Page 19 of Bear Boss’s Mate (Pleasantville Shifter #1)

OVER THE PAST WEEK , Austin checked the car park each night after everyone left. If Marcy’s car was there, he stayed behind. There was no way he was going to leave her in the building all alone, even if she would disapprove of him keeping an eye out for her.

Each night, he had watched her drive out of the parking lot. With the shorter days, darkness fell much more quickly, and Austin didn’t like the idea that Marcy was going home so late.

He knew she did not approve of him wanting to protect her. She was independent, strong-willed, and determined to deal with Mick on her own. While he admired her strength, he also knew Mick was unpredictable and potentially dangerous.

He would continue to watch out for her. He was not going to let Mick or anyone else harm her.

Tonight as she drove away, something inside told him he should drive to her place to check on her. He hadn’t gone so far as to do that yet, because she’d gone home earlier on the other days.

Tonight, he waited in his car outside her building for a few minutes. When he didn’t see her, he assumed he’d missed her and she’d already gone inside.

Something still niggled at him. He had to know if Marcy was okay before he headed home. He waited about five more minutes and called her cell phone. There was no answer.

He got out of his car, hurrying to the front of the building. The sound of a woman’s voice crying out made him pause. He walked around the corner to check out the parking lot, and her voice got louder.

He couldn’t see anything at first, but he caught a scent mixed with terror. Marcy.

She was out there, and she was in trouble. “Marcy,” he called, and began to race toward the sounds.

In the dark, he could see someone on the ground with a person standing over them, kicking furiously. As he got closer, he realized it was Mick, and he was kicking the shit out of his precious mate.

She wasn’t moving.

Rage took over, and he lunged at Mick, tackling him to the ground.

Straddling him, he punched him in the face until Mick lay bloodied and unconscious. Mick didn’t stand a chance to fight back, just as Marcy clearly had not.

Austin’s chest continued to heave as his rage eased. He ran to her. Carefully, he moved strands of hair from her bloodied and battered face.

Tears filled his eyes at the sight of her as his heart shattered into a million pieces. “Please be alive,” he whispered. He felt for her pulse. It was weak, but she was alive.

His heart began beating again as he pulled out his cell phone and called emergency services. He swallowed the lump in his throat as he spoke.

Glaring at the piece of crap that did this to his beautiful mate, he wanted him to suffer the way he’d made Marcy suffer.

Austin let out a grief-stricken roar.

He sat on the ground next to Marcy, holding her delicate hand in his. He pressed his lips to it and placed his hand to the side of her bloodied face. She looked so fragile it twisted his heart.

“I’m here, my beauty. I won’t leave you.” His heart lodged in his throat, making it impossible to say anything else.

He couldn’t bear the thought of losing her. It was his fault she’d gone through this. His bear thrashed angrily, wanting to be released. Austin knew he could never forgive himself.

Emergency services and the police arrived within ten minutes. Austin stayed by Marcy’s side as they tended to her and moved her to a stretcher. His fists clenched and unclenched at his sides.

He watched as the police picked up Mick, cuffing him and loading him into a second ambulance.

His friend Jake, a shifter himself, as well as a police officer, walked over to Austin.

His brows pinched, and he cast his thumb toward Mick.

“He’s going to jail. Just as soon as his wounds are cleaned up.

” Jake rubbed his hand along his chin. “I’m sorry about your girlfriend. ”

Austin lifted his chin toward him. He ground out. “She’s my mate.”

Jake nodded. “You’ll be glad to know he matches the description of witnesses. One of the attackers we brought in a few days ago mentioned someone named Mick. I think we have our ringleader.”

Austin squinted. His voice came out hoarse and filled with too much emotion. “I wanted to kill him. When I saw him beating her...,” Austin swallowed and wiped his chin with the back of a bloodied hand.

“Glad you didn’t. Mick will get what’s coming to him. Hopefully, now that he’s been caught, the attacks on women in town will stop,” Jake said as he looked over at Marcy.

The paramedics were preparing her for the ride to the hospital.

“I’m glad you got him.” Austin rubbed his forehead. He was still in shock. “I thought Mick was just stalking her. I can’t believe I let this happen.” His jaw tightened. “I want to go to the hospital with her. Can we discuss this later? You know where to find me.”

