Chapter Twelve

Milo would have been less shocked if Hayley had slugged him in the gut.

"You're full of shit!" Atlas argued.

Milo became lightheaded. After getting to know Colt, he refused to believe that his mate would betray him with some hidden lover, and no one was going to convince him otherwise.

"I have no idea who either of you are, and I really don't care. Bring Colt to the door now," Hayley demanded.

"We aren't doing shit," Atlas argued. "You're delusional since Colt's husband is standing right next to me."

A feral look entered Hayley's eyes right before he bared small canines and attacked Milo. When they hit the floor, Atlas jumped on the guy's back, smacking Hayley in the head and shoulders.

"Get off of him, you tramp!"

For a brief moment, memories of Eric's abuse flooded Milo's mind as Hayley tried to get to him, but Atlas wasn't having it. Then something snapped inside of Milo. He brought his knee up, nailing Hayley in the nuts. The guy jerked upward, trying to get Atlas off his back. Milo grabbed the closest thing to him, swinging the heavy statue of a guy pushing a large boulder up a hill at Hayley.

When the hefty figurine made contact, Hayley's nose exploded with blood.

Atlas continued to punch the guy. Milo swung again, this time hitting Hayley in the chest, though that swing wasn't as hard as he'd wanted it to be.

"I'm going to kill you fucking humans!" Hayley shrieked as he reached behind him and yanked Atlas off of him, tossing Kellen's mate to the floor. "Colt isn't married to anyone. He's my mate!"

Atlas scrambled to his feet as Hayley reached for Milo again. Milo swung the small statue like a pro baseball player, nailing the guy in the hand.

"I don't care what you are. I'll fight you with everything I have!" Milo shouted.

Something crashed over Hayley's head. Milo's eyes widened when he saw that Atlas had smashed a table lamp over him. Unfortunately, Hayley didn't go down. If anything, the assault only pissed him off more.

Claws grew from his fingernails as he reached for Atlas, but Atlas spun away, narrowly dodging those sharp claws. Milo swung the small stature again, determined to help Atlas, and struck the arm that was reaching for Kellen's mate. When it sounded as if Milo had broken a bone in Hayley's hand, he felt sick.

Hayley screamed, clutching his arm. He bared those canines—though they weren't long and thick like Colt's were—at Milo, plowing into him and sending Milo flying backward. He hit the floor and skidded a good ten feet before he stopped, and then watched in horror as Hayley backhanded Atlas so hard that he hit the coffee table with a nauseating thud.

Atlas cried out, gripping his side, then he rolled onto the floor, writhing in pain. Milo shoved to his feet and started grabbing things off the bookcase, whipping them at the guy.

Milo heard the roar of a car arriving then the crunch and slide of tires on gravel as it came to a sudden stop.

Hayley dodged the projectiles and leaped toward Milo, taking him down. He straddled Milo and choked him, realizing in a detached way that Hayley's claws were no longer out. Milo dragged his nails down the guy's arm, trying desperately to get the lunatic off of him. Blood pounded in Milo's head as his vision began to fade.

For someone so slim, Hayley was strong as hell. He was going to kill Milo if he didn't find a way to break the hold. Just as Milo feared he would pass out, Hayley was ripped away and thrown across the room. Milo rolled to his side, his eyes watering, his throat feeling as if it was on fire as he tried to suck air into his lungs.

He needed the oxygen, but it hurt so badly to breathe.

Afraid Hayley would attack him again, Milo tried to crawl away. He made it a few feet before he was lifted off the floor. Milo swung wildly, determined to fight for his life. He wanted a future with Colt, and he wasn't going to let some scorned harlot take that away from him.

"It's me!" Colt said as he pulled Milo to his chest. "I've got you, shorty. Take slow, shallow breaths."

Now Milo knew how Atlas had felt when he was in that vampire's grip. Milo's throat burned, and he wondered if Hayley had crushed his windpipe. Every breath was like swallowing fire.

Hayley shrieked and jumped on Colt's back. Colt dropped Milo, and Milo hit the floor, pain exploding in his arm as he landed on it. Un-fucking-believable.

With a deadly growl, Colt reached behind him and tore Hayley off his back, slamming the guy against the wall with his hand around Hayley's throat. "I don't know how you tracked me down, but I'm going to rip out your spine for touching my mate," Colt snarled with murder in his green eyes and his canines at full length.

Milo looked to his right and saw Kellen on the floor, Atlas in his lap as he rocked his mate, softly whispering to him.

