by Joyce, T. S.
It was over? The words sounded too good to be true. After running for so long, she didn’t know how to feel anything other than scared. But standing here, looking into Riker’s smoldering inhuman gaze, how could she feel anything other than safe? Her mate was strong and clever, and had likely suffered right along with her over the last few days. He and Jeremy came up with this elaborate plan that involved keeping her in the dark about Riker’s intentions, but it was so he could save her from the terror that had taken over her life. Even if it had been the worst day of her life, feeling betrayed by him and frightened of the pain that would surely follow, the result was the greatest gift he could’ve ever given her.
“When can we go back home?”
His smile was slow and reached his eyes. “I have plane tickets for tomorrow morning.”
“Who knew about your plan?”
“Me, Jeremy, Blaine and the council. We couldn’t tell Jenny or she’d give it away before we even left. She’s going to whoop my ass when we get home.”
Hannah laughed and wiped her tears with the palm of her hands. “Yeah, she is.”
His eyes drifted to her lips. “Can I kiss you?”
He’d never asked before, just taken what he wanted but the days since Stone’s men attacked the Valley had hurt them both. She understood. Shyness crept over her too.
Standing on her tiptoes, she wrapped her arms around the back of his neck and brushed her lips against his. A soft animal sound rumbled from his throat, and he canted his head, drove his tongue into her mouth and dragged her against his hips.
It felt like forever since she’d been held by him, possessed by him. She’d missed the taste of him and the feel of his hard skin moving beneath her fingertips. She’d missed his warmth, but more than anything else, she’d missed the blanket of safety that covered her and stifled her fears and insecurities when he was near.
“Hannah,” he rasped against her throat.
“Yeah?” she breathed, trailing kisses across his cheek.
Retreating by inches, he held her face gently in the palms of his hands. His gaze, churning with emotion, held hers. “I love you.”
She’d known the truth of his admission already. What man would risk everything for a woman he didn’t love? But his surrender of those words was the sweetest stroke of sound that had ever brushed her ears.
She’d had to leave the human world to find a man strong enough to handle her past and give her a future. She’d had to become the human consort and mate to the alpha of an ancient clan of shifters to find herself.
Forget the muck of her past.
Against all odds, she’d found Riker, and he’d chosen her back.
She was the luckiest.
His smile, slow and crooked and only for her, captured her, emboldened her with the knowledge that he’d do anything to protect her, and she’d do the same for him. Her mate had given her a home and a place with his people, but most importantly, he’d given her a second chance at life.
She leaned her cheek against his chest, over the steady thrum of his beating heart. “I love you back.”
About the Author
T. S. Joyce
A writer of hot shifter romances, T.S. Joyce is devoted to telling stories readers can connect with on a heart level. A native of Texas, she's spent a good deal of time in the wilderness of her family's land, which has given her a wealth of experience to draw from when writing stories.
For more information about T. S. Joyce and her work, visit http://www.tsjoycewrites.wordpress.com.
Contents
THE WITNESS AND THE BEAR
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
About the Author