by SJ Thomas
Though she expected Sol to try and stop her, he didn’t, and she walked away from him in a daze. As she hailed a cab her mind ran over what he had said. Not human—shifter—turn into an animal—my mate. God, she’d traded one type of psycho for another. One with delusions that he wasn’t human. How could anyone believe that? It was too ridiculous.
By the time she reached the hotel Hannah’s head was aching and she felt drained, a wave of exhaustion settling on her as she rode the elevator to her floor. She stumbled her way to her room, her hands shaking so much it took her three tries to get her key card into the slot.
Once inside, Hannah closed the door behind her and staggered toward the bed. Collapsing with a heavy sigh, she drew her knees to her chest and closed her eyes. This was all too much to process and right now she didn’t want to think, didn’t want to feel. She just wanted sleep to take her.
***
Time passed; how much she wasn’t sure—she must have nodded off—but a knock at the door made her sit up with a start. It must be Sol. With a sigh she went to the door, opening it without checking the peephole, an angry rebuke building on her lips, but the words died in her throat at the sight of her ex-husband standing in the doorway.
“Hello, wife.”
Hannah stood like ice for a second, and then tried to slam the door closed, but Richard was already forcing his way in, shutting the door behind him, trapping her in with him. She backed away until she hit the wall, her stomach twisting with sick fear at the sight of him. His handsome features were fixed in a cruel expression, that familiar anger lurked in his eyes as he looked her up and down. God no. Please no.
Richard crossed the room toward her and with a spike of adrenaline she tried to rush past him. He grabbed her easily, slamming her against the wall, his hands locking painfully on her upper arms. She forced herself to speak past the pain. “How…how did you find me?”
He gave a cruel laugh. “I have my ways. Did you really think you’d be able to hide from me, Hannah?”
Fear crawled up her skin but she held herself still. “What do you want, Richard?”
His lips twisted into a menacing smirk. “You, of course. By my side, where you belong.”
She shook her head. “Don’t you get it, Richard? We’re divorced, it’s over. I am not part of your life anymore.”
That earned her another brain-shaking slam against the wall, but her fear was starting to dim to be replaced with anger. How dare he come after her like this?
“We can remarry.” His eyes had that maniacal gleam she’d seen so many times before, the look that always filled her with utter terror, but unexpectedly, the knowledge that she was married to Sol gave Hannah strength. No matter what Richard threatened to do to her he couldn’t legally make her marry him because of Sol.
Sol. Just the thought of him made her feel safe, helped her fight the fear that was trying to paralyze her. She raised her face defiantly. “I don’t love you Richard, don’t want you, and there is nothing in the world that will make me marry you.”
He gripped her more tightly, pulling her toward him. As he moved her, her top pulled back from her neck and his eyes settled on Sol’s bite mark. His expression became furious. “You bitch! You unfaithful little slut. You’ve been with a man, haven’t you?” He shook her violently till her teeth rattled.
A strange recklessness overtook her and she answered him in a strong voice. “Yes, I have. And if anything happens to me he’ll call the police.”
Richard’s eyes widened for a moment, his mouth falling open at her at words, but then his expression tightened with a calculating look. “He’s here, isn’t he, in this hotel?”
“No,” she blurted out too quickly. Richard saw straight through her.
“He is. You’ll take me to him right now.” Her heart dropped, her stomach twisting in fear. She’d meant to frighten Richard away, not place Sol in danger.
“No, I won’t.”
His face flushed with rage and without warning he backhanded her, the blow rocking her head to the side, and she cried out, grasping her face with her hand. Richard’s face was fixed in a gloating smile and he calmly pulled out a knife from the inside pocket of his jacket. Icy fear licked at her as he pressed the blade to her throat.
“Take me to him, Hannah, or else.” All courage drained from her, terrible fear replacing it. Although Richard had terrorized and beaten her in the past, she’d never actually feared for her life. Now she did and a choking panic gripped her. She had no choice; she had to take Richard to Sol and hope Sol was strong enough to fight him.
