The Human Mate

Chapter 16

LOGAN

I stopped for a moment before I spoke. "Riley!"

At the mere mention of her name, she turned around and smiled. "Hey, you found me."

I moved toward her until I was close enough to crouch down to sit next to her. "I will always find you." I pulled her in for a kiss, and she kissed me back.

Riley pulled back a bit and smiled. "I missed you. Did you sort out the business you needed to take care of?"

"Yeah, all good," I said. "I need—"

Before I could finish what I was going to say, a foul stench of rotten eggs hit me, which took me by surprise.

Rogues.

There was no sign of them. Where the hell did they come from?

The rogues were close. They must have come in from the southbound side of the territory. Mark and I had not checked that part for a long time.

Were they hiding?

"Mark, get over by the lake now. The rogues are here, and they have brought friends," I said quickly through a mind link.

"Shit, where are you?" He asked. "What about—"

"I'm by the lake," I gritted, cutting him off. "Riley is with me. Hurry!" A snarl slipped through the link before I closed it.

I had to protect my mate until he and some guards arrived, but I also had to get Riley out of here before they arrived.

But it was too late—five men walked to our left, causing me to stare at them. Max was up on all fours, growling. He wanted nothing more than to come out and tear them apart.

The rogues were different, not the ones who walked through the pack. I glare at them as Riley turns to see what I'm looking at but doesn't seem to care.

We both got up and stood facing them. I wrapped my arm around Riley while we were about to move.

"Ah, alpha, we need to talk," one said, showing his yellow teeth. "Sorry for the distribution."

I said nothing, keeping my eyes on the one who spoke. "Have two people walked through your town recently?"

"No," I gritted, praying that Riley hadn't clicked onto what he had called me, but she stood in my arms, unfazed and looking on. "No one has been through."

I lied to them to get them to leave, but they had other ideas.

"Very well," he said, but he looked at Riley. I couldn't help the growl that slipped past my lips as I tightened my grip around Riley's waist. My fingers dug into her skin, knowing they could leave bruises. I didn't care. I was trying to hold Max back.

"She's human," he muttered, smiling, and then looked at me.

"Alpha, we like your toy," he said, amused, which got Max more pissed.

"What does he mean, human?" Riley asks in a whisper. They heard her and then sniggered while looking amused.

The man laughed.

I said nothing but tightened my grip on Riley.

The man looked at me and smirked. "Aren't we touchy about a human?" he said while scanning the area and noticing we were alone.

Where the hell was Mark and the guards?

"Get out of the territory," I gritted. "You are not welcome here."

The man grinned.

"Ah, alpha, it seems you are alone with this human," he said, stepping toward me.

Letting my hand drop from Riley's waist, I glared at him.

Max was on the verge of coming out and showing himself. No one disrespects us or our mate.

The man looked at Riley, who seemed to have moved closer to my side. "Ah, pretty little thing," he murmured, cocking his head to the side. "It's a shame we will kill you both."

The threat made I moved Riley behind me. I had to keep her safe.

Max is on all fours, roaring and wanting to get out. He wants to protect Riley.

"Riley—" I will tell her to run when all five rogues shift into their wolf forms.

Riley lets out a piercing scream.

"Run, Riley!" I shouted, pushing her back.

I looked over my shoulder to run when one rogue moved in front of her. She turned around and came straight to me.

Max has had enough; he wants out, and I lose control over him. He comes forward, takes over me, and shifts.

Riley's eyes widened, and they screamed. She changes her path and runs away to the other side of the forest.

Max charges at the rogue, and the other two rogues join him. I stayed close, shouting out orders of what he should do.

All the rogues came at us simultaneously, but Max was stronger and faster. We killed the first two, and then I turned to face the other three, but one bit down on my back leg, making Max roar in pain.

Suddenly, two brown wolves came bounding towards them and took them out—killing them instantly. I let out a growl and shook off the rogue that attacked me, making him land with a thud to the side. Another wolf appeared, and before the rogue could react, the wolf killed him, sinking its teeth into the neck. The rogue let out a whine but went limp. I looked and recognized who it was; it was two guards and Mark.

Once I killed the rogues, I shifted back into human form and found myself covered in blood. I looked around the area for Riley, but there was no sign.

The image of her when she saw me shift made her pale, and fear stretched across her face.

My heart sank.

Mark shifted back and scanned around, ensuring no wolves were around. "You two," he said, looking toward the guards who were sorting out the dead bodies. "Once you have finished dealing with the bodies, check the perimeter again. Make sure there are no rogues."

They nodded and got back to work.

Mark looked at me, his eyes softened. "Where is Riley?"

"She ran off," I muttered, looking toward the forest area she ran to. Maybe I could catch up with her and find her. I needed to explain what was going on and what had happened.

Max was close. He wanted to search for her.

"She watched me shift into Max," I muttered, not looking at Mark. I knew he was looking at me, but he said nothing.

"I need to find her."

"She's at the bookstore," he said, making me look at him.

"Brie just mind-linked," he said, looking at me with worry. "She's upset."

I said nothing and took off running. I had to explain to her what happened. I hope she understands and this doesn't push her away from me.

Even as the thought came, worry set in. Would she run?