Karis opened the front door and paused at the ripped-up cushions on the couch. The cabin still wasn’t recovered from what the crows had done, and every time she thought of them in her home, it made her feel violated all over again. This had been her safe place, but they’d taken that away.

And Genie was still scared. The little wishing squirrel had spent most of the day hiding in her naughty-hole in the mattress. That sounded gross, but it wasn’t. Her naughty hole was where she hid Karis’s jewelry when she was feeling like being a little demon. God, she was glad Genie liked her now. That little critter could be vengeful when she wanted to be.

As soon as she closed the door, something fluttered on the two-seater table and caught her attention. It was a folded piece of paper. Before she picked up the letter, she already knew what it said. Colt must’ve just read it and left it here. She wanted to see the words again and imagine what he had gone through as he skimmed Kurt’s goodbye letter.

 

Dear Hairpin Trigger,

Yep, you got the full nickname. That’s how I’ll always think of you. Ain’t nobody got a temper like you and the Warmaker. I got a heads up that the Darby Clan is coming for me. They know, man. They know me and Gunner are here. I can’t stay at your ranch anymore and put your Clan in danger like that. You paid your debt to me and more. I sure appreciate you giving me and my boy sanctuary. Don’t know what I would’ve done without that break. It’s best if I don’t tell you where we’re headed. Feels shitty though. As much as I wanted to hate you for what you done to the MC, and to the Darby Clan when I was in it, you become like a friend to me. You and Colt both. Don’t tell him that though because he’ll get all emotional and be weird about it. You have a good thing going here, Trig. Don’t do to your Clan what you done to the MC. Don’t get scared. Don’t run. Keep this one. You made something worth protecting. (Except for Harley. Sell him. He’s an asshole.)

Kurt

 

There was a new rip halfway down as though Colt had decided midway through not to tear it in half.

The words broke her heart. She and Ava had found the letter in Kurt’s barn apartment after Colt and Trig were arrested. She’d wondered where he’d been during the war, when it was just her to defend Ava, but he’d already gone. It wasn’t his fault. How could he know the Darby Clan hadn’t been after him? How could he have known that they would come for Karis and Ava, and that he was skipping out on them? Logically, she understood why he’d gone, but her heart didn’t pay much attention to logic. She still felt the deep cut of betrayal that he hadn’t been there when they’d needed him.

A part of her would never forgive him for just leaving like that.

Whether he saw himself as such or not, he was a part of the Two Claws Clan, and he’d just left without even saying goodbye. Anytime she mentioned Kurt to Colt, sadness washed into his eyes and he’d cut off the conversation. Had Colt not lost enough? Had they all not lost enough?

From behind, Colt slid his arms around her and rested his cheek against the side of her head. His embrace was so familiar, so comforting. He didn’t say anything for a while, just rocked her gently side-to-side until she set Kurt’s letter back on the table.

Karis swallowed hard. “I’m mad at him. I miss him and I’m mad at him.”

“I know.”

“There’s a hole in our Clan now. I miss Gunner. It was nice having a cub around. I had all these plans to spoil him rotten until we have cubs of our own.”

“I know,” he repeated.

“It’s not fair.”

“It ain’t, but you and I both know life don’t work in a straight line like that.”

“Yeah, well, our lives look like a kindergartener scribbled a map on construction paper with six different crayons.”

Colt chuckled and spun her slowly. He splayed his legs and searched her face for a few moments with a troubled gaze before he murmured, “Go pack some things.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I can’t do a trail ride with them crows around and you back here alone.”

“I’m not alone. I have Ava, and I have Genie. I don’t know if you saw her in that battle or not, but she was a warrior.”

“Well, right now, she’s hiding in her favorite naughty place, probably surrounded by all your hair deals, Chapstick, favorite necklaces, and all your loose change.”

Karis scrunched up her face and glanced up at the loft. Yep, there was that. “She went after the mountain lions, no problem, but something about those crows has her traumatized.”

“Ava is coming, too. Trig can’t leave her behind either. We’re all doing the trail ride, or none of us are.”

“What about the ranch? Who will feed the animals?”

“Well, Ava is putting a pair of damned pajamas on Norman like a reindeer needs clothes to keep warm, and we’ve got the rest of the animals in the front corral with plenty of hay and water. I’m serious, woman, pack your shit. You want something to treat like a baby? Genie apparently likes being carried around like a human child now, thanks to you, so you get to deal with that mess the whole ride. I’ll get her nuts.”

“Fine, but I’m not bringing a jacket.”

“You have to bring a jacket. It’s thirty degrees out, and you have to at least pretend like the cold bothers you.”

“Jackets are bulky, and I’m a polar bear. I get hot easy. Plus, I would rather pack an extra pair of shoes instead.”

“Dammit, Karis, we aren’t having a shoe argument again. Just bring a pair of show boots.”

