Page 28 of His to Defend

But the moment he walked through the doors of the Station, Ryker’s head had started to pound, his senses blurred, and he could barely focus on anything except the woman who sat across the room, wearing that ridiculous hot-pink top that was half a size too small, causing her breasts to pop up in a scandalous amount of cleavage that made his mouth water.

He couldn’t go back in there. Not until he was under control.

Ryker forced himself to take a deep breath. And then another. And another until finally his heart rate slowed and his vision cleared.

Better.

He ran his hands through his hair and nodded to himself. Time to go get her.

A smile danced on his lips as he pulled the heavy door open and stepped inside. Ryker was done resisting it. He needed her. She was his. And he finally knew it.

The one thing he hadn’t counted on, however, was the fact that Nina might not agree.

His eyes went straight to the seat she’d been sitting in a few minutes ago.

Empty.

In an instant, Ryker scanned the room. There, in the far corner of the dance floor, partly hidden in the shadows, were the familiar soft curves of his mate.

With another man’s hands on them.

Only barely kept under the surface, Ryker’s bear roared in protest. This time not in desire for his mate, but in anger. His hands clenched into fists at his sides.

He’d kill him.

He charged forward, but a hand on his arm stopped him. “Ryker.”

He spun to see who dared stop him from defending what was his. Natalia?

Through the red haze of fury, he only barely registered the presence of his sister. It wasn’t until she spoke again that he was able to make the connection. Of course. Luke had mentioned she was coming.

“Let me go, Natalia.” He spoke through clenched teeth. “Now.”

“I get it,” she said.

But he wasn’t listening. Not really. Ryker’s focus was once again on Nina and the man who had his hands all over her. Nina’s eyes were closed. She looked drunk. But the man didn’t seem to care. Ryker sniffed the air. Wolf.

Nina was with a dog?

He’d kill him.

“She’s your mate.” Natalia was still talking. “But does she know that?”

Her words penetrated his fog. He looked at her. “No.”

His sister shook her head slightly. “Be careful, Ryker. Don’t do anything stupid. Not in here. Don’t scare her.”

He hadn’t seen his sister in years. Barely even knew what she’d been doing in all that time. She had no idea what was going on. But it didn’t matter, because she had a point. If Ryker lost control in the bar and let his bear loose, he’d be breaking every one of the rules for shifters living among humans. More importantly, he’d scare the hell out of her and risk losing her forever.

A growl, low and menacing, escaped his throat. “Dammit.”

Natalia’s grip on his arm tightened for a moment before letting go. “It’s okay,” she said. “She cares about you. I can feel it.” He looked at her blankly but she only smiled and nodded. “Go get her. But remember…”

“Don’t scare her,” he said, more as a reminder to himself before striding across the dance floor.

“Hey.” Remembering what his sister said, Ryker took two fingers and poked the man’s shoulder roughly to get his attention. It seemed like a fair compromise from grabbing him and tossing him across the dance floor, which was what he really wanted to do.

“Fuck off,” the dog mumbled over his shoulder, ignoring Ryker.