Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

Rance

A s night fell, Rance found himself parked in his truck a short distance from Amanda's home, his eyes scanning the darkened street for any sign of trouble. He knew Amanda didn't want to be coddled, but he couldn't shake the feeling that she was in danger. The thought of Albright lurking somewhere on the island, waiting for an opportunity, made Rance's blood boil.

His thoughts were interrupted by the soft creak of a door opening. He looked up to see Amanda stepping outside, her eyes locking onto his truck. She hesitated for a moment before making her way toward him, her expression a mixture of exasperation and concern.

Rance rolled down the window as she approached. "Amanda?—"

"You're keeping watch over me, aren't you?" she interrupted, her tone more resigned than angry.

Rance didn't deny it. "I want to make sure you're safe. I can't just sit back and do nothing."

Amanda sighed, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Come inside, Rance. You can't stay out here all night. Let's get some food, warm up. We can talk."

Rance hesitated for only a moment before nodding. He couldn't deny that being close to her was what he wanted, even if it meant letting her win this round. He followed her inside, the warmth of her home enveloping him as they entered.

As they settled at the kitchen table with steaming bowls of soup, Amanda studied him closely. "You're worried," she said softly. "Not just about Albright, but about something else."

Rance stirred his soup absently, his mind drifting to the memories he had tried so hard to bury. "I've dealt with hunters like Albright before," he admitted. "I told you a little bit about my work in Reykjavik. We faced people who were determined to wipe us out, who saw us as nothing more than monsters."

Amanda's gaze softened, her hand reaching across the table to cover his. "You never really talk about your time with the Resistance." He quirked his eyebrow at her. "Eva gave me a kind of primer on recent shifter history."

Rance's jaw tightened; he should have been the one to tell her. He wasn't handling this whole transitioning a human to a shifter very well. Memories of Iceland came unbidden—blood, fear, the relentless pursuit of those who wanted nothing more than to see them dead. "It's not something I like to talk about. I saw a lot of good people die, and I learned how cruel the world can be to those who are different. But we fought back, and we survived. That's why I'm so protective of you, Amanda. I've seen what hunters like Albright are capable of."

Amanda squeezed his hand, her touch grounding him. "You're not alone. We're not alone. I'm already discovering how close the shifter community here on Kodiak is."

He looked up at her, his heart swelling with emotion. The connection between them was undeniable, and the arousal that simmered beneath the surface threatened to consume him. He wanted her—needed her—but he had to control himself, had to remind himself of the danger that still loomed over them.

But when Amanda leaned across the table and pressed her lips to his, all his restraint shattered. The kiss was slow and deliberate, her lips soft against his as she coaxed him deeper. Rance's control slipped, his need for her overwhelming everything else.

With a low growl, he pulled her onto his lap, his hands gripping her waist as he kissed her with a fierce intensity. She responded eagerly, her hands tangling in his hair as she pressed herself closer. The kiss deepened, and Rance felt a primal urge to claim her, to dominate the moment and make her his in every way.

His hands roamed her body, mapping the curves he had already memorized, but this time with a possessiveness that made her shiver. He nipped at her bottom lip, eliciting a soft moan from her, and the sound only fueled the fire burning inside him.

But just as quickly as the fire had ignited, Rance pulled back, his breath ragged as he forced himself to regain control. He couldn't afford to lose himself completely, not when the threat of Albright was still out there, lurking in the shadows.

Amanda looked up at him, her lips swollen from the kiss, her eyes dark with desire. "Rance…"

He pressed a finger to her lips, his voice hoarse. "Not tonight, Amanda. We have to stay focused. Albright is still out there, and I need to know you're safe."

She nodded, understanding but clearly frustrated by his restraint. Rance gently lifted her off his lap, setting her down on the floor beside him. "Lock the door after me," he reminded her, his tone softening as he brushed a strand of hair from her face. "I'll be nearby, keeping watch."

"You don't have to go. We're both adults."

Rance chuckled. "That's the problem. We're both adults, and I want you in a way I've never wanted anyone. We need to keep a sharp eye out for Albright, and I can't do that if I have my cock buried deep inside you."

Amanda blushed but didn't argue further, though he could see the concern in her eyes. "Be careful, Rance."

He gave her a small, reassuring smile. "I will. Get some rest, Amanda."

With one last lingering glance, Rance turned and left her home, his mind already sharpening with the focus of a hunter. He couldn't allow himself to be distracted, not when so much was at stake.

As he stepped back into the cold night, the weight of his responsibilities settled back over him like a cloak. He would protect Amanda with everything he had, no matter what it took. And if Donald Albright dared to threaten her, Rance would make sure the hunter never got close enough to harm her.

Rance sat in his truck, the engine idling softly as he kept a vigilant watch over Amanda's home. The night was quiet, the only sounds were those of the forest surrounding him, but he knew better than to let his guard down. The threat of Donald Albright weighed heavily on his mind, and the thought of Amanda being in danger was enough to keep him on edge.

He glanced at the clock on the dashboard. It was late, and though exhaustion tugged at him, sleep was the last thing on his mind. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming, that the peace of the night was only a temporary reprieve before the storm hit.

His phone buzzed on the seat beside him, the screen lighting up with a call. Rance picked it up, seeing Jax Miller's name flashing on the display. Jax was the sheriff of Mystic River, a shifter-only community at the northern end of the island, and one of the few people Rance trusted implicitly. If Jax was calling at this hour, it wasn't good news.

Rance answered the call, pressing the phone to his ear. "Jax."

"Rance," Jax's voice was steady, but there was an unmistakable undercurrent of tension. "We've got a problem."

Rance's grip on the phone tightened. "Tell me."

