“He’s crushing my legs!” I say with a laugh as he digs his wet butt into my thighs.
Cameron comes to my rescue and grabs his collar. He pulls him off with a laugh and throws a piece of cornbread across the yard. Moose takes off running.
My legs are wet but I’m thankful for the distraction. Easton starts telling funny stories about Moose and I half-listen as I watch Cameron. He smiles at me and takes my hand under the table. I can feel the love growing even more and I know that when it’s time for me to go, I’ll have a hell of a hard decision to make.
The guys know there’s something bad about to happen before I do.
Even Moose perks up.
Meanwhile, I’m still laughing around the campfire with my third glass of wine in my hand as if nothing has changed.
It’s only when Cameron stands up and tells me to get in the house do I realize that something is about to go down.
“What’s wrong?”
They don’t have to answer. The rumbling of motorcycles fills the evening air and fills me with dread.
“Oh no…”
My four new friends stand up and start ripping off clothes as they run over to the entrance of the ranch.
Moose comes over and stands by my side. He’s growling in the direction of the noise with the fur on his back standing straight up.
I just met these guys and they’re already protecting me against a deadly threat that I brought on myself. Even their dog is willing to fight for me.
What did I do to deserve this?
I put my wine down and rush over to where the guys are standing in their underwear, waiting. Moose follows me the entire way.
“Mary!” Cameron snaps when he sees me approaching. “Get in the house now!”
I shake my head and stand my ground. This is my fault and I can fix it. I’ll tell these bikers that I’m dropping the story. I’ll never mention it again.
I don’t care about my job anymore or living in New York City. All I want to do is stay here with Cameron. I want what he wants. To start a family. To stay together.
I’ll try to find a job in town and maybe write books on the side like I’ve always wanted to. I’m not going back. I’m never going back.
He rips his frustrated eyes away from me and watches as six huge men on motorcycles rumble into the ranch.
They park in a line and I swallow hard, realizing that these four brave bear shifters are the only thing standing between me and a killer gang of wolf-shifting bikers.
As if he can read my mind, Moose growls as he steps in front of me.
Okay, four brave shifters and one really brave dog.
The two guys from the other night—long hair and baldy—are back with four friends. They look just as terrifying and they’re all wearing a leather cut with a Lone Wolf Mercenaries logo on the chest.
“You guys didn’t get enough of us in Alaska?” Jacob asks in a low deadly voice.
“There were two dozen of you then,” Easton says. “You think you can take us with just six?”
The guy who looks like the leader steps off his bike. He’s the biggest out of all of them with an ugly mullet, an eye patch on his left eye, and he’s missing a couple of teeth. He’s not a guy I’d want to cross on the street without any of my new bodyguards around.
Moose growls as the man walks in front of the bikes.
“You remember me?” he asks in a high-pitched voice that doesn’t match his look at all.
“Should we?” Roman asks.
“I’m second in command of the Lone Wolf Mercenaries now,” he says proudly. “Name’s Greaser.”
“Greaser?” Easton repeats with a laugh. “On account of the greasy hair?”
“On account that the only thing left of anyone who crosses me is a spot of grease on the pavement,” he says with a snarl.
“Hmm,” Roman says with a shake of his head. “Not too catchy. What about Mullet Man? That would work better.”
“Enough,” Cameron hisses as he steps forward with his shoulders back. “You should have sent your whole fucking crew if you thought you could get to my mate.”
Greaser steps back with wide eyes when he hears the word mate. Fighting some bear shifters is one thing, but fighting a bear shifter who’s protecting his mate is a whole other beast. They’ll never give up. They’ll fight to the death to eliminate any threat to their girl. And Greaser looks like he knows that.
“Instead they send their number two,” Roman says with a laugh. “What a joke.”
“Who’s your number one now?” Easton asks. “Who got promoted after I threw Burton off that cliff?”
Greaser grins as he looks back at his men. “You don’t know?”
Cameron and his brothers go silent and still like a bomb is about to go off.