made him want to go over and interrupt the whole exchange.

He perked his ears and used his enhanced hearing to pick up on their conversation.

This was his dojo after all.

The conversation ended, and Jacob grabbed his bag and headed outside. Laurel came to Asher’s desk, and he quickly sat back in his chair and looked intently at the computer monitor.

“Working hard or hardly working?” Laurel asked jokingly.

“I could say the same thing for you,” Asher replied dryly, not turning his attention to her.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she said, eyeing him suspiciously.

“It means, why is my employee going out on a date with her new student?”

2

Laurel was furious. Asher had been eavesdropping the whole time!

“What the hell, Asher? That’s none of your business!” she spat, trying not to raise her voice.

Asher pointed his thumb over his shoulder at the hallway leading into the back rooms, as if to gesture, Let’s talk in private.

Laurel was going to give him a piece of her mind all right.

They went back into a small room filled with filing cabinets, and Asher shut the door.

“As I was saying…” Laurel began, folding her arms.

“What do you mean it’s none of my business? Of course it’s my business. This is my dojo.” Asher interrupted, following suit and folding his arms and looking down at her.

“Since when were there any rules about dating students?” Laurel asked, exasperated.

“It’s unprofessional,” Asher muttered.

Though it was true teachers dating students was considered taboo, there were certainly no specific rules prohibiting it.

“Asher, it’s just one date. And Jacob seems like a great guy. He’s an alpha. He’s single. He’s handsome. He’s exactly the kind of person I should be dating,” she said.

“But I don’t approve,” Asher blurted out.

“I thought we just talked about this last night, about you giving me some space?” Laurel glared at him.

He paused for a second, caught.

Laurel would be lying if she’d said she found Jacob incredibly attractive. But he seemed like a really nice guy, and he’d clearly mustered all his gumption to ask her out in the first place, so she couldn’t turn him down.

If Asher wasn’t going to say yes, she’d have to find the one who did.

“He’s a complete newbie. How do you think he’s supposed to protect you?” Asher said after thinking a few moments.

“This isn’t the dark ages. I don’t need some man to keep me safe from predators stalking the street or imaginary villains plotting unspeakable atrocities on me,” she said.

Asher’s eyebrows lowered and his eyes darkened. Whatever it was Laurel had said, it made him angry.

“Is that so? So you’re going to tell me if some alpha shifter tries to have his way with you, you’ll be just fine?” he said, moving toward her menacingly. His deep eyes glinted in flashes from the light filling the small room.

Laurel gulped. The sight was intimidating. And kind of hot. “Of course. I have my self-defense training. I could take someone down if they got too close.”

“Hm.” Asher looked unimpressed. “You don’t understand alpha males at all, do you? That’s assuming you can think straight enough to act. The thing about alpha males is they can be extremely seductive and overwhelming. It’s in our blood to attract a suitable mate. Who says you’d be able to keep your head clear long enough to fight?” he said, his voice a growl.

Asher came right up next to her, his scent enveloping her in the small room that was little more than a storage closet. With a swift motion, he pinned his arms on both sides, caging her in completely. His huge, rippling arms surrounded her, his face intense.

“I think I can handle myself,” Laurel retorted. But her argument didn’t sound convincing.

“Really. What if I did this?” he said, inching closer. But instead of frightening her, the closer he got, the more aroused she became.

You could slice the sexual tension in the air with a butter knife.

In an instant, his lips were over hers, kissing her deeply. They felt as soft and amazing as she’d always dreamed they would be. So many times she’d pictured him doing this, and now she finally got to live it.

Granted, he might have been trying to intimidate her right now. But in her mind, that didn’t matter.

She opened her mouth slightly, beckoning him in, begging to feel his tongue inside.

He did so, sliding in and slowly exploring, feeling along the back of her teeth and the top of her mouth, coming deep inside and stroking. Every movement felt like fire, burning her senses and lighting up her body. It was like he instinctively knew where the most sensitive areas were, and whenever his tongue ran along them, she couldn’t help but groan softly; it felt so good.

The thought of someone else doing this to her was very unsexy, even scary. But what Asher was doing to her right now was ecstasy.

She didn’t want it to stop.

The warm, wet, stroking of his tongue was starting to make her feel weak in the knees, so she held on to his arms with her hands. It felt like holding on to steel beams, his strength an anchor for her as she took whatever he could possibly give her right now.

Asher moved from her mouth over to her ear, first kissing along the shell of it, then coming down to play with her earlobe, rolling it around with his tongue, then nipping at it softly, applying just the right amount of pressure to send sparks shooting across her body.

How could such a small thing feel so damn good?

If just foreplay felt this amazing, Laurel wondered what Asher was like in bed.

He moved from her ear down her neck, placing slow, perfectly spaced kisses all down the length of it. His lips were still wet from the kissing earlier, and the warmth from them electrified her skin wherever they touched.

Her wolf howled in approval. But it had been doing that for years now whenever it looked like Asher was going to make a move. This was just the first time he actually had, so it seemed particularly eager about the prospect of having him as a mate.

But that was just wishful thinking.

Asher continued kissing lower, but when he reached the top of her collarbone, he stopped, even though her body begged for him to keep going down to her breasts. Or even lower. Now that she felt so alive, she couldn’t help but want more, couldn’t help but want to go all the way with him.

Asher brought his eyes back to hers, and it was clear she wasn’t the only one affected by what they’d done. He had naturally tan olive-colored skin that didn’t blush easily, but by the look of his slightly swollen lips and the confusion showing in those dark eyes, he was feeling something too.

“See what I mean?” he said, his voice low.

“Nope, can’t say I do,” Laurel said. It was a bald-faced lie. She could feel warm redness in her cheeks, her breathing quickened, and she was sure if she could scent Asher this clearly, then he could scent her just as easily.

But if he wasn’t going to say how he really felt, she wasn’t going to either.

Laurel released her hold on Asher’s arms, missing their tightness and strength surrounding her, and he stood straight again, folding his arms.

“Really? If that’s the case, then I guess you have nothing to worry about,” he said disbelievingly, his lips turned down in a frown.

Laurel couldn’t tell if it was because she was lying or because he felt rejected.

Either way, even if his lips felt like heaven, the fact remained that he had refused to give her what she wanted, even when she’d asked directly for it.

“Yes, you can just go back to worrying about yourself and the dojo and just put me out of your mind for good,” she said vehemently.

Asher kicked the door to the room open and motioned for her to leave. “Don’t you have a class to be at right now?” he demanded.

“That I’m late for, no thanks to you, asshole.” Just remembering his blatant rejection of her last night was making her furious again, which in turn was making him angry too.

But as she walked down the hallway, she couldn’t help but remember his hot kisses on her neck. The feel of him all around her. The raw sexual tension released little by little, touch by touch, kiss by kiss.

Laurel shuddered and tried to shake off thoughts of him doing more.

She had a date tonight to think about.

The date that night with Jacob was okay. He took her to a midscale restaurant downtown, where they spent the evening talking about where they were from and what they had studied and what their hobbies were.

It was painfully obvious to Laurel that Jacob was a little smitten with her. But she just didn’t have the same feelings toward him. He was nice, but beyond that, there was nothing interesting or sexy about him at all.

As they finished dessert, Laurel’s thoughts wandered back to the dojo, where earlier in the day, Asher had given her the thrill of her life just by doing something as simple as kissing her.

But with Asher, nothing was as it seemed. Just kissing was so much more.

“Hey, are you all right, Laurel?” Jacob asked as he got the check, sounding worried.

“Yeah, just a lot on my mind. Things have been really crazy at the dojo the past few weeks since everyone’s out for summer vacation.”

And I just don’t have feelings for you. Sorry, Jacob.

“Ah, makes sense. Would you like to go for a walk, get some fresh air before I take you home?” he offered cordially.

Jacob had been a complete gentleman, which was more than she could have expected of some dates she’d been on. But aside from the fact that he was an alpha male by blood, there was nothing else alpha about him.

“Sure, sounds like a plan,” she said, standing and taking Jacob’s arm as he offered it. She needed time to think, time to figure out what to do next.

They walked outside and strolled around the city. It was getting late, and they were in an industrial district that was very quiet in the evening. Which was what Laurel needed right now.

The surroundings did look slightly creepy, and a chill went through her. All those things Asher had said, were they really true?

They turned the corner again, and Laurel’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a group of men ahead of them, talking in low voices. Laurel looked up from her reverie to see more than half a dozen large, tough-looking men walking in a tight group headed their way, muttering to each other. A light breeze blew from their direction, and Laurel instantly recognized them as shifters.

Her blood froze with fear and her arm tensed around Jacob’s. But it would be a stupid idea to run from them. That might just instigate something and give them a reason to chase. And from what Laurel could see, the city block looked deserted, with no cars passing by and no other people on the sidewalks at this time of night.

Just be cool, Laurel.

She had taken years of self-defense training and mixed martial arts. But none of that taught you how to fight off men twice your size and in such a large group.

Laurel took a deep breath and tried to remain calm as they passed them. She could hear them mumbling in deep voices about what they were going to do once they got back to the warehouse and other random things like what sports teams were going to be on TV tonight.

It all seemed benign enough. Nothing to get worried about at least. She needed to calm down and stop letting Asher’s paranoia about all shifter males get to her.

Laurel thanked her alpha senses, which enabled her to hear and smell much better than regular humans. She heard Jacob release a sigh of relief as well. Apparently, she wasn’t the only one who was tense.

But as they walked forward, her hearing picked up on a new voice in the group behind her.

“Hey, guys, did you smell that just now?” It sounded surprised.

“Yeah, I did,” said another.

Laurel kept walking, almost wishing now that she couldn’t overhear them. She prayed they weren’t discussing what she thought they were discussing.

“We’re not going to just let that walk away, are we?” said the first.

“No, definitely not,” said a new voice, this one deeper than the rest.

There was a shuffling of feet, and Laurel looked over her shoulder to see the group suddenly changing their direction, following them now.

Laurel started walking faster, hoping they wouldn’t notice her change in speed. But from the quickening sound of heavy boots clopping on the cement, they were keeping pace.

She could feel herself starting to panic. They hadn’t been walking long, had they? They were probably only a block from the restaurant. If they could just make it back to the parking lot…

Laurel hated this part of the city. One minute you were on a street lined with restaurants and shopping centers, and the next, if you didn’t watch where you were going, you were surrounded by empty warehouses and dilapidated buildings.

There was a dark alley on their right, and Laurel wondered if it cut between the buildings or not. If it did, it would put them right back on the street where the restaurant was, where their car would be. Then she could be home and quickly forget all about this.

Laurel decided to risk it. If they didn’t get back onto a populated street soon, something terrible could happen. She tugged on Jacob’s arm and cut the corner into the alley. Her eyes adjusted to the shadows, and to her horror, saw the last thing she’d been hoping for.

A dead end.

It was already too late to turn back now. She and Jacob whirled around, just in time to greet eight or nine men, all huge and wearing shabby work clothes, completely barring their pathway out.

“Well, well, what have we here?” one man said, stepping forward.

“Why would two nice-looking people be in such a rough part of town like this?” Another joined him.

Jacob came in front of Laurel, putting himself between them and her. “I don’t know what you douchebags are thinking, but whatever you want, have it.” He took out his wallet and phone and tossed them on the ground before them.

The first man just looked down disdainfully and stepped on the phone, crushing it.

Laurel knew what they were here for.

Asher had been right.

“Screw the money. We’re here for her.” A new one came forward, pointing at Laurel. “Pure, unmated alpha female. Man, just the scent of you, the rumors are true.”

“I’m not going to let you lay a hand on—” Jacob was interrupted as the first man rushed forward, throwing his arm into Jacob’s midsection with incredible force.

Alpha or not, these were toughened shifter men, and they clearly came from a different lifestyle than the one she knew.

Two others came and pulled Jacob away, holding back his arms, despite his struggling.

Another man came forward, this one wearing a baseball cap and a thick jacket. “If you’re willing to play nice, maybe we can all get along?”

Laurel lunged forward, throwing her leg upward, her shin connecting between the man’s legs. He yelped and collapsed to the ground.

She wasn’t going to go down without a fight.

“Bring it, punks,” she tried to call out, mustering her courage. But her heart was racing at incredible speed.

Four more men came forward and surrounded her. She tried to fight them off as they closed in, hitting one in the nose and another across the cheek, but the fact was she was still only 5’5”, and they were ready for her this time.

Within seconds, two of the men came from the side and grabbed her arms from behind. She did whatever she could to make them slacken their grips, kicking at their knees and pulling away, but no amount of training in the dojo could have prepared her for something like this.

“Enough with the heroics.” It was the deep voice she’d heard earlier. A man stepped from the back of the group, this one the tallest and most intimidating of them all. He stood at least as tall as Asher and was square and muscled, filling out the black coat he wore. “Time for what I want.”

He walked toward her slowly, ominously. He took in a long breath through his nose, savoring what she could only guess was her scent.

“My, my, what are the chances? To think that a full-blooded alpha female, unclaimed and unmated, would show up right here on my doorstep. And a powerful alpha female by the smell of it.” He chuckled, a harsh, unkind sound. “Looks like it’s my lucky day.”

Even in the dim light of the alley, Laurel could see the man’s harsh features, cruel gray eyes looking down at her. Her wolf could sense now what it hadn’t before, that this group of men was a pack.

And he was the alpha.

Shifter men can’t be trusted…

Laurel could hear Asher’s words ringing in her mind. Her skin was cold and clammy, her adrenaline filling her body with the inescapable need to fight or run, but she was powerless to do either.

“Ah, what a beautiful female you are,” the man added. He ran the back of his hand slowly down her cheek, making her skin crawl. She wanted to cry, but it wouldn’t help.

Asher had been right. And now she was going to be taken against her will, right here in some forsaken alley. How could she have been so naive to think she was okay on her own? Even now, she could see all the times Asher had stepped in for her. How many times he’d chased off men she barely knew. Every time, she’d just assumed he was being a jerk, but maybe he knew something she hadn’t. What if he really was protecting her all this time?

I’m sorry, Asher. All your work is going to be for nothing.

Out of nowhere, there was a loud sound that came from the end of the street the alley connected to. A car’s engine roaring at top speed. Everything paused, and the men turned to look behind them, curious.

A black blur zoomed past the ally and was gone in a blink of an eye.

“Probably just some street racer punk.” One of the men chuckled.

His chuckling was interrupted by the noise of brakes clicking and tires screeching loudly across pavement for several prolonged seconds, the sound reverberating off the buildings lining the street. Then it stopped.

The men paused again.

An engine roared back to life as tires scraped pavement in an awful noise, then ceased as they made purchase with the ground, and the car could be heard coming closer once again.

This time, the car came to an abrupt halt right at the mouth of the alley, a classic Mustang in jet black, perfectly polished. Whoever was driving was either a reckless person or in a terrible hurry. Or both.

There was only one person she knew with a classic Mustang…

The door opened, and a familiar figure stepped out, wearing a black leather jacket and fitted jeans, with short dark hair and black eyes peering at the scene taking place in the alleyway.

Asher!

3

Asher walked around the front of the car and stepped onto the sidewalk, not saying a word, just surveying.

“Go away, friend. Nothing to see here,” one of the men at the rear of the group said, walking up to Asher and waving his hands.

Asher responded by driving his fist into the man’s nose, then grabbing him by the back of the neck and throwing a knee quickly into his skull before tossing him onto the pavement, speechless.

The other men said nothing. Just watched, stunned.

The whole thing had transpired in less than a second.

“Who the hell are you?” the alpha said, turning to face Asher.

“I’m here for the lady.” Asher’s voice was cool, confident—unlike any tone she’d heard him use before.

The alpha laughed, a soulless sound that was joined by the other men. “You and what army?”

“The fucking army right in fucking front of you,” Asher growled.

The men laughed again.

Laurel gulped. She was glad Asher was here, but looking around her again, she realized this was suicide. There were still at least eight or nine of them, and all of them looked like they were no stranger to violence.

Asher was unfazed. “This is your last warning. Let her go now and I might decide to only break half the bones in your body,” he threatened, completely serious.

“Well, if those are the terms, get ‘em, boys,” the alpha called out.

The men around him rushed at Asher, and Asher became a whirlwind of punches and kicks. He jabbed the first man that reached him in the face, then used his momentum to throw the man past him and tumbling into the street. The next he kicked straight in the stomach, pushing him backward, just as he spun and threw a perfect uppercut into another behind him.

Laurel was speechless. She’d seen Asher do demonstrations. Had seen him work out for countless hours. Had even seen him spar with his older brothers, who were professional fighters. But this was something else entirely. The speed and strength with which he moved was uncanny, bringing one man down, then another, then another.

One man let go of Laurel to join the fight, and she used her free hand to pop her remaining captor in the eye, then kicked at the man’s knee, bringing him to the ground so she could throw an elbow into his face. Jacob too had joined and was wrestling with one of the thugs on the side, though she couldn’t tell how much headway he was actually making, if any.

But at the center of it all was Asher, deftly moving as if he were always able to anticipate the next strike.

The pack alpha grunted with anger and grabbed a loose pipe lying on the ground near them. With a shout, he ran full speed at Asher, who was in the middle of beating someone’s face to a pulp. Laurel tried to call to Asher to warn him, but it was too late. The pipe came slashing downward with a whoosh, but Asher turned just in time to catch it with his forearm. There was a loud clang as the pipe connected against flesh. But to Laurel’s surprise, Asher stood his ground, holding his one arm against the now-bent metal cylinder.

She was shocked. From the look of it, the force of that impact could have broken a cinderblock in half. Yet Asher had been able to stop it.

“You’ll regret doing that,” Asher said, pushing off from the confused shifter.

“Nobody takes what’s mine,” the alpha snarled.

“You mean nobody takes what’s mine, fucker,” Asher replied. He leapt forward and threw his fist into the man’s face, sending him flying backward into a metal dumpster, which he ricocheted off of and onto the ground in a motionless pile.

Asher stood in the middle of an array of unconscious bodies around him, daring anyone to stand and challenge him. When he was satisfied, he turned to Laurel, his eyes quickly turning from rage and anger to an almost tender worry.

For a moment, everything was silent in the small alley.

“You okay?” Asher asked.

His voice soothed her; it was calm and collected.

So Asher had come for her. In spite of his anger earlier today, in spite of her trying to push him away, he’d still come. Had put his life on the line to protect her, like he always promised he would.

All Laurel could muster in response was a weak nod.

“Good, let’s get you out of here,” Asher said, walking toward her.

In that moment, they were interrupted by a cough from someone to the side. Laurel looked and saw Jacob, who had finally finished beating down the man he was on top of. He got up, brushed himself off, and walked to them.

Laurel guessed there was a hint of alpha in him after all.

But he wasn’t the alpha for her.

“Well, I guess that’s enough fun for one night,” Jacob said with a huff. “You okay getting home?” he asked Laurel and Asher, still catching his breath.

“Yeah, I’ll get her home,” Asher said.

“Good, because I don’t want to spend another second here,” he said, picking up his wallet and walking away in a hurry.

Asher shrugged, then turned to Laurel and reached out his hand to her. Laurel tried to move, but she still felt frozen in place from all that had just happened.

