Page 18 of Shielded By My Mate

“Angel.” A strained smile pulls at his mouth. “My bear is barely under control around you.”

I glance down at the solid wall of muscle pinning me to the mattress, then back at his face. “You seem pretty controlled to me.”

“I’m not.” His voice is a growl. “If we keep going, I won’t be able to stop. And the first time I claim you, it needs to be under the full moon.”

My heart stutters at the word claim.

Ansel searches my face, his expression softening. “Only if that’s what you want.”

Yesterday, the thought made me nervous. Maybe it still should, but lying beneath him, surrounded by his warmth and held as if I’m the most precious thing in his world, I can’t seem to find any nerves.

“What if I don’t want to wait?”

His eyes close, and he releases a sound that’s half groan, half growl. “Angel,” he warns.

I bite my lip to hide my smile as my hips rock against him. His eyes snap open, and I stop, trying to look innocent.

“That isn’t helping.”

“Maybe I’m not trying to help.”

For a moment, he simply stares at me. Then he drops his forehead against mine and laughs, the deep, rusty sound making warmth bloom inside my chest.

“I’m going to make you breakfast,” he says, reluctantly pushing away.

“That doesn’t sound nearly as fun.”

“No,” he agrees, climbing out of bed. He adjusts the front of his sweatpants and gives me a heated look. “But it’s a lot safer.”

“For who?”

“For both of us.”

I watch him move around the room, then lift my arms when he comes to carry me downstairs. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this light and happy in my life. We’re in our own little perfect bubble, and I wonder if it will always be like this between us.

I’m about to ask him more about shifters and fated mates, maybe tease him and see if I can’t get him to kiss me like that again as he sets me down at the kitchen table, but a flash of movement outside catches my eye.

I turn, looking out the window, and my heart takes off in my chest when I lock eyes with one of the men who took me.

“Ansel!” I scream, but he’s already spotted them.

“Stay here,” he orders.

I nod, watching with wide eyes as he heads outside to confront the men. I look out the window, desperately scanning the backyard for the men, but they’re not there. They’re already on the back porch. I start to cry, pushing to my feet when they kick open the back door, guns already drawn.

“There you are, you little bitch,” one of the men snarls.

I freeze as panic fills me.

Then my body goes into fight-or-flight response. I turn to run at the same second that Ansel lunges forward, shifting right there in the kitchen.

His clothes are torn to shreds, and I scream again at the sudden transformation.

“What the fuc⁠—”

The man’s words are cut off as Ansel lunges for him, his bear taking the man to the ground easily. The movement forces the other man back outside, and I take a wobbly step toward the back door.

I need to see Ansel. I need to make sure he’s okay.