Free Saved by Wolves (Shifters Meet Their Mate Book 1) by Elena Hunter

contentment he’d felt when she’d chosen to kiss him, and the fury that consumed him when Jackson had taken advantage of her, neither emotion was going to go away anytime soon. He wanted her. He wanted her more than anything he’d ever wanted in the world before, and when the scent of her arousal had smashed into him with the force of a freight train at dinner the night before, it had just reinforced his feelings.
    She was going to be his.
    Goal set, Marcus laced up his boots and set across the field to his gran’s, forming a plan as he walked. The first step was to find out exactly what kind of a mess Kirra was in, and why she needed to speak to the alpha. He shouldn’t have let her avoid the questions before. If he’d known what the problem was, he might have solved it already.
    His steps slowed. Once she was safe, she’d probably want to head right back to wherever she’d come from. He’d have to give her a compelling reason to stay.
    A hard hand on his shoulder wrenched him to a halt. “Where are you going?” Jackson growled. “We need to head back to the border.”
    Marcus shrugged away from his touch and sped up. “I need to speak to my gran before I go. I’ll catch up.”
    “That’s a lie. You’re going to see Kirra.”
    “So what if I am? It’s none of your business.”
    “We’re partners. Of course it’s my business. She’s dangerous,” Jackson said.
    “Dangerous? How?”
    “You barely know her and she’s already distracted you from your duties. I saw the way you acted last night—if I hadn’t stopped you, you would have offered to take her to Blue’s Hollow.”
    “Distracted me? And what do you call your mauling her? You took advantage of her, and I should have—”
    Jackson’s fist in his solar plexus drove the breath out of him.
    “I didn’t take advantage of her. She was aroused. She wanted me,” Jackson said through clenched teeth. “She liked it.”
    She did not. Marcus ducked his head and charged, barreling into Jackson headfirst. It felt like smashing into a tree, but his momentum took Jackson down.
    They rolled in the damp grass. Marcus ended up on his front, face pressed into the ground, Jackson’s knee in his back, pressing the air from his lungs. He jerked up and to the side, throwing Jackson off, and hammered a fist into Jackson’s jaw. Hearing the thunk of his fist hitting flesh and seeing Jackson’s head snap back sent satisfaction and smugness surging through him.
    Shaking his head, Jackson gained his feet. Wanting to take advantage of his disorientation, Marcus scrambled upright and attempted to charge again. Jackson sidestepped and stuck out a foot, catching Marcus in the shins. As Marcus pitched forward, Jackson’s hand pushed on his mid-back, helping him on his way.
    Marcus hit the ground hard and flipped over just in time to see Jackson, his face partially shifted, bear down on him with an inarticulate roar. Jackson had lost control. The shock of it caught Marcus by surprise and slowed his reactions down. He raised his arms in defense a fraction of a second too late.
    Jackson’s hands clenched around his throat, and Marcus gasped for air. Even if he’d wanted to—and he didn’t—there’d be no way to talk to Jackson in his state. His only defense was offense. Marcus grasped Jackson’s wide neck and squeezed, staring into his feral eyes. 
    A faint buzzing filled his ears, and black dots danced in his vision. He tried to squeeze harder, but wasn’t sure if his fingers were responding to his brain’s commands. Everything was fading...
    Ice-cold water hit his face. “What the—” he spluttered, spitting out water. Jackson’s hands had loosened from around his throat, and Marcus saw he was drenched as well.
    “Are you two just about done?” his gran demanded, setting her bucket down. “I’ve heard of throwing cold water on dogs, but I never thought I’d have to do it to you two. You’re acting like Donovan when he doesn’t get his way. And