Chapter Five
Lying awake on the couch, Quinton held his mate close, feeling the reassuring weight of Noah’s body against his own. He traced the gentle curves of Noah’s face, gazing at how peaceful his mate appeared, but Quinton knew peace was fragile.
As Noah shifted in his sleep and let out a soft sigh, Quinton felt a wave of protectiveness clench him. He wanted nothing more than to keep Noah safe from any pain, fear, or darkness that seemed to follow the human like a shadow.
But Noah wasn’t some fragile flower. He had a quiet strength, one that both intrigued and frustrated Quinton. As the head of his bear shifter family, Quinton was used to taking charge and fiercely protecting those he cared about without question.
With Noah, it wasn’t so easy. His mate had erected walls that Quinton was still trying to get his mate to lower. There was something in Noah’s past, something he wasn’t ready to talk about, and Quinton suspected it was the reason for his mate’s hesitation.
What secrets are you hiding from me, hon?
The soft morning light filtered through the living room window, causing Quinton to focus on the overcast sky outside. The clouds hung low and heavy, like a promise of rain, and the world beyond the apartment walls felt calm and peaceful. It was a quiet he didn’t trust.
Running his fingers softly through Noah’s hair, Quinton thought back to when Kalen had called nearly three months ago, asking the Everharts to help with a vampire problem. Quinton and his sons hadn’t hesitated for a second to drop everything and lend a hand. The unbreakable bond between them had been forged over two centuries ago, and the wolf shifters were like family in every way that mattered. So when someone like Kalen Frost called for help, you didn’t ask questions.
You simply showed up, ready and willing to eliminate the threat.
But the crisis had resolved itself. The vampires in question had retreated, and the town had gone back to its quiet way of life. Quinton had been prepared to return home, but something about Midnight Falls—its tranquility and charm—had drawn him in. More importantly, his sons had felt it too. They’d needed a fresh start, a place away from the old memories that clung to them like ghosts.
So, they’d stayed.
But once again, Quinton’s life was changing.
He had never been one to overthink or dwell on things—three centuries of life had taught him to deal with problems head-on. But with Noah, things were different. This was his mate. His future.
If Quinton were being honest with himself, he’d never thought to find his mate and had made peace with being alone. But that all went out the window the moment he’d laid eyes on the human he now held in his arms. Finding Noah had changed everything.
The moment Quinton had sat next to Noah in the bar, he’d instantly known, had felt the pull, that undeniable connection between mates.
Yet, something wasn’t right.
There was a tension behind Noah’s bright green eyes, a secret that weighed him down. Every instinct Quinton possessed screamed at him to protect Noah, but how could he keep his mate safe when he didn’t even know what he was protecting the human from?
As he scratched at his beard, Quinton inwardly cursed. Instead of enjoying their connection, of simply being with Noah, a creeping sense of dread wouldn’t go away.
Noah stirred, his body moving slightly against Quinton’s. For a moment, he thought his mate had woken up, but then Noah settled again, snuggling deeper into the warmth of his embrace. The small, unconscious gesture tugged at something deep inside Quinton, causing him to smile.
Noah was independent and feisty, sure, but there was also a vulnerability beneath that tough exterior. A part of his mate wanted to be protected, even if the guy refused to admit it.
Quinton was still lost in thought when his phone vibrated. He groaned inwardly, knowing it was probably one of his sons. It was way too early for anyone else to be calling him. Carefully, so as not to disturb Noah, he reached for the phone and checked the message.
It was Ryker.
You awake? I’m downstairs. We’ve got a situation .
With a reluctant sigh, Quinton gently slid out from under Noah, tucking the blanket they’d grabbed from the bedroom earlier around his mate. He pulled on his boots, grabbed his jacket off the carpet in the corner of the room, then slipped out of the apartment.
After he trotted down the steps, he walked out into the cool morning air, the faint scent of rain lingering from the night before. Ryker was waiting for him at the curb, leaning against his motorcycle and wearing a grim expression. Killian, Quinton’s second eldest son, stood next to his brother, arms crossed, his usual carefree demeanor replaced with something more serious.