“Compromise. I’ll bring two pair of snow boots in two different colors, and I’ll bring a cardigan and pretend to be sooo human.”

Colt hooked his hands on his hips and blew air out his cheeks. Karis was trying to hide a smile. He looked frustrated as hell, but it was too much fun to pester him.

“Fine. Compromise.” He leaned in and sipped her lips, his hands slipping from his waist to hers.

Karis’s forehead bumped his cowboy hat, so she pushed it up and tasted his answering smile. No hesitation, Colt dragged the hem of her sweater up and over her head, leaving her hair to fall back down in static-filled curls. She gave up trying to be perfect at sex after the first time they’d been together. So, hair floating upward, she thought, fuck it. She slipped her arms around his neck, hopped up, and wrapped her legs around him.

And God bless that man, he didn’t even grunt under her surprise weight. Instead, he gripped the back of her legs and settled her ass on the counter, then angled his face to push his tongue past her lips. Sexy, sexy man.

He ground against her until she was panting into their kiss, making needy sounds, and rolling her hips to meet his. Colt gripped her neck in a soft choke and eased back by inches, a devilish grin on his lips. Oh, scarred-up, dominant man, he had her heart hammering against her chest.

Leaning forward, he nipped at her neck as he trailed his fingertips to her bra, slid his hand inside, and cupped her full breast. Karis arched back with a sigh and slipped her fingers into the front of his jeans. She could just feel the head of his swollen cock, ready for her.

She needed this. Needed to be lost in Colt after what had happened with the crows. She never felt safer than when she was in his arms.

His strong hand tightened on the back of her neck as he sucked right at the base of her throat. He massaged her breast hard, kneading until she was desperate for him. Spreading her knees wider, she made more room for him. Her man wasn’t in a hurry though, and instead of ripping her jeans away, he pulled his hand from her bra and slid it down her belly, down, down, and unsnapped her jeans before pressing his fingers into her panties.

A soft, satisfied growl rattled his throat as he touched the wetness he’d created between her legs.

A breathless whimper escaped her, and he lifted his lips to hers. His kiss was more urgent now, needier, as he teased her entrance with two fingertips. God, he knew just how to touch her. Over and over, he brushed her clit until she was writhing against him, silently begging to fuck his hand. When he finally pushed his fingers inside her, she was half-gone. She whispered his name.

Deep, deep, he pushed all the way in and set the pace to match his tongue slipping past her lips. Easing her back gently, he laid her down on the floor and crawled over her, his knees on either side of her hips. He ended the kiss and sat up, unfastened his jeans with his free hand, and whispered, “I want to watch you.”

What? Watch what? Her confusion lasted about two seconds before he guided her hand into her panties. Oooooh.

Wicked, wicked grin, her mate was so striking as his eyes sparked gold and he unsheathed his thick cock. “Touch yourself,” he demanded.

Before him, Karis wouldn’t have had sex with the lights on, but Colt made her feel different. He gave her confidence. He accepted and loved everything. He empowered her and made her feel like a goddess.

So, with an answering smile, she pushed her fingers inside herself and arched back. His eyes were glued at where her hand was moving in her jeans.

Breath hitching, Colt stroked himself, hovering over her, his other arm locked, his triceps pressing against the sleeve of his shirt. The open fabric gave her a perfect view of his abs as he pushed into his hand over and over.

“Fuck, I want to come on you,” he murmured, stroking faster, his fist tightening on his dick. She loved watching him get himself off, and from his attention between her legs, he loved doing the same.

“Karis, fuck, I really want to come on your tits.” He reached up and yanked the cup of her bra down. The urgency in his growly voice said he was getting close to finishing, which just turned her on even more.

“I’m close, I’m close,” she panted, eyes locking onto his.

Colt slammed his hand down on the floor and pushed forward, positioning his dick over her bouncing tits. He was stroking himself so fast now, so hard. This was the hottest thing she’d ever seen. And now she couldn’t take her eyes off his dick because she was really going to watch her possessive man empty himself onto her.

But just as she thought he was there, he huffed a breath and yanked her jeans down, pulled her fingers out, and pushed into her, his thick shaft feeling so good as it filled her. He slammed into her deep, over and over, so fast, and she was already there, her body shattering around him.

With a grunt, Colt drove inside her hard and paused, his dick throbbing. He reared back and slammed into her again. Each erotic pulse of her release was explosive as he filled her with warmth, hitting her perfectly every time he bucked into her.

After he’d emptied himself completely, his arms locked on either side of her, chest heaving, face flushed, eyes blazing the color of the sun…he pushed into her one last time, muscles straining, and said, “You’re mine, Karis. You get that, right? The crows can’t touch you because you’re mine. You’re safe.”

She reached up and cupped the scarred side of his face. “Is the Peacemaker dead?” she whispered.

With a sigh, Colt rubbed his cheek against her hand, then kissed her palm. “The Peacemaker in me died the second my heart saw you. I’m just the Warmaker now.”