“Yes!” Gavin shouted as he felt Bailey’s fangs pierce his shoulder. His bear roared in his head when she claimed them as her own.

Not wanting to waste a second longer than he had to when it came to claiming his mate, Gavin succumbed to the pure pleasure his mate brought him. He pumped harder, faster—pounding his cock into her in a frenzy. His sac tightened, his climax within reach. The only thing Gavin could think about was claiming his mate.

One final thrust left Gavin rearing his head back with an inhuman roar rushing from his throat. His canines lengthened a second before they pierced Bailey’s shoulder. He knew he claimed her harder than he should have, but he just couldn’t seem to slow his thrusts or hold back the force in which his bear demanded to claim her. Now that Bailey was finally in his arms, he had every intention of making sure she was his, in every way that mattered.

With the claiming completed by both Bailey and Gavin, their minds connected as one. Her memories and thoughts became his, and his became hers. Gavin had no problem with most of the memories that flowed from his mate’s mind to his.

Gavin growled as recollections of her former lovers flashed through his mind. “You are mine now, Bailey.” His cock still hard, he pumped his hips, lazily circling his cock in and out of her. “I am the only one who will ever make you feel this good.”

“Yes,” she said, her voice reduced to nothing more than a lazy purr.

Gavin’s head shot up as a series of sharp yips and howls pierced the quiet calm countryside. As much as it pained him to pull away from his mate, Gavin flew to his feet.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

He knew that signal. It was the signal Calder used when there was an emergency. Every wolf in the pack knew it meant that trouble had come to Twisted Tail, even his bear knew it meant trouble.

Grabbing his jeans and throwing them on, Gavin’s mind swirled with worries. Worries about the possible threat, worries about his mate. His bear growled in his mind at the possibility of some sort of harm coming to her. “Bailey, I need you to go back to the Alpha’s house.”

She quickly gathered her clothes and started tugging them on, following Gavin’s lead. “What is it? What happened?”

“I don’t know what’s going on, but that sound was from Calder. He just put out a call for help. Think of it as the pack’s emergency call. I need to go and see if there’s something that I can do.”

“Maybe it’s something I can help with?” Bailey offered.

“Please do what I ask and head back to the house. I’ll meet you there as soon as it’s safe.” There was no way Gavin was about to run off into danger with his mate by his side. Absolutely not! He needed to know she was safe, far away from any potential threat. There was no way in hell he’d risk losing her. Not when he’d just found her.

“But—” Bailey tried once more to protest, but her words fell on deaf ears.

“Bailey, please. I won’t risk losing you,” Gavin’s tone was short, demanding that she listen to his order.

Her thoughts on the subject were crystal clear as they filled Gavin’s mind. His mate was a feisty one who didn’t appreciate being told what to do. He should have thanked the Fates for sending him a mate filled with spunk and sass, but at that moment, all he could think of was keeping her safe, far from harm’s reach. Even if that had meant pissing her off.

“Have it your way, you stubborn beast!”

Gavin breathed a sigh of relief as Bailey marched away, dropping cuss words he’d never envisioned coming from his mate’s beautiful mouth. “I suppose I’ll have to make it up to her later, but at least we know she’ll be safe.”

“Agreed,” said his bear.

Gavin shifted to his bear form and hauled ass to find Calder as soon as Bailey was out of his sight. Within minutes he found the Alpha and several members of the pack fighting off what appeared to be rogue wolves.

Calder quickly finished off his foe and nodded to Gavin, clearly grateful for any assistance the grizzly bear could offer.

Gavin’s roar stopped several of the rogue wolves dead in their tracks, but it was too late for the intruders. Once he set his sights on a target, it was game, set, and match. They had little hope of running away from the fight they’d picked, and even less hope of surviving the night.

Of all nights for an attack from rogue wolves, it had to be tonight. The one night he’d found his mate, this shit just had to happen. Why not a week ago? Hell, even three days ago when he’d been bored out of his freaking mind.

He would have given his left leg for a good fight.

Now it pissed him off more than words could express, because the only fucking thing he wanted to be doing tonight was hauling Bailey back to his house and spending the evening between her legs.

Could that happen?

Hell no!

And all because of some stupid ass wolves.

Yeah… pissed didn’t even begin to cover his rage.

Four wolves charged him at the same time. Gavin roared again. Not in anger, but this time issuing the mangy mutts a direct challenge to bring it the fuck on.

His bear wanted the fight… wanted the challenge. Wanted to hear the crunch of breaking bones. If they were stupid enough to interrupt his evening with his mate, he would gladly end their lives.

With one swipe of his paw, the first wolf went flying across the field and into a tree. The wolf lay in a twisted heap on the ground. No doubt the force of the collision breaking his back. It would take more than a few minutes for the wolf to recover from the injury.

Gavin turned as the second wolf went for his throat. A quick flick of his wrist and he struck the wolf in midair. Blood sprayed over him, coating his thick fur as the powerful jab with his claws sliced the wolf’s throat wide open.

Gavin didn’t wait for the other two wolves to attack. He took the fight to them, grabbing the first one by the back of the neck. He tore straight through the flesh, ripping his throat out, killing the animal instantly.

The last wolf tucked his tail and tried with all his might to make a quick getaway, but Gavin had other ideas. He shot off like a bullet after the animal.

“Don’t let that fucker get away!” Gavin shouted to his bear.

“That bastard isn’t going anywhere,” the bear agreed.

Just as Gavin was getting ready to tackle the asshole, the wolf shifted to his human form and begged for his life.

“Let this one live. I want some fucking answers,” Calder shouted to Gavin.

Reluctantly, Gavin agreed with the Alpha. It would be nice to know why Twisted Tail was attacked, seemingly out of the blue.