There in the doorway was Rob Wolf, and beside him, Willow, his wife. They were staring down at Marty’s lifeless body.
“We had an APB out on the rental car, and Cody told us which direction to head. Luckily, it was easy to spot from the highway.”
Rob’s gaze shifted to me. When he took in the disaster that probably was my face, his jaw clenched. “You okay?”
I nodded.
“Boone?” he asked.
“G–g…one,” I stuttered.
“He thinks he’s a danger to his mate,” Kyle said. He definitely was up on the whole wolf-thing.
Rob rubbed his face and sighed. “Fuck.”
Willow came over, pulled me in for a hug. I hugged her back although it wasn’t the best one I’d ever given. She remained beside me.
“He’s um, my ex, well, my husband is a cop. What are we going to do?” I asked.
“You’re gonna go with Willow now,” Rob said. “She’ll bring you home and have Audrey stop by to look at your injuries.” He looked down at Marty, set his hands on his hips. “This? We’ll take care of this. Shifter laws apply here.”
I flicked my gaze to Levi, the sheriff, who nodded.
Human law enforcement or shifter justice? Maybe he was both.
“I don’t know how I’d explain this to the police anyway,” I said. “The LAPD didn’t believe me when he was literally abusing me, and this truth is pretty unbelievable.”
Levi smiled. “Then it’s a good thing I’m the law around here, isn’t it?”
It was over with Marty. It was over for Marty. I didn’t have to worry about him any longer. I was free.
Except I was without Boone.
I’d thought I wanted to be rid of Marty and to move on with my life. But now, my life was with Boone.
What was I going to do without him?
31
BOONE
* * *
I raced through the snow blindly.
My paws were frozen and bloodied from hitting unseen rocks. I didn’t want to stop moving–couldn’t stop moving.
I ran like I was being chased.
And maybe I was. By the image of my frightened mate. By the monster that I’d become–a killer.
The snowfall tapered off as I climbed a peak. I was exhausted, even in my wolf form. I’d run full out for miles to get Summer then flat out once again to get away from her once I knew she was safe with Levi.
I rested upon a rise, looking out over the entire valley. With my thick fur, I wasn’t cold. I could survive the coldest of winters without shelter.
Where should I go? What should I do?
Fuck.