With one swift motion, Asher swept Laurel off her feet and carried her back to his car, opening the front door and placing her in the passenger seat. Asher slid across the hood of the car and jumped into the driver’s side, started the engine, and drove off.

For a minute, they rode in complete silence, only the sound of the car’s gears shifting as they wound through the city’s back roads toward home.

The quiet was interrupted by a cough, and Laurel turned to Asher.

“So what the hell were you two doing in a place like that at this time of night?” Asher was angry now, back to his usual indignant self.

“I…” Laurel was at a loss for words.

“Don’t you know that place is dangerous? There are rogue shifters, dangerous packs, and even worse, mobsters in that part of town,” Asher said, focusing on the road. He was trying to sound calm, but Laurel could see deep stress lines under his eyes. “Do you know how worried you made me when you didn’t come back?”

She had no answer for him. There was no explanation.

“I mean, what kind of alpha male lets a woman get into a situation like that?” he ranted.

Laurel couldn’t hold it back any longer.

She burst into tears.

Shit, that was definitely not what Asher meant to do.

Laurel’s crying started as a quiet whimper, then quickly turned to soft sobs.

“I’m sorry, Asher. I didn’t mean to…” she cried.

“Whoa, it’s okay. I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to make you feel bad,” he said, backpedaling quickly, wishing he could take back what he’d said.

Asher hated it when women cried. He felt like a complete asshole.

Probably because he’d been acting like one just a second ago.

The truth was Asher had been so incredibly worried when she didn’t come back. And his worry only turned to primal fear when he drove to the restaurant Laurel had said they were going to, only to find out Laurel and her date had already left. After that, he’d combed the surrounding streets at breakneck speed, praying he would find her before something happened.

And then he’d seen her, cornered and being threatened by that pack. It almost broke him. Even now, the sight of those shifters holding her, realizing what they were going to do to her, seeing the pure evil in their eyes, was still burned into his mind.

Things had been close tonight. Way too close.

Asher slowly pulled to the side of the road and turned off the car. They were in a sleepy, suburban neighborhood that was all but dead at this time of night, so he wasn’t worried about anything happening.

Asher reached an arm around Laurel, hoping to comfort her. Hoping to ease her pain in any way possible. She hugged him close, nestling into him and holding him tight.

“I was so scared,” she cried, her words muffled in his shoulder.

“It’s okay. You’re safe now. Everything is all right,” Asher tried to say calmly, bringing his other arm around her and stroking her back.

He wanted very badly to go back to that alley and really teach those shifters a lesson they’d never forget. Wanted to tear them limb from limb. But Laurel was his number-one priority right now.

For a few minutes, Asher just held her, listening as her cries slowly subsided and her breathing returned to normal, surrounded only by darkness and silence. The only witnesses were the scattered streetlights lining the road.

It had been a hell of a night for them both, but Asher had no doubt it had been much worse for Laurel than for him.

“Thank you, Asher, for coming for me,” she said between sniffles.

“Always,” he replied softly.

“I’m feeling much better now. Just needed to get that out of my system,” she said, sitting up and looking a million times more relaxed than she had five minutes ago. Like her normal self again.

It was something Asher had always admired about Laurel. Her toughness. Even in the face of terrible things, she could take a lot more than most people would assume from such a sweet, beautiful woman.

“I’m glad you’re feeling better. Sorry again for acting like a dick,” Asher apologized, starting the car and pulling out of the quiet neighborhood.

“No, don’t be. You were just worried. I get it,” Laurel replied. “But there was something you said back there that I wanted to ask you about.”

“Sure, what about?” Asher said.

“What was that you said about me being yours?” she queried.

Asher replayed the words in his mind. Shit, he really had said that, hadn’t he? Damn his lack of filter.

“I mean, you’re under my care. My protection. That’s what I meant,” he stuttered, trying his best to sound convincing.

“Uh-huh. I see.”

Asher could feel Laurel’s eyes boring into him. But she was silent for the rest of the drive home.

When they pulled up to the rear lot of the dojo, it was completely empty. Asher was the only person nowadays that could ever be seen here at this hour.

“You were right, Laurel. About what you said earlier. This is all my fault. I pushed you into this by making you feel like you couldn’t be with anyone,” Asher admitted, finally cognizant of what all his meddling had resulted in. “I’ll find someone who can protect you—someone worthy of you. I promise.”

Laurel didn’t flinch. Instead, she sat up, kneeling on her seat, leaned over to Asher, and kissed him, her lips soft and sweet against his.

Asher was too stunned to react. It was the last response he expected from her.

“Asher Vale, why can’t it be you?” she asked, her dark eyes beautiful in the low light.

Asher turned away. “You’re confused, Laurel. You’re mistaking protection for love.”

“You’re so damn dense sometimes, Asher,” Laurel replied, moving back to her seat and folding her arms.

“I’m just trying to do what’s best,” Asher replied, trying not to think about the feel of her lips against his and what else he’d like to do to her.

“I get it. You get to protect me, watch out for me, whatever, but you’re not interested at all.” She huffed.

“What are you talking about?” Asher asked, confused.

“It’s me. You’re not at all interested in me. I guess I’m not sexy enough or beautiful enough for you, Asher. But don’t worry about me. Pretty soon, you’ll have found the ‘right’ guy, and then you can forget all about me.”

Asher finally got it.

He reached across her, to her surprise, and pulled on the seat release. The chair reclined suddenly, and Laurel landed back against it with a soft thud.

Asher gripped the steering wheel with one hand and with his other, leaned directly over Laurel lying back in the passenger seat.

“Oh, you have no idea what you’re saying,” Asher said, trying to contain himself.

Asher had known Laurel for years. And every year, she got more beautiful and sexier to him. Her luscious curves begged to be touched, to be held by him. Her scent drove him crazy every time he got even the slightest hint of it. Her smile and her personality were the only thing he looked forward to seeing each passing day.

“Yes, I do. You’re not attracted to me. That’s the only explanation,” she said indignantly, but her eyes wandered down to his lips, giving her away.

“I’ll show you just how not attracted to you I really am,” Asher said.

In an instant, he brought his lips down over hers in a forceful, dominating kiss. Every part of him ached for her, and his kiss showed just that, moving against her lips as he brought his free hand behind her head and let his lips enmesh with hers.

She moaned, and the sound made him instantly hard. This time he was the one to open his mouth first to go inside hers, and she obeyed, letting his tongue rove inside her. He licked, he caressed, he moved inside her mouth, exploring and owning her with the kiss, each stroke making her body move and squirm deliciously with pleasure.

The wetness of her mouth made him think of somewhere else that was wet and ached for his attention.

He backed away and looked at Laurel. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes glowing with desire.

“You have no clue how hot you are, Laurel,” Asher said, moving to her ear to place a kiss there. He loved the feel of her soft skin on his lips. Loved how each kiss, each touch, made her gasp lightly as he kissed her ear, her neck.

“Then why don’t you show me, Asher?” she challenged, her voice sultry and breathless.

“My pleasure,” he whispered against her ear as he bit down on it softly, evoking a gasp from Laurel’s lips. His left hand still held the wheel of the car, anchoring him above her, but with his right hand, he pulled back the corner of her blouse, revealing her shoulder and her tantalizing cleavage. He placed rough kisses from her shoulder down to the top of her breasts where her bra began.

Just a taste wouldn’t hurt.

He moved his hand slowly behind her back and under her shirt and undid the strap of her bra, loosening it. Then he slowly lowered the bra down her body, revealing her perfect, soft, delicious breasts. He placed a kiss on the one closest to him, then ran his tongue around the center, teasing it until it came to a hardened tip. Then, filling his hand with it and squeezing softly, he sucked on it, lightly at first, then harder, each second drawing more frenzied gasps and moans from Laurel.

“Damn, Asher, I—”

But she was interrupted as he leaned over, giving the other breast the same treatment. Teasing it and licking with his tongue, then gathering the soft flesh with his hand and sucking on it, over and over again, rewarded with Laurel’s sounds of pleasure.

The car felt at least ten degrees warmer, and Asher bathed in the heady scent that surrounded him. It was wild, flowery, like a mountainside of beautiful and aromatic plants he didn’t know the names of.

He continued kissing her breast, teasing it with his tongue, then gently biting on her nipple. His free hand came back to the first though, massaging it and savoring the feel of it as he ran his finger over it’s erect tip.

Asher couldn’t count how many times he’d dreamed of doing this to her. How much his wolf had howled for her, wanted her. The ecstasy of finally pleasuring her like this was beyond his wildest imagination, though, the reality so much sweeter than fiction.

“I still think you’re missing a spot,” Laurel gasped out before he covered her mouth again with a deep kiss. Asher wanted to kiss her everywhere, kiss her until she could bear no more.

Asher loved how confident she was, how she fought back and stood on her own. The very opposite of a wilting flower.

A true alpha.

His hand went down to the button of her pants and, with a deft motion, flicked the button undone and lowered the zipper. His fingers played with the silky edge of her panties, which made her breath catch with anticipation.

“Asher, don’t stop, please,” she begged.

He felt along the soft curve of her hips as he dipped down to the apex of her thighs, aroused by the feel of her soft skin. Then he brought his hand lower, feeling and caressing her soft folds. She was so warm down there, so wet. He felt down the center until he found her clit, begging for his attention.

Asher intended to give it.

He moved his finger slowly along it, testing her sensitivity. With one stroke, Laurel gasped and grabbed onto him, eyes wide, breathing hoarse.

Asher grinned. Better than he could have hoped.

He didn’t waste a second, moving into a slow rhythm as he teased and stroked the soft nub, listening to Laurel’s ragged breathing grow more and more intense. As he did that, he returned to kissing her breast.

In an instant, Laurel’s thighs tensed and her breathing stopped, then released as she screamed his name in the car, coming apart in his arms. Asher smiled as she dug her nails into his back, going with incredible force. The experience was euphoric, rapturous.

It was the closest Asher had ever been to heaven.

Laurel’s breathing slowed gradually, and she held him tightly. The back lot of the dojo was usually empty, but at two o’clock in the morning, nobody would be anywhere nearby to hear or see Laurel go. Which is exactly the way Asher wanted it.

He couldn’t help but bring his hand back down to her thighs again, wanting to see her come again and again. Her eyes stared at him with shock as he rubbed against her clit again, this time with slow, agonizingly long strokes, running the entire length of his finger across it.

As Laurel moaned, Asher kissed up her neck to her ear, more roughly this time, enjoying the response each touch extracted from her lips.

When she was about to come, Asher stopped, hoping to draw this one out, making the pleasure sweeter.

“What are you…?” Laurel asked but stopped when Asher raised an eyebrow at her.

He brought his hand even lower, to her entrance, and felt the sweet, slick wetness there. Felt just how aroused she was by him. He was painfully hard from the sound and feel and smell of her all around him.

Sex with this woman would be amazing.

He went inside with one finger, feeling how tight she was, then with two fingers. Laurel’s eyes rolled back in pleasure as she pushed her hips into his hand, loving the feel of it.

After one or two more strokes, he moved his hand back up to her clit, eager to finish her off. By now, everything Asher did made her tense. She was so sensitive. He slowly stroked, then moved faster and faster, and her back arched and her hips rocked to move against his touch. The motion of her body was fantastic, the sight of her luscious curves moving in time with him utterly beautiful.

Asher stroked one last time, and Laurel came again, even more strongly, tensing and releasing with great force in his arms, moaning with reckless abandon, and clenching against him. It was perfection. Even as her body slowly relaxed, he could feel aftershocks of pleasure course through her that made her shudder with release.

Asher wanted to keep going. Wanted to take her all the way. But this would have to do for now.

For now?

Suddenly, Asher finally came to his senses. What the fuck was he doing? Why had he lost control like this?

Being with Laurel like this was so hot. So erotic. So perfect.

And so against everything he was supposed to be doing.

How could he have let things go this far?

“I, uh… Let’s get you inside. What do you say?” Asher said awkwardly, hoping not to ruin her afterglow, but needing space for both of them right now. If he stayed here with her much longer…

Laurel looked surprised but nodded, and he helped by rehooking her bra while she did her pants and fixed her blouse before they went outside. He instantly missed the sight of her bared to him, in spite of his deep regrets.

They left the car and were greeted by a chilly breeze. Asher took off his leather jacket and put it around her, not wanting her to get cold.

Asher walked Laurel up to the entrance to the Vale clan home behind the dojo, which was connected by a private driveway. These days it was mostly empty, just Asher and Laurel living there since Asher’s parents had moved south to warmer climates (hoping to improve his father’s health) and his two brothers were now mated and living in their own homes.

Asher unlocked the door and led Laurel in, who was still speechless.

“Asher, that was…” She trailed off.

“Good night, Laurel. See you tomorrow,” he said, trying to hide the overwhelming guilt he felt.

“Good night, Asher,” she replied, looking a little more uncertain now. “Aren’t you coming inside?”

“Not tonight.” He couldn’t risk being around her any longer. Couldn’t risk doing something irreversible to the woman that had been put under his care, under his protection.

Waving to her, he closed the door, locked it behind him, and walked back to his car, reclining the chair and trying to settle in for the night.

Asher had come too close to screwing up. Too close to ruining everything for the both of them.

Never again, he thought.

No matter how badly either of them wanted it.

4

Laurel couldn’t tell if her dreams were coming true or her nightmares were just beginning.

Last night, Asher had been the hero of her dreams, and when she’d finally confronted him about the fears that were plaguing her, that she wasn’t beautiful enough for him, that he just didn’t see her that way, he’d set her straight in the most delicious possible way.

She could still remember his hands, his scent, the safety of being held in his arms. The relief she’d felt when he’d come for her.

But she hadn’t expected him to look so upset right after they’d finished. To look as if he were trying to distance himself from her immediately. As if what they’d done hadn’t happened or was a mistake.

But maybe he’d just needed time to process things. She hoped that was the case.

Whichever, she wanted to head into the dojo early today. After last night, she was determined to work even harder on her strength. She was a good teacher, knew how to show anyone to do anything. But she wasn’t at the level of taking on multiple larger opponents, and she knew training harder wouldn’t hurt.

But also, she wanted to talk to Asher before classes. See if she could get any clarification on what had happened between them. Had it felt as right for him as it had for her?

If they were attracted to each other, and good friends—as they always had been, even if they argued—then why couldn’t they just try being together? Why did he seem so intent on denying they’d be good together?

Her hands shook slightly as she packed her bag and headed out. She was wearing yoga pants and a tight tank and had her work gi for teaching in her bag. Her curls were pulled into a tight bun to stay out of the way. She was curvy like her sister Lily, but she was in great shape and her weight didn’t change regardless. Then again, she’d heard alpha females were usually curvaceous, because curves attracted alpha males.

And last night, she’d definitely seen fire in Asher’s eyes as he’d looked them over and touched them.

Her body heated again and she took a deep breath and let it out as she went out the front door and over to her car.

When she reached the dojo, she saw Asher’s Mustang out front. Of course he would be there before anyone else.

She got her stuff out and saw him pop his dark head above the desk to see who was coming. Then he darted out of sight again.

She sighed and a small lump formed in her stomach. It looked like this wasn’t going to be easy. Then again, with Asher, nothing ever was.

She pushed open the door and the bell dinged.

Asher looked up from his work. He was seated behind the desk, disorganized piles of paperwork spread out in front of him. His short, dark hair looked ruffled, like he’d been running his fingers through it. There were slight circles under his gorgeous dark eyes, like he hadn’t slept well.

She bit her lip and hesitated at the entrance.

He looked up and pinned her with a thoughtful glare.

“Good morning, Asher,” she said.

He let out a breath of relief at her words. “Good morning, Laurel. I trust you slept well?”

She nodded, the lump in her stomach moving up to lodge in her throat. He was being so formal. Definitely trying to stay distant. “You?”

He nodded and then shook his head. “No.” He planted his hands on the desk in front of him, wrinkling the papers, and then stood up. “Something’s been bothering me. Last night, we shouldn’t have—”

She put up a hand, warding off any unwelcome words of apology. “No, Asher Vale,” she said. “You are not going to apologize for something I wanted with all of my heart. It’s always been you, Asher. Always. Ever since I was a scrawny girl of seventeen. Always.”

“Always what?” he asked. “Always had a crush?” He paced some more. “Laurel, you can choose anyone in the shifter world. There are many alphas ranked above me, and I’ve been wrong trying to keep everyone away from you. Even if I’m just trying to keep my pack promise to protect you.”

“Were you protecting me last night when we… did what we did?”

“I was protecting you from the thought that I wasn’t attracted to you. Of course I’m attracted. Any shifter in our world would fight to have you. It’s part of why I worry about you so much. But it’s also why I feel like a failure for giving in last night. I’m just supposed to protect you until you find someone from your world. Someone worthy of you who will keep you safe. I promised I would.”

That thought seemed less than pleasant to him, but she saw him shake it off and keep pacing. He wanted her. She knew he did. She just didn’t understand why he didn’t think that was okay.

“Asher, I…”

“What happened last night can’t happen again,” he said. “I want you. I do. But it just can’t happen. I made a promise, and if I break it, I’ll lose myself.” He shook his head, more violently this time. “But I’m going to help you. I’m going to get in touch with friends about eligible alpha males and try to vet them for you.”

“I don’t need to be controlled, Asher. I had enough of that before.”

He slumped in his chair and gestured for her to come over and join him. She did, taking a chair a few feet away.

“Maybe you know when I was younger, really young, though I always looked older for my age, I participated in an alpha challenge.”

“A what?”

He ran a hand through his hair again. “It’s an event where alpha males are invited to compete for an alpha female. Not physically, nothing like what they did with your sister, which was barbaric, but more like a chance for the alphas to get to know and impress the alpha female. Anyway, I was there, and I saw how dangerous it turned out. On the other hand, the female, Misty, found a great mate. Perhaps I just need to do something like that. Search for eligible males and invite them here.”

“At one time?” she asked doubtfully. This was sounding weird, but at the same time, she didn’t want to go out on more unsafe dates.

“No,” he said. “Just one at a time. I know you should be the one to choose, but going around to different alphas isn’t really a good idea for you. As you saw the other night. Most aren’t that barbaric, but there’s a little animal in all of us.” His dark eyes gleamed up at her. There was an animal in him, but she loved it.

But she was realizing, regardless of his reasons, he would never come to see it. And in that case, it was best to start looking at other options. The sooner she found someone, the sooner she could start trying to forget about Asher.

As if she ever could.

“So you say he has to be good enough. What qualifications do you mean?” she asked skeptically.

He pushed a piece of paper toward her. There were messily scrawled notes on them, but he read them off to her. “Good with money. Prestigious family and good character. Known for kindness with pack and family. Strong. Full alpha.”

She pushed it back to him. “Don’t you fit all of these, too?” she asked. She looked up at him shyly. “Especially strong.”

He coughed. “Not prestigious. Not compared to some. Not half as rich as some either.”

“I don’t need money,” she said stubbornly.

“Damn it, what do you want, then?” he asked, throwing up his hands in disgust.

“I think you saw it last night, and I keep trying to tell you this, Asher Vale. I want you.”

He sighed. “That’s just not going to happen. Despite my stupid actions last night, despite me wanting you, that just can’t happen.”

“Why not?” she asked.

He pursed his full lips in a tight line. “Because I can’t break my pack promise. I’d lose all respect for myself if I did.”

