Page 32 of Claiming the Shifter's Heart

He heard his mate hitting the ground and swapping feathers for skin.

Fuck.

He had to hurry.

“Sean! Janie!” Della yelled.

“What have you done now, bitch? You brought wolves. Always knew you were nothing but a slut,” the male sneered.

“Let go of them, Cade,” Della said, and pride rang through Kris at how strong she sounded.

No fear. Just pure grit.

“I can hear them, man. Come on, Cade, just leave the brats and that bitch. Let’s just go before those monsters get to us,” another male said, sounding scared.

“Nah, I ain’t leaving. This is my family. I’ll end you, bitch. Should kill you right now in front of them,” the first male, Cade, sneered.

Kris caught sight of the pathetic male as he dropped both Sean and a sobbing Janie on the ground. Della moved to shield them, but the weak prick had a gun in his hand. He raised his arm, spittle flying from his lips as he made a sound not quite human.

But his weak ass war cry turned into a scream of sheer terror as Kris vaulted over some thick, snow-covered brush.

His monster Wolf hit Cade with so much force, he didn’t even have to bite the man to kill him. He just snapped his neck using his front paws and body weight.

The same couldn’t be said for the other male. After Kris ensured Della had the children in hand and was checking themover while soothing them, he turned to face the sniveling male who’d come into his town, to his Pack, and tried to hurt his family, his mate.

“No, no, no, man! He made me! Please, I’m sorry!”

Kris didn’t doubt it for a minute that the man was sorry. He might even forgive him someday, but definitely not before he finished tearing out his throat.

Kidnapping piece of shit.

“Oh shit. Man, did you do all this?”

Michael stood beside three enormous men, Wolves from the Pack. He had a blanket around his waist, at least, to cover his nudity.

Still, Kris snarled, jumping in front of Della and the kids. He trembled when her soft hand found his back, both kids held tight to her body.

“Here,” one male said, averting his gaze and tossing her a couple of blankets.

She covered the children first then wrapped the other one around her like a cape. His Wolf felt better now that she was covered in front of males he didn’t necessarily know.

“Change back. We need to talk,” Dib, the Wolf he knew, said.

Kris did and stood in front of his family, still feeling raw. He turned and gathered Della and the kids to him kissing downy heads and nuzzling cheeks.

Sean turned in his mother’s arms and raised them towards Kris. He looked at Della, who nodded, fat tears glistening in her eyes.

“Come here,” he murmured soothingly.

“My dad was a bad man. He hurt Mommy a lot, and he stoled me and Janie.”

“I know. I’m so sorry, Buddy.”

Sean shrugged and sniffed, clutching him tight.

“Will you be my Dad now, Santa?” he whispered, and tilted his head back to look at Kris with big, trusting eyes.

Kris inhaled deeply, aware of the several ears listening to this very personal conversation. Della gasped, and he thought he saw hope flicker inside the depths of her warm, velvety eyes.

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