Trigger showed him the bathroom, and Dean closed the door, stripped, and turned the shower on. He made the water as cold as he could stand before stepping under the spray. He tilted his head forward and stood there as the water washed the gunky feeling from his body.

  He had never enjoyed a shower this immensely. He stayed in until his skin pruned, but as cold as the water was, he was still on fire. His dick should have shriveled under the cold assault, but it was as hard as ever.

  When Dean stepped out, he noticed his clothes were missing. Damn it. He should’ve seen that coming. He grabbed the towel sitting on the counter and wrapped it around his waist.

  If Trigger thought taking Dean’s clothes would keep him here, the guy was sadly mistaken. He’d escape nude if he had to.

  He heard muffled voices when he exited the bathroom. He crept down the hallway, trying to hear what they were saying. But when he drew close to the kitchen, the voices fell silent.

  Trigger came around the corner so quietly that he startled Dean. “Deloris is here.”

  A woman with stylishly short platinum-blonde hair and sweet, warm, hazel eyes strode in. She had a trim figure and couldn’t have been over five feet. “Mind if I take a look at your wound?”

  She reminded Dean of his mother. Her smile was disarming as she waved a hand toward the couch. Dean couldn’t bring himself to be rude to her. He’d been raised better than that.

  Begrudgingly, he lay down and let Deloris take a look at his side, embarrassed the entire time that all he wore was a towel.

  A towel that was tented from his hard-on.

  Chapter Two

  Arms crossed over his chest, Trigger stood at the side of the couch and watched as Deloris stitched Dean up. He couldn’t help but notice his mate’s erection, but he couldn’t do anything about it at the moment, and Deloris was a complete professional.

  She tied off the stitch, then dressed the wound before declaring she was done. With Dean wearing nothing but a towel, Trigger could see how flushed his body was. His gaze kept snapping to Trigger before quickly bouncing away.

  The mating heat had kicked in and Dean’s scent was driving Trigger’s bear insane.

  “I’ll be back tomorrow to check on you,” Deloris said to Dean. She got to her feet and put her supplies away in a black bag Bobby Ray had purchased for her. Deloris brushed a few stray hairs from her face. “No strenuous activity until those stitches come out. That wound wasn’t too bad, but I don’t want to take any chances. I’ll have Clint get a hold of some antibiotics for you. There were a lot of wood splinters I had to dig out.”

  “Yes’m.” Trigger dipped his head.

  “Thanks for helping me out.” Dean sat up. “I appreciate it.”

  “No problem.” Deloris headed for the door.

  As soon as she was gone, Dean turned to Trigger. There was fire in his hazel eyes as he narrowed them. “I would’ve had those antibiotics if you’d taken me to a flipping hospital. If my gut gets infected, I’m stabbing you in your sleep.”

  Trigger understood Dean’s anger. His mate had been bitten, attacked, held captive in the cabin, nearly eaten by a mountain lion, and had almost been gutted by a branch. The last forty-two hours hadn’t been kind to him, but Trigger was getting sick of Dean’s surly attitude. “Fine, when you’re able to travel, I’ll take you back to town.”

  Dean’s dark brows shot toward his hairline. “Are you serious?”

  “Dead.” Trigger walked into the kitchen, gritting his teeth. He was gambling a lot on the fact that Dean wouldn’t want to leave because of the mating heat, and was hoping he could change his mate’s mind. A part of him worried Dean would insist on leaving, but Trigger refused to focus on that fear.

  His bear growled as if Trigger had lost his ever-loving mind. Maybe he had, but Trigger refused to keep his mate against his will. Although all his brothers—except for Walker who had yet to find his mate—had forced their men to come here, that had worked for them. They were now nauseatingly happy and pregnant, or as in Dane and Noel’s case, already had cubs.

  Trigger had always been different, always looked on the flip side of the coin. He hadn’t been the one to kidnap Dean, but he hadn’t been able to control his bear, either. The bite had come as a shock to him, and was still reeling from it.

  “Would you mind if I got something to eat?”

  Turning, Trigger eyed his mate. Dean stood in the doorway, the towel still around his lean waist. One of his hands was pressed against the bandage covering his side. Dean looked downright exhausted, ready to fall over at any second.

