Roaring Up the Wrong Tree (11 page)

He recognized the bears, knew the wolf, and the only thing saving any of them was the fact she wasn’t bleeding. Though it looked as if it was only a matter of time if the wolf had his way.

When it jumped at her, baring his teeth and snapping his jaws, Keen attacked.

He tore into the room, slicing and swiping at the males crowding the space, some strikes connecting while others did not. He distantly recognized the stinging pain of his own wounds, but they didn’t matter. They were immaterial when compared to Trista’s safety.

A large claw dug into his flesh and he turned his head, snapping at the leg of his assailant and sinking his teeth deep until he struck bone. That had the male backing off, but it left the way open for the wolf and Keen was quick to bat him aside. One wolf against a bear didn’t have a chance. But against her, against a half-hyena, there was no contest. The wolf would tear her to shreds.

That’s not fucking happening.

He glanced at Trista, noting her wide eyes and the stench of fear that flowed from her. Her attention flicked from him to just over his shoulder, cluing him in to another’s approach. He swung his head around while pushing to his back legs, preparing to defend against attack. This bear was the bigger of the two, a hint larger than Keen, but not quite as strong.

Ty. His brother. His Itan.

He should concede to him, acquiesce to his dominance. Except another nervous, bestial chuckle came from Trista and it enraged his bear anew.

Without hesitation, he roared his displeasure and moved before her, blocking her from the other males completely. They would have to go through him to get near her and that would never, ever happen.

The smaller of the two bears curled his lips, baring his fangs, and took a step forward only to be shoved back by Ty. At least one of his brothers was smart. Even the wolf hung back, his hungry gaze pinging between them all.

Ty focused on him, black eyes meeting his own, and he refused to back down. Nothing—
no one
—would hurt her.

Finally, his eldest brother tore his gaze from Keen’s and stared at Van for a moment before zeroing in on the wolf. A single growl from Ty preceded the males shifting, transforming in rapid cracks and snaps until three bloodied men stood before him.

They were vulnerable now, easily killed. It’d take one swipe to gut them all. One swipe and—

Trembling fingers dug into his fur, fisting his skin as her weight pressed against him. No, his first thoughts needed to be for Trista. Vengeance, more bloodshed, could come later. Right now both halves of his mind were in agreement. They needed to protect her. He couldn’t care for her as a bear and even his animal accepted that fact.

With her touch, a peaceful calm overtook him, sliding through his veins and caressing him with a gentle touch. It soothed him now just as it’d calmed him when he’d held her last night. It started with a touch of fingers and he’d ended up with an armful of Trista. At least, until this morning when he woke alone. Alone and easily enraged.

His beast’s power slithered to the back of his mind while nudging his human consciousness forward. In a breath, his transformation blew through him like a soft breeze. One moment he was a bloodied and battered bear and the next he was a stained and panting human.

Trista’s hands hadn’t left him, her touch remaining through his change as if she were afraid he’d disappear on her. He wouldn’t. Not now, not ever. He’d made a commitment in his mind last night and it became a truth by standing against his brothers to ensure her safety. In that one instant, in that moment when he faced Ty and didn’t relent, he’d set himself on a new path.

One that included her and not them.

His bear was not upset by that fact. It accepted that the walls standing between him and his brothers remained steadfast and now higher than before.

Reaching behind himself, he grasped one of Trista’s shaking hands and gave it a gentle squeeze, doing his best to reassure her without words. When the shakes lessened, he assumed she’d gotten the point.

“Someone”—his voice was hoarse from his vibrating roars—“is going to explain why the Itan’s guest,
my
guest, was assaulted in my home.”

He didn’t leave room for an argument and he sure as hell wasn’t going to take blustering bullshit from any of the men before him.

“You’re defending one of
them
.” Van spat the word. “Do you know what her family did?”

At least he knew who’d started the fight.

“Did you try and stop it, Ty? Or were you both fighting to see who’d kill her first?” The answer would determine who he’d battle first. Now that he was faced with Van’s words and not just his brother’s actions, the bear’s desire for blood returned.

“Of course I tried to stop him,” Ty snapped.

