Alex couldn’t recall a happier time in his entire life, lying in the soft grass with Katrina snuggled into his side, one long, luscious leg thrown over his. Their lovemaking had been more than just sex — it had been two mates coming together as one, sealing their bond forever.

No doubt remained in his mind or heart that a connection existed between them neither could possibly understand. Today had been a perfect example in action. If he hadn’t played hooky, he would never have been in the exact same forest Kat ran off to, and then… A shudder rippled through him.

“What’s wrong?” Kat asked, her voice as soft as kitten ears.

She traced little circles on his chest, which nearly drove him to distraction. “Not a thing in the world, my love. Everything is absolutely, exactly right.”

He adored how she sighed and snuggled even closer, though he’d thought she was as close as possible already. Didn’t bother him one little bit.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked again.

“I’m fine,” she insisted. “Asshole didn’t even break the skin.”

“Can you tell me what happened?” The last thing he wanted to do was pressure her, but he needed to know so he could figure out how to best protect her. Although, he had to admit she’d held her own pretty well, once she’d been able to shift.

As Kat went over every detail of the altercation with her former bodyguard, anger boiled inside Alex. He mustered every ounce of self-control to stop himself from jumping into the river and hunting down the asshole who’d dared touch his mate. He was barely holding on when she said something that tipped him over the edge.

“I guess he must have been the one I sensed watching me.”

Alex frowned. “What do you mean ‘watching’ you?”

“I’ve had this feeling of being watched…hunted, sort of, for the last few weeks. Just a few times, no big deal.”

“No big deal?” Alex sat up and looked down at her, astonished. “Wow, I don’t even know what to say. You’ve been feeling hunted and you didn’t tell anyone? Not even your father?”

Kat blinked up at him, then sat up and pulled her knees to her chest, effectively closing herself off. “No.”

“Yet you went for a run by yourself anyway.” It wasn’t so much a question as an accusation.

“I-I thought it was my imagination.” Her voice sounded so small, so confused.

Instead of gathering her into his arms, as he desperately wanted to do, Alex stood and paced in front of her, not looking at her. He couldn’t. Fear and anger and uncertainty fought for dominance inside him, and he was afraid she’d think he was angry with her. But he must protect her, at all costs.

“This can’t happen again, Katrina. You must be kept safe. You’re my mate and I won’t allow you to come to any harm, do you understand me?”

The fire in his eyes must have startled her because she cringed when he finally met her gaze. He was sorry for that, but she had to know how important her safety was to him. He resumed his pacing.

“Starting tomorrow — no, tonight. Starting tonight, any time you are not with me, you will be escorted by Fairchild security guards. Of course, I will vet each one personally. We can’t have a repeat of today’s attack.”

Blood pounded in his head as his plan came together. “In fact, we can’t risk you being out in public at all. Where there’s one scumbag, three more are hiding, just like roaches. Going forward, the only time you leave the apartment is with me. Otherwise, you stay put, got it?”

He stopped and stared at her, waiting for her eager agreement. After this kind of attack, she would obviously agree his plan made the most sense. But she sat there glaring up at him. When she stood, he saw something unexpected flash in her flashing amber eyes — indignation.

“Excuse me?” she demanded, jamming her fists onto her ample hips.

God, she was sexy when she was mad. And naked.

“It’s the only way to keep you safe, Kat,” he explained. Her flaring nostrils suggested she didn’t fully understand his plan. Maybe more details would help. “Don’t worry, there will always be at least two guards outside the apartment, just in case one proves untrustworthy. As soon as we get back home, I’ll order a new security system, and we should probably fit you with some kind of tracking device—“

“Enough!” Kat shouted. “You’re being ridiculous, Alex. I’m not your prisoner, I’m your wife!”

“Exactly! What if I hadn’t been here?”

Kat’s gaze shifted away, and he knew he’d won that round. He softened his tone and held out a hand. “Come on, let’s get you home.”

Kat crossed her arms stubbornly and brushed past him without a word. She didn’t speak on the ride home — he’d insisted on taking the same car — and the second they walked in the apartment, she headed straight to her room and slammed the door.

Alex didn’t like the situation either, but he had to do something. To get the ball rolling, he started making calls. First to his father, who agreed to beef up security at the apartment, and then to Tier Hamilton. Having trusted Edgar, the man was understandably shaken. He kept dropping the phone because he couldn’t stop turning into a bear while they talked. Alex managed to talk him out of rushing over to check on his daughter, assuring him she was resting comfortably.

Within the hour, Tier Hamilton called to inform Alex that his enforcers had apprehended Edgar, though he didn’t put up a fight. His unconscious body had washed up on a river bank a few miles from where he’d fallen. He’d be dealt with swiftly and harshly, and no doubt he would soon wish he’d died in the river.

As Alex set his cell phone on the kitchen counter, Kat walked into the room looking sleepy-eyed, but calmer. They stared at each other for a minute before he finally could find any words.

“How are you feeling?”

Kat shrugged and sat on a bar stool at the counter, carefully avoiding touching the marble surface.

