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  When Lux spoke again there was a low growl to his words. “The males in your pack wanted to force you?”

  Lowering her chin, Seven let her eyes slowly open. She stared at Lux’s chest. “Our Alpha died, and when his son took over everything changed. Females were no longer respected.” She felt Lux’s frame go tense under her hands.

  “Did he hurt you?”

  She shook her head.

  “Did any of them hurt you?”

  Again, she shook her head. “Not me.”

  “What about the others?”

  Seven bit her trembling lower lip and held it captive between her teeth before releasing it. “The new Alpha wanted Kenna, but she’s too young.”

  His chest rumbled before he offered, “She is.”

  His words surprised Seven, and she lifted her head a fraction before jerking it back down, remembering she was avoiding eye contact. “Ryka argued to protect her and Marill, the new Alpha, pretended like it was okay. He let Kenna go, but that night they went after Ryka.”

  “What did they do?” Liddick asked, almost afraid to know.

  Seven shook her head. “Me and Ash heard her screaming. Ryka never screams. We hurried to the river. We saved her, but Ryka wouldn’t let us leave without Kenna. Me and Ash waited in the woods while Ryka went back.” She whispered to herself, “She shouldn’t have gone back. I wouldn’t have been able to, not after what they’d done.”

  “To you?”

  “No.” She shook her head again. “To Ryka. But she’s stronger than me, stronger than all of us. She saved Kenna and we ran.” She gestured absentmindedly at the ground. “Now we’re here.”

  “Listen, beautiful, and listen well.” He shifted his stance, his body pressing more firmly into hers. “I am Lux Prime, third eldest of the Prime sons. I am a mountain lion shifter, and I vow to you now to do everything in my power to ensure you are safe. Safe from the males of your old pack, safe from any member of any pack, and safe from anything that would attempt to harm you.” He adjusted his hold, smoothing his hands down her back to grip her elbows and hold her back from him. “What’s your name?”

  A heartbeat of silence reigned before petal-pink lips parted. “Seven. My name is Seven.”

  “Seven,” he whispered her name with reverence, and in that instant her name became the single most significant word in his universe. One hand lifted to tuck long strands of satiny black hair behind her ear. “Seven, I know you don’t want to look at me because you’re afraid of what it’ll mean for me to be stricken, but know this. It’s a formality now. Standing here, this close, with you in my arms, my lion knows. I know. You are my mate. And, beautiful, I’m so fucking happy to have finally found you. I’m going to protect you. Do you hear me? You are safe with me.”

  ***

  Lux didn’t know what to do. The last thing he’d expected when he woke this morning was for this to be the day that he found her. My mate! He couldn’t stop thinking the words. Hell, he couldn’t stop holding her. Wren had taken his she-wolf back to the house, while Liddick chased his down, but Lux needed this time. He needed to be alone with Seven. He wanted to speak to her alone. Her and her pack mates’ fear was nearly tangible, and it tore at his insides to have his mate so close and so afraid. Right now he was trying to be what she needed, and apparently that was as open and honest as he could be. She was being truthful with him, and he’d show his appreciation by gifting her the same.

  When her head jerked toward the house he soothed, “Your friends are safe. They’ll be okay here.”

  Her chin pulled back around and she studied his chest before asking, “Promise?”

  He placed a finger under her chin and lifted. “I swear on my honor as a lion that I’ll protect you and your pack until there’s not a breath left in me.” Then, he waited.

  He watched the slender column of her throat convulse as she swallowed, then she blinked once before slowly lifting her gaze. When dove gray eyes finally collided with his, Lux’s body shuddered and then tensed. His hand around her waist clamped her tighter to him, and if he could have spoken he would have apologized for the thick bar of his erection where it pressed into her, but he couldn’t speak. Stunned by the power of being stricken, he swayed with the dizzying effects.

  My mate is stunning! Inside his lion purred and danced merrily in a display that Lux had never experienced. His lion’s glee transitioned though, when he realized his hold might be too rough. A growl slipped free as he struggled to stay on his feet without leaning too heavily on Seven, but he quickly swallowed it down when his mate’s eyes rounded and her mouth fell open.

