Mine for Eternity [Council Enforcers] (Siren Publishing Classic)

walking home so late and was seeing things.” She shuddered when flashes of blood dripping from fangs and claws flashed in her mind. “I know what I saw that night. I’m not crazy.”
    Mitch was quiet for a few moments before he spoke. “That explains what happened, but it still doesn’t tell me why you’re running. Something else must have happened to make you take your son and run.”
    Damn. She had hoped what she already told him was enough. Tessa didn’t want to tell Mitch that she was being chased by the same man she had seen killing the woman. She didn’t want to tell him that she suspected the man wasn’t completely human. She had no idea what he was, but the man had three-inch claws and fangs. His eyes had glowed yellow in the night like they were lit from within. No, that was information that Tessa would keep to herself.
    “The guy must have seen me and knows that I can identify him. Now he is stalking me. The police didn’t even believe a crime had been committed, so I couldn’t go to them and tell them that the killer was now after me. Instead, I just took Nico and left.” Tessa held her breath hoping Mitch accepted her story.
    Coming home one day from the grocery store and finding her apartment torn to pieces had been terrifying. When she realized the tears in her sofa had looked strangely like claw marks, Tessa didn’t even think before reacting. In the hour she had been gone, the man had invaded her personal space. Not only had he put her life in danger, but Nico’s as well. She had stuffed whatever clothes she could find that hadn’t been shredded into a bag and then they had run.
    “I believe you.”
    I believe you. I believe you. I believe you. The words replayed themselves over and over in Tessa’s head. She felt like a weight had been lifted off her chest when she heard Mitch say those three simple words. Did he have any idea how much hearing those words meant to her? She didn’t even realize she had tears streaming down her face until Mitch lifted her in his strong arms and carried her out of the kitchen. Tessa didn’t even think to protest. She just curled into his warm chest and accepted the comfort that she had given up hope of ever receiving again.
     
    * * * *
     
    Mitch carried Tessa into the living room and sat in his favorite window seat with her in his lap. He hated seeing his mate upset. His first instinct was to find the rogue chasing her and rip him to pieces. His lion grumbled in agreement. Since he had no idea where the guy was at the moment, he went with what he really wanted to do, which was comfort his mate.
    He could smell Tessa’s fear when she’d told him why she was running and knew she was leaving things out. He had to figure out a way to get her to tell him what she saw. That wasn’t his most pressing concern though. Mitch had to figure out a way to convince Tessa that she had to stay with him. We could always tie her to the bed. Mitch’s cock twitched at the thought from his lion. He was tempted to agree but pushed the thought away. The last thing he needed was an erection with Tessa curled up in his lap. He was trying to get her to stay, not run her off.
    “I want you to stay here with me. I can protect you and Nico, I promise,” he whispered. Tessa didn’t say anything at first, just stared into his eyes. Mitch kept quiet, but in his head, he was pleading for her to say yes.
    “I don’t want to put you in danger if I stay. I don’t know how, but this guy has managed to find me every place I’ve gone. I stopped using my credit cards and I even abandoned my car thinking he had somehow put a tracking device on it.”
    “Then all the more reason for you to stay. You’ve been watching Nico’s back, but you need someone to watch yours. I’m willing to do that.” He knew Tessa had to be feeling the mating bond that was starting to grow between them, but it still made him feel good that she wanted to leave to protect him and no other reason.
    “Yeah, but—”
    “No buts.” Mitch cut Tessa off. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’ve been trained to take care of myself.”
    Tessa sighed. “Why would you do that? Why would you risk yourself for a woman and a kid that you don’t even know? We broke into your house. You should be calling the police, not offering us a place to stay.”
    Mitch didn’t know how to answer that question without telling Tessa that he was a shifter and she was his mate. She would assume he was like the man