“The dogs…” Sonny tried to lift his head, concern bleeding through his eyes.
“Ryan has them. They’re fine.” He gently pressed Sonny back down. “You need rest. You’ve been running on fumes. Your body needs to recover.”
Sonny relaxed again, his slight weight settling fully against Reese.
“What happens now?” Sonny found Reese’s ribs, tracing idle patterns across the skin. “With the hyenas. They’re not going to just let me keep the dogs. Those animals are worth money to them.”
“They can try to take them back.” Reese’s voice came out fierce, his bear snarling at the thought of anyone threatening his mate. “They won’t succeed. You’re under my protection now. That means the dogs are too.”
“Your protection sounds very official. Like there are rules involved.” Sonny’s hand stilled on Reese’s ribs. “Are there rules? Should I know your rules?”
“The only rule that matters is what’s mine stays mine.” Reese kissed his mate’s temple. “If they’re smart, they’ll back the fuck off.”
“And if they’re not smart?”
“Then they’ll deal with my bear.” Reese had dealt with hyenas before and would make it clear that crossing him came with lethal consequences. The bastards would learn the deadly lesson if they pushed. “You don’t need to worry about them anymore.”
Sonny made a sound that might’ve been agreement, but his breathing had grown slower. His mate was sliding toward sleep, consciousness fading as his body finally gave in to the need for rest.
Reese held him, feeling the moment Sonny’s muscles went completely slack. His mate’s breathing evened out into the steady rhythm of deep sleep.
He was Reese’s mate, his to protect and claim and keep safe from everything that wanted to hurt him.
Sonny shifted in his sleep, burrowing closer. His hand splayed across Reese’s ribs, holding on even in sleep. The trust in that gesture made something fierce and protective curl through Reese’s body. His mate was small and scared and had been running for days, but he’d chosen to trust Reese anyway. Had offered himself completely, given everything despite barely knowing him.
The responsibility of that settled over Reese. He was responsible for Sonny now, for keeping him safe and fed and protected from the hyenas who would come looking. The dogs, too, since his mate cared about them. Delilah and Hercules were under Reese’s protection by extension, part of the package that came with claiming Sonny.
His phone buzzed on the nightstand. He reached for it carefully, trying not to disturb his sleeping mate. A text from Grayson appeared on the screen. Ryan says the dogs are settled for the night. How's your mate?
Reese typed back one-handed: Asleep.
The response came immediately. We’ll discuss security measures in the morning. The hyenas will retaliate.
Let them try. Reese set the phone back on the nightstand and returned his attention to Sonny. His mate was deeply asleep now, his face relaxed in a way it hadn’t been while awake. The fear and fatigue had smoothed away, leaving only soft features.
Reese settled against the pillows, keeping Sonny tucked securely against him. His bear was content for the first time in decades.
The hyenas could come if they wanted. Reese would show them the error of their stupidity.
Chapter Six
Morning arrived with Sonny’s warm weight pressed against Reese’s side. His mate had shifted during the night, one leg thrown over Reese’s thigh, an arm draped across his stomach. The position was trusting, vulnerable. Reese’s bear rumbled with satisfaction at the sight.
His mate.
The house was already stirring. Reese could hear movement from the kitchen below, the sound of voices and footsteps. Grayson was an early riser, as were most of the others who lived here. The meeting about security measures couldn’t wait much longer. The hyenas would be regrouping, planning their next move. Reese needed to be ready.
He extracted himself carefully from Sonny’s hold, trying not to wake his sleeping mate. Sonny made a small sound of protest when the warmth disappeared, his hand reaching out blindly. Reese tucked the blankets around him, surrounding his mate with fabric that held his scent. Sonny settled again, his breathing evening out.
Reese dressed quickly in jeans and a dark shirt, his movements quiet. His eyes kept returning to the bed, to the small figure curled under the blankets. The urge to climb back in and hold his mate until he woke naturally was strong. But responsibility demanded otherwise.
The hallway outside his room was empty, the house quiet except for the sounds coming from downstairs. Reese made his way to the kitchen, following the scent of coffee and something sweet that was probably Ryan’s doing. The human had a habit of baking when he was stressed, and the situation with the hyenas definitely qualified as stressful.
The kitchen was full when Reese entered. Grayson sat at the head of the large table, his lion's authority evident even in his relaxed posture. Ryan was at the counter, pulling a tray of muffins from the oven. Colton and Malik occupied chairs near the window, both nursing coffee mugs.
All eyes turned to Reese when he appeared. Grayson’s expression shifted to amusement, his gaze lingering on the fresh scratches visible on Reese’s forearms. Marks from his mate, left when Sonny had gripped him as they fucked. The evidence made Reese’s bear rumble with satisfaction.
“The bunny still asleep?” Grayson asked.
