Free A Matter of Pride by Marie Harte Page B

can’t let them know we’re on to them if the Hunters are for real. Hunters endanger not only Stacey, but the entire town.” Dean shook his head. “Stacey and I will keep them busy out here. Make sure you’re not followed and get us help. Be careful, Monty. With all these invisible players, it’s a nightmare. Whose side they’re on, only they can say.”
    Stacey tried to add, “But Quince—”
    “Is a dick who used fear to coerce you into doing what he wanted. He should have come to us for help,” Dean said.
    “Coerce?” Monty blinked. “Big word, cat.”
    “Fuck off and fetch us some help, Scooby.”
    “I’m going to Scooby your ass when this is through,” Monty muttered. “I have a bone to pick with Grady for that stupid nickname. Scooby is a damn dog. I’m a wolf.” He put his pistol on the ground before lifting his T-shirt over his head. He toed off his boots and started on the snap of his pants before Dean stopped him.
    “Whoa. Hold on.” He didn’t like the fact that Stacey had yet to blink.
    “For God’s sake.”
    “Wait a minute,” Dean growled. “Stacey, turn around. Do it.”
    “This is stupid,” Monty said.
    Considering Ac-taw always saw each other in various states of undress, Dean knew his behavior was irrational and territorial, but he couldn’t help himself.
    To his vast satisfaction, the stubborn female listened to him. She took her sweet-assed time doing it, but that she turned around at all told him she felt a hell of a lot more for him than lust. She barely took orders from her brother. The sex must have softened her attitude toward him. Good to know.
    Monty stripped naked and turned .
    Dean waited until Monty had completely shifted. He found Monty’s radio and a collar stuffed into his jeans pocket. He attached the collar to Monty’s neck and strapped the radio to it, wishing he’d had the foresight to have done the same to the radio he’d left in the cave. Then he stashed Monty’s clothes and gun out of sight.
    “You get help. Stacey and I will be around. Have one of the raptors close, would you? We’ll use him to keep in touch, since I left the radio behind.”
    “Dumbass.” Monty’s tongue rolled out. A large black wolf with threads of gray in his fur and eyes that were Monty’s in wolf form or human, he looked oddly regal, and especially intimidating among other wolves.
    “Hey, not my fault.” Dean shot Stacey a glare. “I didn’t know I’d be dealing with Hunters as well as crazy cats from Miami.”
    She sat and rumbled an apology. “ I’m sorry. I didn’t know either. ”
    He appreciated her sincerity, but he didn’t like that she hadn’t trusted him enough to tell him of her troubles earlier. They’d have to work on that. He had a few ideas about how to teach the woman to believe in him.
    After Monty left, Dean transformed back into his animal spirit. He stretched and dug his claws into the ground, releasing scent. They left the cabin and he raced to a few spots to mark territory, unable to ignore the instinct.
    “What are you doing?” Stacey watched with curiosity.
    “Staking a claim.” On this land, and on you . He didn’t intend to let her know yet. He had to get past her emotional walls holding him out. Sex was all well and good, but he wanted more from the cocky cat. How much more he didn’t yet know and was afraid to think about, but he’d never let uncertainty stop him before. He’d get her trust, at least, one way or another. One kiss at a time.
     
    Stacey wanted badly to argue with him—about anything—but she feared any animosity would transition into lust on her part. Who knew having sex with Dean Chastell would get her so keyed up? It was as if by giving him access to her body, she’d opened up a locked gate on her emotions. She couldn’t help looking at that charming feline face and feeling all warm and gooey inside. Gooey! Stacey Bermin, a woman who’d denied sultans and movie stars, smitten with a country boy who gave