by Cecilia Lane
Jesse tightened his fists under the table. “Blood doesn’t make you a father,” he said in a low voice.
“Your mother would have wanted this.”
Jesse leaned forward and jammed two fingers against the table. “Don’t you dare talk to me about her,” he growled. “I wasn’t allowed to mourn her. Did you forget that? How you’d beat me for even asking about her?”
And now he was supposed to move on? Forget the past? Forget the broken bones and scars in order to give the old man a hug and an easy conscience?
Fuck that.
Nora reappeared at their table without a hint of red on her cheeks. Her eyes stayed glued to the rim of the pint glass, utterly oblivious to the tense moment she walked into. “Don’t spill, don’t spill,” she chanted to herself.
Holy fuck, she was adorable.
Just like that, Jesse could breathe again. The anger and hate inside him cut down to nothing.
His bear rocked back in awe.
“One beer,” she announced once it was on the table. She dabbed the corner of her apron on some liquid that had sloshed over the side as she set down the glass. “Anything else?”
His father cut in before he could answer. “We’re good for now. Thanks.”
Jesse tracked her through the noisy crowd. Could she really be…? Fate sure had a funny way of twisting a man around at the wrong moment. Or maybe she was dangled in front of him to keep him from committing murder.
He snapped his attention back to his father. “I don’t think I can give you what you want.”
The bawdy table tried to flag down Nora. She tried to dodge them, but another server blocked her in. On the other side, a family started to leave. Back rigid, she turned and walked past the rowdy bunch.
Quick as a snake, one reached out a hand and landed it on her ass.
Motherfucker.
Jesse was on his feet in a second, sending the drinks between him and his father tumbling to their sides. Elijah cursed and jumped back, but Jesse didn’t pay him any attention.
He chopped the wrist of the man grabbing Nora, then yanked him out of his seat by his collar. “Who the hell do you think you are?”
“Easy, man, I didn’t mean any harm,” the little weasel whined.
His bear roared through his head at the look of shame and embarrassment on Nora’s face. More excuses and proclamations of innocence dribbled out of the little asshole’s mouth. None of the words filtered through the demands of blood from his inner beast. She’d already been mistreated once that night. The second instance whipped rage through him, riding on the coattails of his own troubles.
Kenny, Hogshead’s owner, stalked out from behind the bar, fury clouding his expression. “He was warned what would happen if he laid a hand on my servers again,” he growled.
“Yeah?” Jesse cocked his head, turning a murderous glare on the man. His hand tightened around his throat. “And what did you tell him would happen?”
Next to him, Nora sucked in a breath.
“He’d go over the back of the deck and no one would see a damn thing.”
Jesse moved quickly, pushing the man in front of him. His feet scrabbled for purchase and he twisted, but he was just a human in a shifter’s grasp. Jesse shoved him through the doors onto the deck. He didn’t see any of the tables they collided into.
Without preamble, he tossed the man straight over the railing.
The band cut off the music as he turned. People gathered in the doorway to the deck, or outright stood and eyeballed him hard. He met the challenge in their gazes and snarled, “Anyone else want to lay a hand on an unwilling person tonight?”
Faces averted and the crowd melted away as fast as it formed. After a moment, the band picked back up.
But it was the woman standing to the side that held his attention.
Jesse’s bear shoved forward as he strode for Nora. He reached for her, palm tingling as he slid it against her cheek. “You okay?”
“You threw that guy over the deck! Not that it was a big fall. Basically the same as being tossed out the front door. Which no one has ever done for me, by the way, and I’ve worked in way seedier establishments.” She drew a shaky breath and smelled uneasy, but she didn’t seem close to another panic.
Jesse chuckled. Her quick words were like a balm on his unruly beast. “Good thing you’re here, then. We look after our own.”
“I will be okay,” she said in a much more regal tone. “Thank you. For yet another kindness.”