“What’s going on?”
Quinton asked as he approached them.
Ryker glanced over at Killian then back at Quinton. “We found out why Toro’s in town.”
Quinton’s heart skipped a beat as dread pooled in his gut. He didn’t know why the vampire was in Midnight Falls, but he couldn’t shake the feeling this wasn’t just a random coincidence.
Toro didn’t do random. The vampire always had a reason, and it was never anything good.
“It’s your mate,”
Killian said bluntly, his voice tinged with frustration. “Toro’s here for Noah.”
Hearing Noah and Toro’s name mentioned in the same sentence made Quinton’s blood run cold. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, the protective instinct surging through him like wildfire. Noah was Toro’s target?
“How do you know for sure it’s Noah he’s after?”
Quinton demanded, his voice sharp as his fear and anger skyrocketed. The vampire was a wild card, an unpredictable menace who thrived on chaos.
Ryker’s stance shifted. He was clearly uncomfortable with the gravity of the situation. “After I texted you last night, Killian and I went on the hunt for Toro to try and find out what the vampire was up to. We came across him behind the vet clinic and overheard him talking with some lackeys. He mentioned Noah by name.”
Quinton swore under his breath. He had been so focused on spending time with his mate, on trying to navigate their new bond, that he’d completely forgotten about Toro. If the vampire was gunning for Noah, that put the human in immediate danger.
“I won’t let that bastard touch him.”
Quinton also needed to talk with Noah, to find out why the vampire was after him in the first place.
Ryker and Killian exchanged a glance then nodded in unison. “We’ll help,”
Ryker offered, a hard glint in his eyes. “Whatever you need, Dad.”
“Thanks,”
Quinton said, a menacing growl in his voice. “Because we’re not just going to sit back and wait for Toro to make his move. We’re going on the offensive.”
“It’s morning, so there’s nothing we can do until full dark,”
Killian reminded him, then added, “Toro left his meeting using his inhuman speed, so we weren’t able to track where he’s holed up.”
Which presented a problem. Now that Quinton knew why Toro was in town, there was no way the human was staying at his apartment. There was too much at stake, which was why Noah was coming to Quinton’s house. The vampire was unhinged, and the last time they’d crossed paths, things had ended violently.
“ I’ll meet you boys at home. I have to talk to Noah.”
Quinton turned and headed back upstairs. Just thinking about the vampire made him want to rip the bastard apart.
When he quietly crept back into the apartment, he saw Noah was still asleep on the couch. Careful not to wake his mate, Quinton headed into the kitchen, needing a minute to think, to clear his head. The apartment felt too small, too stifling, with all the unanswered questions hanging in the air.
As Quinton poured himself a cup of cold coffee from the pot his mate had brewed earlier, he wished he’d told his sons to stop at Bluebird Café. And maybe the bakery for a dozen or so sweets.
In desperate need of fresh coffee and some pastries, Quinton pulled out his phone and texted Ryker, putting in his order and giving his son the unit number.
After Ryker replied with a thumbs-up, Quinton strolled into the living room. His gaze was immediately drawn to Noah, who was sitting up now, his tousled hair falling in charming disarray around his face and his half-lidded eyes still showing traces of drowsiness.
Even in his disheveled state, he was breathtakingly handsome.
“How did you sleep?”
Quinton sat next to him on the couch then set aside his cup of cold coffee. He pulled Noah into the crook of his arm, and his mate snuggled up against him as if it was the most natural thing to do.
Noah rubbed his eyes and let out a big yawn before answering. “I slept on top of a warm mountain,”
he replied with a sleepy grin.
Quinton chuckled at the cute response, feeling a surge of warmth in his chest at the sight of Noah so relaxed in his arms. “I’ve been called worse.”
“Are you kidding me? You’re the size of one.”
Noah gazed up at him with wide eyes. “Just how tall are you?”
“Six-six,”
Quinton responded with a small smile.
Noah’s lips parted. “Wow. You’re a big boy.”
It wasn’t the first time Quinton had heard that comment, but it still made him self-conscious at times. He was fully aware of his towering stature, but constantly being reminded of it could be tiresome.
