Page 14

Chapter Thirteen

CHOMP

M ate is safe now, my gator whispers as we hold Ariel close.

I can still feel her heart racing and it bothers me that I wasn’t here watching over her, but after Kodiak’s texts, I had to check it out. What I didn’t tell Ariel is that the scent at her old place is now stronger, and it’s practically saturated in the ground outside. Whoever is watching her is living in that fucker’s house, so I’m going to need one of my brothers to stake it out because I need to keep Ariel safe. I’m worried about the fact that my gator splintered the front door to get to our mate, but I’ve come to realize that when it involves Ariel, he simply doesn’t care who he has to mow down or what he has to destroy in order to get to her.

I do find it intriguing that she wasn’t as afraid of him as she was the night we met. Granted, I wasn’t ripping limbs off some stupid fuckers, but still, I’m pretty sure she has PTSD from that event alone. I wish he wouldn’t go overboard the way he does, but sometimes, he takes over and I’m just a bystander. He stubborn as fuck and I know it won’t change.

“So, about the front door,” she starts, “where on earth will you find the supplies to fix it tonight?”

“The club owns a construction company. I’m pretty sure, since this is a basic door, that we have some on hand. I’ll call Spike and check with him as soon as you’re settled,” I assure her.

“Um, Chomp? You realize you’re naked, right?” she asks, a pink flush staining her cheeks.

Reaching up, I swipe away the tears still clinging to the soft skin of her cheeks and smirk. “Yeah, baby, I know. That’s one of the downsides of being a shifter. When we come back to our human form, we’re naked.”

She snickers then says, “Guess you need to start leaving clothes strategically placed. Not sure the local law would appreciate any of y’all running around in the nude.”

Before I can reply I hear, “Knock, knock” and Kodiak walks through the door, a bag in his hand. “Here, fucker, cover that up. Nobody wants to see your junk,” he taunts, tossing the bag in my direction.

I don’t remind him that his fucking bear enjoys being out in the nude, especially in the cold, and that his junk shrivels up when he shifts back. It’s one of his biggest complaints.

“We knew your gator would overreact,” Spike adds, walking through what’s left of the front door. “So, we stopped by the warehouse and picked up a new door. Why don’t you go get dressed? Ariel, can you make a pot of coffee?”

She nods, sliding off my lap, which causes me to grimace since it feels too good. Standing, I put the bag in front of me, causing Kodiak to snicker. “Be right back and I’ll help.”

“We got it,” Kodiak replies, “but we do need to talk.”

I head to the bathroom, uncaring that I’m unclothed for my brothers as well as my mate. At this point, we’ve all seen one another in various stages of undress, so if my bare ass or swinging dick is an issue, it’s theirs, not mine.

We don’t want her seeing the others, my gator hisses as I enter the bathroom. Rolling my eyes, I quickly dress then head out to where my brothers are finishing putting the new door up.

“We lost his scent thanks to the fucking rain,” Spike rumbles, smoke puffing from his nostrils.

Fuck. I was afraid of that.

“But we’ve got Fang and Phoenix watching Perry’s house since the scent is now fresh versus how it was when we were there getting Ariel’s things. We will find this douche canoe and then interrogate him to find out why the hell he’s stalking her,” Spike decrees, then huffs. “Dammit, because of the rain, I can’t just take this shit outside and burn it like I want to do.”

“We brought the work truck,” Kodiak reminds him. “We’ll just stack what’s left in the back and you can have a bonfire once it dries out.”

“I’m staying with Ariel,” I tell them as we carry the remnants of the first door out to the truck. “I don’t trust whoever it is not to show up again. I never want to hear her scream that way ever again.”

Except in pleasure, my gator says with confidence, and she will.

Ariel pokes her head out of the kitchen. “Coffee is ready. I’ve set out mugs and creamer for everyone.”

Spike nods. “Thanks, Ariel. Appreciate it.”

Spike and Kodiak go claim their cups as I stand still, opening my arms as an indication that she can come to me, run toward me, walk, or shake her head. The choice is up to her. Always.

She doesn’t hesitate to rush into my embrace, sliding her arms around my waist as I fold around her. “He won’t come back if he sees you, right?”

God, I want to let my gator rip apart this man for scaring her. “I don’t think so, baby.” I won’t promise her he won’t. I can’t do that. “I won’t leave your side. Not for a minute.”

She snickers. “There’s some things I have to do alone, ya know.”

Oh. Right. “I suppose so,” I agree with humor.

Her amusement fades. “I don’t know what he wants.”

“Motivation doesn't matter. He won’t get close enough to spook you again.”

She snuggles into my chest and rubs her cheek over my heart. My gator’s contentment matches mine. This is what we’ve been waiting for. Even if Ariel’s affection comes from our protection, it still means she trusts and needs us. That’s enough to build a solid foundation.

