“She is,” muttered the man a couple chairs down, staring at his phone. “Plain as day, she’s the first one that comes up on the site. She’s still up for grabs.”
“This is fucked up,” Cooper said, standing. His eyes were so bright they looked like they were glowing in the dim bar lighting. “This ain’t how Chase would’ve wanted us running the Clan. Kill the bears, okay. But messing with a girl who don’t know what she signed up for? Hell no.”
“Chase ain’t here, old man,” Amos gritted out. “You think you want to run this better? Challenge me. Do it. Throw down an Alpha challenge. Do it now or sit your ass down.”
The bear was scratching at Karis’s insides. Let me out. Let me have him. Let me teach him a lesson.
And God, it was tempting. The ache of want nearly doubled her over.
“Drink,” he gritted out.
Chest heaving, she looked down at the shots of whiskey, then back at him in defiance. “Fuck you.”
He was lightning fast as he grabbed her throat and glared down at her.
She allowed a slow, feral smile. “You’re so dead. One, two, three breaths. How many do you have left, Amos?”
He frowned, and his grip tightened. Karis kept her face stone cold. He wasn’t dealing with some submissive female. His bullying wouldn’t work on a shifter like her.
With his other hand, he lifted her shot of whiskey. “Drink.”
Eric tried again. “Amos—”
“Those fuckin’ bears killed half of us!” Amos screamed, sloshing the drink and spilling some on her sweater. “Half! Half of your friends, half of your family, half of your Clan. Your Alpha! And their sins started way before that. Do you want her here? You want the Warmaker to put a cub in her? And another and another until this whole goddamn town is overrun by vermin shifters?” He squeezed her throat tighter.
Kill him. Her bear was just under her skin now. Kill this man. Growing dizzy, she panted and shook her head, trying to clear it. She couldn’t breathe! If there were humans in here, she couldn’t Change. Couldn’t expose what she was. Kill him! No, no, no.
Amos’s teeth were too sharp when he smiled. He took what was left of her shot, threw it back, and swallowed it down like he didn’t feel the burn at all.
“Your turn, Breeder. We’re gonna have some fun tonight. You’ll get to party with a real Clan, and then Cooper here will take you to his plane and fly you back to whatever whorehouse you crawled out of. Unless you feel like choosing a real man to put cubs in you.”
His grip was so tight, Karis couldn’t breathe, and there was a roaring in her ears that made it hard to even hear him. Enough. She gripped his wrist and ripped it off, sinking her claws into his skin.
“Fuck!” he yelled. As he pulled away from Karis, her nails shredded his forearm.
She pushed him back hard and then stalked him. “A real man? You fancy yourself a real man? You lay your hands on a woman, and you’re a real man? You aren’t a man. You’re the vermin. Don’t you fucking touch me again or that moment will be your last. This is my only warning.”
She could feel the others behind her, following her as she backed him toward the door. He was clutching his arm to his chest. “What are you?” He couldn’t seem to peel his gaze from hers and, oh, she knew what he saw. Bright silver eyes. Almost white. Her brothers, her mom, and dad all had the same color. Eyes the color of new-fallen snow. The color of her fur.
The others were too close, so she made a deal with the creature inside her. If they touched her, she would give the bear her body. But if they allowed her to leave, she would allow them to live.
Breath heaving, eyes full of fury, Amos blocked her way to the door.
“Amos,” Cooper murmured from behind her. Damn, he was fast. He’d been on the other side of the bar.
Amos lifted his hate-filled gaze to something over her shoulder, then back to her. His lip snarled up, and a growl hummed from him as he took one step to the side. Karis had to walk around him, but he kept his hands to himself. Smart shifter if he wanted to keep that hand.
Karis was never so grateful for the chilly wind on her cheeks as she stepped out of the GutShot. Ava was running for her, jogging on the snow-covered grass along the sidewalk, loading what looked like an Old West pistol. A Colt Action Single Army. A Peacemaker. There was hellfire in Ava’s eyes.
There was a cop car across the street with an officer sitting in it, watching them.
