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  “Oh no, Ervin and I are not together,” she clarified, her face twisting in revulsion. “He attacked me because I was sheltering Karen...”

  At the mention of her friend, Marie’s voice broke. “Karen...is dead,” she whispered as she suppressed a sob. “Ervin killed her.”

  Gage started driving slowly, his expression angry and grim. “And Ervin kidnapped you after he killed Karen,” he said.

  Marie managed a jerky nod.

  “Who’s Karen? His...wife?” Gage asked.

  A tear rolled down her cheek and Marie wiped it away roughly with the back of her hand.

  “I guess you could say Karen was his girlfriend, but...Ervin was just using her. He never loved her. Karen was young and vulnerable, and Ervin saw her as an easy prey.” She hiccuped a sob and went on, “Karen finally plucked up the courage to leave Ervin. I found her crying in an alley, and brought her home.”

  “And Ervin came to your home and attacked the both of you,” Gage growled.

  “Yes. He...killed her right here in my living room. No pity, no mercy, no remorse. He’s a monster! Then he said he’s going to teach me a lesson for being a meddling bitch.”

  “He won’t lay a finger on you,” Gage swore.

  Marie pressed her hand to her mouth. “I should have done more to protect Karen. It’s my fault. I wasn’t thinking clearly. I shouldn’t have just...”

  “It’s not your fault,” Gage said firmly. “I believe Karen had been verbally, emotionally and physically abused by Ervin for quite some time.”

  “Yes. There were bruises and claw marks on her face and arms,” Marie confirmed.

  Gage nodded once. “Abuse victims usually return to their abusers time and again. The abuser apologizes, cries a few crocodile tears and promises to change, and the victim decides to give the abuser another chance. The trauma bond between the victim and the abuser is strong and can be very hard to break. She wouldn’t have left him even if someone had pointed out to her how dangerous Ervin was. She had to come to the realization herself and be emotionally and psychologically ready to leave. I think many victims suffer from Stockholm Syndrome.”

  Marie canted her head at him. “You sound like a psychologist.”

  Gage barked out a laugh. “I guess I’ve been hanging out with Jana too much. Jana is my elder sister. She works in the city but she’s back now for a visit.” He glanced at Marie and smirked. “She’s the psychologist in the family.”

  “Really?” Her eyes rounded. “Your sister is a psychologist?”

  “Really.” He smiled warmly and Marie felt her heart skip a beat.

  Gage looked even more gorgeous, if that was even possible. His hazel eyes lit up with genuine joy and affection, and Marie saw just how much he loved his siblings. It made her wish that she had family who loved and adored her like that.

  A thought struck her suddenly.

  “I, um, I heard...roars,” she said, chewing her lip. “I could be mistaken though,” she added quickly. “I was only half conscious in the trunk so maybe I was hallucinating...”

  “That was me,” Gage replied and chuckled. “Or more accurately, my bear.”

  “Ah, no wonder...”

  Gage raised a brow quizzically.

  “No wonder Ervin ran off,” Marie said. “He’s too cowardly to take on another shifter. Especially a shifter bigger and stronger than him. The coward only goes after vulnerable human females who can’t fight back.”

  They drove in silence for a while.

  Marie peered out the window and asked, “Where are we? Where are we going?”

  “We’re in Bear Ridge,” Gage replied. “And...we’re going home.”

  “Home?”

  “You said you didn’t want to go to the hospital. So I’m bringing you home to get your wounds washed up and tended. Don’t worry. Jana is staying with me this week, so there will be another female in the house,” he added quickly. “You will be safe, Marie.”

  “I know,” she answered with a smile. “I know.”

  Marie knew that Gage meant every word he said. He would protect her from Ervin and he would take care of her.

  Her blush deepened when she realized how much she liked the idea of going home with Gage.

  It made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside, and her heart began to leap with hope.

  Somehow, the world didn’t look so grim and bleak now that Gage was by her side.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Gage pulled up in front of his house and killed the engine. Carefully he helped Marie out of the truck and led her up the front steps of his house.

