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He’d bought that damn helmet at a thrift shop a few months back.Not for her,he told himself then. He had always thought about selling or renting out those horses—anything to get them exercise. It only made sense that he should toss in some supplies for the new owners...
But a helmet inhersize, exactly? Bought only a few days after he first noticed her on his property?
Besides, he had been telling himself that lie about selling the horses for years and never acted on it. It was time to admit that those animals were stuck with him, whether they liked it or not, and that he had picked out the stupid helmet with onlyherin mind.
Seeing her finally wear it, he couldn’t really bring himself to regret it. He had suspected she would love to ride, but witnessing that joy for himself was…
Indescribable. She couldn’t hide her excitement. For once, her mouth wasn’t wrinkled with worry, but flat in an expression of calm that made something in him ache to see her smile. Her body wasn’t tense with anticipation or fear, but loose and languid as she easily adjusted to the rhythm of the saddle.
It was dangerous, letting her near those animals, considering what she was, but a part of him had to admit that they didn’t seem to sense the predator lurking within her.
Oh, buthecould.
The scent of her unease had jolted him out of a deep, dreamless sleep. Anger gave a dark edge to her already strange aroma—an animalistic, primal flavor that had a part of him humming in appreciation, even as his body throbbed with a need he couldn’t ignore.
It was instinct—a male called by the strength of a female.
When she finally came into her own, she would be…
Nothis. The thought had him gritting his teeth in irritation—but tough shit. He had already made up his mind. The night of the attack was the final straw. Seeing her in danger shattered any resolve he had left.
He couldn’t protect her here for long. After sleeping on it, he’d made his choice. The best course of action was to train her to hold her own. Teach her as much of their ways as he could in three days. Then he would break the bond and deal with whatever fallout came after. It was better than the alternative, if not ideal—Loren needed the safety of a pack. She needed arealAlpha to tame the wolf she would become—not to mention, protect her, should the Eislanders return.Once her safety was no longer an issue, Bill was more than willing to face his judgment.
On his terms.
He felt his eyes narrow as he watched Loren circle the paddock. She had a willowy ease in the saddle that was almost unnatural. He had never seen anything like it. Like her…
The difference from the frightened, bruised girl he’d found huddled at the edge of his property was stark. She was stronger than she thought she was. Strong enough to handle the truth.
And strong enough to withstand the shattering of the mating bond—even if he wasn’t. It affected him in ways he couldn’t ignore. Made him do things...like curl up beside her merely because some greedy part of him craved her heat, her warmth.
Her scent.
He still had that damn dress she had been wearing that night in the woods. That nightgown. It was locked in his truck, hoarded like some pirate’s treasure under the passenger seat. At the back of his mind, he knew it was creepy. Wrong. Sick. But that didn’t help the urge to keep a part of her—any piece he could…even if it happened to be mud-stained, torn, and covered in blood.
She’s mine; the possessive thought raced through his entire body like a pulse as he watched her circle the paddock for the hundredth time.
He tried to rationalize her youth, her innocence—all those delicate little details that humans liked to harp over.The beast in him just scoffed. “Rules” or “facts” or what was socially proper didn’t matter to a lycan. They relied on instinct—fate.
Andfateclaimed that she washisthe moment she unknowingly slipped onto his property.Histhe second he found her, traumatized and scared in the woods, desperate to take her own life.Hiswhen she marked him, sinking her teeth into his flesh, in a primal form of possession.
That kiss—despite how he might spin it—hadn’t been a damn mistake. For that one, brief moment, he hadfinallybeen in control. The lycan instinct had broken free of its leash and claimed what it wanted. And her reaction had been unanticipated…
Don’t go there,he told himself as she trotted past.
She was too busy concentrating on keeping her balance that she didn’t see how he flinched, as her scent hit him like a punch in the gut. He leaned forward anyway, gripping the wooden fencing until his knuckles ached.
It wouldn’t do him any good to wonder what she might feel for him, if anything at all. Her emotions were warped by the bond. Twisted. Besides, she wouldn’t be here for much longer.
Like a grim herald of what was to come, he heard the distant sounds of gravel crunching under tires. His body tensed as he turned toward the main road, and a list of potential intruders marched through his mind. Lukka? The Eislanders? Someone else who wanted him dead? There were plenty of enemies to choose from these days.
When the black car zoomed into the driveway, he assumed it was the first of the three options. Thankfully, the slender figure exiting the driver’s side wasnotLukka.
“This is a surprise,” he called while crossing the field in her direction. From the corner of his eye, he saw Loren remain mounted in her saddle.
“So nice to see you’re still alive,” Sonia called, slamming the door behind her.
Uh-oh.Her cheeks were flushed, blue eyes flashing as she marched toward him. In all the years they’d known each other, Bill had rarely seen her so angry. Despite the petite mortal frame, she wasallwolf. And she was pissed.
