Page 20 of His Stubborn Mate

“That,” she began, her voice a little rough from the exertion, “doesn’t prove anything.”

Rance’s eyes opened fully, his brow furrowing slightly as he looked at her. “You’re wrong. It proves everything. I’m not saying that everything is settled. This is new to me, as well.”

Amanda nodded. “I get that, but I’m not just going to fall into line and let you make decisions for me. I don’t even know if what you feel is what you want. Is it just because you feel responsible because you saved my life and turned me? I don’t want you to feel that way. I’m grateful that you saved me, and I can cope with the results that came with it, but I am not going to go around feeling beholden to you all my life, and I don’t want you to feel like you’re stuck with me.”

Rance sat up, his expression hardening. “Amanda, that’s not what I?—”

“Don’t,” she cut him off, shaking her head. “You don’t get to control me, Rance. I’m not some precious little thing that you need to protect by locking me away to take on Albright on your own. I’m my own person, and you need to get over yourself if you think otherwise.”

Rance’s jaw clenched, the tension between them crackling in the air. “I’m trying to keep you safe.”

Amanda snorted. “Safe? Is that what you call it? Treating me like I’m incapable of making my own decisions? You need to decide whether you respect me enough to let me stand on my own, or if you’re going to keep treating me like some fragile thing that can’t handle the truth.” She glanced at his keys sitting on the nearby table. Without hesitation, she snatched them up, slipping them into her pocket. “I’m taking your truck.”

“Amanda,” Rance warned, his voice low.

“No,” she snapped, turning on him with fire in her eyes. “I need space. Figure out what you want, Rance. Because if you can’t respect me, then we have a bigger problem than Donald Albright.”

Without waiting for a response, Amanda stormed out, leaving Rance where he was, his fists clenched and frustration simmering in his eyes.

The drive back to her clinic was short, but it did little to cool her anger. She parked Rance’s truck in her usual spot and stalked inside, the familiar scent of antiseptic and the soft sounds of animals settling her nerves slightly.

But as she entered the clinic, she was met with an unexpected visitor. A tall, lean, formidable-looking man with a cold, calculating demeanor. He was dressed in camouflage gear and had a muscular build, his weathered skin and sharp, predatory eyes reflecting a life as a predator. His hair was short and gray, and his face was marked with scars from past encounters with dangerous prey.

Donald Albright. It had to be. He was standing in the middle of her reception area, his eyes devoid of any kind of life or compassion as they fixed on her.

Amanda was taken aback and wished she had something in her hands with which she could defend herself, but she quickly masked her shock with steely resolve. “What the hell are you doing here?” she demanded, her voice sharp.

Albright’s lips curled into a slow, predatory smile. “Just thought I’d pay a visit to the local vet. Heard you were good with animals—all kinds of animals.”

The implication behind his words was clear, and Amanda’s blood ran cold. She stepped closer, keeping her posture strong, refusing to show fear. “You’re not welcome here, Albright. Leave. Now.”

He tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing as he assessed her. “Or what?”

Amanda’s hand went to the drawer behind the counter, where she kept a gun for emergencies. It was a tranquilizer gun and it wasn’t even loaded, but Albright wouldn’t necessarily know that. Her fingers wrapped around the grip, and she leveled it at Albright, her aim steady. “Or I’ll make you.”

Albright’s smile didn’t falter, but there was a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He raised his hands slightly, a mockery of surrender. “Easy, doc. I’m just here for a friendly chat.”

“Get out,” Amanda repeated, her voice hard as steel. “Last warning.”

Albright’s gaze darkened, but he didn’t push further. “I’m going. But remember, Amanda, this isn’t over.”

As he turned to leave, the front door opened, and Eva stepped inside, her eyes widening in surprise at the sight of Albright. Before Amanda could react, Albright moved with lightning speed, grabbing Eva and pulling her in front of him, his arm locking around her throat.

“Eva!” Amanda cried, her heart racing.

Albright’s eyes gleamed with malice as he pulled out a small device from his pocket, quickly zip-tying Eva’s hands together and fastening a collar around her neck. “Before you get any ideas, Doc, you should know that this pretty little gizmo is designed to prevent shifters from shifting. I’ve bagged plenty of lynxes, and I’m after bigger prey. So, this is how this is going to work. I’m going to give you a choice: your friend or your lover. I’ll give you three hours to decide.”

“Don’t you dare—” Amanda began, but Albright cut her off with a vicious yank on Eva’s collar, making Eva wince in pain.

“Three hours,” Albright repeated, backing out of the clinic and shoving Eva into his SUV. He tossed a GPS device to the ground in front of Amanda, the screen already displaying coordinates. “Meet me there. Alone.”

Amanda’s hand tightened around the gun, but before she could fire, Albright had already slammed the door shut and sped off, leaving her standing there, the GPS device glowing ominously at her feet.

Panic surged through her, but Amanda forced herself to stay calm. She needed to think, to act quickly. She pulled out her phone and dialed Rance’s number, but it went straight to voicemail. “Damn it, Rance,” she muttered, her voice shaking with urgency. She left a quick message, detailing what had happened and the coordinates Albright had given her. “I’m going after him. I don’t have a choice.”

Next, she called the sheriff in Mystic River. She didn’t know the man, but apparently, he was a shifter. Hopefully, he could send some kind of backup.

“Miller,” came the curt answer over the phone.

---