Page 50 of His to Defend

“There’s a code,” Chloe explained. “And Ryker broke it.”

“A code?” Nina’s head started to spin. “I don’t understand.”

“Because you’re not a shifter, you should never have been told about our existence at all.” Harper took over the conversation. “It’s part of the shifter code to keep it from humans. It’s a safety issue,” she continued. “Both for them and us.”

“But you’re telling me.”

Her best friend squeezed her hand. “That’s because you’re mated and that’s going to be a very difficult bond to break between the two of you.”

“No.” Ella shook her head with a smile. “It’s impossible. You’re forever joined.”

“Which is why we know Ryker will be back. He’ll never be able to stay away from you now. It’s in his blood. And if the way he was behaving from the moment he met you is any indication, the two of you are a whole lot more than just mates.” Harper’s smile was wide and knowing. “You’re fated.”

“Fated?”

All the women smiled and nodded as if they knew a secret she didn’t.

But she didn’t want to hear any more secrets. Nina shook her head and stood. She paced to the window and looked out into the woods, as if Ryker would be standing there just as Harper and Chloe had earlier. But she knew in her heart he wouldn’t be.

“I don’t understand any of this,” she said after a moment. A sob of frustration threatened to break free, but she swallowed it down. “If we’re fated the way you say we are…and he mated me—without my permission,” she added sharply, “then where the hell is he? Why did he just leave?” She shook her head. “It doesn’t make sense. None of it. With Ryker, I feel…no, I felt…whole. Like I’ve never felt before. We just fit. And we were happy.” She remembered what Shelly had told her. Had it been the same with her? With Harper’s dad? She spun to look at her best friend.

“Your mom. Did she…was she…” Nina had no idea how to ask the question on her lips, but Harper only nodded.

“I think she knew,” Harper said. “She never said. We have a lot to talk about. Later.”

“But he left her, too.” Nina shook her head. “I don’t understand how he could have done that.” She was talking about Ryker again and memories of all the moments they’d spent together flashed through her head. “It was right. And then he was just…gone. I don’t understand. If he truly is connected to me, how could he just leave?” Tears streaked down her face as she searched the faces of the women for answers.

“I think I can answer that.”

They all turned to the open door and Natalia who stood there. “I know why he left.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

There was still one more day before Ryker had to be in Bozeman to get on a plane for Switzerland and the job that would make his career but, more importantly, would take him away from his greatest temptation. And it was a temptation.

He should have insisted to Tyler that he needed to leave right away. Because the last twenty-four hours had been an exercise in restraint. An exercise he was failing.

For the second time that day, Ryker had found himself on the ridge. All he needed was just one more run. One more and he’d burn off the energy that threatened to consume him.

At least that’s what he kept telling himself in the hope that one of these times he’d actually believe it.

He left his clothes in a pile on a log and took three giant strides before letting his bear take over. His muscles stretched and burned as he shifted in the air. When his feet hit the ground, he took off running as fast as he could, pressing and pushing his body.

In his grizzly form, Ryker was massive. An alpha, he was one of the biggest bears in the clan. He crashed through the trees, breaking branches as he went, uncaring of the destruction he left behind.

He ran until he stopped thinking. His mind cleared of everything but putting one foot in front of the other.

Not the job he was about to take.

Not his grandfather.

Not Nina.

Nina.

It was all Nina. Always Nina.

In his bear form, Ryker’s senses were clearer than they’d been in weeks. Since before he laid eyes on Nina and his instincts kicked into overdrive. Things had gotten better since they’d mated.