Mating Kendra Read online

  “Did you suddenly start thinking like an animal or were you still you?” Galen crossed his arms. “It’s an easy question, Kendra.”

  “I was still me. Who else would I be?”

  “Exactly. Who else would you be?” He reached out and grasped her shoulders, his gaze searching hers. “You’re a woman, a human first. You can’t change who you are inside any more than I can change who I am. I’m me whether I’m a man or a wolf. I think like me, I feel like me and I act like me. I wouldn’t do anything as my wolf that I wouldn’t do as a human.”

  “Then why did I keep getting the urge to bite that lunatic and his minions?”

  Galen chuckled. “You’re human now, would you still like to hurt them?”

  “I would love nothing better than to beat that crazy doctor and that Neanderthal he calls Martin to a pulp with a baseball bat.” She stepped back. “That doesn’t explain why I wanted to bite them. I don’t bite people.”

  “Biting someone is one of only a few forms of violence your wolf is capable of exhibiting. Your wolf can’t grab a bat and swing it. Your mind and thoughts adapted to give you a viable alternative for your wolf’s feelings of angst.”

  “I suppose that makes sense.” Her expression became thoughtful.

  “Of course it does.” Galen saw a movement in his peripheral vision and turned to look. Two men and a security guard stood staring at them.

  “Is this man bothering you, ma’am?” the guard asked, his hand resting on the nightstick attached to his belt.

  Kendra turned her shocked expression to the man and shook her head. “Thank you, sir, but no. I’m with him. He’s helping me pick out some things.” Lifting her hand, she wiggled her fingers at them with a smile. “Thank you, though.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “They aren’t leaving,” Kendra whispered to Galen. Narrowing her eyes, she took a good look at the two men with the security guard. “I’m not sure, but I think I saw the guy on the left at the compound when I arrived. I think he was the one who made a lewd remark about the size of my breasts when they took me inside.”

  Her cheeks burned as blood rushed to her face. Even the memory of that comment made her blush. If she wasn’t mistaken, that was the creep who had said he wanted to fuck her breasts while she sucked him to orgasm. She was positive when the idiot winked at her.

  “I’m positive it’s him now.” She grabbed up two pairs of jeans in her size, snatched three blouses that looked as though they’d fit from off the rack and moved to the accessories department for underwear.

  “Let me take those.” Galen held out his arm and she draped the jeans and blouses over it before moving forward again.

  “Thanks for holding those. I’ll be able to shop faster if I’m not trying to juggle those clothes with the rest of the things I need. We should get out of here as quickly as we can. I don’t see anything good happening with those guys around.” She picked up a pack of socks, then some bras and panties in her size before heading for the pharmacy area. She picked up a toothbrush, hairbrush, and some other toiletries before leading Galen to the registers.

  “You’re right. As much as I’d like to get something to eat, we should go.” Galen kept his fingers wrapped snuggly around her upper arm. “I don’t want to take the chance that they’ll be able to take you from me. This is a public place, and I can’t change into my wolf. If I remain a man, it’s going to look rather strange when I can take one hell of a beating without sustaining visible injuries for long.”

  “You heal quickly, too?” Kendra stared at him, her eyes wide. Was he saying they had the ability to heal fast like the were-beings in the books she read? She rested her free hand against her chest. “I don’t believe this.”

  Could the paranormal romances she’d read be based on fact? Did any of the authors believe that the characters they wrote about could possibly exist?

  She shook her head. It was impossible. Wasn’t it?

  “Believe it, baby.” Galen kept looking around as they made their way into a line. “We’re going to have trouble. I don’t know what those two told the security guard, but the little man in the uniform looks as though he’s getting ready to bust me for something.” He shook his head. “I can’t have that. They’ll find a way to take you while the security guard is detaining me. Whatever happens, if someone attempts to restrain me, do not leave here with anyone but me.” He stared deep into her eyes with his liquid silver gaze. “Promise me.”

