Chapter 16

Javier cursed as he hung up his phone. "No fucking way."

Ethan, riding their home exercise bike, glanced over at him. "Are you swearing? Must be bad. What's up?"

"Somebody trashed Naomi's car at work."

Quicker than a blink, Ethan's bear took over and a roar echoed from his mouth as his teeth elongated, his body reshaped and fur sprouted. In seconds, a pissed Kodiak, wearing only shreds of clothing, lumbered toward the apartment door and Javier sprinted to throw himself in front of Ethan.

"Stop! You can't go out there like that. Are you out of your fucking mind?"

A growl was the reply as Ethan butted Javier with his big shaggy head, tossing him aside. Javier landed on his hands and flipped to a standing position. "If you get shot or picked up by animal control, you won't be able to protect her, dumbass."

Javier's cool logic stopped Ethan from clawing the door off. It didn't save it, though. The inch deep gouges would probably never sand out, but at le