by Rayne Reilly
“I’m sorry I’m such a mess,” she sobbed, “I just need some time to figure out what I want.”
Austin smoothed her hair down with one hand and pulled away slowly. He left the office and closed the door quietly behind him.
Chapter Fourteen
Austin walked over to Sheila’s desk. His jaw was tight. His eyes narrowed.
“I want to speak with you. In my office,” he said as he clenched his fists at his sides.
“Just one sec I have – ”
“Now!” he said.
He walked off quickly with Sheila trying to keep up with his long strides. When they reached his office he sat at his desk and told her to close the door behind her.
“Wha…what’s wrong?” she asked innocently. Her hands were at her sides, smoothing her dress. He could see that she was nervous. She should be.
“You have no business interfering in my personal life. I told you point blank that I wasn’t interested in you. You had no business saying anything to Marcy…”
“I didn’t…” she whispered.
“Do not lie to me. You need to mind your own business and stay the hell away from us both…understand?”
“Yes,” her voice was trembling.
Austin stared at Sheila, his eyes filled with fury. Sheila quickly left the office, not looking back.
Moments later Austin left his office and went to his car. He needed to let the bear out and release some of his pent up anger and frustration.
As soon as he got home he stripped off his clothing and stepped out onto his back deck. The November air was cold to his naked flesh. Shifting into bear mode was quick. His bear was angry about possibly losing their mate and so was he. He ran into the trees at high speed, not paying attention to where he was running.
About ten minutes into his run through the forest, his bear stopped when they heard a commotion near the forest edge. Austin-bear lifted his nose to smell the air. He could smell a human female and she was emitting fear…a lot of it. There were also a couple of other scents…humans…male humans.
Moving quickly in the direction of the human scent, he peered through the trees to see a woman being beaten by two men. Still in bear form, he picked up his pace and ran at full speed toward the men.
The woman lay on the ground cowering and bloodied. Austin recognized her as a woman from the café that was going out with a cougar shifter in town. He leaped at the two men, knocking them backwards with both arms. They fell with a heavy thud. Austin-bear clawed at them and roared as the men tried to get away. With one swipe of his powerful arm, he knocked both of the men out.
When he was sure they were not getting up, he turned to the terrified woman on the ground. For a moment, she recoiled. He hadn’t made any move toward her. He stood watching her. She realized then that she was looking at a shifter.
“Thank you,” she said through tears, as she managed to stand.
Austin-bear tilted his head and looked at her. The rage in him subsided for a moment and was replaced with compassion. This woman was guilty of nothing except dating a shifter. These men could have killed her. She continued to watch him, tears streaming down her face. Austin-bear motioned with his head for her to run. She nodded.
He watched as she ran in the opposite direction, toward the road. He stayed with the two bullies until he was sure she had reached safety. With the men still unconscious, he ran home as quickly as he could. Shifting back to his human form, he called the police before getting dressed.
They reassured him that the woman had already called them and the men were being tracked as they spoke. Austin hung up the phone and ran a hand through his hair. Maybe it was safer for Marcy to stay away from him. He couldn’t bear the thought of her being attacked. She was his mate and as much as he wanted her, he didn’t want anyone to harm her. I don’t know what I’d do if she was taken from me, he thought.
Chapter Fifteen
It was a Friday night and Marcy was still at work. For the last three days, she had worked late just to avoid being home by herself. The loneliness of living on her own was starting to get to her. Mostly because she couldn’t stop thinking about Austin and how she’d turned down any chance for a relationship with him. Had she done the right thing?
She looked up from her computer and realized it was nearly eight o’clock. This was the latest she’d left work so far. Feeling hungry, she decided it was time to go home and get some dinner. She realized quickly that she was the last person in her department to leave. The lights had been lowered for the night and she was a feeling a little uneasy at being the only person there. Especially when she realized just how late it was.
She was aware that it was now very dark outside and hoped she could get to her car without any problems. The night before last, she’d seen Mick sitting in a car outside the building.
He’d also been leaving notes on her car asking her to call him. She didn’t tell anyone. More specifically, she didn’t tell Austin. She knew he’d worry and she didn’t want to give him any reason to feel over-protective of her. She was not his responsibility and she wasn’t going to play the damsel in distress card to get his attention. It was one thing to call him when he was already headed over to see her for their one and only date. She wasn’t about to call on him to get rid of a guy that the police couldn’t even seem to scare. I’ll just be careful, she told herself every night as she walked to her car.
Adjusting her purse over her shoulder, she did up her coat and headed toward the back of the building.
She heard a familiar voice behind her, "You're here awfully late."
Marcy turned to see Austin walking toward her. He had his car keys in one hand and his other hand was in his pocket. He seemed happy to see her. She felt her insides turn to jelly as he walked over to her. It didn't matter how many days she tried to avoid seeing him, he always had the same effect on her once she saw him again. She had a silly grin on her face and felt like a school girl in front of her first crush. Remind me again why I don’t want to go out with you? Her cheeks flushed.