  He unlocked the door quickly and flicked on the lights. “Make yourself at home, Marie.”

  As he locked the door behind them, Gage spied something white and lacy on his couch.

  He froze and blinked.

  There was a white lacy bra hanging off the back of his couch. Again.

  “Jana!” he bellowed.

  A door opened upstairs and footsteps pounded down the stairs.

  “What?” Jana asked, taking off her headphones. “Is something burning on the stove? I checked everything before going upstairs...”

  Gage pointed at the offending piece of lingerie and scowled. “Do you mind? How many times do I have to tell you...”

  Jana rolled her eyes and was about to retort when she saw Marie standing behind Gage.

  “Oh!” A snide smile spread across her face. “I see. You have company.”

  “Marie is...”

  Jana ignored him and walked up to Marie with a big smile.

  “Hi, I’m Jana, Gage’s sister.” She held out her hand and Marie shook it.

  “I’m Marie, and I’m pleased to meet you.”

  Jana’s grin faded when she saw the cut on Marie’s forehead. “Oh my goodness, you’re hurt! What happened? Come here. Sit down. I’ll go grab some towels and the first aid kit.”

  Before Marie could protest, Jana raced to the back of the house and there was the sound of cabinets opening and closing.

  Jana came back with clean towels and the first aid box. “Sit down, Marie,” she said, patting the couch. “Oh, this.” She giggled when she saw the white lacy bra on the couch. “I took it off when I was watching TV this evening. I like to get comfortable, you know.”

  “Yeah,” Marie agreed. “That’s the first thing I do, too. I simply pull my bra off when I get home.”

  Jana smirked and shot a triumphant look at her brother. See?

  Gage sighed and went to sit beside Marie. He took the wet towels and very gently cleaned away the dried blood on her face. When he was done, Jana opened a small bottle and dabbed some ointment over the cut.

  “Thank you,” Marie said to Jana and Gage. “Thank you very much for taking care of me. I...”

  Jana waved a hand and stared intently at Marie. “Can you tell me what happened? How did you hurt yourself? Or...did someone hurt you?”

  Gage stiffened and Jana must have caught the flash of anger in his eyes.

  His big sister missed nothing. Jana was very sharp and observant, and she picked up on many non-verbal cues and subtle changes in tone and expression that most people would have missed. “Occupational hazard,” she’d say when Gage and Steve teased her about it.

  “Who?” Jane asked at once, her hands curling into fists. “Who did this? Who did this to you, Marie?”

  Marie swallowed and turned to Jana. “A wolf shifter named Ervin Zunder,” she said through clenched teeth. “Ervin killed my friend, Karen...”

  Marie’s voice shook and she had to swallow a sob. It was clear that Marie couldn’t talk about her friend without breaking down. With great effort, Marie forced her tears back and told Jana and Gage everything.

  When she finished, Jana was on her feet, pacing up and down the living room.

  “Ervin is not going to stop. He will come after Marie,” Jana said gravely. “A sociopath like him has no limits. He has no remorse, shame or guilt and he will lie and manipulate to get what he wants. He has no e
mpathy and has poor behavioral controls. He viewed Karen as a possession, not a person.”

  “Karen was afraid of him,” Marie said, biting her lip. “He isolated her and threatened her.”

  Jana nodded. “Abusers will use emotional and physical manipulation and threats to get their victims to submit to them. It takes great courage and effort for the victim to wake up and take action. Karen was really brave to stand up and leave. Unfortunately...”

  “I underestimated Ervin,” Marie whispered. “I didn’t think that he would...”

  “No, Marie. You can’t be responsible for what Ervin did,” Jana answered. “Ervin killed an innocent, helpless woman just because she wanted to leave him. That’s not what a normal, rational person would do. Sociopaths don’t think and act like normal people. There is no sense of responsibility or accountability, so in Ervin’s mind, he is the wronged party.”

  “What?” Gage exploded. “He’s a fucking murderer! And he thinks he’s the victim?”

  “Blame-shifting is a common tactic used by narcissists, sociopaths and abusers. They are quick to shift the blame to anyone and everyone,” Jana explained.

