Page 15 of Mated to Team Shadow

"Yes, but not in weather like this."

"Ryker, give her a break," said Kane. "She's a civilian."

"I get what the hell she is," he said. Ryker's frustration came through in his voice, and I understood. Our mission went to crap, and so did our exit. We were miles from the Coast Guard boat that was supposed to pick us up, and we all knew in weather like this, their first responsibility was to respond to distress calls. Our oceans were heavily trafficked, and most could not avoid the weather.

"I told her we will make sure she's safe."

"We will," he said. "We can't help it, can we?"

He flicked a glance to each of us, and in this little, dimly lit cabin in a storm-tossed and disabled powerboat, I understood what he meant.

Ryker was no fool. He watched all of us like a hawk. Aside from the fact that losing a team member lessened all of our chances for survival, he protected us with his sure Alpha sense of right and wrong. He wouldn't let us hurt each other over a woman.

Kane pursed his lips and found something interesting to inspect on the bulkhead. Gunner stared with a challenge to Ryker, but he had it all wrong. Ryker's Alpha scent released as it would in stressful conditions. He was dominating us, and we'd submit to his will, but it ticked something in Jeanine's head box too, because her pupils had grown wide.

"What's happening?" said Jeanine.

"Nothing," said Ryker. "We're riding out this storm and hoping we don't capsize."

"Sure," snorted Kane. "Sugarcoat it for the lady."

"What happens if we capsize?" Her voice trembled.

"Things get a little difficult," said the overly optimistic Gunner.

"I'm hoping this storm blows over fast," Ryker said, "and Gunner can get the engine started again. Don't worry. The situation is serious, but we've been in far worse scrapes."

She shook her head as if fighting something off. "So I've heard," she said derisively. Jeanine appeared not to bend to Ryker's chemical persuasion. Was it because she wasn't a shifter?

The boat rocked, but no thunder sounded, and the rain eased. This was not the good news it appeared, and a glance to my teammates confirmed it. Only a big storm would have an eye where the weather calmed.

"Maybe it's passing," said Jeanine hopefully.

"Most likely we are in the storm's eye," said Kane grimly. "When it passes over us it will hit hard again."

"Hey," said Gunner. He reached his hand to the bulkhead at his side. "There's an inflatable here."

"Good," Ryker said. "We may have to use it."

"Inflatable?" said Jeanine.

"Either boat or raft. If the ship goes down, we'll have something to hang onto."

"Aren't you worried about sharks?" she said.

Gunner laughed. "They worry about us."

She bit her lip again, and my eyes couldn't help but concentrate on her full lips. My teammates did the same thing. Jeanine's eyes grew wide again as she glanced at each of us who eyed her intently.

"What's going on guys?"

Gunner's eyes glowed green like they do when he's about to shift, and the musk in the tiny space grew thick.

"What?" she squeaked.

"Chill, Gunner," ordered Ryker.

"Not sure I can, boss," Gunner said.

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