by Leslie Chase
"Yes I'm sure." That dream last night wasn't about him finding his mate, it was about her being in trouble. He wasn't going to ignore that. "So just find someone who can translate these accounts for us and let me get on with my job."
Karl laughed. Anyone other than Karl or Marcus who found this funny, Lucas would have punched. Hell, if he'd been in the room with Karl, he'd probably have hit him, too – he didn't enjoy being prodded at. Karl, of course, knew him well enough to only get on his nerves from a distance.
"Sorry," the other bear said, not sounding very sorry at all. "Well, you and Emily have fun while I run this down; it'll take at least a day."
"Thanks for the help," Lucas said. Then he grinned. Time to get some payback. "Once this is all over, I'm looking forward to you meeting her. I'm sure you'll get on great!"
Karl groaned. "Not again. It's bad enough seeing Marcus and Lisa mooning over each other, now you're going to be just as insufferable, aren't you? I'm going to have to find lots of work away from the office."
Both of them laughed at that. "We'll just have to make sure you find your own mate."
"Doesn't seem that likely," Karl said, and Lucas could hear his smile. "It's not like I don't meet lots of people. If she was out there, we'd have met years ago."
"Guess you're just not looking in the right places."
Another laugh, and they hung up.
Lucas quickly emailed him the accounting files Emily had already forwarded to him. She still wasn't keen on sharing everything from the laptop, but she had parted with those easily enough. He couldn't help wondering what else she might have on there that she wanted to keep so secret.
Not my problem right now, he told himself. There would be enough time to dig into that when they'd gotten her out of trouble with whoever had killed her boss. In the meantime, there were other things to sort out.
Stepping back into the kitchen, he looked at the plates Emily was setting out for them. It looked like she'd gotten a better handle on his appetite; the plates were piled high with bacon and pancakes. He pocketed his phone and sat down, ready to dig in.
"What did he say?" Emily looked nervous, as though she couldn't believe that anyone could actually help her.
"It's sorted," Karl replied, pouring maple syrup over the pancakes. "He'll let us know when he's found out who and what we're dealing with. In the meantime, you're not going to work."
Emily looked up at him, shocked. "But I can't, Harry will never –"
"Harry won't give you any problems," Lucas said. "Tell him that you need a few days off, and if he gives you any trouble, I'll talk to him. That's if you actually care about that job – I'd tell him to go to Hell, personally."
He took his first mouthful of breakfast and savored it. I could get used to this.
"But if I don't have a job, I can't pay you," Emily protested, putting down her fork. "I don't have any other income!"
"It's up to you," Lucas told her. "But once you're safe, you're not going to be working there. A boss like Harry… it makes me angry just thinking of you being there. He's not the kind of asshole to back down unless I really make him – and that will cause more problems for both of us."
The last thing you need is me getting arrested, he thought. Leaving his mate without protection would be a nightmare for him, and dangerous for her.
"Okay," she said after a moments' thought. "I'll work my shift today, and then take off."
Lucas was about to protest, but she shook her head. "I can't just not show up today – that isn't fair on whoever has to cover for me. I don't care about giving him a headache, but it's going to be Janet or Emma who have a bad day if I don't show up."
He sighed. "That's a fair point. Fine, today is your last shift for a while."
With that, he turned his focus to the breakfast in front of him. It was worthy of his full attention.
The drive to the diner seemed shorter this time, Lucas thought. It was a beautiful day, and while he wasn't happy that they'd be spending it at Emily's work, it was still bright and cheerful.
God, what is this? I'm not usually this happy, he thought, half-disgusted and half-amused. But he knew why things were different today. The reason was sitting beside him, visibly trying not to get her hopes up that this would be her last day of living in fear.
Emily. His fated mate. It sounded good when he thought the words. No, more than just good: it sounded perfect. Glancing towards her, he had to suppress a smile. She looked so cute, chewing on her lip when she thought he wasn't watching. He could see the determination to get through this that had built in her, underneath the fear. That was a strength to admire. She might not be equipped to deal with her situation, but despite her fear, she was doing what she could to get through it.
When they arrived, the parking lot was only a little busier than it had been the day before, and the street around it deserted. Midmorning, with most people at work, everything was quiet and peaceful. Out of habit, Lucas parked as far away from the other cars as he could, so that he'd have a good view of the area when they returned to the van. Beside him, Emily looked towards the doors of the diner and sighed.
"I wish I'd taken your advice," she admitted. "I'm really not in the mood to deal with Harry again."
"Just point him my way if he gives you any shit," Lucas said with a grin. "He won't be too keen on a rematch."
Emily laughed at that, and Lucas felt the sound warm his heart. He didn't think she laughed or smiled enough, but perhaps that would come when she felt safer.
Opening her door reluctantly, Emily climbed down from the van and walked towards the diner. Lucas watched for a moment, enjoying the view as she took the first couple of steps away, and then getting out himself to follow her.
As soon as he was out of the van, he knew that something was wrong. There was a smell in the air, the tense stillness of the moments before a thunderstorm. He stopped, looking around, trying to pinpoint it.
