“You’re fucking pregnant. It’s Reese’s, isn’t it?” Niko snarled again, his voice deep enough to hurt as he hauled her to her feet and shook her violently.

Her teeth clicked together as she continued to look at him dumbly. She was pregnant? She couldn’t be… Her mind flew back over the last couple of weeks, calculating dates. She was late… Oh shit, she could be. She could be pregnant with Logan’s child. Warmth burst through her and butterflies turned in her stomach.

Holy crap, she was having Logan’s baby.

“You’ve ruined everything, you bitch. But I’ll sort it out…” Niko stopped shaking her and a dark look settled over his features. “I’ll knock that fucking kid out of you and then you’ll be all mine.”

For a moment, his words didn’t make any sense to her, hanging in the air like so much noise. She even stayed still as he lifted his hand, watching in fascination as he bunched his fist into a hard ball ready to hit her. She’d seen him in the ring. He might not be on par with Logan, but he was still more than capable of killing her.

Or beating her so badly that he killed her baby.

Fuck. That. Noise. No one was hurting her baby.

Something snapped inside her. A snarl of fury welled up from the very center of her soul as something dark and dangerous followed it. The same thing that had tried to take over when she was in the cage was now trying to push the bones of her face outward and look through her eyes.

With a sigh of relief, she opened herself up and accepted it. She welcomed the new presence as it filled her body and energized her cells. A feeling of warmth and softness stroked her skin, from the inside, and a soft purr sounded in her mind. A warm, female presence she instantly recognized as one she’d been waiting for her whole life.

Well, hello there, she murmured to it in welcome, about time you showed up.

There was no warning as she moved, a dark, hot wave of…something flowing over her skin. Bones cracked in her hands, sweet agony at her fingertips as the skin was torn from within, her nails punching out into vicious claws.

She snarled again, lifting her hand as Niko’s fist arced toward her. Her claws flashed in the stuttering light, white one minute, red the next as Niko recoiled, shock written all over his expression. The shock turned to anger and he roared, his other fist heading for her stomach.

Her face ached, vision going red as instinct took over. Twisting, she dropped her arm to cover her side and launched herself forward. Her world narrowed down to kicks and punches, the slash of her claws across exposed flesh and the smell of blood in the air.

Niko fought back hard, his roars loud in the confined space every time she scored a direct hit. Fur flowed over his torn skin, but not quickly enough to heal the damage she was inflicting as, driven by the need to protect her child, she attacked again and again.

Her breathing was labored, her heart pounding as she looked for every gap in his defenses, but she gloried in the fight, feeling the strength of her new self. Punching and kicking, she used her smaller size and her claws to her advantage. She pierced his skin until the scent of blood hung heavily on the air and then slid under his guard to land blows heavy enough to break bones. She might never have been in a ring, but she’d seen enough fights to know what worked, and, it seemed, the cat buried deep down had been watching.

He stumbled backward, and she realized he’d gone from fighting to trying to ward her off. The snarl of rage, of fury denied, burst from her throat and she leapt forward. Knocking him off balance, she rode his body to the ground, her claws at his throat. Fear filled his eyes, the dark color gone, and his bear deserting him.

“No, please don’t…” he whimpered, a pathetic note in his voice now.

“That’s right, fucking beg.” Her voice was heavy with her cat as she traced her claws down the side of his throat. It would take nothing for her to punch through the skin, slice the pulsing blood vessel beneath, and feel the hot wash of his lifeblood as it flowed over her hands. He couldn’t stop her. She knew it and he knew it, the realization stark in his expression.

“Boot’s on the other foot now, isn’t it, Niko?” She leaned forward, her knee in the center of his chest as her sharper-than-human teeth snapped in warning. “Not so much fun when you’re on the receiving end, is it?”

He closed his eyes, whimpering as she ran her lips over his throat. Not in a sensual way. No, her cat could scent the hot rush of blood just below the surface. It wanted her to open her mouth and bite through the tender flesh to the goodness beneath.

Closing her eyes, she opened her mouth and licked his throat. Just one little bite…so much temptation…

* * *

Please say they weren’t too late. They couldn’t be too late. He couldn’t lose Zara now. He hadn’t told her he loved her. She needed to know how he felt. He needed to know if she felt the same.

Logan prayed under his breath as the car screeched around the last corner and their destination loomed in front of them. It had taken them far too long to get here, even though it was less than halfway across the city and they’d run every red light on the way.

A quick glance around told him all he needed to know. The area was run down, full of abandoned buildings and had “slated for demolition” warning signs. No traffic apart from the homeless and those up to no good. Perfect for an illegal fight club.

