Shifter’s Surrender by Jennifer Dellerman Read Free Book Online Page A

woman. Dean glanced from Ruth to Kaylie and squeezed his eyes shut. Like mother like daughter.
    Ruth laid a gentle hand on his shoulder, her voice hard as steel. “I don’t know what’s going on between you and Kaylie, but she was my daughter before she ever met you, and I will decide what’s best for her.”
    Dean swallowed the lump in his throat, and hissed out for Ruth’s ears only, “She might be your daughter, but she was born to be mine; my woman, my mate.”
    Ruth made an inarticulate sound, her hand slipping from Dean’s shoulder as she stared at him. A second later her eyes narrowed. “Then you will soon find out just how tough Kaylie is. And smart.” She looked over at Jacklyn and gave her a nod. “Do what you need to.”
    Dean clenched his jaw when Caleb reached out and lifted Kaylie’s neck up as Jacklyn slowly removed the damaged plastic. Underneath Dean saw matted hair … and that was it. Sweaty, matted, beautiful, silky brown hair.
    Jacklyn ran practiced hands over Kaylie’s head. “Incredible. She’s got a nice sized lump, but the skin’s not even broken. I want to take her in for x-rays of course to be sure, but I think she might only have a slight concussion.”
    Tess snatched up the helmet, peered inside, and began to laugh. “It’s not cracked on the inside. In fact, the padding is about three times as thick as a normal batter’s cap. It’s amazing she was even able to fit it on her fat head.”
    Ruth nodded knowingly. “See, tough and smart. After years of broken bones and skinned flesh, Kaylie learned how to better protect herself, if for no other reason than to ease my constant worry and continual nagging.” She fanned herself. “Not that I didn’t have a heart attack on the way over here.”
    “Mom,” Tess immediately looked up, concern thick in her eyes. After all, it was only a few months back that Ruth had suffered a stroke.
    “Figure of speech. Sorry.” She turned her attention to Kaylie and smacked her lightly on the cheek, her actions belying her calm demeanor. Ignoring Jacklyn’s shocked gasp she hissed at her youngest daughter, “Dammit, Kaylie girl. Did you hear me? You gave me a heart attack.”
    Kaylie’s eyelids flickered. “Five more minutes, Mom,” she grumbled out in a hoarse whisper.
    Jacklyn swung her gaze from Ruth to Kaylie and back again. “Huh. Haven’t tried that one.” Standing, she reached down for a black bag. “We need to get her to the clinic.”
    “I’ll carry her.” Dean was already sliding his arms under Kaylie’s limp body. No way in hell was any other male touching her right now.
    “I have an SUV,” Jacklyn told him. “You can hold her in the backseat as we’re only a few blocks away.”
    “We’ll be right behind you,” Ruth said as her love interest, and boss, Dolen O’Keefe, came up and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
    Dean only nodded in reply. When he stood he looked out over the crowd and saw Celeste standing uneasily on the pitcher’s mound, next to one of Caleb’s deputies. Retribution glinted like hard diamonds in his green eyes as he glared at the woman.
    “I’ll take care of Celeste,” Caleb said from behind him as he gripped Dean’s arm, making the tight muscles jump in agitation. “She’s not going anywhere. See, Brandon’s already got her. You just take care of your mate.”
    Dean jerked his head around and stared at Caleb. Then he glanced down at Kaylie, her long hair swinging from a crooked ponytail over his arm. All the talk today of Kaylie being his mate had nearly pushed him to the edge; he wanted to claim her right now . But injured as she was, that was unfair. He would give it a couple of days. Maybe by then he would find his resolve to do the right thing and leave her be, to live a happy life unburdened by Dean’s baggage.
    Engrossed in his thoughts, Dean never noticed the single pair of amber eyes, blazing with hatred, that peered out from the edge of the forest. Fixated on the man’s