Page 21 of His True Mate

As I watched from a distance too far to intercede, he laid a hand on her shoulder. I wanted to rip his throat out for touching my mate. I wanted to taste his blood in my mouth.

I’d never been a violent person, but here and now there was absolutely nothing I wouldn’t do to protect this woman.

I walked with purpose securing my cowboy hat low on my head. No one questioned me as I strode into the stables that were off-limits to spectators.

“Take your filthy hands off of her,” I said in a steady voice coated in steel.

The man turned towards me and if looks could kill, I knew I’d be dead.

“You again?” he spat. “Tourists aren’t allowed back here so move on. This is none of your business anyway.”

“Winnie?” I asked, saying her name reverently. I had no idea if it was her real name or just a show name, but it felt right rolling off my lips.

I could see the fire in her eyes as she stared back at me.

“It’s under control,” she insisted.

“Who the hell is this guy, Win?” the guy asked.

“No one,” she insisted, shooting a sharp pain straight to my heart.

I staggered back a little at the force of rejection.

“Rendall, just go on and get ready before Dane starts asking questions,” my mate told him.

The guy shook his head and then grabbed her by the arms.

“Listen Winnie…”

Too late, I hauled back, and sucker punched him in the face.

Winnie sighed looking more irritated than anything.

“Come on,” I told her without leaving room for argument.

She surprised me by grabbing a backpack from the corner of the stall behind a stack of hay and leaving quickly while that Rendall asshole was still out cold.

“What in the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“Saving your pretty little ass,” I said. “I don’t give a shit who that guy was, he had no right to lay a hand on you.”

I had never acted so irrationally in all my life.

“Lord help us if this gets back to Dane. Just go away! I don’t need saving. I’m saving myself.”

“What does that mean?” I asked as she continued to walk away from the rodeo.

“It means just what I said. I don’t need you or anyone else trying to ride in on a big white horse trying to save me. That’s fairytale shit and I am not a little girl anymore.”

I paused and looked, really looked, her over from head to toe.

Grinning I nodded in agreement. “You are most definitely not a little girl.”

Winnie

Chapter 6

I stopped and stared back at him with my mouth gaped open, yet for once in my life no words would form.