~

 

“Macy is fine,” Harvey growled back. His bear was still just under the surface prickling against his skin, eager to push free, especially now that his mate had arrived.

“Where?” Jordan demanded.

“We found her wandering in the woods,” Zach explained, knowing full well that most of them gathered knew better. It was his way of covering the bases should the human female go to the police.

“I…” Jordan turned her attention towards the shifter. She didn’t need to be told that he was lying. It was written all over his face. And then there was the state that Harvey was in him – Jordan made a calculated decision. “Thank you.”

Harvey growled. He could tell just by looking at her that Jordan didn’t believe the story. But if she’d said anything else then it would have put her and Macy in danger of retaliation, and he hated to admit it, but she’d done the right thing.

“Maybe you should keep a closer eye on the child,” Zach said.

Harvey growled again and took one step towards Zach before Owen put his body in between them. He had a mind to start again where he’d left off and pummel the man until he saw stars. But that was his pride talking — Owen knew better.

“I’ll buy a leash,” Jordan’s tone was acidic. She might have thanked the man, but she wasn’t going to eat shit-pie.

It took a moment, but the shifter grinned. Jordan’s anger simmered within her and more so when Zach laughed.

“I like you,” Zach said.

“Oh, so wrong,” Owen muttered to himself. But there was no way that he was going to try to stop Harvey from getting to the man that time.

Zach didn’t know what hit him. He flew backward through the air as Harvey’s fist collided with his jaw, sweeping him off his feet, and depositing him on his backside on the ground.

“Stay away from my family!” Harvey didn’t need to say more. The shock had already registered on Zach’s face the moment that the haze from the punch had cleared from his mind.

“And you a shifter and all,” Owen chuckled. “Never go after a man’s family.”

“Harvey!” Macy’s voice rippled with excitement as she started towards him leaving Amy standing behind her. But she slowed when her eyes took in the sight of him covered in blood and bruises. “Harvey?” Worry clouded her voice, and his heart went out to her.

“Macy!” Jordan called to her daughter as she started towards her.

Macy’s head snatched to the right at the sound of the mother’s voice, and she immediately looked guilty.

“I just wanted…” Macy started to explain and then stopped.

“Come here,” Jordan said with a tone that told Macy there was no room for debate. The child immediately ran towards her mother.

“Let’s get out of here before I do something that I’m never going to regret,” Harvey growled another warning at Zach. The man hadn’t made any effort to get back to his feet.

Jordan snatched at Macy when the child was close enough to be wrapped inside the protection of her arms. She immediately turned them around towards the woods and saw her father standing there.

Jordan walked a direct path towards him. Jon’s gaze took her in before turning to Macy and then finally looking back over her shoulder to where Harvey was following on behind them.

“A man is just a man – especially when he’s fighting for his family,” Jordan said to her father.

Jon opened his mouth to speak, but Jordan didn’t want to hear it. She walked past him without saying another word.

“Oh,” Owen whispered to the big man as he caught up with him and fell into step beside Harvey. “Someone just earned some brownie points and got in someone else’s good books.”

“Shut up!” Harvey growled.

“You shut up,” Owen teased back.

“Owen…” Harvey grumbled a growl.

“Harvey…” Owen offered back, grinning from ear to ear at just how easy it was to wind up his friend.

“Asshole.”

“Yes you are, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop being your friend.” Owen chuckled.

“Please do.”

“Now you know you don’t mean that,” Owen teased back.

“Yes, I do.”

“No, you don’t.”

“I think I know what I mean,” Harvey growled.

“And you’re forgetting that I can read your thoughts.” Owen chuckled again as Harvey grumbled another growl and rolled his eyes in his head.

 

~

~

~

 

“Harvey…” Jon said.

He’d followed on behind his daughter and Macy on the trek back through the woods towards their home, but he’d slowed his pace and dropped back a little, waiting for the shifter and the vampire to catch up to him.

“I get it — this is all my fault.” Harvey didn’t need that pointing out to him.

“I can’t say that it’s not what I was worried about,” Jon said.

“You were worried about Harvey protecting the females?” Owen put in. He heard Jon sigh.

“Not exactly,” Jon tossed back with a glare of annoyance for the vampire.

“I said I get it,” Harvey grumbled.

He knew where the man stood when it came to Harvey being a part of Jordan and Macy’s life. He didn’t need to hear it again.

“No, I don’t think you do,” Jon gave a small shake of his head.

“I do,” Owen piped up again. “You wanted to be the one to take on the shifters.”

“Why are you here — exactly?” Jon bit out. His annoyance and frustration were thick within the tone of his voice.

“Because, Jon, it’s everybody’s lucky day.” Owen could truly say that it gave him a rush of satisfaction to stick up for his friend.

“Harvey,” Jon said, ignoring the vampire and turning his attention back to the shifter. “I’m obliged.”

“And I’m sure that’s why he did it,” Owen put in before Harvey could say a word. Harvey growled and flicked a death glare at the vampire.

“Would you shut up?” Harvey offered him a warning tone.

“It’s not in my nature,” Owen grinned.

“Go against the grain,” Harvey growled.

“I’m sensing a little tension in the air,” Owen offered back on a smirk.

“You don’t say,” Harvey bit back.

“I do say.” Owen grinned harder.

“Well, don’t say,” Harvey growled.

“Fine, if you don’t want my help,” Owen tossed up his hands in fake frustration, and he had to look away as he chuckled harder.

“What gave it away?” Harvey muttered to himself.

“Is that a trick question? Do you really want me to answer that after you told me to shut up?” Owen said.

“You’ll be too busy digesting your fangs in a moment to even speak,” Harvey growled back as the vampire took a subtle step away from him as they continued to walk through the woods.