Page 289 of Knot What I Expected

I smell her fear, sharp and bitter beneath the warm woodsmoke-and-autumn scent that belongs only to my Honey Girl.

The matebond pulses.

I’m here.

She can’t hear the words.

But I push everything I can through our connection.

You are not alone.

A branch moves overhead.

I don’t look up.

I don’t need to.

Justin.

The Dragon owns the sky.

Somewhere across the trail, I catch another familiar scent.

Bear.

Wreck.

Good.

The Alpha Bear is moving parallel to us through the forest, keeping enough distance that Ethan won’t catch his scent before we want him to.

Three predators.

One target.

But this isn’t about the hunt.

Not yet.

Matteo first.

Monster agrees.

Pup.

The word nearly destroys whatever control I have left.

My fucking pup.

Some bastard has his hands on the little boy who steals my fries and counts my swear words. The kid who leaves dinosaurs all over my cabin and thinks Justin should breathe fire on command.

The boy who looked at me like becoming part of his world was the most natural fucking thing imaginable.

Ethan threatened him.

Monster’s lips peel away from his teeth.

No sound escapes.