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Across the store, Adam opened the refrigerator case. “Thirsty?”
    “A bottle of water would be amazing.”
    A young man came out from the back and flashed me a dazzling white smile. “Can I help you?”
    I nodded, pointing at the glass. “I’ll take an apple fritter and a glazed twist.”
    He plucked my requests and met my eyes. “Anything else I can do for you?”
    Adam was suddenly right beside me, his arm wrapped around my waist, holding me close to his side. “I’d like some donuts too.”
    “Oh, sure.” Donut guy sized up Adam. “I didn’t know you were together.”
    Adam’s fingers splayed, singeing my skin right through my shirt, his voice carried a deep tone of warning. “We are.”
    “Sorry about that.” Donut guy hustled to box up the rest of the donuts and ring up our order. Adam paid and took the box and drinks in his free arm, keeping his other hand planted at the base of my spine.
    “Come again,” donut guy called from behind the counter.
    Adam answered with a glare over his shoulder. I hurried to my side of the Jeep, unsure whether I should be flattered or terrified. When Adam got in he put the water bottles and donuts on the backseat. He fired up Chaney’s engine, but before he could sink the gearshift into reverse, I caught his forearm.
    “What was that back there?”
    “Back where?”
    I rolled my eyes. “In the donut shop.”
    He shrugged and dropped the gearshift into reverse. “Just wanted that guy to back off a little.”
    I nodded and swallowed the lump in my throat. His over-protective streak made my heart race. Trouble was I couldn’t decide if it was attraction…or fear.

Chapter Four
    Adam
    I tried to downplay the surge of territorial instincts that swamped me in the donut shop, but Lana didn’t look like she was buying it. Maybe she shouldn’t. If the guy behind the counter hadn’t broken eye contact with her and dropped the innuendo in his voice, I wasn’t sure what might’ve happened.
    Until now, the wolf inside of me never took notice of the women I dated. But this went way beyond noticing. The second I saw how the asshole was ogling Lana, rational thought escaped and full-on wolf instinct kicked in. I’d always tended to fight first and think later, but this shook me. It felt different, menacing, and a little out of my control. I tamped down the frustrated growl that wanted to break free.
    “Where are we going?” Lana’s voice knocked me back to reality.
    Glancing over at her, I shrugged, trying to shake it off. “It’s a nice day. Want to eat at Lake Tahoe?”
    She shifted in her seat. Shit. I had scared her. “That’s okay. I’d rather get back to my car and get on the road before the guys in gray jumpsuits come back.”
    “You’re safer if you stay here.” My grip on Chaney’s wheel tightened as I struggled to calm the restless wolf inside of me. “Those guys after you were human. You’ve got skills you don’t even know about yet.”
    “This sounds totally insane, but how can you be so sure they weren’t…like me?”
    “Remember I caught your scent from outside?” I cut my eyes toward her for a moment, remembering the nasty kick she’d given me. “These guys reeked of Irish Spring and Zest, but nothing supernatural.” I focused back on the road. “I can keep you safe while you learn to protect yourself.”
    “I know how to protect myself just fine, thanks.” She hesitated, and I hoped she was going to give me this one. She took a deep breath and shook her head. “I can’t stay here.”
    I gave it one more try. “I’m not suggesting forever, but maybe a couple days?”
    Her eyes drifted over my way, and she raised a brow. “What about the Pack? Will you be able to keep me a secret from them?”
    I didn’t want to think about my Pack right now. “We’ll figure it out.”
    We zipped past a Lake Tahoe sign, and she tried to tame her hair, holding it behind her head. “How far is the lake from here?”
    “About an hour away