Page 33

Chapter

Thirty-Two

D ANNY

I was opening the oven to pull out a chocolate croissant a customer had asked us to reheat when Milo burst through the kitchen door, his face cherry-red and his shirt hitched up to reveal a sliver of his swollen belly.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, setting the tray with the croissant down on a wooden board.

He bent over, grabbing the counter to steady himself and puffing as he struggled for breath. “Something bad has happened at Knox’s place.”

My legs went weak and I stumbled, catching myself on the counter.

My mate was in trouble.

I shoved myself upright. I had to go to him. Right now. But the buzz of customers through the door reminded me that I was in the middle of a busy shift.

“Don’t panic.” Milo had uncurled himself and seemed to be getting his breathing under control. “Sorry, I ran all the way here. Everett said that Knox is okay but he might need some support. He howled so loudly that Zander heard him and called for backup.”

“Okay.” I sucked in a lungful of air and released it in a whoosh, gathering myself. “Thanks for telling me.”

What next?

I couldn’t leave—or at least, I shouldn’t—but I had to. Knox had been there for me when I needed him time and time again. There was no way I could live with myself if I wasn’t present for him when he needed me.

“Danny!” my boss called from behind the serving counter. “We need you out here.”

I froze in place, torn between leaving immediately and doing as the boss said.

“Go,” Milo urged, waving me away. “I’ll stay and help.”

Relief flooded me, loosening my muscles and helping me to breathe easier. “Thank you.”

He wouldn’t be able to do everything I could, but knowing that my boss would have an extra set of hands available reduced my guilt to a level where I didn’t feel like a terrible employee.

I stripped off my apron, handed it to Milo, and slunk out the back door. As I hurried around the side of the bakery and onto the main street, I debated whether to go home to get my car or head straight to Knox’s. It was hard to know which would be faster.

I decided to go straight there, so I hurried along the sidewalk, pushing to run faster than a human would be able to. I turned several corners, barely paying attention to where I was going as I allowed the slight tug inside my chest to lead me to my mate.

I took comfort from the presence of that connection. Perhaps it was insubstantial because we hadn’t properly mated yet, but I knew that I’d be able to sense if Knox had been badly injured. The delicate tether between us would begin to fray.

As I turned the corner onto the road his cabin was on, I spotted a police car parked outside. My chest tightened, and it wasn’t only from the exertion. I should never have parted from Knox this morning. I should have insisted he come to work with me and sit at a table, drink coffee, and eat pie all day. I’d happily keep him in supply.

There wasn’t anyone stationed in front of his house, so I rushed around the back, coming up short at the sight of two naked men standing with the uniformed deputies Hawk and Clay.

My eyes narrowed. Shifters might be blasé about nudity, but my bear didn’t like seeing our mate naked around other men. Even if they were all alphas.

“Knox,” I cried, plastering myself against his body—partly because I wanted to be close to him and partly to hide his thick cock and muscular chest from the view of any potential admirers. “Are you okay?”

“Danny.” A crease formed between his eyebrows, and he ducked his head and scented me. I relaxed against him. I hadn’t realized how terrified I’d been that I might find him injured until I was finally sure he was safe.” What are you doing here?”

“That’s on me.” Everett’s voice came from behind Zander. “I told Milo to get him.”

My eldest brother stepped aside so I could see Everett, and my blood chilled when I realized what he was crouching over.

A dead wolf.

I unwound one of my arms from around Knox and raised my trembling hand to my mouth. “What is this?”

“That’s what I’d like to know.” Zander sounded disgruntled .

“It must be a threat, right?”

Zander nodded. “But from whom?”

“Rex.” I couldn’t imagine who else would hate Knox enough to do this. I scanned each person present. The doubt on both the deputies’ faces and Zander’s was clear. They thought I was wrong. “You agree with me, right, Ev?”

Everett glanced down at the wolf. “I’ve seen what Rex is capable of firsthand, and yeah, I think he could have done this.”

“Then we need to make him pay.” The words emerged from beneath gritted teeth. I was sick of Rex toying with me. I wanted him out of my life so that I never even had to think of him again.

“We don’t have any proof.” Zander’s tone was gentle but firm. “We’ll follow all leads, but without evidence, we can’t take action.”

My mouth opened and closed. “Are you kidding? That’s not good enough, Z!”

“Hey.” Knox’s arms tightened around me. “It’s okay.”

Tears sprang to my eyes, and I blinked rapidly, trying futilely to hide them. “No, it’s not. No one is allowed to threaten my mate and get away with it. Especially not a lowlife like Rex, and especially not because of me.”

It wasn’t fair. Knox shouldn’t have to deal with this kind of brutality because of my bad taste in men. Nor should that poor wolf have had to die. All of this could have been avoided if I’d been smarter or stronger.

Knox took hold of my chin. “I’ve always been a troublemaker, but being with you is the best reason I’ve ever had to cause trouble. This isn’t going to scare me off.”

I stepped back and straightened my spine, ignoring his hands when they dropped from my hips. “In that case, I’m sticking to you like a bee to honey until we’ve proven that this was Rex and he’s locked away somewhere. You’re staying with me.”

Knox’s lips parted and his eyes widened. He looked almost excited, but then the expression was wiped from his face. “I don’t want to encroach on your space or make you uncomfortable.”

“You won’t.” I raised my chin. “I’m not taking no for an answer.”