CHAPTER NINE

L ance took Ronan directly to his bedroom adjacent to Ronan's. It was time for their lives and their future together to get back on track. Lance had waited too long for his soul mate to ever risk a chance of losing him. He would claim Ronan as soon as he was well enough.

Seeing that man with his hands on Ronan and threatening to kill him was more than he could ever again emotionally handle. Ronan had to stay. He had to be his, forever. Lance laid him on the bed, gently brushing the hair back from his face. He placed a kiss on his forehead near the cut, which was swollen and red.

Rage boiled to the surface once more as he relived the memory of Jordan's attack on his mate. Lance vowed to make him pay for the hurt and fear he made his mate suffer. If Terry and Dean hadn't intervened, he would have killed Jordan Randall.

The doctor arrived just after them and went directly to Ronan edging Lance back and out of the way without actually asking him to move. Lance explained what had happened as the doctor continued his examination.

Ronan began to groan and came around, opening one eye and looking at the doctor first and then pinned Lance with a steely glare. "You set me up." He tried to shout, but it came out with a little gravel.

Lance was next to him. In an instant, he grabbed his hand and held it. "No, baby, I set up Jordan. I didn't set you up. You would never have even seen him if you hadn't run. I brought him here with the excuse that you and Molly had been apprehended. I knew he would come himself to take possession of you. I planned on scaring the living hell out of him and sending him on his way. I planned on letting him know that to pursue you any further would result in his own death. I never expected you to find out and to bolt like you did. I understand, but please, baby, in the future, come to me and ask for an explanation before believing the worst." The words came out in a desperate flood of information Lance needed him to understand.

"You were going to threaten him?"

"I was going to do whatever it took to get him off your trail and out of your life." Lance held his hand and searched his face for understanding.

"Molly called, and she and Henry said . . ." Ronan's mind scrambled for clarity as his eyes bore into Lance's. "You saved me." He remembered the gun and the wolf. "I didn't want to believe that you would betray me. I wanted you to be there for me."

"Yes, I will always protect you. I will always be there for you, baby, always." Lance leaned into him, closing the distance between their lips, and kissed deeply with passion and possession. After about five minutes, they broke apart upon hearing the doctor clearing his throat repeatedly.

"Yes, well, it seems that you have suffered a slight concussion and an abrasion to your forehead and left arm, but you should heal well and good in the next few days, nothing to worry about." He spoke the last to Lance, who reached out his hand to the doctor with a smile and thanked him for coming so quickly.

"Anytime, Alpha." He assured and then proceeded to give him some basic care instructions regarding Ronan.

Once the doctor had left, Lance sat down on the edge of the bed and, reaching over, pulled Ronan into his arms and held him. "You have my word. You will never have to lay eyes on Jordan Randall again. He will be completely out of yours and Molly's life by tomorrow."

"What are you going to do?"

"Impress him with the power of an Alpha." Lance smiled and began kissing him again.

…

Molly, Aaron, and Henry arrived at the Manor shortly after Lance, but they waited until the doctor had exited the room before knocking to check on Ronan.

"Come in," Lance answered.

They filed into the room with Molly, immediately made her to the bed, and crouched down to speak with Ronan. "Are you feeling okay, Roe?"

"Pretty much except for a slight headache, but the doctor said all was good."

"Oh, Roe, I am so sorry."

"Why are you sorry?" Ronan leaned up on his elbow in order to see her more clearly.

"I sent you running, and you ended up right in Jordan's hands. If I had just waited and spoken with Aaron, none of this would've happened, and you wouldn't have gotten hurt."

"Oh, please, what else would you've thought after hearing their phone conversation. I thought the same thing after hearing your message." He laughed and ruffled her hair. That always bothered her because she was a stickler about how her hair looked. Molly swatted his hand away and stood up. Aaron stepped up and pulled Molly into his arms, allowing her to lean on him. She reciprocated with a sigh and snuggle, which put a huge smile on Aaron's face.

"Have you been claimed, Molly?" Ronan asked abruptly but with a small grin.

"Not yet, but we're planning on it soon; how about you?" She smiled up at Aaron with lust and longing in her expression.

"Not yet, but we're planning on it soon," Ronan repeated her statement with a big grin and lay back down on the bed. He shot a glance at Lance just to be sure he was on board with the claiming happening soon.

"Just as soon as you are well, you will be mine, my love," Lance answered his unspoken question.

