Page 11

As Mark whined about his snake bite, Hunter discreetly tossed Ulkna’s clothes behind a rocky outcropping. Ulkna shifted as swiftly as possible, and he rested on his back in the dirt and panted quietly, catching his breath. When he heard Mark moan about suing them, he rolled his eyes and grabbed his jeans.

Once dressed, Ulkna made his way out of hiding and took in the scene as he crossed to the backpack Rueben had left where they’d been hiding earlier. He noticed Perry sitting in the dirt, his hands tied behind his back. Mark rested with his hands tied in front of him and his leg elevated on a nearby rock.

“Come on, guys,”

Mark cried.

“One of you needs to suck out the poison.”

Curling his lip, Ulkna shook his head as he pulled out a bottle of water before slinging the backpack over his shoulder. He took a big mouthful of the slightly warm fluid, swished it around, then spit it back out again. He did that twice more, getting rid of the foul taste of Mark’s flesh.

Yuck. I hate having to bite people.

Still, Ulkna knew it had been the easiest way to distract the gunman, giving his fellow shifters time to subdue him.

And it worked.

After taking a deep drink, Ulkna returned to Trey and Hunter’s side.

“You guys okay?”

he asked quietly, offering the bottle of water to Hunter.

“We’re all okay.”

Hunter smiled and shook his head.

“I’m good for now, thanks.”

Lowering his voice, he murmured.

“Quick thinking. Totally forgot you could do that.”

Ulkna winked.

“Happy to help.”

“Do you have a signal jammer stopping calls, or is this really a dead zone?”

Ryan asked from where he stood over Mark, his arms crossed over his chest. When the wrangler’s expression turned mutinous, Ryan stated.

“I can’t call my doc friend to get you antivenom if my phone doesn’t work.”

That did the trick.

Mark told Ryan about the jammer in the tent, and the beta’s mate headed into it. A moment later, Ulkna heard Ryan on his phone with Alpha Kontra. Trey noted the words Doc Eli and antivenom and tuned out the rest of the conversation.

Wrapping his arm over Trey’s withers, Ulkna sighed deeply. He really wished his mate could shift, allowing him to hold him. Unfortunately, since the thieves had seen him in horse form, he knew he would have to wait to fulfill his desire.

Ryan’s next call was to Sam, letting him know what had happened.

Fortunately, they didn’t have long to wait until the police arrived. Reuben had gone and talked with Barny, explaining what had happened, so the old guard wasn’t surprised by their arrival. The cops quickly took control of the situation, the thieves were read their rights and taken to the patrol cars, and statements were being asked for.

Ulkna helped remove the crates from the horses’ pack rigs and carried them back into the tent.

“Hi, I’m Detective Reyes,”

a man greeted him, holding out his hand.

“If you’ll follow me out of the tent, I’d like to talk to you about what happened.”

Taking the detective’s hand, Ulkna realized he smelled the distinct scent of feline shifter.

“Of course.”

After releasing Ulkna, Detective Reyes escorted him out of the tent and to Trey’s side. The slender, five-foot-ten male smirked as he glanced between them. He even shoved his hands into his pockets.

“So,”

Detective Reyes began, glancing between them.

“Should I just write up something similar to what Ryan, Rueben, and Hunter told me?”

With a grin, he continued softly.

“Reuben and Hunter wanted to check out the excavation. You, Ryan, and your friend”—the detective glanced pointedly at Trey—“tagged along to keep them out of trouble where you stumbled across the thieves and stopped them.”

“Well, if you don’t mind,”

Ulkna responded with a chuckle. He appreciated the strange shifter’s sense of humor and willingness to help.

“That’d be great.”

Detective Reyes grinned and pointed at Trey.

“Why don’t you guys find a nice secluded place to...rest while the other cops finish up?”

More than on board with that, Ulkna nodded.

“Thank you, Detective.”

After tipping his hat, the detective turned and headed back to where his fellow officers were clustered around the tent, finishing up...whatever needed doing.

Ulkna was more than happy to get away. He grabbed Trey’s lead rope, and they hurried around a bend in the trail. Once a fair distance away, Ulkna removed the halter and stepped back.

His mate immediately began to shift.

Trey took the sweatpants and shirt Ulkna handed him, tugging them on quickly. Then he slipped his feet into the hiking boots his mate placed before him. After that, Trey sagged into Ulkna’s embrace, resting his forehead on his lover’s shoulder and enjoying the feel of his strong arms around him.

Ulkna nuzzled his lips against Trey’s temple, holding him close.

“After we get all this shit taken care of with the horse rustling and attempted archaeology thefts, we’ll have to talk about making definite plans for our future.”

Upon hearing those words, Trey tensed, but Ulkna just squeezed him tighter and whispered.

“But there’s one thing I want to say now.”

After taking a fortifying breath, Trey lifted his head and met Ulkna’s gaze.

“What’s that?”

He felt grateful he managed to get his voice to remain steady.

Smiling warmly up at him, Ulkna stated.

“I figure that soon, there’ll be a wrangler position opening up at your trail riding place.”

His hazel eyes twinkled as he asked.

“Think Reagan will put in a good word for me? I’m sure the guys can forge whatever past I need to make me look awesomely qualified.”

For a second, Trey wasn’t certain he’d heard the words correctly.

“Y-You want to get a job as a...a wrangler?”

Ulkna smiled and nodded once.

“How about it?”

“Y-You’re willing to stay here?”

Trey barely managed to whisper the words, and his heart pounded so fast as hope slammed into him.

“Near my family?”

Threading his fingers through Trey’s hair, Ulkna continued to smile at him.

“After the guys helped me, I didn’t have a reason to think about doing something other than travel with them.”

He teased his thumb along Trey’s jaw as he continued to hold him with his intense gaze.

“Now, however, I definitely have a reason...and that’s you. I want to make you happy, and I know staying here, with these horses and your family, will make you happy.”

“I want to make you happy, too.”

“I know,”

Ulkna assured.

“You and me, together, no matter where, will always make me happy.”

Anticipation for their future swelled through Trey. His mate was offering him everything he could ever dream of—his family, his job, and his mate.

Grinning, Trey claimed.

“Yep, I know for sure my nephew will give you a glowing review.”

“Excellent.”

Ulkna tightened his hold on Trey’s hair, pulling his head closer. Just before their lips touched, his mate murmured.

“After all this time, I have everything I could possibly desire.”

Trey silently agreed as he accepted Ulkna’s kiss, sealing their plans for the future—their future...together.