I’d dealt with plenty of lawbreakers in my time as a cop, but none of them ever looked at me the way grizzly-shifter Grayden Larchmont did.

He was trouble with a capital T—big, brooding, and infuriatingly handsome. I should’ve been focused on doing my job when I busted him brawling in that illegal fight club, but instead, all I could think about was the way his dark eyes seemed to see right through me.

Locking him up should’ve been simple. Grayden was reckless, stubborn, and clearly dangerous—not just to my career, but to my heart. The only thing more maddening than his smart mouth was the way he made me feel, like I was the only thing keeping him from breaking apart entirely.

But then everything changed.

Someone was gunning for me, and Grayden was suddenly all growl and protectiveness, stepping into the line of fire without a second thought. He called me his mate like it was the most natural thing in the world, and no matter how much I told myself I didn’t need his help, I couldn’t deny the way my heart raced every time he was near.

The real question was whether I could trust him to protect me—or if he’d destroy me in the process.