“Put that away,” Karis told her. “We need to go. Now.”
“Oh my gosh, oh my gosh,” Ava murmured, emptying the gun. She shoved the bullets in her pocket and the pistol in the back of her jeans, under her jacket, and jogged beside Karis toward Colt’s truck, which was parked sideways in the street, white smoke pluming out of the exhaust, still running.
“Are you okay?” Ava asked low as she slid behind the wheel.
Tough girl, she was showing no fear right now. Karis’s respect for her was growing by the second. She slammed the door beside her and let off a long snarl. The bear was furious and full of blood-lust Karis wouldn’t let her act on. She’d worked for years to be able to control her Changes, but right now it was close. Her body felt like it was breaking, and she doubled over. “Take us home, Ava.”
She hit the gas, and the tires skidded a few rotations before they caught traction.
“Karis?” she asked a few minutes later. Now she smelled like fear.
“Yeah, Ava?”
“Don’t tell Colt or Trigger about this. And you need to cover up those finger marks on your throat.”
God, that’s why her neck hurt so bad. She reached up and brushed her cold fingertips on the sensitive bruising there. She swallowed hard. “Why not?” She already knew the answer, but she needed to hear it from the person who knew Colt the best.
When Ava looked over at her, her eyes were somber. “Because he will go to jail. Again. You haven’t seen him in a fight, or even defensive yet, and I wish that you never have to, but it’s not the life we lead. This fight? We’re close to the trail ride, and it’s our last shot at saving Two Claws. He loves the ranch. We can’t lose him right now, and if he knew some asshole hurt you, he wouldn’t stop until there was a pile of bodies to avenge you. The MCs used to call him the Peacemaker, but they call him the Warmaker now for a reason. Your mate is a beast. If you sic him on the town, he’ll paint it in red, and damn the consequences.”
With a sigh, Karis rested her head back on the seat and stared at the street in front of them. “You’re human.”
“And you’re a bear.”
“No…I mean, you’re human, and you were going to charge into a bar of shifters up to no good. Were you going to shoot them?”
“I don’t know. I just knew I didn’t have claws like you or the cougars, and Colt started leaving his Peacemaker in a case under the seat. I wasn’t thinking of anything other than getting you out of there, whatever the cost.”
“Why would you take such a risk for me?”
Ava shook her head slightly and took a right onto the road that would lead them to Two Claws. “I guess partly because I like you and partly because that’s what Clan does. They have each other’s back. No matter what. And partly because I don’t want Colt to lose you. His smile moves his scars now.” Huh. Ava had noticed the difference in the real and forced smiles from her brother, too. “Colt deserves to be happy, and I think you’re that.” Ava gave her a quick glance. She still looked worried, but she wore a tiny smile now. “I think you’re his happy.”
Chapter Thirteen
The boys were loading up in Trigger’s old brown and cream-colored Ford pickup when Karis and Ava drove into the clearing by the cabins.
Colt looked up immediately and frowned. He closed the passenger side door to Trig’s truck and jogged toward them, holding his cowboy hat on his head as he did. Trig followed slowly, his eyes on where Ava got out.
“I thought we were having a night out,” Colt said as Karis opened her door.
She had already ma
de sure the collar of her jacket was zipped up her neck, but she was still paranoid and fidgeted with the fabric.
He picked her up and held her close, her feet dangling off the ground as he pressed his lips to hers. And slowly, she relaxed, because she was safe. Here in his arms, she was always safe. And the fear she’d felt earlier lifted like a fog in sunlight.
She slid her arms around his neck and bit his bottom lip gently. She could feel the smile in his answering kiss. God, she loved him.
“I love you, too,” he murmured against her mouth.
What? She eased back and looked down at him, pushed the brim of his hat back so she could see his eyes. “I didn’t say I love you out loud.”
“Yeah, you did.”
“No,” she said, laughing in shock. “We were kissing. I only thought it.”
“No.” Colt frowned. “No, I heard you. You said you loved me.” His eyes narrowed, and he canted his head. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she said quickly.
