“Sure you are,” Nate said easily.
In a flash of movement, Ryan leapt at him, shifting in midair. Stella gasped at the sight of the teeth appearing, claws lengthening, all headed straight for Nate—
Who somehow seemed to catch the wolf and toss him backwards, with only his bare human hands. Ryan slammed into the wall behind Nate. Stella had a moment to be grateful for their old house's solid construction as he crashed to a stop and slid down to the floor, groaning.
“None of you ever studied any real fighting techniques, did you?” Nate asked conversationally. “Using your opponent's weight against him is rule number one. Do you want to try again?”
There was a long pause as Ryan slowly picked himself up and shifted back to human. “Goddammit,” he said. “Todd, you brainless idiot. We're getting out of here.”
The rest of the pack groaned agreement. Nate watched them go, making no move to stop them stomping out the back door that they'd broken into.
But he caught Todd by the collar before he could join them. “You,” he said, “aren't going anywhere.” He nodded to Carlos, who came forward and caught Todd in a tight hold. Nate took a step back and faced him.
“Breaking and entering,” Nate said in a low voice. “What were you planning to do, Todd?”
“I need to see Stella,” Todd was saying.
Stella came all the way down off the stairs and stepped forward. “Here I am.”
Nate caught her eye, and glanced subtly upward. Stella saw the webcam perched on top of a shelf.
“Stella, I can get you away from this guy,” Todd was pleading. “I just want to help you.”
Stella took a step forward, and spoke loudly and clearly. “Listen to me, Todd. I don’t want you here. I don’t want you following me. I don’t want you around. I definitely don’t want you and your pack breaking into my house and attacking my friends! Do you understand?”
He looked at her imploringly. A long time ago, that look might have made her sympathetic. A short time ago, it would have made her uncomfortable and scared.
Now, though, it only made her angry. He thought he could break in and attack, and then turn around and manipulate her like this? Forget it.
“I just want us to be together,” he whispered.
Stella thought carefully. “Todd,” she said, “if Carlos lets you go, will you go home and never come back?”
“I can’t leave you alone here, Stella!” he said urgently. “I’m not leaving while these guys are here!”
“Todd, this is my home,” she said. It was amazing how calm and reasonable she could sound, when inside she was absolutely furious. Nate’s presence by her side helped a lot. “You can’t stay here.”
“It could be our home,” he said stubbornly. “I’m not leaving until you see reason, Stella. You saw already that I can get in whenever I want. I’ll come back, I’ll bring more guys—”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” She felt her confidence building. She was suddenly certain, absolutely sure, that Todd wouldn’t be coming back after tonight.
As if he could sense that too, Todd’s face twisted into an ugly sneer. “You won’t get away from me,” he said, and lunged.
His body shivered and wavered, and suddenly there was a wolf in Carlos’ grip. The change in shape was enough to dislodge his hands, and then Todd was leaping for Stella—
But she wasn’t afraid. She didn’t have any doubt about what was going to happen next. She didn’t jump, scream, or even startle.
Because there was a panther between her and the wolf.
Todd howled in rage, but Nate snarled back, and it was almost comical, the way the wolf cringed away.
There was a flurry of movement behind her, and Eva appeared at Stella’s shoulder. “Mom, are you okay?” she panted. “How did he get in?”
“Broke the lock on the back door,” Carlos answered, as Todd seemed to realize that he was well and truly trapped, with Nate in front of him and Carlos behind him.
Stella still wasn’t afraid. She couldn’t imagine how she could be afraid, with Nate between her and danger, and with so many other people all ready to step in if there was any problem at all.
It was like a huge weight had finally lifted off of her shoulders. Todd couldn’t do anything to her anymore.