“Uh-huh.” Keen concentrated on the third male in the room. Not just a wolf, but the Redby Alpha. From all accounts, he was a crazed son of a bitch who sliced and diced and didn’t bother asking questions later. He’d done that to the Boyne Falls Alpha as well as his own Beta. “Reid?”

The male shrugged. “I scented her before I even entered the house and I’m not opposed to finishing off my enemies.” The wolf leaned to look past him. “We’ve been doing this dance for years now.” He grinned, the evil smile lined with blood. Reid licked his lips. “His little sister—half-sister—has been escaping me for months, but don’t you think it’s time to end it?”

The body at his back stilled, frozen in place, and her hands no longer trembled.

“That’s what the scent is.” Ty’s eyes darkened to midnight and fur sprouted along his arms. “I told you she smelled familiar. She’s that bastard’s sister. You brought the sister of the hyena’s pack Alpha into my home.”

Keen’s bear reacted in kind, his own brown fur coating his arms and chest while his nails tingled in anticipation of his shift.

“She could be the devil herself, but she is here under the articles of visitation, under
my
protection”—he ignored Trista’s surprised gasp—“which means she comes to no harm.” He kept his voice firm, allowing them to hang over the room, and there was not a hint of recognition in Ty and Van’s eyes. Reid, however, glared at him.

“What are—?”

Keen spoke over Van and rattled off the location of the law without hesitation. “Volume Three, Section Two, Paragraph Four, Sub-section Three, Paragraph Seven.” Not waiting for any of the males to question him further, he reached back and grasped Trista’s hand. “And now, we’re leaving.” He stepped forward, heading toward the doorway, and Van moved to intercept him. Keeping his gaze settled on his brother, Keen spoke once again. “I forgave one attempt on her life due to your ignorance, but I won’t tolerate another, Van.”

“Do you know—?”

“I know you’re breaking the law, that not two minutes ago you were ready to break the law!” His voice echoed off the walls and silence followed in its wake. “We’re leaving.” He looked to Ty. “I’ll send someone to pack my things.”

“Keen, be reasonable. There are plenty of women in the clan, you don’t need to—”

“I would advise you to shut your mouth, Ty.” His bear pushed against his flesh, stretching it until he felt as if he’d split wide if he didn’t release the animal. “It’s taking everything in me not to kill you three. And you know I can.” Van snorted in disbelief, but Ty’s eyes widened and it seemed reality finally dawned on his eldest brother. Adrenaline wasn’t the only thing that’d fueled his stand against Ty. No, pure ability and dominance filled Keen from head to toe. “We’re leaving.”

Keen turned his back on the males and nudged Trista into action, pushing her from the room.

“Keen,” she whispered and he shook his head, silencing her.

The next feminine voice he heard belonged to Mia and he turned his attention to the Itana. She stood framed in the kitchen entry, her hand lying protectively on her belly as she blocked their path. “Keen, it doesn’t have to be this way.”

He gave her a rueful smile and shrugged. “It was going to happen someday. You and I talked about that. It just happened sooner rather than later.”

“But…”

Keen shook his head. “It doesn’t matter now.”

“But…”

“Isn’t up for discussion. I’ll call you later and we can talk more then. For now…” He checked his watch and noted the time. Trista’s mention of the laws of visitation slammed into him and he realized they needed to get a move on if he wanted to keep her from ending up in trouble once again. He spoke to Trista. “Let’s grab your things and I’ll pack a bag. We need to get going.”

Trista’s twelve hours were almost up.

*

She…

And then they…

And he just…

Trista allowed Keen to push her farther down the hallway. Her shoe caught on the carpet, sending her stumbling forward, but his warm hands grasped her forearms and kept her upright.

“Easy.” Keen’s warm breath fanned her ear while his words reminded her once again of the pain her presence caused.

She jerked from her arms and forced herself to remain standing on her own. She didn’t need him, she didn’t need anyone. She was fine.
Fine
.

“I’m not going to fall apart.” She forced herself to put one foot in front of the other, to feign a confidence she didn’t feel. She was
not
going to rely on Keen Abrams. Last night had been an anomaly brought on by exhaustion and clouded by layers of muscles. “You think that’s not the first time?” She glanced over her shoulder. “You think one of your bears or a wolf, or even a hyena, hasn’t ever done that before?”