  Trigger grabbed the plastic bowl of leftover tuna salad. He made Dean a sandwich, placed some chips on the side of the plate, and poured him a glass of water.

  Dean took a seat at the table and winced. “Thanks.”

  Trigger didn’t trust Dean’s sudden mood swing.

  Dean ate the sandwich in three bites. He scarfed the chips down, then slammed a fist against his chest.

  “Slow down before you choke,” Trigger warned.

  Dean ignored him and drank every last drop of water. He smacked his lips as he set the glass down. “Hit the spot.”

  “I’ll show you to a room.” Trigger grabbed the plate and glass and set them in the sink.

  “Couch’ll do just fine.” When Dean got up, his towel slipped, displaying his cock for Trigger’s enjoyment. The flushed flesh was erect, the head jutting from a nest of black curls to touch Dean's navel.

  Dean swiped the towel from the floor and curled it back around his waist. Although he was in heat, he seemed determined not to give in to it. He left Trigger standing in the kitchen, his body aching so badly that he was ready to jack off by the sink. He’d planned on wooing his mate, but Dean had other plans, like keeping as far from Trigger as possible.

  * * * *

  Once Dean fell asleep, Trigger had Bobby Ray sit on his porch to make sure the human didn’t try to escape. Trigger planned on keeping his word, but he didn’t need Dean wandering aimlessly in these mountains if he woke and decided to make a run for it.

  The mating scent carried to Duane’s house. Trigger glanced back, making sure Bobby Ray was still on the porch. His brother might be mated with twin cubs, but the scent was strong—strong enough to tempt anyone, mated or not.

  Trigger let himself into the kitchen, needing to talk to Duane. He hadn’t expected to find Elijah traipsing around the house with a laundry basket in his hand, wearing a French maid’s uniform.

  And nothing else. His bare bottom was exposed, and put on full display when he shrieked and took off down the hallway. Trigger stood there with his mouth hanging open.

  Duane moved toward the kitchen, his jaw set in a firm clench. “Haven’t you ever heard of knocking?”

  “I have now.” Trigger blinked a few times, then burst out laughing. “You kinky bastard.”

  Duane grunted. “Just mad because you don’t have the imagination I do.”

  “Nor do I want to have it.” Trigger leaned against the counter, crossing his arms. “Dean is my mate.”

  Duane’s brows furrowed. “Who the fuck is Dean?”

  “The fed.”

  His brows shot up. “Are you serious?”

  “As a heart attack. And he isn’t all too thrilled I bit him. He tried to escape.”

  Duane nodded. “Heard Deloris had to patch someone up. I just had no idea it was the fed.” He scratched his jaw. “How’d he get free to run?”

  “I let him loose.” Trigger nibbled on his lip. “I also told him that when he’s healed, if he wants to leave, I’d let him.”

  “Are you sure the injury wasn’t to your head?” Duane snapped. “Are you insane? First off, he knows about us. He can’t waltz right out of here. Second, he’s in heat. You let him leave and he’ll be taken down and fucked, probably more than once, before he reaches town—if he manages to find Grizzly Ridge.”

  The wolves would no doubt pick up Dean’s scent. The thought of those mutts laying a hand on him had Trigger ready to commit mass murder. “I’m not gonna force him to stay if he’s dead set on leaving.”

  “Then give him a fucking reason to stay,” Duane argued. “But if you let him go, not only will Clint kick your stupid ass, but so will I.”

  Trigger had sought out Duane’s advice, hoping he’d been making the right move, but apparently his brother strongly disagreed. Had Trigger really thought Duane would be on his side? Maybe he had suffered some kind of head injury.

  “You left him alone?” Duane glanced at the back door.

  “Bobby Ray is sitting on my porch.” Trigger opened the kitchen door and headed out.

  “You need your fucking head examined,” Duane hollered after him. “And knock next time or I’ll put my foot up your ass!”

  When Trigger returned home, not only was Bobby Ray sitting there, but Noel and the girls had joined him. Trigger plucked one of his nieces out of Bobby Ray’s hands and cuddled the cub close. “Which one do I have?”

