Bear Protector - Bella Love-Wins Page 0,22

to any question you ask.”

She agreed, but was not so sure it was wise to let him take her wherever it was he was going.

He looked up at her face, and as if reading her mind, he added, “I am a man of my word. You can trust me.”

Starting the mare in a slow amble, Xander held the reins and walked at its, looking up at her from time to time. After some time, they were close to the gates of the shifter camp.

Xander reached up and gently pulled her hood lower down her head. “Do not respond if anyone tries to speak with you,” he instructed her.

She searched his eyes, confused. “Are you not the alpha of your soldiers?”

“I am, but you should know how Minassus operates. All it would take is one talkative soldier or trainee to say more than he needs to, and Minassus will know. And it is not that I fear the man. I’m more concerned about what he may do to you.”

“I understand.”

With a nod, he passed through the gates with an emotionless expression on his face, as though he had every right to bring her here. He gestured at the sentry, and acknowledges the soldiers who greeted him as they passed. No one gave Kiera a second look. Xander walked the length of the camp with her until they were almost at the back of the compound, stopping the mare at a hitching post close to a row of tiny log cabins. He helped Kiera down, tied up the animal, and pointed to the structure she guessed was his, no larger than any of the others she had seen on the way.

“I live alone,” he informed her, opening the door a few inches. “Go in. Have a seat while I get my horse settled for the night. I will be back soon.”

She watched him guide the mare away, disappearing around a corner a few yards away. Turning back to Xander’s home, she headed inside. Kiera was barely over the threshold when she heard a sound coming from inside the cabin. She snapped her head around the room, but it was too dark. No candles were lit yet.

“Who’s there?” she asked, although she was not sure she really wanted to know.

Slowly, her eyes adjusted to the darkness, but not before the sound of two large, heavy footsteps approached her. The first thing she saw was a broad, solid, naked chest, and had to look up, way up to the smiling man it was attached to.

“Good night, miss,” he said, and for a second, Kiera hoped he was dressed from the waist down.

She let her eyes drift down from the stranger’s short, black hair past his chest and ripped abs, and breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of dark pants. He was a giant, a strapping ox of a man, all muscle, and took up Kiera’s entire field of vision with his size.

“Good evening,” she eventually replied, stepping back into the doorway, hoping he had not seen her face in the darkness, although at this distance, she was not sure. “May I ask why you are here? Commander Oslo assured me he lived alone.”

“I was waiting for the Commander.”

“In the dark?”

“It was not dark when I first arrived, miss. And I can see well enough.” He stepped to his right, Kiera’s left, and a moment later, struck a match and lit a candle. “There. This should help you. I understand now that Commander Oslo is going to be …too busy to speak to me at this time. Not to worry. I will take my leave now… if you would allow me to pass.”

“Of course,” she answered, stepping aside to make room for the enormous man.

He stepped through the doorway, lowering his head to fit through, on account of the fact that he was at least five or six inches taller than the height of the door. “Enjoy your evening, miss,” he told her, not looking back as he pulled the door closed behind him.

While she waited for Xander to arrive, she took the opportunity to check out his place. It was neat, clean and cozy. The stone fireplace was straight ahead. On her left was a small eating area with a wooden counter for preparing food. A pitcher of water sat on the countertop, with a cup beside it. A small table with two chairs was at the corner, and beside it, a shelving unit that held a few plates, cups, glasses, and