I wish I could let out my bear. In animal form, his senses would be so much better – but shifting here, where anyone might see him, would be too much of a risk. And he couldn't see anything amiss. He looked around carefully, trying to see where the danger might come from, and frowned as he saw a car waiting in the alley beside the diner. Something about it was off. But it was too far from Emily to be a threat.
"Lucas! Help!" Emily's voice cut through his thoughts, and his head snapped round to look at her. Everything seemed to slow down for Lucas at the sound of his mate's voice. She was panicking, and he felt as though he was moving through molasses.
They must have been waiting in the diner, he realized. She'd practically made it to the door while he was looking for dangers on the street, and they'd taken that moment to pounce. Two of them, both big men, muscular, wearing leather jackets and jeans. One had already grabbed Emily. The other, a towering man with long blond hair, was coming his way.
Lucas roared a wordless challenge, rushing towards the two men. The blond snarled something to his companion, and set himself in Lucas' path, bracing himself to meet the charge head-on. The other wasted no time, he simply lifted Emily over his shoulder and ran towards the waiting car, ignoring her screams.
The blond man growled a warning and pulled a pistol from under his jacket. Lucas ignored the words and the gun. He didn't have time to stop, not if he wanted to reach Emily in time, and nothing would keep him from saving her. He didn't even slow, let alone try to avoid the man in front of him. He simply lowered his head and rushed straight at him, smashing into him with his full strength before the attacker could bring the gun up.
He expected to bowl the smaller man out of the way. But his opponent was fast, rolling with the impact and absorbing it, grabbing hold of Lucas with a strength he hadn't anticipated. The two of them tumbled aside in a heap, smashing down on the pavement in a bruising impact which sent the pistol flying.
Not a normal human, Lucas thought, swinging his fist in a short, hard arc that should have ended in the other's face. His target twis
ted at the last moment, taking only a glancing blow, and hammered an answering punch into Lucas' torso. That drove the air out of him, leaving him gasping for breath as his opponent shook off the impact of Lucas' punch.
Their eyes met, and Lucas saw his own surprise reflected back at him. For a second they stared at each other, equally shocked that the other was still in the fight. Then the sound of an engine starting shook Lucas back to alert.
No way were they taking Emily away from him!
Another hammer-blow of a punch into his ribs made him rear up. But strong as his foe was, he couldn't match Lucas' strength. Standing, he lifted the blond man with him and with a roar of rage, he threw him away. Before his opponent hit the ground, Lucas was running towards the car Emily was being stuffed into.
He felt a moment's pride at the sight of her, struggling with all her strength to stay free. It wasn't enough to keep her attackers from dragging her into the car, but it had held them up long enough to give him a chance to catch up. Maybe, if it hadn't been for his injured ribs, he'd have made it in time. As it was, though, the car pulled away as he approached.
Through the window, he could see Emily's anguished face. She could see he wasn't going to make it in time, that they were going to get away. They were going to take her.
No! Lucas couldn't allow that. The car was only feet away from him, and he wouldn't let himself be separated from his mate like this.
He didn't have time to think, to plan anything. He simply did the only thing he could. He changed.
Lucas felt his clothes tear as he let his bear out, ripping from his body as he launched himself forwards. A grizzly bear can manage surprising speeds, and the car was so close that he could almost touch it already – a quick bound and he had it in his mighty paws and lifted.
The rear wheels came off the ground, and the car stopped, held by his strength. He roared again, challenging the men inside to fight him for his mate.
Now that he could use his bear senses clearly, he could identify the scents around him.
Shifters, he thought with an angry snarl. Wolf shifters, damn them.
He didn't know much about wolves, and he didn't really care. All that mattered now was that they threatened his mate. But he couldn't help wondering how they'd gotten mixed up in this.
Metal twisted under his claws as he tore into the car, making it plain he'd wreck his way into it if he had to. There was murder in his eyes, and he could see the fear on the face of the wolf shifter holding Emily in the backseat.
Good. Think about what these claws will do to you when I get hold of you.
It seemed the man had thought of that – and didn't fancy his chances. He yanked open the door of the car and shoved Emily out to tumble to the ground.
As soon as she was clear, Lucas dropped the car. The spinning wheels hit the pavement hard and bounced before finding traction, sending the vehicle careening away down the alley. It was irrelevant to Lucas now – Emily was all that mattered. And she was scrambling away from him, a look of terror on her face.
Damn it, Lucas thought, dropping to all fours. It didn't make a bear much less intimidating, he knew, but it was all he had. At least until he was sure it was safe to turn back.
The man he'd thrown was up and running, heading away from the angry bear as fast as his legs would carry him. The kidnappers' car screeched around the corner and out of sight. And no one else was visible. Thank goodness this happened when the neighborhood was so quiet, Lucas thought. If there had been witnesses, this could have gotten very awkward.
By the time he'd satisfied himself that there was no one around, Emily had pulled herself to her feet. She still watched him warily, backing away slowly and being careful not to make eye contact. Her eyes flicked between him and the torn and ruined remains of his clothes, scattered around the place he'd shifted.
