Page 8 of The Alpha’s Protection (Alpha Doms #4)

Mark

I get a bad feeling in the afternoon, one that compounds when Colleen doesn’t answer her phone. I end up leaving work early, claiming I have a doctor’s appointment, and drive straight home.

My mate wouldn’t leave. She couldn’t. Our wolves need each other, and she wouldn’t be safe on her own.

That’s what I tell myself the whole ride home, but cold dread fills my limbs. I park in the garage and throw the door open, relief coursing through me when I hear the television and see the kids.

But then I instantly recognize something’s wrong. Both pups look frightened. I sniff the air, but there’s no scent of another wolf. Colleen’s scent is faint.

“Where’s your mom?” I try to keep my voice even despite my returning panic.

Jayden stands and walks to the kitchen table, rather than answer me. He picks up a sealed envelope with my name on it.

Fuck.

I snatch it from his fingers, jogging upstairs to my bedroom, already knowing what I’ll find. The safe is open; the gun, gone.

I tear the envelope open and read Colleen’s neat writing.

Mark,

Dirk’s pack is on the way from Kentucky. Please do not engage with them. I don’t want a pack war. I will take care of him myself.

If for some reason I don’t make it back, my sister Meagan’s number is below. She will arrange for the pups. I’m sorry to leave them with you, but I can’t let Dirk take them.

Thank you for everything,

Colleen

Thank you for everything? What the fuck? I hate the formal sound of the letter, like I am some stranger, not her goddamn mate. But that isn’t the part that has me frantic.

It’s knowing what my brave, beautiful mate is trying to do. Fuck!

I need to get to her. Stop her.

I put a tracker in her phone the morning after she arrived, fearing something like this would happen. I rush to open the app and draw a sharp breath when I see where she’s gone. She headed toward the mountains, about twenty miles west of Denver.

“Jayden, Angie, I’m going after your mother.

I’ll bring her home safely. I’m going to call someone from my pack to come over and stay with you.

Answer my call if this rings, understand?

” I hand Jayden a tablet that I can call him on.

“You can download games and play on that, if you want, or just keep watching TV.”

Jayden nods. Angie just watches me with big eyes. “I’m scared,” she says.

“Oh baby.” I kneel down in front of her and draw her into a hug. “I’m going to make sure you’re safe.”

“What about Momma?”

“I’m going to get her now.” I kiss the top of her head. “We’ll be back.”

I wish I felt half as sure as I sound. I run out to my SUV and jump in, starting it and backing up before I even have my seat belt on. As I drive, I punch in the number for Meagan that Colleen left me.

“Hello?” The female voice that answers sounds alarmed.

“Meagan? This is Mark Ruhl, I’m?—”

“Colleen’s mate. Where is she? Is she all right?”

“I’m on my way to her now. I put a tracker in her phone.”

“Oh, thank Fate.”

“Do you know what she’s planning?”

“I suspect she’s trying to draw Dirk away from you and the Denver pack. She didn’t want anyone to get hurt because of her.”

“ She’s trying to protect me .” I curse, gunning the vehicle forward, racing far above the speed limit.

“Dirk’s a real piece of work, Mark. He told everyone your pack kidnapped her. It would’ve been better if she’d let you mark her, but she was afraid he’d tear you both to pieces if that happened.”

I bare my teeth, a savage growl ripping from my throat. My mate had to live with this psychopath. “I’m going to tear him to pieces if he even touches her,” I vow.

“Be careful. Please keep me posted?”

“Yeah.” I end the call.

Colleen. My chest constricts tightly. She hadn’t been unsure of me. She’d been protecting me. My foolish little mate. Doesn’t she know I’d rather die than ever let her get hurt again?

Colleen

My palms sweat as I sit on the concrete bench near the lake to wait.

I texted Dirk when I got here and added my dad to the thread to make sure there was a witness. Your story about me being kidnapped by the Denver pack is ludicrous. I left you because I refuse to allow me or our pups to be your punching bag any longer. Tell your pack to turn around and go home.

He must’ve been too angry to notice my dad was on the thread, or maybe he didn’t care any more because he responded, I will kill you all.

My heart pounded as I texted, Leave the Denver pack out of it. I am not with them.

I will find you.

Lave the Denver pack alone. I’ll meet you at Evergreen Lake.

Neither he nor my father replied after that, but I’m certain Dirk’s on his way.

So I wait, trying not to think about Mark and how upset he’ll be when he discovers what I’ve done.

Or the pups and what might happen to them if I don’t succeed.

Instead, I focus on my breath. In. Out. Steady.

Fate’s on my side. She brought me to my mate. Now all I have to do is finish this.

I know the moment he arrives. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and my skin prickles with goosebumps as the unfamiliar car—no doubt a rental—pulls into the parking area. I reach back instinctively and touch the pistol in my waistband.

He gets out and slams the door before storming toward me.

I don’t stand. I just wait for him to stalk my way.

Even across the field I read the anger radiating from him, his violence close to the surface, prepped to deliver.

Of course, it triggers me. Adrenaline flushes my system so fast I nearly shift to run into the woods.

But I already know how that scenario goes. He’d catch me, and I’d suffer for it.

No, this time I’m not going to run. I’m going to fight back.

