Winter (Rise of the Pride, Book 2) (8 page)

Winter stormed out of the alpha’s home,
stopping himself from slamming the door as he left. He shouldn’t
have gone up to her room. He shouldn’t have sat on that bed…and he
sure as hell shouldn’t have led her to believe he was going to kiss
her. Truth of the matter was, his panther had been in control. He’d
been mesmerized by the female, inhaling her scent so he could file
it away in his memory.

Cursing himself, he set out on foot back to
his home. The walk would do him some good. Maybe even clear his
mind and put his panther at ease. The cold wind blew through the
tops of the trees, sending dead leaves toward the ground. He didn’t
even shiver, the amount of heat that coursed through his veins was
stronger than the cool air that swirled around him.

A vehicle cranking up caught his attention.
When he looked toward the old barn, he saw Dane backing out of his
spot. Winter watched as the male drove to the alpha’s house,
parking right up by the front door. The Guardian hopped out of his
truck, rounding the front just as the door opened to the home.
Liberty walked out first, June right behind her, holding a zebra
print duffle bag. Two seconds later, Nova stepped out. She wore her
gray sweatpants and an old blue hoodie. She was hunched over like
she was shielding herself from the cold air; her casted arm held
tight to her chest as if she were in pain.

“Oh, hell no!” he barked.

Winter’s snarl of rage sent his feet moving
forward. When he rounded the house, Dane was closing the door to
the truck, but didn’t move out of the way when Winter
approached.

“I’m taking her home,” Dane stated, his
large body blocking Winter’s view of Nova.

“The fuck you are,” he barked.

“Winter,” Liberty warned.

“I told her I would be the one watching over
her,” he growled, looking around Dane’s large shoulders. He
couldn’t see Nova because of the dark tint on the Guardian’s
windows. He did, however, see the outline of her small body and he
could feel her gaze on him even if he couldn’t see it with his own
eyes.

“She asked for me,” Dane said, standing his
ground.

“Have you touched her?” Winter growled, his
panther prowling just under his skin. His canines extended and he
wanted his brother’s blood. The thought of another male touching
Nova sent his mind reeling. “Is this what it’s all about?”

“No,” Dane replied, his own canines
lengthening, preparing for a fight. “I have not touched her, but I
will care for her. She is a part of us, even if she is human. You
had best remember that.”

“Guys?” Liberty questioned. Winter saw her
take a step toward them, but June reached out, pulling the alpha’s
mate back. If the two men went to blows, letting their wildness
take over, Liberty could be harmed and then Talon would kill them
both.

“You will not be taking Nova home,” Winter
hissed.

“She’s already in my truck,” Dane pushed,
his eyes flashing with humor. Dane was always ready for a fight,
but this time, Winter wasn’t doing it to let off some steam. This
male was standing between him and his…

Winter shook himself, realizing what had
just passed through his mind.

Nova wasn’t his.

“You better not let anything happen to her,”
Winter snarled, spinning on his heel. He needed to stop thinking
about the human.

“I’ll protect her with my life,” Dane called
out.

His panther whined inside his head, upset
that Winter didn’t stay and claim the woman. What could he do?
Claim her as his own without even touching her to see if they’d
been fated to be mates? What if they were mates, but completely
incompatible? What if they weren’t mates? Winter would never pursue
a relationship with her, because if he ever found his true mate,
he’d have to leave Nova and he wasn’t prepared to do that to
anyone.

As the truck sped out of the driveway,
Winter cursed again, dropping his shirt to the ground, his body
already changing. His panther was pissed and so was he, but his
panther was pissed at Dane and, well…Winter was just pissed at
himself.

Work had been hell today, looking for the
missing human. Then he came home and totally fucked up any chance
he’d had at being the one to guard Nova…again. He really needed to
stop being a complete asshole, but that was not likely to happen
anytime soon. The thought of Dane touching her sent his body to the
ground…his panther needed to run or fight.

After he went for a run, Winter would take
himself to Nova’s and demand Dane head home. The last thing she
needed was for him to be over there, beating the Guardian senseless
for being close to her.

Winter was sure the two of them would come
to blows before too long. It was only a matter of time.

Chapter Six

Nova slammed the refrigerator door, cursing
when all of the condiment jars rattled in the door. Dane was
outside, checking the woods around the house while she attempted to
fix herself something to eat. She’d been spoiled at the pride by
the women making sure she was well fed. She laughed to herself,
remembering the women frowning when she didn’t finish the mound of
food they’d made. Thankfully, one or more of the Guardians were
always around to finish off whatever was left.

Heavy boots stomped on the back porch right
before a key slid into the deadbolt. Nova looked up as Dane entered
the kitchen, a soft smile on his face. Winter had installed new
locks on the house the day before he’d voiced his opinion on who
she dated. Nova had given a key to Dane when he’d taken over being
her bodyguard after she’d all but sent Winter home with his tail
tucked between his legs.

“Anything?” she asked, averting her eyes.
She didn’t want anyone noticing how much Winter’s anger affected
her. She already had enough guilt about going out with Perry and
eventually being assaulted by the asshole. Why hadn’t she carried
her gun that night?

“No wolves,” he said, leaning against the
counter. “Just a faint scent of some deer roaming around in the
woods. May have to come back for those later.”

“Dane Walker!” she gasped, looking over her
shoulder. “I will shoot you in your panther ass if you mess with my
deer!” She started to argue more, but noticed the corner of his
mouth crinkle. When he finally laughed, Nova chimed in, turning
back to the table where she’d laid out what she needed to throw
together some sandwiches for a quick dinner before she made an
excuse to head to bed for the night.

“Do you want me to do that for you?” He
frowned, nodding toward her cast.

“No,” she sighed, shaking her head. “I
appreciate everything the pride has done for me, but I need to do
things on my own.”