“All right,” she said in a small voice.
Lowering the knife, Richard grabbed her, shoving her toward the door. He scooped up one of her sweaters, draping it over his arm to cover the knife as he pressed it to her side.
“You scream or try to run and I’ll sink this inside you, understand?”
She nodded, unable to speak, and he pushed her out of the room. As they walked down the hall, Hannah was acutely aware of his grip on her arm, of the press of the blade to her side. Please God, don’t let Sol get hurt because of me.
CHAPTER FIVE
Watching Hannah walk away from him, allowing her to leave when she was so upset, was hard, but Sol sensed Hannah was at breaking point. Her confession about her ex had made a lot of things fall into place and he admired her courage. His fists clenched, his nails digging into his palms at the thought of that bastard who had caused her so much pain. If I ever get my hands on him…
She’d obviously been through hell, had only just gotten free of her shit bag of an ex husband, and now Sol was expecting her to agree to be married to him? Had laid on her the incredible truth about who, and what, he was? No wonder she’d reacted the way she had.
He’d known telling Hannah the truth had been risky, and her skepticism was not surprising; hell, as he heard himself saying the words he acknowledged how ridiculous it sounded. It wasn’t surprising she thought he was insane.
He watched her get into a cab before he followed, flagging one down and making his way back to the hotel. His stomach rumbled and he forced himself to go grab some food; he didn’t feel like it, but his body burned through a lot of energy and he needed to eat.
After he’d finished, Sol went straight to his room. Although everything in him urged him to go to Hannah, he would give her some time. He just hoped what they’d shared last night had been special enough that she would come around.
For now, though, he had to let his parents know. He reached for the phone and dialed their number. “Hola?” Sol felt a small sense of relief at the sound of his father’s accented voice.
“Papá, it’s me.”
“Dios mío, Sol, where the hell are you? Your mother is going crazy here and you’ll need to start getting ready soon.”
“That’s what I’m calling about, I can’t mate Anita.”
“Sol.” His father’s voice was harsh. “We are not having this conversation again. I know you don’t feel that way about her but it’s a good match and besides, this is about the good of the race. You have a responsibility.”
“No, you don’t understand. I can’t mate with her. I’ve mated someone else.”
“What?” Sol held the phone away from his ear at his father’s roar.
“I met a woman, a human, last night and we mated.”
“Mierda. How could you do this, Sol? And with a human!”
“I didn’t mean to do it but we got really drunk.” Sol cringed as he said the words. It didn’t sound good, but he kept talking. “During the night we went to a wedding chapel and got married, but my shifter side had taken control; we were coherent, rational, and then afterward I marked her.”
A harsh inhalation of breath, then his father’s shaky voice. “A human wedding is not a mating ceremony.”
Sol’s voice hardened. “We exchanged vows, made our pledge to each other, and she wears my bite. We are mated.”
The silence that greeted him went on for painful secon
ds but then his father gave a weary sigh. “You’re right, you are mated. I suppose I better give everyone the bad news.”
“I’m really sorry you have to be the one do this. I’ll come and face Anita’s family in a couple of days.”
“You and your female will have to face them to satisfy everyone that you are really mated,” was his father’s terse reply.
“I know.” Sol wasn’t going to tell his father that right now ‘his female’ didn’t even want to talk to him.
“So, what is she like?”
Sol paused, picturing Hannah in his mind. “Beautiful, sexy, witty. You’ll love her, I know you will.”
“Well I look forward to meeting her then. Now I need to go and face two females in the middle of mating ceremony fever.”
Sol winced at that, sorry his father was going to bear the brunt of their anger. “I’m sorry you have to be the one to tell mamá and Anita.”
His father gave a low chuckle. “It’s just a good thing I heal easily, that’s all I can say. Take care, son.”
“Gracias papá. Adios.” As he hung up, Sol felt as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He knew his father would be on his side; he always had been, and he’d never been truly happy with the arranged mating. It would be his mother who would be harder to bring around, but he was sure they’d love Hannah once they met her and saw how much he desired her. Just thinking about Hannah set Sol’s pulse racing and he longed to go to her. His female, his mate.