Gage stood on the brakes, bringing the car to a stop with a squeal and a shimmy of the back end. Logan was out the door almost before the vehicle had stopped. More vehicles slid to a stop behind him but he didn’t care, already pounding up the steps toward the front door, Gage hard on his heels.

Dropping his shoulder, he hit the doors like a cannon ball, bursting through them so hard, one rebounded off the wall with a crash and fell. For a moment he paused in the doorway, taking in the startled faces. It was laid out like a club, ring in the center with chairs and tables all around, but that was where the similarities ended. The ring was far from clean, blood-stained sand showing it had been put to hard use, but the cages encircling it made his stomach clench. Rage crashed over him and he let his control slip, feeling his lion push forward as he roared.

“Holy shit, it’s the king.”

“It’s Reese. Run!”

The occupants of the room went from startled straight into flight, scattering as Logan’s men crashed into the room after him. He got a brief glimpse of a familiar face and roared an order at Gage as he plunged through the melee. Women screamed, and men fell over themselves to get out of his way. He didn’t blame them. He knew he looked like a scary son of a bitch at the best of times, and right now with his eyes full of his lion and his claws out, he must be the stuff of nightmares.

He leapt over one of the barriers down onto the dancefloor the ring had been set up on and landed in a crouch. Lifting his head, he took a deep breath, rolling the myriad of scents over his tongue. Tasting them. Searching through them for the one he was looking for. He found it, the unmistakable exotic-delicate scent that marked the woman he loved. It was under his skin, marked indelibly on his soul. He’d be able to find her anywhere.

Turning his head, he realized it was strongest in one of the cages. His lips curled back from his teeth as he realized she’d been kept captive, forced to watch as some asshole fought for her. Rage pulsed again. If he’d gotten here earlier, he’d have taken on any fighter who challenged him to keep his woman safe.

His woman…no, his wife. Or she would be just as soon as he found her. He wasn’t taking no for an answer. She was going to marry him.

Rising to his feet, a casual swipe of his clawed hand sent the open door crashing into the bars and he set off following the trail of her scent. It led through the club and out the back doors. The scent grew stronger with each step he took, as did the smell of fear and despair. His lion tried to push further forward, as desperate as he was to find their female and make sure she was safe. He kicked himself mentally. He should never have left her tonight. Should have let Gage handle business and taken her home, made sure she knew how he felt…

But no, he’d been an asshole more concerned with protecting himself. Talk about a fucking coward. He should have just risked it all and told her he loved her.

Before it was too late.

The smell of blood and anger filtered through the door and his heart all but stopped. Shit, what if she was hurt…worse? With a roar, he sped up, crashing through the back doors into a dirty little alley, claws already unsheathed to take on whoever was hurting his kitten…

What he found was so not what he expected.

Zara was in the alleyway alright. But instead of being pinned down as he’d thought, she was crouched over the fallen form of the big werebear fighter.

“Zara?”

Her head snapped up at the sound of his voice and he sucked in a breath. Her dark eyes were shot through with gold, her features sharper and more feline as something not human lurked behind her eyes.

“Holy crap,” Gage breathed, emerging from the door behind him. “She’s like you… she’s a lioness.”

“No shit, Sherlock,” Logan hissed out of the corner of his mouth, watching as Zara tracked them both through those beautiful eyes. His lion purred at the sight, wanting to get closer and make her look at just them, not Gage.

“I got this, bro… get back inside and start sorting shit out.”

Gage didn’t reply, simply stepping back and merging with the shadows. Logan knew the instant he’d gone because Zara’s attention shifted back to him. As he watched, she leaned down and ran her tongue over the side of Niko’s neck. The big man shuddered, a small sound of distress escaping him. Even though the touch was in no way sexual, Logan’s lion snarled, not liking their woman touching another guy.

His scent must have changed, giving him away, because her head snapped up again, her eyes narrowing as she bared her teeth. Fucking hell, the sight of the tiny points on her fangs gave him chills in all the right places. Grimly, he shoved all that down and focused on her. It was easy to see what had happened. Zara wasn’t in control. Her newly emerged animal was. Triumph filtered through him. He’d known she was a shifter. It had been buried deep down, but he’d known it was there. All it had needed was for her to feel threatened enough for her cat to emerge to save her.

The only trouble was, he needed her to get it under control before she killed the man who had tried to hurt her. He knew Zara…she was as tough as nails. But killing? That was a whole different ball game. A person was never the same after that.

“Kitten, are you okay?” He kept his voice low, moving forward slowly. “Come on, get off him…you’re safe now. I promise.”

