A week had passed before Drake had time to sit down with Tessa and talk about the change. He'd been pulling long hours in the fields, planting corn for the season. She'd gone back to work for Tulley, but only a few days a week. She was now off work on the weekends so they could spend time together.

"I don't think I've ever had a weekend off since I started working back in high school." She smiled and sunk down lower into the water in the large Jacuzzi tub in Drake's bathroom. He was leaning against the counter, watching as the bubbles floated around on the top of the water. They were hiding her body from his view, and he wanted to rake them away but he didn't. She needed to relax, and tonight he was going to make sure she was pampered.

"More wine?" he asked, holding up a bottle.

"No," she giggled. "I'm doing fine. Are you going to join me? There's plenty of room."

"Tonight is for you to relax," he said. "You don't want me in there taking up all of your room."

Tessa sat up and took a sip of wine, slipping back into the water as soon as she set the glass on the side of the tub. She stretched her toes above the water, and Drake noticed she'd recently painted them a vibrant red. Her pale leg peeked out as she bent her knee.

"Maybe next time?" she pouted, making him smile wider.

Drake's phone rang from his back pocket, and he grunted when he saw Gunner was calling. It was late, and he'd told his baby brother to leave him and Tessa alone for the night. Whatever he had to say had better be important...more important than spoiling his mate.

"Drake, we've got a trespasser," Gunner cursed across the line.

"Who? Where?" he barked, going on high alert. Tessa sat up so quickly, the water sloshed out of the tub and onto the floor.

"Drake?" she whispered, but he ignored her as his brother spoke.

"Went out front and saw a male body at the tree line toward the road," Gunner panted. Drake could tell he was on foot, and knew it was best to get Tessa locked in the room. He didn't waste time with leaving the bathroom and going to his door to throw the latch.

"Is it human?" Drake demanded. His bear snarled in his head to be set free to search his property.

"It is," Gunner snarled. "Get out here and help me. Rex isn't home."

"I'll lock down the house and be there in just a second. Keep tracking the human," Drake snapped and tucked his phone in his back pocket.

When he turned to get Tessa, she was already standing at the bathroom door, wrapped in a large, brown towel. "What is it, Drake?"

"We have a trespasser," he told her as he reached into his side table drawer to retrieve a gun. "Please tell me you know how to use this?"

"No," she shook her head as her eyes widened, "I've never shot a gun."

"Fuck," Drake swore, taking her hand. He put the revolver against her palm and prayed she'd listen to his quick lesson. "If someone breaks in here, all you have to do is point it in their direction and start pulling the trigger. Understand?"

"Y...yes," she stammered. "Got it."

"I'm locking you inside this room," he stated. "Do not

come outside until one of us comes for you."

"Drake..." she whimpered, but he silenced her with a kiss.

"Do as you're told, Tessa," Drake said, cupping her face. He wanted her to understand how much she meant to him, and if someone got inside his home and hurt her, he wouldn't be able to survive alone.

"Yes, Sir," she breathed out in a whoosh, and sat heavily on the bed when he released her.

Drake didn't look back as he left the room, using the key on his keychain to lock the deadbolt. The door was solid and there was no way anyone could get inside unless they had a key or Tessa unlocked the door from the inside.

As soon as he stepped off the front porch, Drake scented the air. His beast rumbled in his mind at the human male who was on his land. The moon shed only a small amount of light across the yard, but Drake shifted his eyes, allowing the animal inside him to partially takeover.

Gunner was about a hundred yards to his left, searching the woods where the human scent lingered. Drake stepped off the porch and stuck close to the side of his house as he made his way toward the trees beside his home.

Once he was able to disappear into the woods, Drake eased up beside his brother. Gunner's eyes were trained on a spot off in the distance. Drake nodded and scanned the area, not seeing or hearing any movement.

"Three o'clock," Gunner whispered so low, his voice was almost silent. Drake took his two fingers and held them up to his eyes before pointing in the direction. Gunner nodded and took Drake's shirt as he slipped it off his body. Within a few seconds, Drake shifted and ambled slowly through the darkness, looking for the trespasser. As soon as his bear latched onto the scent, he followed it west on the property until he reached the fence line. The human had turned north toward the road and that was where the scent faded, blending in with the putrid scent of a vehicle's exhaust.

"He's gone," Drake cursed as he shifted. Gunner's eyes were glowing gold in the darkness.

"Do you think it was Tessa's ex?" Gunner asked, his eyes still trained on the spot in the woods.

"I would almost guarantee it," Drake snarled and pulled his shirt over his head.