"He's not your mate!" Hayley screamed, but it came out muffled since Colt was pressing on the guy's windpipe. "We were meant to be together!"

"We dated for two months, you psycho bitch," Colt snarled. "I made it clear it was over even before I found my mate."

Unsure where he gathered the strength to stand, Milo pushed to his feet, the room spinning. When he spoke, his words sounded like a strained croak. "Colt is mine. I will do more than bloody your nose and break your arm if you don't back down."

Hayley sagged and started crying. If he hadn't attacked them, Milo might have felt sorry for him. Might have. It was clear that Hayley was obsessed with Colt since he'd found a way to track him down. That was dedicated lunacy.

"You can't be mated," Hayley wailed as Colt set the guy on his feet, removing his hand. He tried to grab Colt, as if to hug him, but Colt knocked the guy's hands away with a look of disgust.

"Apologize to Milo for attacking him and I might let you live," Colt said with a menacing growl then turned to Milo. "How badly did he hurt you?"

Milo pointed to his throat. "Atlas and I were kicking his ass until he got the upper hand."

Colt actually smirked. "No shit."

"I jumped on his back, and Milo broke his nose," Atlas said from across the room. "Your mate kicked him in the nuts, rammed that heavy statue-thing into his chest, and broke his arm, but that was only after that crazy bitch attacked him."

Colt looked at Milo with pride. "Nice."

Despite his pain, Milo grinned, feeling his face flush from embarrassment. "I don't like violence, but he forced me to defend myself. I didn't really lose my shit until he tried to hurt Atlas."

Up until then, Milo had been nearly paralyzed with fear from thinking about his uncle beating him, but he didn't say that out loud.

"Make him leave, Colt." Milo really needed to stop talking. The more he spoke, the more his throat burned.

Colt turned his attention back to Hayley, his smile evaporating, replaced by a savage glint in his green eyes. "Leave town, Hayley. Forget I exist, or I swear I'll kill you."

Kellen rose to his feet, setting Atlas on the couch. He stormed toward Hayley, his features twisted into rage. "You hurt my mate. I'm going to return the favor."

Colt moved as if to stop Kellen. When he turned his back to Hayley, the bastard spang and punched Milo so hard in the jaw that Milo thought it shattered. He hit the floor, landing on his back, unable to focus as pain ripped through his skull.

The growls sounded a million miles away as Milo lay there, wondering for a second if Hayley had actually killed him. Atlas dropped to his knees next to Milo, worry in his gray eyes. "Talk to me, Milo!"

He couldn't. His brain had been rattled too badly, the worst pain imaginable pulsing in his skull and radiating down his body. It honestly felt as if Hayley had knocked his head clean off. "It…hurts."

Even worse than his throat.

Atlas touched his chest. "Don't move. I don't know what damage he's done." Then he leaned in closer and whispered, "Colt and Kellen just tore him apart. I'm concentrating on your face so I don't have to look at what's left of Hayley. The sound alone is making me want to vomit."

Milo couldn't stop blinking, praying like hell that Atlas didn't throw up on him. He was also hoping Hayley hadn't caused any serious damage. The guy hadn't been able to get in a full swing because he'd been between Colt and the wall. If he had, Milo might have died.

"Look at me," Atlas said softly. "Don't pay attention to what Colt and Kellen are doing right now."

From the corner of his eye, blurry shadows walked past him. The smell of blood was overwhelming, a metallic scent that made Milo's mouth water as if he were going to be sick.

"Can you wiggle your fingers?" Atlas asked.

Milo wiggled them.

Atlas smiled. "Very good. Can you move your legs?"

The pain started to ease in Milo's head. The room began to come back into focus. "I think he just knocked the sense out of me. My head still hurts, but things are slowly coming back into focus."

"Should I call an ambulance?" The worry never left Atlas's gray eyes.

"I think I'm okay. Help me sit up."

"Are you sure?" Atlas pressed firmly against Milo's chest when he tried to sit up. "Let's wait until Colt examines you before you try to do jumping jacks. Just lie here and stare at my pretty face, and I'll keep gazing into your gorgeous hazel eyes."

"Stop flirting with me." Milo chuckled then regretted making the sound when a sharp pulse shot through his head. "I need some migraine pills."

"Here come Colt and Kellen." Atlas moved aside, Colt taking his place.

Colt gave a comforting smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Tell me what hurts, sweetheart."