  “Not you,” he huffed on a ragged breath. He was trying to convey that he wasn’t growling at her, but it was difficult to speak. To his relief, Seven nodded and bowed her head shyly. It was a shame, because her gray eyes, set in deep tan skin, were the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. He wanted to talk to her, to tell her what he was feeling, but he couldn’t. His body was still taut against the effects of being stricken. Unable to talk, and unwilling to scare her off, he reached a hand under the long fall of her straight jet hair and pulled her to him, hugging her in a tight embrace that he hoped conveyed the depth of his emotion for the wondrous event of their meeting. Their chests aligned as he stooped so that his heart could pound erratically against hers. To his relief, Seven didn’t pull back or struggle. They stayed like that for a long time, long enough for the shockingly painful effects of being stricken to wear off. Seven simply stood and let him hold her, supporting her through the drastically reduced effects of being stricken that she was experiencing. When Lux was finally able to slow his heart rate and pull back she asked, “Can…will you take me to Kenna? I’m sure she’s scared.”

  He nodded in relief. He’d thought she was going to ask him to let her go again. So hell yes, he could take her to Kenna. He’d do anything for her so long as it meant he didn’t have to give her up.

  “Come on.” He slid his hands down her arms and grabbed her hand before leading her back toward the house.

  Chapter 7

  (Ash & Liddick)

  Ash pushed hard. She’d gotten the jump on that…male who’d dropped to his knees. She was taking full advantage of his affliction. Liddick. He’d told the Phena his name was Liddick. Not mine, not mine, not fucking mine! She chanted as she raced through the woods, the sharp bite of guilt tearing through her at having abandoned her Phena and pack. She’d come back for them, as soon as she lost this asshole lion on her tail.

  A snarl from behind her let her know Liddick was closing in on her, but she was determined not to be caught.

  When she, Seven, and Kenna had rounded the corner of the house and found the Alpha on his knees, she knew immediately that he’d been stricken. He was Ryka’s mate, but when they’d been lined up behind their Phena and she’d turned to scowl at Liddick, attempting to convey her willingness to battle, her world had been rocked. It had to be a ploy. It fucking had to be. There was no way in hell that she and Ryka had just found their mates. No, this had to be some sick, twisted game. Didn’t it? The lingering nausea she still felt told her otherwise, but she prayed it was just the effects of her guilt mingled with fear and adrenaline.

  Ash didn’t want to be claimed. Well, she did, but not like this.

  She was the meanest she-wolf in the state, and if that male even dared to touch her, he’d get…

  Something caught her ankle and she went rolling. Unprepared for the fall, she twisted just in time to catch her weight on her shoulder. Her hope had been to tuck her head and roll, but she didn’t get her snout down in time. She slid a few feet across the leaf-covered earth, catching a stick to the midsection she felt rip through flesh before her paw caught and she was able to right herself and get to her feet. Spinning quickly, she didn’t waste time with posturing. Pinning ears flat and growling while showing fang was what all other she-wolves would do in this position, in an attempt at intimidation. Ash wasn’t about that. Turning, there was no hesitation before she lunged
, and it worked. The massive mountain lion wasn’t prepared, and her teeth sunk into his ear as she slipped over the top of him and bit down hard.

  Shockingly, one of his forelegs wrapped around her. It wasn’t a move a wolf could make, but apparently mountain lions were more flexible. Ash countered it with speed. Jerking to the side, she released his ear and snapped, locking onto the flesh of his neck. It wasn’t a kill bite, not even close to the mark, but it was something, and she knew it had to hurt like hell.

  The lion jerked back, using his front paws to push her away. It wasn’t lost on her that he wasn’t fighting back. He was defending himself, but that was it. Ash charged again, the thought of her pack in trouble lending strength to her movements.

  The lion rose up just as she reached him, turning his body to the side and using his weight to force her down as he twisted and pinned her to the ground. Beneath him, Ash snarled and snapped, but couldn’t get free and couldn’t reach anything to bite. The mountain lion growled, peeling his lip back in a display of superiority.

