Hunter knew exactly what the fucking bear probably wanted, if his suspicions were right and it was a rogue shifter who’d gotten the idea that Kelly was his mate.

Hunter wasn’t having it.

His cougar was pacing, ready for the kill, ready to end the stupid, foul creature that had caused her so much turmoil.

But Hunter knew he had to handle this carefully. She and the rest of the human world that was mocking her clearly thought this was a regular bear. So it made no sense that he was stalking so intently, even when she would move across the country by plane.

Knowing it was a bear that could shift to a human and just catch a flight with her made Hunter’s blood run cold.

He looked deep into Kelly’s eyes, wanting to reassure her, but not knowing how much more he could say.

Their connection had solidified the feeling that she was his mate, but his worry over her fear and his need to get back to her had carved it in granite.

She was his, and he would protect her. But how to let her know that everything would be okay?

It sucked sometimes that humans weren’t allowed to know about shifters, because it left them in potentially terrible situations when things like this happened to them.

How could a human woman make sense of it when a shifter decided to come into her life?

Not knowing that shifters even existed made it so people like Kelly had to be alone in their odd struggle, unable to even seek the right help.

Well, she had it now. She had a cougar, a bear, and a wolf who would all help if needed. Plus, a nearby wolf pack that owed him a favor.

Hunter’s lip curled distastefully. Surely one bear wouldn’t be that hard to take down. He’d fought bears before. His agility was definitely a bonus. Then again, that bear hadn’t smelled normal.

No matter what he was, Hunter would end him before he let him near his mate.

What a disgusting coward that shifter was, terrifying and stalking a woman who couldn’t even make sense of what he was.

He sat up and shook his head to clear it, already planning to talk to the guys about what he’d found out. When he stood, he felt her hand softly grasp his wrist, pulling him back.

He looked down at her curiously. “Yes?”

“You’re going to leave, aren’t you? You were acting nice, but you think I’m crazy.” She was sitting upright now, and her eyes looked desperate and scared.

He crouched in front of her, holding the sides of her face as he shook his head. “Absolutely not. I just need to let the guys know what is going on and make plans to catch this stupid bear.”

Her hand remained on his, clutching it tightly. “They’ll think I’m crazy.”

“I promise they won’t.” He couldn’t tell her why they wouldn’t, but he knew he was telling the truth.

She shook her head, and he pulled her against his shoulder, stroking her hair as he felt tears wet the collar of his shirt. “I’m glad you believe me, but it still feels like this is all impossible. He only shows up when he wants to. Only one other person has even seen him.” She shook her head. “I just don’t even know what to do.”

“You do nothing,” he said softly. “Except depend on me to catch him. Me and my friends. You have friends now, Kelly. And we aren’t going to let you down.”

She pulled back, wiping her eyes and beginning to steel herself. He could feel that she was starting to calm down, and it did his heart good. “But you don’t understand. I’ve hired so many people. So many hunters. No one has been able to catch him.”

He leaned in, kissing her lips, tasting her tears and swearing he would end this so she didn’t have to shed any more of them.

When he pulled back, he wiped the last of the moisture away, then stroked his thumb over her lips. “Yeah, well, maybe the right Hunter hasn’t tried.”

Her lips parted in surprise, and he kissed her again, loving the way she melted into him and hoping his confidence was finally catching on.

Because he was going to kill this stupid bastard, and he was going to enjoy ripping his body apart with his claws when he was done.

* * *

Once Kelly was calm and resting, sipping some tea with Dawn and April in her room, Hunter took the chance to talk to Garrett and Grayson in the living room down the hall.

“Damn, dude,” Garrett said, finishing the article with Grayson reading over his shoulder. “Shit. Grizzlies are notorious assholes when it comes to claiming mates. Even the regular ol’ bears will stalk their females for miles just to wear them down.”

“Shit,” Grayson said. “Gross.”

Garrett gave him a sidelong glance. “I’d like to think shifters are better, but I’m sure there are some that are a little more in touch with their… animal side.”

“Like a feral?” Hunter asked.

“Yes,” Garrett said.

Grayson took a seat on the couch, looking pensive. “I can only imagine what she’s been through. Trying to tell people and having them think she’s crazy. Meanwhile, she’s been scared to death.”

Hunter sent his friend an appreciative glance. Grayson could be oddly empathetic at times.

“I’ll get the word out to the pack to watch for a rogue bear. Maybe even send out some hunters,” Grayson said.