  “What a piece of trash!” Gage snarled. “Ervin murdered a defenseless woman and he hurt Marie!”

  Jana stopped pacing and faced Gage and Marie. She took a deep breath and said, “He blames Marie for everything that has happened. He’s going to make her pay for ruining his plans.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  “I won’t let anything happen to Marie, I swear. I will kill that bastard!” Gage swore.

  Jana was deep in thought. She jerked her head up suddenly and said to Marie, “You’ll stay here, won’t you? You don’t have to go back to Sweet Hollow.”

  “I...I work in a small diner back in Sweet Hollow. And all my stuff are in my apartment...” Marie began.

  “I’ll go with you to get your things,” Gage said. “Can you inform your landlord and your boss that you’re leaving? I’ll pay any amount you owe them...”

  “I think they’ll understand,” Marie said, exhaling a shaky breath. “I’ll tell them what happened to Karen and they’ll understand why I need to leave town urgently.” She paused and went on, “The townspeople are wary of Ervin. He’s the big bad wolf in a town of humans and small shifters.”

  “No one wants to provoke a sociopath into a psychotic rage,” Jana said grimly. “The townspeople can sense how dangerous he is.”

  “I’ll drive you back to Sweet Hollow tomorrow,” Gage told Marie. “Now you just need to have a good rest. You’ll sleep in my bedroom.”

  When Marie widened her eyes at him, Gage added quickly, “I’ll take the couch tonight.”

  Jana covered her mouth and hurriedly turned her laugh into a loud yawn.

  “I’m going to bed now,” Jana announced. “See you in the morning!”

  As she passed Gage, she punched him in the arm and whispered, “Keep your bear under your skin. I can see your hot-blooded bear panting and drooling the whole time.”

  Gage blinked at his sister. “What? I never...” he protested indignantly.

  Jana wagged a finger at him and shot him a knowing look as she marched up the stairs.

  Before Gage could finish huffing at his big sister, Jana appeared again with some clothes in her hands.

  “Here, Marie,” she said. “We’re about the same size, so I think my clothes will fit you. Have a warm shower and hop into bed. You’ll feel better in the morning.”

  Marie thanked her and Jana smirked at Gage before going back to the guest room.

  “Come on, I’ll show you to my room,” Gage said, offering Marie his arm.

  To his delight, Marie linked her arm through his and he saw a tiny smile appear on her face for just an instant.

  He badly wanted to pull her close and hold her. He wanted to keep her safe and make her happy always.

  But Gage knew that if he pulled Marie into his arms, his possessive bear would refuse to let her go.

  Marie already owned his heart, body and soul. He would never hurt his precious mate, and he would protect her from all predators, including his lustful beast.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Marie opened her eyes and patted the soft, warm covers. For a moment, she frowned at the ceiling and wondered why she wasn’t in her tiny, cramped bedroom.

  “I’m in Gage’s bed,” she said out loud.

  She pushed herself up and looked around the spacious bedroom. She remembered showering and flopping onto the king-sized bed with her hair still wet. It had been such a long, harrowing, exhausting night.

  Marie got out of bed and stretched. The terrifying memories still lurked at the back of her mind but she felt physically and mentally stronger today. Her thoughts were clearer and she felt better equipped to make good, sound decisions to protect herself.

  Washing up quickly, she saw the clothes on the chair and remembered that Jana had so kindly lent her some clothes last night.

  She put on a skirt and blouse and checked herself in the mirror. Jana was right. The clothes did fit her perfectly.

  Marie opened the door and went down the stairs. She could hear Jana and Gage in the kitchen.

  The siblings were talking in low voices and she hesitated on the steps for a moment. She didn’t want to interrupt their conversation.

  “Marie?” Gage called out.

  Marie started. How did he know that she was up?

  With an awkward smile, she hurried down the stairs and went to the kitchen.

  “Good morning,” she said.

  “Good morning, Marie,” Jana and Gage greeted her cheerfully.

  Gage was making pancakes and Jana was pouring freshly brewed coffee into three mugs.

