Page 20 of Pregnant Kidnapped Mate

“I’m going to ask you nicely to leave Iris alone and stop trying to turn the entire town against her,” I growled. “I happen to like her, and you’re going to have to deal with it.”

“You were the last guy I thought would get whipped.”

I’d never been great at controlling my impulses, and that last comment sent me over the edge. My wolf howled and flexed his claws internally, ready to teach this asshole a lesson, and I had no problem letting him take over.

I snarled, grabbing Dan by the neck. My elbow slammed into the two pint glasses as I did, causing beer to spill across the counter and one of the glasses to shatter.

“What the hell?” the bartender demanded, but I wasn’t paying attention to her.

“Leave Iris alone and stop spreading rumors about her,” I snarled, my grip around Dan’s throat tightening as my teeth lengthened to fangs. “Or there’s going to be more spilled than a couple pints of beer.”

Dan glowered at me but nodded. I let go of his throat, flexing my hand.

I turned to the dumbfounded bartender. “Sorry about the mess,” I said, then pulled out a couple of fifties and put them on the counter. With one final glare at Dan, I turned on my heels and marched out, bristling with fury.

Chapter 9 - Iris

I leaned against the balcony railing, the rough wood gently scraping my palms as I stared out at the landscape. The fresh air brushing against my skin was soothing, and the deep breaths felt cleansing as I relished the early-morning feel.

A coffee mug materialized in front of me.

“Hey there.” Alek leaned against the railing next to me after I took the cup. “Doing okay?”

I took a sip of the coffee, unable to stifle the moan of contentment. “You remembered the way I liked it,” I said.

“Hard to forget ‘lots and lots of milk, no sugar,’” he teased.

I snorted. “Fair,” I said.

I was painfully aware of every inch of him, of the way his body shifted as he moved to look out at the woods. The fact that he was inches away. The fact that I could feel the heat radiating off him.

Since meeting the girls, I had warmed up to Alek a bit more, but we hadn’t spent much time together. He was trying to give me space to let me warm up to everything. And was surprised at how much I missed him. I kept wanting to talk to him, even though that kernel of fear still stuck with me. But after meeting people like Jenn and Georgia, even Malcolm, it was hard to see shifters in the same light as I had before.

“How’re you doing?” Alek asked.

I swallowed, wincing as the too-hot coffee slid down my throat. “I’m okay,” I said. “Things are still…you know.”

“Yeah, I get it.” He hesitated, his shoulders tensing in the corner of my eye. I turned to look at him.

“What about us?” he asked.

“You mean, are we all right?” I asked.

When he nodded, I chewed my lip, staring down at the undergrowth below. “I’m not sure, Alek. I don’t think you mean any harm. I don’t think you’re going to hurt me…”

“But you’re still afraid,” he finished for me.

“Yeah,” I admitted. “I’m sorry. I wish it were different, but that’s just how it is right now.”

He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. “Let me prove it to you,” he said. “Let me show you there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“How?” I asked.

He gave a grin, and there was something wild about the smile. Something wolfish around the eyes.

“How would you feel about a run?” he asked.

***

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