He liked that she kept score. It meant he took up just as much space in her head as she did in his.
“Oh!” Her eyes flew wide. She reached into her apron and drew out a napkin. “That man you were with? He asked if I’d give you this.”
Jesse glanced back to the table and found it empty. Good riddance.
He carefully plucked the napkin from her fingers. His father had scribbled a short message. If you change your mind, give me a call.
He balled up the napkin and stuffed it into his pocket.
“I have something for you, too. Wait here,” he said.
He returned a moment later with the book from his truck, glad no one had picked it up from his table in the commotion. “I think this belongs to you.”
Nora snatched the sketchbook and cradled it close to her chest. Her eyes widened as big as saucers. “Did you look at them?” she whisper-yelled. “Please tell me you didn’t. No, wait, don’t.” She clutched the sketchbook a little closer. “You know what, I’d rather not know. But did you? Don’t tell me.”
She’d forgotten it entirely the day before. And he hadn’t been able to leave behind the image of her cheeks going red or forget the smell of her fluster, the same that coiled around him at the moment.
“Yes. Sorry.” Jesse fought to keep the smile off his face. “I went looking for a name to return it to you, then got distracted. You’re good, you know.”
The first few pages were stiff, like she was getting her bearings before diving in. Quick doodles of Bearden’s buildings were her subjects. The firehouse and diner. The town square. He’d even recognized the bar of the barbecue joint.
Those slowly changed into animals. Line drawings and full on portraits. Shadows made by rubbing her finger in pencil. He could just about see the flick of a tail or the next step to be taken.
She liked drawing people, too, but they always looked captured in secret.
“I’m nothing special,” she denied.
Jesse itched to grab her hand. He settled for snagging her eyes with his own. “I don’t believe that for a second.”
Her cheeks flamed again, but the embarrassment in her scent was replaced with a slow smile.
“If you’re well enough to flirt, you’re well enough to work,” Kenny muttered in passing.
Nora snapped to attention. She dashed away, then spun back around and flashed Jesse another smile. “Back to work!” Another step away, then she turned back again. “Thank you for bringing this back.”
Jesse stared after her for a long moment before shaking himself free of the urge to trail after the strange little woman.
He spotted another familiar face at the bar. No sooner had he sidled up next to Trent than Nora put a fresh pint in front of him.
“It’s on the house.” She cast a shy smile at him, smelling pleased. “Thank you again, hero.”
“My pleasure.” Jesse touched fingers to an imaginary hat. He watched her slip back to work, then took a draw of his beer and turned to Trent. “I have an answer to your job offer.”
“Yeah,” he said. “I can see that.” Trent canted his head, eyes brightening slightly. “Good luck with all that. You’d have been a welcome addition to my pride. Give my regards to all the other hapless bastards on your side of the fence.”
Across the room, the gorgeous woman who smelled like the future flashed him a smile that filled his entire chest.
No, he wouldn’t be joining Trent’s pride. Not when he’d just met his mate.
Now he n
eeded to figure out how to keep her.
Chapter 6
“See you tomorrow, Kenny,” Nora called through the empty restaurant. Somewhere deep inside—probably locked behind his office door to avoid his hard-working employees—the man answered with a grunt.
Well, fine. She didn’t need him to be her best friend. But bidding her a good evening would have been nice.
Nora trudged out the back door of Hogshead with bags of trash in her hand. The parking lot was utterly empty save for the last few vehicles belonging to the employees closing down the restaurant. Eerie and expected, she pushed her unease to the back of her head.
Honestly, the night had been full of prickling feelings and churning sensations in her stomach. She chalked it up to dealing with that jerk and his slimy friends. Who hadn’t tipped at all after Head Jerkface was tossed over the deck.
Which was maybe a little understandable. But still! She deserved more than their initial five bucks for the two ass grabs. Momma was worth at least a ten.
Nora snorted at her own bad joke. But it was either that or feel bad for herself, and she’d already eaten enough of that pie, thank you very much.
