Page 19

“You okay?” I asked, carefully. Rocky had gone after that guy like a rabid dog.

He ran a hand down his face. His knuckles were bloodied. “Yeah. No. I don’t know.” Rocky took me by my arm and whisked me away, out back, away from the onlookers.

“Who was that?”

“Don’t know, but under his skin, he’s a black bear.”

“A bear,” I said in wonder. “What’s next a lion?”

“You shouldn’t have been out of my sight today,” he snapped, finally turning his head to look at me. “When that bastard came sniffin’ around…”

“I was with Eliza or Knox all day. And maybe I should’ve been told some bear might wander in looking to kill me.”

He straightened then, not angry exactly—just... on edge . Like he was trying real hard not to lose control. “He didn’t want to kill you. He’s lookin’ for a mate.”

A mate? Visions of being violated by a bear of a man flittered through my head, and suddenly I didn’t know if the visions originated from me or not.

“Listen, I need some space,” I said before I could lose my nerve.

He didn’t even blink. “No. ”

“Excuse me?”

“I said no. You don’t get space. You don’t get time. You sure as hell don’t get distance. Not anymore.”

My jaw dropped. “Are you serious right now?”

“You think I like this? Think I want to be babysittin’ a human who stirs up every goddamn instinct in me?” He stepped closer, and my breath hitched. “But I have to. You saw what just happened. That bear didn’t wander in here by accident. He wasn’t lookin’ for picnic baskets or a patch of sunshine to nap in. He came to look for you .”

“Why?”

His eyes burned. “Because the Council knows.”

“The Council ?” I blinked. “What the hell is that?”

Rocky barked a humorless laugh. “It’s old and dangerous. Shifters, witches, some real ancient sons of bitches. They’ve got eyes everywhere. Seers, mostly. People who can sniff out secrets like blood on the wind. And they’ve picked up the scent of you .”

I wrapped my arms around myself. “But why would they care? I haven’t done anything.”

“You know things. You’ve seen things. Things humans ain’t supposed to. And they’re wonderin’ how I’m keepin’ you quiet.”

I felt a chill run through me. “And are you?”

He stepped right into my space. Close enough I could see the flecks of gold in his eyes. “They’ll expect me to answer for you soon. They’ll ask if I’ve blackmailed you. Bribed you. Marked you.”

My mouth went dry. “Marked me? ”

His jaw ticked. “Claimed you. Like what I told you before. A bite. A bond. Something that ties you to me. Permanently.”

“And if you haven’t?”

“They’ll wonder why not. Wonder if I plan to. Wonder if you’re worth the risk.” His voice dropped, rough and low. “Or if I should just kill you and clean up the mess.”

The air sucked out of my lungs. “Jesus, Rocky.”

He looked away, shoulders tense. “You said no. To the bite. To this life. I respect that. I do.”

“So, what?” I snapped. “You gonna kill me?”

“Jesus, . No. But I can’t let you outta my sight.”

“What are you going to do? Force me to hole up somewhere? Chain me to your radiator?”

He didn’t laugh. Didn’t smirk.

“Look, I’m staying with Eliza. Are you saying Knox can’t keep me safe?”

“No. I’m sayin’ I can’t give you space, . Not when every instinct in me is screamin’ to keep you close. Not when my pack’s on edge. Not when you’re under threat.”

I looked at him, really looked, and I saw it. The strain. The fear.

“You don’t just want to protect me,” I said quietly. “You’re afraid.”

He nodded, one sharp motion. “Damn right I am. I’ve already seen what happens when the Council doesn’t like what it sees. They erased a whole pack once. Gone. Poof. Because someone stepped outta line.”

“And I’m the line?”

“You’re the spark that could light the whole fuckin’ thing.”

We stood in silence after that. The cicadas buzzed in the trees. Somewhere behind us, laughter echoed from inside the Wild Dog, like none of this was even happening.

“I need you to trust me,” Rocky said finally. “Let me keep you close. Let me figure out what to do before they decide for us.”

My throat tightened. “And what if I say no again? What if I say I still don’t want this?”

He stepped even closer, hands hovering near my waist but not touching. “Then I’ll beg,” he said. “Because if they come for you, it won’t be to talk. And I’d rather burn the whole goddamn Council to the ground than let them take you.”

My breath hitched. “Rocky…”

He leaned in, close enough that I could feel the heat of him. “You’re already in this, . There ain’t no goin’ back. Only question is how far you’re willin’ to go.”

And that?

That scared me more than anything.

Because a part of me—the reckless, beatin’ heart of me— wanted to go all the way.