Read Mine for Eternity [Council Enforcers] (Siren Publishing Classic) for Free Online Page B

some lunch.”
    “You didn’t have to come in here and ask me that. You and Nico are welcomed to anything in this house. I want you to treat it like your own.” He didn’t say it was already hers. Mitch didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. “In fact, I’m done here. I’ll join you.”
    Mitch stood and walked over to Tessa. He placed his hand on the small of her back and led her toward the kitchen. A purr rumbled in his chest as he subtly leaned over and sniffed his mate. He had been right about her scent. It was the best thing he and his lion had ever smelled. It took all his strength to keep walking and not throw her against the wall and fuck them both into exhaustion. The only thing that kept him from making the biggest mistake of his life was Nico’s giggles as the boy amused himself with his shoestrings.
    “Come on, buddy.” He picked Nico up as an excuse to put a little distance between him and his mate. “Momma says you’re hungry. Let’s get you fed.”
    Nico squealed, which seemed to be something he did fairly often. What surprised Mitch the most though was his lion. If Mitch had been in his shifted form at the moment, he had no doubt his lion would be in a play bow, eager to pounce and play with Nico. It was shocking because his lion did not play. Even when they were kids, his lion was content to lie in the sun and nap the day away. As adults, if they weren’t lounging, they were working. It was what made them such good enforcers. Now, his lion was ready to pounce and tussle with his cub. “Like I said, house cat,” Mitch murmured under his breath.
    The silence was comfortable as Tessa helped him get lunch ready. They made simple sandwiches, but the way they worked and moved smoothly around each other, it was like they had been making meals together for years. As they prepared the food, Mitch had to wonder why he ever preferred to be alone. Because we didn’t have our mate. He knew his lion was right. Mitch didn’t think the simple act of preparing food would have been as much fun with anyone else. Now Mitch had his mate and a cub. He looked forward to spending the rest of his days cooking together with them.
    As he ate lunch, Mitch was determined to enjoy as much time with his new family as possible because he knew the coming days would be the hardest he ever had to deal with. Not only did Mitch have to find a rogue stalking his mate, but if his gut was correct, he was about to open a can of worms with the council and he had no idea how deep that can was. It must be done to protect our mate and cub. He and his lion were on the same page about that.
     
    * * * *
     
    Tessa’s bare feet stung as she ran as fast as she could. Her throat and chest burned whenever she tried to take a breath, but she kept on running. She had no choice. The monster had somehow found her again, and now she was running not only for her life, but Nico’s as well. Tessa didn’t know how long she had been running through the strange woods. With each step, her suspicion grew that her attacker could have caught her at any time. He was playing with her. Herding her in circles, still, Tessa ran. She had no intention of making her capture easier.
    A whimper from her arms reminded her of why she couldn’t be caught. Nico clung to her in a death grip as she ran. Tessa had a feeling he had no idea what was going on since she had woken him up to run, but he was afraid, and it was all because she was afraid herself. His wide eyes and whimpers proved that. Nico was feeding off her fear, and there was nothing she could do about it.
    An eerie howl pierced the air, and the woods became deathly silent. Even the animals knew there was danger lurking nearby, and they were hiding. The hair on Tessa’s arms and the back of her neck stood on end, and she knew the time had come for her to do what she had been dreading the most. She was going to have to hide her baby somewhere and pray she could lead the monster off. She could only hope she