Her face tightened. She didn’t know what to say to that. A few moments went by in silence.

“So if the right guy walked in, with everything on that list, and I was good with him, you’d let me go?” she asked hesitantly.

He nodded, eyes looking slightly haunted. “I would have no choice.”

“But you would want that?”

He nodded again. “I want you to be happy. It’s been my goal for four years. To see you happy.”

She nodded. “Because I think the solution to your problem might be about to walk in the door.”

Asher whipped around in that direction and she heard a sharp intake of air. “Damn, we aren’t even open yet. Do you know him?”

She studied the tall, muscled, well-dressed blond walking to the door and looking at the hours. Then he looked over at her. She’d know that handsome face anywhere, even if she hadn’t seen him in years. Even if he was part of her past life, a life she had no intention of returning to.

“Dane,” she said, so caught up in watching that she didn’t see the intense glare on Asher’s face.

The man at the door was grade-A douchebag. Asher just had no way of proving it.

He was tall, maybe even an inch or so taller than Asher, though not as broad through the chest and shoulders. His perfect blond hair was swept to the side in a part. He wore clothing that looked like he’d stepped out of a catalogue of how to look like an expensive douchebag.

His bearing was that of an alpha male. A high-class alpha male. The type that rubbed elbows with the tribunal, the ruling class of wolves, or really rich wolves like Laurel’s father.

Not someone who’d worked his way up from the bottom, like Asher’s family had.

Laurel’s father had been blessed with two alpha daughters, but instead of treasuring them, he’d controlled their lives in an effort to use their status to better his own.

The thought made Asher sick. He thought the whole alpha system was bullshit sometimes. His older brothers were looked down on because they were half-blood, but they were some of the toughest badasses he knew.

After the alpha challenge Asher had gone to, he’d come home and determined to work hard and take care of the dojo. He’d never planned on trying to mate another alpha female. As long as he found the right mate, it didn’t matter what her blood was. And alpha females were too much trouble anyway.

Then one had been dropped right in his care. And she’d been trouble all right. But he’d grown as a man in his responsibility to protect her. She’d changed his life for the better, helped him build the dojo.

It’d be a poor way of paying her back, taking advantage of her feelings to mate her and giving her a life with a low-ranking alpha like him.

He’d promised to protect her like the treasure she was, not take the treasure for himself.

He knew she thought she had feelings for him. But it was puppy love, like how she’d debated whether he or his brother Jordan was hotter when she first moved in at seventeen.

After everyone else had moved on, he’d been the only option. She hadn’t been around many males. Especially high-caliber ones. And Asher had done a poor job of helping her find them, rather than just chasing off the low-grade ones she said yes to.

Maybe a part of him had been trying to keep her to himself.

But he had no choice now. Last night had made that abundantly clear. Laurel was a beautiful woman who was ready to take the next step in her life, and she needed a partner and protector who was at her level. Someone like she would’ve had if she’d stayed in her world. Someone rich, strong, with good connections.

She deserved better than a life in a dirty old dojo, teaching shifters how to fight. She deserved the best the shifter world had to offer. Unlike him, she could reach for it.

She deserved something like the blond douche waving merrily at them from behind the glass.

“Should I let him in?” she asked.

“Who is he?” Asher said.

“A childhood friend,” she said vaguely.

Was that wistfulness in her voice? The thought made jealousy rage inside him, but as usual, he forced it down. He didn’t deserve her and he would stay out of the way until she found someone who did.

“Sure, let him in.” He shuffled his papers and tucked his notes on possible suitors out of sight. “Maybe he’s the answer to all our problems.”

She frowned thoughtfully. “Maybe.”

A little flame of hope leapt in Asher. Maybe she didn’t want the douche.

But as she nearly skipped to the door to open it, Asher thought maybe she could actually like the dude.

He didn’t like that at all.

Despite the fact that it was everything he’d told himself he should want for her, despite all the years saying when someone worthy came along, he’d be able to step back, the sight of this man made him want to step forward and claim her for his own. More than ever before.

He sank his face into his hands and sighed. Damn, life was confusing.

When Laurel opened the door, the douche walked forward and pulled her into a hug. Her laughter as he swung her in an arc, lifting her off the ground, grated on Asher’s nerves.

She should be in his arms. She should be his mate. She should…

Damn, damn, damn! Damn that pack promise to his brother and damn himself for falling for someone he couldn’t have.

Now that he’d touched her, scented her (and he knew he was a bastard for doing it, but after rescuing her, his wolf had been close to the surface), he was surer than ever.

She was his. And when he fulfilled his duty and gave her the life she deserved with another man, there would be a hole in his heart that would never be filled.

He’d just have to try to forget.

He cleared his throat, and they turned his direction. The douche set her down, and she smoothed her clothing. The man sent Asher a bright, flashing smile that only made him angrier.

He would not like him. He would not.

“You must be Asher Vale,” he said, walking straight over and sticking his hand out for Asher to shake it. It was lightly tanned, with no callouses to be seen. Asher just glared at it as he stood and walked around the desk.

The man was just pulling his hand back when Asher reached out and took it, squeezing it hard, maybe a bit more than necessary if truth be told. “Seems like you know our Laurel,” Asher said, sizing the man up with his eyes.

The man had light-blue eyes, calm and placid like a summer sky. But there was something about him…

Asher didn’t think it was just his jealousy, but he couldn’t be sure…

“That I do,” the man said, looking down at his hand, which Asher wasn’t releasing. Finally, Asher let go. The man walked back and put an arm around Laurel’s shoulders, and Asher immediately regretted it. “Me and her go way back.”

Another chill of anger ran up Asher’s spine, but he stifled it. This was what he wanted. He had no right to be upset just because the perfect man walked right in rather than waiting for Asher to find him. Laurel was a grown woman, and if this was what she wanted, he would be happy for her.

Somehow.

He resisted the urge to tighten his hands into fists and crack every knuckle and, instead, cleared his throat and straightened to his full height. Damn, slightly shorter than the douche. If only he had his brother’s height. Still, he was stronger than any of them. That had to count for something. He looked at Laurel, who was still gazing at the man beside her with a dumbfounded grin.

“Laurel, are you going to introduce me?” he asked, folding his arms and letting his muscles flex in a way he hoped the newcomer found intimidating.

“Oh, right. This is Dane Chesterton. We grew up near one another. Childhood friends, I guess you could say.”

“Right, and this girl hasn’t changed at all,” he said, circling her. “Well, except for becoming more beautiful than anyone could have even hoped.”

She giggled and swatted his arm, and Asher stared aghast. Was this the same girl who verbally (and sometimes physically) sparred with him? She’d never giggled like that for him. Usually, she was telling him off.

Asher walked up and stepped between her and the man, realizing what was putting him off, probably. “Are you sure you weren’t sent by her father? If you grew up with her, you had to know him.”

“A monster,” Dane said coldly. “I’d knock him out if I saw him.” He turned to Laurel. “I’m sorry. If I’d known, I’d have taken you away myself.”

“Like hell,” Asher muttered. It had taken him and his two brothers (all professional-level fighters) to get through the complex guard system Laurel’s father had installed. He doubted anyone else could have done it, fancy pants alpha or not.

He’d been working all his life to be a good alpha, to take his responsibilities seriously and lead his family and take care of the dojo. And men like this, who just seemed born into their respect, bugged him.

“I’m glad he didn’t send you,” Laurel said. But Asher wasn’t sure he believed him.

“Why now?” he asked suspiciously. “Laurel’s been gone for years. If you two were such good friends, what are you doing here now?”

Dane hadn’t been the one protecting her. Dane hadn’t been the one teaching her, watching out for her. Trying to resist her.

Dane shrugged. “It took a long time to find you. I found out through the grapevine, though, and here I am. I just wanted to see you were okay, and now I see you are. So I’m glad.” He looked at his watch. “You want to get lunch today? Catch up?”

Asher let out a growl, still not trusting the man, but Laurel gave him a glare and stepped forward.

“Of course,” she said, putting her hand in Dane’s. “It’s good to see you. I want to hear about your family as well.”

“How do we know you don’t have bad intentions?” Asher asked.

Dane’s eyes widened slightly, and he appraised Asher again, this time more intently. His smooth features hid any emotion that might be festering under the surface.

Asher couldn’t tell if he wanted this man to be as good as he appeared or if he wanted him to be a complete sham.

Once again, he was at odds with his feelings.

“You could come with,” Dane said. “You’re a little grumpy, but I don’t mind. I don’t blame you for being protective. If I had a treasure like Laurel, I’d be the same.” He eyed her with genuine affection shining in his eyes, and Asher took a small step back.

Laurel looked happy, Dane looked happy, and maybe this was the answer to everything.

He shook his head. “No, you two go ahead.” He looked at his watch. “Come back at twelve. We have a break from classes then.”

Laurel eyed him, surprised. “You sure? I’m supposed to clean up.”

Asher nodded. After he’d led her on and confused her last night, it was the least he could do. “I’m sure.”

She said good-bye to Dane and they hugged. Dane made Laurel look small, and that didn’t sit well with Asher either. But he had to admit they looked good together. They were both classy, unlike him.

He should be happy. Finally, someone from her own circle to sweep her off her feet and out of his life.

Still, when Dane showed up a few hours later to take Laurel out, Asher wasn’t satisfied.

It was one thing to behave when Asher was there. It was another to behave when he wasn’t. Maybe it was time for a little friendly stalking. Just one more time.

5

Laurel looked across the table at Dane. She was surprised at how handsome he’d become over the years. When she’d last seen him, he was just an awkward teenager trying to live up to his parents’ expectations, much like she was. But here in front of her was a tall, handsome man.

She still couldn’t believe it was really Dane. Aside from her sister Lily, he was one of the only good memories from Laurel’s past.

The restaurant he’d taken her to was expensive. Really expensive. It was the kind of luxury she hadn’t had since she’d be rescued from her father’s world, and she didn’t miss it.

“What are you thinking for lunch? Filet? Salmon?” Dane asked, handing her a menu and perusing his own.

“Something light. The halibut sounds good,” Laurel said after a quick look at the menu. She handed it to the waiter, who disappeared after Dane gave his order.

“So. Laurel, Laurel, Laurel,” he said, shaking his head and appraising her again. “How have you been? What have you been up to in the years you’ve been gone from my life?” he asked with a charming smile.

“Not much, I guess. Hanging around my sister and her kids. Learning and teaching at the dojo. Taking some online classes,” she said, feeling self-conscious that all of this sounded terribly uninteresting.

None of it had been uninteresting when Asher was around.

“Intriguing,” Dane replied in a tone that Laurel couldn’t quite read.

Laurel couldn’t help but suspect there could still be some connection between Dane and her father. But it was probably just fear of anything that reminded her of that time period in her life. Dane had been trustworthy in the past, and he’d said himself that he had found her on his own.

“And what about yourself? Still trying to live up to your dad’s expectations?” Laurel asked, taking a sip of water and hoping to redirect.

Dane laughed. “Ah, yes, good ol’ pops. Still half the man he wishes I was. What else can a kid hope for?”

Laurel knew the feeling. “And your father’s company?” she asked, trying to keep the conversation from wandering back to her.

“Ah, doing well. I’m now officially a VP, though everyone knows I’m basically poised to run the show there,” he replied coolly. Though something in what he said sounded off, Laurel wasn’t going to point it out.

While Dane continued a short description of what he did day-to-day and how successful things were, Laurel couldn’t help but note a small blur of motion out the window behind Dane. They were seated in a corner of the restaurant, and Laurel had a perfect view of the street from where she sat.

Probably just her eyes messing with her.

But a few seconds later, she saw a bush across the street rattle a little and then the same dark blur pass from one bush to the one next to it.

It couldn’t be, could it?

“Is everything all right, Laurel?”

Laurel’s attention snapped back to Dane, and she realized she hadn’t been listening to a single word.

“Oh, all right? Yes, yes, I’m fine,” she said quickly, collecting her thoughts.

“You sure?” he asked, confused.

“Yes, just ready for lunch,” she replied.

But as the waiter brought their food and they started to eat, Laurel’s gaze narrowed in on the motionless bushes. As she focused, she thought she could see dark eyes peering at her and Dane through the thick leaves.

It was Asher. It had to be.

Damn him.

Laurel knew something wasn’t right when Asher had said she could go out to lunch with Dane, no questions asked. Even when he’d played it off and acted cool, something still told her he wasn’t as chill with things as he pretended to be.

The thought that Asher was jealous excited her a bit. Not because she was intentionally playing hard to get. But because the frustrating alpha couldn’t seem to make up his mind.

Maybe spending some time with Dane would help clear her head and give Asher the chance to figure out what he really wanted.

“Is there something behind me? You keep looking outside,” Dane said, turning over each shoulder and looking back at the empty street.

“Oh, just a car that was parked on the curb until a second ago. It kind of looked like yours, but it left,” she lied.

Dane chuckled, then ate a piece of steak. “I highly doubt it. Mine’s a limited edition series with a custom paint job. It was probably just a cheaper model with the same base coat,” he gloated.

Laurel forgot that Dane tended to get uppity about things she didn’t really care about, like how expensive his suit or shoes were or how perfect his hair had to be. But he had come from money, so she guessed it made sense.

At least it was better than being frustratingly undecided about something…

And who knew? If she just had some time away from Asher, maybe she’d find out Dane was the one for her eventually anyway, and both her and Asher’s problem would be solved.

“How was the food?” Dane asked, noticing they were both finished now.

“It was delicious. Thank you,” Laurel said. Though, if she were honest with herself, she much preferred the kinds of places Asher had shown her over the years. Delicious local places with unique flavors.

They stood to leave, and Laurel noticed the tip was a little low, so she quickly pulled a twenty out of her purse and laid it on the table while Dane wasn’t watching. Probably just a miscalculation on his part. She looked back at the bushes one more time, which were still motionless but oddly alive at the same time.

They went outside, and the spring air was cool and nice. The street was quiet, clearly a part of town that catered to a more upper-class sort of element. And it being barely one o’clock on a weekday, she imagined people had somewhere more important to be.

“So would you like to go somewhere next?” Laurel asked.

“I’m not sure. I should probably get back to work,” Dane said tentatively, as if he were waiting for something.

“Yeah, I should probably get back to the dojo too.” So I can give Asher a piece of my mind.

Only a few seconds later, a black van came roaring down the street—windowless, old, and creepy looking.

And it stopped on the sidewalk right next to them.

The sliding door swung open, and a large man wearing a black mask jumped out, brandishing a large knife and pointing it directly at them.

“Both of you, stop right there!” the man yelled. “I’ll need your phone, your wallet, and you,” he said, pointing at Laurel. “You need to come with me.”

The van was empty, except for a driver in the front seat looking at them, also wearing a mask to avoid identification.

By the time he’d finished talking, Laurel had picked up on the scent. These men were shifters.

What was it with shifter men attacking her like this? This had never happened before, yet all of a sudden, it seemed like the entire shifter world was after her!

“Whoa, be careful there. You don’t want to do something you’ll regret,” Dane said, looking at the attacker and then to Laurel and then back.

The fact that a knife was involved upped the stakes substantially. For shifters, knives were more dangerous than guns, since rapid shifter healing was much more effective against smaller bullet wounds than the sort of things a knife could do to you.

The man hesitated, also looking at Laurel, then back to Dane. “She’s coming with us. I don’t care what you say. Don’t try to stop me. I need the money.”

His lines were bad, like something from a poorly rehearsed homemade play. But it didn’t change the fact that the man had a six-inch blade and Laurel and Dane were armed with nothing but light coats.

Dane watched the man, as if deciding something. Then with a quick motion, he came forward and pulled the thug off the ground, lifting him into the air by the coat. The man went bug-eyed in shock, and he dropped his knife, which landed on the ground with several clinks.

“You’re not welcome here, punk,” Dane growled, then threw the man backward some ten or fifteen feet through the air like a rag doll, where he hit the ground and rolled several times along the concrete.

Laurel would have thought it ludicrous if it didn’t happen right before her very eyes.

The man wobbled to his feet, shaken and probably injured, turned, and ran at top speed. At the same time, the black van drove off and pulled up next to the now-fleeing criminal, who jumped inside and closed the door. The van peeled around a corner and drove off as if participating in the Indy 500.

“How the…?” Laurel said to Dane, a little stunned at the display she’d just witnessed.

“Alpha strength. It comes in handy in situations like this,” Dane said with a wink, brushing off his hands.

So Dane had alpha strength? It was rare enough to meet shifters who were full-blooded alpha and rarer still to see their alpha power in action, if they even had one.

To Laurel’s knowledge, Asher didn’t have one, even though he was full-blooded.

“Are you all right?” Dane asked, coming up to Laurel and looking her over.

It had been scary, but only for a moment. Nothing like last night. But some of the things the man had said left lingering questions in Laurel’s mind.

“What did he mean, ‘I need the money?’” Laurel asked Dane, who was now picking up the knife with a handkerchief and tossing it into a wastebasket.

Dane coughed. “Just my money. He could obviously tell I’m loaded by the suit and car. Probably thought I had a big wad of cash in my back pocket or something.”

“Then what did he want me for if all he needed was money?” Laurel continued, trying to make sense of everything. It had all seemed too planned to be a random street mugging. Then again, Laurel knew she was probably just paranoid after what had happened the other night when Asher had to save her.

Dane paused awkwardly for a moment. “Uh, probably because he’s a coward who was going to use you for ransom or something. I don’t know how criminals like that think,” he said with a scoff, though it sounded unconvincing. “No more questions though. We should get going,” he said, directing Laurel to his car.

Laurel nodded. “Whatever the reason, I’m just glad you were here,” she said gratefully, putting a hand on Dane’s shoulder.

“Anything for you, Laurel. Just like old times, right?” he said, flashing his perfect grin. He started the car, and they started off in the direction of the dojo.

In that moment, Laurel remembered that Asher had been following her and Dane. Had he seen everything that had just happened? She turned over her shoulder just in time to see a tall, dark-haired man slowly walking away from them, hands in his pockets. Before she could get a good look, Dane made a turn at the light, and the man was gone from her view.

Maybe it hadn’t been Asher after all.

As Asher walked back to his car, his head was spinning.

Just a moment ago, a black van had driven up and a man had threatened Laurel’s life. But just as Asher was moving to run across the street and disarm the son of a bitch, Dane had to go make a move, practically throwing the guy sky high.

Alpha strength. One of the marks of a pureblooded alpha male.

The last person Asher had known with that kind of strength had been a high-class, pureblood alpha as well. Like Dane, he was the kind of guy girls wanted to take home to Papa. The kind of guy who could sweep a woman off her feet. The kind of guy that could offer the whole world to a woman on a silver platter.

The kind of guy who gets the girl, Asher thought to himself as he rounded the block.

Asher knew he could probably still tear the grinning, clean-cut Dane a new one if he wanted to. But what was the point? Laurel clearly liked him. Especially at the end, when she’d put her hand on Dane, there was obviously much more there than even Asher could have guessed.

Not only was she attracted to Dane, but they had history as well. Much more than Asher and Laurel ever could have, with only a few years together. And the guy came from a great family apparently. Nice enough to go to fancy-schmancy places like this for lunch.