She snarled, claws flexing and puncturing Niko’s shoulder as Logan got closer. It wasn’t the guy’s throat though, so Logan kept moving, kept talking. All the time, she kept her eyes on him, watching his every movement without blinking. Power rolled from her skin, a shiver that told him she was half a second away from a full shift.

And he wanted that, wanted to see what her other form truly looked like. And also marveled that she was holding it under the skin the way she was. He could try and force her cat back, but he wasn’t so stupid. Only an alpha female should be able to do that, but he’d never heard of one being so powerful so soon after their cat had emerged.

What the fuck had Niko done to bring out this force of nature?

“Kitten, let him go. Come to me.” The ring of command filled his voice as he stood over her, holding out his hand. An order and an entreaty all rolled into one.

Seconds ticked past in silence. Her gaze flickered from his face to his hand and back again. Without breaking eye contact, she leaned down to run her tongue over Niko’s neck again and added a small snap of her teeth that made the guy whimper. Logan fought back his smile at her little display of independence, a sigh of relief filling him as she finally reached up and put a clawed hand in his.

Pulling her up, he folded her in his arms, a shudder running the length of his spine.

“Moon’s teeth, Kitten, I thought I’d lost you.” Tilting her head back, he looked down into her face, watching as the gold receded from her eyes. Wonder hit him. Her cat trusted him enough to let go, to cede protection of her fragile human form to him. It humbled him and damn near brought him to his knees.

“Shhh, there you are.” He managed a smile, running his thumb gently against the side of her neck as she gasped, awareness returning.

“Logan? Oh god, I thought you’d never get here.” Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pressed closer, her slender frame shuddering.

He simply held her, feet spread and weight balanced as she pressed as close as she could. The bear at their feet had passed out, the scent of blood so strong Logan was surprised he’d survived this long. His expression tightened. Niko wouldn’t last the night. He’d make sure of that.

“I’m here now. Don’t you worry.” He planted kisses on the top of her head and then her forehead as she leaned back. His arms wrapped around her tightly. No way was he letting her go again. Ever. “I shouldn’t have let you go home alone. I’m sorry…so sorry. You shouldn’t have had to go through all this. I’ll make them all pay. I promise…”

She shivered again, muttering something he couldn’t make out.

“What’s that, kitten?” He relaxed his hold and reached down to tilt her chin up so he could see her face. Her tortured expression made his heart stutter in his chest. What had Niko done?

“I was scared you wouldn’t get here in time. Then he…” Tears collected at the corners of her eyes. She growled, the sound so feline it made his lips curl again, and dashed them away. “He… my scent had changed. It made him angrier. Then I changed.”

Logan nodded. “Shhh, shhh…. Your cat emerged when you were in danger. It’s rare but it happens at times.”

She shook her head, an expression he couldn’t identify playing across her features. “It didn’t emerge because I was in danger. Someone else was.”

He sighed and smiled reassuringly. Her words didn’t make sense. There was no one else here to be in danger. She had to be in shock.

Reaching up, he ran his fingers through her hair, feeling for lumps and bumps. “Did you hit your head at any point. Did he hit you?” Another thought hit him. “Did he hurt you any other way?”

“Oh for the love of god. I love you, but you’re as thick as two short planks. I wasn’t in danger.”

“You do?” His eyes widened at her declaration, warmth spreading through his chest. He hadn’t been sure she did, so hearing the words soothed something deep within him. “Say it again,” he demanded, hauling her closer, his lips seeking hers. He wanted to hear the words again.

“I need you to say it again. Look at me,” he ordered, waiting until she met his eyes. “I love you too, kitten. Have since the moment I saw you.”

“Good, we love each other, fantastic, but that’s not important!” She grabbed him by the nape, pulling his head down so his lips brushed her neck. “Smell!”

He did, the reflex to breathe in her scent automatic. Then he frowned. Her scent wasn’t quite right. Or rather, it was different and very, very right. More than one scent wrapped around each other, intertwined and almost identical. Almost. The second scent was light, barely formed and held notes similar to his own.

He pulled his head back sharply, looking down into her eyes to read the truth there.

“You’re pregnant?”

She nodded slowly, watching him with a wary expression in her eyes. Abruptly it dawned on him that she might think he wasn’t pleased, that he didn’t want a kid. A slow grin spread over his face as he pulled her closer, turning her in his embrace so he could slide a hand over her still flat stomach. A baby, fuck…even he hadn’t seen that one coming but it felt so right it was scary.

Before he could open his mouth to answer her, though, his cat snarled. Without thinking, he yanked her back, shoving her to the side as claws sliced through the air where she had been.

