The two shifters encroached on her, their eyes dark, more animal than human. Every step they took she started to counter. Her apartment wasn't large, but there were other people. She should be able to at least alert someone. A loud knock at this hour would catch someone attention.
Her mind was reeling. First things first. She fumbled with her phone behind her back, watching the two before her and trying not to trip.
Raine had no idea what she was pushing but she tried to find the spot that would autodial for help. After she had no idea if that worked or not, she pushed her fingerprint to the home button unlocking it and praying she dialed someone. At that moment calling anyone was better than nothing. Her back slammed into the wall next to the door into her building.
She couldn't yell. But damn if the back of her head didn't throb as it ricocheted from the bricks.
"You're like a little scared bunny," said Rob.
"Yeah. It's my favorite scent," said the other bother.
She closed her eyes. Everything she knew about self protection wasn't going to work well with two massive shifters. Not when her throat refused to cooperate and no one seemed to be coming or going from the parking lot.
She smelled the sweat of wet dog before she felt the hot breath against her neck. A long suppressed memory of the scent of stale beer made her gag. Instinct drove her to press into the wall harder, even if it wasn't going to do any good.
Tires squealed somewhere in the night, not rare for a city, but God did she hope it was someone coming to the parking lot.
She needed help.
"Bitch. We need to go."
A jolt forced her eyes open as her feet left the ground. As if she weighed nothing, she dangled over the shoulder of the tallest of the two. Without thought, she tried to punch him in the kidneys. He just laughed. Without any stability she knew it wouldn't be effective.
As the two guys fought her into the car her head hit the frame of the door. She blinked a few times and lost her edge. Dazed she was stuffed into the car. Raine felt her ass hit the leather seat before it registered she'd lost.
"Oh sweetie. Just hold tight."
Raine rubbed her head and blinked in the direction of her Gran's voice. "What? Hold tight? No. Why would I do that?"
"Who the fuck are you talking to?"
Raine didn't bother answering. A loud thud against the car had her attention as Rob slid across the trunk of the car.
"Fuck," was all the other brother said before he disappeared from the doorway.
"See dear? I said don't worry."
Raine ignored Gran as a familiar feeling raced through her. Kian was there; she could feel his essence. Raine could hear a conversation.
"Hey. This doesn’t concern you. Pack business."
Her vision clearing, the car came into focus, and Gran seemed to disappear again. No one stood guard that she could see, so she took the opportunity and darted for the other door. Like hell they would take her.
"Hey, asshole. Didn't you hear me? This isn't your thing."
Raine felt a pang of worry that the two meat-heads might hurt whoever it was, and she prayed it was Kian out there, the feel of him so close it had to be. She needed to get out of the car though, she couldn’t be any help stuck inside. Raine needed to get back to her phone, hell she just needed to run into the apartment.
As she reached the other door no hands reached in after her. She yanked on the handle as she scanned for the lock. Finally finding it she pulled.
"Son of a bitch."
"Raine, stop. There's a child lock or something. Don't worry though. Just sit tight."
Raine started to climb to the front seat as she jumped at an unexpected thud.
She paused.
A second thud and a lot of moaning.
Her heart kicked up as a figure covered the open door. A large animal crept in slowly. Instinct screamed run, but her heart said she knew the tawny colored animal.
She watched as he placed one massive paw on the seat and sniffed the air. He puffed air as the golden eyes morphed green.
“Kian?”
A low rumble in his chest an acknowledgement.
He approached closer, his massive form blocking the door entirely as the car sniffed closer. He licked a scrape on her hand she hadn’t noticed. Reaching out she put a hand on his head. The cougar’s eyes closed. A slow hesitant scratch before she started to explore the feel of his fur, coarse but soft.
The words entered her mind as the cat vibrated, purring. “You’re okay?”
She moved closer and rested her head against the cat’s massive shoulder and back and whispered, “yes. I am now.”
Under her touch he shifted. She pushed back as she heard a snap and the fur began to retract.
Blinking against the car lights still shining into the car, she tried to make out the features. A familiar face of Kian came into focus. A naked form she knew almost every inch remained crouched on the seat.
"Is that you Kian?"
His hand extended towards her. "Yes. Now take my hand so we can get out of here."
Without a second thought, she put her hand in his and he pulled her out.
"You sure you're okay?" He asked for the millionth time. Raine had a bruise along her jaw line and another disappearing into her hair.
"Yes. I told you I was fine."
He smiled down on her.
"The hospital wouldn't have released me if I wasn't, Kian."
He looked away. "I. Well I might have mentioned I was an EMT and could watch out for you.I think it helped that they were overly full and didn't really have the beds to spare."
Raine lay next to him in her bed where they had been since she'd been released from the
