“None of them were innocent,” Patrick snarled. “Junkies, bums, pieces of shit not worth the good folks’ time and concern.”

  There was no getting through to Patrick, so Maynard stopped trying. “What are you guys going to do to me?”

  “Put you through as much hell as you’ve put us through,” Patrick snarled as he shoved Maynard forward. “Teach you that you can’t ruin lives and go on with your own like nothing happened.”

  Maynard hit the ground, bruising his knees and the palms of his hands on the debris on the ground. Patrick was reaching for him when Maynard saw movement from the corner of his eye. He thought maybe he was seeing things because the backyard once again seemed still.

  Maynard wished Luke’s house wasn’t so isolated. If there had been a neighbor, Maynard could have yelled. True, he was stronger than ten men, but not when both Patrick and Johnson had weapons. One bullet to the head and Maynard would be done for.

  He wasn’t willing to take that chance. If the opportunity arose where Maynard could unarm both men, he would do it. He could whirl and take Patrick’s gun away since he was so close, but Johnson was a little more cautious, keeping a healthy distance as Maynard was yanked to his feet and pushed forward again.

  For every step Maynard took, Johnson took one back, his gaze scanning the backyard and woods. He would be harder to take down, but Maynard was determined to get away from the two assholes.

  They passed Johnson, who stood to Maynard’s right, turning as they walked, keeping his rifle trained, then falling in behind them. Maynard had been in these woods in his impala and knew beyond the woods was a road. That was probably where the two had parked.

  If Maynard didn’t get away from them before they reached the road, he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to get free. They could either knock him out or—

  “Johnson?” Patrick paused, gripping Maynard’s shoulder hard to stop his forward steps. “Johnson, where are you?”

  Maynard spun and saw the brother wasn’t behind them. He didn’t see Johnson anywhere. It was as if he’d vanished into thin air. Patrick lowered his gun arm. Maynard attacked, or tried to, but Patrick was fast. He raised the weapon quickly, pointing it at Maynard’s face. “Where’s my brother?”

  Maynard stood there with his hands raised, looking incredulously at Patrick. “How the hell should I know? I was in front of you. I didn’t see anything. Maybe he had to use the bathroom and is squatting somewhere.”

  Because Maynard hadn’t the first clue where Johnson had gone. He hadn’t even heard the guy walk away, and Maynard had exceptional hearing.

  “Johnson!”

  Maynard didn’t stop Patrick from yelling. Hopefully that alerted Luke to what was going on. By now Luke had to have noticed that Maynard was gone and called the cops.

  Crap. Maynard was never going to live down the fact that someone had gotten the jump on him. A cop. No, not just a cop. A nonhuman cop who was dealing with human criminals. He was still facing Patrick when Maynard saw Luke manifest from behind a tree, just appear silently. Not in a preternatural way, because Luke was human, but so stealthy that Maynard nearly let his jaw drop. He’d never seen anyone move that way. One second Luke was there, pressing a finger to his lips to tell Maynard to be quiet, and the next he was gone again.

  Maynard was from the nonhuman world, and he knew plenty of preternatural who would be envious of that skill. Luke was that freaking good.

  “Get moving,” Patrick snarled as he made Maynard turn and start through the woods again. Maynard still had his hands in the air but kept scanning the area to see if he could spot his mate. Then he remembered that Luke was a marine. He had to have been more than that if he could move without making a sound, could track them without being seen.

  They made it to the creek that ran the length of the woods. It was ankle-deep, and Maynard hated going into the water considering how chilly it was outside, but Patrick shoved him forward.

  He was getting really tired of Patrick doing that.

  Maynard made it to the other side but no longer felt Patrick behind him. He turned, taking a chance of Patrick shooting him for not listening, but the guy was gone.

  Simply gone.

  “Luke?” Maynard scented the air, but all he smelled was water and pine and animals. There were a few squirrels nearby, a deer, too, but Patrick was nowhere.

  Luke appeared from behind a tree, a gun in one hand. “Are there any more?”

