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hairstyle, but he couldn't tell. She trembled more violently as Garret approached.
    He did look like the creatures that had just attacked her. His arms were long, long enough that when he bent down to run on all fours, his top side was taller than his back side. Her entire head could easily fit in the palm of his hand, and each of his claws were as long as her fingers, though much sharper and thicker, of course.
    Then there was his face and muzzle, like that of a wolf, only one from nightmares.
    He thought perhaps she'd be less frightened if he made himself appear as a real wolf. Then he could make himself look almost cute to the human eyes, especially if she happened to be a dog lover.
    That had been the original plan. After he found her, he was going to show her his wolf shape, and prove to her that he could be trusted and sweet and protective of her. He'd planned on showing her this monstrous-looking shape only after she trusted him, when she, hopefully, would not fear him. Now it was too late.
    "No one will hurt you," he said.
    She tensed, her hazel eyes flying wide so he could see the whites all around them and a ring of bright blue. That didn't seem so common. He hoped she also had an uncommon sense of forgiveness after this, but she would learn to trust him. Even now, she must be feeling the pull between them as the mate of an alpha.
    He certainly felt it for her. She was beautiful.
    He held out his hand to her, but she flinched away from it as she continued to stare and say nothing.
    He didn't appreciate the way she continued to hide under Jax's wing.
    He looked to his friend, and Jax got the message and removed his wing.
    A light squeak escaped her throat when she realized the protection she'd been using was leaving her.
    "I will not hurt you. You are safe now."
    His woman turned her attention back to him. She pushed herself to her wobbly knees, but still did not take his hand. She only looked at it.
    "What's your name?"
    She swallowed. Her heartbeat was quick, but it was proof she was safe, that she was here with him. It soothed the beast inside.
    "Miranda Swanson."
    Nice name. Garret had known her last name, but her father had lied about her first name. Of course, he'd suspected that. That's why he'd had such trouble finding her when the man vanished.
    "Is this real?" She reached out and tapped lightly on the dark padding of one of his fingers before pulling back, observing, as though waiting for Garret to vanish in front of her.
    Or attack.
    "It's real. Please."
    He wanted her to touch him again. That light tap had jolted him in the best possible way. Warmth radiated through him. His mate was looking at him, was curious about him, and the beast within him was willing to curl in front of her and present his belly, as though to a beloved master for a pleasant scratch.
    There had been no mistake. The searching had been worth it.
    She touched him again, this time holding on to his finger and allowing Garret to help her to her feet. She was not a willowy girl, but she was lighter than air. He reminded himself again and again that her human nature made her small and fragile. It wasn't preferred to have a human mate, but this was his mate, and Garret would have to take extra care around her. He didn't want to break her.
    Dane suddenly hissed, catching his attention. "Garret, look."
    Dane pointed with one of his claws, and Garret glanced down.
    A bright splotch of blood seeped through the thin material of the ugly teal dress she wore. It was blooming outward, spreading and becoming darker at the center.
    "What?" Miranda looked down, saw the blood at her hip, and swayed on her feet. "Oh."
    Her knees lost their strength, but Garret caught her before she fell. She was so small in his large hands, and suddenly so pale.
    He'd thought the smell of blood was from the injuries he'd given to Laurence and Dennis.
    Garret stared at his mate, an alien sense of helplessness freezing his muscles for a half second before he snapped