But above all else, Dane had shown he could protect Laurel. If someone else could do that, then what else was Asher needed for? She could go run off with Dane, mate him, have kids, have a family. All like something out of a storybook. And Asher’s promise would be fulfilled. He would be done.

The thought didn’t put him at ease though. It put him on edge.

He was angry about a lot of things. Angry that he felt trapped by his pack promise not to take her for himself and to only protect her until she found a suitable mate. Angry that Dane had come along. Angry that no matter how hard he worked and built and did everything in his power to raise his pack status, they would never be the high-class kind of clan that Dane and Laurel came from.

In that sense, they were perfect for each other. But that fact did little to quell Asher’s wolf howling in disapproval at his resignation.

Sometimes you can’t realize just how much you want something until it’s ripped out of your hands.

Asher got back to dojo before Laurel.

He went back to his desk and scanned through the work ahead of him. Laurel had asked him once why he was always busy. The fact was, only a small portion of the paperwork was directly related to running the dojo. The rest had to do with financial matters relating to the pack’s properties and holdings, and a lot of financial reports tracking the many investments Asher had made with the dojo’s success.

Asher may not have been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but he sure as hell could afford to put one there now if he wanted to.

Just in that moment, Laurel walked in, looking beautiful as ever. Now she was in workout gear, mouth-wateringly tight yoga pants and a tank that showed off her curves. She came to his desk and looked down at him, quietly and accusingly.

“How’d the date go?” Asher said disinterestedly.

“You should know. You were at it,” she said, her eyes narrowed, reading his expression.

“Yes, yes, I was,” Asher replied. No point in hiding it now. No point in beating around the proverbial bush.

For a moment, Laurel was surprised at his response. Probably because she hadn’t expected him to come straight out with it. “Well, why?” she asked.

“Because I had to know,” Asher said.

“Had to know what?” Laurel asked.

“Know that Dane was a good guy. That you were safe with him. And now that I know, I don’t need to follow you around,” he said, nonplussed.

“You say it like it’s a good thing. So why don’t you sound happy about it?” Laurel said, putting her hands on her hips. Asher looked up, and her curves went on for days. Curves that no matter how long he was away from her, he would still long to touch.

“I am happy, even if Dane is a fancy-pants bitch,” Asher replied, unable to veil his bitterness.

Dane was all privilege and no effort. All style and no substance.

“Well, he protected me, didn’t he?” Laurel said, almost as if calling Asher out on his bullshit.

“Yeah, he did,” he replied blankly, not taking the bait. “And now you see that anyone can do it and you can stop pretending you’re in love with me,” he said, turning it back on Laurel.

Laurel just glared at him for a moment, one eyebrow raised. “That’s your problem, Asher,” she said.

Asher rotated on his swivel chair to face her directly. “And how is it my problem?”

“You don’t think anyone can love you. Whether they actually love you or not. Asshole,” Laurel said, putting both hands on the desk in front of him and staring him down.

Asher just stared back. The alpha in him responded to her alpha, but the man in him was too broken to put up a fight.

“So someone else can protect me. Big deal. What are you going to do about it?” she said. Her eyes flashed fire. Asher loved it when she got passionate about something. He’d always encouraged it in her. Had tried to feed it. Anger was always better than helplessness, he’d told her, back when she was reclaiming her independence.

Asher wanted to fight. But he wasn’t going to stand in the way of her being with the ideal man for her.

Stupid Dane.

“Nothing. It’s not my job anymore,” he said, turning back to the computer.

With one swift motion, Laurel swept her hand across the desk, sending papers flying everywhere.

“What the hell, Laurel!” Asher exclaimed.

She didn’t respond but instead walked around the desk intently, moving quickly.

“What are you doi—” Asher responded.

But before he could finish, Laurel reached down and pushed him over, sending the chair and him toppling to the ground.

6

Asher looked up at her, shock plain in his sparkling black eyes, and Laurel felt a tinge of remorse. For about a second. Then anger fired in his eyes and she fired right back.

“I don’t like this side of you, Asher,” she said, towering over him where he lay on the floor. “I’ve seen you bratty. I’ve seen you rude and arrogant and hard to deal with. And stubborn. I’ve seen you cold or tired or fed up with people. But I haven’t seen you broken like this. And I don’t like it!”

She felt tears sting the corners of her eyes and swiped at them furiously. Damn, she hated that she tended to cry when she was frustrated. She balled her hands into fists, gave him a last glare, and then stormed away from him, out around the desk. She heard him scramble to his feet, following her. She ignored him until they passed the main mat, and he caught her by the arm.

His steely grip sent warm shivers through her skin. She turned to look up at him. Even angry and sort of broken, he was the handsomest man she’d ever seen. Those coal-dark eyes glistening like black diamonds, those long, fringed lashes. Those intensely curved lips. A straight nose and jaw that seemed carved from sheer stone. Those aristocratic but dark features that made him look like an avenging angel.

She knew he thought she only cared because he’d been protecting her all these years.

But that wasn’t it. That was why she’d been putting up with his protectiveness all these years. She didn’t know why; she just knew even as an impetuous teen who joked about all the Vale brothers being hot, there’d been something between her and Asher from the start.

It had started as fighting when she’d been young and Asher had been immature. Bickering and arguing while their older siblings were too caught up in their romance to pay any attention.

Then Asher’s family had dumped him with the dojo and Laurel had become his confidant. His partner. Friendship had slowly grown to something else. She wasn’t sure what.

She just knew that as much as she’d thought she was unhappy with Asher’s shenanigans breaking up her dates, she was much more unhappy now that he looked like he’d given up.

“Laurel,” he said, eyes still holding that soul-deep sadness even as his mouth was set in firm resolve. “He’s a good man. He can give you things I never can.”

That was it.

Using everything Asher had taught her over the years, she yanked him forward and then swept his leg, taking him down. The huge alpha fell with an “ooph” onto his back and was rolling to recover when she hopped on top of him. He arched his hips to throw her off, but she was ready and anticipated it. She adjusted her weight squarely over him and planted her hands on either side of his head.

She saw hesitation in his dark eyes, like he knew he could throw her but didn’t want to use full strength on her.

Which was good. Asher was a gentleman and she didn’t mind taking advantage of it at this moment.

He stared at her in bewilderment as she brushed back a lock of his hair that was sticking to his forehead. Sometimes, like now, he still looked boyish. His outbursts didn’t help.

But lately he’d been looking more and more mature. She’d literally watched him grow up alongside her. In a way, it had always been just the two of them. Before him, she hadn’t had a life. When she came to live with him, she had choices, agency for the first time. It had been like waking up.

So it didn’t matter that Dane was part of that old life, and she didn’t know how to make Asher see it.

“Don’t do this,” he said, glaring up at her. “You’re going to leave anyway, so don’t do this.”

She grabbed him by the collar and jerked him up to face her. “If I leave, it’ll be because you drove me away, no matter how much I wanted to stay. Is that what you want, Asher? Is that what you want?”

His eyes flashed. “It doesn’t matter what I want! Taking care of you is the only honorable thing I’ve done in my whole life. The only thing that mattered. Now that I don’t have to do that, you can just—”

She covered his lips with hers, cutting him off. She pressed him back against the mat and felt his large body struggle slightly under her for a moment. Then his arms wrapped around her, holding her close. He was so unbelievably strong and warm, and being held by him felt so right.

His lips fit perfectly against hers, and when she opened her mouth to slip in her tongue, his tongue stroked hers, heating desire deep within her.

Nothing felt as right as this. She just didn’t know how to help Asher get over whatever blocks were in the way of him pursuing her.

She could tell he cared for her by the way his hands held her, the way his lips plundered her, the way his body was tightly coiled beneath her, like he was holding everything back.

How could someone so blunt be such a mystery?

He deepened the kiss and she felt a hand move down to her breast, lightly squeezing. It made her think of the other night, and she gasped. Damn, she wanted him to keep going. She pulled back to take a deep breath, and his eyes opened in shock. He looked down at his own hand on her breast and his face tightened in anger. He took advantage of her surprise to roll out from under her and started to stand.

She leapt forward, knocking him down again. “Oh no you don’t, Asher Vale! I’m not finished with you!”

He growled as they rolled on the ground, and when he came up on top, she shuddered and waited for him to run away again. Instead, his hands took hers, his fingers intertwining with hers as he raised her hands over her head and looked into her eyes.

He scanned her body hungrily, looked at her in a way no other man ever had. It wasn’t just the lust burning in those black eyes, but the caring, the tenderness walled behind his fierce exterior.

“I don’t… I can’t…”

He looked genuinely troubled, and she wanted to reach a hand up to stroke his face, to comfort him somehow. But she couldn’t, because he kept her firmly pinned.

Despite the fact that Asher had never gone into pro MMA like his brothers, due to having to take responsibility for the dojo and pack business, he was probably the strongest of all of them. She didn’t have a chance at topping him, not when he had the advantage.

And she sort of liked it here. No, she really liked it here. She wriggled slightly, loving the feel of his steely thighs over her soft flesh.

She had to show him it was all right. It was what she wanted. He was what she wanted.

“Stop that,” he said gruffly. “I can’t think.”

“That’s the idea,” she said. “Asher, sometimes you’re so stupid. Maybe it’s better if you just don’t think.”

His eyes narrowed in offense. “Thanks.” He let her go and started to stand up and she yanked him back down on top of her.

“Stop it. You know what I mean. Why don’t you see what’s right in front of you? Why don’t you believe anyone cares for you?”

“Because no one ever has!” he barked out. “No one has ever wanted me for anything more than what I can do for them. My dad only wanted a full-blood alpha to run the pack, and as soon as he felt I could do it, he and my mom left. My half-brothers hated me because I was the only one my dad paid any attention to. Yeah, Lucas and Jordan eventually came back, but Lucas only did it to use my invitation to enter Lily’s tournament, and Jordan only came back because he needed somewhere to hang out while on hiatus.”

She stayed silent. Asher always looked so unaffected that she hadn’t realized how damaged he’d been. How alone.

“And then there’s you,” he said. “Only brought to me so I could protect you. They even made me make a pack promise, I’m sure because they thought it was the only way to protect you from my own selfishness. But here’s the thing, Laurel. When you came into my life, I didn’t want to be selfish anymore. I felt needed. Genuinely, not just as a tool to be used. I felt like you liked me for me. I didn’t want to lose that.”

His expression was hard, his eyes slightly glazed. Once again, Laurel wanted to comfort him, but when she reached out a hand, he pulled back, wincing.

“Everything’s been better with you here. For a while, my life had a purpose other than the one that was foisted on me for being born. I wasn’t just the pack alpha, to be loved or hated or left alone for it. I was your friend. Your protector. Now, if you don’t need me like that, if you leave me alone, I don’t know what I’ll do.” He swiped at his eyes and looked angry with himself. Was Asher Vale actually crying?

He saw her stunned stare and shook his head. “I’m not crying. I’m just…” He stood to get off of her, and she let him go this time, too shocked to do anything to stop him. “Just go. It’ll be easier if you do it sooner than later.”

“I’m not going, Asher. I love you.”

He looked her way warily. “You’re confused.”

“No,” she said, standing and balling her hands into fists. “I’m not.”

“You were meant for better things. That’s why my brothers made me make that promise. You can have any alpha in the world. You gave my life meaning, but that doesn’t mean you have to stay with me when the whole world is opening up to you.”

She closed her eyes, praying for patience with this oh-so-frustrating alpha male. “You are my world,” she snapped, glaring at him. “Why don’t you get that?”

He glared back, tongue-tied.

Asher’s heart pounded like it never had before. What did she mean, he was her world?

She glared at him as if she were waiting for him to get it. He didn’t. This beautiful girl, with her wild curly hair and gorgeous skin and to-die-for curves, couldn’t possibly be in love with him. It had been his privilege to protect her, but that was all.

He could as soon stop breathing as break a pack promise.

His whole life, he’d felt unworthy. Unworthy to take over the dojo as his older brothers resented him for coming into their lives. Unworthy of all the pressure his dad was putting on him to be everything to everyone. Unworthy of somehow leading the shifters in his care. Unworthy of balancing everything on his shoulders.

But looking into Laurel’s beautiful eyes, he’d never felt more unworthy than he did at this moment.

“Asher, I can’t love you if you won’t let me,” she said. “I can’t make you see it if you won’t try.”

He bit his lip and looked down at her. She was so small, so luscious. Right now, all he wanted to do was take her in his arms and show her how precious she was to him. Somehow convince her he was better than Dane.

But she was right. How could he convince her if he couldn’t convince himself?

For a long time, he’d felt worthless. There’d been nothing but criticism and expectations on all sides. It was part of why he’d rebelled when he was young, gotten tats, gotten into fights, been an arrogant asshole.

Everything had changed with Laurel.

Now she was leaving.

Well, she hadn’t left yet. But there were others like Dane. High class, strong alphas that meant she wouldn’t need him anymore. If not now, then someday.

It was his first time seeing someone else do for her what he’d thought he alone could do, and it had broken him in a way he didn’t understand.

But his heart beat rapidly as she turned away from him in disappointment and started for the door.

No. Mine. Don’t go, his heart cried.

He grabbed her wrist and spun her back against him. Then he caught her under the back of her head and slammed his mouth down over hers, crushing her against him as he went deep inside her mouth.

He expected resistance, but she melted, returning the kiss with little moans that drove him crazy. He swooped a hand under her legs and carried her back to the mats, dropping her over them. Then he straddled her, pinning her down. He trapped her hands above her head. He loved how she looked helpless, how her eyes glazed over with lust at his strength and her breasts heaved with wonderful cleavage. He loved seeing the trust in her face, the excitement as she bit her lip in anticipation.

He lowered his mouth to kiss her gently between her breasts. She gasped as he explored the soft flesh, licking along it. Damn, she was too beautiful.

“Asher,” she said.

He looked up to see what she wanted to say, but apparently it was just his name. He grinned at her. His name never sounded more beautiful than from her lips. “Yes, sweetheart?”

She blinked. “Take me.”

The wolf in him growled. A part of him felt torn in half between taking what had always been his and protecting her from his own selfish needs. He was worthless, had nothing to offer.

No, he wouldn’t take her. He wouldn’t take away her ability to choose another mate. One who was better.

But he would damn well show her how much he cared before he let her go.

He released her hands so he could free her breasts from the constraining workout tank she was wearing. As he pulled it over her shoulders, her gorgeous skin and breasts were bared to him. The alpha in him growled possessively.

The dojo was long closed, and it was off the road so no passing cars could see them. Still, he wasn’t satisfied.

He got off her and closed the blinds to every window. She waited for him on the mats, and that made him happy.

He walked back to her and resumed his position on top of her, continuing to undress her.

“You’re so beautiful,” Asher said. “Whoever gets you will be the luckiest man in the world.”

“Why can’t it be you?” she choked out.

He leaned down to kiss her nipple, running his tongue slowly around it in agonizing circles. “I care for you, Laurel.”

She moaned and arched, and he moved to her other breast, taking her nipple in his mouth and sucking gently before swirling his tongue around and over it. He could feel her heating beneath him, feel her hips pressing insistently against him.

“I always will. I always have. I think you know that,” he said.

She didn’t answer, simply closed her eyes as his deft hands closed over her breasts and he went lower, trailing down to her soft belly button. Damn, he’d always loved her belly. Soft and round and amazing to touch. His hands found the line of her panties, and he sighed. This was the point of no return. This was the point where he should get off his damn ward and walk out of her life. Or at least take a few steps back so she could have some breathing room to date someone else.

Instead, he pulled her pants down to her ankles and tore her panties off in one quick move.

She wanted him. She’d said so. He couldn’t break his promise by taking everything, but he could give her something they would always remember. He could have just a taste of the woman he wanted as mate.

He didn’t believe in fated mates. Rather, he didn’t believe she had to be fated to him, even if he knew it would always only be her in his heart.

He hadn’t realized how deeply he cared until Dane stepped in. Until then, there had been no real threat, no excuse for him not to stick around. He’d allowed himself to be ignorant of how much she really meant to him, aside from being her protector.

But not anymore.

He growled and parted her legs, baring her to him as he lapped at her juices. She was so warm and wet and ready for him. Her scent was intoxicating, as it always had been. Wildflowers. Fresh mist. A day after the rain.

Redemption.

He licked and stroked, smoothing a hand over her ass and up over her belly as his other hand held her thigh, keeping her open to him. He looked up to see her biting her fist, fighting the pleasure he brought, and the thought made him instantly smile.

She was so hot. So, so hot, and he was going to get to see her come again. On his mouth. The greatest gift in the world. He stroked harder, more directly, circling and then coming back to that sensitive little nub at her center. Her cries grew more intense and her body writhed furiously, but he wasn’t about to let her get away. Not until he showed her just how good he could make her feel.

With one final stroke and a tweak of her nipple, she arched back in release, screaming his name to the ceiling as he kept his lips against her, feeling her wet heat as she contracted with pleasure.

She was his; she was everything. As she finished, he gathered her into his arms, scooping her into his lap and wrapping his arms around her, heart pounding as he held her tight, listening to her little gasps. Damn, she was his. Damn, she was beautiful.

He could stay here forever. Just sit here and not face the consequences. Just pretend this was actually going to keep happening. That she could really be his mate.

And then he heard the door to the dojo make a clicking nose. Someone was undoing the lock. He sent a horrified glance at Laurel and whipped off his shirt, throwing it over her.

As the door flew open and light streamed over the mat, he covered her with his large body, making sure no one could see.

7

“Oh my gosh,” a familiar voice said. “Laurel? Asher? Is that you?”

Asher’s eyes widened in shock as another voice joined them. This one angrier.

“Asher… what are you doing?”

It was Lucas. The one who’d made him make the promise. And he was about to see that Asher was debauching the woman he’d promised to protect.

He was about to prove he was the asshole all of them thought he was.

“Get out!” Asher yelled, and the door slammed shut as they did as he said. He didn’t want anyone to see Laurel. He pulled off of her and stayed quiet as he pulled on her pants and helped her with her bra and tank. He let her keep his shirt.

Then he stood and helped her to her feet. She was shaky but able to stand. She looked at him with hurt in her eyes, as if she could sense he was about to run.

He was. He couldn’t stand it. The thought of everyone’s disappointment. He’d proven to be the bastard they all thought he was.

“I have to go,” he said. “Stay with Lily and Lucas tonight, okay?” he asked.

She grabbed him by the elbow. “Wait,” she said. The vulnerable look in her gorgeous brown eyes nearly slew him. “We can face this, Asher. I don’t think they think what you think.”

He blinked. “How would you know what they think? How would you know what I promised? Is this all a game to you? Provoke Asher? Make fun of Asher? Tease Asher, because he always explodes?” He ran his hands through his hair. “No, that’s not fair. I know you’re serious.” He put a hand out to graze her cheek. His hands were calloused, but she didn’t seem to mind.

She didn’t seem to mind anything about him.

That was a wonderful and terrible thought at the same time.

“I have to go,” he said. “I care about you, Laurel. You know I do. But if I break the promise, if I take what I said I wouldn’t take, then I’ll be the asshole I’ve been trying not to be my entire life.”

“But what if I love you?” she asked. “What if you’re being the asshole by walking away?”

He waved a hand. “I’m not. In time, you’ll see that.” He sent a lonely, resentful glance toward the door. “I have to go. I can’t face them now. I’m sorry, Laurel.”