  Maynard shook his head. “They said Carl was here, but so far, I’ve only seen Patrick and his brother.” He blinked a few times, unsure that this was real. Had Luke just saved him? “What did you do to them?”

  “Tied them up.” Luke shoved the gun into his waistband and pulled Maynard into his arms. Maynard went willingly, collapsing against his mate and sucking in Luke’s scent. His mate clung to him, too, resting his chin on top of Maynard’s head. “I called the station when I saw what was going on. Backup should be here soon.”

  “Great, now my coworkers are going to know that those two jackasses got the drop on me.”

  “They had weapons, honey. You did exactly what you were supposed to do. Survive. If you’d fought them, you might have died.” Luke hugged him tighter. “I don’t want to think about that happening.”

  Neither did Maynard.

  He heard the faint sounds of sirens. “We need to get back to the house. My feet are wet, and I’m cold. Are you sure those two are tied up?”

  “Like hogs.” Luke took Maynard’s hand and guided him back, but Maynard didn’t see where Patrick and Johnson were.

  Two police cars raced up Luke’s driveway. Dante and Mitch got out, hands on their weapons. Then Sheriff Weston pulled in, parking behind them.

  Luke told the two deputies where to find Patrick and his brother, while Maynard stayed by Luke and watched them run toward the backyard.

  Maynard told Tate what had happened and what Patrick had said to him about Carl. “If Patrick is to be believed, and I can’t see why he would lie about it, Carl is in Willow Point. I have no idea where they were about to take me, but I’m willing to bet Carl was waiting there.”

  Tate cursed. “We’ve already got his photo. I’ll put everyone on alert that he’s somewhere in town. I’ll also let Grey know.”

  “Who’s Grey?” Luke asked.

  “The town alpha,” Maynard answered. “He pretty much runs things, and he has a pack of wolves who help keep Willow Point safe.”

  “Huh.” Luke rubbed his jaw.

  “Tate’s a bear,” Maynard said.

  Luke’s brows shot up. “I can honestly see that.”

  “Deputy Mykel is a cheetah, and Deputy Lennox is a black panther.” Maynard hid his smile at Luke’s shocked look. “We have a lot of nonhumans who live here.” Then Maynard lowered his voice. “We even have a few vampires.”

  Luke’s jaw dropped. “Oh, we’ve so got to talk about your world.”

  Tate chuckled as Dante and Mitch returned with Patrick. Maynard frowned. “Where’s Johnson?”

  Mitch shook his head. “We only found one guy. The other got away. We found his ropes.” Mitch looked at Luke. “I don’t see how though. You tie a mean knot.”

  Luke’s jaw clenched. “He shouldn’t have gotten out of it.”

  “It happens,” Mitch said as Dante put Patrick into the back of his cruiser.

  “Not to me.” Luke looked toward the woods, and Maynard had a feeling they were going to be searching it. Both of them, not just Luke. Maynard wasn’t letting him go out there on his own, no matter how much skill the guy had. Clearly Johnson had his own set of skills, and Maynard wasn’t trusting his mate’s safety by letting him go out there alone.

  “We need you to come down to the station and write out a statement,” Tate said.

  “We’ll come in the morning,” Luke said.

  After talking for a bit longer, everyone left. Maynard turned to Luke. “I’ll shift and help you track him down.”

  Luke looked as if he was about to argue but nodded. Maynard went inside the house to strip down, and when he came back to the front porch, after letting Diablo out—because the dog was going nuts—he shifted and trotted toward the backyard, Diablo right next to him as if they’d been a hunting pair for years.

  Chapter Nine

  When the knock came at the door the following morning, Luke had no idea who it would be. They hadn’t had success in finding Johnson, and so far, Carl hadn’t made his presence known. Since Patrick had already tried to kidnap Maynard, Luke went back to keeping a gun on him at all times. He also wasn’t letting Maynard out of his sight whenever they were outside the house. Yesterday had just proved that his mate could be taken from him easily, and fuck if Luke was going to let that happen again.

