Howl My Name (BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance) (Grayslake Book 5) (7 page)

He couldn’t harm his mate to save his life.

That thought immediately calmed his unease from earlier.

I can’t guarantee I won’t kill you.
Yes, he could give her that guarantee.

Reid reached for her, snaring her hand and drawing her down beside him. No, that wasn’t close enough. Not nearly. He continued his pull until she rested on one thigh, her head immediately nestling onto his shoulder and her face against his neck.

His wolf rumbled with his happiness, the animal overjoyed at her closeness. It didn’t want to let her out of its sight. Not now. Not ever.

“What are you doing out here on your own?” She didn’t raise her voice, her question soft like a gentle wind.

“Better question is why you’re risking your life by getting close to me?”

She smiled against his neck. “Because I don’t really think you’ll hurt me.”

“That’s not what everyone else says.”

Evie went quiet and he wasn’t sure she’d speak again. Didn’t really matter though. He had her close and that’s all he cared about. “Everyone else hasn’t seen what I’ve seen.”

Wasn’t that the truth? “They’re still going to give you shit. They’re still going to cling to your arm when you leave them and come to me.”

That was the only explanation he could come to when he’d spied the nicks in her arm. Someone objected—firmly—to her following him.

“They can say—and do—whatever they want.” She shrugged. “It won’t change anything.” When she pulled away from him, their gazes clashed. “Are you going to harm anyone in the clan?”

“Not unless they deserve it. I won’t let men like your uncles live and I won’t apologize for their deaths.”

“Then we don’t have a problem.” She said it like it was that simple.

Sometimes the easiest things are the hardest.

“You can’t believe that.”

“I can,” she shrugged. “I,” she shook her head. “You know what? I grew up happy. I had my grandmother’s clan—”

“Your father’s mother?”

She shook her head. “No, my mom’s. She was mostly human, enough that most considered her human, but my family has enough that my grandmother was welcome at the local clan’s gatherings. When I came, I spent a lot of time with those bears.” She paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts. “I was happy if picked on.” The urge to destroy every person who made Evie cry reared up in him and a soft whisper of his name had him settling. “I was still happy. It was normal kid stuff.”

He grunted and she continued.

“I had a good childhood. I had support when I went to medical school and even more when my grandmother became ill and I had to come home early. When she passed…” Moisture gathered in her eyes and a single tear slipped down her cheek. He didn’t really have a handle on the whole comforting thing, but he tried anyway.

He brushed away the salty liquid and rubbed her hand in small circles. “Her will forced me to come here. She thought it was time to return to my birth clan. Grandma took me when I was younger, worried about whoever killed my mother, and then I stayed. Now, with the will, the Itan couldn’t deny her last request and my fath—Patrick wanted me to come. He was nice on the phone, smooth when he talked to my Itan.” Another tear, another gentle swipe.

“I know what happiness is. I know what goodness is. And now I know what pure evil looks like. I saw it every day for weeks. I saw it every time I opened my eyes and heard it with every scream.” She shook her head, dislodging a few soft curls until they framed her heart-shaped face. “I see anger and pain in your eyes, but I don’t see evil, Reid.” She leaned toward him, forehead on his as she whispered. “I see what you try to show others, but I don’t believe it. Not for a second.”

“You should.” He didn’t want her looking close, didn’t want her digging into places she didn’t belong. Evie… saw too much.

“No, I shouldn’t.”

This close, her scent enveloped him, consuming him and sinking into every inch of his body. His wolf howled its appreciation, urging him to take her, to capture her and drag her to their den. The house at their back belonged to them now. They were strong enough to evict everyone within its walls and then they’d have Evie to themselves.

It was tempting, a thought and desire that grew with each passing second. He wanted her alone, wrapped around him and only focused on him.

“Evie,” he spoke her name with a growl, his beast filling him and stretching the edge of his control.

“Evelyn,” her correction was a soft tease.

“You should go.” But he didn’t push her away. Physically couldn’t move her from him. His muscles refused to react to his choice and the wolf retained control of his body.

“What happened to you?”

“Terrence called me. I came. I killed, and now I’m the Itan.”