Marcy was wheeled into the ambulance now that they’d stabilized her.

Jake nodded. “No problem. I understand. I hope your mate is going to be okay.”

Austin gave him a nod and returned to Marcy’s side inside the ambulance.

She still hadn’t regained consciousness.

Pain filled his entire body, twisting and punishing him. He deserved it for letting this happen. He could not lose her.

THE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY room was loud with the sound of voices and beeping machines, but Austin tuned out all the noise. All he cared about was hearing that Marcy would be okay. He sat in the waiting room with his elbows on his knees, head down.

How could I let this happen? If she dies... He fisted his hands and ground his teeth so hard his jaw hurt.

The familiar sweet scent of Marcy brought him out of his thoughts. He looked up to see the ER doctor that had met the ambulance when they arrived.

The doctor moved to stand in front of him. He was not a large man, only about five foot ten and wearing a white lab coat over a dress shirt and dress pants. Austin could see spatters of blood on a portion of the man’s lab coat.

He knew it was Marcy’s. His mate’s life was in this man’s hands now.

Austin stood to face the doctor. “Is she okay?”

He watched as the doctor swallowed hard, looking grim. His hands were in the pockets of his lab coat. “We’ve stopped the bleeding but need to run some scans. You may as well go home. I’ll get someone to ca–,”

“No, I’m not leaving,” Austin interrupted, sounding more gruff than usual.

The doctor looked taken aback. “Fine. I’ll let you know how she’s doing as soon as we assess all her injuries,” the doctor said before walking away.

Austin rubbed the perspiration from his brow. It’s my fault she’s in here. She has to be okay. Putting his hands in his pockets, he clutched his cell phone.

Pulling it out, he scrolled through, finding Bern’s number. He glanced up at the clock on the wall as the telephone began to ring. It was ten o’clock.

Bern answered. “Austin, what’s up?”

Austin paused before responding. “I’m at the hospital. It’s Marcy, she’s been attacked. I don’t know–,”

Bern’s response was quick. “I’m on my way.”

He put his phone back in his pocket and began to pace.

About fifteen minutes later, Bern rushed through the emergency room doors, looking around wide-eyed. Austin stopped pacing and made eye contact. The two friends exchanged a quick man hug, patting each other’s back.

Bern stood back to look at him. “Any news yet?”

Austin shook his head. “They’re running scans. I know nothing else yet.”

He looked at Bern. “It was Mick. I found him kicking the shit out of her. She hasn’t regained consciousness since I found her.

I should have insisted on driving her home.

She’s so stubborn, I thought....” Austin’s voice caught, and he choked up at the thought of what she’d endured. He looked away, clenching his teeth.

Bern put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “Don’t blame yourself for this. Only one person is to blame, and that’s Mick. Where is he now? Did they arrest him?”

Austin looked around. “I think they brought him here. Yes, he’s under arrest.” Turning back to face Bern, he said, “I beat him... I would have killed him.”

Bern nodded, his mouth twisted. “I’m glad you didn’t. He’ll get exactly what’s coming to him, but I don’t want to lose my friend and business partner to prison.”

He led Austin over to a couple of chairs, and both men sat down.

Austin ran his hands through his hair and folded his arms, sitting back in the chair.

“I’ve been keeping an eye on her every night, since I first saw that idiot Mick at her apartment door.

Just making sure she got home safe. Then tonight, she left later than usual, and I waited too long to check on her. ” He stared straight ahead, angry.

Bern stared ahead as well, his hands on his thighs. “But you saved her. If you hadn’t gone when you did—” Bern didn’t finish as Austin interrupted.

Turning to look at Bern, his voice was tight. “If I’d taken her home and walked her to her door, she wouldn’t be in the hospital right now,” he growled.

Bern sat next to him, offering silent support. Austin was grateful for the support, but more than anything, he just needed to see Marcy again.

A few more hours passed, and the doctor emerged with a nurse at his side. Both men stood to face them as the doctor approached. “She’s being taken to a private room, just as you requested when you arrived.”

He looked at Austin as he spoke. “The scans seem to show no brain damage or other issues there. We will know for certain once she regains consciousness. But she received a severe concussion and cuts to the head that required stitches. We administered some pain medication and will be monitoring her through the night.”

“Can we see her?” asked Austin.