Page 15 of Burned By My Mate

Why does he feel so responsible, so protective of me, when he only just met me?

And why do I like it?

SIX

Logan

I don’t like this.

I don’t like any of this.

The second I stepped into my house and saw thefearin Emerson’s eyes, something inside me snapped. I wanted to tear through the woods,hunt downwhoever had come sniffing around my home, and make sure they never set foot near her again, but I can’t do that. Not yet, because right now, the most important thing is making sureshefeels safe.

And judging by the way she keepshugging her arms around herself, like she’s trying to hold herself together, she doesn’t.

I take a slow breath, forcing my bear to settle as I turn to face her.

“Did you see anyone?” I ask, keeping my voice even.

She shakes her head, her hands tightening into fists.

“No, but I know what I heard.”

“I believe you.”

Her head jerks up, surprise flashing in her green eyes. Like she expected me to doubt her. That pisses me off. I step closer, my voice low.

“I’m going to find out who did this.”

She swallows hard, her green eyes filled with worry.

“And if it was Red Fog?”

My beargrowls so loud in my head that it almost deafens me.

Then we’ll destroy them,he roars, and I nod in agreement, but I can’t tell my mate that.

“Then they’ll regret ever coming near you.”

Her breath catches, but she doesn’t look away. Sheshouldbe scared of me right now. She should back away, demand answers, ask why I’m taking this so damn personally, but she doesn’t. Instead, she just exhales, shaking her head.

“I don’t get it.”

I frown. “What?”

“This,” she says, waving a hand between us. “Why do you care so much?”

I go still.

Because you’re mine. Because I knew the second I smelled you, the second I saw you, covered in smoke and glaring at me like you wanted toset me on fire, that you were meant to be mine.

Because myentire bodyburns with the need to protect you, even if you don’t understand why yet.

I grip the back of my neck, choosing my words carefully.

“I don’t like seeing innocent people get hurt.”

She stares at me for a long moment, like she’s trying to figure out if that’s thewholetruth.

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