  He’d yet to tell them apart. They both had golden-blond hair and dark green eyes. Trigger sniffed at the bundle in his arms. God, he loved how a baby smelled. It was so clean and pure.

  “Kate,” Noel said. “But be careful. She just ate and has a habit of throwing up if you jostle her too much.”

  Trigger pressed a soft kiss to her forehead before giving her back to her daddy. Bobby Ray took her, smiling at his daughter as if the sun rose and set on her.

  It did Trigger’s heart good to see Bobby Ray so happy after all the years of hell he’d endured at their father’s hands. He glanced at the screen door, wondering if Dean would bring him happiness or hell. So far his mate had been nothing but prickly and snarky.

  Understandable, but Trigger was dying to get past that.

  “He’ll settle down,” Noel said as he adjusted Kelly in his arms. “I freaked out at first, too. But life with Bobby Ray was a whole lot better than life with my brother. Find out what makes Dean tick, what would make him happy, and concentrate on that.”

  “Listen to you,” Bobby Ray teased. “Going all Dr. Phil.”

  “Shut up,” Noel grumbled.

  Bobby Ray’s smile was nothing but pure pride. Trigger rolled his eyes. “Thanks for keeping an eye on things.”

  “No problem.” Bobby Ray got up, holding Kate close to his chest. “Gonna head home. Let me know if you need anything else. Got some duct tape and WD-40 if your mate tries to escape again.” There was a twinkle of hilarity in Bobby Ray’s grayish-green eyes.

  Trigger would have told Bobby Ray to fuck off if his daughters weren’t there. Even though they wouldn’t understand what he said, Trigger was still respectful of the cubs. He flipped Bobby Ray off instead.

  Bobby Ray snickered as he sauntered away, Noel at his side.

  With a sigh, Trigger stepped inside. He froze when he saw that his overstuffed couch was empty.

  * * * *

  Dean had taken the satellite phone from the shelf and hurried out the back door. He didn’t want whoever was on the front porch to hear him. His hands shook as sweat poured over him. Dean rolled his shoulders, trying his best to get rid of the tightness. He winced once, then twice when he walked over a few pebbles with his bare feet.

  He kept going, towel firmly around his waist, until he reached the clearing. Dean glanced at the curtain of trees in front of the shimmering lake, then stopped. That should be far enough away from the houses for him to talk without Trigger or anyone else hearing him.

  Just to be sure, Dean ducked behind a tree. He dialed the bureau’s main number, glancing around the trunk to make sure no one had followed him. Dean gritted his teeth when the automated system kicked in. He didn’t have time for this. Trigger would discover he was gone before Dean got ahold of anyone.

  If he’d had his own phone, he could have called his boss directly, but Dean didn’t know the number by heart.

  He jumped when the phone was snatched out of his hand. Dean spun and saw Trigger standing at his side. How had he gotten so close without Dean hearing or seeing him?

  Trigger ended the call. The grim look on his face was enough to make Dean back away. A broken branch caught Dean’s towel and ripped it from his waist.

  “I told you that you were free to go once you mended.” Trigger curled his beefy hand around the phone. “Who were you calling?”

  Trigger’s gaze dropped to Dean’s hard cock. His eyes became heavy-lidded, but he didn’t move closer, didn’t try to touch Dean—though the look on his face said he was fighting the need.

  “Uber,” Dean said in an even tone.

  “You’re lying through your teeth,” Trigger said. “My phone doesn’t even have the capability to download apps.”

  “I’m not lying,” Dean argued. Fuck, he was busted.

  Scowling, Trigger hit Redial. He listened, then hung up. His features became dark as he stepped toward Dean. “What did you plan to do, call in the cavalry?”

  “The thought crossed my mind.” Dean refused to show Trigger any fear, though his insides were shaking badly. “Tell me what happened to Nolan, or Sheriff Blake for that matter.”

  “Why do you care?” Trigger asked, the angry lines still etched deep on his handsome face. “Nolan left you behind. It seems to me he didn’t much care what happened to you.”

  Dean worked the towel off the branch and curled it back around his waist. His side began to hurt as he stood there, but he ignored the pain. “I don’t want whatever you did to them to happen to me. Call it self-preservation.”

