Page 11 of Burned By My Mate

She has no idea what she’s stepped into.

Or that I’m about toflip her entire world upside down.

I set my coffee down. “Twisted Oak is… different. It’s mostly safe, but there’s a group that causes trouble from time to time. They come from outside of town—from a place called Red Fog.”

Her frown deepens. “That’s the third time someone’s mentioned Red Fog. Who are they?”

I exhale slowly.

“They’re shifters,” I say carefully. “Dangerous ones. They don’t belong here, but sometimes they push their way in.”

She blinks. “Shifters?”

Shit.

I fucked up.

I try to cover my mistake quickly. “They’re a gang. That’s what we call them.”

Her eyes narrow slightly, like she knows I’m holding something back.

Not good,my bear growls, but I ignore him.

I need to handle thiscarefully.

“And you think they’re the ones who burned my house down?” she asks, setting her fork down.

I nod. “We found tracks leading toward their territory.”

She grips her coffee mug tighter. “But… why me? I don’t know anyone here, or there. I just moved in.”

That’s the part I still don’t have an answer for.

Unless…

My stomach clenches.

Unless they’re just burning houses down to cause panic, fear, and to destroy our pack.

My bear lets out a lowsnarl.

Idon’t like this,he growls and I nod.

Me either.

I meet her gaze, voice steady. “Until we figure it out, you need to stayhere.”

She stiffens. “I can’t?—”

“You can,” I cut in, my tone firm. “And you will.”

Her green eyes flash. “You don’t get to make that decision for me.”

My bear snaps inside me.

She doesn’t understand. I won’t let herwalk out that door. I won’t let anyonetouch her. I lean in, locking eyes with her.

“You can be mad at me all you want, but I’m not letting you go back out there unprotected.”

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