Free Grayslake: More than Mated: Bear Up (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Mina Carter Page B

right?”
    “Yes. We believe so.”
    “Then screw that.” Determination filled her, and she stood up to her full height. Which, if she was honest, was itty bitty compared to Dean’s well-over six-foot frame. She could kick them in the ankles. She didn’t care. “Get me a baseball bat or something because I want some payback. I’ll teach them not to pick on women or little girls… assholes!”
    “My little mate. So brave and fierce.” He shook his head, bending to steal another kiss that stole her breath. His expression dropped serious when he pulled away. “But I can’t let you go, Kacie. You’re my fated.”
    “Bullshit,” she tried to snap back, but her voice emerged way too soft and breathy. “Fated, what does that even mean anyway?”
    He slid his hand into her hair, palm cradling the side of her neck gently. The look on his face was so achingly tender and fiercely protective it brought tears to her eyes, stopping her planned argument right in its tracks.
    “It means that you’re it for me, sweetheart. Without you, that’s it, I can’t go on… You’re my reason to live.”
    Holy shit. She blinked and nodded, speechless.
    And to think she’d just been hoping for an “I like you.”
    She could really get used to this bear thing…

    * * *
    “ T urn left just up here .”
    Dean hit the brakes at the command, swinging the SUV into the turn and hitting the gas again. “Where now? Carry on?”
    The tension in the car was high, what with three shifters and Morgan crammed into a space not really suited for such big men, humans or otherwise. Magic warred with shift potential, turning the air almost too thick to breathe. Gunning the vehicle down the road ahead, he cast a glance over his shoulder.
    Watson and Morgan sat in the back, a map spread over their laps. The big warlock clutched a teddy bear, his free hand held tightly clenched over the map as it steadily dripped blood. Jeb leaned in, relaying where the drops fell. “Right. Right here. Now!” he barked.
    “Fuck it,” Dean growled as they passed the turn. “Bit more warning would help, guys!”
    Slamming the brakes on, he swung around in a squeal of tires and swerved to avoid the cars following. Now they had a lead on where the Watson girls were, the clan was out in force to get them back.
    “Doing the best I can,” Morgan replied, his voice tight with strain. “It’s not like fucking GPS, you know.”
    “I know, bud.” Instantly Dean apologized. They were lucky to have Morgan around, and he knew that. It gave them an edge other clans just didn’t have. “You’re doing great.”
    Morgan snorted in amusement. “I know. I’m the fucking bomb, and don’t you forget it.”
    “Not likely, you never freaking let up about it.”
    “Keep going,” Jeb ordered as they passed a few more roads. Dean frowned as they left town. He’d been sure they’d be headed to one of the outlying properties, but this road didn’t lead anywhere but up to…
    “It’s the old Black property,” Bennett breathed as realization hit him as well. “It’s the only thing up here for miles.”
    “Yeah, it’s gotta be.” Putting his foot down, Dean gunned the engine, hoping they weren’t too late.
    It took them less than five minutes to reach the small farmhouse they were headed for. Abandoned for years, it had belonged to one of the clan’s older bears, but he’d passed on a few years ago. As far as Dean knew, no one had lived there since. It certainly looked abandoned as they hurtled up the driveway to screech to a halt outside the small group of buildings. There was a house, a few feed sheds and a small barn. Boards nailed over the smashed windows and rubbish piled up against the walls of the house told a tale of neglect. Not surprising. Properties out here in the back end of beyond weren’t exactly sought after. But, not his problem. Getting Jeb’s girls back was and they could be in any one of the buildings.
    “Main house,” he ordered, catching