  He cursed when he found himself moving closer to Trigger instead of farther away. The heat must be frying his brain. Dean’s gaze fell to the well-fitting T-shirt stretched over Trigger’s expansive muscles. His cock thickened once more—if it had ever fully gone down in the first place.

  Need surged through him, and Dean had to fight not to give in to his desires. He took another step back, nearly falling over a log, but Trigger grabbed him, stopping him from hitting the ground.

  “You need to be more careful.” Trigger’s touch sent waves of pleasure through Dean. His knees buckled as his heart sped. He became light-headed as he licked his dry lips.

  Trigger leaned in closer, like he wanted to kiss Dean. The air stirred around them, the summer breeze welcoming on Dean’s heated skin. He blinked, as if coming out of a trance, and yanked his arm free.

  But the heat beating inside him hadn’t subsided. It throbbed in tune with his heart. Birds chirped in the distance. A deer emerged from the trees, took one look at them, then hurried off. The forest was alive around them, but Dean’s focus was solely on Trigger.

  Trigger slid his hand down Dean’s arm. He took a step closer. Dean didn’t back away. His breaths came out in small pants as he stared into Trigger’s gray eyes. Lust shot through them like an electrical storm. The tension between them grew.

  Something strange was going on. Dean had never been this fiercely attracted to anyone before. He’d never felt such a bone-deep need racing through him. He wasn’t going to be like Nolan and deny what he’d seen. But if Trigger could change into a bear, could he do some weird voodoo stuff and trap Dean in some sort of spell?

  Dean couldn’t think of any other explanation for what was happening to him. The bite. That had something to do with this. It had to.

  “What did you do to me?” Dean’s words were more breathed than spoken.

  “Your body is going through a change.” Trigger curled his hand around Dean’s nape, drawing him in closer. “It’s changing so you can carry my child.”

  Trigger’s words penetrated the fog filling Dean’s brain. He jerked back, stumbling over the log again, but this time Trigger wasn’t fast enough to catch him. Dean hit the ground with a hard thump and howled as pain tore through his side. When he looked at his stomach, the bandage was red.

  “You busted the stitches.” Trigger grabbed Dean’s hand and hoisted him up. Their bodies collided and Dean shoved at Trigger’s chest, backing away. He had to. The temptation to rake his nails over Trigger’s flesh filled his head with visions of Trigger fucking him in every position possible. Those thoughts only served to fuel Dean’s anger. No way in hell was he falling for his captor. The guy was dripping with insanity.

  “I don’t care if my guts spill out. What you just said isn’t possible.” Dean shoved at him again. “Stay the hell away from me.”

  Trigger held up his hands. “I won’t touch you, but I won’t let you take off, either. The forest is too dangerous as it is, but a man in heat doesn’t stand a chance.”

  A man in what? Dean wanted to divorce himself from this bizarre reality, but he wasn’t the type to ignore the obvious. What would be Trigger’s motive for making all this up? Dean couldn’t deny he was so horny that a strong wind just might make him orgasm.

  Was that what this feeling was called? Being in heat? That sounded too animalistic for his taste. He might be able to wrap his mind around that, maybe, but the idea he could become pregnant was downright ludicrous.

  “You stay the hell away from me,” Dean repeated before stomping back toward Trigger’s house. With every step, he wanted to turn around and throw himself into Trigger’s arms.

  But he forced himself to keep moving forward, no matter how badly he wanted to look back.

  Chapter Three

  By nightfall, Dean felt as if he’d burn the house down with how hot he’d become. Trigger had offered him the guest bedroom, but Dean had refused. He saw no use in getting comfortable when he didn’t plan on staying.

  As he lay on the couch watching the ceiling fan slowly whirl, Dean contemplated going to Trigger’s bedroom. One night of sex couldn’t hurt, and getting fucked into a wall just might relieve the ache that hadn’t let up, that still made his entire body throb.

  Dean turned over and punched the pillow as he groaned. As much as he wanted Trigger, he couldn’t do it. That would make arresting him awkward as hell. And Dean planned on arresting Trigger, and his brothers, too. He might’ve played along and used manners when needed, but that was just to survive this craziness.