  Fucking asshole! Ash refused to show throat. She was not submitting to this fucking cat!

  Long minutes passed with her squirming and trying to break free while the lion held her down, growling and hissing for her to calm. The position she was in was awkward, and it wasn’t long before her wolf’s forelegs began to ache. The lion quieted some and shifted his weight, one of his elbows pressing into the wound on her torso. It hurt like hell, but she wasn’t going to show it. No, she was…

  The lion’s nostrils flared, and his eyes dipped down before he jerked back off her, releasing her.

  Worn, it took Ash a moment to get to her feet, but when she did she immediately lowered her head and flattened her ears, a rolling growl emitting from her as she licked at her teeth and curled her lip back in an impressive display of aggression.

  The lion’s eyes studied her body, and she took advantage of his distraction to study his. A large smear of blood was dripping down his foreleg, and she was glad she’d gotten a good hit on him. His body relaxing drew her attention, and she vaulted at him. He shifted so fast that it happened in the span of a blink. One minute she was sailing toward the mountain lion, intent on locking her jaws around his throat, the next she was being caught mid-air by a ridiculously large human who twisted and took her down, one arm locking around her waist like an iron band while the other lifted to lock a large hand around her muzzle.

  “Stop fighting me,” he commanded. “You’re hurt!”

  Ash didn’t stop. She struggled in his hold, but the guy was too strong, too thickly corded with bulky muscle. She writhed and kicked, but to no avail, and after several minutes, she stilled. It was hard to breathe just through her nose, so she kept poking her tongue out between her front teeth trying to force her jaws wider with her tongue.

  Liddick sat, pulling her tighter onto his lap. “Damn it, baby!” He adjusted her body, looking at her side. “That wound is deep, now stop fucking fighting me so I can look at it.”

  Hell no, she wasn’t going to stop fighting. Her pack was under attack. She was under attack by this, this…sexy-as-hell mountain lion shifter who was currently stroking his hand down her flank and soothing her inner wolf. She let her body go lax, and when he relaxed too, she kicked her feet and rolled, breaking his hold on her. Ash reclaimed her feet as she backed up and prepared to fight.

  “Stop!” Liddick got to his feet and Ash got a good look at him, a good look at her mate.

  He was tall and bronzed, like he’d spent the better part of the summer in the sun. His long hair was dark, but she could tell by the pale color of his eyes and the whiskers on his chin that it’d be lighter in the winter. Hot! Of course he was hot, most shifters were, but this one was different. There was the unmistakable pull of her wolf to his animal. Her eyes dipped low as he held out a strong hand, palm toward her.

  “Wait!” He took a tentative step closer. “Can you shift? I’d really like to talk to you.” When she didn’t move he tacked on, “Please?”

  Swallowing down her snarl, her eyes shifted from side-to-side as she suddenly wondered what he’d think of her. She wasn’t willowy and feminine like Seven, or beautifully shrouded in power and respect like Ryka. Hell, even Kenna had a girlish charm that males seemed to favor, but Ash was different. She knew she was pretty, but there was something about her that scared males off. Maybe it was the fighter in her that intimidated them, maybe it was the scar over her eyebrow and the other under her eye that warned them not to mess with her. Whatever the reason, men didn’t choose her, and over the years she’d stopped caring. Until now. For some reason she didn’t want Liddick to be disappointed with what the fates had assigned him. That worry had Ash considering attacking again, just to buy herself some time to come up with a plan.

  Liddick cut in on her contemplation. “I don’t know what the damn problem is?”

  Ash felt a tinge of guilt, because he honestly looked confused.

  “People wait their whole lives for mates, and here we are!” He threw his hands in the air. “I may not look like much you to, Ashley.”

  He’d guessed her full name.

  “But,” Liddick continued, raising his chin to stand at his full impressive height, his shoulders flaring. “I’m second to the Apex. I’m an excellent fighter, a damn good man, and an even better lover. I’m willing to accept you.” He jabbed a finger in her direction. “I’d protect you, and I’d sure as fuck appreciate you. But you gotta want this too. At least meet me halfway, and I’ll carry us the rest.” He lowered his hand, scrubbing the other over his face. “Fuck! I don’t know how to do this right. I don’t know the right words. I always thought it’d be easier.” He lowered his head, then smirked down at her sheepishly. “You were supposed to fall at my feet.”