"I didn’t realize how late it was. I was just leaving. Why are you here so late?" she asked suspiciously, as he moved closer to her. Holy hotness.
His voice was low and sexy, “Same as you. Working late.”
She wasn’t convinced, but didn’t want to argue. She needed food and wanted to get home. Shrugging, she adjusted her purse again. He was now standing about two feet away, so close that she could smell his cologne.
“It's a little dark out there. Would you like me to drop you off?" he asked.
"I drove…My car is just outside" she replied. Austin was looking at her in the way she’d seen him do the night of their date. The night they had kissed. He seemed to be trying to gauge how she was feeling toward him. Marcy felt her body tingle as he moved just a little closer to her.
“Are you sure? I don’t mind driving you home. It's Friday night, maybe we could get some dinner?” he said smoothly. She was tired and not really dressed to go on a date. She hoped he’d understand.
“Sorry. Rain check? If you don’t mind walking me to my car though?…it is dark out there, after all,” she smiled at him and shrugged.
“Okay,” he said. Marcy found herself staring at his slightly parted, incredibly sexy lips.
He grinned.
She blushed when she realized he saw her staring at his mouth. He turned and motioned for her to come with him. Austin walked her to her car and watched her get in. She noticed in her rear view mirror, that he watched her drive away.
Chapter Sixteen
Living so close to work, Marcy was home within five minutes. She pulled into the parking lot and saw that there were no spots close to the apartment building. The only spots left were at the farthest end. The residents of the apartment complex didn’t have designated parking, so it was hit and miss as to how close she could get to her building.
Getting home after dinner time on a Friday night was pretty much a guarantee of no parking or a crappy spot
that meant she had a long way to walk back to her building. The lot also backed onto a park and a walking trail. She had yet to actually walk it. Exercise was not something she subscribed to. She’d also heard recently about people being attacked in the park. Another good reason to avoid exercising outside by herself.
She turned off the car and grabbed her purse. Ignoring the shiver that crept down her spine, she got out of the car. She hesitated when she heard sounds from behind her on the foot path. Too afraid to turn around, she began to walk quickly toward her building.
She didn’t get far when the sound was suddenly behind her. The footsteps came quickly. A gasp escaped her lips. She felt hands grab her hair, pulling her head back. She tried to turn but was pulled back, against someone. One arm went partly around her waist, gripping her tightly. Her purse fell to the ground as she struggled.
Mick’s voice pierced the air, angrily, "You keep ignoring me. Do you have any idea how frustrating that is?"
She squirmed in his grasp, "I’m not ignoring you. I just don’t want to see you anymore. Get off me or I’ll scream!" She struggled to free herself but his grip only tightened.
"Get off me!" he mocked.
Marcy kicked backwards into his shins but it wasn’t enough to make him let go of her. Her head was stinging badly where he was pulling her hair. She clawed at his hands anxiously.
He wouldn’t release his grip. “You aren’t going anywhere. I told the guys I'd take care of you myself and I intend to.”
His body was pressed up against her. Her anxiety was back and she felt herself beginning to shake. His mouth was at her ear, his hot breath reeked of alcohol. "You're all the same. Too busy dropping your panties for shifters...instead of real men. I tried to warn you. You whore's are all the same. That's what my friends and I have been trying to show you bitches...You've all brought this on yourselves. Now I'll have to teach you a lesson."
Her heart leaped into her throat. What’s he talking about?
"You're drunk. Leave me alone!" she ordered.
She grabbed at his hands again, pinching and scratching him. He let go of her waist and grabbed her chin. Tilting her cheek toward him, he slid his tongue along it.
Her stomach turned.
“Stop it! Let me go!” she yelled.
"What...you don't like that?" Mick pulled her backwards by the hair, tripping her until she was on the ground at his feet.
She tried to free herself from him but her head was aching so badly she couldn’t think straight. She was beginning to feel light-headed.
“Why are you doing this?” she cried.
Mick glared down at her. "Because I'm sick of the women in this town choosing shifters instead of normal guys like me...you're just like the others. All of you deserve what you get."
He squatted and grabbed her head, smashing it into the ground. She cried out. Her head was throbbing. She could feel a moist warmth on the back of her head. Panic set in. I’m going to die. There’s no way out of here.
She was alone.
Mick stood for a moment and looked around, then he reached down again and grabbed a fistful of hair. He began to drag her toward the nearby trail. She kicked out with her feet, trying to stop him. Her body was dragged across the pavement, there was nothing for her to grab and hold. It was no use. She was getting weaker by the minute. Her vision began to blur.
“Please…” She pleaded.
He continued to drag her.
The fury and hatred in his eyes terrified her, “Shut up. I'll make it a lot worse if you don’t shut up. Got it?"
This is it, he’s going to kill me. Her eyes filled with tears...There was a brief moment where she felt panic creeping in, but she stopped it.
Not now, don't cry...think.
