Untamed Hearts (BBW Biker Werewolf Romance) by Catherine Vale

backward with a half-strangled cry. Adrian had never been her idea of good looking, but now he was horrific.
    “How...how...what are you doing here?” She was still reeling from seeing the damage Gunner had done to Adrian’s face, and her voice was little more than a timid whisper.
    “Claire...you should know by now never to doubt what I say.” His voice was cold but his eyes were animated, almost dancing with some evil inner light. Claire knew that look. It was the look he’d get before he’d hit her. Only now, with his ruined face, he looked ten times scarier.
    “Adrian...”
    “Get out of here.” Gunner moved in front of her, somehow managing to look taller, shoulders broader, towering over Adrian.
    Adrian’s laugh was high and maniacal. “Like I’m going to listen to you, you animal. Get out of my way. I’m here for what’s mine. She is mine, you know. Not yours.”
    “She doesn’t belong to you. Or me. But I’m not going to let you hurt her.”
    For a split second, the men glared at each other. Then Adrian erupted with a growl, lunging across the room toward Gunner. Claire stumbled backward as Gunner shielded her with his body, easily sidestepping Adrian’s clumsy rush as he charged past them. The smaller man smashed into the kitchen table, spun around, and slammed into the counter. The empty wine bottle from the night before hit the floor with a crash, leaving a welter of shattered glass.
    In that instant, Gunner began to change, shifting into his animal form. She’d seen shifters change; hell, she changed herself. But with Gunner, it was a force of nature, strangely beautiful, mesmerizing. His shift was more like a magician’s illusion, and where Gunner had been, a huge black wolf now stood in the middle of the small cabin. 
    Adrian was crouched by the counter, breathing hard, lips pulled back over his teeth. He seemed just as shocked at the rapid transformation as Claire, although she didn’t think he was quite as taken with Gunner’s shift as she was. He looked enraged, angrier than she’d ever seen him.
    Gunner lunged at Adrian, nails gouging the hardwood floor. He hit Adrian low, just above the knees. The blow dropped Adrian to the floor, with Gunner scrambling to remain on top, pinning Adrian on his back. Even with his greater body weight, Gunner had difficulty controlling Adrian.
    Claire waited for Adrian to change. She expected him to and wondered why he didn’t, what he could be thinking. But he remained in his human form. He was crazy if he thought he could win a fight against a massive wolf who outweighed him, could out maneuver him, and could easily tear out his throat with one bite.
    Adrian’s hands were around Gunner’s throat, his fingers buried in the black fur. There was no way he could do any harm to Gunner, but Claire saw that he was able to keep Gunner’s snapping fangs away from his own throat.
    “Gunner! Look out! He’s...”
    Before she could even finish the words, Adrian pulled his knees up, planted his feet in Gunner’s midsection, and kicked hard. Gunner grunted, his back legs lifting, scrambling above the floor. That was all Adrian needed.
    Gunner lost his advantage, his front legs slipping. Adrian yelled, a terribly loud primal sound in the small space. He straightened his legs as far as he could against Gunner then rolled over, pushing Gunner away. Gunner landed heavily on his side, a deep growl tearing from his throat.
    Adrian was on his feet, heading toward Claire. She backed up, hitting the edge of the bed with her legs. Before she had a chance to catch her balance or even consider shifting, Adrian had an arm around her waist, pulling her toward the door. She kicked, pulling at his arm, scratching him with her nails, trying to hit his damaged nose. But his grip was like steel, and he lifted her feet off the floor as he moved toward the door.
    “Gunner!” Claire dug her nails into Adrian’s arm, straining to see over his shoulder. Gunner was on his feet,