Page 26 of Luka

“One of many contingency plans I have in place.” Luka swung the door open then grabbed the keys to his motorcycle that were hidden in a small nook in the wall. He opened the larger door then kick-started his bike, loving the fact that his mate didn’t need to be told to get on.

They flew out of the shed, heading for the heart of Ridgeway. He would have simply driven back to his cabin, but that wouldn’t have put a stop to Spencer’s debt and they might have been followed.

As they drove through the streets, Luka let himself breathe for a moment. He hadn’t realized just how much Spencer’s safety meant to him until now. He knew he had to focus, though. The vampires were still on their trail, and he couldn’t let Spencer get hurt.

“Where are we going?” Spencer shouted over the roar of the engine.

Luka turned his head toward him and smiled. “Somewhere safe. Don’t worry.”

Spencer wrapped his arms tightly around Luka’s waist. Luka could feel the heat of his mate’s body against his back, and he suppressed a shiver.

Now was not the time to think of taking Spencer somewhere and laying him out like a buffet. Luka had to get him somewhere safe and then track Lazarus down. He had to put an end to this so he and Spencer could really start their lives together.

Something Luka was looking forward to. He hadn’t forgotten that they’d just admitted their feelings of growing love toward each other, and Luka was pissed that the intruders had ruined the moment.

When he got his hands on them, they would wish they were never born.

* * * *

Spencer looked around the quaint home. He had no idea who the guy in front of him was, and he didn’t like the fact that Luka was talking about leaving him there.

“I don’t think I need to stress how important this human is to me, Ross,” Luka said.

“Since I’ve never seen you with anyone, I’m pretty sure I know how important he is to you,” Ross replied.

Spencer had no idea why Luka didn’t tell Ross they were mates, but if Luka was keeping that to himself, it had to be for a good reason. Was Ross a human, wolf, or vampire? Spencer was dying to ask, but he kept his lips curled in as Luka and Ross talked.

Then Luka turned toward him, and Spencer told himself to be brave, not to beg Luka to stay. If they wanted this over, then Spencer suspected Luka was going to do what he had to in order to make that happen.

He still didn’t like it. Maybe it was his nerves, but Spencer didn’t trust this guy. He probably wouldn’t trust anyone but Luka in this situation. Spencer would have preferred to go to Tanner’s house rather than stay with a stranger.

But if Luka was confident Ross could keep him safe, then who was Spencer to argue? He wanted to, though. Everything inside Spencer didn’t want Luka to go.

“Look at me.” Luka cupped Spencer’s face. “I promise I won’t take long.”

Spencer curled his fingers around Luka’s wrists and held on for dear life. “I know you’re only doing this to keep me safe. I can handle being an hour without you.” Spencer didn’t want to contemplate being without his mate any longer than an hour. Hell, he didn’t want to think about being without him for more than five seconds.

Not after Luka’s home had just been surrounded by men who wanted Spencer. They hadn’t been there to shoot the breeze.

Luka tucked a finger under Spencer’s chin. “I have to do this if we have any chance of living peacefully, Spence.”

He really liked it when his mate called him that. Spencer also didn’t want to feel like a burden. He was a grown man in a supernatural situation, but he wouldn’t let his fear get the better of him, though he would have every right to if he wanted to.

After all, before Lyle died, Spencer had no clue wolves or vampires even existed. Was he expected to become some badass human and take them on? He couldn’t even stay safe when it came to his uncle. Lyle had been the embodiment of evil, until Spencer had met his first vampire.

Even so, no matter the species, bad people were bad people. Whether they used a gun, fists, fangs, or even claws, they preyed on their victims. Which was what Lyle had done. He’d used his large musculature to instill fear in Spencer, to manipulate and abuse him.

And now the vampires were using their…what were they using? Just the fact that they were vampires scared the hell out of Spencer. They didn’t need to use anything except the fact that they existed. That was enough to make any grown man wet himself.

Luka slipped something into Spencer’s hand and then whispered in his ear. “Push the red button on that and I’ll know you’re in trouble. It has a tracking device built right in, too.”

Spencer didn’t dare look but nodded. His anxiety decreased a bit knowing he had a way to communicate with Luka besides a phone.

His mate kissed his cheek, his lips still close to Spencer’s ear. “I love you.”

Before Spencer could register what Luka had said, before he could utter a response, Luka walked out the front door and disappeared.

“Make yourself at home,” Ross said.

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