Keeping the human pinned to the floor, Murphy looked over his shoulder, breathing hard as he returned to his senses.
Jasper still hovered protectively over Nessa. Colter whispered soothingly to Murphy’s mate, cutting into the last of the rope still tied around her wrists.
Marcus, Dante, and Zeke had dispatched each of Tony’s men. Blood was everywhere, dripping off the walls, pooling onto the floor, staining their paws and snouts.
Colter finished freeing Nessa. Her feet hit the ground, her arms dropping to her sides. She kept her eyes trained on Murphy, barely suppressing her tears. “Murphy,” she whispered hoarsely.
Suddenly wanting to be as far away from his kill as possible, Murphy turned toward her, eager to be at her side. He attempted to push his bear back under the surface as he approached, urging the beast to retreat.
It fought his command, just as anxious to be near their mate.
Nessa took a small step toward him, her legs shaking, the tip of her nose a dull red. Her eyes roamed over every inch of his fur as he prowled closer.
He was covered in Tony’s blood, and he expected her to shy away from him, to look disgusted by that fact. He worried what she would think after seeing his act of vengeance.
Instead, she threw herself at him, burying her face in his neck and taking a shuddering breath. She gripped his fur as she huddled closer. His bear grunted, nuzzling the side of her head.
“Vanessa, get away from that thing!” an unfamiliar voice shouted. Jumping out from behind a stall, Angelo held a gun in his hand, his grip unsteady. His eyes were wild, jumping from bear to bear before finally settling on Nessa. “It’ll kill you!”
“No, he won’t,” Nessa replied in exasperation, her tone tired as she sagged against Murphy. “You saved me,” she murmured, kissing his fur tenderly. Murphy’s heart swelled, tears stinging his eyes.
Movement drew Murphy’s attention from his mate. Colter took two measured steps toward Angelo, keeping just out of his line of sight.
Nessa turned around, leaning into Murphy. She stiffened when she saw her brother. “Put that gun away before you hurt someone!”
Angelo stared at her. A shocked, hysterical laugh left his throat. “Hurt someone? We’re surrounded by man-eatingbears! This is fucking insane. Now move before it kills you!”
Murphy’s bear huffed in agitation, choosing that moment to retreat. The shift came immediately, and within seconds, he was standing on two very human feet, towering over Nessa. He grabbed her around the waist, pushing her protectively behind him in case her brother did anything stupid.
Angelo’s eyes rounded in alarm. His jaw dropped, and the gun fell from his shaking hand. “Ohwhatthefuck—”
Colter lunged at Angelo, knocking him off his feet. Angelo collapsed under him, arms flailing as he fought to get free. The bear pulled back a fist and then hit Nessa’s brother in the face.
Angelo’s head snapped back, connecting with the floor. He went lax beneath Colter, his eyes drifting shut.
“Holy shit, Colter!” Nessa snapped, peeking around Murphy’s arm. “Did you have to hit him so hard?”
Colter shrugged. “It felt necessary.”
With the threat dealt with, the rest of the males also shifted back.
“It was definitely necessary,” Jasper agreed, glaring down at Angelo’s unconscious form. “Asshole could have accidentally shot her.”
“Jasper?” Nessa’s voice caught, and she pushed past Murphy, rushing at his younger brother. “You’re alright?” She threw her arms around Jasper’s waist, hugging him fiercely. “I thought you’d died!”
Marcus and Dante exchanged amused looks. Zeke eyed Murphy warily, likely thinking the same thing he was.
Murphy’s jaw clenched, his hands curling into tight fists as he reined in his slowly rising temper. He moved toward Nessa and Jasper, trying to give his mate space while also fighting the urge to rip his brother from her arms.
“Uh.” Jasper patted Nessa awkwardly on the back, sending Murphy a fearful glance. “I would love a hug, Nessa, but I’m buck naked and Murphy looks like he wants to kill me. Rain check?”
Nessa jumped away from him like he’d burned her, slapping a hand over her eyes and turning back toward Murphy. He scooped her up and into his arms, finally feeling like he could breathe again.
His mate was safe.
Chapter 46
Nessa couldn’t stop shaking as Murphy carried her through the woods. Adrenaline. Shock. Relief. Each caused a torrent of emotion to course through her entire body, her mind struggling to believe that it was all finally over.