His nostrils flared as he inhaled. “You smell like whiskey, but not on your breath. On your clothes. Did you spill?”
She couldn’t lie. She wouldn’t. Not to him.
So she kissed him instead, but he nipped her lip hard and yanked back. “That ain’t gonna work, Karis. What happened?”
“Colt,” Ava said from where Trigger was hugging her against the bed of the truck. “Let her alone. She had a rough day.”
Colt’s eyes flashed gold when he looked at his sister.
“Explain,” Trigger growled, and there was a command in that single word. Ooooh, beast. Karis hadn’t realized how much power, how much dominance, that man kept under control. Even she, an unbonded outsider to this Clan, wanted to drop to her knees and expose her throat and confess everything. Alpha. Trigger was a big, badass Alpha like she’d never felt before. Holy shit.
Ava choked out the words, “Her throat. Shit.” Then she pushed Trig in the chest, spun on her heal and as she passed Karis, she whispered, “I’m sorry.” She looked like she was ready to burn her mate to the ground for pushing an order like that.
Trigger clenched his fists as he watched Ava leave, his teeth gritted so hard a muscle in his jaw twitched. “Shhhit,” he muttered.
Colt set Karis on her feet in the snow and reached for the zipper of her jacket. Slowly, he pulled it down and pushed it to the side. The air got so heavy it clogged her lungs as he studied her neck. And damn her shifter healing for not being faster, because the fire in her mate’s eyes was so bright it hurt to look at them.
“Who?” he asked in a soft, deadly voice.
“Colt, please—”
“Who?” he asked again, louder, dragging those demon eyes to hers. His face was twisted into something terrifying.
“Amos.”
The smile that stretched Colt’s face was as empty as an old boarded-up well. He lifted his chin higher, straightened up completely, and looked even bigger. Even scarier.
Trigger huffed out a long breath, his eyes going from Karis’s throat to Ava’s disappearing figure and back. “You good?” he asked, but Karis didn’t know who he was talking to.
Apparently, it was to Colt since her man answered, “I will be.”
“Aw, fuck,” Trigger said. “Well, let me put that fire out first,” he said, jamming a finger toward Ava. “She’s gonna skin me.”
“Skin you why?” Karis asked.
But Trigger didn’t answer. Instead, he sauntered over to her, cupped the back of her head, and pulled her hair gently until she arched her sore neck back. She winced. She couldn’t help it. Amos hadn’t been gentle. The color of Trigger’s eyes matched Colt’s, and his lips ticked up on one side. “Are you okay?” he asked somberly.
The fact that he cared meant a lot to her, because someday she hoped for him to be her Alpha, too. “I took care of it, and Ava came straight for me, loading a pistol. Total badass. We handled it.”
Trigger smiled sadly. “I wish that was enough.” He squeezed her shoulder with a strong grip, then looked over at Colt. A hundred things that she didn’t understand passed between them in a glance. Trig nodded and made his way after Ava. He didn’t look back. She knew because she watched to see if he would. Whatever decision they had considered had been made. And she knew just from looking at Colt it wasn’t up for debate.
Before she could beg him to reconsider what he was about to do, he leaned forward and picked her up. Just folded her into his arms and carried her up to the little cattleman’s cabin. Home. He carried her home.
She slipped her arms around his neck and rested her cheek against his chest. “I’m okay. More than okay. It takes more than that to get to me.”
“I know you’re strong, Karis. I know you’re tough. You chose to Turn when you were ten. You never complain and you control your animal. And she’s big. I know she is. I can feel her. You’re steel. It’s incredible to watch you thrive here, in the cold, with the hard work, with a pissy squirrel and a Clan of monsters. I know you can shoulder a mountain because I watch you do that with me. I’m not an easy man to love. You accept the unacceptable because nothing is too much for you. You don’t get hurt by the things you can’t control, by the things other people do around you, or to you. You’re inspiring to a man like me. But as tough as you are, Karis, this can’t pass.” He kicked the door open, then closed it behind them before he went straight to the couch with her.
