Merrily Mated (Ouachita Mountain Shifters 3) by P. Jameson

in the kind of pain that required a tranquilizer. And shit, when she came out of it, she was going to be pissed.
    “Hang on, baby,” he murmured, switching lanes to pass a big rig. “I’m going to make it better.”
    ***
    A little over two hours later, Ryan found himself facing off with an angry panther.
    “This beats all. You wispy little asschunk. Leaving your mate like a fucking… fucking… cat . You fucker . I thought you were better than this. I really did. I didn’t want to believe that mark was what it was.” Magic stood in the parking lot of the lodge like he’d been waiting for Ryan to pull up. His hair was a mess he’d probably raked his hands through too many times. He wanted answers Ryan didn’t have and didn’t have time to figure out.
    “Back off, Magic. I don’t have time for this. I need to see her.” He tried to push past, but Magic’s heavy palm on his shoulder stopped him solid. The cat squeezed, digging his fingers into Ryan’s healing claw marks. Hissing at the pain, his vision turned red with rage.
    The bastard . They were wasting time when he could be with Layna, easing her pain. Enough was enough.
    Ryan swung around, bringing his hand up in a fist and connecting with Magic’s jaw in a loud crack. It was the move that snapped his control. All the events of the past, the hurt from Layna pushing him away, his decision to move on, the worry, all of it came barreling down on him until all he could do was keep pounding at Magic’s face like that would somehow release all the pressure.
    A warning growl rumbled from the panther’s chest, but Ryan ignored it, seeing nothing but the person keeping him from his female. And he didn’t care that it was his friend or Josie’s mate or the clan’s leader or anything else. He’d get him out of the way and then go to her.
    He heard screaming somewhere in the back of his head. Stop. Please. The guests. Ryan… Ry! But it didn’t matter to him. He’d been calm long enough. He’d taken the human approach long enough, and now things were so fucked up and all he wanted was to see his mate and know for himself she’d be okay.
    Blood sprayed across the gravel with his next hit and he felt the cool graze of Magic’s claws as they peeked from his fingertips, ready to attack if Ryan didn’t let up. But there was no way in hell that was happening.
    Rearing back for another swing, he was stopped short when a pair of steely arms banded around him from behind. He struggled against the hold, watching Magic stumble backward, grappling with his own urge to fight back. Why wasn’t the cat fighting?
    Magic spit blood on the ground, looking around at the people who’d gathered. Ryan surged forward again, only to be jerked back like a dog on a leash.
    “Stop this right now.” Mason’s harsh breath rushed past Ryan’s ear, his words somehow breaking through the blind fury. His hold tightened around Ryan as he struggled to rein his instinct to fight. “Ryan,” he murmured, his voice taking on that smooth tone he used when he wanted to ease someone into relaxing. He used it with his spa customers all the time, but he’d never used it on Ryan before. “I knew you’d be back, man. Layna’s with Doc in your room. Now why don’t you go to her, and let me clean up this fucking mess you’ve made.”
    Ryan’s breath came ragged. Stiff inhales and exhales he couldn’t force to be normal. Anger and panic and fear all bled together into one raging emotion. Instinctually, he knew seeing Layna was the only thing that could help him. He blinked hard, trying to hold it together. Beth was there, and Josie, both of them staring at him like he was a stranger. Several people watched the scene from a distance. Lodge customers. The part of him that struggled to be sane again, hoped he didn’t cost his clan some business. He’d find a way to make it up to them.
    His body shook so hard with adrenaline, he wasn’t sure if he’d stay standing if not for Mason.
    “My