However, hearing it from Noah didn’t bother Quinton at all. In fact, he quite liked it. “Can I ask you something?”
He brushed some stray hairs off of his mate’s forehead.
Pulling back slightly, Noah furrowed his brows as mistrust returned to his striking green eyes. “I guess.”
Quinton searched for the right way to bring up Toro without triggering Noah’s defenses. “Do you remember the question I asked at breakfast?”
God, could he be any more vague? Quinton wasn’t one for beating around the bush, so why was he doing it now? His usual directness seemed to have abandoned him in this crucial moment.
“You’re asking a lot of questions this morning,”
Noah said evasively, but the look in his eyes told Quinton that he knew exactly what question he was referring to.
“The one about what was on your mind.”
As Noah’s body tensed, he quickly looked away.
Quinton was done tiptoeing around the issue. His mate’s safety was at stake, and he needed answers, so he got straight to the point. “I know about Toro,”
he stated bluntly. “What I don’t know is why he’s after you.”
Noah’s reaction was immediate. He jerked away from Quinton before he shot up from the couch. It was unclear where he was planning to go, since the living room was the size of a shoebox. His body radiated tension and panic, giving off the impression he was looking for an escape route.
“How do you…”
Noah’s voice trembled with fear. “How do you know about him? Who are you?”
Quinton stood then realized his size might only intimidate Noah further, so he sat back down. But if his mate tried to leave the apartment, Quinton would have no choice but to physically stop him.
Even though it was daylight outside, the danger remained. Toro could have humans or preternaturals staking out Noah’s place.
“I’m still Quinton Everhart, a bear shifter and your mate,”
he stated firmly.
The fear in Noah’s eyes seemed to momentarily fade, replaced by a droll expression. “And that’s supposed to magically clear things up? You could be lying your butt off about your name,”
he retorted.
He noticed Noah didn’t dispute their connection as mates, only Quinton’s identity.
Regardless of whether or not the human trusted him, there was no denying the strong bond between them.
“I’ve had run-ins with Toro in the past, hon,”
Quinton said calmly. “I know he’s a nasty piece of work.”
He explained about the conversation he’d just had with Ryker and Killian downstairs.
The longer Quinton talked, the more Noah’s face drained of color.
“I need to know why he’s after you, sweetheart.”
He patted the cushion beside him, but his mate refused to sit down.
Instead, Noah paced in front of the door while biting his thumbnail. “It was such a stupid mistake,”
he admitted through clenched teeth. “I needed a loan because I was falling behind on my bills, but I didn’t want my family to find out I needed money.”
Quinton already knew a psychotic vampire was after his mate, but hearing the details still made his stomach churn. “Why were you concerned about your family finding out?”
Taking out a loan wasn’t an uncommon practice. People did it all the time.
“One word.”
Noah stopped his pacing and scowled. “Jack.”
He spit out the name like it tasted bad in his mouth. “My stepfather believes anyone who needs a loan is financially irresponsible. I would’ve never heard the end of it, and knowing him, he would have told his buddies. Every time I went to see my mom, Jack would have lectured me about how irresponsible I was being, even though I’m not.”
The more Quinton learned about the stepfather, the less and less he liked the guy. “But you didn’t have to tell him ,”
he remarked. “You’re an adult living on your own. Your finances are your business.”
“That’s what you would think, right?”
Noah scoffed bitterly. “But Jack is acquainted with a lot of people in this town. I couldn’t take the chance he would know the person at the loan place.”
Quinton rubbed his hand across his bearded jaw. “So, you turned to a shady lender instead.”
Noah gave him a look that confirmed his suspicions. “Those people don’t ask for proof of income, and they don’t make you sign any contracts. They also conveniently neglected to mention the exorbitant amount of interest they charge, which compounds every day you default on your loan.”
“Why are you defaulting?”
“Because of the exorbitant amount of interest they charge. Haven’t you been listening?”
Noah’s voice was high-pitched, like he’d shatter at any second.
Toro’s involvement meant Noah’s debt had reached a critical level. “How much do you owe?”
