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under my palm as I place it on the door and realize Berch must have been the wolf that saved me. I recall the vicious snarls and snapping teeth. Oh, no . I begin to pace. What if he gets hurt? How can I help him?
    Footsteps thumping on the deck make me race to the door, and I watch the wolf I saw earlier as he becomes Berch. I am on the deck before he finishes. My heart is racing as I move my hands all over his body searching for injuries. “You’re okay.”
    His breath is warm in my ear, and Berch threads his fingers through my hair as he says, “Are you?”
    His question barely registers as I move my hands down his arms pressing for broken bones. He stops my movements by grabbing my wrists lightly. “Did he hurt you?”
    I step away. Berch isn’t hurt. Relief slows my pulse as I process the questions he asked me. I shake my head as I scan my body. My knee is bleeding again, and now that I’m not afraid for my life, I feel pain. I wince as I roll my shoulder. “I think I did more damage to myself than he did.” Who would attack me and why?
    Tears prick at my eyes as Berch comes toward me. “Raven.” He scoops me up in his arms and carries me through the door and to the couch. He sits me in his lap and strokes my hair. Concern is etched on his face as he says, “I was afraid Parker wasn’t going to let this go. But I never expected him to take things this far.”
    “What do you mean? The black wolf is Parker?”
    “Yes. And he was trying to make you his mate.”
    I stare at Berch while I comprehend what he’s saying. To become mates, the male bites the female and turns her into a werewolf. And then he has to— Parker planned to rape me once he turned me? I jump to my feet. “That asshole!”
    Berch’s eyes get hard, and he lets out a low growl. “I was thinking something much worse.”
    My body begins to tremble, and I wrap my arms around myself as if I’m cold. “Where is he?”
    “He’s gone.” Berch pulls me against his chest, and I inhale the scent of him. “But he’s going to come back. He didn’t take kindly to losing a fight with me.”
    I pull away quickly and scan Berch’s body again. There are no signs of injury, and my insides twinge at the naked specimen standing before me. “You don’t even have a scratch. Wow.”
    “Parker doesn’t spend much time as a wolf. Football training didn’t transfer very well.”
    I place a hand on Berch’s chest and trace along the edge of his well-defined arm. “Maybe you’re just that good.”
    He chuckles and takes my face in his hands. Before he lowers his mouth to mine he whispers, “Maybe I am.”

CHAPTER NINE
    A fter Berch warmed me up with his kiss, he went to the laundry room to find clothes. I make my way to the kitchen to start coffee. I’m still shaken up and think the hot drink will help. The aroma of dark roast floats toward my nose as I scoop grounds into the metal filter already in the machine.
    “You look good in my kitchen.”
    I turn to Berch’s smile and give him a pout. “And you looked good naked.”
    He raises his eyebrows at me as he slinks in my direction. “I’ll bet you do, too.”
    I grin and shake my head before flipping on the water to fill the carafe. “I’m not sure what to do with the flirty version of you.”
    Hot breath tickles the back of my neck, and he leans down to whisper, “Anything you want.” He plants little kisses on shoulders that are mostly bare with just my tank top.
    What I want? I thought it was a super-successful career, but that was before Berch said he wanted me. He could have died today. And if he had, I would have wanted to die along with him. Even if I returned to the city and got a fancy investment job, would I be happy without the love of my life? No. What I want is Berch.
    Berch’s lips flutter over the back of my neck, and I shudder with desire. “Bite me.” I whisper.
    Berch freezes, and I turn to face him with the coffee pot full of water in my hands. “Bite me. Make me a