“Did you just...bite me?” Hollie gasped in shock and pain and clamped her hand over her neck.
She shoved the tall, blond, handsome bear shifter away from her. She felt so angry, and betrayed. “Why did you do that?” she whispered. “I...I thought...I wanted...” I wanted you to be the good guy!
When the bear charged out of the shadows and knocked Jasper away from her, Hollie had almost wept with relief and gratitude.
Finally.
Finally someone had come to her aid.
No one had ever stepped forward to speak up for her, or fight for her when she was being bullied and abused in the pack. But here in the wilderness, a big, brave beast had exploded from the darkness that was swiftly closing in on her and saved her.
The fearsome bear had shifted into the most handsome man Hollie had ever seen. He was very tall, broad with intelligent blue eyes and chiseled features.
When he ordered Jasper and his lieutenants to let her go, Hollie developed an instant crush on him. He was her hero.
He had come to rescue her.
Not!
Hollie cursed as she glared at her blond, hunky hero. This guy was no hero. He was a jerk. Just like the rest of them.
“You...you bit me! Why did you do that? Who the hell do you think you are!” she yelled at him, blinking back furious tears.
He had the nerve to smirk at her. He stared at the bite mark on her neck and actually looked pleased with himself.
Angry, hurt and humiliated, Hollie marched right up to him and growled, “I don’t know what the hell you think you’re doing, mister, but...”
“I marked you,” he answered.
She was about to respond when she heard Jasper and his two lieutenants coming up behind her. Raising her fists, she whirled round to face them.
“Stay away from me,” Hollie warned. “All of you!” The handsome, blond man stepped forward but Hollie yelled, “You too.” She swallowed. “You especially.”
The man put up both hands. “I just wanted to let you know who I am.”
“Why should I care...”
“I’m Kyle Anderson,” he went on smoothly. ‘I’m your mate.”
Kyle flashed her a quick smile and winked. But she read the warning in his eyes.
Hollie sucked in a breath and held her tongue. The fog of rage and confusion began to disperse as the pieces of the puzzle fell into place in her mind.
She still wasn’t sure what Kyle was doing, but she sensed that he was trying to help her.
The question was: how?
By biting her?
It didn’t make any sense to Hollie, but deep in her heart, she trusted Kyle. Her mind argued that she shouldn’t trust anyone. She had learned from bitter experience that no one could be trusted.
Yet...she just knew that Kyle wasn’t the enemy.
Hollie found her eyes trailing down Kyle’s powerful, muscular body and she licked her lips. Something stirred in her and she started when she realized the low growl was coming from somewhere deep inside her.
Mine! He’s mine.
As if he had heard that inexplicable, bizarre thought that had just erupted in her mind, Kyle’s smile widened.
His lethal fangs were on full display and Hollie shuddered. Kyle looked scary as hell...and so hot.
Dragging his heated gaze away from her, Kyle said to Jasper, “I gave her my mate mark. She is my mate. She belongs to me, not the Black Blade pack now.”
“You can’t do that...” Jasper’s face was contorted with fury.
“I just did.” Kyle smirked. “She’s mine.”
“No she’s not!” Jasper screamed and pulled his gun on Kyle.
Kyle grabbed Jasper’s arm just as Jasper squeezed the trigger.
Hollie pressed her hand to her mouth as she watched Dan stagger back. Blood bloomed in the middle of his chest.
The other lieutenant ducked behind a tree to avoid being the next target.
“You shot your own soldier,” Kyle said flatly to Jasper. “It’s your bullet in his chest.”