Lucas shook his head wearily and shifted again, his body contracting as he shrugged off his bear form. Emily gasped as she watched him change, standing frozen for a second before she could react.
"You're one of them!"
12
Emily stared up at the man standing over her, eyes wide with shock.
That's impossible, a small part of her thought. But she knew all too well that it was possible. She'd seen it with her own eyes.
The bear had become Lucas in a momentary transformation.
Either it's true, or I've lost my mind completely.
She couldn't take her eyes off him. Naked in the early morning sunlight, he was as handsome and perfect as ever, as alluring and exciting. He seemed utterly unconcerned by his nakedness, but his attention was clearly split. His eyes scanned the streets around them restlessly, seeking threats.
But she couldn't imagine anything more frightening than him. A man who could turn into an animal, who could lift a car and tear into it with such casual force. She'd seen that kind of man only once before, but she wasn't likely to forget the day that Sam died.
Even the thought of it made her shudder and realize that she had to get away from the monster in front of her. Before she could change her mind, she turned and sprinted for the nearest safety she could think of. The diner wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.
Lucas called out behind her, shouting for her to stop. Emily ignored him.
A glance behind her as she crashed through the doors showed that he wasn't chasing her. He was just standing at the mouth of the alley, watching her, a look of exasperation on her face. She had a feeling that she was being silly, that he didn't mean her any harm – after all, hadn't he just saved her from kidnappers? – but she didn't listen to it. He was one of the monsters, and she needed to get away from him.
Janet stared at her from behind the counter.
I must look insane, Emily realized. She was breathing heavily, she'd been thrown around, and she'd been running. Her eyes darted around the room, glad that there was no one else in the diner.
"Are you all right?" Janet asked, sounding concerned. The older woman had been kind to Emily since she took the job, and had taught her everything she knew about waitressing. If there was anyone Emily could trust, it was her. But could she bring her into this? I can't risk someone else getting involved.
But what if she's already involved? The men had come from the diner, after all.
"Yes! No, I mean, I'm fine," she replied, aware that it sounded silly. But what could she say? That she was being chased by a naked man who could turn into a bear? It didn't just sound ridiculous, it was pointless. What could Janet possibly do to keep her safe?
"If you're sure, hun," Janet said with a dubious smile. "Y'look like the hounds of hell are after you, though. If your trouble's caught up with you, well, out the back with you and I'll cover your shift."
I should have just phoned in like Lucas said, Emily thought, and then blushed. It was him that she was running from. But if she was going to keep running from him, she couldn't just stay here. Lucas would know exactly where to find her, and so would the other men. She wasn't safe at the diner anymore, if she ever had been.
Shaking off her indecision, she nodded gratefully to Janet. "Thanks for everything," she said, hugging the surprised woman and then dashing past her.
She half expected to run into an ambush as she crashed straight out the back door of the diner. Lucas could have been there, or the kidnappers, and she'd never have known until she was in their arms. But the alley was clear, and she turned her back to the building and set off at a fast walk.
I guess I won't be coming back here, she thought as she left. It wasn't a sad thought – aside from Janet's kindness, she didn't have many fond memories of the place. The memory of Harry, flat on his back with Lucas standing over him, popped back into her mind, and despite herself, she couldn't help smiling.
You know it's a terrible job when the best you can say for it is that someone knocked out your boss defending you, she thought. It was strange to think about Lucas like that – he'd protected her, kept her safe, even rescued her from her
kidnappers. But he was also some kind of monster, a man who changed into a bear. That can't be natural!
Part of her didn't agree. She still felt safe with the memory of him, and when she remembered seeing him change, seeing the bear where a second ago the man had been… it still felt like Lucas in her mind. Like the man who'd protected her, who'd put himself in harm's way for her. The man who she'd shared her bed with the night before. Who she'd… She shied away from the thought of what else they'd done, but it still brought a happy blush to her skin.
Stop that! She tried to shake off the memories and pay attention to her walk. At first she wasn't going anywhere, she was simply turning her back on the diner and walking away. But after a few random changes of direction, she paused and took a deep breath.
Going home would be taking a huge chance, she knew. It was probably stupid. But that was where the laptop was, and with it all the evidence she had. And the longer she left it, the worse the risk would be.
With a sinking feeling in her stomach, she started walking again. There didn't seem to be anyone paying attention to her, and she was careful not to take the same route as usual. Not now that her cover was clearly blown, and the people hunting her knew where she worked. She just had to hope that they didn't know where she lived, too.
When she finally made it back onto her street, she was even more careful. There was no sign of Lucas' van, or of anyone else waiting for her, though. She watched for a minute, then another, and then decided she couldn't afford to wait. She had a chance.
Hurrying to the door, she let herself in, rushing through the apartment to grab the laptop from the bedroom. While she was there, she grabbed a bag and stuffed some changes of clothes into it. Probably my only chance, she thought, looking at everything she was abandoning. It wasn't much – most of what she owned was in her real home, but that life was off limits to her now. The killers would certainly be watching for her to go back there.
There wasn't any time to get depressed. Emily picked up the two bags and headed for the door, starting to feel like she would get away once more.