Garrett shook his head nervously. “No offense, but the pack isn’t really… strong enough probably. I mean, you alone can take on handfuls of them. I think it’ll have to be us that take this thing on.”

“Me,” Hunter said stoically, cracking his knuckles.

Grayson eyed him. “So I guess there is something that makes you get serious.”

“When my mate is in danger? Hell yeah.”

Garrett couldn’t help grinning at him. “Told you.”

“You did no such thing, you dumb bear. You just think everyone is always finding their mate,” Hunter retorted.

Garrett took a seat in his La-Z-Boy, putting his hands behind his head. “Been right so far.”

Grayson narrowed his eyes. “I’ll just have the pack watch, then, not engage with it if they find it.”

“Right,” Garrett said. “I guess unless it’s in human form. Then it could be harder to track.”

“Would be weird to be in human form much and be that feral,” Grayson said.

“Not if he’s just been using his human form as manipulation. As a tool. I mean, he must have at least taken a plane to get to her. There must be that much human of him at least.”

“Doesn’t take much,” Garrett said. “He probably has a house and a stash that he could access. Though, my guess is he left everything behind in his final approach.”

“What I don’t get is how no one has ever seen him,” Grayson said.

“Wouldn’t be hard to hide in the woods,” Hunter explained. “Climb up a tree as a bear, shift back. As long as you don’t mind pine needles in your man bits, you could do it.”

Grayson winced at that, and Garrett joined him.

“Yeah, well, bears have gone through much worse to claim the female they want,” Garrett said, eyeing Hunter. “You may be in for a fight.”

Hunter just shrugged, still feeling hard and cold on the inside. “She’s my mate. I would kill for her.”

“Still seems like it happened really fast,” Grayson said, lowering his eyebrows.

“You were right. It happens quickly,” Hunter said. “Now I just want to keep her safe.”

“Right,” Garrett said.

Hunter took a deep breath. “But I also understand if you don’t want you or your mates to be in danger. I can take her somewhere else if need be.”

“No,” Garrett and Grayson said emphatically.

“You’re safest here,” Garrett said. “You and I can keep an eye on both our mates. Grayson, you’ll be fine at the trailer with the pack.”

Grayson nodded. “I ain’t afraid of no stupid bear. I’ll be there whenever you need me.”

Hunter felt warmth cover him as he looked over at his friends. From the moment they’d met in the bar, he’d known there was something special between them.

In the years they’d worked together, they’d become more than friends. They’d become his family. And by offering to put their own hides on the line to help protect his mate, they’d become a part of his soul.

“Guys, I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you’ll mate Kelly and stick around to hang with us,” Garrett said. “We can find plenty of work around here.”

“Yeah, don’t make me punch you,” Grayson added.

It was more than Hunter had ever hoped. From the moment he’d met Kelly, any desire to wander had been gone. He was ready to just set down his roots. All he needed to do was find that bear. “Okay. Deal.”

Garrett was beaming behind his beard, and Grayson looked uncomfortable with all of the mushiness.

“Okay, so what do we do now?” Grayson sat forward, rubbing his hands together.

Garrett cocked his head thoughtfully. “The article said something about him coming out when someone dates her.”

“Right,” Hunter said, wondering where the bear was going with this.

“Well then, keep dating her,” Garrett said simply.

A grin spread over Hunter’s face, and he cracked his neck to both sides. “Sounds good.”

And it did, both the dating of his mate and the horrible, painful death of the bear that would surely ensue shortly.

* * *

Kelly was grateful that her new friends were acting cheerful and normal as she waited for Hunter to finish talking to the guys about their plans.

For all she knew, once they found out the kind of danger she was bringing they would reject her, wanting to protect their families from her craziness and the bear.

She wouldn’t even blame them, but she at least believed that Hunter would stay by her side.

He’d reacted unlike anyone else, and she was grateful for that. More grateful than she’d ever been in her life. What she’d done to deserve such a handsome, protective, honorable man, she didn’t know.

But she would try hard to treat him just as well.

Hunter strode back into the room, holding two glasses of lemonade. “Here,” he said, handing one over to her. “Want to join me outside for a walk?”

She eyed him suspiciously, wondering why he would feel confident doing that with the bear outside, but agreed, following him to the front door.

As they headed out into the sunlight, Hunter took a turn toward the pond they’d hung out by the day before.

