Page 31 of Chomp's Challenge

“Do you feel up to working today?” I ask, wondering if she’s too afraid to leave the house.

“I’m good. I want to work.”

“My schedule is booked. I’ll have to rearrange some things.” I frown, wondering who I can get to replace me for some of the tours and field trips I’ve got going on. I don’t want to leave Ariel without protection and there’s no one who’s better equipped to keep my mate safe than me.

Spike joins us, sipping on his coffee. I can smell the vanilla creamer. He usually drinks it black but maybe he wants to be nice since Ariel went out of her way. “I’m available.”

I give him a look. “To do tours?”

He smirks. “To stay with Ariel.”

Uh. “Spike.”

“Don’t get your gator in a tizzy. I’m offering to help.”

He knows I can’t refuse. He’s the president of the club. Sure, we’re shifters. But we all came here because for one reason or another, we had to find a new place to live. Some of us left our old homes because we were kicked out or run off. Others left because of personal reasons I had yet to learn. Most of us yearned for connection and a place to call home, apart from the strife or cruelty we experienced.

We found Spike and formed our motorcycle club. For me, it’s bittersweet. I left my congregation and the cruel alpha who harmed the females, including my mother. I missed her and my siblings, but my defiance and confronting the alpha, Grinder, only earned punishment dealt to my mother. It’s the reason I had to leave because I had to keep my mother safe from his temper. But I finally found a place where I fit in, and I’ve been accepted for who I am.

Now I’ve found my mate too. With her and the club, I finally have my own family, which is why I agree to let Spike stay with Ariel at the shop while I work. Mates are precious to all of us, especially since we’re beginning to find them. It’s not just a wish or a hope. It’s a certainty now.

We should make him do the tours, my gator grumbles. He’s not happy about this. I suspect he won’t be happy about anyone ever being close to our mate other than us. He’s far too protective and possessive. Of course, while Spike is usually laid back and even-tempered, I don’t want him dealing with customers since some of them are city slickers with no clue how to act in the wilderness; he’s liable to open his mouth and burn them to ashes. Ariel’s already been traumatized enough; I don’t want her to see the dragon come out to play.

“We should get some rest first,” I say, glancing at the dark circles that have formed beneath Ariel’s eyes. She didn’t get much sleep before all this happened. “We have a few hours before we need to open the shop.”

“Go,” Spike orders. “I’ll meet you at the shop at nine. Kong is coming over to watch the place for the day.”

Kodiak leaves the kitchen and I see he’s stuffing a pastry into his mouth and licking his fingers. “What?” he asks when he sees we’re all staring.

“How many did you eat?” Spike asks, folding his arms over his chest. Smoke curls from his nostrils so I know he’s mildly irritated.

Kodiak looks away, a guilty expression on his face. “All of them?”

“You ate all the fucking pastries? The donuts and the danish?”

Kodiak swallows like he still has food in his mouth. “My bear is hungry.”

Spike pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs. “Go to your mate. Callie will feed you.”

Kodiak grins and waves before he rushes out the door. I glare at his back since I was looking forward to some of Beanie’s apple fritters. They’re my favorite and that asshole knows it. I start thinking of ways I can get him back, which soon has me grinning.

Ariel giggles. “It’s sort of funny.”

“Not when he does it all the time,” Spike deadpans, shaking his head. “I’m going to call Beanie’s Brew and have her make a delivery. The club will cover the cost of the coffee and treats.”

“Thanks.” Ariel yawns. “I think I need that nap.”

I scoop her into my arms and tick my chin at Spike, carrying her into her room. “We’ll see ya at the shop.” Once I hear the front door shut, I know we’re alone. “I’m gonna go lock that door. I’ll be right back.”

Ariel mumbles a response as I lay her on the bed. She immediately settles beneath the covers, her eyes already fluttering. “Mmhmm.”

It only takes me a minute to check all the locks on the doors and windows, including her room. I know I did it when I left earlier, but neither me nor my gator will rest easy until we check them all again. She’s asleep as I sense Kong outside. He’s circling the perimeter, familiarizing himself with the scents, including the creeper that hung outside Ariel’s window. I draw the drapes closed, noting that the window is intact, and the asshole did nothing more than bang on the glass. There’s no damage.

He’s going to pay for scaring our mate, my gator hisses. Since I agree with him one hundred percent, I nod.

I’m exhausted as I slide beside my mate, drawing her close as I close my eyes. I’ve set an alarm on my phone, giving us a couple of hours before we need to get up and moving. My gator settles as her scent and warmth mingle with ours. Knowing she’s also being smothered with our scent is soothing.

The last thought in my head is how I’ll hunt this fucker down and eliminate him for daring to frighten my mate.

---