Page 5 of Haven

“No,” Kile replied, noticing the woman was headed for the small single-floor motel. “It looks like she is staying at the motel next to the Farmhouse Grill.”

“She?” Eric said, then cursed. “Do you think this is connected with Manning?”

“One way to find out,” Kile said just as his eyes caught sight of a man rushing across the parking lot toward the woman, shouting something that Kile couldn’t make out. The woman turned, dropped her bag of food, and took off opposite the motel, only to be cut off by three other men. “I think we have a fucking problem.”

Kile didn’t hear what Eric said as he took off out the door, almost running into Brad Lawson. He pushed him aside as he rushed.

“Hey,” Brad called out, but Kile’s only focus was on their trespasser, who was being surrounded by four men.

Kile slowed to monitor the situation. Four against one was not great odds, but he’d been in worse situations. And if one of them dared to touch her, he would not stand idly by while it happened.

“Where is she, Sadie?” Kile heard the man’s demand spat angrily toward the woman who turned at the question. Her hood slippedoff her head, showing long raven hair. Her light green eyes were wide and frightened as she stared at the man.

“Go to hell.” She spat back, those exquisite eyes narrowing with hate.

The man took a menacing step closer, his hand twitching as if ready to strike. Kile couldn’t stand by any longer. He stepped forward, his presence commanding attention.

“Is there a problem here?” Kile’s voice was calm but carried an edge of authority. His wolf howled to be released, but Kile remained the one in control.

The man turned to face Kile, a sneer forming on his lips. “Stay out of it, bud. It’s none of your business.”

“It is now,” Kile answered, taking a step forward.

Tension crackled in the air for a moment, and Kile knew he had thrown the man by not backing down. This asshole knew the odds and thought they were in his favor. Kile, however, disagreed. It could be ten to one, and Kile would still step forward to protect a lone female, trespasser or not.

“Deke, take care of him.” The man growled, his nostrils flaring in anger.

“Yeah, Deke.” Kile gave him a wicked smile. “Come on over here and take care of me.”

“You need help?” Brad walked up beside him, taking in the scene.

“Not sure,” Kile said, keeping a grin on his face. “I’m thinking no since it takes four assholes to handle one female.”

“Good point,” Brad replied, cracking his neck once. “I’ll hang back, just in case.”

“You don’t know who you’re fucking with.” The apparent leader hissed as he pointed toward Kile, whose grin faded quickly.

“Neither do you,” Kile growled, his eyes turning dark. His wolf clawed to be set free, but Kile kept him in check. “I suggest you let the lady go on her way.”

“You suggest?” The man scoffed, slapping his leg as if that was the funniest thing he’d ever heard. “He suggests, Deke. What do you think about that?”

“I don’t know,” Deke said, sounding as stupid as he looked. “What should I think?”

“Not too smart, is he?” Brad snorted with a chuckle.

“Which one?” Kile shot back, not taking his eyes off the leader. He could take the asshole out right now, but then he would lose focus on the other three and the woman. He hoped to fuck his brother took the hint, and was on his way with Cole. It wasn’t that he didn’t appreciate Brad Lawson stepping up; he just didn’t know how well the man could fight, and these men were Shifters. Brad was human. Things could and probably would get ugly really fast, and the woman was right in the middle of it all.

“Deke shut that fucker up.” The leader motioned toward Kile as if dismissing him—big mistake.

The man named Deke rushed him, but Kile was more than ready. Stepping to the side, he punched out, hitting the man in the side of the face, then swiftly uppercut with his other hand to the jaw and watched him drop like dead weight.

“Next.” He taunted the other two, who were staring at their friend on the ground. When they didn’t make a move, Kile smirked. “That’s what I thought.”

“Tell me where she is, Sadie, and I’ll let you go.” The man didn’t look too sure of himself but wasn’t ready to back down. “For now. The alpha has other plans for you.”

“Never.” The woman’s voice was soft yet forceful, sending a strange protective feeling through Kile’s body. Not that he wasn’t protective over women, but this felt different, and he swore right then and there he would lay his life down for her. His wolf howled inside his head in agreement. What the fuck was going on? Never had he felt this before. Shaking his head, Kile needed to focus, not have a fucking therapy session with himself.

“Lily is mine.” The man hissed angrily, rushing toward the woman. He shook her as he screamed in her face. “Where the fuck is she?!”