When he reached an older log with room for the both of them, he sat, patting the space beside him.

She looked around them warily, but not seeing any sign of the bear, she sat down as well.

The pond was shimmering in the sunlight, sending little ripples of bright silver across its surface. She released a deep breath as she let herself enjoy the beauty of nature again. The smell of fresh air, the feel of the cool breeze.

Sunlight warming her skin.

Now that Hunter was by her side, she had a feeling she was never going back to the darkness.

“I talked to the guys, and we’re confident we’ll be able to catch this thing before it hurts anyone else. Especially you. I can promise you that.”

She took a deep breath, then a sip of her lemonade, giving her time to think. “Look, I’m glad you aren’t running or thinking I’m crazy, but I’m a little worried about how nonchalantly you’re taking the bear thing. I mean, it’s huge. Dangerous. Shouldn’t we call someone in?”

He shook his head. “We can deal with it. I told you. I’ve dealt with bears before. Back in Montana.”

“What, are you a literal hunter?”

“Kind of,” he said. But he sipped his lemonade, not elaborating further. “Besides, as you’ve seen, not many people are willing to believe you, and the people you’ve hired never got any results. I think you’ve finally found the right help.”

“Ah. Well, I appreciate it.” Even if a part of her was still very nervous about something happening to her friends. She’d never had anyone agree to face the bear with her, so she’d never really had to worry about it before.

Sure, she’d been concerned that someone around her could be affected, but none of them had offered to go on the hunt.

“So what’s the plan?”

“Draw him out. Let him see us,” Hunter said, taking another sip and looking across the pond.

A chill went up Kelly’s spine as she realized this was the first step in it. Out here, they were totally exposed. “Don’t you even want to carry a gun?”

“I can if it makes you feel better.”

“How else are you going to beat him?”

“I have my ways,” Hunter said. It wasn’t the first time she could tell he was hiding something.

“What, like tranquilizers?”

“Something like that,” he said. “But I’ll carry a rifle if it helps. I’m sure Mina will let me keep one at the bar. That’s another place we’re planning to hang out to draw the bear out.”

“I see,” Kelly said. “And you’re sure we want to just face it head on like this? Because I’m fine if you just want to run.” She bowed her head shyly, then looked up into his eyes. “As long as I’m with you, I could deal with that.”

He put an arm around her shoulder, pulling her in. “I hear you, but if I’m going to travel with you, I’m going to do it because we want to. Not because we’re scared of a punk bear.”

She laughed. “Never heard it phrased like that.”

“I’m not afraid of no bears,” Hunter joked. “Besides, I told you. I actually killed one before.”

“Oh?”

“He was attacking my sister,” Hunter said. “I didn’t have any choice. This time I won’t be caught off guard, most likely. And I’ll be older as well.”

She wondered if the scratches on his back had anything to do with that but didn’t want to ask him in case it was a sore spot. He hadn’t wanted to talk about it much before.

“We can stay where we want to, but Garrett has invited us to stay here,” Hunter said. “All I ask is that we go everywhere together while we’re trying to figure this out.”

“Sounds fair,” Kelly said. “But I’m sorry you have to babysit me.”

“You mean you’re sorry I get an excuse to spend every waking minute with you? I’m not. I haven’t been able to get enough of you from the moment we met.”

“You move quick. I’ll give you that.”

“You have no idea,” he said cryptically, a little smile curving the corners of his lips.

She stared at him, wondering what that meant, but he was just sipping his lemonade, looking all nonchalant.

She gazed around the clearing again, looking for any sign of the monster. “Still can’t believe we are just going to try and draw him out.” She shuddered. “What if something happens to you?”

“Something did happen to me, Kelly,” Hunter said softly. “You happened. And I’m not going to leave your side.”

Then he leaned in to kiss her, and her curls brushed her cheek as the wind blew over them, contrasting beautifully with the warmth of their kiss.

His lips held a promise, and his hand gently stroked at her cheek.

She knew he would protect her, and she didn’t even really know why.

It all still felt surreal, finally being safe like this, finally having people by her side.

But if it was a dream, she didn’t want to wake up.

Finally, he pulled back, extending a hand to her so he could help her stand up. “Let’s go back and get lunch with the others. We can go out again tonight.”

She nodded, putting her hand in his so they could walk back together.

“We’re all here for you this time, Kelly. It ends with the bear right here in Silver Lake.”