Waiting on an order from Clayton wasn’t going to work. Ian’s bear was already ripping out of him and seething for Miller’s blood. He’d threatened his mate, and the price for that was death.
Gritting his teeth against the pain, Ian’s bones snapped and his body reshaped and grew. Dark fur shot out of his skin, prickling like millions of needles, and long, curved, black claws replaced his fingernails. Shaking off the last tingles of the Change, he inhaled deeply and bolted through the woods. A long, lone wolf howl lifted and echoed through the night woods, a taunt that urged an answering snarl from himself. He was going to kill Miller. Hang shifter laws, he was a fucking McCall, and he was sinking deep into insanity just like all his ancestors. And now, that crazy sonofabitch’s attention was on Elyse in some twisted game of vengeance. Miller couldn’t live another day to plot and plan against everything that meant anything to Ian. He couldn’t be allowed to hurt his Elyse.
Rage pounded through his blood, urging his heart beat faster, like a pounding war drum. Perfect—because this was war.
Ian pushed himself faster through the woods, around pines and western hemlock, yellow cedar and spruce, across the prickling pine needles that blanketed the floor. The moon was half full above him, peeking through the trees and casting the wilderness in blue rays of light that trickled through the canopy.
Miller’s scent was stronger now, and he dug his claws into the earth, pushing his muscles faster. Ian was at his prime at this time of year. Strapped with muscle and power, not yet affected by the fatigue that would come for him soon.
The sound of a car engine revved. No. Ian pushed himself harder, faster, panting as he charged through the woods behind that crazy wolf.
He could see taillights now, and from the open window of an old beat-up, mud-brown Bronco, Miller’s insane laugh cackled. Miller hit the gas just as Ian swiped the back end, sending the SUV spinning. Ian skidded sideways through the loose dirt and scrabbled for traction behind the Bronco.
Miller was accelerating, getting away as Ian dug his claws in and gave chase. He was fast, but Miller had worn a path through the woods where he’d probably parked to steal from Elyse many times, and he was hitting forty miles per hour, then fifty. Fuck!
The back-end of Millers ride faded in the distance, and then his red taillights disappeared altogether.
Ian skidded to a stop and arched his head back in rage.
And then the woods were filled with the roaring of his bear.
****
Elyse clutched the gun tighter as an enraged roar rattled the woods, raising all the fine hairs on her body along with it. Birds lifted from the trees, the cicadas went quiet, and inside her veins, blood pounded with adrenaline and fear.
She trusted Ian—trusted him with her life. Yes, even after he’d lied about how he’d known Cole, she could still feel his love. He would protect her from Miller’s dark promises.
Her hands trembled badly as she waited by the open front window. Wolf or bear—which one would come back for her?
Please let it be my bear.
But if it was the wolf, she was going to fucking annihilate him.
Movement captured her attention in the dark woods, and she lifted her rifle through the window and put the crosshairs on the form meandering through the trees. Deep breath. Click—the safety was off.
A soft grunt sounded from the animal, and a long, frozen puff of breath steamed in front of him. Much too tall to be a wolf, Ian’s bruin bear ambled from the woods.
Click—the safety was back on, and Elyse lowered her weapon.
Her mate didn’t look injured, but he swung his weight from side to side in agitation. If he hadn’t Changed back, it was because he couldn’t. Perhaps he’d gone too long between shifts, or perhaps he was too close to hibernation to Change back. No, no, no.
Elyse threw the door open and ran to the edge of the stairs. He won’t hurt me.
“Ian,” she said on a scared breath. He just couldn’t be Changed for the winter season already.
At the muscular hump between his shoulders, the bear was taller than her by a few feet, and even though she knew it was Ian, it was hard to advance on the massive grizzly. He wouldn’t hurt her. He wouldn’t. She was his mate.
Gasping, she stepped down the stairs slowly, hand out, shaking fingers outstretched.
“I love you, I love…you,” she murmured, her voice as meek as a mouse’s.
Ian grunted again and stopped swaying. He averted his dark gaze and angled his head, giving her his neck. She blew out a long, trembling breath as she slowly approached.