Page 14 of Claimed By 3 Mountain Men

“Type?” I scoff, crinkling my nose and hardening my gaze.

“Sure. Save the animals. Save the planet. Protect the forest. All of you are the same. Showing up, causing a scene then leaving without making a difference or helping any of the damn things you claim to care so much about. And you all hated my dad. Despised him.”

"I didn’t know your dad, JT. I’m here to find out the truth and see what can be done to protect the environment and the silver lynx, an endangered species.”

“Words are cheap, Mac. Actions are what matter. And right now, your actions are telling me you’re here to stir up trouble,” JT says.

“Maybe I am here to stir things up,” I say, stepping closer, refusing to back down. “Because sometimes that’s what it takes to get people to listen.”

He steps closer to me, towering over me like a brick wall.

“Then let me make it clear to you. I am in no mood to be dealing with trouble.”

“Me neither. So, you can help me by answering my questions, or I’ll find the answers myself. It’s your call.”

A cold, curling smile spreads onto his lips.

“My God. I don’t think you understand who the hell you’re talking to right now.”

“I’m sorry, am I treading on your manly ego? Protecting the land and the animals that live here are more important to me than your feelings. Trust me, I’m fully aware of who you are.”

He grabs my arm roughly, pulling me close to him. Our faces only inches apart.

“Then you’d know not to mess with me, Mac,” he growls through gritted teeth. “Not to mess with me or either of my brothers.”

The outside suddenly feels hot, and I’m painfully aware of the heat radiating from his body.

My heart pounds, but I refuse to back down. “Is that a threat? Because I’m tougher than I look.”

Suddenly his grip softens, and he gently strokes my cheek with his knuckles, sending chills down my spine.

“No, Mac, that was a promise.”

I swallow hard, cursing myself for the thousandth time for noticing the flecks of gold in his eyes or inhaling his cologne which smells of pine and cedar.

“I’ll be watching you, Mac,” he calls over his broad shoulder after he releases me. “Remember that.”

5

MAC

Ireach the edge of the forest and set my backpack down, taking a moment to soak in the serene beauty around me.

This is technically Truitt property, but I’m far from their headquarters.

There’s hundreds of thousands of acres around here, meaning the chances of ever running into them again are very low as long as I stay out of town.

Unzipping my bag, I begin pulling out my equipment—cameras, tracking devices, pens and notebooks.

If I can find evidence of the lynxes in this forest, it would be a significant step toward conserving their habitat.

I pitch my small tent in a clearing, making sure it's well-hidden from the main path. I lay out my sleeping bag and organize my supplies. I try to focus on the task at hand, but my mind keeps drifting.

I can’t believe the audacity of them all. But JT mainly.

Why does he have to be so good looking? And those eyes…All of them really. It’s not fair. They’re all rich, spoiled assholes.

I set up a small folding table and place my laptop on it, connecting it to my portable solar charger. The sun is just starting to climb higher, casting long shadows across the forestfloor. I position the cameras, making sure they’re camouflaged and pointed in the right directions. As I work, the forest comes alive with sounds—the rustle of leaves, the distant call of a bird, the whisper of the wind flitting through the trees.

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