Free Her Lion Guard 2 (Paranormal Shifter Romance) by Amira Rain Page A

anger and malice – and smiled.
    “You lose,” she mouthed.
    Wiley’s roar was choked, cut off by the blade in his throat and the wind that rushed around Jonas’ running figure.
     

CHAPTER SEVEN
     
    Jonathon was waiting for Jonas and Mary-Lou at the bottom of the hill. Sharp green eyes fastened on Mary-Lou’s bruised face as soon as the couple came into view, eyes tight with barely-concealed panic. Mary-Lou raised her hand in an unsteady wave and watched the terror in her father’s expression melt away, to be replaced by dark, dark anger.
    Jonathon did not speak – not to Mary-Lou, not to Jonas. His presence was meant to offer protection, to comfort, and that was what he did.  The Coyote Shifter  trailed behind them the remaining distance to his home like a faithful, vigilant shadow. The man’s silent hovering should have been unnerving; Mary-Lou found herself thankful for it, instead. The human woman was too exhausted to maintain eye-contact – speaking was well beyond her capabilities at the moment.
    At the door, Jonas tightened his grip on the fragile body he carried. It took Mary-Lou a moment to realize that her mate was growling at her mother, the sound choked and instinctual and absolutely ridiculous in the current situation.
    “Jonas,” she mumbled, “Put me down. Let her help.”
    The rolling rumbling cut off. Still, Jonas made no move to release her; a glance upward confirmed that he was glaring – glaring! – at Irma, teeth bared in a snarl. Irma, on her part, was smiling. A wan smile, true, but there. Well, if Jonas’ over-protectiveness brought joy to her mother, who was she to meddle?
    “Alright,” Mary-Lou sighed, “Feel free to carry me in and loom like a caveman.”
    Jonas did exactly that.
    Twenty minutes and an embarrassing shower later – Jonas may be her lover, and his presence may usually be more than welcome under a hot spray of water, but anxious hovering hardly helped with rinsing off soap – Mary-Lou felt a lot better. Snuggled up on one of the plush couches, Jonas warm and mostly verbal next to her, she almost felt normal.
    “So, everyone is safe?” Mary-Lou asked for what was likely the sixth time. She could not help worrying; not when she could not see her family, convince herself of their safety first-hand.
    Irma did not deny her the comfort of words, at least. The older woman nodded, repeating what she had told Mary-Lou the very first time she inquired after her pack.
    “Cara called about an hour ago. She and Sasha have secured the parameter,” Mary-Lou winced, knowing exactly what “secured” meant after being privy to the conversation in Wiley’s car. Irma raised an eyebrow, but continued without comment, “and have successfully relocated to Emma and Richard’s home. Katy and Jenna reported no disturbances on their end.”
    Mary-Lou sighed in relief. “That is – that is great. I could not remember, I was not there , you see, not really. Not knowing,” Mary-Lou’s voice shook. The human woman took a deep breath, closed her eyes briefly. When she spoke again, her words were quiet and sincere, “I felt like I was dying.”
    “The bond,” Jonas rumbled beside her. Mary-Lou glanced at him, relieved to see cognizant blue eyes gazing back at her. Jonas continued, “It sang to you, let you feel their terror and anger as your own. Do you know,” he gasped, voice falling low into a now-familiar growl, “Do you know what it felt like to us , losing you? Seeing you disappear without any hope of getting you back?” Mary-Lou shook her head, guilt and pain for Jonas and Cara and Sasha tightening her chest.
    “Jonas,” Irma cut in, voice sharp. “Enough. She has suffered plenty.”
    “I did not mean—” Jonas clamped his eyes shut, bit his lip to stem the flow of words. When blue eyes opened again, they were void of anger. “I am sorry,” he said to Mary-Lou, to Irma and Jonathon’s silent figures, “I overstepped.”
    “You did not.” Mary-Lou teetered