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“So, what are your plans for the rest of the day?” Mars spoke in an attempt to lessen the sudden tension. It was almost late afternoon. But the sun was still out and bright.
Oklahoma City was hot and humid. Yet, when he looked at Rhiannon, he saw her shiver.
“I have to go back to the office,” she said. Then finished her coffee. “I left some papers there. Some stuff about the shelter project that I want to work on over the weekend.”
“Can I take you there?” he offered, and he watched her face as she hesitated and then acquiesced.
Rhiannon had one of the most expressive faces he had ever seen. It was fascinating to watch her making decisions.
“Okay, thank you. I appreciate it. I just hope I left my work clothes there,” she said, laughing.
“I’d never want you to change out of what you’re wearing,” Mars said and winked at her. He wasn’t lying. Rhiannon looked stunning. Though he could think of a few activities where she wasn’t wearing that dress.
Where she wasn’t wearing anything at all.
“Stay here, and I’ll go get the car. I wouldn’t want you to ruin your heels,” he said, his voice almost indulgent.
The venue where the press conference had been held was just across the road. Rhiannon remained in her chair in the coffee shop while Mars jogged across the street. The crowd had dispersed as everyone finished the lunch provided and went back to their offices.
Mars knew that the real work was only just beginning. Now that the shelter project had been announced, the pressure was on. Everyone involved, including Rhiannon, would have to work hard to make sure the shelter project happened by the deadline.
He had driven one of his favorite cars to the press announcement. It was a dark sedan, not too flashy. Gerri had advised him to drop all the flashy accessories and toys that he usually used in public. And he knew that money wasn’t going to impress Rhiannon, so he had gladly followed the advice.
He pulled up on the curb near the coffee shop where Rhiannon waited for him. Mars jumped out and opened the passenger door for her.
He knew the way to her office and merged smoothly with the afternoon traffic.
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” he asked her, his voice as gentle as he could make it.
Rhiannon sighed shakily. “I am not sure, but I don’t want to overthink it. That girl might just be a coincidence at the end of the day.”
“You wouldn’t have jumped to the conclusion of a threat if she was a coincidence,” Mars said, his voice wavering slightly as he spoke.
Soon they were pulling in front of her office building.
They both sat in silence, looking at one another for a moment. Then Rhiannon leaned toward him and brushed a kiss against his cheek. His eyes closed for a brief second when her lips met his skin. Then she opened the car door and got out.
He watched her walk in and was about to pull away when he paused.
If anyone was threatening Rhiannon, they’d be watching her. And if they were watching her, they would know she spent most of her time at the office.
So instead of leaving, Mars got out of the car and decided to walk to the back of the office building. Rhiannon’s wasn’t the only building around.
There was also a medical center and an abandoned shopping mall. The medical center teemed with people, and he had no worries about it. But the mall was a different story.
Entering through a broken glass door, he stepped into a pit filled with stench and rot. It looked like some of the homeless community had been living here for years. He hurried through the semi-abandoned department store into the mall’s thoroughfare.
More trash and debris were scattered along the way. Small tents were even erected with current residents inside. He had no idea places like this even existed. Growing up, he’d been sheltered more than he thought. There had to be a solution to this problem. He would find one.
Coming to an intersection that led to an exit overlooking the window of Rhiannon’s office, his nose picked up the smell of shifters. Wolves. His instincts told him danger lurked in the shadows. He quickly undressed and shifted. Now he was a formidable force, weighing in at roughly five hundred pounds.
Mars, in his bear form, was muscular and heavy. His thick claws were razor sharp, and his teeth were equally sharp.
His rational mind stayed the same, but the part of him that was an animal burned bright and loud. Mars could smell, hear, and even taste everything.
As he rumbled forward, his eyes traveled the dark nooks and crannies. There were three of them, and their scents were thick and heavy … wet wood and burning tires. Clearly, they spent a lot of time there.
In the next second, the wolf shifters came out of nowhere. They seemed to fly through the air. One landed on his back while one snapped at him from the front.