Stupid, handsy jerks.
She tossed the trash bags into the dumpster with more force than necessary and stifled a yawn. Another day, another dollar, another minor meltdown. Even though her body was exhausted, her mind raced. Her wolf padded through her head, on edge after everything.
Jesse’s face swam up to the front of her thoughts and her wolf panted.
He’d defended her. And given her sketchbook back. After rifling through it, but that had an explanation. One that she accepted, even if it came at the cost of letting another pair of eyes look at her artwork.
He felt… big. Not just physically, because he wasn’t even there in front of her, but his presence in her head was large and fierce. His inner beast lurked behind his eyes and grabbed her wolf by the scruff.
But in a good way.
Nora let off a frustrated sound. She didn’t even know how to explain it to herself.
The man was handsome, filled her stomach with butterflies, and defended her against a creep. Any normal person and that would equal insta-love and a cheesy movie in the making.
Her? She was a shifter now. Like him. But he’d probably been born with a modicum of grace while she tripped over herself getting out of bed in the morning.
Jesse King, her hero, was about ten thousand miles out of her league.
Nora swayed as she took a handful of steps in the direction of home. At least her sheets were clean and she wouldn’t spend another night curled up on a bare mattress, cursing the day she ever brought a damn menu to Viho Valdana.
Sleeping pills. She hadn’t tried those yet. Maybe they’d knock her butt down and out for the count. A full night of sleep sounded like pure bliss.
Knowing her luck, she’d end up locked in fur while the pills worked through her system.
Her wolf howled and slammed into her. Nora balled her hands into fists to keep the animal from ripping out of her body. She didn’t want to lose control and spend another night on four paws and wake up exhausted all over again.
Then something like deep forest and fur twitched her nose.
Her blood ran cold as she slowly turned in the direction of the river. Shifter town, she told herself. Trees and mountains and shifters were all around. No need to panic over a scent in the night. Someone probably just wanted to go for a run.
Two wolves stepped out of the trees. Grey fur, both of them, with gold eyes focused on her.
Two more blocked her from running back inside.
A fifth wolf slunk out of the shadows. He was bigger than the others. Louder. A growl sawed out of him with every breath. His gold eyes locked on her face and kept her pinned in place.
Nora screamed in her head. She knew who he was even before his shape shimmered and retracted, leaving a naked man crouched on the gravel.
Viho Valdana pushed to his feet, eyes still glowing with his inner animal.
Nora’s entire body shook at the sight of him. Tall, packed with muscle. Dark hair hung around his tanned shoulders. More scars laced over his sides and chest since she last saw him.
Good, some tiny, brave part of her whispered.
“There’s my mate,” Viho rasped. “I’ve been looking for you.”
Run. She needed to run. Escape. Put miles and miles of distance between her and the monster of her nightmares.
Walls pressed in on her. Lungs frozen, Nora reached for her wolf.
Nothing.
Again.
The beast cowered down inside her. Nora didn’t blame her; she wanted to disappear into nothing, too. But right then, she needed more than the whining wolf in her middle urging her to take a shaky step backward.
“You shouldn’t have run. You should have stayed where I could keep you safe.” He took a step forward.
Safe? A whimper crawled out of her throat. He torched the idea of safety the night he grabbed her off the street and put his fangs in her skin. Even around his own people, she had no safety. She’d been locked in a room while wolves hunted them!
Jesse’s words rang hollow in her head. We take care of our own.
Viho shredded that idea, too.
He took another step toward her. “Do you know what you’ve done? To us both?”
Nothing, she wanted to scream. She’d done absolutely nothing while he’d been maker and monster in a flash.
“You should have been born strong. Instead, you’re this trembling little mouse.” Loathing singed his words.
She hated him. Despised him. Wanted him dead.
“This is your only chance. Take your place at my side or be hunted until you’re ripped to pieces.” He smirked. “And we both know that won’t be long.”