  “I—I promise.” She didn’t know why, but she trusted him far more than she could ever trust the two men who’d had a hand in holding her in that lab.

  Galen held her, as well. She realized that. She also realized he had given her the opportunity to escape him if she had genuinely wanted to do so. There was a difference between how Galen treated her and being drugged and held in a cage—a big difference.

  The men moved closer as they approached the cashier. What was it that those men thought they had on Galen?

  Kendra mentally retraced their steps from when they had entered the store. Galen had touched nothing other than the jeans and shirts she’d draped over his arm. She had been the one picking everything up while Galen stood guard. Even the salesperson who had watched them for a moment didn’t try to hand him anything. Then she remembered the salesclerk had gotten close to Galen—she’d gotten a bit too close, but Galen had ignored her advances. Now that Kendra thought about it, he’d only had eyes for her during the entire exchange.

  “Turn around,” she whispered. “I need to see something.”

  “My pleasure,” Galen said as he turned to face the men, giving her his back as he crossed his arms. His dark leather jacket pulled tight across his shoulders and she bit her lip. God, he was gorgeous. Like most pants that hunters and mercenaries wore in the movies, the cargo pants he wore had pockets everywhere. Kendra sighed and with a shrug, started patting him down.

  Galen turned to look at her over his shoulder, a half-smile on his face. “Hey, I’m not complaining, or anything, but is there a reason you’re patting my ass?”

  “I think those men paid the salesclerk to stuff something in your pockets to make it look as though you were shoplifting,” Kendra replied.

  Her face burned as she continued to pat down the back pockets over his very nice ass and then down his muscular thighs, front and back. She’d gotten to the side pocket near the top of his right thigh when she felt a slight bulge. Reaching into that pocket, she pulled out a bright red thong and made a face. “I found our culprit. She tossed the underwear with its security tag onto the shelf next to the belt and checked the rest of his pockets. “Yep. That was it. My guess is they were trying to get the security guard at least to stop you and maybe have you arrested for stealing that.”

  “Hell,” he said with a low growl, “I don’t need to steal a ten-dollar pair of underwear.” He grinned, grabbed the lacy garment and tossed it onto the belt. Turning toward the three men, he chuckled. “Thanks for the idea, guys. Do you think I can talk her into wearing them?”

  “No.” Kendra frowned. What an arrogant ass! “You can’t talk me into wearing them. I’m not wearing lingerie you pick out for me. I don’t even know you.”

  “You will, baby.” He grinned and winked. “You will someday.”

  Kendra stayed next to him at the register. The security guard disappeared after Galen paid for everything and they left the building.

  “Keep your eyes open. We don’t know how many of Thornton’s men are waiting for us out here.” Galen shifted her bags to one arm and wrapped the other around her waist. Anyone watching would have thought they were lovers with the way he so tenderly saw to her every need.

  “With luck there aren’t many.” She wrung her hands together as they walked out to his truck.

  Using the fob, Galen unlocked the vehicle, opened the front door and tossed the bags into the back. “Get in. I’ll lock and close your door and hurry around to the other side and get in,” he said as he held the door open for her. �
��I’m going to do a quick inspection first. The last thing we need is to have a tracking device on the truck. I know I can lose them after dark, but not if they have a means to tail us from a distance.”

  Kendra sat in the SUV, her stomach knotting with anxiety. That odd heat returned, causing sweat to pour down her face. Taking a deep breath, she shook her head as though telling herself to stop would deter the animal waiting inside her from making another appearance. How she knew that the burning in her stomach preceded the wolf that was now a part of her, she didn’t know. Somehow, she just knew it.

  “Hurry, Galen. I’m going to change, and I’ll have an audience if I do it here. This was a busy parking lot. People parked and went into the store and its adjacent restaurant as though they were the only stores in town. Perhaps they were. She didn’t even know the name of the town where they had stopped.

