Page 36 of Rejected Bullied Mate

The figures snarled and lunged again, one leaping at my face, while the other two went for my legs. I twisted, barely avoiding getting knocked off balance. They moved so fast that it was hard to keep track of them.

I caught one of them by the throat as he tried to dart past me, slamming him into the ground. He let out a sharp grunt, then rolled away before I could pin him down. The others had regrouped, and they circled us slowly, looking for an opening. I tensed, waiting, letting them make the first move. I might be big, but I wasn't stupid enough to waste energy on a pointless attack. They were trying to distract me, but why?

Then, the time to think was gone. They came at me like a choreographed dance, striking fast, hard, and I felt my arm go numb under a blow that would have felled most men. I didn't feel pain, only rage.

Fuck it. If they wanted to fight an Alpha shifter, I was going to give them what they wanted. Kiera could protect herself if she had to, but I was going to end this before that even became a possibility. My wolf surged to the surface, my bones snapping and reforming as I shifted in one brutal instant. I snarled, lunging at the nearest attacker, and caught him by the arm. He yelped, tearing himself free, but not before I tasted blood in my mouth.

One down. Two to go.

I turned toward the next attacker, my wolf howling to finish this once and for all. I was so fucking angry. How dare they come here and attack us? They wanted to kill me? They were going to pay dearly for the attempt.

The second attacker was bigger than the other two. He ducked low, swiping at my front legs. I dodged back, then lunged again, teeth snapping. He twisted to the side, but I was too fast, my jaws closing around his throat. He let out a choked cry, but his thick clothing saved him. Grabbing the first injured man by the arm, the two hurt attackers fled.

The third paused, glancing between me and his fleeing friends. I growled, showing him my teeth. He gave me one last look before turning tail and running after the others. I considered going after them, but I couldn't leave Kiera alone. We didn't know if they might be lurking around somewhere.

It stung to shift again so quickly, but I was back on two feet in seconds, panting as I tugged my pants on and grabbed Kiera's hand. "We've got to go. Now."

Wide-eyed and possibly in shock, Kiera nodded.

We made it back to the Jeep in record time, and as soon as I had the doors locked and sped towards the road, I pulled my phone out to call my Beta.

"Waylon," I didn't even give him the chance to say hello. "Kiera and I were attacked at the lookout. Three of them, all in black. Handle it, but keep one alive if you can. I have some questions to ask."

He didn't question me. "On it."

I hung up and shoved the phone in my pocket. "We'll get to the bottom of this," I told Kiera, who was staring at me. "Whoever sent those men is going to regret it."

I didn't miss the way she flinched when I said that. "Are you hurt?" I demanded.

She shook her head, but she was lying. I knew what I smelled up there on the lookout before we were attacked, but I wanted her to say it.

"Dammit, Kiera, tell me the truth," I snapped. I was trying not to lose my shit, but it was hard.

"I'm fine," she insisted. "They never touched me."

I took a deep breath, trying to get a hold of myself. I knew good and goddamned well that she was in heat, but I didn't know how far into it she was. It'd shocked me back on the lookout, before the knowledge had made me so hard it had been hard to walk. I'd wanted her so fucking badly that I'd almost lost control, but the attack had startled us both back into reality.

Now, she thought she could backtrack and pretend she wasn't aching for me. No. It wasn't going to happen. But if she needed a minute to breathe, I could give her that.

I reached for my phone, calling Nayeli. Gwen had taken Kit to my cousin's house so they could all have a movie night, but now I was kicking myself for letting her take my son out of the house. "I need you to stay on high alert. I'm sending extra security to your place. Keep Kit with you for the night. Just in case," I said, my voice low and urgent.

Nayeli sounded frightened and so young that it made my heart ache. "Samson, what's happening?"

"I can't explain it," I said as gently as I could manage in the moment. "Call Waylon. He'll tell you. If something happens and you can't reach either of us, call Joe Longwood.

"Okay," she whispered.

"You're going to be fine, Nayeli. I promise."

She didn't respond to that, but just hung up. I dropped my phone into my lap and reached for Kiera's hand, squeezing it gently. "We'll get through this," I promised her. "Whatever this is."

I wasn't sure she believed me.

When we reached the house, I grabbed Kiera's hand again, intending to rush her inside. But the second she tried to slide out of the Jeep, she doubled over in pain.

"Kiera!" I pulled her close, searching for a wound. She didn't smell like blood, but that didn't mean much. "Tell me where it hurts."

She shook her head, and I heard something that sounded like a moan. "It's not an injury," she whispered.

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