“That’s not —” Cari starts, but he jerks the leash again, cutting her off.
“Don’t hurt her,” I scrape out.
He nods. “Turn around and walk out. Take your friend, too. Then we all get what we want. She’s happy, you’re happy, I’m happy.”
I hear a dog bark, high and sharp, from the back of the house. It draws Gabe’s attention. He frowns, his movements becoming more agitated. Cari’s blue eyes plead silently with me to get Radar out of this situation, but I can’t leave her even for a second.
“Go,” I murmur to Tristan. “Grab Radar on the way. I think he’s in the bedroom.” To Cari, I add, “Sorry about your kitchen.”
Then I shift.
Chapter 25
Cari
Zed bursts out of his skin like a volcano erupting, terrifying and magnificent. His enormous left elbow dents my refrigerator and his right one knocks all the dishes out of the cabinet. They smash onto the floor, sending shards of ceramics flying. The angry roar he lets out blows my hair back.
And then he swallows Gabe. There’s the tiniest tug on the leash before his teeth sever it, and then Gabe is just…gone.
The enormous dragon that is my mate gives me the tiniest, apologetic shrug of his shoulders and then lumbers out of the cottage through the sliding glass door, destroying it completely.
Outside, I can hear sirens approaching, and relief settles over me.
Everything’s going to be all right.
I knew the second I looked at the spreadsheet link that it wasn’t Zed’s. Sure, it had a ton of stuff in it that only he knew. Things we talked about, the flavor profile of my pussy. But it had other stuff, too. The voicemails, the things left on my porch. The panties stolen, the friends harassed. Things Zed would never do. Boundaries he’d never cross.
It’s my stalker, trying to keep me away from the one person who will protect me. So I texted back before blocking the number.
Cari
FUCK OFF
But then came the knock at the door a few minutes later. As soon as I looked out the window and saw the brown Sasquatch holding a sunflower on my doorstep, my heart stopped. It was him. His fur perfectly matched the lock of hair he’d sent me. And the sunflower perfectly matched the bouquet I’dthoughtwas from Zed.
“Remember me?” he called through the door. “Gabe? Zed’s friend from high school?”
I remembered him. We never talked much, but he was always there, hanging around in the background. Watching us. Radar must have sensed the bolt of fear that ran through me, because he started barking like crazy.
Quickly, I dialed the local police, who are well aware of my history. Over Radar’s loud barks, I explained that my stalker was at my front door, and they promised to send a squad car.
“I just want to talk,” he called through the door, banging on it. “I need to clear things up.”
“I called the cops,” I yelled back. Outside, it went silent, which was almost creepier than before. And then I heard the noise. The beep of the code being entered. I forgot to change it.
And then the front door opened.
Radar heard it, dashing toward the intruder before I could stop him. His little whimper when Gabe caught him destroyed my soul. I’d never let anyone hurt him if I could help it.
That’s how I found myself texting Zed those heartbreaking words. Calling the cops to tell them I was mistaken and to cancel the squad car. Letting Gabe tie me up and put a leash on me. Listening to his confessions of love, his twisted dreams for our life together in the forest. All so he’d let Radar live.
It worked. It worked long enough for Zed to come for me like I knew he would. A stupid text wouldn’t keep him away. I just didn’t know he was going toeatGabe when he finally showed up.
I’m not sorry he did it, but I hope he doesn’t get in trouble for it.
Long minutes later, a couple of police officers come inside to untie me and clear the house. One takes my statement, nodding sympathetically as I describe what happened, glossing over the part where my mate straight-up swallowed him.
“He, uh, disappeared.”
