Page 16 of His Stubborn Mate

With one last lingering glance, Rance turned and left her home, his mind already sharpening with the focus of a hunter. He couldn’t allow himself to be distracted, not when so much was at stake.

As he stepped back into the cold night, the weight of his responsibilities settled back over him like a cloak. He would protect Amanda with everything he had, no matter what it took. And if Donald Albright dared to threaten her, Rance would make sure the hunter never got close enough to harm her.

Rance sat in his truck, the engine idling softly as he kept a vigilant watch over Amanda’s home. The night was quiet, the only sounds were those of the forest surrounding him, but he knew better than to let his guard down. The threat of Donald Albright weighed heavily on his mind, and the thought of Amanda being in danger was enough to keep him on edge.

He glanced at the clock on the dashboard. It was late, and though exhaustion tugged at him, sleep was the last thing on his mind. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was coming, that the peace of the night was only a temporary reprieve before the storm hit.

His phone buzzed on the seat beside him, the screen lighting up with a call. Rance picked it up, seeing Jax Miller’s name flashing on the display. Jax was the sheriff of Mystic River, a shifter-only community at the northern end of the island, and one of the few people Rance trusted implicitly. If Jax was calling at this hour, it wasn’t good news.

Rance answered the call, pressing the phone to his ear. “Jax.”

“Rance,” Jax’s voice was steady, but there was an unmistakable undercurrent of tension. “We’ve got a problem.”

Rance’s grip on the phone tightened. “Tell me.”

“Albright’s presence on Kodiak Island has been confirmed,” Jax said, cutting straight to the point. “He’s been sighted by a couple of our people, and he’s not trying to hide it. It’s like he wants us to know he’s here.”

Rance’s heart pounded in his chest, a mixture of anger and concern flooding through him. “Bastard’s making himself known,” he muttered. “That’s not all, is it?”

Jax hesitated, and Rance knew whatever was coming next was going to be worse. “Albright’s not just here to hunt any bear shifter, Rance. We’ve got intel that he knows you’re an Arctotherium. But it’s worse than that. He knows about Amanda, too.”

The words hit Rance like a punch to the gut. How the hell did Albright know? He knew news within the shifter community moved at the speed of light, but Albright wasn’t a shifter. Rance’s worst fears were being realized. Albright wasn’t just hunting; he was targeting them specifically. And Amanda, still so new to this life, was now in the crosshairs of a seasoned killer.

“How the hell did he find out about Amanda?” Rance growled, his voice low and dangerous.

“We’re not sure,” Jax admitted, his tone grim. “But it doesn’t matter how he found out, only that he did. You need to be on high alert, Rance. Albright’s been at this a long time, and he’s not going to stop until he gets what he wants.”

Rance’s mind raced, already formulating a plan. He couldn’t let Albright get anywhere near Amanda. “What’s the plan, Jax? How do we stop him?”

“We’ve got people keeping an eye out for him, but Albright’s slippery. We need to be smart about this. Don’t confront him directly unless you have to—he’s dangerous, and he knows how to set traps. We’re working on tracking his movements, but for now, keep Amanda close. Don’t let her out of your sight.”

Rance nodded, though Jax couldn’t see him. “I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her.”

“I know you will,” Jax said, his voice firm. “Just be careful, Rance. Albright’s got experience on his side, but you’ve got something he doesn’t—you’ve got a reason to fight.”

Rance knew exactly what Jax meant. His connection to Amanda was more than just protective instinct; it was something deeper, something primal. She was his fated mate, and that bond gave him the strength and determination to face whatever threat came their way.

“Keep me updated,” Rance said.

“Will do,” Jax replied. “And Rance—watch your back.”

The call ended, leaving Rance alone with his dark thoughts. If Albright tried to get to Amanda, he would find out just how deadly an adversary an Arctotherium could be. Albright was here, and he was coming for them.

His eyes drifted back to Amanda’s home, the warm glow of the lights inside a stark contrast to the darkness outside. She had no idea just how much danger she was in, and while he wanted to shield her from the harsh reality, he knew she needed to be prepared. But for now, she was safe, and he intended to keep it that way.

Rance leaned back in the driver’s seat, his mind racing as he tried to think of the best way to keep Amanda safe. He could feel the urge to shift, the bear inside him clawing at the surface, demanding to be let out. But he needed to stay focused, to think clearly.

A movement by the house caught his attention, and he saw Amanda’s silhouette in the window, her figure framed by the soft light. She was checking on him again, worried about him sitting out in the cold. Despite everything, a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Even now, she was thinking about him, worrying about his well-being.

Before he could second-guess himself, Rance opened the door of the truck and stepped out into the night. The cold air bit at his skin, but he barely noticed. He needed to be close to her, needed to make sure she was safe.

He made his way to the front door, and before he could knock, Amanda opened it, her eyes locking onto his with a mixture of relief and concern. “You should come inside, Rance. It’s too cold out there.”

Rance nodded, stepping into the warmth of her clinic before following her upstairs. The scent of her surrounded him, calming the restless energy that had been gnawing at him all evening. “I just got a call from Jax Miller—he’s the Sheriff of Mystic River,” he said, his voice low as he closed the door behind him.

Amanda’s expression tightened, sensing the seriousness in his tone. “What did he say?”

Rance met her gaze, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him. “Albright’s presence on the island has been confirmed. He’s here, and he knows about us—about me, about you.”

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