Cole had to take a minute to digest what he’d just learned. For weeks, he’d walked around with such rage at the thought of Leeza being raped, he consciously refused to even question anything. She was right; she had tried to talk to him after it happened, but he had selfishly shut her out because he didn’t think he could hear what had happened. He’d always find a way around the conversation. God, he was a total bastard.

He was a man who prided himself on keeping those around him safe… protected, and seeing Leeza injured drove him well past the edge. He’d barely looked her in the eyes, but not because of what that bastard had done to her, or what he thought he’d done to her. No, it was because of his own feelings of failure at not protecting the woman who was to be his mate. And it wasn’t just because she was his mate. He knew the first moment his eyes landed on her that he loved her. Yeah, it was that sudden, that dramatic, to where it almost knocked him to his knees. Sometimes it was that way with their kind. It sure was on his part, and he knew without a doubt, she felt the same about him, but circumstances always got in their way. Well, no more. She was his and by damn, nothing would stand in his way.

In hindsight, he could see how his ignorance had made Leeza feel and why she’d reacted the way she had after the attack. It wasn’t because she’d been raped, rather she’d felt the same as him for not being able to protect Sherry, not being able to protect her.

“Fuck!” Cole punched at the air, because there wasn’t anything close that his fists could connect with. He was a selfish bastard.

Their kind were passionate when it came to the protection of their women, elders, and children. Obviously, blindly passionate. He continued to walk. The more he walked, the more he calmed, and the realization of what he had really done to the woman he loved sank in. He had more or less dismissed her traumatic event because of his deep-seeded need for revenge. He, as well as most of the pack, had created their own version of what had happened instead of asking. Word had traveled around quickly in a pack their size. They weren’t huge, but they were strong. At least he felt they were strong, but after tonight, maybe they weren’t as strong and united as he thought they were.

Stopping, he stood at the edge of the woods. His wolf wanted loose to run, but the man needed to come to terms with the truth first. His mind went back to when he and his brothers had walked into what would change their lives. Riley Snow had been a friend of Eric’s for years. Cole had only met him once, and it was a brief encounter. Word had gotten to them about Riley becoming sick. Knowing others would hear and challenge for the pack, Eric hurried to his friend’s side, with himself and Kile for backup, aware that if Riley couldn’t fight, then his sister would have to step up to protect their people.

That was Cole’s first encounter with Leeza. He knew at that moment he’d found his mate, but being a little younger than him and her obvious emotional distress at her brother’s sickness, he had remained distant out of respect.

At that time, the three brothers had been roaming from pack to pack, at least the packs not threatened by them. Some alphas sent them on their way, which was fine because none of them wanted to be tied down to one pack. They were more or less loners who were happy living a nomad life. That changed quickly when Riley Snow died.

Cole would never forget how much the pack not only mourned, but the respect Riley was shown at the burial ceremony. No one impressed Cole more than Riley’s sister, Leeza. The pack looked toward her for leadership, which she in turn directed toward his brother Eric, who on Riley’s dying minutes promised the man he would take over the pack with honor and make sure his sister was always taken care of. Cole knew the pack would be in Eric’s capable hands, but Leeza’s welfare would be solely his. Fine fucking job he was doing so far.

Not once was Leeza resentful for the brothers taking over her pack, but Eric made sure that Leeza was a big part of the transition. Usually, once a new alpha took place, the pack split, but because of her, not one member left.

At first, Cole was jealous of Eric and Leeza’s closeness, but he soon realized there was nothing there. It could have been because of the huge fist fight he and Eric had over the fact, but it became clear Eric had no intentions toward Leeza.

A smile unexpectedly curved his lip at that memory. He had been so pissed and actually made a fool of himself before realizing he had made a major mistake. He had walked into the office where Riley had kept all his information to see Leeza in Eric’s arms. Cole had gone ballistic, and it wasn’t until he was on his back getting the shit beat out of him did he notice that Leeza, who was trying to pull Eric off him, had been crying.

Yeah, that had been embarrassing, trying to explain why in the fuck he attacked his brother for no reason whatsoever. Leeza had then finished getting what Eric needed together before leaving, giving him a confused and guarded look as she left.

After Eric found out why Cole had gone apeshit, he’d laughed with a “You poor son of a bitch.”

The grin from the memory faded slowly, his eyes turning hard. Everything had seemed to be moving in the right direction between himself and Leeza. They’d been talking every day. He’d been determined to take it slowly with her, but was confident she had feelings for him, her shyness and heated cheeks were just a couple of telltale signs. But her emotions from losing her brother were still a little raw. And then Foster fucking Manning happened. Damn, he wished the bastard was still alive so he could kill him again.

