But Andi couldn’t talk. Fear clawed at her insides. She couldn’t bear to hear that they wanted her to leave. Her throat clogged with emotion as her carefully placed façade began to collapse. She’d tried so hard to be normal. To be a regular human.
“Andi?” Salvation called, again.
“She won’t speak to you,” Panther said, exasperated.
‘Why not?” Salvation asked, again.
“Because she’s stupid,” her panther announced. “She thinks our mate will send us away like everyone else has in our life, once they find out about me.”
“Mate?” Salvation asked.
“Yes.” Her panther smiled. “Him.”
Andi could see her panther’s eyes, her eyes, shift toward Ridge. And suddenly, her heart started to pound, and butterflies took flight in her stomach.
“Ridge is your mate?” Salvation asked.
“Yes.”
“And Andi thinks he will send her away?” he questioned.
“Yes.”
“Because of you?”
“Yes!” Her panther sighed, annoyed with all the questions.
“Okay, first of all,” Salvation replied. “Lose the attitude. I am here to help you and Andi. Second, Andi, please hear me. You will not get sent away. If anything, this is where you belong.”
“That’s what I’ve been telling her.”
“Panther, please let Andi come forward,” Salvation said. “I need to speak directly to her.”
“Why won’t our mate speak to us?”
“Because he can’t,” Salvation explained. “Ridge can’t talk to you telepathically until y’all are mated.”
“Then, how can you?”
“The same way you were able to mask your scent and prevent the club from knowing you were a shifter.”
“So, it’s your gift?”
“Yes.”
Andi listened intently to their conversation. Was Salvation telling the truth? She wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe that they wouldn’t send her away. That she wouldn’t lose another home.
Then believe him.
It’s not that easy for me.
You must learn to trust someone. And Salvation is offering you… well, salvation! Take it.
“Andi? I know you’re there. I heard you. Please, babe. Just talk to me. Let me help you.”
“I…” Andi cleared her throat. “I’m so sorry. I never meant to shift. I promise I won’t do it again.”
“Whoa,” Salvation said. “Slow down. You have nothing to be sorry for. And we won’t send you anywhere. Please, shift back and talk to us.”
Andi took a deep breath and mentally, she climbed to her feet and wiped away her tears. Closing her eyes, she pictured herself standing in the room. She pictured everything from the spikes of her black pixie cut to the pink polish on her toes. She felt the tingle across her skin and when she opened her eyes, she was standing in the exact spot her panther was previously sitting in.
She looked at Salvation and his smile was infectious.
“Welcome back,” he said, still grinning. “That panther is…”
“Something else,” she whispered. “I know.”
Turning her head, Andi’s eyes met Ridge’s. And before she could say a word, he was across the room. His arms wrapped around her at the same times his lips crashed against hers. Andi could feel the rumble of his cat as her breasts pressed against his hard, solid chest.
13
Ridge
He couldn’t take it anymore.
Seeing Salvation so close to his mate, Ridge’s leopard was almost tearing out of his skin. And the fact that his brother was inside Andi’s head, made it even worse. So, before Ridge even knew what he was doing, he was up and out of his chair.
His lips pressed against hers.
His leopard purred in contentment.
He was so wrapped up in the feel of Andi in his arms, that he barely registered Salvation backing out of the room with a huge, lopsided grin on his face.
Ridge’s hands fisted in her hair as he leaned his head to the side to deepen the kiss. He wanted to mark her, claim her. His animal paced inside of him, demanding.
Mate. Claim. Ours.
It was like a chant on repeat in his head. And as much as he wanted to give in to his animal’s demands, Ridge knew he couldn’t. Not yet. So, reluctantly he broke the kiss and rested his forehead against Andi’s.
They were both breathing hard.
“We need to find you some clothes,” he grumbled.
“Shit!” Andi jumped back and covered herself.
“Too late,” he admitted. “Already seen it.”
Andi’s cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink, and Ridge smiled. Pulling his shirt over his head, Ridge stepped over to her and waited for Andi to slide her arms through the holes. Then, reluctantly, he pulled it down, covering her body.
“That will do for now.” Ridge winked. “Come on, I’m sure a couple of people have some questions.”
“Lux isn’t going to make me leave, is he?” she asked.
Ridge looked into her worried eyes and felt a twist of pain in his own heart. “You’re not going anywhere, Andi.”
“Promise?” she asked, hesitantly.
“Yes, mate.”
“So,” she stammered. “It's true? We’re… mates?”
“Yep.” Ridge flashed a shit-eating grin. “Lucky you!”
Andi nodded but said nothing.
Ridge didn’t know how to take that, so he just shrugged it off. He wasn’t a bad guy. At least, he didn’t think so. If he were honest, he actually thought that he was rather charming.
His leopard rolled its eyes. Let’s not go that far, okay?
What?
Mentally, Ridge saw his leopard shake its head.
Whatever.
Out loud he said, “Come on, let’s get this over with so I can get you home and back into your own clothes.”
I think she looks perfectly fine in our shirt.
Ridge agreed, but he kept that thought to himself.
Grabbing Andi’s hand, he led her out of the back room. Opening the door, he watched as Salvation pushed off the wall and stepped towards them. His leopard immediately went on alert.
“All good?” Salvation asked.
“Yeah,” Ridge answered.
“Thank you,” Andi replied in a small voice.
“No problem.” Salvation winked.
“Lux in his office?” Ridge asked.
“Nah, he’s at the bar,” Salvation directed.
Still holding her hand, Ridge walked down the wall, back toward the bar area of the clubhouse. As they entered the large room, several heads turned toward them and he felt Andi move closer to his back. Without realizing it, a deep growl worked its way up his throat.
“Go about your business,” Ridge ordered.
Everyone snapped out of it and turned away.
He walked Andi over