Trista ignored the warning growl from Keen, the audible hint that violence was on the horizon.

Instead of violence, he crowded her, herded her until he was aligned with her back while her front was plastered against the wall. It was a position of dominance, leaving her to accept whatever he desired, and yet she wasn’t afraid of him.

“Never again.” The words were barely audible, but she understood him. “No one will
ever
threaten you again.”

Fur, not hair, tickled her exposed skin, teasing her and telling her exactly how close to the edge he currently lingered. He surrounded her, enveloped her in his strength, and she reveled in it just as she cursed her own weakness. She couldn’t take comfort in anyone, in a man. It never turned out well and disappointment, even death, lurked on the horizon when a person lived with hope.

“Keen—”

A rolling growl vibrated through her, plucking her nerves and trembling through her blood. “Never.”

Trista swallowed past the growing lump in her throat. She wanted to believe him so very, very much. And yet she couldn’t allow herself that luxury. Deciding to avoid the topic, she focused on something else. Mainly, getting the hell out of Grayslake before it was too late, but not too early.

“Keen, I have to get out of here. Soon.”

He breathed deep and released the air on a long sigh. His scent surrounded her, comforted her even when she knew taking that reassurance was a very bad idea. “You’re right. We need to get moving. C’mon.”

He stepped back, giving her space, and she nearly whined aloud at the loss of his touch. She wanted him close, wanted to rub all over her skin. She just didn’t want to want him.

Turning toward him she squeaked and slapped a hand over her eyes. “You’re naked.”

Instead of immediately answering, he twined his fingers with hers and tugged her into motion. “It’s kinda hard to become a half-ton bear and keep your clothes intact. I don’t know why you’re surprised. I’m sure you’ve had the same trouble in the past.”

Trista kept her eyes covered, allowing him to lead her, and shook her head. “No. I can’t shift.”

He must have stopped because suddenly she was plastered to his front. “You can’t shift?”

Disbelief filled his tone and she risked moving her hand so she could stare at him. “No. Half-hyena, remember? Don’t you think I would have shifted and run if I could have? It wouldn’t have been difficult to escape the bears. I don’t have Reid’s fighting knowledge, but a hyena,” she shook her head. “It fears nothing. It’ll fight everything. The animal is just flat out crazy. There’s no real conscience. ”

“Yeah,” he murmured.

She sensed a sadness wrap around him like a cloak and squeezed her eyes shut. “But you know this already. I’m sorry.”

He knew because her
half
-brother showed him the truth about her kind. She didn’t know details. The fact that her brother’s life touched theirs was enough.

“I guess I just thought… I’ve heard of half-shifter children shifting before. I forgot that it’s not always the case.” Keen cupped her cheeks and she reopened her eyes to stare at him. “It’s fine. We’re good and you being Heath Scott’s half-sister doesn’t matter. Go gather your things and I’ll get dressed.”

It didn’t matter to
him
, but it sure as hell mattered to Keen’s brothers and the Redby Alpha. It mattered a lot.

For now, she’d take him at his word and do as he desired. She needed to get gone and he wanted to help her with that. Win-win. When he turned right, she went left and dashed into the guestroom, gingerly stepping over the remnants of the broken door. It took seconds to slide the strap of her purse over her head to wear across her body. Holding the last of her cash, it was too important to risk losing. She was glad they’d been too exhausted to haul her measly bag of clothing into the house.

The moment she was ready, she retraced her steps and wasn’t surprised to have Keen waiting for her, duffel in hand.

It hit her then. He was walking away from his family—his home—for her. “Keen, you should…” She shook her head, gaze intent on the bag dangling from his fingers. “You should stay.”

It was his turn to shake his head. “No, I shouldn’t.” The distance between them disappeared as he crowded her, stepping close until their chests brushed. “This isn’t just about you, it’s about them. Like I told Mia, this was going to happen eventually. Your presence moved things along.”

“Okay, but you don’t have to rush off with me. I mean, thanks for not letting me get killed, but…”
I don’t want to be why you’re leaving. I don’t want to be the reason you don’t have a family.