“Do you feel up to working today?” I ask, wondering if she’s too afraid to leave the house.

“I’m good. I want to work.”

“My schedule is booked. I’ll have to rearrange some things.” I frown, wondering who I can get to replace me for some of the tours and field trips I’ve got going on. I don’t want to leave Ariel without protection and there’s no one who’s better equipped to keep my mate safe than me.

Spike joins us, sipping on his coffee. I can smell the vanilla creamer. He usually drinks it black but maybe he wants to be nice since Ariel went out of her way. “I’m available.”

I give him a look. “To do tours?”

He smirks. “To stay with Ariel.”

Uh. “Spike.”

“Don’t get your gator in a tizzy. I’m offering to help.”

He knows I can’t refuse. He’s the president of the club. Sure, we’re shifters. But we all came here because for one reason or another, we had to find a new place to live. Some of us left our old homes because we were kicked out or run off. Others left because of personal reasons I had yet to learn. Most of us yearned for connection and a place to call home, apart from the strife or cruelty we experienced.

We found Spike and formed our motorcycle club. For me, it’s bittersweet. I left my congregation and the cruel alpha who harmed the females, including my mother. I missed her and my siblings, but my defiance and confronting the alpha, Grinder, only earned punishment dealt to my mother. It’s the reason I had to leave because I had to keep my mother safe from his temper. But I finally found a place where I fit in, and I’ve been accepted for who I am.

Now I’ve found my mate too. With her and the club, I finally have my own family, which is why I agree to let Spike stay with Ariel at the shop while I work. Mates are precious to all of us, especially since we’re beginning to find them. It’s not just a wish or a hope. It’s a certainty now.

We should make him do the tours, my gator grumbles. He’s not happy about this. I suspect he won’t be happy about anyone ever being close to our mate other than us. He’s far too protective and possessive. Of course, while Spike is usually laid back and even-tempered, I don’t want him dealing with customers since some of them are city slickers with no clue how to act in the wilderness; he’s liable to open his mouth and burn them to ashes. Ariel’s already been traumatized enough; I don’t want her to see the dragon come out to play.

“We should get some rest first,” I say, glancing at the dark circles that have formed beneath Ariel’s eyes. She didn’t get much sleep before all this happened. “We have a few hours before we need to open the shop.”

“Go,” Spike orders. “I’ll meet you at the shop at nine. Kong is coming over to watch the place for the day.”

Kodiak leaves the kitchen and I see he’s stuffing a pastry into his mouth and licking his fingers. “What?” he asks when he sees we’re all staring.

“How many did you eat?” Spike asks, folding his arms over his chest. Smoke curls from his nostrils so I know he’s mildly irritated.

Kodiak looks away, a guilty expression on his face. “All of them?”

“You ate all the fucking pastries? The donuts and the danish?”

Kodiak swallows like he still has food in his mouth. “My bear is hungry.”

Spike pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs. “Go to your mate. Callie will feed you.”

Kodiak grins and waves before he rushes out the door. I glare at his back since I was looking forward to some of Beanie’s apple fritters. They’re my favorite and that asshole knows it. I start thinking of ways I can get him back, which soon has me grinning.

Ariel giggles. “It’s sort of funny.”

“Not when he does it all the time,” Spike deadpans, shaking his head. “I’m going to call Beanie’s Brew and have her make a delivery. The club will cover the cost of the coffee and treats.”

“Thanks.” Ariel yawns. “I think I need that nap.”

I scoop her into my arms and tick my chin at Spike, carrying her into her room. “We’ll see ya at the shop.” Once I hear the front door shut, I know we’re alone. “I’m gonna go lock that door. I’ll be right back.”

Ariel mumbles a response as I lay her on the bed. She immediately settles beneath the covers, her eyes already fluttering. “Mmhmm.”

It only takes me a minute to check all the locks on the doors and windows, including her room. I know I did it when I left earlier, but neither me nor my gator will rest easy until we check them all again. She’s asleep as I sense Kong outside. He’s circling the perimeter, familiarizing himself with the scents, including the creeper that hung outside Ariel’s window. I draw the drapes closed, noting that the window is intact, and the asshole did nothing more than bang on the glass. There’s no damage.

He’s going to pay for scaring our mate, my gator hisses. Since I agree with him one hundred percent, I nod.

I’m exhausted as I slide beside my mate, drawing her close as I close my eyes. I’ve set an alarm on my phone, giving us a couple of hours before we need to get up and moving. My gator settles as her scent and warmth mingle with ours. Knowing she’s also being smothered with our scent is soothing.

The last thought in my head is how I’ll hunt this fucker down and eliminate him for daring to frighten my mate.