“I’m not dragging you into this.”
His mate shook his head as he began pacing again, but more frantically this time.
“You’re not dragging me into anything.”
Quinton stood to his full height. It wasn’t to intimidate Noah but to show his mate he was a force to be reckoned with. “The last time I ran into Toro, he was after a friend of mine.”
Noah looked him over, a curious expression on his face, but Quinton couldn’t tell if it was from fear or awe. “And the vampire is still living?”
“A mistake I plan to rectify,”
Quinton snarled. “He’s not getting anywhere near you, cub.”
“I can’t believe it took me this long to figure out why you call me cub.”
Noah smirked. “You’re a bear shifter. It’s cute, but I’m not a child.”
“It’s like how adults call their partners baby,”
Quinton pointed out. “I use the term cub in the same way.”
“Oh.”
Noah pursed his lips in understanding.
In just five steps, Quinton crossed the small space between them and wrapped his arms around Noah, pulling him close and dropping a tender kiss on the top of his head.
His mate curled into him, covertly sniffing Quinton’s shirt, but he heard the small sniffs and grinned. Noah liked his scent.
With a content sigh, Noah melted into him. Their connection allowed his mate to feel safe and at ease in his embrace.
But Quinton couldn’t let himself be distracted from the issue at hand. “How much, hon?”
A knock on the door caused Noah to tense. Quinton cursed under his breath at Ryker’s and Killian’s terrible timing. While he appreciated them making a coffee and pastries run, they could have been just a little slower with their delivery.
“It’s just my sons,”
he reassured his mate, running a comforting hand down his back. “They brought us some pastries and coffee.”
With a slight lean to the side, Quinton opened the door.
But it wasn’t them.
Two men and one woman barged into the living room, with the burly men heading straight for Quinton while the sleek woman went after Noah. His mate shouted and struggled as she grabbed him, trying frantically to get her off of him.
Reacting quickly, Quinton slammed the dark-haired man against the wall with a savage snarl before grabbing the bald one by the throat. With a powerful swing, he hurled Baldy, sending him crashing into the female who was trying to drag Noah away.
Not only were the intruders incredibly strong, but they also had different scents. Quinton could detect that the males were lion shifters while the female was a cheetah shifter.
“Get your fucking hands off him!”
Quinton roared, unwilling to reveal the fact Noah was his mate. Toro would take great pleasure in torturing Noah to get revenge for the beatdown Quinton had given the vampire just six months prior.
Extending his claws, Quinton growled ferociously as he gutted the dark-haired man, desperate to get to his mate. Noah was fighting back, but as a human against a shifter ten times stronger than him, he didn’t stand a chance.
Baldy broke free and drove his claws deep into Quinton’s back.
“No!”
Noah screamed, fighting to get to him. “Let me go! Quinton!”
But the female had her arm tightly wrapped around Noah’s waist, easily carrying him out of the door.
In a desperate move, Quinton slammed backward, crushing the lion shifter against the wall, causing the man’s claws to sink even deeper.
Yanking forward, Quinton twisted to the side and grabbed the man behind him, dragging him from his back to his front. The son of a bitch’s claws was covered in Quinton’s blood.
“You’re going to take me to her.”
Consumed with rage, he seized the lion shifter by the neck and dragged him out of the apartment, praying the woman hadn’t gotten far. If she’d succeeded in getting away, Quinton would never see his mate again.
The thought was too unbearable to contemplate. It had only been ten short hours since he’d met Noah, and he hadn’t even had the chance to claim his mate, to solder their souls and seal their bond.
Quinton stopped when he saw the cheetah shifter backpedaling toward him in the hallway, Ryker and Killian snarling as they slowly advanced on her.
They made an imposing sight.
“Guess I don’t need your help after all.”
Quinton tore out the lion shifter’s heart then let him drop to the floor. He then focused all his attention on the woman who had her claws to Noah’s throat.
“Tell your lapdogs to back off or I’ll kill the human.”
She sneered at Quinton, glancing over her shoulder.
