Page 38 of Handcuffs & Honey

“Get back!” Julian warned.

“What in Rice Krispies is going on?” Elijah asked.

Then Deputy Denali Davis came into the kitchen. It was starting to get crowded in there.

Just as Deputy Davis pulled his gun, Dominic charged in through the back door. The wolf shoved himself away from Roman and attacked Dominic.

Julian watched with his brows to his hairline as Dominic roared, slung out his massive arm, and dropped the wolf to the floor. His mate hadn’t even shifted! Dominic had used his brute strength as a human.

The wolf tried to get back up, but Dominic was on him, power-driving his fist into Ezekiel’s muzzle. He followed that up with body blows, as if he was a beast unleashed.

“That’s enough!” Cannon tried to pull Dominic off of Ezekiel, but Julian’s mate was too strong.

Denali jumped in, and then Roman shifted back into his human form, helping.

Julian ignored the fact that his sexy boss was naked. He knew the guy had a banging body, but damn…

The three men finally pulled Dominic off of the wolf. Julian had never seen Dominic so enraged. It was scary as fuck.

Dominic went after the wolf again, towing all three men along with him. Julian scrambled out of the way when they came close to him. He wanted to keep clear in case more fighting happened.

“I think my brain just broke,” Elijah said as he helped Julian to his feet. “Did I really see our boss change from a snow leopard to a human, or did someone spike my hot chocolate?”

“Someone spiked your drink,” Julian said.

Deputy Wyatt Birch stepped in through the back door. Good god, how many people had come for the wolf? The kitchen wasn’t that big, and now it seemed even more crowded.

Then another deputy stepped into the kitchen from the back door, one Julian didn’t recognize. Now the kitchen felt like a damn shoe box with so many people in there.

“You fucked with the wrong people,” Dominic snarled. “You came after my mate, and for that, you need to die.”

“Need to be arrested,” Cannon corrected.

The wolf lunged at Dominic.

Julian and Elijah screamed.

Dominic grabbed Deputy Birch’s side arm and fired into the wolf until the gun simply clicked. Julian had covered his ears because the shots were deafening. He heard ringing and looked to see that Elijah had covered his ears, too.

Then he heard screaming coming from the dining area. Deputy Davis cursed and ran through the kitchen door, more than likely trying to calm the customers down. That was, those who hadn’t run from the diner already.

The deputy Julian didn’t know had run into the dining area as well.

Roman was going to have to spin one hell of a tale to his customers because of this massive insanity.

After handing the gun back to Deputy Birch, Dominic crossed the room and pulled Julian into his arms. Julian dropped the cleaver and hugged his mate, thankful he hadn’t had to use a weapon.

As the adrenaline wore off, Julian started to tremble. He had never seen Dominic so out of control before, and it scared him. He buried his face in Dominic's chest, inhaling his mate’s scent. He felt a pang of guilt as he realized that his mate had killed the wolf in front of him. Julian knew that it was necessary to protect everyone, but it didn’t make it any easier to witness.

Though he was glad Ezekiel was dead. Julian normally didn’t wish death on anyone, but Ezekiel wouldn’t back down, and that was the only way to stop him.

Just like it had been the only way to stop Rob.

Dominic rubbed Julian’s back, murmuring soothing words in his ear. Julian leaned into the touch, feeling safe in his mate’s embrace.

Elijah grabbed an apron and tossed it at Roman. “Cover all those sinewy muscles before I’m slapped with sexual harassment.”

Roman rolled his eyes as he slipped on the apron.

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