How was he supposed to explain himself? He expected to find her in distress or injured. Adrenaline already coursed through his veins in anticipation of a fight.
The bear chuckled, a deep, annoying sound. “I knew you’d show up. I saw the look in your eyes when you were in here earlier.”
“You touch her?”
“Not a finger.” The bastard smirked, and Caleb had to hold back a growl.
“What’s going on, Joe?” Bethany asked.
Joe? Caleb wanted to wipe him off the face of the planet for being alone in the room with his mate. And he didn’t like hearing his name on Bethany’s lips.
“Nothing, sweetheart. You can go,” said Joe.
Bethany squeezed out behind him. Neither of them moved as they faced off. Once she was gone and out of earshot, he dropped his façade.
“What fucking game are you playing, bear?”
“I should ask you the same. A wolf pack right under my nose?”
“You don’t own the forest. And I promise I don’t bend over for anyone trying to move in on my territory. Not for a wolf, a coyote … or a bear.”
Joe shrugged. “Interesting.” He chuckled again.
Caleb clenched his jaw. “Something funny?”
“You’re making threats, but your mate works for me. I don’t see that changing either, not when I just gave her a nice big raise.”
Of course, he did. So, the bear was going to play dirty and try to blackmail him. He knew getting out of this wasn’t so simple as telling Bethany the truth. The conversation about shifters wasn’t one he needed to have when he’d just met her. “You planned all of this—Bethany, the raise, this little encounter.”
“I’m not a cub. I knew you wouldn’t wander far from her,” said Joe.
“Give her a raise, fire her, it makes no difference to me. I’ll be taking care of her from now on. She doesn’t need your money anymore.”
“Bethany’s independent to a fault. She doesn’t even know you. From the brief time she’s worked here, I can tell you she’s built walls of steel around herself. That girl’s been through the wringer, and she won’t be running to warm your bed, wolf.”
“I don’t know bear pack dynamics, and I honestly don’t give a shit, but I’m not looking to fuck her. I’m not an animal.” He winked, but it was anything but friendly.
Caleb wanted to claim Bethany, to mate for life. She wasn’t a one-night stand, but the future of the entire pack. Without her, even his men would be doomed to loneliness.
“Unless you plan on moving out of state and out of our territory, I’ll be getting real friendly with my curvy little waitress. By the way, did you see the size of those tits?”
His fist was in the bear’s face so fast, he didn’t have time to think. Joe stumbled back against the wall. “Try me!” Caleb roared. “You so much as breathe down her neck, I’ll fucking gut you.”
The power of the alpha couldn’t be denied. Even the bear shifter backed off. “Just teasing,” Joe said.
He wasn’t. It was a clear threat, and Caleb knew it. Until he claimed her and told her what he really was, she was in danger working at the diner. The bear pack would use her against him and his pack like a disposable pawn. And he’d be losing sleep over this.
“Be careful who you choose to pick a battle with. Threatening a man’s mate could end up bringing a firestorm of pain on your pack. And your profitable little business here.” Caleb grinned, showing his fangs.
He wasn’t beneath playing dirty. And collateral damage wasn’t a concern, not when it came to protecting Bethany.
****
Bethany paced back and forth. The sun had set, leaving only one spotlight out front to fend off the darkness. What was going on inside the diner?
Her hero from earlier was facing off with Joe—a man nobody dared to cross. Caleb had been furious, acting like a possessive beast. It was surreal. His intensity made him even more ruggedly handsome. The regular bushmen who frequented the diner were nothing like Caleb and his friends. They were another level of outdoorsmen—solid muscle and sexy as hell.
She wished she knew all the details of the confrontation. Did Caleb know Joe? Was there a woman they were fighting over? Her mind was full of questions. Of course, she wanted to believe he was there for her, but she’d only just met him.
Bethany took a deep breath of evening air. It was rich and clean, nothing like what she’d left behind in the city. This place put her soul at ease. It was only a five-minute walk to the boarding house she was staying at, but she needed to stick around. Any excuse to run into Caleb again was a worthy one. She’d been thinking of him since he left earlier, wondering if there had been a spark for him. Could he even be interested in a girl like her?