The punch to his gut when she’d said “fuck you” had taken him by surprise. Her usual shyness toward him had disappeared. To everyone else, she was always outspoken. He liked it. This change. He liked that side of her, but he was pissed for the reason it came out.

His mind played scenes over and over in his head since the attack. Leeza was right. She had been treated differently since the assault. He saw now what he couldn’t see before because of his rage. He wouldn’t blame her if she never talked to him again, but that wasn’t going to happen because he would fight for her. Always, he would fight for her. He’d made mistakes in the past, he’d make mistakes in the future, but nothing would change his feelings for Leeza Snow.

Needing to get his emotions in check, Cole took off at a run, disappearing into the woods as he shifted to let his wolf get the release it needed. Stopping, the large black wolf shook its fur, looking left to right before sprinting and disappearing into the early morning fog.

* * *

Rushing out of her tent at the break of dawn, Leeza made her way to the trailer that held the food and medicine. She hadn’t slept at all. Instead, she’d simply lain there listening to the night around her. Just an hour ago, she’d heard something and peeked out of her tent to see Cole’s wolf return and disappear into a tent. After that, she knew sleep would be nonexistent for her. So she’d waited for the first rays of light and was ready to get the day started. Having a purpose took her mind off things, which was exactly what she needed, and working with animals was the perfect way to spend her day. They sucked less than people, that she knew for a fact.

As quietly as she could, she passed the tents as well as the enclosures, receiving a few stares from the wolf-dogs, who lay watching her every move. She put her finger to her lips to a few of them as she crept toward the trailer. Taking the key out of her pocket that Gemma had given her, Leeza opened the door and flipped on the lights.

Grabbing what she needed for Ari, she smiled, feeling content in what she was doing. She grabbed the notebook that held the spreadsheet and made a note of the time and medicine Ari was getting in the slot provided. As she was putting it back, the door opened, and Larry walked in. She had only talked to him briefly since being here, but felt comfortable with him, and he made her smile. He didn’t know her backstory, or at least she didn’t think he did.

“Hey there.” Larry smiled, raising, what she figured, was hot coffee in his thermal cup.

“Hi.” Leeza tossed him a friendly smile.

“Gemma put you in charge of Ari,” Larry said, looking at the medicine. “That’s good. Gemma runs herself thin around here. She must trust you.”

Those words hit her hard. Someone else trusted her and she’d failed them. She pushed her emotions back, clearing her throat. “You need any help after I’m finished with Ari?” Leeza asked, knowing it wouldn’t take her long and wanted to keep busy.

The older man watched her closely before nodding. “You’re going to be a great asset here, young lady. And yes, you come find me when you’re finished, and I’ll put you to work.”

With a nod, Leeza smiled as she headed out the door. She noticed Gemma making her way toward the trailer and tossed her a wave. Gemma grinned and waved back. To Leeza’s surprise, Gemma headed straight toward the trailer she had just left without stopping. Leeza had wondered if Gemma fully trusted her, but now she knew for sure. She was letting Leeza go do the job she was given without question.

After walking into the enclosure, Leeza closed it securely behind her, her eyes never leaving Ari, who stood slowly then stretched. After a mighty shake of his fur, he sniffed the air, making her smile.

“Hungry are we?” Leeza tossed the meat into the center and then backed up and leaned against the thick wires of the enclosure. The purpose of the sanctuary was to keep the wolf-dogs alive. Many times they were taken in by families, but let loose or killed when the people who took them in realized they were more wolf than dog. Their wildness was not easy to domesticate. It was a fine line between wild and family house dog/wolf, but Gemma was doing the best she could, and it showed in everything she did.

Wolf-dogs were more domesticated than pure wolves, but not by much and could easily turn totally wild. Her eyes roamed as Ari finished his food. The medicine she was giving him was strong, and he needed to have food in his stomach, so she was giving him his space to finish. She glanced over her shoulder to see only the top of Cole’s tent. She wasn’t looking forward to their first meeting after last night. Her stomach cramped at the thought.

Jackie Simpson walked past, giving her a wave without saying a word. Leeza waved back but didn’t smile. Why should she? No one looked her in the eyes. Shifters were different, she got that. They were strong beings, but the pack’s inability to treat her as “normal” had done nothing but cut her deeper. Her pack’s pain and need for justice didn’t make the way they treated her right, and she was damn sure going to change the pack’s reaction of those hurt if she had any say.

