BENJI POV Mariah hisses, and Luna's eyes become bright green as her cougar emerges. My inner wolf immediately cowers. "Benji has been asking you if you wanted to be his mate, and you have been beating around the bush! Spill the beans right now, Mariah or my pack will be forced to gain the information in other ways," Alpha growls, and Luna's muscles strain. She is fighting against her animal better than most. Most freshly shifted shifters have problems holding back their inner animal when it's pissed. But Luna is handling it like a professional. Mariah looks at me briefly, and I see regret in her eyes. My heart begins to pound in my chest, and worry replaces all my protective feelings. I knew in my heart something wasn't right, but I was so happy to see her I pushed the feeling away. I should have guessed she hadn't changed her mind. "I'm on a job...we are cousins. That wasnt a lie. And my parents are dead...Look, my parents weren't good people. They were criminals...hired k
DANIEL POV "So she has been scoping out our land looking for the opportunity to kill Luna since she got here. Benji caught her scent when Lewis and him left to handle the trail cameras, and she panicked. She ran from her mate and forced him to believe she didn't want him. Then she came back to finish the job, but when she got here, she had a change of heart," Lauren simplifies with sarcastic disbelief dripping from every word. "Basically," I mumble, and Sam sends me a "be nice" look. "I understand you...," Mariah starts to say, but Lauren growls. "You don't understand anything! You have lived by yourself basically your whole life. You have no idea how important Sam is to our pack. Or how important Sam is to me. She is my best friend, and if you interrupt our deliberation again, I will have my mate decapitate you," Lauren snarls while holding her massive belly, and we all get surprised. Lauren is typically the forgiving type. "How can we be sure your assassin days ar
SAMANTHA POV R RATED I smile as I lay Angelica down in her crib. I can't believe we are safe. I can't believe I shifted and attacked my ex-husband. I saved my daughter from a madman and awoke a whole new side of myself. I protected her from certain death, and I also saved Kelly's life. "So what exactly happened," I ask as I make my way to our bed. Daniel looks at me for a second before taking off his shirt. "When I got to the hotel, you had just been shot. Me and the others heard the pops," Dan says, and I nod. "Yeah, I know that part. I heard you yell my name. It was the reason I relaxed and let myself sleep," I whisper, and his eyes tighten with emotion. He nods and gulps before climbing into bed. I get in next to him and turn on my side. I place my hand on my cheek so I can rest on my elbow. I know this conversation will be hard for him, but we have to have it. "I left Adam laying there on the floor. Fin carried our angel home, and Lewis grabbed the other
DANIEL POV To say I was strutting around the house like a peacock would probably be an understatement. I have never had a bigger head in my entire life. Having Sam's mark on my neck makes me feel like a King. "You might trip if you don't look down every once in a while," Fin mumbles as he grabs a mug of coffee, and I laugh. "I will settle for falling flat on my face then," I reply, and he snorts. "What's the plan for today? Stanley told me you are having me and him handle the hay sale," Fin asks after a small sip of coffee, and I frown. The thought of traveling to Florida so we can help search for a deceased person isn't how I wanted to spend such a special day, but Andrew needs the help. He lost his son and his wife. We will have to celebrate our complete bond some other day. "We are going to Florida. I told Andrew we would help locate Margaret, and I plan to stick to that. Boyd is going with us. He is the best tracker, plus Benji has Mariah to take of now. I d
SAMANTHA POV "I just need a few things. I have never traveled with a baby before," I say as we climb into the car to head to the store. Lauren nods but doesn't smile or say anything cheerful like she normally does... I sigh and click my seat belt. I really hope this goes smoothly.I felt like inviting Lauren out was the best time to tell her I heard what she said last night...and Mariah did too. But I'm getting a little nervous. I don't want my friend thinking I invaded her privacy, but I don't know how to kill her fears without mentioning it. I hear her heartbeat pick up, and I smile a little. At least she is as nervous as I am. "It's bizarre getting used to all these new senses. I never thought I would be able to smell or hear as good as this," I say, and she nods. "It's nice right," she replies, sounding a little withdrawn. I nod as she did while trying to think of the best way to say this... "So umm...you know cougar hearing is a little better than wolves," I say
SAMANTHA POV I don't know why I am so nervous. I mean, Andrew is one of the nicest men I have ever met. He shouldn't blame any of this on me. I know I had no control over Adam's actions. But I also know people who are grieving aren't always rational. He could have warped what happened in his mind, because he is upset about losing his loved ones. I mean, I did kill his son. He could be upset about the way I handled things. He could think I should have used nonlethal force. He could be disappointed that Adam never got his day in court. "Do you think seeing me will be too much for him," I ask Daniel quietly as he follows the rental car's GPS? "What do you mean? Too much? Are you asking about whether he can handle you being a shifter" Daniel asks, giving me a quick glance? "No. No. Well, that too...But umm, I was meaning he might get upset when he sees me. I mean, Adam killed his wife, and now Adam is dead. And Adam is dead because I killed him. Andrew might resent me," I
BENJI POV "Mariah," I say as I open the guest room door. She has been hiding out ever since Lauren blew up, and I need to check on her. I haven't checked on her yet, and I feel like a terrible mate, but it's because I don't know what to do. My heart is torn between loving my mate and loyalty to my pack. I never thought I would have this dilemma. I thought I would meet my mate and she would love me. That's how shifters are. The only time a shifter has to work harder is if their mate is human. They have to win their mate over and reveal their true identity. But a shifter with a shifter mate has nothing to disclose. Both their inner animals call to one another. They love instantly...except in my case. My mate is a secret assassin sent to kill my Luna. Kill my Luna, not because of her crimes, but her family's crimes, which is bullshit. My Luna is an amazing woman. She is strong, loving, and loyal. My mate has been dishonest and withdrawn....ahhhhh. "I'm here," Maria
BENJI POV RATED R I growl as my dominant side pushes forward. Her lips try to keep up with mine, and it makes my fire build. I love that she didn't give up. I love that she refused to just let me walk away. I love that she took charge, but now it's my turn. I need to show her that I do want her. That it was my hurt pride talking. Her words reminded me of my fear when we voted. How I felt knowing if my pack said no, she would have to leave. She is right. I said I wanted her, and I do. I trust that what she is saying now is the truth. It just hurt my pride that she didn't come back for me. I wanted to be the reason. When she brought up everything she did, it made me angry again. It made me forget what I already knew. She is mine! I want her! We will forgive her, and she will earn our trust. I growl as I let my index claw grow. I slice her dirty dress in half at her back, at she gasps. She pulls away to look at me, and I smirk. "Show me what's mine, sexy kitty," I growl,