Page 14 of His Stubborn Mate

Rance leaned against the rough wooden wall of the cabin, his arms crossed over his chest as he watched the early morning sun filter through the trees. The peaceful scene was at odds with the turmoil churning inside him. The previous night’s run with Amanda had been exhilarating, but now, in the cold light of day, the reality of their situation weighed heavily on his mind.

The knock on the door came as no surprise. Rance had been expecting Asher since dawn. He pushed off the wall and opened the door to find Asher standing there, his expression grim.

“Asher,” Rance greeted, stepping aside to let him in.

“Rance,” Asher replied with a nod, entering the cabin with purposeful strides. The two men were old friends, bound by shared experiences and mutual respect forged in the heat of battle. But there was no warmth in Asher’s eyes today—only concern.

They moved to the small table by the window, and Rance poured them both a cup of coffee, the rich aroma filling the room. Asher took a sip, his gaze fixed on the horizon outside. After a moment, he set the cup down and turned to Rance.

“We’ve got a problem,” Asher began, his voice low and serious. “There’s a hunter on the island. Name’s Donald Albright. He’s not just any hunter, though—he’s got a reputation for targeting shifters—bear-shifters in particular.”

Rance’s grip tightened around his cup, the muscles in his jaw clenching. “What do you mean, targeting?”

Asher met his gaze, his expression unyielding. “Albright’s been hunting bears for years, but lately, he’s been tracking something more. He’s got a way of identifying shifters, and he’s been killing them. Quietly, methodically. The rumors say he’s taken down a few shifters in the lower forty-eight, and now he’s here, on Kodiak. He’s a danger to all of us, but especially bears. And if he were to find out about you… well, it wouldn’t be pretty. And now you’ve got Amanda to think about.”

Rance’s blood ran cold at the thought of Amanda being in Albright’s crosshairs. She was still learning, still adjusting to her new reality, and the last thing she needed was a hunter with a vendetta on her trail.

“How do you know he’s here?” Rance asked, his voice tight with barely restrained anger.

Asher leaned back against the counter, his gaze never leaving Rance’s. “We’ve been trying to keep an eye on him since he landed in Anchorage, but we lost him. We think, though, that Kodiak was next on his list.”

“Why? Vendetta? Collector? Bounty hunter?”

“Unknown, and I’m not sure it matters. But we need to locate him and keep him under surveillance. His usual MO is to ask questions about locations and snoop around places he shouldn’t be. You know how fast word travels in our community, and people are scared. We can’t afford to ignore this, Rance. He’s not just hunting bears—he’s hunting all of us.”

Rance’s mind raced as he considered the implications. Albright was a threat, not just to him, but to Amanda, Eva, and all the other shifters on the island. He couldn’t allow that. He wouldn’t.

“I’ll handle it,” Rance said finally.

Asher nodded; his expression grim. “I figured you would. But be careful, Rance. Albright’s no amateur. He’s been doing this a long time, and he’s damn good at it. Don’t underestimate him.”

Rance didn’t need the warning, but he appreciated Asher’s concern. They finished their coffee in silence, both men lost in their own thoughts. Asher left soon after, leaving Rance alone with the weight of the responsibility that now rested on his shoulders.

He knew what he had to do. The first step was to make sure Amanda was safe.

Later that day, Rance made his way to Amanda’s home above the veterinary clinic. The thought of her being in danger had gnawed at him all morning, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was on the horizon.

When Amanda opened the door, she seemed surprised to see him, but her expression quickly softened into a warm smile. “Rance, what’s going on? You look… intense.”

He stepped inside, his presence filling the small entryway. He could tell Amanda sensed his tension, her brow furrowing in concern. Rance took a deep breath, knowing he needed to be direct.

“There’s something you need to know,” he began, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him. “There’s a hunter on the island. His name is Donald Albright, and he’s dangerous—especially to people like us.”

Amanda’s eyes widened slightly, but she didn’t flinch. “A hunter? You mean… he’s hunting shifters?”

Rance nodded, his gaze intense. “Yes. He’s been tracking and making shifters disappear for years…”

“Disappear?”

“We’re not sure if he’s abducting them and taking them someplace or killing them. I worked with a group of resistance operatives at a lab in Iceland where they were exploited and tortured…”

“Oh my god, Rance, that must have been terrible for you.”

He shook his head. “It was, but it’s not important now, and the lab was destroyed. Still, this Albright guy might have been one of their suppliers. It doesn’t really matter. What matters is he’s here in Alaska, and reportedly he’s headed for Kodiak Island in search of bear-shifters. I need you to be careful, Amanda. Don’t go anywhere alone where you might run into him. And don’t shift, not unless you’re with me or you absolutely have to.”

Amanda’s jaw set in a stubborn line, her eyes narrowing. “I can take care of myself, Rance. I’m not some helpless damsel.”

Rance admired her fire, but this was too important to let pride get in the way. He stepped closer, his voice firm. “I know you’re strong, Amanda. But Albright is a professional, and he’s ruthless. I’m not telling you this to undermine you—I’m telling you because we’re mates. You’re important to me.”

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