Let the Rain Come Down [The Moonlight Breed 6] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) by Gabrielle Evans (read a book TXT) 📗

How many are there?” His thoughts strayed to his friends, and the panic almost overwhelmed him. “We have to go. I have to get the others and go.”

“Oscar!” Demitrius grabbed him by his upper arms and held him still. “No one is here. You’re not listening to me. It was one guy, and he’s gone.”

Maybe it was one guy now, but others would come. “Demitrius, let go of me. I have to get the others. We have to hide. I’m not going back there!”

“Goddamn it, Oscar, stop!” Dropping to his knees on the dirt path that led to the pond, Demitrius held Oscar’s face in both hands, forcing him to finally meet his mate’s gaze. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you. Do you really believe there is anything I wouldn’t do for you? If I have to face an entire army, I’m not letting anyone take you.”

Time stood still while they stared into each other’s eyes. Oscar heard, felt, and saw the truth in the words, but it only caused his heart to beat more frantically. It was his fault. He’d brought this danger to the coven, his new friends, and now his mate. How could he live with himself if something happened to Demitrius because of him?

Throwing his arms around his lover’s neck, he clung to him with all his strength. “You don’t know these people, love. They won’t fight fair.”

Demitrius actually laughed as he held Oscar close and kissed the side of his neck. “Have you looked at me lately? I’m not afraid of these assholes. Besides, I’m not above using every dirty trick in the book if the need arises.”

“I love you, Demitrius. Please don’t get yourself killed.”

“If I die, you die. Keeping my ass alive is equal to keeping you safe. I don’t want you to worry, but I won’t lie to you, either. I will do anything—and I do mean anything—to protect you.”

His body was starting to calm down, but Oscar’s mind was still a snarled mess of confusing, conflicting thoughts. “Can we go home?” He needed to talk to his friends, let them know what was happening. It didn’t seem very smart to be standing out in the open anymore, either.

“Have you ever seen your contract?”

Oscar shook his head. “Why do you ask?”

“A man named Joseph Mahoney signed the contracts for all four of you. He was stupid enough to bring them with him to Haven. Stavion has them in his office right now.”

Loosening his hold enough so he could see his lover’s face, Oscar tilted his head to the side and frowned. “He signed the contracts before we escaped?”

“Not sure, but it would seem so.” Demitrius dipped his head and pressed their lips together. “Your contract says that this guy is on his own to reclaim you. The Hive releases all claim or knowledge of you, and will not get involved in the matter.”

That sounded way too good to be true. “Do you think it’s for real?”

“They’ve put a lot of time and money into you guys, not to mention all the secrets you know. A ten-year investment and they’re just going to let you walk away? I don’t see it.”

Those were Oscar’s thoughts exactly. “You think he was a spy.”

“I’m thinking more of a scout to find out how much resistance we’ll put up if they try to waltz in here and take you. I believe, and Xander agrees, that the contracts were just smoke and mirrors to make us lower our guards.”

Oscar nodded slowly as he mulled it over. “If you think The Hive is disassociating from this, you’ll get lazy and won’t be expecting an attack.”

“Exactly.”

He would have said more—there was a lot to say on the subject, after all—but a loud, terrified scream interrupted his thoughts. Jerking around, Oscar stared in the direction of the pond with wide eyes. “Someone’s in trouble.”

“Stay here,” Demitrius commanded, rising to his feet and taking off toward the sound of the scream at a jog.

Oscar had no intentions of doing anything of the sort. He wasn’t a fighter, and there wasn’t a whole lot he could do, but he wouldn’t just stand around and twiddle his thumbs if there was even the barest chance that Demitrius was in danger.

Reaching the clearing that surrounded the pond, Oscar spotted the damsel in distress immediately. Her jeans were ripped at the knee and covered in blood, her hair a tangled mess of blonde curls, and Oscar swore he could hear her heart pounding against her sternum. She didn’t look in his direction but stared straight ahead toward the sleek mountain lion stalking her.

It wasn’t another shifter, simply a normal, everyday cougar, and he looked hungry. The cats didn’t usually venture into populated areas, but all living things would resort to desperate measures when food was scarce.

Demitrius stepped in front of the mountain lion, raising his hands above his head and roaring in a high-pitched, cat-like way. Apparently, the cat knew when it was outmatched, because it hunkered closer to the ground and slowly backed away before turning and darting off into the trees.

While the resolution was somewhat anticlimactic, Oscar imagined it would have ended much differently if Demitrius hadn’t been there. Rushing over to the woman, he knelt down beside her in the yellow, dry grass and examined the wound on her leg.

“Shifter?” he asked, trying to determine what type of paranormal she was and how quickly her injuries would heal.

“Y–Yes, coyote,” she answered shakily, still staring at the spot where the cougar had been. Then her attention whipped around to Oscar, and she practically threw herself into his arms. “Thank you. It happened so fast, and I just knew I was dead. Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome, but it’s not me you should be thanking.” He patted the woman lightly on the back and smiled up at his lover. “Demitrius did all the work.”

The girl sniffled against his shoulder and bobbed her head. Finally releasing him, she tilted her head back to