Bear Necessities

She turned so rapidly she almost lost her balance. There, just stepping out of the alleyway next to the store, were Gary and his buddies. “Leave me alone, asshole.”

She had to get away before these guys went after Alex or worse, Glory and Cyn.

Hell, Mrs. H. was still inside. She didn’t know if they’d go after a harmless old woman, but Mrs. H. wouldn’t stand by and let someone she liked get hurt. She’d try to save Tabby and wind up getting savaged.

An arm slipped around her waist, her mate’s scent filling her senses. “Is there a problem here?”

Oh fuck. Alex. She felt herself tense, ready to defend her mate. “No, no problem.”

Please go back inside. A Bear could hold off one Wolf, but a Wolf Pack? He’d be mangled. She wouldn’t allow Gary to lay a hand on Alex. She’d never forgive herself if anything happened to her mate.

“No, no problem,” Gary echoed. He smiled slowly. “Your voice sounds familiar.”

“So does yours.” Alex’s arm tightened around her waist. “You’re Gary, right?”

Alex’s voice sounded soft and menacing. Shit. He sounded just like he had at Noah’s that night. The muscles in his arm were tight with tension.

“That’s right. And you are?”

“Tabby’s mate.” She could feel his claws against her waist, but didn’t dare look down. She’d seen Julian’s nails turn black, the tips become deadly sharp. She didn’t need to see them to know Alex’s were the same way.

Gary did look. His eyes widened briefly. “Oh.”

One of Alex’s claws began rhythmically tapping against her stomach. She held perfectly still, knowing he would never intentionally hurt her. “That’s right. We’re not going to have any trouble, are we, boys?”

Gary’s eyes gleamed in the light of the streetlamp. “You’re not Wolf, so allow me to explain a few things to you.” Those tapping claws stopped, scraped across her skin. She twitched when one scratched her belly. “You’re right. I’m not Wolf. I’m Bear.”

Gary laughed. “Wait. You mated a Bear?” His three goons laughed along with him. “A fucking Bear? You’re kidding me, right?”

Tabby clamped her lips shut. Whatever the hell Alex was up to, there was no way she could stop it now.

“Listen, Bear. Tabby is Outcast. That makes her fair game to any Wolf who wants a piece, got it?”

For some strange reason, Alex relaxed behind her. “Is that so? Well, let me tell you something, Wolf. Tabby is no longer a Wolf problem. She’s mine.”

Gary laughed again. He wiped away an imaginary tear. “Oh, that’s good. A Bear.”

He shook his hand at Tabby and Alex. “Run along. I’ll deal with you both later.”

Gary turned his back on them and motioned for his Pack. They grinned at Tabby and Bunny before turning and following Gary down the street, the small Pack still laughing.

“What. The. Fuck?” Tabby turned in Alex’s arms, heedless of the claws scraping along her flesh. The scratches would heal quickly enough. “What the hell was that all about?” And why hadn’t Gary attacked them?

Alex shrugged, but his narrowed eyes were glued to Gary’s retreating form. “I have no idea.” His hands absently stroked her flesh, healing the scratches he’d made.

“I would guess that he didn’t want his ass in jail.”

They both turned to find Gabe standing behind them. “I thought maybe I should update you on the prints we found on the stink bomb.” He gestured toward the door of Living Art. “Mind if we go in, get it all over with at once?”

“Sure, no problem.” Alex steered her back inside. She was still a little dazed at how easily Gary had backed down. Then again a Puma, a Wolf and a Bear could easily defeat his small Pack. And when one of those shifters was not only a Marshall’s Second but a Hunter?

Yeah. One order of Gary’s ass on toast, coming up.

They went back into the store. “Cyn! Glory! I found a sheriff on the front step.

Can I keep him?” She winked at Glory, who giggled behind her hand. She ignored Alex’s low growl and Gabe’s chuckle.

Cyn stepped out of the back room. “Hey, Sheriff. Any news on the vandalism?”

“That’s why I’m here.” He took off his hat and ran his hands through his black hair. “The prints we lifted aren’t on file, either with us or with the national database.”

“Damn it.” Cyn collapsed into one of the chairs lining the walls. “That means we’ll never get him.”

“Not unless he gets arrested, no.” Gabe looked around. “Is anyone else in the store with you?”

“Nope. Mrs. H. left the back way. Said she’d left her Harley back there.”

“Fine.” Gabe eyed the two humans thoughtfully. “Know that the only reason I’m telling you this is because you know about and accepted Tabby.” Cyn frowned, Glory looked puzzled. “I’m running the prints through…other channels as well, just to make sure we’re not dealing with a shifter problem.”

“Shit.” Cyn tugged her hair. “Like Gary isn’t enough of a problem. Any way we can fingerprint him?” When Gabe shook his head, she took a deep breath and blew it out, straightened in her seat and did her best to stare a hole through Gabe. “You tell us what we need to do and we’ll do it.”

Gabe smiled. “Let us deal with it if it turns out to be shifters. I’ll let you know if anything shows up. At that point, it’s out of your hands and I’ll have to call in some backup.” He knelt down in front of Cyn. “I’m obligated to make this offer.”

She eyed him warily.

“I or one of my other Pride members could change you.” He turned his head to share a look with Glory. “Either of you, or both of you. You know about us already, so it wouldn’t be too much of a hardship for either of you.”

Tabby blinked, then bit back a possessive growl. If anyone was changing her girls, it was going to be her.

“What would I be if you did?”

“A Puma.”

“Really?” Glory stepped forward. “I’d be a shape-shifting kitty?”

Gabe dropped his head. “Ah. Not exactly.”

“That would be a really bad idea, Anderson.” Alex pointed with his chin. “At least for Glory.”

She put her hands on her hips. “And why is that?”

Tabby nodded. Alex was right. “Because Ryan would pitch a fit.”

“Who cares what Ryan thinks? I like kitties. What if I want to be a kitty?”

“Ryan Williams, as in Chloe’s brother?” Gabe stood up and studied Glory. “Right.

I’ll talk to him.” He turned back to Cyn, ignoring Glory’s gasp of outrage. “What about you?”

Tabby doubted she was the only one who heard Gabe’s unspoken question. Do you have a mate too?

Cyn smiled, her expression wicked. “I think I’d make a fine-looking cat.”

No. Bad idea. Very bad. “Uh, Gabe?” Tabby grinned weakly. “Not a good idea.”

His brows rose. “Both of them?”

She nodded.

He crossed his arms over his chest. “Why the fuck are they unclaimed?”

“Uh, ex cuse me? Unclaimed? Like my ass is in some ratty lost-and-found bin?”

“Glory,” Tabby groaned.

“I have a mate?” Cyn stood, her entire body quivering. “He’s going to fucking claim me?”

Oh hell. “Cyn, calm down.”

“Fuck no! Who is it?”

Tabby pinched her lips together. No way was she getting in the middle of this.