His Purrfect Mate Read online

  Shannon stared at Anton, watching him frown as he took inventory of every inch of the destroyed room. He finally faced her, still looking grim.

  “A shifter did this.”

  Surprise jolted through her. “How do you know that?”

  “Smell the bleach? It’s to mask their scent.”

  “I just figured they spilled it from the bottle in the kitchen.”

  “You were wrong. Have you contacted your father’s people?”

  “No.”

  “Then mine did this.” He walked through the living room and disappeared into her bedroom.

  Shannon hesitated and then followed him, stepping over her broken coffee table. Her room had been tossed, her clothes strewn around, and her bed had been shredded and the dresser drawers pulled out. Anton stood in the middle of her small sleeping space. He turned to meet her gaze.

  “Why would a shifter do this?”

  Broad, leather-clad shoulders shrugged. “A few of them may be resentful after the beat-down they received for attacking you. They had your purse and access to your address. I guess they didn’t believe me when I warned them that you were under my protection.”

  She forced her stunned gaze from his angry one, bent down, and flinched over discovering her favorite jacket sliced up. At first she thought someone had used a knife to do the damage but upon closer inspection, she guessed it could have been done with sharp claws, judging by the spacing of the tears.

  “I’m sorry.”

  She lifted her chin, seeing sincerity in his eyes. “I’d planned on moving but I need to wait for my next paycheck. I don’t exactly make enough money to keep a savings account so I don’t have anything on hand for an emergency.”

  “I’ll pay for this.”

  He shocked her again. “Why?”

  “My pups, my responsibility, and trust me, they are going to pay me back every dime.” He sighed, glancing around her room. “You can’t stay here.”

  “I get paid Monday. I’m sure they won’t come back. They ruined everything so it’s not as if there’s anything left to damage.”

  Anton had promised to protect her and he’d failed. He could pick up scents inside the bedroom where the bleach fumes were faint. The smell of males lingered on the clothes he’d sniffed. He could identify three of his pack who had been in Shannon’s apartment. If she’d been there when they’d attacked…

  He bit back a growl, furious over even considering what they could have done to her.

  The odor of males who were not members of his pack worried him most. He caught the scent of at least two inside her room. Some of his pack obviously had started hanging out with unknown werewolves, came after a female behind his back, and disobeyed his orders. It would be unforgivable if he left and something happened to her.

  “Let’s go.”

  Her eyes widened and her pouty lips parted. “Go where?”

  “My place,” he instantly responded, not sure where else to have her stay. “I’m going to find the ones who did this and make sure they leave you alone before I allow you out of my sight.” Inwardly he cursed, knowing it would lead to trouble. He currently resided in an apartment over a bar inhabited by his pack. “You can have the bed, I’ll take the couch, and it won’t take more than a day or two before you’ll be safe on your own again.” He hoped.

  Shannon took a step back, tripped on a torn up pillow from her bed, and he lunged, grabbing her arm to keep her from falling on her ass. She hissed at him, a reminder that she wasn’t completely human or any part wolf. He growled back instinctively and his hold tightened on her when he saw fear flash across her delicate features.

  “Calm,” he ordered her, wincing at the tone of his voice but unable to stop it. “Easy, kitten. I’m not going to hurt you and there’s nothing to climb in here. Don’t try to run from me.”

  Anger replaced fear as she glared up at him. “Stop calling me that! You just startled me. I’m not going to flee.”

  “Good. I’m the only thing standing between you and a bunch of wolves who have decided to play a game of fetch with you. They obviously mean business.”

  This can’t be happening, Shannon thought, staring up at the mountain of a man inches from her. She inhaled his masculine scent and forced her racing heart to slow. He’s not going to hurt me. She kept silently repeating that inside her head until her body relaxed. It wasn’t the easiest thing to do. Instincts screamed at her to fight to get away from the big, deadly werewolf.

  “I’m not going to stay with you.”

  “I’m not leaving you here alone. They will come back.” Anton eased his hold but didn’t release her.

  “I haven’t done anything wrong!”

  “You are an enemy to werewolves.”

  “I’m not a shifter.”

  “I’m aware of that, but they don’t seem to care what you are past how you smell and you’re living on the edge of werewolf territory. The nearest pride is a good thirty miles from here. That means you’re easy prey to my kind.”

  “Just tell them the truth about me.”

  “That won’t help. That would just announce that you can’t fight back. I purposely left out how human you truly are when I ordered the pack to leave you alone.”

  “You made a mistake. If you told them―”

  “It wouldn’t change a thing,” he grumbled, releasing her and stepping away. “If they won’t listen when I say you’re off-limits, do you really believe they’ll give a shit if you can’t shift? I don’t want to frighten you more but some of the wolves who did this aren’t members of my pack. It means another pack is aware of you, or worse, they could be rogues. That means they answer to no one and don’t live by any rules a pack has established. Do I need to spell out how much danger you’re in?”

  “I’ll leave.” Shannon blinked back more tears. “I guess moving a few blocks won’t fix this. My mom lives in Ridley. I could go home to her.” She dreaded doing that. Her mom had remarried to a man she couldn’t stand. He gave her the creeps by leering at her sometimes and she always had to keep very aware of everything she did to avoid giving him any hints that she wasn’t quite normal. “I have no choice.”

  “You’re going home with me. No one would dare invade my den to go after you.”

  The blood drained from her face. “You literally live in the ground?”

  “No.” He shook his head, shot her a frustrated look, and his fingers rose to comb through his hair, pulling some of the thick strands free from the ponytail. “It’s just a saying. It’s an apartment over a bar. It’s nice. Wolves don’t usually live in actual dens. Wild ones prefer caves.”

  “That’s good to know.”

  He shrugged. “Let’s go, kitten.”

  “Stop calling me that.”

  He frowned at her again, took a step closer, and his eyes narrowed. “Let’s get something straight right now. I’m in charge. I’m the one who will be protecting you because you need it. Stop arguing with me, it pisses me off, and just do what you’re told. Otherwise, I’ll have someone bring me a duffle bag, toss you in it, and take you out of here the way I would a cat with raised hackles.”

  Disbelief held Shannon silent for a few erratic heartbeats. “I didn’t ask for your help and I don’t want it. Leave my apartment.”

  He closed the distance between them and Shannon cried out in fear when he grabbed her. Her back hit the wall, bumping it painlessly. He pinned her between it and his big, powerful body. She stared into his angry gaze.

  “Do you want me to tell you what those pups would have done to you if you’d been here when they came? You’d have been lucky if they just tore you apart with their teeth and claws while they killed you. They were male and you’re attractive. I smell at least five of them total.”

  “No.” Her voice shook, her body trembled, and horror spread through her at what he implied.

  “Good.” He blew out air, released her as quickly as he’d grabbed her, and backed up. “I’m going to make sure no one lays a hand, fa