Page 13 of Riding with the Shifter

Ten

Chapter 10

ZARA

I’m just locking up the library for the night when I hear a voice that stops me dead in my tracks. A voice I hoped I’d never hear again, outside of my nightmares.

“Hi, Zara.”

I spin around, my heart leaping into my throat as I come face to face with none other than Jason. My ex, my worst mistake… and the man I fled to Broken Arrow to escape.

“Jason,” I say, my voice tight with shock and dread. “What are you doing here?”

“I’ve missed you, baby.”

I flinch at the endearment, my stomach churning. “I’m not your girl, Jason. Haven’t been for a while now.”

His eyes narrow, the façade of friendliness slipping to reveal the ugliness beneath. “Is that so?”

I bristle, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. “I left, because you were a controlling asshole who made my life hell. And it seems like that hasn’t changed.”

Jason scoffs, taking a step toward me. “I treated you like a queen, Zara.”

My heart pounds, fear and anger warring in my chest. I know I should just walk away, get in my car and drive straight to Ryder’s. But some stubborn, defiant part of me refuses to be cowed. Not again, not by him.

“I wised up and realized I deserve better than your mind games. I deserve to be with someone who respects me,” I spit out, lifting my chin in challenge.

Jason’s face twists, ugly with rage and wounded pride. “Oh, you mean like your new boy toy? The biker with all the tats and the greasy hands?”

I gasp, ice flooding my veins. “How do you know about Ryder?”

He smirks, cruel satisfaction glinting in his eyes. “I have my ways, baby. I’ve been keeping tabs on you, making sure you weren’t doing anything stupid. Like spreading your legs for some lowlife thug.”

Fury boils up inside me, and before I can stop myself, I’m in his face, jabbing my finger into his chest. “Don’t you dare talk about him like that! Ryder is ten times the man you’ll ever be.”

Jason’s hand shoots out, gripping my wrist hard enough to bruise. “Is that so?” he hisses, his breath hot against my face. “Well, maybe I should pay this Ryder guy a visit. Show him what happens when you try to steal another man’s wife.”

I try to wrench my arm away, but Jason’s grip is implacable, his fingers digging in like claws. “Let go of me!”

“Not until you come to your senses,” he growls, yanking me closer until I’m pressed against his chest. “You’re mine, Zara. You’ve always been mine. And no fucking biker is going to change that.”

I open my mouth to scream, but before I can make a sound, a new voice cuts through the air. A voice that sends relief, love, and fierce, wild joy surging through my body.

“Hands off. Before I rip them off and shove them down your fucking throat.”

Jason whirls, dragging me with him. And there, standing at the edge of the parking lot with murder in his eyes… is Ryder.

My Ryder. My wolf, my love, my fierce and fearless protector.

He stalks toward us, his movements fluid and predatory, his eyes glowing an electric blue in the darkness. He looks like vengeance, violence, and wrath in human form.

He looks like my salvation. My home.

Jason blanches, his grip on my wrist loosening as he takes an involuntary step back. “Who the fuck are you?”

Ryder smiles, the kind of smile that promises blood and brutality. “I’m the lowlife thug who’s about to teach you some manners, you piece of shit.”

Then he moves, so fast my eyes can barely track him. One second he’s ten feet away, the next he’s right in front of us, his hand clamping down on Jason’s wrist like a steel trap.

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