He knew how Logan’s mind worked: The bastard would no doubt produce photographs of his fellow extremists—clawed and bitten and wounded badly—to reporters or the court and spin a nice story to accompany those photographs. As such, when Nick fought these extremists off, something he fully intended to do in order to protect Shaya, he would be playing right into Logan’s hands. But there was no other choice, because the very idea of Shaya being hurt wasn’t at all acceptable to him or his wolf. The animal was currently growling and flexing his claws, honing his senses on the humans.

Nick was aware that Derren wasn’t far away, and he would imagine that the humans would be aware of that too, as they knew Derren accompanied Nick everywhere. He would bet they wouldn’t be fazed by that at all—the more shifters involved in the attack, the better for them.

“You should have listened to Logan in the beginning. You should have left town long ago,” the human directly in front of Nick said. Hatred swirled in his blue eyes, twisting his thin face into a scowl. “And you really shouldn’t have pissed off Logan the way you did. So you could say that you brought this on yourself…that it’ll be your fault your girlfriend’s about to be very badly hurt. Don’t worry—she might just enjoy what we have in mind for her.”

Barely restraining himself from bloodying the prick, Nick realized just how good a trap Logan had set. Logan knew Nick’s past, knew what had gotten him sent to juvie. He’d be hoping that if they threatened to do to Shaya exactly what was done to his sister that day, Nick would for sure react. A cunning plan. And it had every chance of working.

Sensing Nick’s control quickly splintering, Shaya brushed her hand against the back of his thigh. She kept her gaze trained on the humans in her vision, registering every move they made, fully prepared to defend herself if any one of them took a single step toward her. So far, they had done nothing but glare at her, clenching their fists in an attempt to intimidate her, but that could quickly change.

“I still can’t work out whether she’s a shifter or not,” continued the human. “But if she’s going to f**k one, the slut might as well be.”

A growl poured out of Nick. Reflexively, he moved to rip the ass**le’s limbs off, but then there was the sound of the only thing that could have gotten through to him—Shaya’s voice.

“Don’t, Nick,” she said, low enough for only him to hear. She spoke in the same calming tone she used with Taryn and Amber. “He wants you to charge at him so that I’m standing here alone. He’s trying to separate us.”

She was right, Nick realized as the red haze blurring his thoughts began to disperse. “He called you a slut,” he gritted out quietly.

“What’s the big deal? I’m your slut.” Her voice held a tint of amusement.

“You know, coming forward and announcing your existence had to be the dumbest thing your species ever could have done,” said the human. “What made you think you would ever be accepted? You’re exactly what those religious fanatics say you are—abominations. And you need to be destroyed.”

Like Nick hadn’t heard this spiel before.

Clearly bugged that Nick wasn’t reacting, the human snickered. “Not so brave and cocky now that you’re surrounded like this, are you?”

“Don’t mistake my silence for fear,” Nick told him, vibrating with anger. “I can spot a trap when I see one. I know exactly what you hope to do. Don’t worry—you’ll get the response from me that you’re aiming for. But if you think you’ll all get out of this alive, you’re very much mistaken.”

There was a slight unease in the air that made Shaya smile inwardly. There was no doubting that Nick meant every word. The scent of fear surrounded them, pleasing her wolf, who—though not a fan of confrontation—had every intention of standing by her mate.

“If you know anything about shifters,” continued Nick, “you’ll know how vigorously we protect females and children. You’re threatening my female, you intend to cause her physical harm, and I can’t allow that. So if you have it in your head that all that will happen is some of you will go home wounded, you’re very wrong. I’ve killed a human before to defend someone, and I won’t hesitate to do it again. If I turn my attention to you, know it means you’re about to die. Those who value your life over Logan’s plans…you might want to step back.”

Fear wafted from the human, and it was clear that his snigger was forced. “You’re no threat against all of us.”

“There may be strength in numbers, but not against a shifter protecting his female. That has a way of amplifying a man’s strength. I’d tear apart anyone who tried to hurt her. And she’s not exactly an easy target—you should be aware of that before you think of cowardly targeting her rather than me.”

In spite of the situation, Shaya found herself smiling. He had never once disregarded her strength and her capability of taking care of herself, had never once treated her as anything but his equal. Even now, while she was in clear danger, he wasn’t treating her like a damsel in distress.

“Well, well, well, look what we have here.”

At the sound of Derren’s voice, Shaya’s head whipped to the right, and her brows rose in surprise. There he was, slightly outside the circle, smiling in amusement…and recording the whole thing with his smartphone.

“Eleven humans boxing in and intimidating a shifter and his girlfriend—two people who had been minding their own business. Not just humans, but human extremists.” Derren shook his head in reprimand. “What will the world think when they see this on YouTube, I wonder.”

Three things suddenly happened at once: One of the humans lunged at Derren, making a grab for the cell phone. Nick snatched Shaya’s hand and pulled her to the ground, yelling “Down!” as two bullets whizzed past. And the humans all scrambled away into the dark night. All but one, Shaya quickly realized, as she saw that Derren was not only still in possession of his phone, but he also had an extremist by the scruff of his neck.

Derren tipped his head at the human. “I’m thinking he can answer some questions for us.”

Shaya didn’t enjoy seeing anyone in pain, she really, really didn’t. But as she watched with Taryn and Trey as Nick and Derren circled the human tied to a chair in her spare bedroom, she didn’t feel in the least bit disturbed to know he would soon be in bad shape.