An image of Austin smiling at her popped into her mind. Her heart hurt at the thought of not seeing him again. She thought about what he would do when he found out she’d been killed by Mick. It made her angry. She didn’t deserve this. Austin didn’t deserve this. She wasn’t going to cry. She wouldn’t give this maniac the satisfaction.
In the distance, there was the sound of a car door closing, but it was on the street. The car park itself was quiet.
Mick released her hair as they got near the edge of the path. He knelt on her, with his knee to her chest. It knocked the wind out of her. She gasped for air. Her body was pressed against the hard pavement.
Mick reached down and punched her in the face. She kicked furiously, grabbing at his knee trying to push him off her chest. He only pressed harder against her. She felt a couple of ribs crack beneath the pressure. Again she couldn’t breath. She’d never experienced such pain in her life. Her entire body was hurting.
In spite of the pain and her blurred vision, she began to fight back. She kicked and flailed, her strength weakening.
“You little bitch,” Mick seethed and punched her in the face one more time.
Her head jerked to one side. Her vision was dimming. She could hear a sound… a voice in the distance. It was familiar…she couldn’t recall why…She was beginning to lose consciousness. She felt so weak, it was getting harder to breath. The pain was unlike anything she’d ever felt.
His physical assault continued. He was beating her to death.
She thought of Austin and how he’d tried to warn her. If only she’d given him a chance…maybe... There were foot steps coming closer. Someone was coming… Now they were running.
Mick was standing next to her kicking her, over and over. Her body felt jabs of pain as he kicked her head and upper body. The back of her head felt warm and damp. Her head hurt so badly. It felt like her skull had been split open. She tried to reach her arm up to touch her head but he kicked her again and everything went black.
Chapter Seventeen
Over the past week Austin had stayed late at work every night when he noticed Marcy had stayed. He would check the car park at closing time and if her car was there, he’d wait. There was no way he was going to leave her in the building all alone, even if she wouldn’t approve of him keeping an eye out for her.
Each night, he had watched her drive out of the parking lot before it got dark. With the shorter days, darkness fell much more quickly and Austin didn’t like the idea that Marcy was going home so late. He wished she would let him protect her but she was so independent and determined to deal with Mick on her own. It left him no choice but to secretly keep an eye on her. He worried about Mick or anyone else trying to harm her.
Tonight as she drove away, something inside told him he should drive to her place to check on her. He hadn’t gone so far as to do that yet, because she’d gone home earlier on the other days. Tonight, he waited in his car outside her building for a few minutes. When he didn’t see her he assumed he’d missed her and she’d already gone inside.
Something still nagged at him. He had to know if she was okay before he headed home. He waited about five more minutes and called her cell phone. There was no answer. He got out of his car and went to the front door of the building.
He stopped when he neared the front door. His inner bear could hear something. It sounded like a woman's voice calling for help. He walked around the corner to check out the parking lot and the voice got louder to his super sensitive hearing. He couldn’t see anything at first, but he could smell her.
Marcy.
She was out there and she was in trouble. He began to run in the direction of the sounds. In the dark, he could see someone on the ground with a person standing over the body, kicking it furiously over and over again. As he got closer, he realized it was Mick and he was kicking Marcy.
Her body wasn’t moving.
Austin felt the bear in him fight to take over and he forced him aside while his own rage took over. He lunged at Mick and tackled him to the ground. Straddling him, he punched him over and over in the face until Mick lay bloodied and unconscious. Mick didn’t stand a chance to fight back. The same as Marcy.
Austin was on his knees looking at Mick’s bl
oodied face…slowly his rage edged back and he realized that he hadn’t checked on Marcy.
Running to her, he reached down tenderly to wipe some hair from her bloodied face. Tears filled his eyes at the sight of her. Her face and head were covered in blood and her lip was cut.
No! Please be alive.
Carefully he checked her pulse. It was weak but she was alive. His heart began beating again as he pulled out his cell phone and called emergency services. He looked over at the piece of crap that did this to his beautiful mate and wished he had made him suffer just a little more before beating him to a pulp.
When the police and ambulance arrived, Austin told the police what had happened. Mick was cuffed and taken to the hospital to have his injuries checked before returning him to jail. He was under arrest and Austin hoped he never saw him again, because he might let his bear loose on him next time.
The officer on the scene was his friend Jake, a shifter himself. Austin and Bern had both been seeing him quite a bit lately on their patrols. Neither ever expected to meet under these circumstances.
“I’m sorry about your girlfriend...Just wanted to let you know that we think the guy that did this is the ring leader of the group that has been attacking women. He matches the description of witnesses... The attacker we brought in a few days ago mentioned someone named Mick being in charge of the attacks. I think we have our ring leader. ” Jake said when he saw Austin’s grief stricken face.
Austin’s face was tense.
“I wanted to kill him… when I saw him beating her…he’s lucky I didn’t,” Austin wiped his chin with a bloodied hand.
“Glad you didn’t. He’ll get what’s coming to him…hopefully now that he's been caught, the attacks on women in town will stop,” Jake said as he looked over at Marcy. The paramedics were preparing her for the ride to the hospital. Austin was watching the scene as well.