Chapter 10
Isaac
The squatter in my woods was getting more brave by the day, or stupid.
I’d had the surveillance cameras on my television watching for any signs of trouble all day. It was getting late and I was considering getting ready for bed. I’d even stepped away long enough to take a shower and clean up before calling it a night.
I heard the animals stirring and sped things up to run back to see what was on the cameras. Sure enough, that arrogant asshole was right there in the middle of my farm.
What the hell was he doing this time?
He was dressed in all black, like my cameras wouldn’t pick up on him or something. Idiot.
I watched as the guy looked a little confused, wandering around my animals, and then almost coming up to the house before he turned and bolted into the woods.
What spooked him?
It hadn’t been me because I was just standing there dripping water from my hair, barely dressed, watching it all unfold.
As anger filled me and I grabbed my shotgun deciding this time I was going to take matters into my own hands.
I heard him cry out as he crashed into something just behind the barn. I took off in that direction. There was no way I was letting him go this time.
Approaching with silent footsteps wasn’t difficult because he was making enough noise to wake the dead.
I loaded my gun and waited for him to hear the distinctive click of it locking into place and ready to fire.
The guy froze. He didn’t stay put long though as he kicked out, nailing me just to the left of my groin, before scrambling away.
I roared in anger and as I took in the site, I realized he’d built a shelter from the logs he’d stolen from my wood pile.
Angry, I demolished the thing, kicking, and beating it with the butt of my weapon until the logs were scattered to the ground, rendering the shelter unusable.
And then, I went after him with a newfound determination and pissed at the world.
I didn’t ask for much in life, just to be left the hell alone. Was that really too much to ask for?
Why couldn’t he just leave me the hell alone?
I took off after him. He was fast, but I was faster.
As I closed the gap between us, I let off a shot of warning.
Luckily, he was at least smart enough to stop before I really had to shoot him. Despite local rumors, I had no desire to harm anyone. I just didn’t care to associate with them either.
“Don’t move,” I warned.
Slowly, he turned to face me. All I could see was big, terrified eyes staring back at me, and then came the one little word I never hoped to hear.
Mine, my wolf growled in my head.
Stunned, I stumbled back a few steps.
No. This couldn’t be happening.
“Get the hell out of here, and don’t come back,” I said in a harsh voice.
The look of hurt in those eyes nearly brought me to my knees. But he turned and ran.
Wait, he?
I sniffed the air at his retreating form. Not he, she. My mate.
That thought felt like a sucker punch to my stomach and I nearly folded from the pain of it.
A mate?
I had a mate?
How the hell was this even possible?
By all rights, I didn’t even exist. So how the hell had she found me and what was she doing dressed all in black snooping around my house?
All this time she’d been right there in the woods behind the barn?
Why hadn’t I smelled her or sensed her sooner?
None of it made sense.
I almost felt bad for destroying her temporary home—almost.
It didn’t matter that she was my mate. She had no business stealing from me and squatting there. None.
I roared in frustration out into the silent night. There was no change in movements. The animals of the area were used to me by now, even at my worse.
Somewhere way off into the distance, I heard the rumble of a vehicle and the squeal of tires as it sped away.
She had a car? Why the hell was she living out here if she had a damn car nearby?
None of it made sense.
Shaking my head and trying desperately to piece it all together, I walked back to the house.
I cringed as I passed her shelter, but didn’t feel that guilty knowing she had a car. She’d be warmer sleeping there anyway.
Trying to put the entire thing behind me, I forced myself not to hunt her down. Instead, I walked back to my house and sat down in my chair wondering what the fuck had just happened.
My head hurt just trying to put it all together.
It wasn’t long though before I heard the crunch of tires on my gravel driveway.
My traitorous heart hoped it was her returning.
I watched the SUV pull up through the camera system. I knew that vehicle. It couldn’t be her.
Tarron’s hand was in the air ready to knock when I threw open the door.
“What do you want?” I growled.
“Someone was here.”
“No shit, Sherlock.”
“You went after them, didn’t you?”
“I did.”
“I thought Kyle asked you not to.”
“Clearly, I don’t listen very well.”
“Shit. What happened? He was dressed in all black, but looked too tall to be one of the boys we’re looking for.”
I scowled. “Why the hell are you watching my feed?”
“Orders. Why the hell do you think we agreed to put it in so quickly? We’re looking for those missing boys.”
“I told you it wasn’t boys squatting out here.”
“So you caught him? Uh, is he still alive?”
“I caught her, and yes, she is still alive.”
“Her?”
“I didn’t stutter.”
“But, but . . . her?”
“Her.”
“You’re sure about that?”
“Never been more sure of anything in my entire life.”
“Is she okay?” he asked, hesitantly as if I was going to do something that stupid.
She was my true mate. There’s no way I could hurt her.
Shit. When did I start feeling protective of this woman?
“She’s fine,” I barked.
“So that’s it? You had a woman squatting nearby?”
“So it would seem.”
“Did you get her name?”
“Sorry, I forgot to ask as I ran her off,” I said sarcastically, but pain sliced through my chest as I said it.
I’d run my mate off. Hadn’t my father done the same? He’d been a scoundrel of the worst kind, a lone wolf—like me.
The thought angered me. I was nothing like him.
My anger must have shown on my face because Tarron took a noticeable step back.
At least I knew she couldn’t be pregnant as I ran her off. At least not with my kid.
A growl burst from me before I could stop it. The thought of her with another man didn’t sit well with my wolf. If I let myself really think about it, it didn’t sit well with me either.
What the hell was I going to do now?
Nothing, I thought. Absolutely nothing.
“Well, I guess I’m gonna just go then.”
“Do yourself a favor and stop meddling in my business. I can take care of myself out here.”
Tarron snorted. “If that were true, you’d never have called Archie to have me come out here.”
I scowled at him, but he just laughed.
There was no way I was going to admit it, but I liked this guy. He certainly had balls of steel. Most men would have run away with their tails between their legs the way I’d been barking at him.
“Sorry,” I surprised us both by saying. “I do appreciate your help. It’s just been a long day, and an even longer week. I really don’t mean to bark at you.”
“Wow, well, okay. You’re welcome then. And I will be keeping an eye on things for just a little bit longer.
Just in case. But no one’s sitting there watching you or your place, okay?
I have alarms set for movements. Aside from this mysterious woman who was clearly creeping around here dressed all in black and hiding her face, just you and one of your goats has tripped the alarm since it went in. ”
“One of my goats?”
“Yeah, the gray female one.”
I groaned. “Gertrude. How the hell did she get out this time?”
“Looked like the tree limb down on the backside of the pen.”
“Really? Thanks. I’ll fix that tomorrow.”
“Sure, anytime. Take care, Isaac. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing each other again real soon.”
“Those boys are not here.”
“I heard you the first time.”
But he didn’t sound like he believed it. What was I supposed to say?
It wasn’t the boys you’re looking for. It was my mate. My thieving little mate.