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“I don’t want that title. Plus, I believe my mate already has it.”

“You mate,” she spits. “You’ll have to give him up.”

“That’s not happening. I refuse.”

“Daughter, you haven't thought my offer through,” she warns. She recognizes her tack won’t work. “It’s a shame. Guys?” she calls.

I watch as two large men appear in the doorway. They look mean and tough, but they are still human. I'm sure I can take them.

I turn back to her. “I’m going to stick with no.” Just to piss her off more, I tap my chin and then point at her. “Not just no, but, fuck no.”

She rises from her seat, picking the gun up as she does. “You know, I found a new toy. Masters came up with the bullet idea. It worked on your mate. It will work on you even better. I won’t stop shooting until you are dead.” She points the gun at me, grinning maniacally. She looks at the men behind me and says, “Grab her.”

Shit.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Ryker

I wake up pissed.

I am pissed my mate wasn’t at my side, so I could be reassured she was alright. I am pissed that Bash let her go. I am pissed that her fucking father refused to give us any information, despite Kerian using every tool to torture him.

But most of all, I am pissed that a bullet caused me so much pain. That bitch surprised us all with the lengths she would go to rid the world of our kind. I relish the image of her head rolling on the ground when I tear it off. She pulled the trigger, intent on taking my mate away from me.

When I opened my eyes and saw Bash and the doc standing over me, I ripped all the bandages off. I drank every drop of blood in the house, including that of my mate. Bash was quick to assure me that she was fine, but it didn’t matter.

I made him bleed. It was unfortunate that he was the one that was in striking distance of my fury. He will recover; he was already healing before the last hit connected. He didn’t fight me.

The only one that isn’t on my shit list was River. At least he had the sense to go with her. But when I jump the fence and land beside him, he’s casually eating a sandwich.

I change my mind. He’s added to the list.

“What the fuck?” I ask.

“Hey, man.” He waves his sandwich at me. “You look good.”

“Why aren’t you in there with her?” I point angrily at the house.

“She had a plan.” He shrugs.

“She had a plan,” I repeat.

“Yeah.” He frowns. “Is something wrong?”

“Yes, you let my mate go into that house alone.”

“Have you looked at your mate?” he asks.

“What the fuck are you talking about? Of course,” I growl, losing my patience.

“She's a badass. She can take care of herself.”

“Normally, I would agree with you–”

He cuts me off, “So, what’s the problem?”

“The problem is, they have bullets that could hurt her,” I say through gritted teeth.