Page 27 of Untamed Instincts

“I have to go,” Noah said urgently to Harris.

“The hell you do,” Harris snapped. “You told me that you were mixed up in something really dangerous and some bad people came after you. Now you’re going to take off with bikers? What in the hell has gotten into you, Noah?”

Ignoring Harris’s protests, Noah hurried to his car, heart pounding with worry.

“Noah!” Harris yelled after him, sounding like a worried parent demanding their child come back immediately.

How much blood loss? Noah had learned that a shifter healed in their animal form. He’d gone to his mom’s house one day to find a huge wolf lying on the living room floor.

Noah’s mom had explained that Jack had fallen off the roof while making some repairs and hurt himself. They healed by shifting into their animal. Despite knowing it was Jack, Noah had been scared shitless at the sight of such a powerful creature lying on his mom’s floor.

As he raced to his apartment, he saw five loudly rumbling motorcycles in his rearview mirror following closely behind him.

Noah had worked himself up into a panic by the time he pulled into his apartment’s parking lot. He rushed up the stairs, barely aware of Killian and Ryker on his heels.

When Noah opened his door, he shouted and jumped back. A colossal bear lay stretched out across the living room floor, taking up almost the entire room. The sight of his mate rendered him speechless. Quinton’s bear was a force of nature.

Killian ushered Noah inside, forcing him closer to the massive furball. Blinking several times, Noah fought the urge to wait in the hallway until his mate was back in his human form.

Ryker closed the door. “He won’t hurt you, Noah. We’re cognizant in our animal forms. He’ll know who you are.”

That did not make Noah feel any better, especially since he had no idea bears even came in Quinton’s size. “He’s...enormous.”

Killian grinned, patting the bear’s hindquarters playfully. “He’s always been a big guy. You should see his—”

Noah gaped at Killian, his brows shooting to his hairline. “See his what, exactly?”

Ryker stifled a laugh, and Killian’s face caught fire as he quickly tried to backtrack. “His...bear form. You should see his bear form.”

“I’m staring right at it.” Noah flung his hand toward his mate.

With a loud groan, Killian rubbed his face. “Please, for the love of everything, don’t tell him I said that.” He dropped his hand. “And since we got you back here before he woke up, do Ryker and me a favor and don’t mention your Houdini act.” Killian stepped over the bear to get to the kitchen. “You got anything to eat? I’m starving and those pastries won’t put a dent in my appetite.”

Noah ignored them, his attention focused on Quinton. His mate lay there, unconscious, his breathing steady but slow. Despite the size and ferocity of Quinton’s bear, Noah knew the beast wouldn’t hurt him.

This was Quinton—his mate, his protector.

Slowly, Noah inched closer then poked the bear’s hindquarter, feeling the soft fur beneath his fingers. Quinton didn’t move, didn’t react.

He tried again, this time stabbing his finger a little harder, but he still got no response.

“Are you trying to poke a hole in him so he’ll deflate?” Ryker asked with humor in his voice.

“It’s my process, okay?” Noah said nervously. “You’re used to seeing your dad like this. Forgive me for being cautious around an animal that could probably fit my entire head in his mouth.”

“You don’t have any food.” Killian came back into the room with a pout. “No wonder you’re so skinny.”

Ryker slapped the back of his hand against Killian’s gut. “That’s our stepdad you’re talking to. Mind your manners.”

Eyes wide, Noah slowly turned his head toward them. “Do you really have to say that right now? Can you let me get through one freak-out at a time?”

“We’ll just order some food,” Killian said, warmth in his gray eyes. “What do you want from the diner, rabbit?” He pulled out his phone, already dialing.

“Why do you keep calling me that?” The guy better not think Noah was cute and cuddly.

“You rabbited out of here.” Killian smirked at him then said, “Hey, Roman, it’s Killian Everhart.” He paused then frowned. “I’m aware it’s the lunch rush, but you don’t have to groan about it. Consider yourself lucky it’s just my dad, Ryker, and me ordering instead of all four of us. Oh, and the little birdie.”

Ryker slapped Killian again, only this time he cuffed his brother on the back of the head.

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