A knock on the door brought him out of his thoughts. Hannah, it has to be. He moved swiftly to the door, her scent hitting him as he drew closer. Sol paused; he could smell her fear, and something else; the sharper tang of another male. Hackles rising, Sol flung open the door to be greeted with the sight of Hannah standing in the hallway, her skin pale, a red mark spreading across one cheek.
Before Sol could speak a man stepped from the side, grabbing hold of Hannah’s arm and yanking her against him. Rage flooded Sol, a snarl building in his throat at the sight of another male touching his female, but a flash of metal froze Sol where he stood. The man had a knife pressed to Hannah’s side.
“Back,” the man said in a gravelly voice full of malice. Sol did as ordered and the man pushed Hannah ahead of him, closing the door behind them.
Sol’s gaze flicked to Hannah. Her expression was anguished as she mouthed “I’m sorry” at him.
Sol gave the smallest nod and then turned his attention back to the man. He was shorter than Sol, but thickset, and the gleam in the man’s eyes hinted at aggression, madness, danger. Instinctively, Sol knew this was Hannah’s ex and he could feel his fangs and claws sharpening in response. But while the scumbag had that knife against Hannah, Sol couldn’t do anything.
“So you’re the son of a bitch who slept with my wife.” The man’s voice was bitter, dripping with anger.
Sol’s eyes narrowed. “You must be Richard.”
He gave a derisive snort. “So she told you about me and yet you still fucked her, fucked my wife.”
Sol’s hands clenched but he tried to keep his voice calm. “Hannah is not your wife, you’re divorced.”
Richard shook his head, as if dismissing Sol’s words. “A mistake, one easily remedied. Hannah is my wife.”
Sol’s lips curled into a threatening smile and he could see Hannah’s eyes widen. “Actually, she’s my wife. We were married last night.”
Richard’s mouth fell open for a few seconds, giving him an almost comical look, but then his expression became livid. “You lie.”
“No.” Sol almost growled the word. “Hannah and I were married last night. She is mine now and I’ll kill you for hurting her.” As he spoke his gaze moved to the red mark on her face, standing out in stark contrast to her pale skin. A mark caused by this man striking her. Sol felt his change edging closer, his nails lengthening into claws, his fangs growing sharp. His body thrummed with the need to defend his mate.
Richard gave a scoffing laugh. “You’ll kill me, will you? I don’t think so, pretty boy. I’m the one with the knife.” And he moved the blade up to Hannah’s throat.
Sol felt his lip curl back, his body beginning to pulse with energy. His jaguar form was close to the surface, demanding retribution for the threat to his mate. But he couldn’t do anything with the knife so close to Hannah. He needed to draw Richard away from her.
Loading his voice with malice, Sol spoke. “Of course a piece of shit like you would hide behind a weapon. Would threaten a woman. No wonder Hannah divorced you. She needs a real man.”
With a bellow of rage, Richard shoved Hannah to the side and launched himself at Sol. Sol leaped back, his hand coming up to deflect the knife away, but Richard was surprisingly quick. Checking his momentum, he spun back toward Sol, slashing out again with the blade.
Sol sidestepped, once again avoiding the knife, and swung his fist up, catching Richard on the side of the head. Richard groaned and staggered, but he was strong for a human and somehow managed to stay on his feet. He turned to face Sol again; his eyes gleamed with madness and he managed to land a blow that rocked Sol’s head to the side. Damn, he is strong. And with the knife Sol was at a distinct disadvantage.
Sol could shift, of course. Richard’s knife would be nothing against four sets of razor-sharp claws and the most powerful bite of any big cat. But he didn’t want Hannah to see him change, not yet anyway, not in the middle of a fight where he’d use his animal form for violence.
His hesitation cost him as Richard managed to catch Sol across the chest, cutting a searing line across his skin. Sol gasped with the pain and he heard Hannah scream. His whole body started to buzz, his skin starting to tingle and itch, just as it did before he changed.