  “Breakfast is ready!” Gage announced, expertly flipping the last pancake onto the towering stack.

  “Showoff.” Jana nudged her brother and rolled her eyes.

  Marie laughed when Gage retorted, “You’re just annoyed that you’ve never mastered the art of flipping pancakes.”

  Jana made a face at him as they settled down at the dining table. “Dig in,” Gage urged, putting warm, fluffy pancakes onto Marie’s plate.

  They chatted as they ate, and Marie listened as Gage and Jana talked about the town of Bear Ridge and their friends. Jana was back in Bear Ridge for a month, and was busy catching up with all her old friends.

  “I work in the city,” Jana explained to Marie. “It’s good to be back home. I miss my friends. And my brothers,” she said, elbowing Gage. “I’m the eldest, and Steve is our baby brother.”

  “Steve is thirty,” Gage pointed out. “Not a baby any more.”

  “Yeah. And I’m thirty-six.” Jana sighed. “My ovaries are screaming, but...I haven’t met my mate. So...I don’t think I’ll be having adorable bear cubs anytime soon.”

  “You’re a bear shifter,” Marie said, looking surprised. “Of course. Gage is a bear shifter and you’re his sister,” she added quickly. “It’s just that...”

  “I’m so petite, right?” Jana laughed. “I have the shifter gene in me, but I’m like Mom.”

  “Our mother was half shifter, but she couldn’t shift,” Gage explained. “Jana is a bear shifter who can’t shift.”

  “Hey!” Jana slapped her brother’s arm. “I can feel my bear inside, but she just doesn’t like to come out and play.” Jana shrugged. She steered the conversation away from herself and asked Marie, “Do you have any family?”

  “No. I was in a couple of foster homes. I’m glad I’m out of the system.”

  Jana was silent for a while.

  “So Sweet Hollow isn’t really your hometown,” she said at last.

  “No. I grew up in the city. I left to get away from an ex-boyfriend who was a gang member. I found myself in Sweet Hollow and got a job there. Life in Sweet Hollow was quiet and peaceful, and I just had no inclination to leave. I’ve been in Sweet Hollow for five years now,” Marie said.

  She looked up at two pairs of identical hazel eyes. Gage and Jana were
both giving her their full attention. Jana’s dark blond hair was cut into a chic bob and she was in t-shirt and jeans. Even without any make-up, there was a healthy glow to her skin and her lips were plump and pink. Jana was a very attractive, intelligent woman, and Marie wondered why she would have any trouble finding a mate. She would imagine that men would be beating a path to Jana’s door.

  “I’m going to take my truck to Steve’s shop,” Gage said, finishing up his coffee.

  “Me too,” Jana piped up.

  When Gage frowned in confusion, Jana said, “I’m going to take your truck to Steve’s shop too!” She turned to Marie and grinned. “Come along, Marie. You can meet our baby brother.”

  “I’d love to,” Marie replied, smiling.

  Gage began to clear the table and Marie helped him rinse the plates and load them in the dishwasher.

  When they walked out the front door together, they found Jana waiting for them beside the truck.

  The three of them climbed into the truck cab and Gage cruised down the street.

  As Gage drove, he pointed out the park, library, some quaint shops and the newest shopping mall to Marie. Bear Ridge was a cozy little town, and many people waved to Gage as they passed. “There’s my shop,” Gage said. “I own a hardware store. It’s just a small business. I do a few handyman jobs here and there.”

  Jana chuffed. “Gage is just being modest. He is doing really well. Some of the large construction companies in other towns come to him for their supplies. Gage is an honest, reliable businessman and people like doing business with him.”

  “Steve is doing great too,” Gage said. “Shiny Auto Shop is the best body shop in town!”

  Marie smiled as the siblings chatted excitedly. They were obviously proud of one another, and applauded one another’s achievements. Marie wished that she had someone to cheer her on and encourage her when she was down.

  Her life in Sweet Hollow seemed so empty and meaningless all of a sudden. She had a job, a roof over her head, and that was it. Her boss and colleagues were nice people, but she wasn’t that close to them.