Page 8 of Snowed In With the Grizzly

“You sure, now?” says the reedy voice again.Condescending prick.

“Sure as I can be.” She’s a little nervous, but she holds firm. Admiration pours through me.

“Jaxton is a dangerous man.” The first cop now. “Wouldn’t want a pretty little thing like you to get caught up with him.”

Liar!My beast swells beneath my skin, and I cage its bellow behind my teeth. I’m gonna tear him to pieces. Make him sorry he ever laid eyes on my girl.

But her next sentences takes my breath away.

“I’ll be okay,” she says.

My chest warms. She doesn’t believe him. If she did, she’d ask what makes me dangerous.

I hear him grunt in disappointment. That wasn’t what he wanted to hear. He wanted her to be weak and helpless. Bile rises in my throat. I know humans like him. Trying to force women to be weak so they look strong in comparison. Well, my girl’s not taking any of that shit.

“His vehicle’s here—” the second cop mutters.

“Can you give me a ride into town?” Rowan cuts in.

She’s protecting me, again. I close my eyes, savoring the feeling. She knows she’s mine. My mate.

“I’m staying at the next cabin along, but my car’s broken down and I need to get a few things to keep the cold out. Looks like it’s gonna be a freezing night.”

“It’d be my pleasure, ma’am,” the first cop says.

My beast bristles.Ishould be the one taking her to town. Buying her whatever she wants. Carrying it all for her. Instead, I’m stuck here, hiding from these assholes.

“Lemme just check he’s not holed up inside here,” says the second cop.

There’s a pause, then the rap of knuckles on my front door. “Can’t see him.” He’s cupping his hands around my window now and peering inside. I can feel it. Then there’s the sound of human feet walking along my decking. I dart behind a tree and watch as the uniformed human completes a circuit of my property. It’s all I can do to keep my beast inside me.

“Nope. He’s not here.”

“Let’s go.”

I listen as they clamber inside the cop car.

“I’m okay, thanks,” I hear Rowan say sharply. She’s rejecting his offer of assistance. I smile to myself. I hate the fact that she’s alone with these two bozos, but I know she can handle herself.

The moment the vehicle has gone from earshot, my animal unleashes a roar of rage.

This is the last time I’ll let someone else protect her.

I snatch up the axe again and get to work double time. Need to make sure my princess has plenty of firewood to heat up her place when she gets back. I’m still mad at myself for not getting her cabin ready in time, but I’ll do what I can to make her place as cozy as can be. Then, when she trusts me a little, I’ll find out who’s hurt her and take them out.

And finally, I’ll make her mine.

3

Rowan

Apolar sleeping bag, an electric heater, a small bag of firewood and another ride in the police car later, and I’m back at the cabin again.

“You gonna be okay in there by yourself? Looks awful isolated,” the sleazy cop—whose name, I’ve discovered, is Rivers—says.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine. I know this place well.” I turn to Jaxton’s cabin automatically. Weird thing is, if I hadn’t met my scary, half-naked neighbor, I might’ve been nervous staying here alone. But somehow, his presence makes me feel safe.

Am I crazy?Probably.

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