…

Terry handed Jordan a phone through the bars of his cell to make his one call, so to speak. He rudely turned down legal aid; being an attorney himself, he was certain the area had nothing but hacks and halfwits for lawyers and would prefer to do his own legal work. Snatching the phone from Terry with a glare, he quickly turned his back and began to punch in the numbers. Terry grinned and walked slowly back to his desk, knowing full well where this was going to lead.

"They've arrested me, Ivan. Get out here immediately. The mayor seems to have decided the James siblings belong to him." He walked back and forth within the confines of the cell. "The town is run by a pack of wolf shifters."

At that statement, Terry began to chuckle.

"Get out here now! I told you, they changed into wolves and attacked me. I was trying to take Ronan into custody, and the Mayor shifted into a huge black wolf and physically assaulted me!" He dragged his fingers through his hair roughly as he obviously was having trouble making Ivan understand what had taken place. "No, I haven't been drinking!"

Terry laughed out loud and shot Jordan a look that told him he was going down, and in that instant, Jordan understood. He mouthed the word fuck and hung up the phone. Within minutes the main phone line of the Lonepine Police Station began to ring. Terry continued to smile at Jordan as he answered the phone, knowing full well who was calling.

"Lonepine City Police, Officer Moore speaking, how may I help you?" Terry watched as Jordan made his way over to the cell door and leaned against them, trying to listen in on the call while their eyes remained riveted on each other. "Yes, sir, he is under a doctor's care at the moment." There was a pause as Terry listened to Ivan, or rather Detective Rand. "We picked him up after a call stating that he was physically assaulting a young man at a gas station." He paused again, "No, sir, the young man, Ronan James, is not pressing charges. He wants Mr. Randall to drop the APB against him and his sister. He would also like for Mr. Randall to seek professional help in regard to his outlandish behavior and claims. Yes, I agree he does not have a firm grasp on reality at the moment." Terry's smile was so wide it threatened to split his face.

"You bastard!" Jordan shouted, "Give me that phone!" He banged his hands against the cell door in his frustration. Terry made sure that Detective Rand could hear Jordan as he came unglued.

"Yes, sir, we'll hold him till you get here. You're welcome." Terry hung up and continued to smile at Jordan but did not say a word.

…

Henry walked out onto the porch with a glass of water and noticed that several men were positioned on either end as if on guard duty. Their gaze fixed on the land and buildings before them, so they gave him only a cursory glance. Suddenly he was spoken to from behind.

"Hey, Henry." The man coming up behind him was one of the officers that had taken Jordan Randall into custody, but Henry did not remember being introduced.

"Hello."

He came forward and stuck out his hand. "My name's Jamie, and I'm here to discuss the things you witnessed this afternoon. The Alpha asked me to speak with you." He motioned for them to sit down and get comfortable. Once they were seated side by side, Jamie began his speech about shifters and their need for anonymity.

"You don't have to go into detail." Henry stopped him. "My stepmother was a shifter, as was her entire family. I am well aware of who and what you all are and your need for secrecy. You have nothing to worry about from me." Henry smiled and raised his glass to Jamie before taking a deep refreshing swallow. "So, Ronan is Lance's mate?"

"Yes, and Molly is Aaron's mate." Jamie smiled, obviously relieved that the discussion went smoothly.

"Who was the officer with you that took down Randall?" Henry asked, interested in discovering more about the man who would not leave his mind. He was tall and broad in the shoulders but narrow and muscled in the hips and thighs, just the way Henry liked his men. As a small slim man, his ideal had always been tall and powerful. The officer was everything that had ever attracted him. His face was strong and masculine with professional, close-cut blond hair and piercing deep blue eyes on a face that was stunningly handsome.

Jamie smiled knowingly before answering. "His name is Terry Moore. He will be stopping by later to give a report to the Alpha. I will introduce you if you like?" He noticed Henry's eyes light up at the offer.

"Yes, that would be nice. I would like to thank him for his help." After trying to pretend that he was only interested in extending his gratitude, he remembered that Jamie had been there as well, so he added, "and thank you for your speedy arrival and skill in taking care of the situation." Jamie nodded and smiled.

They lounged on the porch and talked for a while longer before Jamie excused himself to return to town. "I'm glad to have met you, Henry, and I'm sure the Alpha will be pleased with your acceptance and understanding." He reached out and shook Henry's extended hand. "I think we will be seeing a lot of each other."

"Why is that?" Henry asked absently.

"Just a hunch." Jamie smiled wide, and there was definite mischief in his expression.