No. Not in front of Hannah.
Seizing the opportunity, Richard barreled into him and they went crashing backward. Richard had the knife raised, the wicked-looking blade pointed down toward Sol’s chest. Sol tensed for the blow, but suddenly Hannah appeared behind them, her expression wild. In her hands she held a heavy glass vase and with a yell she smashed it across Richard’s back, showering them both with broken glass.
Forgetting Sol for a moment, Richard turned and grabbed Hannah by the throat. “Bitch,” he shouted, his fingers digging into Hannah’s fragile neck. Her eyes were wide, her hands scrabbling at Richard’s arm, her body thrashing against a hold that was choking her.
With the direct threat to his mate, Sol stopped fighting his instincts and his shift came fast, his limbs burning with a delicious strength and energy, his muscles rippling along his new form.
The sound of Sol’s clothes tearing and the menacing growl that rumbled out of his chest drew Richard’s attention. He jerked his head toward the sound, his hands still clenched around Hannah’s throat, but when he saw a massive jaguar standing in front of him, his hands dropped to his sides. The anger drained from his face to be replaced with a look of stark horror. Blinking, Richard shook his head and started to back away, his mouth flapping, although no sound came out.
Grasping at her throat, Hannah also backed away, her eyes fixed on Sol, her expression just as horrified. After a few steps, her foot caught on the rug and she went crashing to the floor with a pained whimper. Sol forced himself to shut her out, forced himself to focus his attention on the threat in front of him.
Enjoying the man’s obvious terror, Sol stalked menacingly toward Richard, another growl rumbling out of his chest. Still shaking his head in denial, Richard kept backing up, too terrified to scream, even when Sol leaped at him.
Richard’s hand flew up as if to shield himself, but Sol raked his claws across the man’s arms, knocking him down. With a harsh exhalation, Richard hit the floor hard, struggling underneath him, but Sol had the man pinned. His claws dug into Richard’s chest until blood pooled from the wounds and Richard’s body jerked with the pain, his mouth opening in a silent scream.
Though Sol had never killed a human before, all he could see was the male who had tried to harm his ma
te, and that demanded death. Tilting his head to the side, Sol clamped his jaws around the doomed man’s throat. Gargling, gasping breaths came out of Richard and he scrabbled at Sol’s back, his fingers yanking at his fur, but Sol barely felt it. With a vicious snarl Sol was about to sink his teeth into the tight flesh of Richard’s neck when Hannah’s anguished scream cut through the rage that held him.
“Stop! Don’t kill him.”
Though it went against everything inside him, Sol stopped himself from biting down; instead, he lifted Richard’s head and slammed it against the floor. Richard’s body went limp and Sol released him, slowly turning to face Hannah. She still sat where she had fallen, staring at him with an expression so blank it filled him with unease.
Moving off Richard, Sol paced over to her, but with a look of fear she scrambled away from him. Sol stopped, a heavy pain settling inside him at her reaction. In his animal form, all he could sense was his mate in distress and he wanted to go to her, to lie down next to her and protect her. But he held back.
The harsh ringing of the phone made them both jump. Hannah looked from the phone to him and then slowly stood, moving over to pick it up. “Hello?” A pause while she listened. “Oh, the noise, yes I’m sorry. Our children were watching a movie and turned up the volume really loud. I’m sorry if it disturbed anyone. We’ll keep it down now.”
Sol was surprised she lied so easily, was surprised she covered for him. Hannah put the phone down, her hand shaking, and turned to face him, eyeing him with a curious expression. He needed to change back, needed to talk to her.
Forcing his muscles to relax, willing himself to turn, he felt the energy ripple through him once more. His form blurred as his muscles and joints realigned, and then he was back in his human form. Panting a little from the change, he stood and stepped slowly toward Hannah. She looked wary but she didn’t move away.
“Thank you for doing that.”
“Well, I’m implicated in this.” Her eyes moved to Richard. “Is he dead?”