“I know. Let me call Julian. Cyn’s the only one who got hurt, but the girls are pretty shaken up.”

Ryan nodded and strapped on his helmet.

“We’re on our way, baby. Need us to pick anything up for you?”

“Lunch would be good.”

He winced at the amusement in her voice. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” She sighed dramatically. “You forgot me. I understand.”

He could feel himself blushing. Damn it. How did she keep doing that to him?

“Pizza good?”

“Works for us. Oh, and make sure there’s at least one meat lovers, extra bacon, okay?”

“Done. We’ll be there as soon as we can.”

“Love you.”

“Love you too.” He waved Ryan off before dialing Julian’s number.

“’Lo?”

He didn’t bother with any preliminaries. Julian sounded really out of it. “Gary attacked Cyn. She’s okay, but we’re heading over to Living Art to check on her.”

No response.

“Julian?”

“When you finally face him, make sure you give him a swipe from me.”

“So you think he’ll go after them again?”

Julian sighed. “Let’s just say I don’t see any other possibilities.”

“Are you heading to the shop?”

“Does a bear shit in the woods?”

Bunny laughed shortly. “Meet you there.” He clicked shut his phone, called Lou’s Pizza and ordered three larges. He straddled his Harley and started off, wondering what else had Tabby upset. More than Gary’s visit was bothering her. She’d sounded…excited. And he bet that Max and Gabe were the source of that excitement. Maybe Gabe had something on Gary, or would be able to get a warrant now that the man had vandalized the shop and harassed Cyn. He sort of understood why the sheriff hadn’t arrested him on the spot. Putting a shifter into a human jail was always problematic. Still, knowing Gary and his friends were locked up, even overnight, would go a long way toward easing his mind.

Hell, at this point he bet all of them could use a break. He’d help the girls get the shop cleaned up and locked up for the day. Then he was going to take Tabby house hunting.

He arrived at Living Art with the pizzas, a plan already forming. All thoughts flew right out of his head when he saw the shattered glass countertop with the baseball bat stuck in it. “Son of a bitch.”

“That’s what I said.” Ryan’s jaw was clenched so hard Bunny was surprised his teeth hadn’t snapped off.

“We’re fine.”

Ryan glared down at Glory. “He attacked you.”

She shrugged. She was doing her damndest to look nonchalant but Bunny could see the way she was shaking. “He attacked Cyn and Tabby. I was along for the ride.”

Ryan took a deep breath. Then he took another one. Bunny could see his Bear shifting under his skin, dying to get out, hunt down the man who’d dared threaten his mate, and tear him to pieces. “I’m going to fucking kill him.”

“Get in line.” Julian stepped into the chaos. Silver still peppered his hair, and his dark eyes sparkled with gray lights. “Where’s Cyn?”

Glory inched away from Ryan and earned herself a low growl. “She said she was going out for a bite.”

The three men froze. “She wouldn’t.” Bunny stared at the curtained-off area, wondering if she’d really be that stupid.

“She would.” Julian walked around him, his gait still unsteady. “Where’s Tabby?”

“She left. She said she had to make sure Cyn didn’t do anything stupid.” Glory frowned, staring at the three groaning men. “What?”

“Did you think she was going out for lunch?”

“Well, yeah.” She blinked up at Ryan. “Wasn’t she?”

“Shit. You think she went to Aunt Laura?”

Ryan shrugged. “She did before. Mom told her no, that it was up to Julian to do the honors.”

Julian groaned. “Crap.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “This keeps getting better and better.”

“We’ll find her, Julian.”

“And then I’m going to tie her fine ass down and mark her.” Julian stomped out of the store.

“I thought you said it wasn’t time?” Bunny shouted after him.

“Yeah, well, the timetable just got screwed all to hell and back.”

Bunny chuckled. Tabby would try to keep Cyn from doing anything stupid, but still. Maybe Glory knew something about what was going on. “Do you know where the two of them went?”

“I think Cyn said something about talking to Emma.”

The two Bears exchanged another glance. “You think Emma would do it?” Ryan shifted next to Glory, boxing her in. She glowered up at him.

“I don’t know her well enough to say.” They’d only met the petite Curana the other day, but her power was undeniable. Bunny didn’t think Emma would do something she’d been specifically asked not to, but with an Alpha female, you could never tell.

“Maybe you’d better follow him, then.”

“Yeah. Ryan, stay here, help Glory clean up. I’ll get Cyn and Tabby back here in one piece.” He held up his finger, stopping Glory’s automatic protest. “Do this, please. It will ease Tabby’s mind to know that someone is watching over you.”

She snapped her mouth closed. Her sigh sounded so put-upon, he almost laughed. “Fine. The furball can stay.”

“Gee, thanks.” Ryan rolled his eyes. “Take care of them. I’ll call Mom and Dad and let them know what’s going on.”

Bunny waved and headed out, leaving the cooling pizzas on a stool. He hoped Glory was hungry. He had the feeling he wouldn’t be back before they’d turned stone-cold.

“C’mon, Cyn. You know Julian is going to turn you. Can’t you just wait?”

Cyn turned on her. They were only half a block from Wallflowers, the curio shop Emma co-owned with her Beta, Becky. It was the closest she’d been able to park.

“Do you know why I’m not sitting around waiting for him?”

Tabby bit her lip. No, she didn’t, but now that Cyn was talking, she wasn’t going to interrupt her and risk her shutting up. Cyn rarely talked about why she did things, she just did them.

“My mom always waited for my dad. Always. To the point where she didn’t fucking sneeze without his say-so. She let him make all the decisions, run her life for her. And after he died, she was fucking lost. She could barely function without him there.”

“Cyn. How do you think I’d feel if I lost Alex?”

Cyn blinked. “That’s different.”

“Maybe. I’d be able to function if I survived. I know I can take care of myself. I’ve proven that.”

“What do you mean, if you survived it?”

Tabby winced. “Most mates don’t survive the death of their partner.”

Cyn’s jaw dropped. “Seriously? Your lives are tied together?”

“Duh. That’s what mates are, Cyn. We’re two halves of a whole. If half your body died, if half your heart stopped beating, what would happen to you?”

Cyn’s jaw snapped shut. She looked freaked out. “Huh. Maybe this whole mating thing isn’t such a hot idea.”

“And maybe this is exactly why Julian chose to wait. You need to be certain it’s what you want before you tie your life force to him.”

Cyn stepped closer, lowering her voice. “You wanted this? You wanted your life tied to someone else’s?”

Tabby nodded. “It’s the most incredible feeling I’ve ever had. I’d gladly do it all over again if it meant I get to keep Alex.” She put her hand on Cyn’s arm. “He’s my home, Cyn.”

“Whoa.” Cyn’s shocked expression faded. She knew exactly how much home meant to Tabby. “So if he left Halle?”

“I’d be on the back of his bike, after I got a very good reason for the move out of him.” Tabby grinned. “Mate doesn’t mean doormat, Cyn.”

She nodded slowly. “I’ll have to think about this.” She took a step back and turned on her heel. “But I’m still talking to Emma.”

Tabby groaned. “C’mon, Cyn. Alex was bringing pizza, damn it!” Her stomach rumbled. She was starving.

Cyn laughed and opened the door to Wallflowers.

“Good afternoon, ladies. How can I help you?” Becky Holt rose from the Victorian, cream-colored sofa with a smile. This was the first time Tabby had been in Wallflowers and she looked around with interest.