In a flash, Quinton had her in his grasp, snapping her arm back until he heard bones breaking. She screamed as Killian swiftly ushered Noah into his apartment. The neighbors were sure to call the cops with the loud commotion outside their doors, but Quinton refused to take her inside Noah’s home. His mate had been through enough trauma already. Noah didn’t need his attempted abductor in the same apartment with him.
Ryker set the tray of coffee and the bag of what smelled like a mixture of muffins and Danishes on the floor before covering her mouth with his hand.
“Bitch, you wouldn’t be in this situation if you hadn’t let Toro manipulate you into doing his dirty work,”
Ryker snarled at her, baring his canines. “Now shut up. You’re disturbing the neighbors.”
Quinton heard the creak of a door opening behind him, followed by a sharp gasp and then the slam of the door. Despite not wanting to cause a disturbance in his mate’s apartment building, Noah’s safety was his main concern.
“Take her downstairs,”
he gritted out through clenched teeth. “The police should be arriving soon. Send them up when they get here.”
“Why do I have to take out the trash?”
Ryker grumbled as he pulled the woman away from Quinton.
“Because I need to check on Noah.”
He gave his son a meaningful look, silently telling him not to reveal the human was his mate in front of the cheetah shifter.
With an irritated groan, Ryker puffed out a breath. “Fine, but y’all better not touch my muffins.”
He dragged the woman behind him like a child struggling with a heavy backpack. The loud thud of her hitting each step echoed throughout the quiet hallway.
Quinton started toward Noah’s unit, only to remember the dead body on the floor a few feet behind him, the heart ripped out. Since he couldn’t just leave the corpse lying there, he leaned against the wall and waited on the deputies.
The pain in his back from getting stabbed with those claws was becoming so much worse. Quinton needed to shift into his bear so he could heal, but he couldn’t do that until this mess was dealt with. Hopefully the deputies showed up soon, because he could feel the blood trickling down his back to saturate the waistband of his jeans.
He could also smell the metallic scent of blood.
The pain was what he deserved for being so preoccupied with how much his mate owned some loan sharks that he’d opened the apartment door without checking first to see who had been knocking.
Quinton knew better. It was a careless mistake that could have cost Noah his life. If Ryker and Killian hadn’t shown up when they did, the cheetah would have gotten away with his mate.
Not five minutes before the knock, Quinton had stated vehemently that Toro wasn’t getting his hands on Noah, yet that was exactly what almost happened.
Quinton had suspected the vampire might have humans or some preternatural watching the place.
He hated when he was right.
Now he stood there slightly shaking at the close call—or possibly the blood he was steadily losing.
“Will you stop?”
Noah came to the door, shrugging off Killian’s hand on his arm.
Normally, Quinton would be ready to kill his son for touching his mate, but he understood Killian was trying to prevent Noah from seeing the carnage.
“Please wait inside, hon.”
Careful not to show how much pain he was in, Quinton moved to stand in front of the body, trying his best to block the massive hole in the guy’s chest from view. It was something his mate didn’t need to see.
“Will you get your paws off of me?”
Noah narrowed his eyes at Killian.
Despite the gravity of the situation, a smile tugged at Quinton’s lips at his mate’s feistiness. Noah was human, was fully aware he was dealing with bear shifters, but that didn’t seem to matter to him.
“I would if you’d listen to me,”
Killian argued. “Your mate wouldn’t want you out here where there’s danger.”
Noah jerked his hands toward the hallway. “Do you see any danger, aside from your dad?”
Killian glanced at Quinton with a shrug. “I tried, but your mate is stubborn as hell.”
Noah was going to get along fabulously with Hyett’s mate. Wesley was just as stubborn and sassy. “Killian, I need you to wait out here. Noah, I need you to turn around until he takes my place.”
Everything was spinning. If he didn’t get inside his mate’s apartment and shift, the neighbors were going to be even more freaked out than they probably already were.
Slowly, Noah’s gaze lowered to the floor, his eyes focused on the dead body behind Quinton. He paled and ran inside. Seconds later, Quinton could hear the man retching.
It was the last thing he heard before he hit the floor with a loud thud.