Page 23 of In The Shadow of The Wolf

Aaron nodded to Lance, letting him know to go, and he would handle everything there. Molly jerked back towards Ronan when she noticed that Lance was running with him into the woods. Aaron stayed with her with a slight but solid grip on her hand.

“He won’t hurt him; Ronan is Lance’s mate just as you are mine; he is in no danger.” Aaron gently pulled Molly closer while watching the events and his words play out in her expressions.

“Why did he call Jordan?” Molly struggled to comprehend the intent.

“We both felt it would be better to deal with the man on our own turf, so to speak.” He calmed her with a kiss on her temple and ran his hand up and down her back as he continued to press her close. “We were going to impress him with the knowledge that to pursue you two any further could and would be hazardous to his health. We hadn’t taken into consideration that you and Ronan would find out and jump to the wrong conclusion.” He put another kiss on Molly’s temple.

Molly snuggled in close and wrapped her arms around his waist. “You weren’t going to hand us over for a reward?”

“No, we want to protect you both, and in order to do so, we needed to get Jordan Randall off your backs.” Aaron placed a kiss on her lips and squeezed her to him.

“What’s going to happen to Jordan?” She spoke softly, her voice muffled by Aaron’s shirt.

“Terry, Dean, and the other officers will take him to jail. I’m sure he can be charged with assault with a deadly weapon at the very least and perhaps more.” They watched as Dean pulled Jordan to his feet and pushed him against the side of his car while twisting his arms behind his back. Terry and one other officer that Molly didn’t know cuffed him and hauled him over to the Police cruiser. Molly noticed that while handling Jordan, Terry never took his eyes off of Henry, who was now standing off to the side, observing and listening to the action.

“Follow us to the Manor in your car. I will take Molly with me.” Aaron spoke to Henry, who slowly pulled his eyes from the handsome Police Officer.

“Okay.” He fell into step behind them and got into his own car, waiting for them to get settled and pull away. Henry followed slowly, enjoying his last opportunity to look at Officer Terry Moore. He was surprised and delighted when Terry smiled and waved. Henry reciprocated and then proceeded on his way.

CHAPTER NINE

Lance took Ronan directly to his bedroom adjacent to Ronan’s. It was time for their lives and their future together to get back on track. Lance had waited too long for his soul mate to ever risk a chance of losing him. He would claim Ronan as soon as he was well enough.

Seeing that man with his hands on Ronan and threatening to kill him was more than he could ever again emotionally handle. Ronan had to stay. He had to be his, forever. Lance laid him on the bed, gently brushing the hair back from his face. He placed a kiss on his forehead near the cut, which was swollen and red.

Rage boiled to the surface once more as he relived the memory of Jordan’s attack on his mate. Lance vowed to make him pay for the hurt and fear he made his mate suffer. If Terry and Dean hadn’t intervened, he would have killed Jordan Randall.

The doctor arrived just after them and went directly to Ronan edging Lance back and out of the way without actually asking him to move. Lance explained what had happened as the doctor continued his examination.

Ronan began to groan and came around, opening one eye and looking at the doctor first and then pinned Lance with a steely glare. “You set me up.” He tried to shout, but it came out with a little gravel.

Lance was next to him. In an instant, he grabbed his hand and held it. “No, baby, I set up Jordan. I didn’t set you up. You would never have even seen him if you hadn’t run. I brought him here with the excuse that you and Molly had been apprehended. I knew he would come himself to take possession of you. I planned on scaring the living hell out of him and sending him on his way. I planned on letting him know that to pursue you any further would result in his own death. I never expected you to find out and to bolt like you did. I understand, but please, baby, in the future, come to me and ask for an explanation before believing the worst.” The words came out in a desperate flood of information Lance needed him to understand.

“You were going to threaten him?”

“I was going to do whatever it took to get him off your trail and out of your life.” Lance held his hand and searched his face for understanding.

“Molly called, and she and Henry said . . .” Ronan’s mind scrambled for clarity as his eyes bore into Lance’s. “You saved me.” He remembered the gun and the wolf. “I didn’t want to believe that you would betray me. I wanted you to be there for me.”

“Yes, I will always protect you. I will always be there for you, baby, always.” Lance leaned into him, closing the distance between their lips, and kissed deeply with passion and possession. After about five minutes, they broke apart upon hearing the doctor clearing his throat repeatedly.

“Yes, well, it seems that you have suffered a slight concussion and an abrasion to your forehead and left arm, but you should heal well and good in the next few days, nothing to worry about.” He spoke the last to Lance, who reached out his hand to the doctor with a smile and thanked him for coming so quickly.

“Anytime, Alpha.” He assured and then proceeded to give him some basic care instructions regarding Ronan.

Once the doctor had left, Lance sat down on the edge of the bed and, reaching over, pulled Ronan into his arms and held him. “You have my word. You will never have to lay eyes on Jordan Randall again. He will be completely out of yours and Molly’s life by tomorrow.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Impress him with the power of an Alpha.” Lance smiled and began kissing him again.

…

Molly, Aaron, and Henry arrived at the Manor shortly after Lance, but they waited until the doctor had exited the room before knocking to check on Ronan.

“Come in,” Lance answered.

They filed into the room with Molly, immediately made her to the bed, and crouched down to speak with Ronan. “Are you feeling okay, Roe?”

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