Kellen crouched on the other side of Milo, a look of deep concern on his face. "Should we take him to the hospital? He was coldcocked by a shifter."

Colt made Milo do the same tests that Atlas had done. He made Milo wiggle his fingers and move his legs. Then he had Milo follow his finger.

"I wanted to sit up, but Atlas got bossy and made me lie still," Milo said. "I'm okay. My head hurts like hell, and my throat burns, but I'll live."

"We'll let a doctor determine that." Colt pulled out his phone. "I'm calling an ambulance, and you're going to the hospital."

"Since they killed Hayley and dragged his body out, say someone broke in and assaulted you but got away before Colt and Kellen arrived," Atlas said. "We'll follow you two in the ambulance."

Milo really didn't think it was necessary, but he was outvoted. When the ambulance arrived, a collar was put around Milo's neck and he was loaded and driven away, Colt still at his side.

Three hours later, the doctor walked into Milo's cramped room in the ER. "I'm Dr. Baldwin, and I have good news, Mr. Landon." He stood by Milo's bed since the only chair at his bedside was already taken by Colt. Kellen and Atlas were standing off to the side. "Your tests came back, and luckily, you didn't sustain any serious injuries beyond a mild concussion."

Colt sighed heavily, his relief evident as his hold on Milo's hand tightened.

"Thank god," Atlas said.

"Are you sure you have the right tests?" Milo asked. "There's no way that's the only thing wrong. I got my ass handed to me. It felt like a brick wall slammed into my jaw."

Dr Baldwin patted Milo's arm. "I'm positive I received the correct tests results."

"If you say so," Milo groaned. "Just put me in a body cast and let me wheel out of here. I'm ready to go home."

The doctor chuckled, but Colt just sat there holding Milo's hand.

"Since you're mated, you'll heal faster," the doctor said. "I still want you on bedrest until you're steady on your feet. I'm prescribing something to help with your throat and some pain medication for your head. You're a very lucky man." He patted Milo's arm again.

"You're not human?" Milo frowned.

"I'm a lion shifter, Mr. Landon. I spoke with Colt while you were getting your tests. He told me what happened. It's a miracle you didn't sustain more serious injuries fighting a shifter. The guy might have been a gazelle, but he was still ten times stronger than you. I'm just glad you're going to be okay. I'll start the process for your release."

When the doctor walked out, Milo turned to Colt, croaking out, "Gazelle?"

"No shit," Atlas said in surprise. "Aren't they supposed to be docile animals?"

"Not if they're insane," Kellen snarled. "I should have Dr. Baldwin check out your side."

Atlas waved away his mate's concern. "I'm breathing fine and have minimal bruising. I'm certain I'll live."

"We're going to give you two some privacy." Kellen smiled down at Milo. "I can never repay you for keeping Atlas safe. I'm not really known for offering my friendship, Milo. Even if you hadn't saved the love of my life, I'd still consider you family. You have my loyalty, and I'll always have your back." He took Atlas's hand and left the room.

"I'm sorry." Colt moved his chair closer to the bed, pressing his lips against Milo's knuckles. "I was supposed to protect you. I don't even know how Hayley found the house. I swear to you on my life that I broke things off with him a month before you and I met."

"I believe you," Milo said in a raspy voice. "When Atlas called me your husband, Hayley knocked me to the floor, choking me. Eric's years of abuse flashed in my head, and something inside of me snapped."

Colt rested Milo's knuckles against his beard. The look Atlas had described to him sparkled in his mate's green eyes. A look of pure adoration and…was that love? "You are the most amazing man I have ever met. I'm so proud of you for fighting back, shorty. When Kellen's phone chimed, telling us that someone was near the house, I couldn't drive fast enough to get us to you and Atlas. Then I saw Hayley's car parked out outside, the front door wide open, and my heart gave out."

If Colt hadn't gotten there when he did, Hayley would have succeeded in killing Milo. "What happened at my uncle's house?" he whispered.

Colt closed his eyes, and Milo had his answer.

"It's not your fault, Colt." He touched his mate's jaw, gently scratching his fingernails against his mate's soft beard. "I'll never look at you differently for protecting me."

"I just don't want you to see that side of me, Milo." Colt opened his eyes. "I don't ever want you looking at me like I'm a monster."

Milo tugged until Colt leaned closer, and then he curled his arms around his mate's neck, hugging him. "You're not a monster, Colt. You're my guardian wolf who watches over me."

"Always," Colt whispered.