“Ridge.”
He heard Lux call him from down the hall and with one last look, he turned away from her and softly closed the door. Walking back down the hall, he saw Lux walking back out of the door. Following, Ridge stepped over the threshold and suddenly, pain exploded in his jaw.
“What the fuck!” he roared, rubbing his jaw.
“That’s for not calling me,” Lux replied, pissed.
Ridge blew out a heavy breath. He knew what was coming. So, standing there, he took the punishment he deserved.
He felt another hit. This time, it was to his ribs and caused him to double over. “Fuck,” he coughed.
“That’s for not trusting me,” Lux commented.
Another hit to the jaw finally had Ridge stepping out of Lux’s reach. “Alright, alright.”
“Oh, you think that’s it?” Lux asked. “Dude. You are my fucking VP!” Lux raged. “I’m supposed to count on you. Lean on you. And I find out about this shit from Salvation?”
Fucking hell. Ridge was going to kill Salvation.
“We’re fucking brothers, Ridge!”
“I know!” Ridge shouted. “You think I don’t fucking know that?” He threw his hands in the air. “She’s my mate, man. I can’t live without her. You don’t understand. Without her, I’m lost.”
Lux shook his head. “I know more about it than you think.”
Ridge sighed. Lux might think he knew what it was like, but he didn’t. He would never understand the level of fear Ridge felt today.
“Bring her to me, tomorrow,” Lux said, walking over to his bike.
“Why?”
“Because I fucking said so, Ridge!” he shouted. “Do not fucking test me. You’re already on my shit list.”
He stood silently as Lux mounted his bike, started it, and tore out of the drive.
“Fuck!” he shouted, kicking a rock.
Rubbing his hand down his face, he headed back inside to keep watch over his mate. With a headache forming behind his eyes, he realized he had truly met his match with Andi.
Lord, help me… he said as he slipped out of his clothes and climbed into bed beside her.
22
Andi
She blinked.
The sun was blinding and caused a piercing pain to radiate throughout her skull.
“Ugh.” She rolled over, shielding her eyes.
Andi sat straight up in the bed. Eyes wide, she looked around.
What the…
Looking to her left, she saw Ridge sitting against the headboard of the bed that she was lying on. His eyes closed, he looked like a warrior with his braids falling down his bare chest.
But how had she gotten there?
The last thing Andi remembered was her panther taking over her body, refusing to allow her to shift back into human form. She remembered the struggle, the fight. But the beast was too strong for her.
Looking back at Ridge’s sleeping form, she saw the light bruises that marred his face and side. Suddenly, she recalled the fight between their animals and her stomach turned.
How could she have done that to him?
Fear, not only for him but for herself, caused her to ease out of the bed. She looked around the room for something to wear, knowing her clothes would have been shredded during her shift.
My bag, she thought. But she didn’t see it in the room.
Silently, without waking Ridge, she let herself out of the room. Her heart pounded as fear coursed through her veins. Entering the living area, she still didn’t see her bag.
Where could it be? Come on!
Frantically, she looked around. Finally, she saw it on the floor near the barstool in the kitchen. Rushing over, she unzipped it and began to yank out a change of clothes. Quickly slipping into leggings and a t-shirt, Andi stuffed everything back in the bag and pulled the strap over her shoulder.
Standing, she turned toward the door and screamed.
“Ahh!”
“Going somewhere?” Ridge asked, leaning against the frame.
Andi tried to calm her frantic heart. Take a deep breath, she watched as he pushed off the doorframe and stalked toward her.
“Ridge?” Andi questioned softly, stepping back. “Please. I have to go.”
He said nothing as he continued to move toward her.
“Ridge,” she repeated.
He shook his head.
Andi felt the hairs on the back on her neck start to stand. She watched his eyes, glued on her. Following her every move.
He was a predator and she was his prey.
Andi took another step back and found she had nowhere to go. Ridge literally had her back against the wall, and he took full advantage of the fact by closing in on her.
“Did you really think,” he said. “After everything that happened yesterday, that I would just let you walk out of here?”
“I…” She didn’t know what to say.
Andi didn’t even know what exactly happened, but she couldn’t tell him that. If Ridge knew that she had absolutely no control of the animal inside of her, he’d have no choice but to turn her over to Lux, who would have to put her down. She wasn’t stupid. She knew the rules in their world. However, Andi had never had a problem with her animal, until she’d met Ridge. Around him, her panther was unpredictable.
All her life, Andi had been able to keep her animal a secret and now, within less than a day, she had lost herself to the hellcat twice. She had to get away from Ridge. Mate or not, he would get her killed.
“I can’t…”
“You can’t, what?” Ridge asked, leaning into her.
His face was only inches from hers. His lips were so close. His scent surrounded her. It was making it hard for Andi to think.
“Stay here…” she finally breathed.
“You have nowhere else to go,” Ridge replied.
Andi’s eyes drifted closed as his nose grazed over her cheek, and he nuzzled her just below her ear. She sighed.
“You’re my mate, Andi,” he whispered. His tongue struck out, caressing her lobe. “I will find you.” He kissed down her neck. “No matter where you run. I will always find you.”
His teeth latched on to her shoulder. Heat flooded her core. Andi melted into Ridge’s body. All thoughts of running vanished as her panther perked up inside. Nervous energy flowed through her and she