“Um,” he said, shifting nervously.

“What?” she asked, looking over her shoulder
at him. Dane’s ice blue eyes narrowed as he ran his hands through
his dark blond hair. Nova looked away when his damaged ear was
exposed. She never asked him about it, and knew he had trouble
hearing out of that ear from an injury he’d sustained many years
ago, but she wasn’t going to pry for the details.

“Let me do it,” he replied, reaching for the
package of deli meat.

“No,” she growled, pausing the Guardian in
his reach. “I can do it.”

“Nova,” he warned, reaching for her again.
“You’re hurt.”

“I’m not an invalid,” she said, turning to
the side to glare at him, but he was closer than she expected.

It happened. Dane’s fingers brushed across
the back of her hand, freezing them both. Nova’s heart raced, her
eyes darting to his face, which suddenly appeared as if it were set
in stone. His skin turned deathly white as he stumbled
backwards.

“What the
fuck
?” Winter yelled as he
stepped into the kitchen. No one had heard him enter and that was
not good.
Not good at all
, Nova thought.

“No!” Nova hollered, just as Winter grabbed
Dane by his collar, pulling the Guardian out the back door. Nova
was right behind them, scrambling for something to say to stop them
from killing each other.

“Go in the house, Nova!” Winter ordered over
his shoulder. She stood on the porch, her arms folded across her
chest. These panthers were going to drive her crazy with their
alpha ways, always growling and fighting for dominance.

“I didn’t mean to touch her,” Dane defended,
pushing the other Guardian away. “Back off, Winter.”

Winter crouched low, his canines growing
thick in his mouth. Nova could see them biting into his bottom lip.
She turned toward Dane and his were equally as frightening.

“Are you mates?” Winter demanded, lunging
forward and grabbing Dane by the front of his black shirt with both
fists. Dane wrapped his fists in Winter’s shirt, both men leaning
forward, their noses only inches apart. Winter turned his head
slightly, his eyes glowing amber. “Is he your mate?”

Nova recoiled, stumbling back from the venom
of his words. She’d never seen him so angry. He wasn’t even that
angry when she’d confessed that she’d accepted a date with
Perry.

“What do you care?” Dane goaded, tossing his
head to the side to clear his long hair out of his eyes. “You won’t
claim her.”

“Dane!” Nova chastised, her warning going
unnoticed. “I know you hear me, Dane!” Even with his damaged ear,
she knew that he heard her from the teasing smirk on his face. She
also knew he was pushing Winter and ignoring her. The fool
wanted
a fight.
Men!

“Answer me,” Winter snarled, pushing the
Guardian backward. He dodged out of the way when Winter took a
swing, a wicked laugh leaving Dane’s lips.

She didn’t know what to do. They were
probably going to kill each other. The touch was an accident and
she didn’t feel anything toward Dane. He was just a friend, but she
knew that Winter wouldn’t listen to anything she had to say in the
other Guardian’s defense.

As she jumped off of the porch, both men
froze when she walked right up to them, separating them quickly
when she stood between them. They were both a good foot taller than
her, but Nova wasn’t surprised they separated so quickly. She knew
it was because of their aversion to touching females. Her chest
hurt when she realized Winter had moved back the furthest, but then
shifted to the side so he had a direct path to Dane.

A warning growl rose from their throats. She
paused for a second when she got a good look at their glowing amber
eyes. She knew their panthers were getting close to taking over.
The last thing she needed was two panthers fighting in her
backyard, yet it probably wasn’t the smartest idea to stand between
two fighting predators.

“Grow the hell up!” she cursed, fisting her
hands at her sides. She flinched when she felt a pain in her broken
arm, but ignored it.

Another warning growl.

“Don’t you
ever
touch her again,”
Winter growled, crouching low.

“
I’m
the one protecting her, and
since I know she’s not my mate,” Dane paused, raising an eyebrow at
Winter. “I can touch her anytime I damn well please.”

“Well…shit,” Nova said, jumping out of the
way as Winter lunged for Dane.

Winter’s fist connecting with Dane’s face
made a sound like two boulders slamming together. Dane shook his
head and spit out a mouthful of blood, laughing as he danced around
like this was a game.

“Stop!” Nova begged, wishing she had her
phone handy. She’d call Talon and have him come over to control his
Guardians.

“He needs to let off some steam, Nova,” Dane
laughed. His words were cut off when Winter got him around the
waist, taking him to the ground. A cloud of dust rolled around the
two Guardian’s bodies as they tangled on the ground.

“Let off some steam?” she scoffed. “You’re
killing each other!”

“It’s all good, Nova,” Dane said, but
grunted when Winter got in another punch to Dane’s jaw.

Nova threw her hands in the air. This was
getting her nowhere. She contemplated running back into the house
to grab her phone, but she was honestly scared they’d kill each
other before she returned.

“
AMAZING GRACE! HOW SWEET THE SOUND!
”
Nova sang at the top of her lungs.

“What the hell?” Winter yelled, confused.
Both men rolled to their backs, and Winter stared up at her like
she’d just grown horns.

“I’ll keep singing,” she warned, propping
her hand on her hip.

“Stop! Stop! Stop!” Dane pleaded. His hands
immediately covered his ears, and when he turned to glare at Nova,
she noticed his eyes were back to the ice blue of his human
side.

“Made you stop fighting.” She smirked,
turning for the house.

“That was horrible,” Dane teased, rubbing
his damaged ear. “Like a dying alpaca.”

“It wasn’t
that
bad!” Nova replied,
glaring at them over her shoulder.

These shifters were nothing but big ass
children. She had half a mind to call Talon anyway, but looking at
Dane’s bloody lip, she was sure the evidence would incriminate him
once he went home.