“I’m fine,” she said, honestly not looking as worried about the spectators as she was about him. “But where are you going?”

He shook his head. “I need to think. But after what happened at lunch, promise me you won’t be alone. Promise me you’ll stay with Lily and Lucas. I’ll text them to make sure.”

She sighed. “I promise.”

He nodded and headed to the back door, giving her one last look before walking through it. Then he let the heavy metal slam behind him and looked up at the sky.

It was lightly raining, which was just perfect.

In a few hours, it would smell like Laurel, refreshing and sweet. He waited as he heard Lucas’s voice and knew Laurel was safe. Then he started up his Mustang and went for a drive.

He didn’t know where he was going. Maybe he’d just drive until her scent and her cries and how unworthy he was of her was out of his mind.

Or maybe…

Suspicion flashed through his head. He didn’t know if it was wishful thinking or if it was just something he hadn’t noticed when he’d been feeling jealous and broken over the Dane thing, but some pieces weren’t fitting together right in his mind.

Now he had the perfect thing to occupy him while Laurel stayed with Lucas and Lily and got some comfort there.

He was going to see how good this Dane guy really was.

He knew it could be wishful thinking, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something really was slightly wrong.

And he knew just where to go to find out exactly what.

Lindon was working in his study when his wife Misty walked in, holding their daughter.

She was blond like him, with deeply tanned skin that set off striking blue eyes. She was three years old and just starting to shift here and there. She was a handful.

He stood and walked to the door, placing a kiss to his wife’s forehead and then pulling back to look at her. “Are you okay? Not that you can’t come up here anytime, but…”

“Yes, sorry,” she said, shaking her brown curls and giving him a warm expression. “I knew you were busy with work, but someone unexpected showed up.”

He tilted his head imperiously. Being aloof was still a habit, even with his gorgeous wife at times. “Who?”

“You remember the alpha challenge?” she asked.

“Of course I remember,” he said tersely. Then he growled, taking their daughter in his arms to cuddle her. She growled back and made a little hissing noise and clawing motion at him, and he growled and snuggled her close. She laughed and settled in, and Misty looked at him with adoring eyes. “What about it?” he asked.

Misty blinked, remembering what they’d been talking about. “Oh yeah. Asher’s here.”

Lindon nearly lost hold of his daughter. Nearly. Instead, he handed her back to Misty so he could process what she’d just told him.

“Asher Vale? The one I threw into a wall on the first day? That Asher?”

She gave him a half grin and nodded. “He was just testing you. And he helped Hawes teach me self-defense after that. You know, he looks practically the same age. Did you know he was just a teen at the alpha challenge? I thought he was in his twenties.”

Lindon shook his head. “I didn’t know and didn’t care. All I cared about was keeping their asses away from you.” He came around behind her and wrapped his arms around her. “You’re mine.”

“I know,” she said. “But he needs our help. He wanted to know if you would talk to him.”

Lindon sighed. “Do you want me to?” He couldn’t refuse anything when it came to his wife. Despite being an alpha and the son of one of the strongest pack leaders, Rowan, he was definitely not the one in charge of this household.

She nodded. “Yes, if you can.”

He leaned down and tilted her chin up so he could kiss her deeply. Every time felt like the first time. Every time felt beautiful.

He released her and relished the starry look in her eyes. “All right, send him up. And then in return, later tonight you can meet me in the study.”

She grinned at him. “My pleasure.”

He winked. “True.”

Then she sashayed out of the room, and Lindon sat in his chair, trying to compose himself while he waited for Asher.

He didn’t have to wait long. The other alpha practically broke down the door opening it.

Lindon stood to greet him, putting out a hand. Asher ignored it, pacing in front of his desk.

Lindon slowly sat, deciding there was no point in rushing him.

Asher was an interesting case. He came from a family of martial arts shifters who ran a dojo for other shifters. Lindon’s brother, Hawes, had trained with them.

From what he knew of Asher in their time together, he was impulsive, hot-blooded.

But there was still a different feeling to him now. Beneath the temper, there was maturity. He guessed this Asher was better at handling things but was bothered by something in particular right at this moment.

“For Pete’s sake, sit down,” Lindon commanded, and Asher sent him a glare, then slumped in a chair in front of the desk.

Damn, the man was huge. One of the broadest wolves through the chest and shoulders he’d seen. Now he could easily believe the man was a teen when he’d known him, because he’d filled out. His hair was also shorter; that helped.

“What can I do for you?” Lindon asked softly. He preferred to counter Asher’s fire with a cold heat.

Asher’s dark eyes flashed up at him. “I need information on a man. I need you not to tell anyone I’m asking.”

Lindon nodded. “Okay. And what will you do for me?”

“What do you want?” Asher asked, befuddled.

Lindon thought it over. “I want lessons for my daughter. For my niece and nephew as well.” Rafe and Hawthorne, his older brothers, had mentioned wanting to sign the kids up for something. “Your kids classes are always full.”

Asher raised an eyebrow. “I can always open a new class. You should have asked.”

Lindon waved a hand. “They’ve only just gotten old enough. But fine, you take them in your class, and I’ll give you what you need. You know my family has info on just about everyone.”

Asher nodded. “If the tribunal ever does fall, I’ll know who’s behind it.”

Lindon flashed him a quick grin and then leaned over the desk. “All right, who is this person?”

Asher looked at his folded hands and then up at Lindon. “Dane. Dane Chesterton.”

Lindon typed the name on his laptop. He had dozens of files on shifter families that his dad and brothers had compiled. He grinned when he found the right one for the Chesterton family. He opened the file, then hesitated.

“I have to ask what you need this info for.”

Asher stared at him. “A girl I know is going to date him. He seems nice enough, but… I don’t know. I have an off feeling about him.”

Lindon nodded. “Well, there’s not a lot here, but I’ll tell you what I know. And then we’ll talk to my dad.”

Asher nodded.

“But this girl, she’s free to date who she wants, right?” Lindon asked.

Asher looked away.

Interesting.

“If you have a problem with this Dane person, why don’t you date her yourself?”

Asher shook his head. “Pack promise.”

“Ah.” Lindon knew what that meant. An unbreakable promise. Physically impossible. “Does she want you?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Asher said. “I’ve taken care of her for a long time. She’ll meet new men and realize it was puppy love. But I want to make sure she’s safe before stepping out of the picture.”

“What did you pack promise, exactly?”

“It’s none of your fucking business, Lindon. Just give me the files.”

“Sheesh, language. You always were a rough sort,” Lindon said, tapping his fingers on the desk. “I don’t see any red flags here, but my dad sometimes knows something I don’t. However, what’s her name?”

Asher blanched slightly.

Even more interesting.

“Laurel,” he said. “Laurel Mason.”

“Ah, I’ve heard of her dad. He’s the one who held that alpha tournament,” Lindon said.

“That’s right,” Asher said, pressing his lips into a firm line.

“Hm,” Lindon said, scanning more documents. Then he clicked on a clipping that had been sent recently in a folder of recent events from his father. “Here’s something you might be interested in. Looks like her good old dad has a bounty ready for whoever can bring her back.”

Asher’s eyes went wide with anger as Lindon slid him the laptop.

“Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck!” He stood and started for the door.

“Where are you going?” Lindon asked.

“I have to go,” Asher said, not turning back around. “I need to tell her. I need to make sure she’s safe.”

“Asher,” Lindon said quietly but in a tone that couldn’t be ignored.

Asher sighed and whipped around. “What?”

“You know, pack promises can’t be broken. But sometimes they can be up for interpretation.”

Asher’s eyes narrowed on him, but then he shook his head in consternation. “Stop speaking in riddles, Lindon. Thanks for your help. I’ll let you know if I need anything else.”

Then he was gone.

Lindon let out a sigh as she sat in his chair. Did he really want that hothead teaching his daughter? Then he laughed. Of course he did.

Laurel was beyond pissed as she strolled through the front room of Lily and Lucas’s mansion.

They watched her warily, not knowing what to do as she vented and mumbled her anger as she strode from room to room.

Her body was still heated, still longing for more of Asher’s touch. Years of nothing, and then in the past week she’d touched him more times than she could count.

And it still wasn’t enough.

But why the hell couldn’t Asher Vale let anyone love him? She doubted his family had any idea of his feelings, of how badly they’d all messed up while he kept everything inside.

She whirled on Lucas, who was sitting on the couch next to her sister. He was taller, leaner than Asher, with a gentler expression and cool green eyes that only saw her sister.

“You,” she said, hissing it at him like an epithet. “Why the hell did you make him make that damn promise? It had to have been you.”

Lucas’s eyes widened and he exchanged a confused look with Lily, his wife and her sister. “What do you mean?”

Laurel threw up her hands. “The pack promise. The one he’s so hell-bent on keeping that he refuses to mate me?”

Lucas’s mouth fell open in shock and Lily’s eyes widened in surprised. “Laurel, are you sure you want him?” Lily asked, standing to walk to her sister.

Laurel put out a hand. “Sit down. I’m the only one pacing right now.” She paced some more, but it still didn’t quiet the wolf inside her. The alpha female who wanted to claim her mate. “Of course I’m sure. It’s always been him. Hasn’t that been obvious to everyone?”

Lucas scratched the back of his head. “Um, yeah. Pretty much.”

She whirled on him angrily. “I don’t want to hear that from you! Not when it’s your fault this all went bad.”

Lucas’s face tightened, and she knew that wasn’t fair. It wasn’t Lucas’s fault that Asher couldn’t see caring even when it was right in front of him. It wasn’t Lucas’s fault that Asher kept his feelings to himself.

“He thinks you all hate him. Well, at least he doesn’t think you love him.”

Lucas stood, but Lily pulled him back down. “Of course I love him,” Lucas said. “Why do you think we wanted you to stay with him? He was alone too much.”

She froze. “What? You weren’t just using him to babysit me?”

Lucas looked bewildered, and Lily squeezed his hand in support. The former martial arts pro looked truly baffled. “Of course not. We would have been happy for you to stay with us. But you got along with Asher so well, and I was worried about him. Before you…”

“Ah, but then you made him promise not to mate me. What did you think was going to happen with two alphas spending all their time together?”

Lucas put his head in his hands and groaned, his dark hair falling over his face. Laurel tilted her head in confusion as her sister traced circles over Lucas’s tense back.

“I should have known he’d take it the wrong way, the little idiot,” Lucas said.

“Don’t call him that!” Laurel said. “You don’t know him like I do. He’s wise and honorable and would do anything for the people he loves.”

“You think I don’t know that?” Lucas asked. “That we all don’t know that? Damn, he’s the best of us. Always was. We resented him for it when he was younger, but yeah. He’s always liked being alone, being independent, but when he met you, well, we thought putting you two together would be good for both of you.”

“Right up until we fell in love and your stupid promise had to hurt us,” she spat, still unable to stem the tide of surging anger.

“I didn’t make him promise not to mate you,” Lucas said angrily. “That’s not it at all. I just told him to watch out for you until you found a suitable mate. Of course, we all thought perhaps that mate could be him!”

Laurel froze in shock, blinking rapidly. “Oh.” That made a lot of sense. Only Asher with his stupid unworthiness complex could twist that into forbidding him from being with her.

Then again, it was reasonable to take “suitable mate” as meaning a third party.

“Damn it,” she said. “You’ve still ruined everything.” She folded her arms and turned away, and felt her sister’s arms encircle her from behind.

“Don’t blame Lucas,” she said. “Please. He rescued you and tried his best. Asher is hard to understand for most of us. You’re around him a lot, but you have to understand for the rest of us, we don’t know what’s going on. He always shows us the best face. The one that’s happy or at least fine. We can’t help if we don’t know something’s wrong.”

“Of course something is wrong,” Laurel said, whirling to face Lucas again. “He’s been alone all his life and now he doesn’t know how to let people in. All he had were expectations and two brothers who hated him. Seemed to hate him.”

“We don’t hate him. We’ve been trying to make it up to him.”

“He thinks you just came back because you needed things from him. You needed an invite to Lily’s thing and Jordan needed somewhere to train while on hiatus.”

“He knows I didn’t come for that. I didn’t know about it until I got home. I really did come back to start getting to know him. To try and heal the rift after I’d matured. I wasn’t mean to him. I was just cold. It was hard for all of us.”

Laurel sat down with him again, hugging him. “He didn’t do it just to use him.”

“Do you ever tell him you were sorry? That you came back to get to know him? Did you ever make it plain?” Laurel asked.

Lucas snorted. “That’s not how men deal with things.”

“Well, it should be!” Laurel said. “Because if you all keep your feelings bottled up like that, you just cause problems for us women!” Then she stormed out of the room, unable to talk anymore.

But she’d seen something different in Lucas’s eyes. Real guilt formed as he seemed to realize everything she was trying to tell them.

Maybe Asher would be mad at her for telling, but it didn’t matter. Someone needed to know how alone he felt, because he was determined not to let Laurel do anything about it. Someone else would need to.

She was done. Her body still burned for his touch, but one thing talking to her brother and sister had made her realize was there was nothing you could do for someone who couldn’t be honest with themselves.

Asher had isolated himself. Yes, he’d been mistreated and abandoned in some ways. But he’d also kept himself from making any real connections after that. And that was his fault.

She hadn’t done anything wrong to him either, and he’d pushed her away too.

Her phone buzzed and she opened it in annoyance, out of habit.

“Hello?” she said.

“Laurel,” a deep voice said. “It’s Dane.”

“Oh,” she said, feeling some disappointment it wasn’t Asher. “Good to hear from you,” she lied. Truthfully, she didn’t want to think about anyone other than Asher right now.

Dammit, she was in deep. Every touch had taken her deeper.

“Listen, I’m sorry our lunch got interrupted today. I was thinking I could take you out to dinner. Make it up to you.”

She sighed. “We just went out. I think I’m going to rest the rest of the day.”

“Aw, come on. I only just got you back.”

“Well…” she said, hesitating. She heard a loud engine vrooming up the street and looked out to see a black Mustang heading their way.

Asher.

She wasn’t ready to see him. “Actually, you can come now. Like right now. I’m ready.”

“Really?” Dane said, taken aback. “Great, I’m actually by your house.”

“Great,” she said. “I’ll be down in a few.”

8

She’d borrowed her sister’s clothes and was wearing jeans and a light sweater in peachy pink. She looked in the mirror and pulled her hair back into a low, messy bun with a few curls sticking out and then headed downstairs.

“I’m going out,” she said to Lucas and Lily, who didn’t react in time to stop her.

She couldn’t see Asher right now. She just couldn’t. Not after finding out the promise he was using as an excuse didn’t even mean what he thought it did. She was too pissed that he’d automatically assumed “suitable mate” precluded him because he thought so low of himself.

Perhaps it really was true that the most arrogant people were actually the most insecure.

And he had every reason not to be. He was tall, strong, kind, successful, good with kids, generous to others.

She shook her head angrily. But he didn’t see it and she couldn’t make him.

As she opened the front door and headed down the porch, she saw Asher coming up beside her. She ignored him and walked forward. He caught her by the arm, as he had so many times before. It was warm and comforting. She was used to it. But it had to stop. At least until he sorted himself out.

She jerked away as Dane’s car pulled up in front. “I have a date.”

“Wait,” he said. “We need to talk. There’s something going on, something with your dad.”

She glared at him for a moment and then rolled her eyes. “Oh, please, Asher. You just don’t want me to go out with Dane.”

Asher’s eyes flashed to Dane. “No, but that’s not what this is about. Please, stay.”

“No,” she said, jerking away again. “You’re not the only one who can run away, Asher Vale. You’re not the only one who can stay distant. I’m going out, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”

“Wanna bet?” he asked darkly, shoving his hands in his pockets.

She stared up at him defiantly. He was taller, but he couldn’t intimidate her. “Yes.”

He eyed her warily. “Fine. Have a fun time. But be careful, stay public, and we need to talk when you’re back.” His eyes darted to Dane again. “He has money so he’s not a suspect anyway.”

“A suspect?” she asked, exasperated. “Do you even hear yourself?”

“Your dad put a bounty on your head,” Asher blurted out, looking handsome and protective as usual. She almost wanted to stay with him. Almost. “A money reward.”

She sighed. “Well, in that case, Dane is definitely safe. His family had almost more money than mine did.”

“People can lose their money,” Asher said darkly, eyeing Dane’s car. “But he seems to be doing fine.”

She nodded. “From what I’ve seen. Besides, I trust him. Ask Lily. She knows him. He’s always been a gentle, good friend.”

“With alpha strength,” Asher said.

“I think you’re letting your jealousy get in the way,” Laurel said angrily, folding her arms. “Now if you don’t mind, I’m going on my date. I have my phone. You can call if you need something.”

Asher nodded angrily. “Fine.”

Laurel’s heart cracked a little at having to walk away from him, but she had to do it. Just for now.

Asher watched Laurel go with an annoyed glare, but there was nothing he could do. He needed to share this info with Lily and Lucas, and she’d be safe with Dane for now.

After all, Dane had protected her once before. And if he’d wanted to take her then, he could have. So Asher forced himself to shake off his doubts and focus on what came next.

He vaulted up the steps and came face to face with an angry Lucas staring at him from the doorway.

His older brother was the gentlest of the three of them. His work as a fight promoter meant he definitely had the best social skills. Asher tried to push past him.

“We need to talk,” Lucas said.

“I know,” Asher said. “That’s why I’m trying to come in. Also, does Lily know this Dane guy Laurel is seeing? Because they just went on another date and I’m not sure about him…”

Lucas grabbed him by the collar and jerked him down the sidewalk. Asher stumbled behind him, trying to pull out of his grasp. He was shocked when Lucas tossed him on the grass.

Rubbing a grass stain from his arm, Asher glared up at him. “What was that for?”

“For not thinking I care. Or that Jordan cares. Or maybe worst of all, that Laurel cares.”

Asher just blinked, staring at him, and then betrayal flooded through him. “She told you.”

“Of course she did! And you should have. Damn it…” Lucas threaded his fingers through his hair in a way that was very similar to Asher’s habit. Then Lucas whirled on his brother. “Do you realize what it does to people when you don’t understand they care for you? Why do you think we trusted you with Laurel?”

“Because none of you could be bothered? Because you all had your own lives?” Asher spat. “Because you always were good at walking away when it was convenient. You and Jordan just left home, just like that. And came back as you pleased. I’m always the one left behind with the responsibility. Why should this time be any different?”

Lucas lunged forward and grabbed Asher’s collar again, yanking him up to face him. Asher was getting a little tired of being manhandled today. “Because Laurel has been taking care of you too! Don’t you get that? We did it for you, too.”

Then Asher’s eyes went wide in shock as his brother dropped to his knees and pulled Asher into a tight hug against his chest.

Shock thudded through him as his brother’s head rested on his shoulder.

What the hell was going on?

“I thought you understood when I came back between pro tours or tried to check in more often. I thought you got that I was trying to be a better brother. Jordan and I, we did care about you. Everything changed when you were here, and we were kids and didn’t do the best job coping, but we’ve been trying to make it up to you.”

“Then why did you make me promise?” Asher said. “If you trusted me, if you thought Laurel would be good for me, then how come you made me promise not to take her?”

