Page 5 of Defended By The Alpha

“I’m going to kill him,” Niko snarls, and I blink, looking up at him in shock.

“It’s okay. They’ll fade in a few days,” I try to reassure him.

“It’s not fine, but don’t worry, I’m going to make him pay. No one hurts you.”

A jolt of something heady races down my spine as I stare at this man who seems so determined to protect me.

“I should get back to the cabin. I need to get my things.”

“I’ll get them. You’re not leaving here until we find the man who did this,” he says, his fingers brushing gently over the bruises.

He stands, shaking out two pills from the bottle of Tylenol and passing them to me. There’s a bottle of water on the nightstand and he opens it before passing it to me.

“Thanks,” I mumble as I swallow the pills.

I pull my pants back down and stand, but my knee buckles, and I gasp as I collapse against him.

“I’ve got you,” he says, lifting me easily into his arms.

“Put me down! You’ll hurt your back,” I panic.

He gives me a ‘don’t be an idiot’ look as he sets me back on the bed and tucks me in. I realize that he must have carried me here unless he has a snowmobile or something.

“Do you need anything before I head to the cabin?” He asks me, pulling the blankets up.

“No. You don’t have to do this. Really. I can go back.”

“No.”

That’s it. There’s no discussion, no room to argue, nothing.

I sigh as I sink back into the pillows. He adds another log to the fire, and I try not to ogle the man as his shirt stretches over his muscles.

His phone rings and he answers it, adding another blanket to the bed.

“Yeah?”… “What do you mean?”… “Okay.”… “No, I understand.” … “Okay, I’ll take care of it.”

He hangs up, turning back to me, and I raise my eyebrows.

“You seem upset,” I comment.

“I am. I had some guys looking for the man, but he got away. It’s starting to storm now, so the mountain is shutting down. They won’t be able to find him today.”

“Oh.”

“We will find him though,” he promises me, and I nod.

I believe him. There’s something about this man. I can tell that he’s honest and trustworthy. Part of me was drawn to him the moment that I saw him, even when I thought that he was my stalker.

“What are you thinking?” He asks, taking a seat in the chair once again.

“I was just thinking that I’m really glad that you aren’t my stalker now that we’re about to get snowed in here,” I try to joke.

His lips kick up at the edges slightly, and I’m so busy admiring his smile that I almost miss his words.

“No, I’m not your stalker. I’m your fated mate.”

FOUR

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