Through the window, Kane hesitated, glanced in my direction, then picked up speed until he was more in front of the SUV than beside it. When he pushed up against us, I braced my hands on the floor.
Tires skidded. He kept pushing, then bounded away. I gritted my teeth when the driver hit the brakes. The car spun. I closed my eyes tight, waiting for us to roll, but we kept spinning, the momentum making my stomach clench.
We slowed, then everything stopped.
Bang.
I gasped and opened my eyes. Kane had jumped on the hood, his jaws open in a snarl of aggression.
“Jesus Christ,” the one guy whispered.
They both had their hands up like Kane held a loaded weapon.
The bear roared again, spittle spraying against the windshield.
“Get out,” the other guy ground out at me but didn’t turn away from the sight before him.
I crawled through the opening I’d made in the back and reached for the door handle. As soon as I stepped out onto the road, my jelly legs collapsed. I stumbled a few feet away, then fell, gravel cutting into my knees. I gasped.
Kane roared again.
Even though I was free, the collar around my neck strangled me, sending a constant swell of pain throughout my body. I curled on my side and clutched at my stomach.
Glass smashed once, twice. The sound of grinding metal was followed by a loud crash followed by another. Windows shattered. He roared again, then the screeching sound of a door being ripped off its hinges cut through the air.
After a second of silence, I opened my eyes to see the SUV flipped into the ditch and two cougars running away. The bear’s muscles bunched to follow.
“Kane,” I gritted out through my teeth, the low rhythm of the shock collar making my jaw ache. I clutched at my neck, needing to rip it off.
He hesitated, then turned toward me, his muzzle frozen in a snarl. I could only clench my body against the pain. After a moment, he turned back to where the cougars had ran off. Was he going to leave me here like this?
“Kane!” This time my voice came out desperate.
He huffed out a heavy breath, then ambled toward me. I blinked slowly, willing myself to stay conscious. When I opened my eyes again, his wide paws were in front of me. Another breath left him, this one blowing my hair back from my face. He bent down, his nose to mine, and licked my cheek.
As much as I appreciated his affection, there were bigger things to worry about.
“Remote,” I ground out between clenched teeth.
His eyes went to my neck. They narrowed. A growl rumbled through his body. His head turned sharply toward where the cougars had gone.
“Kane!” I was going to pass out if we didn’t get this thing off me. We were in the middle of the road. There was no one else around to help. “Remote.”
He focused on the SUV, and a wave of relief swept through me. He’d help. He wouldn’t go after those cougars.
With my hands clutching the hot metal of the collar, I watched him stalk toward the SUV.
28
KANE
My mate needs me.My mate needs me.
The words repeated in my head as I approached the upside down vehicle. I needed to help her.
Broken glass crunched beneath my feet. Shoving my head inside the window, I nosed through the debris. Glass and more glass, some garbage, the cougars’ clothes.There!On the other side of the vehicle through the broken window. I backed up a step, then walked around and reached to pick it up. My paws wouldn’t grasp it.
Paws.I stared at them, comprehension slow to dawn. I was still a bear. A strange sense of novelty whipped through me.
