Page 4 of The Storm Within

“Unfortunately.” Or fortunately since he’d found his mate. Reluctantly, he let go of Nate’s hand, already missing the contact. “What about you?”

“Same. Weather’s a real mess out there.” Nate shrugged, and Ryker noted the way his dark blue eyes seemed to sparkle even in the dim light. “Anywho, I was heading to the ice machine. Care to join me? Not much else to do in this place for us hallway club members.”

Ryker loved his mate’s sense of humor, also his smile, those dimples that popped whenever he grinned, and even the sound of his soft voice.

The pull was strong, the invisible force nearly overwhelming him. “Of course, and on the way, you can fill me in on the rules of our club, honey bear.”

The endearment had just slipped out, but Nate didn’t seem to mind because he didn’t ask why Ryker had just called him that. He followed his mate, his gaze drifting over the human’s slim back and cute butt. He was small, delicate almost, and damn if Ryker wasn’t enjoying the view of his rear end swaying as the guy walked ahead of him.

Even his bear appreciated it if his low snarl was anything to go by.

They reached the ice machine, an ancient contraption that looked as if it belonged in a museum. Nate grabbed a bucket from the small, upturned stack, the plastic rattling as he tried to position it under the chute.

“So, where were you headed before you got stuck here?” He glanced at Ryker as he pressed the button. The machine groaned, a loud, mechanical clunk echoing through the empty hallway.

Leaning his shoulder against the wall, Ryker shrugged. “Christmas shopping. I was picking up a gift for my little nephew. Thought it’d make up for…missing some time with him.”

The guilt twisted inside of Ryker. He could still see Ethan’s terrified expression as the deranged drug dealer held a gun to the toddler’s head. Ryker should’ve protected the boy better. He should’ve—

“Hey.” Nate’s voice broke through Ryker’s thoughts, his mate’s gaze softening. “Life doesn’t always go as planned. It’s what you do afterward that counts, right?”

Ryker stared at him, surprised by the empathy in Nate’s voice. His mate’s presence was calming, making Ryker’s gut feel less twisted. He nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Guess so.”

Before he could say anything else, like asking who Nate had been arguing with, the door near his own opened. Ryker’s gaze narrowed at the sight of a buff man with dark eyes, though his face was partially obscured by the shadows. The stranger gave Nate a pointed look, his expression cold.

Nate stiffened, his smile fading. He cleared his throat, his gaze lowering, which pissed Ryker off. It was clear how much Nate feared Dark Eyes. “I should probably get back, but maybe, um, I’ll see you around?” He glanced up at Ryker, a flicker of something—hope, maybe—in his blue beauties.

Ryker wanted to tell him to stay and also to tear apart the guy who frightened him. But that might only make the human run from him, which was the last thing Ryker wanted.

Instead, he forced a smile he didn’t feel, suppressing the urge to rip out Dark Eyes’ throat. “You can count on that, honey bear.”

With the bucket of ice clutched against his chest, Nate hurried back to his room, his hips slightly swaying. Dark Eyes watched Nate’s progress, his gaze darting briefly toward Ryker before he followed Nate inside, the door clicking shut behind them.

A deep growl rumbled through Ryker as he stood there. Something was unquestionably off. There had been an unease in Nate’s pretty blue eyes, like his mate had been trying to convey something Ryker couldn’t decipher.

What he could interpret was the possessive and controlling way Dark Eyes had stared at Nate.

The pull inside Ryker intensified, the instinct to protect the small man overriding everything else. He didn’t know what was going on, but he was going to find out.

With narrowed eyes, he slowly glanced around. The motel suddenly felt different—less like a place to crash for the night and more like an ominous presence. His gut was telling him he’d been led there for a reason, and now that he’d met Nate, he knew why.

Nate was in trouble, and Ryker was determined to keep him safe.

Chapter Two

Ryker scrubbed a hand over his bearded jaw, his thumb absently dragging across his bottom lip as Nate’s scent lingered in his mind, the faint peppermint teasing him. Sleep had been impossible. Every time he tried, those blue eyes haunted him—piercing and holding secrets Ryker couldn’t yet unravel.

It was also hard to shake the unease. Dark Eyes’ presence bothered Ryker a hell of a lot. It wasn’t uncommon to find one’s mate in an existing relationship, but if that was the case, he had a dilemma on his hands.

Ryker didn’t poach, ever, but he wondered if he could stick by his morals considering the human was his mate.

His mate. He was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that he’d finally found the one person meant for him. Too bad the universe had a dark sense of humor. He’d not only let Ryker find Nate while the guy was involved with someone else but wrapped in a tangled mess of secrets.

Oh god. What if Dark Eyes was his husband? A cold chill swept through Ryker at the thought. Only, his gut told him that wasn’t the case. Still, there was something in the stranger’s eyes, a coldness that made Ryker’s bear snarl, wanting to eliminate any and all threats toward Nate.

Giving up on sleep, he got out of bed then yanked on his jeans, a black T-shirt, and a heavy red-and-black flannel. The radiator in the room was doing its best impersonation of a corpse, and he needed warmth—physical and otherwise.

He grabbed his phone off the nightstand, checked again for service, and was unsurprised by the mocking “No Signal” glaring back at him.

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