Read Online Mountain Lion by Terry Bolryder - Free Book Online Page B

over there?” he asked. “We’ll be home shortly, thanks to the lack of traffic on the road.”
    “Sure,” she said. “Just resting.”
    “I get it. You’re tired.” He scratched the back of his head. “I’m sorry things didn’t work out like we’d hoped. I wanted to take you to do fun fall stuff, and someone had to go ruin it.”
    “It wasn’t ruined,” she said. “I mean, we still went, and I got to learn something about you I didn’t know… and I got to be rescued.”
    “You shouldn’t have needed to be rescued,” he said. “I should have been there all along, but I was trying to give you space. Well, not anymore. Not until we deal with those who have tried to hurt you.”
    “I know,” she said quietly.
    “Listen, Val. I know we’ve been trying to handle this the peaceful way, but seeing what happened tonight made me think we can’t take any risks. We need to do something about the men who hurt you. We can’t just live the rest of our lives wondering when they’re coming.”
    “I know,” she said. “I guess I’m ready.”
    “Good,” he said. “You know I’ll protect you, right? No matter what happens?”
    “But there’s only one of you,” she said. “And there’s more of them. And they’re shifters too.”
    “I’m not alone out here,” Wyatt said. “There are others who would help me if I needed them.”
    “I never see anyone around the ranch that fits that description,” she said. “Unless you count lazy John.”
    “No,” Wyatt said. “Not on my ranch, but on the neighboring one. Bear Haven.”
    “Right,” she said. “You’re friends with the owners of a neighboring ranch.”
    “We get along well enough. We grew up together. And I’ve helped them out with their own mates a few times.”
    “Mates,” she said. “That’s why they wanted me to be with that rich guy. What does that even really mean? Just like rights for mating for life?”
    “No,” Wyatt said, shaking his head. “It means something deeper, or it’s supposed to. It means you’re only with the other person forever. You protect them with everything you have. Love them more than you will anyone or anything else.” He glanced over at her. “Though cats have been known to mate for different reasons than other shifters. Some feel cats could have fated mates, just like other shifters, but they’ve been ignoring the idea for so long that no one really knows.”
    “Oh,” she said. “What’s a fated mate?”
    “It means someone you just know is the one. Like they’re destined for you.” He chuckled. “I admit I find it a romantic prospect but have no idea if there’s any truth in it for cats. I’ve definitely seen it take hold in other shifters. Nonetheless, once a cat has claimed a mate, they are possessive as anything.”
    “How do they claim one?”
    Wyatt put up a hand, flexed it, and with a little metallic click, she saw claws glinting in the darkness, just for a moment. Then his hands were back to normal.
    “Holy shit,” she said.
    “It doesn’t hurt, though. I’ve seen the mark, however. On one of my friends.”
    “One of your friends mated with a cat?”
    “Yeah, even though he’s a bear. Actually, you’re going to meet him. I have questions about the two of you being connected.”
    “How so?” she asked.
    “I wasn’t sure when I should tell you this, because it’s just a crazy guess, but he’s got part cat in him. And I’m wondering if you might be related to the cat his dad bred with.”
    “If they bred, weren’t they together?”
    “Shifters can breed without claiming a mate if they aren’t full-blooded or they aren’t the same species. And even when a mate is claimed, if both parties don’t agree, that doesn’t mean they’ll stick together.”
    “Oh,” she said. The whole idea made her nervous. Particularly the thought of her being involved in any of it. She just wanted a normal, quiet life with her horses. All this mating stuff seemed like too much