Zander tamped down a roar of frustration. He scooped the sheathed Sword of the Guardian up in his teeth and ran after her.
* * *
Rae heard him coming. She’d hoped he would chase her, though she’d assumed he would simply pick up the sword and walk home, shaking his head at her antics.
But no, Zander was behind her, his snarls muffled as though he had something in his mouth.
Rae wanted to laugh. What came out was a wolf howl. Zander made her mating frenzy come alive, until she wanted nothing but to touch him, stroke him, push him onto his back and straddle him. Rae was never this shameless, but Zander did something to her.
Not surprising, a small part of her mind told her. She and Zander had been thrown together, survived adventures, and found refuge in each other. Of course she’d started to feel the mating desires. It was biological.
Rae’s human mind told her this, but the wolf in her snarled that her human form was making her stupid. The wolf understood the madness Rae felt and what it really meant. Mate.
Zander was coming fast. Rae knew these woods, had known them forever. She ducked around fallen trees and around boulders, then ran down a long hill and across the stream that was chilly even in summer.
Zander simply barreled around or through all the obstacles and gained on her. He was right on her heels as she came out of the stream, and in the next two strides, he took her down with one swipe of his paw.
Rae landed on her belly in dirt and pine needles, her legs every which way, but he hadn’t hurt her. He’d tackled her gently. She rolled and struggled up, spinning to face him. Zander tipped the Sword of the Guardian onto the ground and growled.
He was a beautiful bear. Rae admired Zander while she pretended not to—his soulful black eyes, fur that was so white it shone faintly in the darkness, his expressive face, his giant black paws tipped with huge claws. Rae darted around him and caught the tip of his flat tail in her wolf teeth.
Zander snarled and spun in place faster than a giant bear should be able to. But Rae was faster, a wolf in her element, leaping out of the way before Zander could catch her.
Zander made a bear hmph, picked up the sword, and started to stroll away. Rae trotted after him, staying just far enough behind him so he couldn’t grab her.
Zander hmphed again . . . and then took off. Rae’s wolf bit back a howl—Hey! What the hell?—before she charged after him.
She dashed around a stand of trees, right into Zander. The laughter in his eyes pissed her off only a moment before she found herself taken down by a couple thousand pounds of polar bear.
Rae fought in panic before she realized he wasn’t hurting her. Zander pinned her, yes, but he didn’t crush, wasn’t trying to vanquish her. He’d dropped the sword a few feet away from them, and it began to hum.
Zander closed his mouth briefly over Rae’s neck then licked the top of her head and grumbled low in his belly. Peace, Little Wolf. Lie here and enjoy the night with me.
Rae wasn’t certain how she understood him—maybe it had to do with the sword happily ringing next to them. She slowly dragged herself out from under him, but once she was free she very gently nipped his ear then lay down close to him.
Zander moved his large front paws until they encircled Rae, bringing her snugly against his chest. Rae curled up, feeling incredibly safe and warm. Nothing could hurt her while Zander was near.
Would he always be near? Her wolf, as contented as she was at the moment, realized that Zander could leave anytime he wanted. He could disappear into the world and never return. He wasn’t Collared or restricted to a Shiftertown—he could go anywhere he wanted, take any mate he wanted.
Rae’s dart of jealousy eased off at once, because her wolf knew exactly how to prevent every female Shifter in the world from chasing after him. She might not be able to keep Zander from leaving Montana, but she could stake her claim.
Her wolf licked the underside of Zander’s jaw then breathed her scent onto him. Marked.
Zander blinked dark eyes in surprise. Then he gave a growl that was almost a purr and breathed his scent onto her.
His next growl was one of great triumph. Marked. Mine!
* * *
Zander walked in through the front door of Eoin’s house the next morning more refreshed than he’d been in a long time.
He’d slept great after he and Rae had found their clothes, dressed, and walked home, even if he’d spent the rest of the night alone in the room over the garage instead of with Rae. His choice—if he’d taken the bedroom in the house Eoin had offered, he’d have found a way to cross the hall and get into Rae’s bed.
She’d scent-marked him. Zander rubbed his hair, still damp from his shower, as he made for the kitchen and the smell of breakfast. His heart was light and he rejoiced.
He’d been trying to keep his scent from her to protect her, but she didn’t seem to have any worries about it. Once she’d broached the issue, he’d figured to hell with it.
A scent mark meant that Rae wanted more from Zander than simply sating her mating frenzy. Female Shifters didn’t usually scent mark—there were many more Shifter males than females, so the ladies didn’t worry as much about competition—but that didn’t mean they couldn’t.
Zander had already known his interest in Rae went beyond the mating frenzy. But she’d indicated with the scent mark that she wanted all other females to back off him, meaning Zander was no longer fair game.
And it wasn’t a cute Hands off, ladies. He’s mine. It was more Stay the fuck away from him, bitches, or I’ll kill you.
Did not at all help Zander’s mating hunger that Rae was saying she considered him hers, that he was more than a night in the sack to sate herself. He wanted to shout it to the world—She’s mine, all mine.
Of course, as soon as he walked into the kitchen, every Shifter in the room snapped his head around and fixed him with a sudden glare. The scent mark was easily discerned, didn’t matter how long Zander showered or how much soap he used.
Rae wasn’t there, thank the Goddess. If Zander had to fight her dad and brothers to the death, he didn’t want Rae around to be hurt.
Logan, the oldest of Eoin’s sons, rose from the table, and planted himself in front of Zander. “That better have been her choice, bear.”
Zander carefully walked past him and reached for an empty cup on the counter. He made no moves that could be considered a threat, though he also made it clear he was no submissive. He’d respect Eoin’s territory but wouldn’t obey him blindly.