“Who are you?” John held out his knife, swiping it towards Torin.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Nina pick Bryn up like a baby and carry her to safety. Score one for shifter strength. Behind John, massive wolves closed in on him, poised and ready should he try to make a run for it.
“He’s my mate,” Sophie said, grabbing Torin’s hand. His fingers tightened around hers, the warmth of his touch thawing the icy fear that had gripped her since seeing John holding that knife to Bryn’s throat. “And I love him.”
Torin’s head spun around so fast, he nearly broke the sound barrier. “You do? You love me?”
“Of course I do, you silly wolf.” Her breath hitched as she looked up at him. He was staring at her like she was his everything. She’d never had anyone look at her like that. She swallowed hard. “Pretty sure I knew from the first time you kissed me in The Three-Legged Wolf. Even as you grumbled and growled, I was inexplicably drawn to you. I know that technically, humans don’t have mates, not in the way shifters do, but we do experience love at first sight.”
Torin turned his back on John, focusing entirely on Sophie. “My gorgeous, smart, sassy mate. I have loved you since the first moment I laid eyes on you. Though I must again remind you that you were the one who kissed me in that pub.” He lifted her hand and kissed her palm, his scruff tickling her skin. “I love you, Sophie. And how could I not? You are the stars to my moon, the sprinkles to my donut, the cream to my strawberries.”
She giggled and patted his hard chest, his heartbeat strong beneath her fingertips. “Are you trying to be romantic or are you just hungry?”
Torin wrapped her in his arms and placed a tender kiss on her forehead. “Why not both? We never did make it to dessert last night.”
“Now you’re making me hungry.”
“Um, hello?” John said, his voice gruff with indignation. “This guy shows up, and now you’re ignoring me? You remember I have a knife, right?”
They exchanged glances and turned towards him, a united front against her stalker, her tormentor, her damned ex. She knew without a doubt that Torin had her back, no matter what happened. That unwavering support filled the cracks in her heart, sealing the jagged marks with precious gold.
“John, you have got to be the biggest ass I’ve ever met. I can’t even remember what I saw in you.” Sophie shook her head. “Do you have any idea how much trouble you’re in?”
The knife wavered. “What?”
She tipped her chin. “Look behind you.”
John turned his head to see the semicircle of wolves behind him, fangs flashing in the moonlight. The low rumble of growls made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.
“What the hell?” The knife wobbled in John’s grip before dropping from limp fingers. “What the hell is this?”
“This is stalking thing you’ve been doing, scaring Sophie for what, shits and giggles? It’s over,” Torin growled, taking a menacing step towards him. “You will never talk to Sophie again, never contact her, never even think about her ever again. Because if you do, I’ll know, and my pack and I will be more than happy to use our very sharp teeth and claws to rip you into bloody pieces and scatter you over the mountains. No one will ever find you. No one will ever care that you’re gone from this world. No one will miss you.” He looked at her, a devilish look on his face. “Does that work for you, love?”
“It does.” She gave him a bright smile that turned feral. “As long as I get to cut off that one teeny-tiny part that’s very important to him. I think that would bring me a lot of closure.”
“Of course, love. You’re pack, my mate, and I love you.”
She threw herself into his arms and wrapped her legs around his waist, peppering his face with kisses. “I love you, too, my grumpy wolf.”
16
TWO MONTHS LATER
“He literally shit himself?” Pippa snorted with laughter. Her best friend had come to Scotland for a visit, and Bryn was entertaining her with a recap of the Takedown of Stalker John.
“I didn’t notice,” Sophie said with a shrug. “But I have to admit, it’s pretty damned funny.”
Bryn grimaced. “Be thankful you don’t have shifter senses. Even dosed to the gills with whatever he injected me with, I could smell him.”
Pippa raised her nearly finished pint. “Bastard deserved everything he got.”
“Cheers to that,” Sophie said and drained her drink.
“I’ve got the next round.” Bryn jumped to her feet and grabbed their glasses before heading to the bar. The newly eighteen-year-old was enjoying being able to buy drinks legally, and Sophie was more than happy to let the young woman take her turn buying a round.
They’d come to The Three-Legged Wolf for dinner and drinks. In the corner booth by the fireplace, musicians were setting up for an evening session. Torin had gone over to talkto the shifter getting out his uilleann pipes, and Sophie couldn’t help but admire her mate as he leaned against the side of the booth, his sharp teeth flashing as he grinned at something the other shifter said.
Sophie leaned towards Pippa and said, “See that cute boy behind the bar?”