Lucas pulled back to look Asher in the eyes. “What do you mean? I never said that. I said you were to protect her until she found a suitable mate. Which could include you.”

Asher blinked, shocked. “But…”

Lucas sighed and sat back on his heels. Asher still didn’t know what to make of the whole situation. Had he really been torturing him and Laurel because of a misunderstanding? Or because he was incapable of feeling loved?

He slumped back on his butt and the two brothers just stared at each other, breathing hard.

“You said no funny business,” Asher said. “Before you made me make the promise. I thought that meant she was off-limits to me.”

“No funny business meant not messing with her if you weren’t going to mate her.”

“Oh.”

“She wants you, Asher. It’s as plain as the nose on your face. I just don’t understand why you’re going to walk away. I fought for my mate. I can’t imagine just handing her off.”

“I have fought for her!” Asher said, brushing his knees off and coming to a standing position. “I’ve fought for her countless times. In the beginning, when her dad sent lackeys for a few months. Yeah, you guys didn’t even know about that because I handled it. And then whenever a douchebag who wasn’t a suitable mate was around. And of course, I didn’t think I was suitable. She’s everything! High class, gentle, sweet, fun. Who would be suitable? No one in the damn world is good enough for her.”

Lucas eyed him steadily. “Except maybe someone who believes that about her.”

Asher stopped, open-mouthed.

Maybe his brother had a point. If he looked at himself outside of his own distorted lens, if he looked at himself based on how he felt about Laurel, he had to admit no one else could love her as much as he did.

He loved her enough to want the best for her, even if it wasn’t him. He loved her enough to tear himself apart trying to protect her while staying distant. He loved her enough to never feel good enough for her.

Perhaps he couldn’t beat Dane’s money or class, or even his alpha power. But he could beat Dane at the one thing that mattered. Loving Laurel.

He plopped on his butt again. It was too late. She was on another date. One she’d wanted. He’d look like a jerk if he went now.

“What are you doing?” Lucas asked.

“Sitting down to plan my next move. I have to wait until she gets home, anyway.”

Lucas nodded. “I want you to make me a different pack promise.”

Asher raised an eyebrow. “I’m not sure about that, after the trouble the last one caused me.”

Lucas laughed. “This one is different. Promise me that regardless of any past pack promises, you will do whatever it takes to make you and Laurel happy, okay?”

Asher’s heart warmed. For the first time, he really did see the love in his brother’s eyes. It was time to stop misunderstanding. It was time to start letting people in, scary as that was.

And that would start with Laurel. “Okay, I promise.”

“Good,” Lucas said. “Now let’s go inside and get a drink. You look like hell.” He reached out a hand and Asher took it and got to his feet again.

“It’s been a long couple of days.” Asher laughed. “I’ll take that drink. And then I can pump Lily for information about Dane. My competition.”

Lucas put an arm around Asher’s shoulder. “I don’t think you have any competition.”

Asher hoped that was true, but just as he was about to go into the house, his phone rang. He took a step away from Lucas and picked it up.

“Hello? Asher Vale speaking.”

“Asher, it’s Lindon,” the voice on the line said.

“Oh. Hi.”

The voice sighed. “Listen, in your hurry to leave, you missed going to my dad to see what he had to say. Turns out there’s more on your boy than we thought. His family is in dire straits financially. I wouldn’t let him go anywhere with Laurel until we look into it further.”

Asher blinked and let the phone drop out of his hands. Then he swooped it up and ended the call as he ran for his Mustang, ignoring Lucas as he called for him.

His mate needed him.

As Dane drove to wherever they were going, Laurel tried to calm herself. She couldn’t believe Asher had the gall to practically accuse Dane of being a criminal caught up in some ridiculous plot that involved some sort of bounty from her father. Why couldn’t he just tell her the truth? That he didn’t want her to go.

Stupid Asher.

“How are you doing? You look upset,” Dane said, interrupting Laurel’s thoughts.

“No, I’m fine. Just had a busy afternoon, that’s all,” she replied. That and I’m sexually frustrated, emotionally frustrated, and just plain frustrated as well.

“You sure that jerk Asher didn’t say anything wrong?” Dane mused.

Laurel felt a little offended that Dane would talk about Asher like that. But what he said wasn’t far from the truth.

Dane could see Laurel frowning at that, and he coughed and switched the subject. “Anyway, I wanted to call you because there’s something else very important I needed to tell you about. Something about your father,” he said, then paused, turning off the highway.

Laurel’s angry tirade at Asher in her head was interrupted. “Something about my father?” she asked.

Maybe Asher had been telling the truth.

“Yes. I only heard about it recently, which is why I needed to get in touch with you so urgently. Apparently, your father has put a bounty on you. He’s promised a lot of money to whoever can steal you from the Vale family and bring you back.”

“Yeah, I heard just now, actually. From Asher, ironically,” Laurel replied, not thinking about it.

Dane raised an eyebrow, then continued. “Ah, did he say anything else?”

“No. Just that you were already loaded so he wasn’t worried about me going out with you.”

“Smart man, despite his looks,” Dane mused under his breath. “Anyway, that’s why I needed to see you. To make sure you were safe from anyone else that might be out there to get you.”

As Laurel listened, her mind still wandered back to Asher’s words back in the dojo. She noticed they were in a completely unknown part of the city to her. What were once new-looking commercial buildings slowly melted into old abandoned warehouses and empty lots. The kind of place you’d expect to find drug runners or see illegal fighting rings taking place at night.

What kind of restaurant were they going to?

“Well, so far, it looks like I’m safe. What’s the name of the place we’re headed to, by the way?” Laurel asked, curious.

Dane didn’t answer. “To be honest, Laurel, ever since I heard you were kidnapped by the Vale family, I’ve been worried about you. Worried about your safety with them. They’re not the kind of shifters people like us are normally seen with,” he said.

“What do you mean by that?” Laurel asked. Something was starting to feel off.

“All I care about is your safety, Laurel. That nobody can harm you or lay a finger on you. That’s why…” He trailed off, turning onto another road, leading them farther and farther away from anywhere she knew.

“Why what? What are you not telling me, Dane?” Laurel asked. A pit was forming in her stomach, but she didn’t want to believe what her instincts were telling her.

“Why I need to take you home, where you belong. Your father will be so happy to see you again, and he’s already agreed to let me mate you,” Dane said, looking at her with a cheery but fake smile.

“Of course, I don’t exactly trust him to keep his word. That’s why I’ll mate you first and then take you home for the bounty. Not to mention how much money you’ll inherit as your dad’s heir.” His ill intent rose to the surface beneath that grotesque smile. Like a rotting corpse hidden under a pile of fresh petunias.

“What the hell, Dane? What are you even saying? I thought you didn’t need the money!” Laurel replied. She tried the car door, but the child lock was on, and they were still going over fifty.

Dane laughed to himself, a bitter sound that punctuated over the thrumming of the car’s engine. “That’s the funny thing about money. Easy come, easy go.”

Laurel sat there, aghast and horrified at the situation. “Why, Dane? Why would you do something like this?”

“Because unless I get that money, I won't be the VP or CEO of jack shit before long. Stupid Dad, blowing the family’s money with stupid investments and making me take the hit for it.” He was angry now, angry and crazy.

Laurel looked around her to see if there was anything she could use to escape. But aside from a few receipts and loose change in the cup holder, the car was completely empty. It might not even be Dane’s car, probably just a rental if they were as poor as he said they were.

Dane saw Laurel fidgeting and took a deep breath, trying to sound calm. “Don’t try anything stupid. Just be grateful I’m not that Vale mongrel. The gall of them, to think they could ever be worthy enough to claim someone as classy as you.”

“Yeah, well, things aren’t always what they seem,” Laurel tried to say calmly, slowly pulling out her phone while Dane wasn’t watching and fumbling to unlock it and call Asher. “So that kidnapping this afternoon, that was all a setup?” She tried to keep him talking. Hopefully he would stay distracted.

Dane didn’t take his eyes off the road. “Good call. No, it wasn’t. I planned to have you kidnapped right there, but when I figured out your overeager protector was watching us from all the constant glances you were giving across the street, I knew he would make a scene. So I had to play the hero instead so you would trust me.”

Dammit. Laurel had been so wrong about Dane. If only she could dial the number, she trusted Asher would somehow be able to find her.

Dane continued his thought. “No need to worry, though. I have a place nearby where no one will think to look for you. Not even your precious Asher. Then we’ll lay low until morning and see your father to get the bounty and his blessing. And then after that, it will be just you and me, together forever, like it always was meant to be.”

Laurel had succeeded in unlocking the phone and typing in Asher’s cell number. She kept the phone under her right leg, as far from Dane’s view as possible. She was so close!

But just as she was about to press dial, the phone was whisked from her grip in a split second.

“Ah-ah, no funny business,” Dane said mockingly, tossing the phone out the window. “You don’t want to make your future mate angry, now do you?”

Laurel could hear the phone rattle against the pavement, and then the sound was instantly gone.

Her last chance of anyone finding her was now vanished.

Shit.

9

Asher had no time to waste. If what Lindon had said was true, and Rowan’s sons were some of the most trustworthy, if not difficult, shifters he’d ever met, then Laurel was in danger.

Dammit, Asher, you should have seen this coming. You knew something was off about Dane to start.

But no matter how angry Asher got with himself, it wouldn’t bring Laurel back to him right now.

Thankfully, he’d installed an app on Laurel’s phone when she wasn’t looking not too long ago and had hidden it in an obscure subfolder. The app allowed him to always track her location and even activate the phone in an emergency if it was turned off.

Right now, it was leading him to the middle of Nowheresville in a mostly abandoned part of the city. The kind of area you don’t take loved ones or go out in after dark.

Asher floored the accelerator of his restored ‘73 mustang. After this, he’d need to give it a checkup, but right now, he was just grateful the car had plenty of power to get him where Laurel was with all possible speed.

From the looks of it, her location had stopped moving a couple minutes ago, so maybe they’d stopped somewhere to get gas or grab a bite to eat.

Like there would be any restaurants in this part of the city.

One could hope, though.

He turned onto the block where his phone directed him, only to see the street was completely devoid of vehicles or life in general. He drove down it, slowing as his phone dinged to signify they were in the right place.

Where were they?

A few meters ahead on the pavement, almost in the gutter, Asher saw glass reflecting light in his direction. He stopped the car and hopped out, not taking time to kill the engine. Nobody out here could mess with him. He looked down and picked up what definitely looked like Laurel’s phone. Only now the glass screen was shattered and the body was dented, like it had been thrown against the ground.

Or tossed from a moving vehicle.

Asher jumped back into his car. Thankfully, this part of the city only spanned a few blocks before it ended at the city limits bordering the landfill, so wherever Laurel was, she was probably close.

Hopefully.

All the things Lucas had said pounded in his head to the beat of his heart, which was doing its best to leap out of his chest now. What was Dane planning with Laurel out in a place like this? If he was interested in the bounty, why come out here?

Asher’s foot was lead now, racing and curving down the city blocks, eyes watching for the sight of Dane’s nauseating green convertible. Thankfully, his would be the only one like it in this forsaken place.

When he got his hands on that bastard…

As if an answer to an unsaid prayer, Asher spotted a sliver of the aforementioned car. It was parked behind a rundown, two-story house and sloppily covered with a tarp.

Probably because Dane hadn’t expected Asher to be able to follow her this far.

His funeral.

Asher put the car in neutral and coasted into a spot across the street, throwing it in park and jumping out of the car, taking care to not slam the door. Unlike in the alley the other night, if Laurel were in danger, he’d want the element of surprise.

He jogged up to the house quickly, noting the boarded-up windows and the chipped, almost nonexistent paint on the exterior. Clearly, this wasn’t the kind of place normally inhabited by anyone but thugs or criminals.

As he walked up to the door, two men, both shifters, came around the side and approached him. They looked tough, probably hired muscle, and they were approaching fast.

“Hey, no solicitors allowed,” one said, cracking his knuckles.

“Oh, good,” Asher replied. He rushed at the men and grabbed each by the throat, lifting them off the ground and holding them in the air. “I’d hate to think I wasn’t invited.”

As much as he’d love to smash these guys through the wall, Asher didn’t want to make a scene before he knew Laurel was safe. Discretion being the better part of valor and all that.

The shorter men jerked and squirmed, struggling against Asher’s vise-like grip. But it was no use. Asher was pissed. And the closer he got, the more he could smell the stink of too much cologne that would lead him to the asshole whose face he was about to pummel.

Finally, the struggling stopped, and Asher plopped the unconscious men quietly onto the deck. He walked around the back and looked inside, seeing if he could spot movement.

Nothing.

In that very moment, he heard a shriek from inside the house. It was Laurel, no doubt about it, though he’d never heard her sound so distressed before in his life.

Fuck it. So much for discretion.

Asher rushed to the back door and kicked it open. Rather than swinging wide, it busted off its hinges and flew onto the floor.

“Laurel!” Asher yelled into the dilapidated house.

There was a sound of feet shuffling upstairs, and Asher ran inside, finding the stairs and bounding up them three at a time. There was a door, and Asher reached for it, throwing it open.

Inside was Dane, shirt partly unbuttoned, turning and looking askance at him. In the corner was Laurel. His Laurel, looking terrified and shocked and happy to see him all at the same time.

“Say your prayers, fucker,” Asher swore and charged.

Laurel couldn’t believe her eyes. She’d almost given up. Struggling against Dane had been no use, his alpha strength was overpowering. But like something from a classic film, her knight had come riding in to save her.

Granted, this knight rode a black mustang and wore dark leather. And looked angrier than a raging wolverine defending its home.

Asher wasted no time and ran directly at her shocked captor, driving Dane completely through the paper-thin wall on the other side of the room. Laurel heard a crash and jumped up to see what had happened. Before the dust could even settle, Dane pushed Asher off and leapt to his feet, squaring off with him.

“So the mongrel decided to try and crash the party,” Dane said, his charming veneer unable to hide the vitriol in his voice. “Just leave, you classless, worthless scum.”

“The only thing that’s going out is your ass, with the rest of the trash in this shitty dump,” Asher spat back. “Laurel, are you okay?” he said, glancing sidelong at her.

“Yes, I’m fine,” Laurel said, her breath catching.

“Here, take my keys and lock yourself in the ‘Stang while I beat the shit out of this asshole,” he said, pulling out his keys.

Before he could toss them, Dane went on the attack, charging into Asher. Asher put his arms up to block, but Dane was like a raging bull now and wasn’t going to go down quietly.

What Dane lacked in fighting experience, he had in genetics that, by dumb luck, had granted him incredible strength, many times that of a normal shifter.

Asher grunted as Dane pushed him into the ground. Asher countered with several quick blows to the face, giving him space to get up. He threw a knee into Dane’s midsection, which connected with a thud but didn’t move Dane at all.

“So the mongrel thinks it can compete with a purebred?” Dane taunted.

“Fuck off,” Asher swore and looped his arm behind Dane’s neck, trying to pull him into a chokehold. Dane grabbed Asher by his jacket and in one incredible swoop, lifted Asher off the ground and threw him through another adjoining wall into a neighboring room, the sound of cracking wood and crashing drywall resounding through the house.

For a moment, only the sound of dust and debris settling could be heard. Dane, looking smug and satisfied, wiped his hands and strode toward Laurel ominously.

“Sorry for the interruption. You’re coming with me,” he said, reaching for her. Laurel stepped back but realized there was nowhere to run.

Dane was interrupted by a terrible wrenching sound, which made him stop five or so feet from Laurel. He turned in time to face a bathroom sink, old and rusted, flying directly at his face, having come from the direction Asher was last seen. He lifted his arms to protect himself, just in time, as it met him directly, breaking with incredible force and crashing into hundreds of porcelain pieces that scattered all around him.

“Cut the shit talk,” Asher said, stepping out of the bathroom one room over. “And fight already.”

Dane lowered his arms, which were cut and bleeding but otherwise uninjured, and looked to Asher, then back to Laurel. But instead of turning back to Asher, he rushed at Laurel, coming directly at her.

“I’ll claim her before you can stop me.”

Terror rose in Laurel. Dane’s eyes were wild, ferocious. She’d never seen him like this before.

Asher leapt toward Dane and caught him by the shirt collar, mere inches from Laurel, and pulled him back. In an instant, Dane whirled around on Asher, swinging in a wide arc directly at his face.

Laurel braced to hear the sound of Dane’s fist connecting with Asher’s head. When it did, there was the sound of a loud crack that filled the room. But instead of Asher’s jaw being broken or even torn from it’s socket, like she feared could happen with Dane’s incredible strength, Asher stood firm, unaffected by the blow.

Dane pulled his hand back immediately, shrieking and holding his fist with the other. “What the…? How did you…?” From what Laurel could see, Dane’s hand looked badly broken in several places.

“You don’t think you’re the only one with alpha powers, do you, fuck face?” Asher said, glaring at him with rage.

“But you’re just a nobody, a nothing-burger,” Dane spat, nursing his injured hand.

“I may not be a classy SOB like you, but I’m all alpha.” With that, Asher grabbed Dane by his shirt and pulled him forward, driving Dane’s forehead into his own with a head-butt that sent Dane flying backwards across the room.

Dane crashed into the floor and then fumbled to get up, dazed and almost completely out. Asher pulled Dane up off the ground and threw him headfirst out the window, making a deafening noise.

Dane careened out of the house, where he landed on a pile of trash bags in the backyard. Asher looked down at him from the new hole in the house, watching. Dane didn’t move, and Asher huffed with satisfaction.

Laurel’s mind was still spinning from the past few minutes. Without a word, Asher came up to her and embraced her, his huge, warm arms enveloping her and making her feel safe.

“You came for me,” Laurel said into Asher’s shoulder, stifling the tears starting to form at the corners of her eyes.

“Of course I did. You know I always will,” he said, his hands smoothing over her back, calming her.

The words were both reassuring and confusing. The things he’d said earlier in the day still stung.

“Now let’s get you out of here,” he said firmly. “We’ll talk more on the way home.”

They carefully navigated the copious amounts of debris scattered throughout the upper floor of the house, and exited out the back, coming around the house and toward the car. As they did, Asher pulled out his phone and started typing on it with one hand, the other still wrapped around her shoulders, holding her tight.

“Who are you texting?” she asked.

“A friend. His wife knows someone that can take care of this. The Tribunal doesn’t like rogues like Dane running around, so they have a group that handles these things. Or so I’ve been told,” he said offhandedly, putting his phone back in his pocket.

“So what happened back there, when Dane hit you in the face? How did you break his hand instead?”

“Iron skin, or at least that’s what I’ve heard it called. Though I think it’s a shitty name,” Asher grumbled.

“Is that your alpha power?” Laurel asked. She didn’t know that Asher even had one. He was a full-blooded alpha, so it made sense, but he’d never mentioned it.

“Yep, so Dane’s alpha strength just meant he could hurt himself all that more against it. Though it still hurts like hell,” he said, rubbing his cheek. “And I have to focus to do it. It’s not just on all the time.”

“I see,” she said. “You know, that kind of makes sense as thick-skulled as you are.”

He frowned. “Hey…”

She snuggled into him. “Just kidding. Thanks for telling me.”

“No problem,” Asher said. “I figure the least I can do is let my mate know what she’s getting into,” Asher added, turning to her with a wry grin.