Hot, angry tears welled at the corners of her eyes. At Viho, for everything he’d done to her. At herself, because she couldn’t force herself to move. He terrified her into stillness.
“Take her.”
The wolves at his sides lunged.
This was it. Her brief struggle to figure out her new life was at an end. She had nothing but fur and hate ahead of her.
She watched the wolves barrel down on her and imagined their fangs sinking into her arms and legs.
Something broke inside her. Nora spun and ran.
She wouldn’t be caged again!
A harsh breath left her lungs.
Blood pounded in her ears.
Nora reached for her wolf again and again, wanting to shift and run on four legs. She’d be faster. Fangs and claws stood a chance against those nipping at her heels.
No sense of the beast remained in her head. She couldn’t even feel fur between her fingers. She was all alone against a pack of wolves wanting to eat her alive.
Nora jumped over the curb at the edge of the parking lot, stumbled and fell. Toes digging in for purchase, she scrambled back to her feet and shot off into the night, ignoring the burning scrapes on her hands and knees.
Howls sounded right behind her. Ragged breath of the wolves bathed her skin in sickening heat.
A loud roar pierced the night. Then a wolf yelped, whined, hit something with a hard crunch.
Nora didn’t even look over her shoulder. Whatever hurt that wolf could hurt her, too.
She threw herself down the banks of the river to the crashing sound of bodies and sharp cries of landed blows. Yelps and growls of wolves were met with more roars.
Then there was silence.
Nora shot a panicked look over her shoulder right before she skidded to a stop at the water’s edge. Her hands shook. Her wolf paced and whined.
But she listened.
There. A crack in the darkness, back near the restaurant.
The scuff of a paw against dirt.
Nora cast another look around. The river would cover her scent. Maybe. If all the movies were right. But she’d also be out in the open.
Too late. Maybe forty feet away, a big be
ar lumbered down to the water’s edge. He swung his head in her direction and slowly padded toward her.
Nora froze in place, eyes wide. Wounds dotted the beast, fur torn away and blood still flowing in some places. Glowing gold eyes watched her closely, but they held none of the sharp fury that marked the wolves.
They were kind.
The bear nudged her stomach and she tumbled to the ground. Nora slapped her hands over her mouth and nose to keep a scream from crawling out of her throat. Quiet. Quiet. She had to stay utterly silent. She didn’t want to provoke him and be dealt the same fate as the other wolves.
In her head, her wolf whined right along with her silent shrieks.
Warm breath ruffled her hair. She squeezed her eyes closed. A rough lick swiped up her cheeks, leaving an even bigger trail of wet than her tears.
She inhaled a shaky breath. Her body relaxed by an inch and let her sort through her senses.
Earthy. Cologne. Fur. She melted into the scent, her panic washing away.
Nora cracked her eyes open just in time to see the big bear shimmer. Muscle and bone cracked and popped and fur receded until a man crouched over her.
Jesse.
Naked Jesse.
She was utterly paralyzed as he scooped her into his thick, warm arms.
“I got you,” he murmured, holding her tight. “You’re safe.”
Safe. She didn’t know the meaning of the word anymore.
She pressed her face against his bare chest as darkness swallowed her whole.
Chapter 7
Jesse braced himself against his kitchen sink and glared murder out the window. Lavender and fur slowly filled up his den until he could hardly smell anything else. He listened closely to the steady breath of the woman curled up on his couch, but nothing had changed since he’d settled her against the cushions.
Fucking Viho. Scumbag. How he still lived, Jesse had no idea. Didn’t care, either. If he had his way, the bastard wouldn’t draw breath for much longer.
The asshole of a wolf wasn't welcome in the enclave. He and his Vagabonds had threatened Ethan, the clan, and the ranch before. They made their play and lost. Last Jesse had seen of the wolf, he'd turned tail and ran with the survivors of his failed war.