So I get up and walk toward him, chin lifted high, my molars clenched. I pull the gun when he’s five feet away and point it at him. My hand trembles, but that doesn’t stop me from taking off the safety. “You get any closer, and I’ll kill you,” I tell him.

He sneers. “You think a gun will stop me?” He lunges for me.

I shoot. Dirk’s body jerks with the impact.

I register the arrival of two more cars in the parking lot and the attention I’ve drawn with the gunshot.

Fuck. Witnesses.

And double-fuck. My aim was off.

The bullet caught him in the shoulder, not the heart. He staggers back, eyes turning amber, lips peeling back in a snarl. “Silver.” He recognizes the damaging properties of the only substance that can harm shifters.

He closes the distance between us.

I freeze for a moment, that old familiar terror rising in me.

It gives him the advantage he requires. He tries to grab the pistol. I yank my hand back, firing into the air, but then he knocks it from my hand. I dive for it, but he grips my skull, arms cocked to snap my neck.

I hear the snarl of a wolf at the same time a shot rings out.

Dirk crumples to the ground, dead.

My knees buckle, and I almost fall, too, but the great black wolf barrelling toward me seamlessly shifts into human form, and Mark catches me and lifts me into his arms.

I stare at Dirk on the ground in confusion. “How… who…”

And then I see my father, jogging toward us, a gun in his hand. “Colleen!” There’s fear in his voice.

Mark holds me closer as if to protect me from him, too. I wrap my arms around his neck in a strangle-hold, breathing in my mate’s intoxicating scent. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“He almost killed you.” My dad sounds shocked.

Mark ignores him. “Fuck, baby. Fuck. I’m so glad you’re all right.”

“I’m all right. Where are my pups?” My head snaps toward the parking lot, hoping Mark didn’t bring them.

“A family from the pack took them until things blow over.”

My father stands behind Mark, and for the first time in my life, he appears unsure of himself. Awkward, even. “Colleen. I’m sorry, Co-co,” he says, calling me by my childhood nickname. He runs his hand through his salt and pepper hair. “I’m so sorry. Why didn’t you tell me how bad it was?”

Mark seems reluctant to put me down, but after a moment’s pause, he does. Still, he keeps me tucked closely into his side, standing with his clothes in tatters around his large, muscled body.

“He said he’d kill you if you ever challenged him,” I admit. “He said he’d destroy your whole pack. I couldn’t have that on my conscience.”

My dad swears. “Dirk was bad news, and I should’ve seen it. I’m so goddamn sorry.”

For the first time, I steal a look at Dirk’s body. “You killed him.” My father shot him straight through the head, which will kill a shifter, even without silver bullets.

“I sure as hell did.” He clears his throat. “And you are?” he says to Mark.

“Oh! Dad, this is Mark, my true mate. Mark, my father, Aaron Blackthorn.”

Mark waits a few beats before extending his hand to my dad. He doesn’t say nice to meet you or how do you do ? He probably blames my dad for saddling me with Dirk.

My dad grips it and bows his head, receiving Mark’s unspoken judgement.

“I’ll take care of this.” Mark eyes Dirk’s fallen body distastefully. “You take Colleen back to my place.”

My father’s not used to being ordered around, but he accepts the directive with a nod. “You sure you’ve got this?”

“Yes. I’m an enforcer.”

My dad’s brows flick like he’s impressed, not that I care. I’m long past living the life he wanted for me.

“Can you handle his pack?” Mark asks my dad.

“Yes. I created this problem. I’ll fix it.”

Mark lifts his chin at Dirk’s body. “Honestly, I’m glad it was you. I didn’t want to have to be the one who killed the pup’s father, and I didn’t want that for Colleen, either.” He wraps his hand around my nape and pulls my head closer to press a kiss to my forehead.

“Jayden and Angie won’t cry over his death,” I say quietly, which makes both Mark and my dad scowl.

“Go on—I’ve got this,” Mark promises.

I wrap my arms around him and squeeze tightly as my dad walks back to the car. “Thank you. I’m sorry. Are you mad?” I whisper.

“Not mad. Just so fucking relieved.” He holds me, rocking from foot to foot like we’re slow dancing.

I press myself close again, needing to feel him, dying to get skin-to-skin. “I’m ready for you to mark me.”

Mark pulls back, and I see corners of his lips quirk as his eyes change to silver. “Oh, I’m going to mark you, sweetheart. I’m going to make sure you never forget who you belong to.” He touches my nose. “And there will definitely be consequences for this, babygirl.”

I lift on my tiptoes to kiss his neck. “I love you.”

Mark’s arm bands around me, and his lips crash down on mine as he lifts me to straddle his waist. “I love you so much, Colleen.” I feel the thunder of his heart against my chest. His mouth twists over mine, angles one way, then the other, as he carries me toward the parking lot.

“Now be a good girl and go home—to our home. I need to know you’re safe, and I can’t focus on cleaning this up until I’m sure.” He walks me straight to the passenger side of the car my dad’s sitting in and lowers me to my feet.

“Okay.” I kiss him this time. “I’ll be waiting.”

“You’d better be.” There’s a levity to his tone that lifts the heaviness of everything that just happened.

I’m with Mark now. My true mate.

Everything’s going to be all right.