Right as she thought he would lay her down on the soft cushions, he set her on her feet and placed her hands on the back of the couch instead. Kicked her ankles apart and ran his hands down her sides, massaging as he went. A soft, helpless noise escaped her because it felt so good to be handled like this after what Amos had done.
He was slow, methodical, his hands firm on every inch of her until she was writhing back toward him. He gripped her hips and pulled her ass tight to him, and she could feel it. His big, thick cock was pushing against her. Teasing, he bucked a few times before he pulled her jacket then sweater off.
“Watch us,” he murmured.
Watch them? When she looked over her shoulder to see what he was talking about, movement captured her attention. There was the mirror by the front door she’d been using to check her clothes before she left the cabin. She watched as Colt slowly peeled his jacket off, his hips flush against hers, his eyes on her. Before him, she hadn’t liked the way she looked. She had liked her insides just fine, but her outsides were something she struggled to accept. Her thighs were too big, and her belly hung down in this leaned-over position. But before she could look away, he ran his finger down the arch of her back.
“Beautiful,” he murmured. He pulled her hair gently so she arched harder for him, and he ground against her. “Beautiful,” he repeated. “Eyes first always. God, you look like a warrior. Smile, hair, nose, cheekbones, lips, look at this neck.” He released her hair and dragged a soft touch down the side of her neck.
Karis shivered in anticipation. One by one, he was annihilating her insecurities. He was making her forget the GutShot and Amos. She barely noticed the discoloration on her throat.
“This,” he growled suddenly, slapping her ass.
It didn’t hurt. It was a good sting that made her sway forward and then back into him.
His smile was feral in his reflection. “That’s mine.”
“Mmmm.” Her bear was practically purring now. Big, dominant, protective mate. Take me, take me, take me.
He reached to her front and unfastened her jeans, then slid the rest of her clothes down her legs. Karis stepped out of them as he peeled his sweater over his head. And holy hell, she she’d never seen him naked from this angle. His profile was pure power. Muscular legs and big, chiseled arms. The muscles on his side flexed as he unfastened his jeans. And from here she could see the profile of his taut abs as he pushed down his pants and unsheathed his thick erection.
Hungry for him, she pressed back against him as soon as his pants were in the pile with hers.
The rumb
le that emanated from his throat filled the room was the sexiest sound she’d ever heard. He didn’t tease her or make her wait any longer. Colt bent slightly at the knees, poising the head of his massive cock at her entrance, and then he pushed into her.
She moaned loud, but there was no room for embarrassment anymore. Not when he was telling her, “Oh yeah, tell me you like taking it.” Colt leaned forward and nipped at her earlobe. “You’re so good at taking it, Karis.” He eased back and bucked into her deep.
He was so sexy right now, his body flexing against hers with every thrust. She couldn’t take her eyes off the mirror. She was in awe of how beautiful, how powerful, he looked as he reminded her she was his, and he was hers.
He nipped her neck and shoulder blades and then slammed into her harder. Harder, harder, his hand was in her hair now, and she was arching her back as he reached around the front with his other hand and pressed on her clit.
Shallow, shallow, shallow, deeeeeep.
She was loud, yelling out every time he filled her. She could see his dick sliding in and out of her, and she’d never watched anything so sexy in her entire life.
Deep, deep, deep…faster, faster. He was straining now, slamming into her, his muscles rigid, and she was so far gone she had no warning for her release. Her body just exploded around him as she cried out his name.
Deep, deep, deeeeeeeep. Colt held for a second as his dick throbbed hard inside her before he bucked into her again, emptying himself, dragging out every pulsing aftershock.
Sated, she leaned heavily on the back of the couch. She thought he would snuggle her, but he pulled out of her and made his way to the bathroom. Something was wrong. Karis straightened up and watched him through the open doorway. He wasn’t looking at his face in the mirror. Arms locked, body rigid, he stared down into the sink.
Karis made her way to him, padding gently across the cold wood floors. She didn’t hesitate to touch him like she had in the beginning. Instead, she slid her arms around his middle and rested her cheek on his strong back. The scars didn’t stop at his face. Trig had marked his body too, but those didn’t seem to bother him.