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I must be crazy for even considering this, yet I feel oddly protective of the wolf. If she wants to go with those two men, I won’t interfere, but if things get out of hand, I’ll be there to protect her. Pulling the car up to a familiar spot on the banking, I strip off and shift into alligator form. I swim as fast as I can towards the lake.
When I reach the old pack territory, I’m greeted with silence. The area has been cleared of all signs of life. It’s hard to believe this used to be someone’s home. I sniff around to try and pick up the woman’s scent and get a faint linger of perfume.
I find her asleep in her vehicle under a bridge, and instead of disturbing her, I settle on the banking in my shifter form. She’s safe for now.
I’m awoken from my slumber about an hour later when I hear the guys’ voices. Keeping my body still, I follow them with my eyes. If the wolf doesn’t need me, I can move into the lake, and no one will ever know I was here.
Unlike me, the men are less courteous. The older guy bangs a stick against the metal work.
“Colt. What are you doing here?” she asks after opening the truck door.
“I’ve come to take you home,” the younger guy replies. “Uncle, meet Bea. Bea, this is Carlos.”
Colt helps her out of the truck and Carlos circles her like a predator.
“She’s a pretty little thing,” Carlos says, touching her chin.
“I told you she was.” Colt doesn’t seem intimidated by his uncle.
“It’s nice of you both to come all this way, but it wasn’t necessary. I’ve made up my mind and I don’t want to go to Mexico.” She shakes her head.
“This place is special, I know. Lake Falcon holds a lot of memories for me too, but we can’t stay here. A rogue shifter is a dangerous shifter,” Colt says.
“I’m not saying I’m going to be a permanent lone wolf. I just need some time to think.” Bea smiles sadly.
“It doesn’t work like that. You’re my responsibility now,” Carlos says.
Bea tries to make a run for the truck, but the men are too quick. My gut told me I needed to come here tonight, and I was right. They block off her escape route, and she edges towards the water. “Please don’t do this, Colt. You know I can make my own decisions.”
“You’ve embarrassed me before, but it stops now. I need you to step in line so we can finally get what we deserve.”
“And what’s that?” She’s so close now I can taste her mouth-watering scent. I’m poised, ready to shift. The situation is escalating, and I won’t let them take her.
“Carlos doesn’t have a son. I have the chance to be his legacy.” They both back her towards the lake.
“If you cooperate,” Carlos adds.
They’re about to grab her, when I shift to human form and pull her into the water. She fights me, kicking and screaming, but my locked arms are like a vice. I drag her to safety and only let go once we’re far away from the wolves that want to cause her harm.
Chapter Five
BEA
I scream at the top of my lungs, thrusting the thin blanket off my body. My vision is hazy, and I don’t know where I am.
“Shhh. You’re okay,” an unfamiliar voice says.
Turning over, I fall off the tiny bed onto the floor. A crowd of people run over. Wait. Not people. Shifters. The smell of wolf, leopard, rat, panther, and alligator assaults my nostrils.
“You! What did you do?” I ask, pointing at the guy from the store as my vision clears.
“I’m sorry. Was I supposed to let those guys kidnap you?”
“As opposed to what? You did the exact same thing.”
“I saved you.”
He did save me. I didn’t want to go to Mexico with Colt. I look around at the rows of beds. This place looks like an army bunker. “Where am I?”
