Sheltered By My Mate (Night Grove Falls: Midnight Haven #7)

Chapter 1

Cooper

This run isn’t going to be enough.

That thought keeps playing through my head as my wolf tears through the forest, running north.

My wolf and I have been on edge for months, but for different reasons.

I’m worried about the cult and their increasingly horrible crimes.

My wolf is more worried about the fact that all our friends are finding their fated mates, and we’re still alone.

I’m anxious about that too, if I’m honest. It’s every shifter’s dream to find their fated mate.

No one wants to be alone and finding our mate is our only chance to have a partner.

To build a family. I want all of that, badly, but I think before I find my mate, I should make sure that any threats have been neutralized.

And the cult north of our pack is a big threat.

We’ve been dealing with them for months.

If it were up to me, I would have run them off or killed them months ago when they started buying and kidnapping innocent women.

I understand why the Alphas have waited and tried to scare them in other ways.

We don’t want people looking too closely at Night Grove Falls and finding out about the pack and that most of us in town are shifters.

The Alphas have to do what’s right for their packs. It’s their job to lead and protect us all, but I just want people to be safe. We’ve given the cult enough chances, and I know the Alphas are getting sick of giving them chances too. It won’t be long now before we retaliate. Hard.

I can’t freaking wait.

My wolf lets out a howl, and I grin inside as we run faster, zipping past trees and bushes. We get closer to the cult’s land, and I skid to a stop at the top of the hill, staring down at the grouping of houses and buildings.

It’s quiet now. I’m not surprised since it’s getting late. The sun is setting, and I’m sure everyone is busy eating dinner or preparing for bed.

A bear appears on my left, and I nod at Russo, recognizing his bear. I’m not surprised to see him out on patrol. He’s been helping more now that some of our members are needed at home with their pregnant mates or with mates who are still settling in here.

He acknowledges my nod, and I turn, running along the border.

The sun has almost disappeared behind the trees when I turn for home. My place is a few miles away from the town center, hidden by thick trees and shrubs. I like the privacy. A hiking trail runs past it, but no one ever comes that way. I take that path and let my mind drift as my wolf runs home.

I grew up here in Night Grove Falls, and I know every square inch of the land by heart. I ran these hiking trails, hung out with my friends downtown, and helped my parents around the house. We seldom left this place. When I came of age and moved out, I knew I didn’t want to leave.

This place is my home.

My parents left a few months ago. They wanted to move somewhere warmer after my dad hurt his hip. The cold weather aggravated it. They’re down in Florida now, and they seem happy. I miss them, but I’m glad they’re where they want to be.

The roof of my house comes into view through the trees, and I smile.

I’ll head inside, take a shower, maybe have a snack, then hit the sack.

I have tomorrow off, and I almost wish I was on patrol.

At least that would give me something to do.

Instead, I know I’ll be puttering around my place, bored out of my mind.

My pace slows as I approach my house. I’m distracted by the scent of dogs and rabbits to my left, so I don’t see or hear the other person until it’s too late, and we crash into each other.

I hear a yelp as someone bounces off me and hits the dirt. My wolf reacts to the threat instantly, turning toward them and snarling.

That’s when I see the dirty blonde hair and the wide, startled green eyes.

Shit.

The woman is clearly frightened. My first instinct is to shift and reassure her, but something tells me that doing so will freak her out even more.

I force my wolf to step back and give her some space. He does so reluctantly, and I frown at his reaction. He watches her intently, fascinated by the curvy little female, her cheeks flushed, her chest rising and falling with her heavy breathing.

I frown at his reaction to her. Then she stands, and her scent wafts toward me.

Oh shit. My fated mate.

It hits me like a punch to my sternum. My mouth drops open.

My wolf is quicker to react, quickly closing the distance between us. I grit my teeth, trying to hold him back. His mouth waters, and I know he’s thinking about biting her right here and now.

Wait! I scream at him.

We’re nose to nose with our girl now. Her throat bobs as she gulps. Then her eyes roll back in her head, and I watch in horror as she faints dead away.

I shift, catching her before she hits the ground. I breathe in her sweet scent as I lift her into my arms, cradling her against my chest. Fuck, she feels so right there, so perfect pressed against me. She fits in my arms like she was made to. I guess she was.

Her head rolls against my shoulder, and I hold her more firmly, making sure her face is tucked against my neck.

Happiness and anxiety war within me. I’ve finally found my fated mate, but I don’t feel ready.

Now I have to figure out a way to explain shifters and fated mates to a human, and find a more permanent way to deal with the cult so that she’ll be safe.

Oh, and keep my wolf from biting her before she’s ready.

Maybe this would’ve been easier if I hadn’t been in my wolf form the first time we met, I think as I carry my mate home.

I open the front door and hesitate as I try to figure out where to put my mate. Deciding on the couch, I place her down gently and pull the blanket from the back of the couch around her. I smooth her hair back from her pretty face and smile.

My wolf paces inside me, whimpering as he watches her still form.

She’ll be okay, I promise him.

Sitting beside her, I practice what I’m going to say when my mate finally wakes up.