“I’m not talking recently. I’m talking about the past. That’s not what I mean and you know it.”

He did. Funny thing though. No one knew the truth. Not his family, not Clary, and he sure as hell didn’t tell Terrence.

But fuck him sideways, he wanted to tell Evie. Everything. Every word and emotion. Every strike of pain and every tear he’d shed. The first day… God, that day he’d let them go, let them wash away the blood on his hands.

And then never again.

“Evie…” It was a warning and plea in one. If she kept pushing and prodding, he’d cut open the old wound and let it bleed for her. He’d give it all, lay his past in her hands, and let her judge him. It’d hurt, it’d probably come close to killing him, but he’d do it. For her. For a woman he hardly knew and couldn’t breathe without. “I…”

The rumble reached him first, the sound nearly imperceptible, but present nonetheless. He tilted his head to the side and closed his eyes, listening and he was thankful his mate—for she could be nothing else—remained silent. A vehicle. No, two. Large. SUVs? Their kind—shifters—tended to only drive bigger trucks. They hated being confined.

If it wasn’t for the fact he knew Terrence was big on early mornings and demanded his bears be the same, he’d be worried about who crested the hill. But he knew who drew nearer.

Reid gave Evie’s leg a gentle squeeze and encouraged her to stand as he did the same.

Asher burst through the front door, wide grin on his face and cell phone in his hand. “Just talked to Terrence. Looks like he sent these guys early, but said the love of your life is throwing a bitch fit about you not answering her calls and being denied permission to come to Brookfield.”

Two things happened then. Evie stiffened, her surprise and hurt coating him in a disgusting wave that had his stomach cramping and wolf howling. He also decided Asher was better off dead.

Evie stepped away from him, putting space between them, and he hated it. He reached for her, growling low when she eased just out of reach. “Evie—”

“I bet Terrence won’t be able to keep her away for long and she’ll be here by nightfall.”

Dead. The male was dead.

Other than getting in and out of the SUV, Reid hadn’t released Evelyn since they’d left the den. Just as the two SUVs rolled to a stop, he grabbed her hand and hauled her toward the first large vehicle. Then he’d basically ripped a male out of the passenger seat before doing the same to the driver. The other bear managed to scramble from the truck before Reid peeled down the driveway.

Now he tugged her down Main Street toward the local diner. He’d heard it was a favorite among the bears, the owners serving mostly meat with occasionally a side of hash browns at breakfast or French fries at lunch. Nothing green crossed the threshold of
Come and Get It
. Ever.

“Reid?” She tried to snare his attention, but he just grunted in response. “Reid?” She spoke louder and tugged against his hold, trying to get him to stop or slow or something other than pull her like he was three and she was his favorite red wagon.

“Reid,” she yanked herself free of his strangling grip and he spun to face her, yellowed eyes out in full force. His expression was just short of a snarl, but she wasn’t afraid of him. He was frustrated and angry but not at her. “Reid, what’s going on?” She tried for gentle and she wasn’t sure she was successful. Not when she realized she had her own fangs filling her mouth. Apparently her bear didn’t like his glare and was letting Evelyn know.

Great
.

He jerked back, eyes still narrow but some of his rough anger receded and he turned his attention to their surroundings. A glance around them had him changing direction and he pulled her toward the alley between the diner and hardware store.

Then she was in his arms, his massive hands pulling and tugging until she found her back flush with a brick wall and Reid surrounding her with his presence. He caged her, enveloping her in his body and scent, and her bear rumbled in approval. It liked this Reid, liked him tugging and pushing her as he desired; asserting his dominance without demanding her subjugation. He didn’t taunt or tease or hurt her for no reason. He demanded and her bear was more than willing to give over to his desires.

“He…” Reid growled low and she immediately stroked him, hands reaching for his skin and mentally wincing when she found fur. “I don’t love her. Don’t like her. She’s a necessity and I need you away from that and if she tries to get close and you pull away because of her…” He shook his head. “She won’t make it to morning. I won’t let anything hurt you. Not ever.”

“Who? Who is she to you? To me?” She readily admitted Asher’s words cut deeply, slicing her to her core.