  With his weapon gripped in one hand, Luke looked out the window next to the door. He didn’t recognize the person standing on his small porch. The stranger was alone, and his hands were empty, so Luke opened the door with Diablo at his feet.

  Diablo sat there growling then whimpered and lowered himself to a lying position. Luke frowned because Diablo didn’t like strangers and let it be known. He’d never cowered before, not since Luke had rescued him from that abandoned home.

  “It’s my wolf he smells,” the stranger said. “I apologize if I’m causing your dog distress.”

  “Who the hell are you?” Luke demanded. He wasn’t sure if the guy was talking about owning a wolf and Diablo could smell the animal on him or if the stranger was an actual wolf. Ever since meeting Maynard, Luke second-guessed everyone.

  “I’m Grey Matthews, alpha of the local wolf pack.”

  This was the guy Sheriff Weston had mentioned last night. “No disrespect, but can I see some ID?”

  With a hint of a smile, Grey pulled out his wallet and showed Luke his driver’s license. It said he was in his thirties, but after Luke and Maynard’s long talk last night, he knew the age on the ID was false.

  “Come on in.” Luke stood back to allow Grey to enter. The guy was tall, even taller than Luke. As he passed the threshold, Grey bent and scratched Diablo behind the ears. Diablo wagged his tail as he got up and followed them into the living room.

  Luke frowned. “He’s normally wary of strangers.”

  Except the night Luke had helped Dante and Jason. Diablo had been too damn friendly to the officers. Not that Luke wanted his dog to be mean, but Luke was very protective of Diablo after the life the dog had had.

  “Dogs either attack or submit to wolves,” Grey said while he looked around. “I can sense his fear and need to protect you, but his curiosity is winning out.”

  Luke slid his hand over Diablo’s head and around his ear, giving Diablo comfort. “What can I help you with?”

  In truth, Luke had no idea why the alpha would need any help from him. He was just as curious as Diablo as to why Grey was even there. Luke had lived in Willow Point for two years and had yet to meet this guy.

  “Deputy Dario.” Grey gave a single nod of acknowledgement.

  Luke turned and saw Maynard standing in the archway between the kitchen and living room. His mate gave a short bow. “Alpha Matthews.”

  Grey chuckled. “Not so formal, and you don’t have to bow, but I appreciate the show of respect.”

  “How can we help you?” Maynard asked. “I’m kind of in awe that you’re even here.”

  Maynard acted as if this guy was some sort of celebrity. There was so much Luke had to learn about their world but fuck if he was bowing to the guy.

  “As a matter of fact, I’m here to help you two,” Grey said. “The men after you are breaking one of the Ultionem’s most treasured laws.”

  “Ultionem?” Luke had never heard that word before.

  “A council comprised of every species,” Grey said.

  “Except humans,” Maynard pointed out.

  “Except humans,” Grey agreed with a smile. “A law that states that no one can interfere in a mating.”

  Now that was interesting. Luke wanted to know more about this law and how that could possibly help track Johnson and Carl down, as well as keep Maynard safe.

  “But how does that work when the ones interfering are human?” Maynard asked. “It’s not like they can be sent to the underworld.” Maynard pursed his lips. “Can they?”

  Luke was getting a headache. It was as if they were talking in code. “Underworld?”

  “A place in a different realm where the worst of the worst are held,” Maynard explained. “Like a human penitentiary but a thousand times scarier. The prisoner is made to relive their worst nightmares over and over again for as long as they are held there. Most never see the light of day again.”

  Jesus. “Sounds like the perfect place for people like Johnson and Carl.”

  With the heinous things they had done, it seemed only fitting that they relive it for the rest of their rotten lives. To be honest, Luke didn’t have much faith in the human judicial system. Patrick had tried to kidnap Maynard, and some kind of technicality could set him free. Luke doubted these people had technicalities. They seemed like a law unto themselves.

  “How do you even know about what’s going on?” Luke asked.

