The Rogue Hunter's Mate [Paranormal Protection Unit 10] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Honor James Read Free Book Online

built to handle a great deal, aren’t you?” she asked as her gloved hands moved slowly over him, noting mentally where the sore spots were. “You aren’t going to just walk away from her, are you?” she asked softly when she was sure that Beth was sound asleep.
    “I’m built to take a beating and keep on going,” he said quietly. “Hunters need to be able to take on many opponents at once or rabid Rogues that have no regard for any life.” He didn’t answer the last question. There was nothing to discuss about Beth. While Gaia may have decided she was the one for him, he didn’t want a mate and never had, so the Goddess could take that and do what she would with it, like give Beth to another.
    Nodding, Jess put the scope back around her neck and rocked back on her feet. Shoving her hands into her pockets, she said, “I’m keeping Bethany overnight. If you don’t want her in your life I suggest that you are in your rooms on the base when the drugs wear off. Talon will work his magic with her and ensure that she keeps knowledge of us under her hat, so to speak, and get her home.” She sighed and shook her head. “I wish you would reconsider but”—she shrugged—“I’ve learned not to try to get any of you to change your minds. It’s up to you whatever happens. I just feel bad for her and for you as well,” she admitted. “Now then, I’ve more patients to see. I will have her moved into a private room in about ten minutes.”
    Getting off the gurney he shot the doctor a dark look. “You should also learn to hold your tongue with unwanted and unsolicited advice. If it’s about medicine, then say your piece. Otherwise keep it to yourself. It’s our lives, not yours being affected,” he said sharply. Heading to the door he didn’t look back. That wasn’t his future and never had been.
    Jess let out a sigh and shook her head. “Such is life,” she whispered quietly and ensured that Bethany was still out before moving to check her other patients, putting the Wolf and human out of her mind as she moved.

Chapter Six
     
    Standing on the balcony overlooking the city, Bethany turned over in her mind once more all that had happened in the last few weeks. Sipping on the wine, she tilted her head to the side and closed her eyes as the breeze flowed over her face. “Happy birthday, Brian,” she whispered with a small toast. She knew that it was silly to toast a man that was a monster, but he was still her twin. Drinking down the last of the wine she turned and walked back into her penthouse home.
    Closing the sliding door behind her and ensuring that it was locked, Bethany began turning off lights as she headed toward her room and the cold bed that awaited. “Happy birthday to me.” She spoke softly in the darkness of the room. “Tomorrow is a new day.” She had a packed day tomorrow, just as she’d had pretty much every day since she had been brought home.
    Sliding between the sheets, she turned off the final light and sighed. Closing her eyes, she allowed the small amount of wine she drank to pull her under and into dreams. Hopefully tonight she wouldn’t have another dream about “him.” One could hope at least. There were some things that a person could learn that they wished that they could forget completely. That’s where she was with what had happened several weeks earlier. Realizing that there were other beings out there that were far more than human had been easier to accept than what she had learned by accident, that a man who she had been born for chose to walk away from her forever and live alone instead of speaking another word to her. Yep, some things a woman wished she could just forget.
     
    * * * *
     
    Scrubbing a hand over his face, Z shook his head. He had to sleep soon. He was at the end of the line. Yawning again, he forced his eyes to focus on the computer screen and the latest reports. Part of his job was to weed through the police reports of the various agencies across