  Oh God, that smile! He had to know what it was doing to her insides. Still… Letting power surge through her, a shift shuttled through Ash until she rose from her kneeling position, fully clothed in faded jeans and a tight fitting, white T-shirt. She scowled up…way up, at Liddick. “I fall at no man’s feet!”

  “Yeah.” He sighed with clear relief as he let his eyes rove quickly up and down her frame. “I see that.”

  Ash balled her hands at the desire to hunch her shoulders and turn away from his scrutiny. Lifting her chin defiantly, she thrust her shoulders back and squared her feet, little hands balling into fists to her sides. She was short. Shorter than Ryka, way shorter than Seven, but about an inch taller than Kenna. Still, it wasn’t much. And she was curvy too. Not fat, just not willing to starve herself to fit into some stupid-as-shit preconceived notion of what society thought was beautiful. Hell, up until two seconds ago she hadn’t given two fucks about what people thought of her. Now, she wondered what Liddick thought of her jet-black hair and just as dark eyes set in deeply tan skin. She knew her hips flared a little too wide for most men’s taste, but they sure as hell didn’t mind the swell of her breasts, which were a little large for her size.

  Long minutes passed as Liddick studied her and, without knowing what he thought, without him speaking on what he saw, it grew to be too much. “I appreciate your…offer.” Ash eyed the forest nervously. “But I just want my friends. We just want to leave.”

  Blue eyes snapped to hers as Liddick snorted dejectedly. “Not even a chance? You won’t even let me try to make you happy? Won’t let me give you pleasure?”

  Exasperated and overwhelmed, Ash stepped back. “Guy! I just. Met. You. Why are you talking about making me happy and giving me pleasure? For Christ’s sake!” She looked down her body, her eyes snagging on the crimson staining her T-shirt just below her breast. “I’m standing her bleeding, and you’re over there waxing poetic. I’m in new territory, both figuratively and literally, my pack is scattered, and I’m sc…” She didn’t finish.

  “Scared.” Liddick supplied, holding up his hands as he licked his lips. “Yeah! You’re right! I get it, and I apologize.”

  “I’M NOT SCARED!” She bellowed he
r denial. “I just need to get to my pack. They need me!”

  Liddick’s eyes dipped to her side. “I’m sorry. I should take care of you first. We can deal with everything else later. For now,” he took a tentative step toward her, and Ash took a matching step back. “I just want to help you! You’re bleeding, Ashley!”

  “It’ll heal, guy! I don’t need your help with that! What I need is my pack!”

  Liddick’s eyes turned sad. “It’s Liddick, and if you walk away from this now, you’ll regret it.”

  “And why is that?”

  “Because no one will ever cherish you like I’m gonna cherish you. You could never mean more to anyone than you’re going to mean to me.”

  She was shaking her head again. “You don’t even know me!” She threw her hands in the air. “You don’t. Even. Fucking. Know. ME!”

  “I could. I need to. I want to.”

  “Look.” She glanced over her shoulder toward the direction they’d come from. “We just wanna leave.”

  Silence hung between them for long moments before Liddick finally spoke. “My Apex, my pack, my brothers have been waiting a long time for mates. Wren and Lux aren’t just going to let your friends walk, not now.” He shook his head sadly. “And I understand it. I don’t think I can let you go either.” Ash opened her mouth to protest, so he hurried on. “But… I can make you a deal. If you can try to let me in, try to give me a chance, I might be able to convince Wren that you and your girls staying in town at a hotel instead of here with us would be okay until we all get to know each other. This doesn’t have to move too fast. We can work on it, if you can try to let me in.”

  “I DON’T WANT ANYONE IN!” She screamed, and the forest fell silent. As if catching herself exposing words she hadn’t meant to set free, she sucked in a breath and stepped back.

  “Why, little fighter?” Liddick’s tone was imploring. “Why stay hidden? What made you this hard? What are you running from? What are you so afraid of?”