“Your what?” Laurel froze in place, her heart stuttering as Asher opened the passenger door for her.

“You heard me. My mate.” He looked her over, making his meaning clear, then closed the door for her and came around to jump in the driver’s seat.

“So are you saying…?”

“I love you, Laurel. I always have. I always will. And I’m sorry it’s taken me so long and so much crap to finally come to grips with it. But I want you to be mine forever, and I want to be yours.”

Asher started the car, and they drove off.

Laurel couldn’t stop staring at him, bug-eyed. He seemed content to drive away from the scene, down back roads through a forest where there were no lights or cars in sight.

It was so like Asher to drop a bomb like that and then just go on as if nothing had happened.

“Asher?” she asked.

He looked over. “What?”

“Um, mate?”

“Yes,” he said simply.

She couldn’t calm her pulse. She had no idea what Asher was talking about, how he’d done such a complete one-eighty, yet here he was acting like everything was fine. “Um, forgive me for saying so, but I need more information.”

Asher laughed, a gruff sound that resonated through her. “All right. You deserve it I guess.” He sent her a glare. “Although, you did talk to Lucas about me…”

She grinned guiltily. “Some things might have slipped out.”

He ran a hand through his hair. There was a light sheen of sweat on his skin from his fight. She could still remember how heroic he’d been, charging into battle for her, taking out anything in his way. It warmed her like nothing else.

The way he’d protected her had always been the way he cared. It’d been what always confused her when he insisted there was nothing between them. Tonight, there had been nothing conflicted about it. Just her alpha coming for her.

“Well, it’s good they did slip out, because after you left, Lucas wrestled some sense into me.”

She gave him a sidelong glance. “By that you mean he actually, literally wrestled sense into you.”

“More or less,” Asher admitted. “I guess that’s becoming a thing.” He grinned at her.

She sighed in relief. Things were feeling normal again. “Well, you’re so damned hardheaded… but what happened with Lucas? What did he tell you? About the pack promise?”

Asher winced. “Yeah. I fucked that up. Totally misunderstood. It didn’t occur to me to go to him and clarify, because I thought that would make me seem like that much more of a douche.”

Laurel nodded. “When I talked to him, he made it clear you misunderstood, that that’s not what he meant.”

Asher nodded. “I know.” He gave her a long stare, which was possible because the road was so empty and straight. “I don’t know how to see myself the way you do, Laurel. But I know I did for a moment, earlier today, and I liked it. I liked myself. I felt worthy of you.”

She snorted but felt bad for him. “Asher, you don’t have to be worthy. You just have to be wanted.”

“Am I wanted?” he asked. The vulnerability echoing in his black eyes was haunting.

“Of course you are,” she said firmly. “You know you are. Every time you’ve had me, it hasn’t been enough. Even the first time you kissed me, when you were trying to scare me and show me what alpha males were capable of, all you did was fulfill a long-held fantasy.”

Asher blinked. “Damn. I should have kept going.”

“I thought you weren’t attracted.”

Asher gripped the wheel and growled. “Not attracted? Like hell. It’s been torture trying not to think of you that way. My wolf has been howling for you for a long time, but I thought you were off-limits.” He turned to her. “But Lucas did make me make a new pack promise.”

Doubt sank through her. “Oh. Why would you do that?”

He palmed the wheel as they turned onto another abandoned road. “I think you’ll like this one. I promised I would make both of us happy, regardless of any prior pack promises.”

She put a hand up to her mouth, shaking slightly in excitement.

“And as you know,” he said. “I take my pack promises extremely seriously.”

She nodded, heart in her throat. “Yes, you do.”

He pulled the car off to the side of the road, turned off the engine, and looked over at her, resting one arm on the wheel and the other on the seat behind her. “So, Laurel, will you make us both happy by being my mate?”

She blinked.

“That is, if it would make you happy,” he said, starting to look hesitant. There was something so adorable about an alpha who was so confident in his abilities but so nervous when it came to his woman.

She leaned forward, throwing her arms around him. “Of course. Of course it will make me happy. I’ve been practically begging for it, you bastard.”

His eyes widened in surprise, but then he relaxed and ran his hands gently over her back. “I’m sorry.” He placed a kiss on her neck, and she shuddered in anticipation.

He pulled back, concern in his eyes. “Did he hurt you? Did he touch you?” Anger flared to life and a vein twitched at his temple. He cracked his knuckles, and Laurel’s eyes widened.

“No,” she said. “No, you came just in time. Until then, I’d been able to evade him, even with his alpha strength.”

“He has shit technique,” Asher mumbled.

“Right, and he’d only just gotten me into a corner when you came in. Thank goodness.”

Asher’s eyes closed as he leaned on the back of his seat. Pain was obvious on his face. “You don’t know what it was like coming in like that, seeing you terrified, seeing what he could have done. Damn, if I never have to watch a scene like that for the rest of my life, I’ll be a grateful man.”

“Yeah, maybe you won’t have to rescue me so much when we’re mated,” she said.

His eyes flew open as if he’d just realized that, and he grinned and nodded. “A definite perk.”

She flinched. “I’m sorry it’s been a pain.”

“No,” he said, reaching for her and pulling her against his warm chest again. “Never a pain. I’ll rescue you in an instant should you ever need it. However, now that I have the right to stay by your side all the time, I intend to make sure you’re never in situations where you need it.” He stroked her hair with one hand, looking into her eyes. “Though, since you’re a troublemaker, I expect to probably have to save you once or twice.”

She laughed. “I hope not.”

“I don’t know,” he said. “What if you’re hugely pregnant and you can’t get out of the tub? You might need me then.”

“Asher!” she said, laughing and giving him a shove.

“Or, I don’t know… You might be so tired after all the constant sexing that you might not be able to walk and might need me to carry you around…”

She laughed harder, snorting through her nose. “Not likely.”

He hmphed. “You never know.”

She pulled back and brushed back a stubborn lock of black hair. “You like rescuing me, don’t you?”

He nodded. “Of course. I like knowing you’re happy. Knowing you’re safe. Knowing you need me.” He blinked. “Of course, I never want you in trouble just so you need me, but I like knowing I can always be there.” He pulled her in against his chest again. She could feel her heart beating rapidly, her whole body warming at his words, his touch.

He was hers. He was finally hers. And she was his.

Too many years, too many fights, and too many other suitors she wasn’t interested in. Too many rescues, too many chased-away boyfriends. But it was all worth it if it led to this moment.

He finally released her and started the car. “All right, we better head out. I’m sure you need rest. It was a long day.” He pulled back onto the road.

Oh hell no.

“Asher, pull over,” she said, yanking on his sleeve as he accelerated.

“What do you mean?” he asked, looking at her blankly. “Don’t you want to get home?”

She shook her head. “Of course not. Asher Vale, you just promised to mate me, and I mean to have you before you can get stubborn and change your mind.”

He snorted and shoved a hand through his hair, giving her a lustful glare. “I’m never going to change my mind. Sorry, doll. You’re stuck with me.”

He looked like the bad boy he was, and she grinned.

“Then prove it.”

His eyes widened slightly, and then a grinned pulled at the corners of his mouth.

He pulled over.

10

Asher still couldn’t believe his ears. But the seductive look in Laurel’s eyes showed she was completely serious.

When Laurel knew she wanted something, she wanted it immediately.

Asher had always liked that about her.

He leaned over from where he was seated and looked into those dark, sensual eyes, flashing arousal and confidence.

“Prove it, huh?” Asher taunted, moving steadily closer.

Laurel’s breath caught for a moment “Unless you don’t think you can handle…” But her sentence was cut off by Asher’s lips covering hers. He drank in the sweet feel of them, soft and warm against his, overpowering and owning and expressing all the unsaid feelings and thoughts and desires he had toward her over the past few years. So many things undone, all coming out at once.

Asher dove inside her mouth with his tongue, stroking inside and running along the top of her mouth. She gave a gentle moan as he moved closer to her, bringing his hand behind her neck and running his fingers through her soft, curly hair.

He left her mouth and moved to her cheek, placing a soft kiss there, then moving to her ear, her neck, her collarbone. Everywhere he kissed, he was worshipping Laurel, adoring and respecting and loving this wonderful woman that had come into his life by some miracle, and by yet another miracle, wanted him.

He leaned farther over to kiss the other side of her neck and bumped the gearshift.

“Not close enough,” Asher muttered and reached over to Laurel’s seat release, moving her seat back and reclining it so she was lying as far back as possible. He pushed himself over the gearshift and on top of her, straddling her with his legs. “Much better,” he said, enjoying the view of her luscious curves below him, loving the feel of her soft thighs between his.

It all felt so amazing. So right. Part of Asher still worried he was making a mistake, that somehow she deserved better than him. But her smile was a constant reminder that Laurel wanted him, that she loved him, and that he loved her every bit as much.

He would never stop wanting to make his woman happy. Never in a million years.

Asher came back down to kiss her, and while their lips were interlocked, his hand moved down to the button of her pants, undoing them and going slowly inside. Laurel gasped as his fingers moved downward, first feeling over her soft cotton panties and then going under.

“You’re so hot,” Asher muttered against her lips. His finger felt along her center and flicked gently along the tiny nub, pulling a stifled gasp from Laurel’s lips.

“No need to be quiet. There’s nobody around for miles,” Asher said, kissing along her neck while he waited with his hand.

And Asher wasn’t lying. This street was probably the quietest in the county, a lone back road that ran for miles as it snaked around the outskirts of the city and led more or less nowhere.

Asher moved his finger over her again, more slowly and intentionally now, giving her the entire length of his digit. This time she moaned loudly, the delicious sound filling the small space in the car. Her scent was entirely everywhere, floral and fresh and completely her, driving him mad with desire for her. His wolf howled in approval.

He made small circles with his finger on her clit as he kissed and lightly bit along her neck, wanting to torture her with as much delicious sensation possible until she came over and over again in his arms.

It wasn’t long before she did, one final flick sending her over the edge. She clenched her arms around him tightly as she screamed into the noiseless night. The sound was ecstasy in Asher’s ears, as he could feel her body tense and then release.

By now the windows of the car were completely fogged from their heat. Which pleased Asher, since if any cars did happen to pass he didn’t want them to be able to see his Laurel.

Asher didn’t hesitate stroking the center of her desire again, this time more quickly, with deft, gentle motions. He could hear Laurel’s breathing as it sped up, fast and faster as she got closer to the edge. As she did, he continued to kiss her neck and lightly bite her ear, the combination clearly working for Laurel right now.

Just how Asher had gotten so damn lucky to be with this woman, he’d never know. But he did know that pleasuring her would always be this amazing.

Feeling the tensing between Laurel’s luscious thighs, he gave one last, tiny stroke, and Laurel orgasmed again, this time screaming his name with reckless abandon as he held her in his arms and she rode out the pleasure coursing through her body beneath him.

When it finally abated, Laurel looked up at him, eyes still full of desire, a soft sheen of sweat along her brow from the exertion.

“How about we take this to the back?” Asher suggested.

Laurel nodded, and he helped her crawl into the backseat of the car, and he followed, coming on top of her again.

Thankfully, the model of Asher’s mustang was roomier in the back than most cars like it and had no rear side windows, leaving the backseat almost entirely obscured.

“Just the right size,” Laurel said, her voice sensual. “I like the view from here,” she added, looking up at him and licking her lips.

“I’d be lying if I hadn’t thought about doing exactly this back here before,” he said, his hand teasing at the clasp of her bra under her shirt.

“Show me what you had in mind,” she replied.

With one deft motion, he undid her bra and pulled off her shirt, taking the bra with it. Her voluptuous breasts were bared to him, soft and tantalizing, and he couldn’t resist holding one in each hand, clasping and massaging the soft flesh. Something about their softness was so irresistible, so alluring. He placed a long, passionate kiss on one, then the other, drawing ragged moans from Laurel’s lips.

He’d have those lips begging for completion by the end.

Still holding one breast in each hand, he came down and sucked one while he teased the other with his thumb. He could feel the hardened tip form at the center of the nipple and pressed on it with his thumb while he kissed and licked at the other with his mouth. Laurel made him so incredibly hard. She was so beautiful. Every inch of her skin was paradise, every moan and gasp heaven.

He took his time as he lavished her body with kisses across her breasts, her belly, her shoulders. Even though he wanted to go inside of her this very moment, he wanted even more to relish the experience. Take in everything and give her everything she’d been deprived of until now. And each kiss rewarded him with a soft sigh as he explored and caressed her soft, curvaceous body.

As he came lower, her jeans impeded him. With a swift motion, he slid them off with her panties, leaving her completely bared to him. There was a hint of shyness in her blush, but aside from that, she was confident and collected, the epitome of a female alpha.

Asher slid to the side of her and came down, enjoying her heady scent and soft, dark skin. Then he brought his tongue to her center, feeling the heat there and diving between her soft folds, licking right along her clit.

Laurel shuddered and grasped the seat cushions, moaning loudly.

So fucking hot.

He did it again, this time slower and more intentional, savoring the taste of her, savoring the sounds she made, savoring her body’s response with each centimeter of smooth motion he made over her center. And as he licked, he massaged her breasts, his hands still not fully satisfied and needing more of the supple softness.

If Asher were able to go back into the past a few years and tell himself what he would be doing right now, past Asher wouldn’t have believed it. And probably would have decked his future self in the nose for suggesting such a thing was even possible.

But this wasn’t a dream, even if it was better than any of the wildest fantasies he could have ever had.

I’ll always be unworthy of you. But that doesn’t mean I won’t do my best every day to make you happy.

He licked along her clit one last time, accentuating the final flick with the tip of his tongue, and Laurel’s body came alive beneath his hands once more. She grasped for his hands, still at her breasts, like an anchor in a storm, and he took in the sight of her. It was unlike anything else he had ever experienced.

Well, except maybe one thing still to come.

He brought his legs back over her and ran his hands along her body as she came down from the orgasm. Her body was so soft, with just the lightest sheen of sweat that made her glow in the diffused moonlight coming through the foggy window.

“Okay Asher, time to make good on your promise,” she said, breathless.

“I don’t know. I’d say you have a few more left before…”

He was caught off guard by the feel of her hands suddenly grasping his hardness. It shocked him, then turned him on, her alpha wolf resonating with his.

“Enough foreplay. Claim me, Asher,” she insisted.

“Hell yeah,” he muttered as he pulled off his shirt and undid his pants.

He’d never been so turned on in his life, and every second seeing her naked like this was better than a thousand years of any other memory. Her mouth dropped as he slipped his boxers down, and while she stared agape at his size, he used his finger to test her entrance. She was so soft, so wet for him. So ready.

He brought his finger up and licked it, savoring the taste before going back and going inside her with one finger, then two, stretching gently and making sure he would be able to fit.

When he was satisfied, he came over her and she wrapped her legs around him, locking tightly.

No turning back now.

He would never want to.

Asher waited at her entrance, teasing her with his tip. He was so turned on; he would love to just drive into her. But there would be time for that later. Right now he wanted to be careful, wanted to make sure this felt as good for her as he was sure it was going to feel for him.

With a very slow, smooth motion, he came inside her halfway, and waited, letting her adjust to his sheer size. Even without the friction though, being inside of her felt so incredible, so indescribably intense and invigorating.

Laurel’s eyes went wide, then she breathed out slowly as Asher could see shock turn to ecstasy in her eyes as he paused for her. Before he could move, she pushed her hips down and brought him the rest of the way in, meeting at the hilt, all the way inside, and she moaned loudly. Asher’s body shivered involuntarily. It was such ecstasy, so unlike anything he’d ever experienced.

This was going to feel better than anything else in the world.

At first, Laurel was worried Asher wouldn’t be able to fit inside her once she saw how large he was. But now that he was there inside her, the two of them enmeshed, she couldn’t wait to feel more. Aside from the incredible filling sensation that came from having his thick, hard member inside, there was something more elating that came with it. Some uniting, supernal force that transcended the mere physicality of the act.

Asher had been gentle, making sure she had time to adjust and giving her plenty of orgasms to lead up. And each one was better than the last, each one rocking her to her core and shattering her expectations.

But even she had her physical limitations. And this was probably going to take her right up to the point where she could handle no more.

Asher slowly moved inside her, testing to make sure it didn’t shock her. It didn’t, and the warm friction only felt better by the second. She could feel each ridge, pressing every single spot inside, sending sparks going off throughout her body.

“Faster,” she said before he thrust in again, pulling a moan from her lips.

Damn, it felt good. And she’d just been licked, loved, and laved with so many kinds of pleasure she couldn’t even count.

As Asher moved more quickly, his breathing got more intense as well, and she loved the sight of his perfect pecs and abs above her. Each muscle was so thick, so strong, all for her. Asher had protected her in so many ways, and she could relax knowing he would always be there for her.

She ran her hands along his chest, feeling each defined muscle as he pushed inside, joining them together at the hips. His strength resonated through her, filling her with such incredible ecstasy she never wanted it to stop as he moved at a steady pace that was tantalizingly perfect. His scent was everywhere, powerful and spicy and uniquely his. There was so much to take in about him, and she loved it.

Laurel couldn’t believe it was Asher doing all of this. Her Asher. The fiery, independent, often short-tempered man that had rescued her all those years ago. He’d grown so much in the time that passed, but he was still the same man to her. Still the same sexy, protective, incredible man that would be hers forever.

Her thought was completely interrupted as Asher reached his hand down to her clit and stimulated her like he had earlier. Only this time, the combination of having him moving inside and his finger rubbing along the tiny, sensitive nub was so overwhelming that she instantly came. She reached out and grasped him by the shoulders, digging her nails in as her entire body burned and washed over with pleasure. Her vision blurred from the sensation, though she could vaguely make out Asher watching her hungrily, smiling with satisfaction at her coming.

Wave after wave of sensation coursed over her, and every time she thought it would end, his thickness inside her stimulated her further, lengthening the orgasm. But slowly it abated, and she came back down to earth and was greeted again by Asher’s chiseled, masculine face.

“I love you, Laurel,” he said, both an expression of feeling and a promise.

“I love you too, Asher,” she said, mustering what breath she could to speak.

This was it. Once they were finished, they would be mated. Together forever.

It was the best thing she could ever have hoped to imagine.

Laurel’s wolf howled, ready to be one with her alpha protector. Not waiting for him, she moved her hips against him, and Asher moved into her with renewed strength and speed, thrusting faster and faster. The hot, wet friction was unlike anything, and the faster he went, the harder she pushed with her hips, increasing the sensation.

Asher’s breathing became more intense, and she could see his strong, thick arms tensed with exertion. She couldn’t wait to be the one watching her mate going for the first time with her.

Her own body was already so sensitive she had to take deep breaths just to keep ahold of herself. But as Asher appeared to be reaching his limit, he reached down once more, stroking up against her center even as all the sensation was reaching its peak.

Damned man will never stop, will he?

It was the last thing that went through Laurel’s mind as she was overtaken by the most powerful orgasm of her life. And just a moment after, she could feel her body tense and then explode with sensation. Then she felt Asher push all the way in and then tense as he came over the edge with her.

It was pure ecstasy. Beyond description. Her entire body, every nerve and every cell, shook with pleasure that coursed through her all at once as she cried Asher’s name to the heavens. And inside her, Asher’s thick hardness filled her with warmth and satisfaction that coupled with her own orgasm to make pure perfection. Asher wrapped his arms around her as they rode out the pleasure that burned inside each of them, separately and together.