  “We’re clear. There was a small device inside the back bumper, but I sniffed it out.” He held out his hand and showed her what appeared to be a small metal block.

  She’d been about to ask him how he found it when she realized the man had literally sniffed out the thing. He said he could turn into a wolf. Apparently, that meant he had a good nose, too.

  “Good.” She panted. The action reminded her of the time she had been a Lamaze coach when her neighbor’s husband was overseas. “Because I think I’m about to change into a dog again.”

  “You’re not a dog. You’re a wolf.” Galen shook his head. “I sometimes wonder if the doctor has a serum for the other species of shifters he held prisoner in his original lab.”

  “What do you mean?” Hee hee hoo, hee hee hoo. She mentally counted her breaths.

  “As I told you before, there are other types of shifters, such as bears, mountain lions, jaguars.” He shrugged. “I’m not sure how many others there are out there. We’ve learned to keep to ourselves for protection.”

  “Great. Should I be glad I don’t turn into a snake or something worse, like a spider?” Kendra shuddered. She hated spiders. At least wolves were regal animals she admired.

  Galen shook his head and chuckled. “I’ve never heard of spider shifters, even in legend, but I suppose that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.”

  “I didn’t need to hear that, you know.” She rhythmically panted again as she stared through the side window. Now she was going to wonder if she needed to worry that spider shifters were watching her shower. “Should I take off the seatbelt? I don’t want to get hung up in it afterward.”

  “Take it off and get into the back seat.” Galen reached over to release the belt when she tried and failed because her hands had been shaking too much. “Climb into the back and lie down. At least people won’t be able to see you that way. And remember to reach for your wolf. It will hurt less.”

  Kendra fumbled free of the belt and climbed between the bucket seats and into the back. After slipping off her clothes, she stayed on the floor behind the two captain’s chairs and did as Galen instructed. She embraced the pain and reached for the wolf she now knew lived inside her.

  Pain rocketed through her like a shot. The bones in her arms and legs changed shape, her muscles shortened and grew stronger. Thick hair sprouted on her arms and legs. Before she knew it, she was a wolf again. Everything seemed distorted with her wolf’s vision and she wrinkled her nose at the strong acrid scent of car exhaust.

  It didn’t hurt as much this time!

  “I told you it wouldn’t.”

  How did he know what I was thinking?

  “We have a common mental connection through which we all can communicate. We usually only use it when we have shifted. I did my best to block out your thoughts before, but I dropped the mental block when you shifted again.”

  That’s kind of cool, I suppose. She stood on the bench seat and looked out through the dark tinted window.

  It is very cool. Humans can’t hear us if we use this form of communication. You can speak to me like this at will, whether you’re in your human or your wolf form. Galen didn’t take his eyes off the road as they carried on their conversation.

  That was good to know. That’s how you knew what I was thinking the first time you helped me, isn’t it?

  Yes.

  Good grief, she’d have to learn to compartmentalize her thoughts. She didn’t need anyone knowing what she thought about everything. No one needed to know who she thought was attractive or just what people she couldn’t stand but herself.

  Kendra sat down before lowering herself the rest of the way to curl up on the seat and tuck her nose under her tail. Bone deep exhaustion held her in its grip. Perhaps it was shifting her shape that made her so tired. Whatever it was, she wanted nothing more than to close her eyes and go to sleep.

  I’m exhausted. I think I’ll take a nap if you don’t mind. Her stomach grumbled and she tried not to think about how hungry she was, as well. Wake me up if you decide to stop for something to eat, though I’d really rather eat as a human if it’s possible.

  “Will do, Kendra. It will most likely be a while. They heard us talking about getting something to eat. They’ll likely expect us to stay in the area to take care of that. I think it’s best to get back on the highway and stop after we’ve put some distance between us.”