Protection of each other in a tight pack was key to their survival, so when one member was attacked, hurt, or killed, then the whole pack suffered. She understood the pack’s reaction. She felt it, but being on the other side gave her a whole new perspective. As a survivor of an attack, the pack’s reaction set her aside as an outcast. Even if unintentional, the pack’s outrage only proved to isolate her more. Having experienced this herself, she could only assume this was how others had felt when in a similar position. Sure, she was just as guilty. She didn’t scream out for help after what happened to Sherry and herself, but if someone… anyone would have come to her after the event, she would have talked, cried, and probably held on to them for dear life.

No, she hadn’t been raped, but witnessing a friend, someone as close as a sister being violated was something she hoped to never have to experience again.

Feeling something cold on her hand, Leeza jumped, surprised. Ari was nosing the hand that held the pill hidden inside the cheese.

“Ah, still hungry or is it just the cheese?” she teased, a smile forming on her lips. Holding the pill out in the palm of her hand, Ari gently took it from her then moved his massive head to her other hand, making Leeza laugh. Giving him the extra slice of cheese after tearing it apart, with measured slowness, she ran her fingers through the fur on his head before rubbing his ears. “Feels good, doesn’t it,” she whispered when he let out a low moan. She fed him the rest of the cheese, then stayed by his side for a few more minutes. She liked his company, and it seemed he liked hers.

“You done in there?” Larry’s voice carried to her.

Leeza nodded as she hurried out of the enclosure. Larry was carrying two buckets filled with meat. She took one as she stepped in line with him.

“You start on that side and I’ll start on this one,” Larry instructed as he split from her. “Watch Samson. He’s a little pissy in the mornings. Kinda like me before I have my coffee.”

Leeza laughed, knowing all too well what he meant. She wasn’t typically a morning person and having zero sleep was not a good way to start the day. But she had no way to make coffee and no way to get some if she wanted it.

Opening the door to Samson’s enclosure, she eased herself in slowly. Samson stood tall and proud, his head tilting as he gauged her. She did the same. She showed no fear as she closed the gate and walked with measured purpose.

“Your breakfast as ordered,” she said, her voice even and controlled. Tossing the meat down, she stepped back, giving Samson room so he wouldn’t feel crowded. He stepped toward the meat, but his eyes never left her. She knew without a doubt it was going to take time to gain the trust of the animals, but time was all she had.

Suddenly, Samson’s head snapped around as he released a low, aggressive growl, putting Leeza on guard. She quickly glanced to see what had set the large wolf-dog off, to see a man heading their way.

“Do you need assistance?” the man asked, his cowboy hat slanted low over his eyes. His voice was deep with authority.

“No,” Leeza replied, still staring at the man and wondering about Samson’s reaction to him. Unlike Eric, their alpha, she couldn’t read non-shifters, only a few could. She wasn’t one of them unfortunately. The man was very tall and somewhat older than her; she guessed by a few years. He was very handsome and human.

Samson snapped at the man, but the man stayed put and didn’t flinch. “I really think you need to step out of there. He seems way too aggressive for my liking.”

Leeza cocked her eyebrow at him then looked at Samson, who snarled at him, his sharp teeth gleaming white. “I don’t think I have anything to worry about since the aggression is obviously directed toward you.”

The man’s eyes snapped toward hers as a smile curved his lips. “Guess you got a point there.”

“Is there something I can help you with?” Leeza backed toward the enclosure door, letting herself out.

“Lance Cutter.” He stuck out his hand toward her.

“Leeza Snow.” She took his hand in a tight shake.

“You new here?” Lance asked, his gaze staying on her face, which she had to give him credit for. Usually, men who first met her talked to her large breasts, something she dealt with for a long while, being an early bloomer at a young age.

“Yes” was all she gave him. She didn’t know this man, and until she did, that was all he was getting. Her trust of strangers went only so far, and being nice and pleasant was easy for her… until it wasn’t time to be nice and pleasant.

“So that’s all I get?” Lance’s smile grew, and then he nodded. “That’s fine. I’m really good at solving mysteries.”

Leeza chuckled. If he only knew what mysteries surrounded her. “Yeah well, good luck with that.”

Lance leaned his head back and laughed. “It’s really nice to have met you, Leeza Snow.”

Still curious about Samson’s reaction, she asked, “So why is Samson still growling at you?” Leeza threw that out there since Samson seemed like he wanted nothing more than to rip through the enclosure. She trusted animal instincts more than human’s, so she didn’t take Samson’s obvious dislike lightly.

“Yeah, Cutter.” Cole’s voice came from behind her. “Why don’t you tell her why Samson wants to have you for lunch?”