Page 6 of Haven

Kile sprang into action as soon as the man moved, only to be intercepted by two other thugs who decided to step up and block his path. Trying to fight and keep his eye on the woman earned Kile a punch to the face.

“Need help, brother?” Cole’s welcoming voice sounded behind him as Eric grabbed one of the guys, tossing him to the side.

“What took you so fucking long?” Kile muttered, heading toward the woman who was being tossed around like a rag doll.

“Eh, figured you could handle it, so I finished my lunch, but big bro there had his doubts about your fighting abilities and forced me in the truck,” Cole smirked as he took over, beating the shit out of the other asshole.

Kile ignored his brother’s words as he raced toward the woman. His anger tripled when the man, oblivious to the fact Kile was stalking him, raised his hand and smacked the woman in the face. Anger like he never felt before hit Kile, making his body tremble, ready to release his wolf on the bastard, but a scream stopped him.

“Stop!” A woman’s hysterical bellow gained everyone’s attention. “Let her go!”

A young woman ran from one of the motel rooms, tripping her way toward them. Kile didn’t slow down even when the man let go of the woman named Sadie. He grabbed her, putting her behind him as she tried to run to the younger woman.

“No, Lily!” The fear in the woman’s voice turned his blood to ice. “Let me go! Please, he’s going to hurt her.”

“No, he will not,” Kile said confidently. Glancing toward Eric, he saw his brother standing with his foot on one guy’s face while he watched the scene closely. “Who is she to you?”

The woman looked up at him with frightened green eyes. The side of her face was red from the smack the bastard delivered, which he would pay dearly for. “My sister.” She whispered, her lips trembling. “She can’t leave with him. Please.”

It was the whispered please that did him in, or maybe it was the green eyes, but either way, this man would not be taking this woman’s sister anywhere. “Stay here, and do not move from this spot. I can’t help her if I have to save you. Understood? Trust me.”

The relief in her eyes told him everything he needed to know. This woman had been on the run for a long time and was ready to take any help she could get. She came to the right place.

CHAPTER 4

Sadie’s flight instincts were raging through her body. Seeing her sister approaching the man who wanted nothing more than to control and harm her had Sadie’s heart pumping in fear. Her body shook. She should have paid more attention to her surroundings when she left the restaurant for the short walk back to the motel. Now, her sister was exposed, and the only hope they had at this very moment was the stranger looking down at her, asking for her trust. That word...that action was very hard for Sadie. She trusted no one, especially when it came to her sister, but she nodded in agreement that she would, in fact, trust this man. What choice did she have? None. It was either this stranger or Lily returning to a brutal existence with this madman. It was a no-brainer.

Another man stepped beside her as she watched the man head straight for her sister. Glancing up, she noticed the resemblance between the two men. Both stood at least six feet tall, had dark hair, and were very muscular. She felt safe for the first time in a long time, shocking Sadie. Her eyes went back to her sister, who had stopped.

“I am not going back with you, Colton,” Lily announced with a proud tilt to her head.

“The hell you say.” He yelled, his face almost purple with rage. “You and your bitch sister have caused me enough trouble and embarrassment. You will go back, Lily.”

Sadie gasped as the man who had just left her side walked straight up to Colton and punched him in the side of the head. Colton staggered, nearly hitting the ground, but managed to catch himself. He violently retaliated, punching at the man, who deftly leaned away and countered with another perfectly landed blow. The fight continued back and forth, the stranger clearly having the upper hand. He took a few hits, but Sadie suspected it was intentional, fueling his rage. She had seen many men fight before, so she wasn’t immune to the sight, but she had to admit the stranger was highly skilled. Colton didn’t stand a chance, and she loved it.

Kile landed one last blow to Colton, who lay on his back, holding his bleeding nose and slowly moving his head from side to side, moaning. With a nudge to the man’s ribs, Kile turned to look at Lily.

“You do not want to go with this man?” Kile asked Lily, his voice rough from the fight but gentle as he talked to her sister.

“No, I do not.” Lily shook her head, then grabbed Kile’s outstretched hand.

Sadie was surprised that Lily took Kile’s hand without hesitation but was also relieved. Maybe these men could help them find the place they were looking for so Lily could get the care and protection she needed and deserved.

“You’re a Shifter.” The man named Kile stated when their hands touched. His eyes then scanned her with questions she knew would have to be answered.

“I am,” Lily replied proudly, which made Sadie’s lip curve into a small smile. Her face stung at the movement, but she ignored it. “As are you.”

Sadie frowned, looking from the man leading Lily toward her to the other three that stood over Colton’s men, who still lay on the ground, groaning and trying to stand up. Shifters. All of them? Sadie didn’t know if this was a good or bad thing, though they had been looking for a place that took in Wolf Shifters. Maybe they would help them. “You’re all Shifters?”

“Human,” the shorter one said with a shrug. “I'm just here for the food and fights.”

The other two chuckled, but the one named Kile was staring at her as her sister ran into her arms. She looked away from him and down at her sister's tear-streaked face. “I’m sorry, Lily. I thought I was being careful. I didn’t see them until it was too late.” She whispered, but they all heard her. “I told you to stay inside no matter what.”

“After seeing him hit you, I couldn’t hide anymore,” Lily said, pulling away and then looking up at Kile. “Can you please help us?”

Sadie started to open her mouth but stopped at the protective look the man gave her sister. She had to get a grip on her trust issues if they were going to survive. This wouldn’t stop Colton from coming after them again. She turned to look at Colton, who was getting up, glaring their way as his other three guys stumbled toward him.

“You will pay for this.” Colton looked at all of them before he spat blood on the concrete parking lot. “This is your fault. If not for you, she would be with me now. You will fucking pay bitch.” He pointed directly at Sadie.