Page 5 of Shielded By My Mate

I tremble in his hold. “Mira.”

“I’m Ansel. I’m going to take care of you, okay?” he says gently.

I can only nod as he lifts me into his arms. “I’m so sorry. I—you saved my life. How can I ever repay you?”

“You don’t have to do anything,” he assures me.

“I owe you my life,” I argue. “There has to be something I can do, some way I can repay you.”

My teeth are chattering, and I take a shaky breath.

“There’s only one thing that I want from you,” Ansel tells me as we move.

“Name it. I’ll do anything.”

Curiosity swims through me. What could this hot hunk want from me? What’s the one thing that he wants?

“Your heart,” he says finally.

I blink, and my mouth falls open as he silently carries me through the woods.

3

Ansel

Having my mate in my arms is all I can think about as I carry her to our home. I need to get her ankle looked at, check her for other injuries, and call my brother to have him look for the men who were after her.

“I can walk,” she protests. “Your shoulder. You shouldn’t be carrying me.”

“I’m fine,” I promise.

My shoulder screams with every step. I can feel blood pouring from the bullet hole and staining my shirt, but I’d never tell her that. Besides, I can’t really focus on the pain when I’m so happy to have finally found my fated mate.

I’ve found her. She’s here. She’s mine.

The thought repeats on a loop.

My bear is almost vibrating with energy inside me. Bite her. Her neck is right there.

We will. Soon. We need to look at her injuries first.

Our bite would help her heal faster, he points out.

Soon, I promise him and myself. We can’t freak her out, though I think I already did by telling her I wanted her heart.

She’s not scared, my bear argues.

Really? Because she hasn’t said a word since. She’s just staring off into the distance. I should’ve waited to bring up the fact that we’re soulmates.

Maybe she’s going into shock. Bite her, and that will fix everything.

A stranger biting her is only going to send her even more into shock, I point out.

My bear growls at me, and I choose to ignore him.

“This is my home,” I tell Mira as I carry her through the back door.

I head straight for the couch, placing her gently on the cushions.