…love of your life…

Reid pressed his cheek to her neck, burying his face in her hair as he drew in a deep breath and then released it slowly. Another inhale and gradual exhale, each one stirring the strands. “Not here. Not now.”

“Where then? When?” She needed an explanation. Her bear craved the words. Not because she didn’t trust in this driving force shoving them together, but to protect her own heart. She slowly accepted they belonged together, but if his heart was tied to another.

She wasn’t sure how she’d survive.

Another wheezing inhale was followed by a soft sigh. He crowded her closer, one thigh slipping between hers and she easily moved with him, moving as he desired until she found her legs lifted and wrapped around his waist. She slipped her arms behind his neck and clung to him as he continued to breathe through whatever anger—and fear?—plagued him.

Something sent him running. Something about that woman, and Evelyn’s bear resolved to kick the female out of Brookfield the moment she could. What they had was built on violence and death, but she hoped to continue creating something that didn’t involve blood and gore or… heartache. She wasn’t sure which was worse, the killing or the crying she saw on the horizon.

“Evie…” he whispered her name and she didn’t bother correcting him. She wouldn’t admit that she liked the nickname from his lips. Ever. “I need a day, an hour, just time without them. Without the fight, without the bears.”

“I hate to state the obvious,” she drawled. “But I’m a bear.”

He shook his head. “No, you’re so much more. You don’t expect me to lead your ass around like a young one.”

That made her feel good and hurt at the same time. “Is that what you think of my clan?”

Hers. Hers since she took a punch for them. A kick for them. A claw for them. Scars littered her body and they were for each one of the souls in the Brookfield clan.

“Right now? They’re so beat down, Evie. They are like pups. Lost. Scared. And I understand, but I need five minutes with you. With your scent and touch. Need it like air before we talk about my bullshit.”

“Reid?” The deep baritone was familiar, but she couldn’t place the male’s name. All she knew was he invaded their space and destroyed the moment between her and her mate.

Unfortunately for the newcomer, Reid took the interruption worse than Evelyn. She only groaned. Reid roared. Louder than a bear, hell, scarier than any shifter she’d heard. The sound reminded her of a lion yet so much
more
.

The scuffle of a boot on asphalt drew her attention to the street and the pale bear who’d dropped to his knees, neck bared. The man’s breathing came in heavy pants and the wind brought the stench of fear to them.

Evelyn sifted her fingers through his hair, fisting the strands and giving them a soft tug to grab his attention. “You realize I’m spending more time calming you than I do just talking to you.”

Reid grunted and she realized it was his go-to response when he didn’t have anything to say.

She tugged again and he drew his gaze from the kneeling bear to her. “What’s his name?”

He glared at her, a quick look of possessiveness crossing his features as he curled his lip. “Carter.”

“I don’t recognize him. Who is he to the clan?”

“From Grayslake. One of the bears I hauled outta the SUV. Wants to be a guard in Brookfield.”

“And your first thought when he interrupted?”

Reid’s attention drifted back to the kneeling bear, and he bared his fangs fully. “Mine.”

Evelyn sighed and pushed back her arousal. His near-violent possessiveness was sexy. And dangerous. She saw some of what others whispered about, but she recognized it for what it was. Reid wasn’t insane. Her uncles—her father—were crazed. They did things for the fun of the pain and nothing more.

Reid just had a very black and white look at life. His emotions were fierce, fast, and unforgiving. And when he made a choice, he reveled in it. It was the reveling that squicked people out.

“And he won’t challenge that. Do you think
anyone
would try to take something you claimed?”

Reid froze for a moment and took a slow breath. Fur receded as he released the air in his lungs and his muscles lost some of their tenseness. “No. If they tried, they’d die.”

“I’m pretty sure Carter didn’t wake up this morning looking to be dead by breakfast.” She focused on the bear. His neck was still exposed, but some of his fear lessened. “Am I right?”

“Yes, Ita—” Reid’s growl cut the bear off.

“You could let him finish.” She poked Reid.

“I could also kill him for looking at you.”

And there went the male’s fear again.