  Whatever you think. She yawned and closed her eyes. Right now, I’m too tired to care if I eat.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Galen checked the rearview mirror for what felt like the thousandth time. His eyes burned from lack of sleep and his stomach growled out a protest that it had been over twenty-four hours since his last meal.

  When he’d driven past a restaurant with an SUV similar to his parked there, he’d tossed out the tracking device and kept on driving. With any luck at all, the men would think he hadn’t found it when he did his search of the vehicle and waste time at the restaurant looking for them.

  They needed to stop and get some rest. He’d been driving for the last eighteen hours straight, only stopping for gas a few times while Kendra slept on the seat in the back. They both needed something to eat, and he required some sleep.

  Glancing into the back, he smiled at Kendra’s position. She was sprawled on her back, her legs spread, giving him a show she wouldn’t have appreciated, wolf or not. Turning his attention back to the road, he saw a sign for the business route of the same road.

  If they were lucky, Thornton’s men wouldn’t think to look for them on the side roads. Galen took the exit and headed north, hoping to find a small town or two with a motel and a restaurant that was open all night.

  “I won’t hold my breath, though.”

  You won’t hold your breath for what? Kendra asked through the mental link. Yawning, she stood and stretched as he watched in the mirror.

  “That any small town we run into will have an all-night diner. I’m starved and I know you’re hungry, too. We just left the main road. I didn’t want to take any chances Thornton’s men would find us off the main drag.”

  That makes sense. She moved to stick her head between the front seats. I have to go to the bathroom, though. She sighed. Or maybe I should have said I need to go outside.

  Galen chuckled, turned off onto a side road and drove several hundred feet before stopping. “Here you go. It’s about all the privacy I can give you for now,” he said as he opened the door and got out. “Find yourself a bush and make do. We can try having you force the change back into your human self before we reach the town. It should be about the right time. You’ve been a wolf for almost eighteen hours now. It’s a little soon, but we can start your lessons on controlling your shifts tonight.”

  Kendra jumped from the vehicle and headed toward a copse of trees. I think I’d like that. I want to learn to control this as soon as possible. She stopped and looked back at him. I’m glad to know that this is something I’ll eventually be able to control.

  “Yes, sweetheart. It’s something you’ll eventually be able to control. You just need practice.” He rested his hands on his hips and cocke
d his lips up in a grin.

  Great. The faster I learn to control it, the faster I can get back to my life.

  Kendra’s last comment wiped the grin from his face. Didn’t she realize there was no going back to her old life? Richard Thornton had stolen that from her the moment he plunged the serum-filled needle into her flesh.

  Reaching into the SUV, he shut off the engine, pulled the keys from the ignition and pocketed them. He then moved to the other side of the vehicle and into the brush along the side of the road. It wasn’t a bathroom, but he might as well take a leak while he waited for his companion to finish.

  Galen had just finished tucking himself back into his pants when he got the whiff of a human in the vicinity. The scent came from upwind, and it was strong, which meant they were close. Very close.

  Galen yanked up on his zipper just before he heard the unmistakable snick of someone pulling the hammer back on a gun. “What are ya doin’ here on my property?”

  “I didn’t mean to disturb anyone, mister,” Galen said, lifting his hands into the air. “I just stopped because I’ve been on the road and haven’t seen a gas station or restaurant in a long time.” He quirked one side of his mouth up in a half-grin. “I needed to take a leak. I’ll just be on my way now.”

  “Like hell you will.” The man spit tobacco juice out onto the ground at Galen’s feet. “I think I like your fancy new rig. I been needin’ one lately. I think I’ll have yours.” The man spit again, barely missing the toe of Galen’s boot.

  Great. He could let this man take his vehicle, leaving them stranded, or he could take the chance that the man’s aim was better than his shaking arms made it seem and he’d die trying to take the gun from him.

  There wasn’t much time to think about what his next move would be. In a blur of reddish-brown fur, a wolf dashed out of the woods, grabbed the man’s arm and shook its head as the bumpkin screamed.