"Albright's presence on Kodiak Island has been confirmed," Jax said, cutting straight to the point. "He's been sighted by a couple of our people, and he's not trying to hide it. It's like he wants us to know he's here."

Rance's heart pounded in his chest, a mixture of anger and concern flooding through him. "Bastard's making himself known," he muttered. "That's not all, is it?"

Jax hesitated, and Rance knew whatever was coming next was going to be worse. "Albright's not just here to hunt any bear shifter, Rance. We've got intel that he knows you're an Arctotherium. But it's worse than that. He knows about Amanda, too."

The words hit Rance like a punch to the gut. How the hell did Albright know? He knew news within the shifter community moved at the speed of light, but Albright wasn't a shifter. Rance's worst fears were being realized. Albright wasn't just hunting; he was targeting them specifically. And Amanda, still so new to this life, was now in the crosshairs of a seasoned killer.

"How the hell did he find out about Amanda?" Rance growled, his voice low and dangerous.

"We're not sure," Jax admitted, his tone grim. "But it doesn't matter how he found out, only that he did. You need to be on high alert, Rance. Albright's been at this a long time, and he's not going to stop until he gets what he wants."

Rance's mind raced, already formulating a plan. He couldn't let Albright get anywhere near Amanda. "What's the plan, Jax? How do we stop him?"

"We've got people keeping an eye out for him, but Albright's slippery. We need to be smart about this. Don't confront him directly unless you have to—he's dangerous, and he knows how to set traps. We're working on tracking his movements, but for now, keep Amanda close. Don't let her out of your sight."

Rance nodded, though Jax couldn't see him. "I'll do whatever it takes to protect her."

"I know you will," Jax said, his voice firm. "Just be careful, Rance. Albright's got experience on his side, but you've got something he doesn't—you've got a reason to fight."

Rance knew exactly what Jax meant. His connection to Amanda was more than just protective instinct; it was something deeper, something primal. She was his fated mate, and that bond gave him the strength and determination to face whatever threat came their way.

"Keep me updated," Rance said.

"Will do," Jax replied. "And Rance—watch your back."

The call ended, leaving Rance alone with his dark thoughts. If Albright tried to get to Amanda, he would find out just how deadly an adversary an Arctotherium could be. Albright was here, and he was coming for them.

His eyes drifted back to Amanda's home, the warm glow of the lights inside a stark contrast to the darkness outside. She had no idea just how much danger she was in, and while he wanted to shield her from the harsh reality, he knew she needed to be prepared. But for now, she was safe, and he intended to keep it that way.

Rance leaned back in the driver's seat, his mind racing as he tried to think of the best way to keep Amanda safe. He could feel the urge to shift, the bear inside him clawing at the surface, demanding to be let out. But he needed to stay focused, to think clearly.

A movement by the house caught his attention, and he saw Amanda's silhouette in the window, her figure framed by the soft light. She was checking on him again, worried about him sitting out in the cold. Despite everything, a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Even now, she was thinking about him, worrying about his well-being.

Before he could second-guess himself, Rance opened the door of the truck and stepped out into the night. The cold air bit at his skin, but he barely noticed. He needed to be close to her, needed to make sure she was safe.

He made his way to the front door, and before he could knock, Amanda opened it, her eyes locking onto his with a mixture of relief and concern. "You should come inside, Rance. It's too cold out there."

Rance nodded, stepping into the warmth of her clinic before following her upstairs. The scent of her surrounded him, calming the restless energy that had been gnawing at him all evening. "I just got a call from Jax Miller—he's the Sheriff of Mystic River," he said, his voice low as he closed the door behind him.

Amanda's expression tightened, sensing the seriousness in his tone. "What did he say?"

Rance met her gaze, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him. "Albright's presence on the island has been confirmed. He's here, and he knows about us—about me, about you."

Amanda's eyes widened slightly, but she didn't back down. "Then we'll deal with him if we have to."

Rance admired her strength, but he couldn't shake the worry gnawing at his gut. "I'll deal with him," he corrected gently. "But I need you to be careful, Amanda. Don't take unnecessary risks. You have no idea what guys like this are like. You need to do what I tell you."

Amanda's gaze softened, and she stepped closer, her hand resting on his chest. "I'm not going anywhere, Rance. Albright will find he has more than one Arctotherium to deal with."

The intensity in her eyes, the certainty in her voice, made something inside Rance snap. He cupped her face in his hands, pulling her into a fierce, possessive kiss. She responded immediately, her lips parting for him, her hands clutching at his shirt as if she couldn't get close enough.

The world outside fell away, and all that mattered was the feel of her against him, the taste of her on his tongue. Rance's control slipped, and he deepened the kiss, his hands moving down to grip her hips, pulling her flush against him. He could feel the fire between them, a heat that threatened to consume them both.

With a low growl, he broke the kiss, his forehead resting against hers as he fought to regain control. "Amanda… we can't. Not right now. We need to stay focused."

Amanda's breath was ragged, her eyes dark with desire. "Rance…"

He forced himself to pull back, his hands trembling with the effort. "I need to keep watch. Albright's out there, and I can't afford to be distracted."

Amanda nodded, though he could see the disappointment in her eyes. "I understand. Just… be careful."

Rance leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "I will. Lock the door after me and try to get some sleep. I'll be close by."

She nodded again, watching him with a mixture of concern and affection as he turned to leave. Rance paused at the door, his hand resting on the doorknob. "Amanda… whatever happens, I want you to know that I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe. I mean that."

Amanda's eyes softened, and she gave him a small, reassuring smile. "I know, Rance."

With a final nod, Rance stepped out into the cold night, his mind already sharpening with the focus of a hunter. He would protect Amanda, no matter the cost. And if Donald Albright dared to come after them, he would make sure the hunter regretted ever setting foot on Kodiak Island.