  Grey pinned him with an intense stare. “Nothing goes on in this town without my knowledge. Sheriff Weston called to inform me of the trouble. It’s my job to make that trouble go away. What Tate didn’t tell me was why they’re after you. He said that was Maynard’s story to tell.”

  With a deep sigh, Maynard told Grey about his time in Colorado and what had gone down. “Carl swore revenge, and I guess he’s trying to get it.”

  A rumbling growl vibrated in Grey’s throat. It sounded animalistic. His gray eyes darkened, quickly reminding Luke that the guy wasn’t human. As if he’d needed the reminder. There was an aura about Grey that said he was lethal, someone not to be trifled with. Luke could see why so many respected or even feared him.

  “The town is on alert,” Grey said while scratching his chin. “It seems they’re on alert a lot.” He waved his hand like he was clearing a thought away. “Regardless, if either man is spotted, we’ll know.” He looked at Luke. “Would you like a few of my wolves to stick around, patrolling your property and the surrounding area?”

  Luke was astonished by Grey’s generosity. It wasn’t as though Luke had been an active member of Willow Point. He’d basically been a hermit, going into town only when he needed groceries. More often now that he was mated to Maynard, but it was rare that a complete stranger would be so willing to help someone they didn’t even know.

  He saw now that the town he called home was so much more than he could have ever dreamed of. In that single moment he felt a part of the community, and Luke vowed to get to know everyone better since they were willing to watch his and Maynard’s backs.

  “Maynard?” Luke looked at his mate.

  “Yes.” Maynard nodded. “Thank you, Grey. I feel a bit ashamed that I need help considering I’m a police officer. I’m the one who should be giving help, not needing it.”

  “No shame.” Grey shook his head. “There’s no shame in needing it. Don’t think that it’s because you’re an impala, either. Some of my most lethal have needed help, Maynard.”

  Luke liked how Grey was trying to help Maynard save face. What Grey was saying may or may not be true, but it went a long way in Luke respecting the alpha.

  “Does this mean we have to stay inside?” Maynard asked Grey.

  “Not at all. I don’t want either of you to feel like you’re prisoners. Come and go as you please, live your lives, but be aware of your surroundings. My men will keep this area safe, and the townsfolk will keep an eye on things when you two are in town.”

  For a guy who had relished his isolation, Luke was relieved they wouldn’t be forced to remain inside. That only told him how impactful being with Maynard had been. Luke now looked forward to their outings, loved going into town to the café or to enjoy other activities with his mate. He felt as if he’d gotten a new lease on life, and hell if Luke was going back to his seclusion.

  * * * *

  Maynard tried his best not to feel on edge as they drove to the vet for Diablo’s yearly checkup, but he couldn’t seem to relax. Not after Patrick had pulled a gun on him and Johnson had been waiting in the woods. Not when Maynard had learned that Carl was in town. Patrick might be locked away, but the two most dangerous were still on the loose.

  As soon as they pulled into the vet parking lot, Diablo began to growl.

  Luke chuckled. “I promise you’re not due for any shots, buddy. Dr. Freeman is only going to check under the hood to make sure your engine is purring.”

  “I feel ya,” Maynard said to Diablo. “It’s like going to the dentist. All those tools and the scary sounds they make.”

  “Are you trying to keep him in the car or help him out of it?” Luke asked.

  “What?” Maynard shrugged. “It’s true. We might not get diseases, but we still have to keep our teeth in top-notch form. Cavities do exist in our world.”

  Luke burst out laughing. “I’m sorry. I’m trying to picture an impala with silver caps or braces.”

  Maynard slapped Luke’s arm. “So not funny.”

  Luke got out to try and coax Diablo out of the car and into the vet office. When Diablo wouldn’t budge, Reese, the vet, came outside. The guy was seven kinds of handsome, but Maynard kept that opinion to himself. He was mated, not blind.

  “I saw from the reception area that Diablo is having trouble coming inside.” Reese smiled at the dog, who sat in the open car door on the back seat. “Hey, buddy. I have a treat for you if you come inside with me.” He looked at Maynard. “Hello, Deputy Dario.”

  “Please, just Maynard.”