Her wolf howled long and hard, and in her mind, she could hear Asher’s wolf howl in response, the two of them united forever and satisfied to be so.

Asher pumped once more into her, and Laurel enjoyed the elated high that so many orgasms, given to her by this man, brought her. Her body felt light as a feather yet completely exhausted of all pleasure she could have received at one time like this.

For just a minute, Asher stayed inside her, and she relished being with her now mate, looking forward to many more nights like this with him.

Asher came out slowly, then grabbed his huge leather jacket from the front seat and covered the both of them with it, snuggling around her as they scrunched together in the back seat of Asher’s car. He nuzzled the back of her neck and held her close.

“Mine,” he said. “Finally.”

“I’ll say,” she replied, cuddling closer.

In a minute, they would head home. The house would finally be their house, not just the place both of them lived. They would tell their friends about it, and congratulations would be shared. Everyone would know they weren’t just coworkers and best friends, but mated lovers now starting a family of their own.

Nothing would be the same, and Laurel liked that.

But for now, she just wanted to feel Asher’s warmth surrounding her and enjoy the feeling of safety from anything and everything in the world, a feeling that only he could bring.

“Damn,” Asher said. “I thought mating you would somehow make me less overprotective, more secure.” He hugged her tight and growled. “But I think it’s made me worse.”

She laughed. “That’s okay. I’m used to it at this point.” She turned to look up at him, brushing her hand against the day’s worth of stubble on his strong jaw. “I think I’d miss it if you stopped.”

“Good,” he said, nuzzling the top of her head. “Because I don’t think I ever can. At this point, even thinking about other men looking at you is making me furious.”

“Sorry,” she said. “People are going to look. I have a job. You can’t lock me in the basement.”

“True,” he said, looking disappointed, which made her laugh.

“But it’s okay,” she said. “You’ll be there for me, and I’ll be there for you.”

“What would I need you to protect me from?” he asked, looking puzzled as his strong arms encircled her.

“Yourself,” she said simply. “When you forget how much I love you.”

He blinked in surprise and then grinned. “Fair enough. All right, you protect me, and I’ll protect you. As long as you stay with me forever, I think I’ll be okay.”

She nodded and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “I think I can do that.”

She pulled his arms tighter around her and relaxed into the leather and the soft rhythm of his breath. Forever with her alpha protector? She couldn’t think of anything better.

Epilogue

Laurel grinned as she watched Asher wrestle with the Little Wolves class. Martial arts studios often called their youngest courses things like “little wolves” or “little tigers”, but in this case the meaning was literal.

It was a class of young wolf shifters. And in the battle between them and Asher, they were winning.

She stifled a laugh as they worked together to knock his feet out from under him and then pile on top of him, growling fiercely though they were in human form.

One was the son of his oldest brother, Lucas, with dark hair and fierce green eyes. Then there were the twin daughters from his brother Jordan, with reddish black hair and blue eyes like their mother’s. All of them ranged from three to five years old, and there were three others as well, the offspring of several of Asher’s friends from an alpha challenge he’d attended. They were there in exchange for helping Asher get information about Dane.

One of them, an imperious little blond girl, was commanding the others in using Asher’s belt to tie him up while his cousins, a short, tanned boy with curly amber hair and amber eyes, and a girl with dark hair and blue eyes, sat on his legs, pinning him.

Asher sent her an exasperated glare and she just laughed, throwing her head back at the adorable sight of her disgruntled mate nearly lost beneath the sight of all of the rampaging cubs.

Would this change his opinion of what she intended to tell him after class? They’d only been mated for a few months.

It might come as a bit of a shock.

She strode over reluctantly to rescue her mate from the situation he was in. The rough little cubs had managed to roll him onto his face and tie his hands behind his back, and despite his frustrated growls, she knew it was only his intense gentleness toward little ones that was letting them get away with this.

She smirked down and then clapped her hands, drawing the munchkins’ attention. Six sweet, attentive little faces looked up at her.

“Now, that wasn’t nice,” she said. “You should untie Uncle Asher.”

The twins who were the daughters of Asher’s brother Jordan turned up their nose at the idea. “No. He started it.”

“Yeah, he said we’re little!” The little blond girl who seemed to be the ring leader said.

Asher grumbled something unintelligible and she laughed, knowing it was probably something not safe for kid’s ears. She grabbed one under each arm, snarling though they were, and carried them off the mat. When they moved as if to head back, she stuck out a finger.

“Now, that’s my mate, and you don’t want to make me upset, do you?”

They blinked up at her and then shook their heads. She had a way with kids. So did Asher, as long as they weren’t kids who knew him. As soon as they realized what a softie he was, it was all over.

She waved for the other kids to follow and they narrowed their eyes at her and stayed by their quarry, who was wriggling to get free.

She sighed. “Who wants after-class treats?” she called, going to the mini fridge to pull out ice pops.

That did it, the other four almost tripped over their short, chubby legs trying to reach her now, and she heard Asher let out a gruff sigh of relief. After she got the kids situated in chairs with their treats, she walked out over the mat to her mate.

She crouched next to him as he rolled on his arms to look up at her. “You okay?” she asked.

“My hero,” he muttered, waiting for her to untie him. “I can’t believe you gave them treats.”

“Well, you shouldn’t have hurt their pride.”

“They are little,” he said. “And besides, they need to know who’s boss.”

She eyed him. “Hm. I’m sure they do now.”

“Untie me,” he said tersely, eyes glowing now that she was close. She felt a familiar heat that always rose in her when she was near, and could feel blood move into her cheeks.

“I don’t know, you look great as you are.” She loved the look of his gi slightly falling off his incredible shoulders, his buff arms rippling with tension as he struggled.

He growled. “The little monsters had alpha strength. Not fair.”

“Hm, yeah. Iron skin isn’t much of a benefit in this situation.” She brushed his hair back and he shuddered slightly, at her mercy.

“Mommy, what is aunt Laurel doing to Master Vale?”

Both her and Asher’s gazes snapped to the door, where Lucas and his wife Lily were walking in, the first to pick up their kid.

“I don’t know,” Lucas’s loud voice thundered, sounding angry. “Doesn’t look like something appropriate in front of kids though.”

Asher snarled. “It’s not what it looks like.”

Laurel laughed and untied him.

“We’ll finish this later,” he said, flashing her a grin that said he wasn’t going to let her get away with teasing him and not immediately untying him.

“I look forward to it,” she said, standing and reaching down a hand. He took it and she pulled him to his feet. He stretched and then walked to the door.

“I’ll wait for the parents,” he said. “You okay tidying up the class?”

She nodded gratefully. He knew she was more comfortable doing that than meeting wolves she didn’t know. Plus his friends were intimidating. Wolves with the kind of bloodlines even her dad had envied. Their wives seemed nice, and maybe she’d get to know them eventually, but for now she just wanted to focus on cleaning up and what would happen between her and Asher once everyone else was gone for the day.

A little while later, they were alone in the dojo.

Asher closed and locked the doors, and shrugged out of his gi top without saying a word. He was wearing a tight tee shirt that made her mouth water. But then he grabbed the black fabric belt the kids had used on him earlier. And marched toward her ominously.

She giggled and turned to run, but he caught her easily, trapping her against one of the punching bags she’d tried to hide behind.

“Uh oh,” she said.

“Uh oh is right,” he said, but his eyes were full of mirth as he reached around her with the belt, trying to tie her to the bag. “Now you’re all mine.”

She laughed. “Okay. But before you tie that too tight around my waist, there’s something you should know.”

He raised an eyebrow and stopped. “What do you mean?”

She leaned forward and whispered it in his ear, and the belt dropped out of his hands as he stepped back and looked down her body in shock. Then he came forward and squeezed her into a hug, lifting her in the air and spinning her around as he shouted with joy.

When he finally set her down, she was dizzy and she glared at him. But it was hard to be mad when he looked so overjoyed that they were having a cub.

“Do you know what it is yet?” he asked. “Wait, no, that’ll be a long time yet.” He ran his hand through his hair. “I can’t believe it. This is amazing.” He scooped her up again but remembered to be gentle this time. He sat down with her in his arms, cradling her in his lap as he sat cross-legged.

He rested his head on hers. “Damn, even with those brats earlier tying me up, I don’t think I could ever hear better news in my life.”

She grinned. “I was a bit worried about telling you.”

His hand rested protectively over her stomach as he shook his head. “Never be worried with me. I’ll always take care of you.”

“Hopefully he’ll be a little more well-behaved, although if he’s anything like his dad…”

Asher laughed. “Yeah. Well, they’re worse in groups anyway. Not that I’d complain if you popped out a few more.”

She swatted at him playfully and he went back to just holding her in his arms and enjoying the moment.

“Damn,” he said, shaking his head again.

“What?” she asked, feeling warm and content against his chest, within his strong arms. She knew he’d take care of her and any cub that came around.

“I’m going to be unbearably protective now, aren’t I?” he asked.

She shrugged. “Probably. I like that about you though. Means me and our cub will always be safe.”

He growled. “That’s good. I’ll try to reign myself in though.”

She turned in his arms and touch his face, turning it to face hers. “Asher Vale, you can be just who you are. I love you with all the ridiculousness inside you.”

He pressed his lips together, not knowing what to say. He pulled her in again. “And I love you for putting up with me.”

“Well, there are some definite benefits,” she said, wriggling against him.

His body tensed and then he grinned, raising an eyebrow. “Oh yeah? You interested in going home and exploring some of those benefits now?” he asked.

She nodded.

“Hot damn,” he said, picking her up in his arms and striding out of the dojo to the car.

He started the engine and sighed. “Damn, whenever I drive this car all I can think of is mating you in the back of it.”

Blood rushed to her face. “Yeah. Me too.”

“You interested in taking a detour?” he asked, pulling off the main road that led back to the mansion.

She giggled. “I just might be.”

He slung an arm around her and drove to a place where they could be alone. And then he showed his mate once again all the benefits of putting up with his ridiculousness.

In the back seat.

Thank you for reading my Wolf Protector series! I so appreciate your support and would love a review if you enjoyed it.

If you haven’t read the other two books in the series, they are here:

Alpha Champion (Lucas’s story)

Alpha Hero (Jordan’s story)

I have a sample on the next page of my most recent release, on sale for .99. It’s a menage starring two big bad dragon shifters, and is available now on Amazon!

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Thanks again so much!

Terry

Sample of Double Dragons

Chapter 1

“Just put her in the bag.”

The frightening words jolted Melissa Jones out of the book she was reading.

Just who was trying to put whom in a bag?

The library was eerily dark all around her. She’d stayed late, reading, as she often did after work, because she tended to get caught up in books and because there was no one waiting at home for her.

Being assistant librarian with a key to all the books in the world was truly the perfect job.

Until a bunch of thugs had to come along and ruin it.

Her heart pounded as she plastered herself to the wall and risked a look out the side window.

A large group of the some of the biggest, meanest-looking men she’d ever seen was partially blocking the window. As she moved to the other side to get a better look, she realized there were at least a dozen. All angry, all fierce. All twice her size or more.

And they were looking down at something in the center that she couldn’t make out. Something that was whimpering in a heart-wrenching way. They’d said words like “kidnapping,” “slavery,” and “valuable.” And the growls and mewls she heard seemed to be coming from a human child—girl, she thought, though she couldn’t see properly.

Human traffickers. And even though she was woefully unequipped to take them on, she would sooner cut out her own heart than walk away without trying to stop them. No child deserved something like this. No human for that matter.

Melissa took a deep breath and considered her options.

At 5’4” with an amply curvaceous figure and no athletic ability to speak of, she knew she wasn’t the best option for a hero. But she also knew with the slow response of police in the little town, the group could be gone and untraceable by the time they arrived.

She heard another yelp from outside and felt her heart thump hard inside her.

Despite her fear, her heart hammered in approval as she walked stubbornly to the door and opened it wide, drawing the men’s attention to her instead of their prey.

“You there,” she said, trying to figure out what one would say to human traffickers. “Stop what you’re doing.”

The man closest to her straightened to full height and stared at her with glowing yellow eyes. The rest of the men followed suit. Most were wearing dingy black leather and had longish, shaggy hair and unshaven faces. Their eyes gleamed as they stepped between her and their prey, blocking her view and eyeing her with thinly veiled rage and something a little more predatory.

She clenched her hands into fists at her side and tried to stay calm, despite being hopelessly outnumbered. “I’ve called the police,” she lied. “Just get out of here.”

“Not until we take what’s ours,” the leader said. “If I were you, I’d just turn around and go straight back into that library, little lady.” He flashed a sneering grin at her, his teeth looking more like fangs. She took a hesitant half step back but then held her ground, pointing a finger at them.

“No, you need to leave her alone and move on,” she said, still hearing little yelps and growls from whatever they were hiding.

The tallest one, the one in front, cracked his neck abruptly, keeping flashing yellow eyes on her as he approached. “Oh yeah?” He advanced on her menacingly. “And what are you going to do about it if I don’t?”

She took a step back but put her fists up defensively. This was going to be stupidly easy for them, but she would die knowing she’d done the right thing. She hoped the self-defense classes she’d taken at the community center helped her put up at least a token fight.

A few men stepped out from behind the others. Damn, there were more than she’d thought. Cold fear spiraled down her spine in icy lines, but she held her ground. She heard more whimpering and held firm.

“Don’t come any closer,” she said.

The lead eyed her lazily, like he was deciding how best to dispatch her without anyone knowing. The sad truth was it would be all too easy. Melissa had practically made a career of not having any connections in this small town, and she had no family to speak of.

No one would miss her. The thought was chilling.

“You should just move along, ma’am. This ain’t none of your business,” a man with scraggly blond hair said, stepping into the light. “You should just go back into that library where you’ll be safe.”

The dark-haired leader sent the blond man a silencing glance. “It’s too late for that now. She’s seen.”

“She ain’t seen much. Just us helping taking this wolf cub back to the forest,” the blond man said, moving aside to give her a view of what they’d been threatening.

Sure enough, a little wolf cub with pale fur was sitting in the circle, trembling. It looked up at her with baleful blue eyes, eyes that begged her not to leave. She felt puzzlement move through her.

“I heard a girl… I was sure…”

The blond man’s face tightened and he moved in front of the tiny cub, folding his arms. He was lankier than his leader, but all of them were obscenely tall, at least a few inches over six feet, and built as well. There was something animal in their gazes. Were they some kind of motorcycle gang or something?

“Are you sure there’s not a girl back there? I was sure I heard a human voice…”

“Shut up!” the leader said, making a slashing motion with his hand as he came closer. “This has nothing to do with you.” He closed the distance between them in a motion too fast to be human, grabbing her by the front of her shirt and hoisting her up so her toes were barely grazing the cement. Then he took a deep breath, closing his eyes as he scented her, and when his eyes opened, he was leering down at her.

“We’ll take her as well,” he said.

She struggled to break free. His eyes glowed with pure evil, the kind that made her insides twist into tight, painful coils.

So maybe she’d made a miscalculation by putting her life on the line for a wolf rather than a human, but either way, nothing small and helpless deserved to be at the mercy of this horrible man.

The man scented her once more and then tossed her to a subordinate, who caught her against his body and leered, his hands wrapping around her waist as she struggled. The leader approached her as she was held, helpless and still, forced to look at him.

He grabbed her chin and looked into her eyes. “I’ll mate with you first. When we’re done, you’ll be screaming for mercy. Begging for someone to come save you, to be as stupid as you’ve just been tonight.”

She gritted her teeth together, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of knowing she was scared shitless.

“I don’t know about the begging part, fucker, but if you don’t take your hands off her, in about three seconds, you’re going to be the one screaming for mercy,” a deep voice boomed toward them.

Melissa tried to see her rescuer but couldn’t turn enough in her captor’s arms.

“I happen to agree,” another deep voice said, cutting into the silence of the night.

“Release the girl,” the first voice said, equally deep but with a different, smoother tone.

Both voices had a rich, reassuring quality that resonated deep within her and bespoke strength and power. Just what she and the tiny wolf cub needed right at this moment.

The man holding her loosened his grip slightly as his attention was turned toward his leader.

The leader walked forward, scenting the air slowly. Then his eyes flew open and his whole body tensed up, ready for battle.

“Dragons,” he growled. He waved at her captor. “Let the woman go. We’ll need all hands.”

Thrown to the side, she landed painfully on the pavement as the whole group turned to the men who had spoken. She still couldn’t see them, so she crawled to the side, onto the grass, hoping to catch a glimpse of her rescuers.

When she saw them, her heart simultaneously leapt and fell. Leapt because they were the most beautiful, intimidating men she’d ever seen. Fell because there were only two of them.

They were taller than the men around them but with a clean, elegant refinement that set them apart from their brutish opponents.

The one in front seemed to be in charge. He had tanned skin and golden hair that shone in the light from the streetlamps. He was the shorter of the two, though still tall at a few inches over six feet, and had a face that reminded her of a movie star, sharp and gorgeous and completely unique.

But almost too beautiful. He seemed to almost glow. Still, his nearly feminine face was offset by the feral gleam in his green eyes and the muscles all over his tall, lean body.

The man beside him stepped forward with folded arms. This one was the opposite of his partner, with dark hair, a forbidding height of around 6’5”, and a dark expression that bespoke ill for whoever crossed him. His face was classically handsome, with square jaw and chiseled features. But there was a calm coldness in his bearing that complimented the feline menace of his partner.

Despite the horrible situation, she could feel her body respond to her perusal of them. The most gorgeous men she’d ever seen, and she had to meet them just before dying.

Just her luck.

Available now on Amazon

Double Dragons .99

Also by Terry Bolryder

Bearstone Park Series (Standalone novels)

A billionaire tech mogul, a movie star, and an Olympic snowboarder come back to Bearstone Park and find unexpected but wonderful mates.

Bearllionaire

Bearlebrity

Bearthlete

Polar Heat Series

A matchmaking papa bear sets his three shifter sons up with women on a Caribbean island.

Bear-ever Yours

Some Bear to Love

One in a Bear-llion

Remem-bear Me (Dad’s book)

The Alpha Series

Alpha Games Serial (Novellas with cliffhangers between volumes)

An alpha female returns home to the pack mates she left and finds herself choosing between three alpha males in this paranormal romance serial from Terry Bolryder

Alpha Games Boxed Set

Or buy separately:

Alpha Games 1

Alpha Games 2

Alpha Games 3

Alpha Games 4

Alpha Rogue Serial (Novellas with cliffhangers between volumes)

An MMA fighting shifter meets his match in his exciting paranormal romance serial from Terry Bolryder.

Alpha Rogue Boxed Set Sale

Or buy separately:

Alpha Rogue 1

Alpha Rogue 2

Alpha Rogue 3

Alpha Contender Serial (Novellas with cliffhangers between volumes)

A average human woman finds out she’s a desirable female alpha and ends up in a mansion with ten possible suitors in this paranormal romance serial from Terry Bolryder.

Alpha Contender Boxed Set Sale

Or buy separately:

Alpha Contender 1

Alpha Contender 2

Alpha Contender 3

Alpha Contender 4

Thanks so much for reading!

Terry