Page 20 of Gunnar

She doesn’t belong to this world.

And I don’t get to drag her into it because my beast is tearing me up inside.

I clench my jaw.

I will protect her.

I will destroy anything that comes near her.

But I will not touch her.

“Trying not to tear the door down, huh?”

I turn around.

Torin sits perched on the edge of the kitchen table, watching me with an infuriating grin like he’s been enjoying the show for the last five minutes.

I grunt at him.

Orson emerges from the kitchen a second later, wiping his hands on a dish towel.

His gaze slides toward the hallway, where the water’s still running, then back to me.

His expression hardens. “No,” he says.

Torin smiles slowly. “Oh, I think yes.”

I say nothing.

“For a human?” Orson’s nostrils are flaring.

“I didn’t choose it. But, yes, I knew the moment she stepped out of that car.”

That shuts him up for half a second.

Torin tilts his head, considering. “I love this,” he says.

Orson glares at him.

“No, really,” Torin continues. “The one woman in the world meant for you just shows up on our mountain. Saves you the trouble of tracking her down across three continents.”

“With the Russian mafia chasing her,” Orson cuts in.

Torin spreads his hands. “Great timing.”

Orson gives me a slow, sarcastic clap.

“Fantastic timing, bro.”

My beast snarls, ready for a fight, but I shove it down.

Because they’re right.

This is the worst possible moment to find my mate.

“Doesn’t matter. I’m not going to claim her,” I growl.

Orson juts his chin out. “No? What are you gonna do?”