Page 13 of Beautiful Butterfly

Not again. Wyatt was thrown back to the apartment where Negan had tried to kill Paris and kidnap Alister. The stranger Cannon had fought was either someone Sloane had hired or Sloane himself.

If it was Sloane, Wyatt wanted to eviscerate him, but Alister came first.

He crouched and gently lifted then cradled the panda in his arms, relieved when he ran his hand over his mate’s fur and didn’t feel any blood or wounds.

The red panda was so small in his arms. Wyatt stroked his hand down Alister’s back, sick and tired of his mate getting hurt.

“He fought like a warrior,” Paris said to Wyatt. The sound of fighting had ceased. “I’m so damn proud of him.”

Wyatt smiled but didn’t pull his gaze away from his mate. He didn’t need Paris to tell him what he already knew. “I told him he had inner strength, though I know he didn’t believe me.”

Alister might be naïve in so many ways, but along with his heart of gold, he was a fighter. Even so, Wyatt would make damn sure this was the last time his mate was hurt.

“Before all hell broke loose, Sloane said he’d sold Alister and just had to deliver the goods,” Paris said.

The stranger’s identity was just confirmed. Wyatt had known Sloane wouldn’t give up. He’d come to Midnight Falls to find Alister and Paris.

Wyatt was furious Sloane had already brokered a deal for the red panda. “I’m taking Alister home to rest. If our boss wants to talk to him, tell him to swing by my house.”

And if Dominic had an issue with Wyatt taking off the rest of his shift to care for his mate, he would hand in his badge. Wyatt took his job seriously, as well as his responsibilities, but Alister came first.

As soon as he was outside, he tucked the panda against him and slid into his patrol car. The entire drive Wyatt kept Alister tucked against him, running his thumb over his mate’s soft fur.

When he arrived home, Wyatt took Alister to his bedroom and placed the panda on his bed, then slid on a pair of silk shorts and a T-shirt. He crawled into bed and pulled the little red panda to his chest. “If anyone comes after you, it’ll be the last mistake they’ll ever make.”

Alister was a beautiful panda with soft, white-lined ears that contrasted against his vibrant reddish-brown coat. His belly and legs were dark as night, and his tail was a stunning burst of red with bold black stripes running down its fluffy length.

Alister was undeniably the cutest shifter he’d ever laid eyes on.

Wyatt pulled his arms away as Alister shifted back into his human form and shot up, looking around frantically. “Paris!”

“He’s safe and with Cannon.” Wyatt sat up and hauled his naked mate onto his lap. “What happened at the bakery?”

“Kayla went into the kitchen when she heard a noise. When she took too long to return, Paris and I went into the kitchen to check on her. We saw her duct-taped, and a moment later Sloane emerged from the side of the industrial refrigerator with a gun in his hand.”

Which meant Sloane had already been in town. He had either lucked out and saw the two entering the bakery, or had been following one of them, biding his time until the opportune moment to try and reclaim what he believed was rightfully his.

“That poor woman has to be traumatized.”

“Finish telling me what happened, hon.” Wyatt encouraged.

“Sloane fired his gun at Paris. It was only a warning shot, completely missing him, but something snapped inside of me.” Alister brushed aside strands of black hair. “It was like this primal part of my animal woke up, and then I simply reacted. I picked up a heavy mixer and tried to bash in Sloane’s face. When that didn’t work, I grabbed a large knife and let out a crazy scream, trying my hardest to cut off the hand that held the gun. Then he backhanded me, sending me across the room.” He looked at Wyatt. “There were only two things going through my mind.”

“And what were those two things?”

“It was my turn to keep Paris safe, and I couldn’t let Sloane take me away from you.” Alister curled into Wyatt’s chest. “Sloane is a wolf shifter, stronger than me or Paris, but I wasn’t going down without a fight.”

Wyatt held Alister. “Paris told me you fought like a warrior. He said he’s so damn proud of you.” He kissed Alister’s temple. “I told you that you had inner strength.”

Instead of panicking at facing his enemy, his mate’s inner warrior had burst free.

“It felt…amazing.” Alister smiled up at Wyatt. “It felt incredible to stand up for myself instead of cowering at the sight of Sloane.”

“My badass butterfly.” Wyatt cupped Alister’s face, staring into liquid blue pools as clear as a mountain lake. “You’re so goddamn extraordinary, sweetheart.”

“What happened to Sloane?”

“Cannon killed him.” Wyatt brushed a hand down his mate’s arm. “Paris told me Sloane already sold you and just needed to deliver the goods.”

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