“I’m fine. Still stunned that Edgar…”

She trailed off and Alex jumped in to give her the news. “They caught him. That was your father letting me know he’s been taken into custody. He’ll never bother you again.”

She sighed heavily and nodded, but looked far from pleased. “Well, that’s something. Listen, Alex, I want to thank you for helping me, for rescuing me. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t been there.”

He gave her a gentle smile. “I’ll always be there for you, Kat. Always.”

“Not always,” she said. “You’ll be at work every day, then there are the business trips you’ll take. You can’t be with me all day, every day, Alex. And I sure as hell am not going to be kept a prisoner in your apartment, or allow you to implant me with a tracking device like a household pet.”

“Okay, I might have gone a little overboard with that, but I was frantic. I need to keep you safe, don’t you see?”

She laid a hand on his arm. The simple touch soothed him instantly.

“Alex, I’m as safe as any other woman. Keeping me locked up in your apartment isn’t going to make me any safer.”

“Why do you keep calling it my apartment? It’s our apartment now.”

Kat’s smile looked more like a grimace. She glanced pointedly at the marble countertop, then at various nearby pieces of furniture. The sadness in her eyes told him everything.

“Oh,” he said flatly.

What an idiot! This had been his bachelor pad, where he’d entertained far more than his fair share of ladies in his quest to forget about a future which had been decided for him. From Kat’s point of view, this place would never be truly hers, especially with all the reminders of his past life…and lovers.

Reaching for her hands, Alex locked eyes with hers. “I know this situation isn’t ideal, and I haven’t made it any easier for you, but I really think we have a chance at something special here, Kat. Can’t you feel it?”

“I don’t know, Alex. So much has h—“

“Exactly! In just two weeks, we’ve survived more than most couples do in an entire lifetime. I know it’ll take work — mostly on my end — but if you’ll be a little patient, I know we can make it. Not just for the clans, Kat. For us.”

He held his breath while she gazed up at him, assessing him. He saw the moment she decided to give their relationship another try and had to choke back a shout of happiness.

“Maybe we could—“

Before she could finish her thought, Alex’s phone buzzed. The screen lit up with a text message.

u miss my honey yet? cum n get it, papa bear

Other than at the occasional social function, he hadn’t seen Nadia in months. Why was she texting now?

With a start, he realized Kat could read the message too. He dove for the phone, trying to flip it over, desperate to hide it, but it was far too late.

“It’s not what it looks like,” he started lamely. That’s what all cheaters said, but he actually was innocent.

Kat’s gaze turned sharp enough to cut diamonds. “What it looks like is you’ll never change.”

“No, Kat. I swear to you I didn’t do anything. Nadia is just—“

Kat knocked over her barstool as she jumped to her feet and jabbed a finger at him. “I know exactly who Nadia is. She so kindly introduced herself last night, and now I know on exactly which surfaces in your apartment you fucked her brains out.”

Alex blanched. Nadia had always been a little nuts, which was why he’d dumped her after a few dates, but this was just plain psychotic behavior. Did she really think trying to sabotage his new marriage would endear to her to him?

“Kat, I haven’t even spoken to her in months, long before we ever met. You have to believe me.”

“Oh, I do, Alex. I do believe you. I also know what you were like before our wedding. I experienced it firsthand, remember?”

Flames burned Alex’s face remembering how cruelly he’d treated her. How many others had felt as mistreated over the years? He’d never felt so ashamed in his life.

“I’m so s—“

Kat cut off his apology. “That’s not even the point, Alex. The point is I can’t help wondering how long it will take for you to go back to your old ways. How long before another Nadia comes along to entertain you, only to have you break her heart as you did mine, and then have her stalk you, or me, or God forbid, our children.”

His heart skipped at the thought of having children with Kat.

“What kind of woman would I be,” she continued, fire in her eyes, “if I remained in a marriage with a man who treats women so poorly? How can I stay with a man I don’t trust? And on top of all that, you want to lock me up like some precious treasure while you get to do whatever you please.”

“You are a precious treasure, Kat.”

Kat snorted and pushed past him, shrugging off his hand as he tried to stop her. “I can’t live like this, Alex. I’d rather live under my father’s strict rules. At least I could leave the house.”

“Kat—“

But she’d already disappeared around the corner and a moment later, her bedroom door slammed. Again.

“Shit!”

Alex scrubbed a hand across his mouth. There had to be a way to show her how much he cared for her, that there would never be another. Words meant nothing to her and he couldn’t blame her, after what he’d done.

First, he needed to talk with his father. More than anything, the older man could offer some advice on how to deal with this situation, but he also might need to perform some heavy damage control. If Katrina ended this marriage, it could mean a return to war.

Leaving her alone in the apartment after what she’d gone through this morning churned his stomach, but he didn’t dare assign guards…yet. Instead he flicked through his contact list and was relieved to find Tilly, Kat’s best friend. The woman might have loathed him, but she’d be there for Kat, and that was good enough for him.