The animal shook his head from side to side, as if warning me not to move. But I couldn’t just stand there and wait. I couldn’t outrun a charging bull either. I took another sliding step to the side, and he pawed harder, dust flying up where his hoof met the ground.
Just as I grabbed my chance and ran for the pen, Declan raced up on his horse, vaulting off the back to land with a roar that distracted the bull. It knew Declan was the greater threat. Suddenly, Declan shifted, clothes tearing, and I learned I was right when I’d thought he was a bear. He was massive. I’d studied the different types of bears when I attended mysister’s wedding, and with his long, shaggy coat, large, muscular shoulder hump, and distinctive facial profile, Declan was a grizzly. One of the most dangerous.
He stood on his hind legs, over nine feet tall, and roared at the bull, which tossed its head before lowering it and pointing its horns at Declan. It pawed the ground one more time before running straight at him. Terror filled me at the thought of those horns slicing into Declan.
Before the bull could gore him, Declan’s bear grabbed the bull’s head and twisted, sending the animal to the ground with a heavy thud. The bull struggled to its feet, hooves slipping beneath it as the grizzly wrenched its head again before biting at the animal’s shoulder. Thundering hooves approached, and I watched the brother with dark blond hair who had shot me with the hose yesterday launch himself off his horse and shift into a tiger midair.
The others circled their horses, one by the gate, ready to close it as soon as they got the bull back inside. Declan’s bear and the tiger herded the bull toward the pen. It was tossing its head, threatening to charge, but every time it tried, one of the two would swipe at it, sending it staggering on its feet. Finally, the bull was in the pen, and the gate swung closed. The brother closest to the gate got off his horse and fiddled with the latch.
Declan shifted back and strode over to me. My curious eyes barely got a peek at his naked form before he swung me up in his arms. I grabbed his shoulders as he carried me over to the ATV and set me on the back. He called out to his brothers, “Get Thunder back in the barn for me.”
Then he was in front of me, driving the ATV back to the yard. My arms wrapped around his stomach, the feel of his muscles against my skin sending shivers through me, the vibrations of the ATV beneath me only heightening my arousal. I couldn’tstop myself from pressing tight against his bare back as I rested my cheek on him.
He would probably yell at me when we stopped, accuse me of being careless or something, so I let myself enjoy this moment. The attraction couldn’t go anywhere, but I was done ignoring it. I’d never felt for anyone what I did for him, and I lived for new experiences. I would let myself build as many memories as I could before leaving, and worry about my heart later.
FOUR
Declan
The feel of Chloe plastered against my back had my bear purring and my cock hard. Not a comfortable state to be in on the back of an ATV. As soon as I got close enough to the barn, I stopped the vehicle and unhooked her arms from around my middle, careful not to let them brush against my cock. I kept my back to her, my breaths harsh as I tried to calm the blood pumping through me.
I wanted to take her into my arms, make sure she was okay. When I saw her facing down Havoc, terror swept through me. The bull wouldn’t care that she wasn’t a threat. He’d run her through with his horns just for being there. Normally, when we moved Havoc for anything, we were all involved. We never took chances with him. But there’d been no time to wait for help. I only had enough time to send a quick call over the radio as Thunder and I raced toward the pen.
My bear wanted blood, angry that the bull would dare to threaten our mate. If my brothers hadn’t arrived so quickly, I likely would have killed him, a move that would have cost the ranch more than we could afford. But my bear didn’t care.
“Are you okay?” Chloe stepped closer, her hand resting lightly, hesitantly, on my back.
I moved away, her touch stirring the arousal I’d barely gotten under control. My voice, when it came out, was raspy, rough from my bear just beneath the surface. “There are clothes in the barn.”
My long strides ate up the distance to the barn. Inside the door was a cupboard we kept stocked with clothing. We didn’t always have time to strip before shifting. I grabbed a pair of jeans and yanked them on just as Chloe entered the building.
A blush stained her cheeks as her gaze swept over me. Her tongue darted out, wetting her lower lip. My eyes locked onto her glistening lip, my mouth watering, wanting to taste her. Feel her lips against mine.
My jaw tightened, and I squeezed my hand into a fist to keep from reaching for her. Fighting shifter instinct, which screamed for me to claim her, right here and now. Danger to one’s mate caused the possessive side to rear up, making it difficult to control. The need to protect was so strong.
Instead, I turned that energy to anger. Anger that my mate put herself in danger. If she hadn’t driven off so quickly, I would have been with her when she reached the bull pen instead of trailing behind.
“No more going off on your own. If you want pictures of something, I’ll escort you.” My tone came out harsher than I intended, but the fear for her safety was fueling me.
I watched her eyes narrow and her hands land on her hips. “I am not a child. I’m a grown woman, and I can take care of myself.”
“Like with the bull?” I stood in front of her, closer than was wise, considering the bear clamoring inside of me. “What would you have done if I hadn’t shown up?”
“You wouldn’t have had to if someone didn’t leave the gate open.” Her chin jutted out, her eyes defiant as she stared me down.
I frowned. Whywasthe gate open? It hadn’t been when I rode past earlier.
“Anyway,” Chloe continued, “I had a plan. I appreciate the assist, I really do. But you’re not responsible for my safety. I am.”
We were even closer now, nearly toe to toe. Her scent, mixed with sweat and dust, filled my senses, drawing me in and overwhelming me. The words tumbled out of me. “You’re mine to protect. Always.”
“Is that some kind of cowboy chivalry thing?” Her voice was breathless, and she cleared her throat, hardening her tone. “It’s really not necessary. I’m used to taking care of myself.”
“That’s going to change.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Excuse me? Who do you think you are?”
My chest brushed against her breasts and we both sucked in a breath. Her head tilted, showing off the graceful line of her neck as we glared at each other. My head was fuzzy as I pictured her with my mark. I blamed that for what I said next. “Your mate.”