Niko roared, frustration at missing his target evident, and fixed coal-black eyes on Logan. Covered in blood, he’d somehow made it to his half form. The remains of his shirt clung to massive, furred shoulders, his pants split and torn as his frame got too big for them. His face was no longer human, his bear’s muzzle punching forward and his mouth filled with sharper teeth when he growled.

“Kitten,” he said in a low voice, every instinct he had on high alert. “Back away slowly.”

The pause and tiny growl behind him told him she wasn’t on board with that idea. Without taking his eyes from the snarling werebear in front of him, he added a little more of his lion to his voice. “Zara, back away. Do it. Now.”

The sound of her steps moving away made the tightness in his shoulders ease and he focused on the man in front of him. All emotion leeched away, a coldness settling over his shoulders like a mantle as he considered his opponent.

He’d fought many men in the ring, but this here…now…was the most important fight of his life. In the ring, he just had to worry about himself, but here… he had everything to lose. The woman he loved. The baby she carried. His entire reason for living concentrated in the delicate woman standing behind him.

“You want to do this?” He snarled at the man in front of him, his voice heavy with his lion. “Then we’ll fucking do it.”

Niko didn’t give him chance to finish his sentence, charging with a roar. Logan let him, his cat leashed just under his skin, ready to pounce. The bear’s roars rebounded off the walls of the alley as he swung blindly.

Which was when Logan struck. Dodging under Niko’s wild swing, he hammered three quick strikes into the bear’s chest. Bones cracked beneath his knuckles and Niko staggered backward, shock showing on his features. Logan barked out a laugh. In what world had Niko ever thought he could best him, the King of the Ring, in a fair fight, never mind a back alley brawl?

Pressing his advantage, he chased the other guy, knocking him back with hard hit after hit until he was pinned up against the alley wall, Logan’s hand wrapped around his throat.

“Please…show mercy…” Niko whimpered, his hands scrabbling at Logan’s wrist.

“Why?” Logan snarled, his voice full of rage. “You took my woman, touched her, scared her…why should I show you anything other than a cold, hard death?”

“Pl-please, it was a mistake.” The bear started to cry, tears streaking down his cheeks. “Whatever you want, I’ll do it…”

Logan snarled, his grip tightening as his claws dug into the sides of Niko’s neck, a hairsbreadth from tearing his throat out.

A small hand on his arm stopped him. He turned his head to meet Zara’s human-dark eyes.

“He’s not worth it,” she said softly. “You’re better than this. Better than murder.”

He wasn’t, but in that moment, he wanted to be. He’d always seen himself as a necessary evil, a monster under the human mask…but when she looked at him like that, he wanted to be the best possible version of himself. For her. For the baby she carried.

He nodded curtly and turned back to Niko. The bear was a threat who needed to be dealt with, and if he couldn’t kill him…

With an evil grin, he reached down inside himself and drew on the power of his lion. The shift magic swelled within, held just beneath the skin, then, at the last moment, he released it. It raced outward, jumping from him to Niko and racing over the bear’s skin.

He screamed as Logan shoved the magic deeper and deeper, forcing Niko’s own change right back down until he’d reached the depths his bear dwelled in. With a snarl, he let the lion loose to rend and tear, ripping the bear from Niko’s soul.

For a moment, an unearthly light surrounded the bigger man, in the shape of the bear he shifted into. Then, with a shudder in the air, it was gone. Niko moaned, horror filling his eyes before they rolled back in his head and he collapsed, unconscious.

Logan dropped him to land in a crumpled heap on the floor, no mercy in his soul. Ripping a shifter’s animal free was the worst thing that could happen to any of them, and the ultimate punishment any alpha could inflict.

And Niko had earned every moment of his new life without his bear.

A shudder rolled down Logan’s spine and he turned, the bear already forgotten, to take Zara in his arms. She nestled against him, seeking the comfort and protection of his bigger frame.

“I love you, Zara… I even love that crazy cat you have buried in there… and a baby?” He smiled and reached down to kiss her lingeringly. “A baby is just the icing on the cake. Now you have no excuse not to marry me.”

She sighed, head resting against his shoulder as he lifted her easily into his arms. For once she didn’t argue, just let him care for her.

“So how about it?” he asked after a moment’s silence, watching her face carefully. “Zara Hunter, will you marry me? Not because of money, or because you’re carrying my child…but because I love you and you love me.”

“Logan Reese, you just try stopping me.” She smiled, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and his heart leaped. “Now, take me home… please.”

Turning toward the end of the alley, he did just that.