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that back!” Raven shouted angrily.
    “No, I won’t. It’s true. They aren’t raving maniacs that kill indiscriminately. They’re kind people that took me in when they didn’t have to.”
    “We’ll see about that. I’ll find Sloane, and when I do, he’ll learn that vampires and shifters don’t mate,” Remus threatened.
    D laid a hand over his mouth as his brothers walked away. He knew there was no stopping them. He had to warn Sloane.
    What an effing mess.
    Sloane was going to hate him for this.

    * * * *

    Luke watched from the front window with Cole tucked securely in his arms. He hadn’t a clue what was going on, but he was grateful that it wasn’t his tribe out there. His heart had stopped beating when Chance had come in the room announcing visitors.
    Luke had been prepared to take Cole and run, but Chance had stopped him, telling him it was vampires at the door. He could see the questioning in Chance’s eyes, but Luke had only given him a nod as he followed the bear down the creaking steps.
    He was afraid to confess that his tribe was after him. Luke didn’t want to be kicked out in the cold with nowhere to go. Cole was warm and safe, and he planned on keeping it that way. But the guilt of putting this nice family in harm’s way ate at him.
    As he watched the vampires turn and leave, Luke knew he couldn’t stay here. Seeing how the bears had defended D tore at his conscience. This only drove home the fact that he needed to get out of here. Shanta wouldn’t have left so easily. No, Shanta would be out there right now fighting the bears for a chance to get at Cole.
    The elder leader had turned cold and cruel. What was once a great man was now broken from battle, only caring for himself. He claimed he needed Cole to save their race, but Luke knew there was more to it than that.
    There had to be for Shanta to demand Cole. No man should be separated from his child, and only a sadistic person would demand such a thing.
    The calculating way Shanta had stared at Cole had made his blood run cold. Shanta wanted his son for far worse. Luke just knew it. The man could burn in the pits of hell for all he cared. No one was getting his son. He didn’t care if his entire race died out. His son was that important to him.
    Luke kissed his son’s forehead and then rested his cheek on Cole’s bouncing black curls. He would die to protect his son, and he had a feeling that was exactly what was going to happen. If only he could get the bracelet off, he could shimmer out of here and take his son as far away from Shanta as possible.
    But that would mean leaving his mate behind. As much as Luke wanted his mate, he wanted his son even more. His eyes followed Malcolm’s every move as he walked back into the house with D.
    “I need to call Maverick,” Malcolm said wearily as he left Luke standing there. It was a solemn sight to see such a strong man look so defeated. Luke wanted to go after those vampires and beat them bloody for making his mate look that way.
    “Give him here,” Chance said as he reached for Cole. “Go see to my pa.”
    Luke hesitated for a moment, not wanting to leave Cole’s sight for a second.
    “He’ll be safe. Go.”
    Luke reluctantly released his son into Chance’s care as he hurried to the kitchen. He saw Malcolm on the phone, his voice low as he leaned his back against the wall. Luke wasn’t sure what he should do, so he walked over to his mate and leaned into him.
    Malcolm wrapped one strong arm around him as he continued to talk on the phone. Luke wasn’t sure if he was helping Malcolm at all, but the big, burly man wouldn’t release him.
    “He was scared, Maverick. He made a moronic move, but it wasn’t done intentionally.”
    Luke pushed closer when he saw Malcolm wince. “I know he called his brothers to take care of Sloane, but—”
    Malcolm stopped talking and just listened, nodding his head here and there. Luke couldn’t hear what Maverick was saying, but by Malcolm’s