“Really?” Jacy butt in. “Then you’ve been seeing the wrong men, gorgeous.”
Rafe slammed his hands down on the table, silverware clattering around as he snarled across the table. Anger rising quickly inside him as he raged at his Beta. “If you don’t shut your mouth I’ll do it for you.”
Tasha reached over, her hand grasping one of his hands and squeezing. “He’s only joking, Rafe.”
“I don’t care,” Rafe ground out. “This is my mate. Do you understand? She is therefore your Alpha too. Show some respect.”
Jacy lowered his head for a brief moment before peeking up. “I apologize. I meant no disrespect.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong.” Ellie patted Jacy on the shoulder as she passed by, her withering stare making Rafe feel like an errant toddler. “Rafe, you and Tasha have to mate. The sooner the better, before you rip someone’s head off for daring to even glance in her direction. Jacy, as you damn well know, jokes . . . a lot. He didn’t mean anything by it.”
Glancing at Tasha he noticed her blush, the scarlet tinge glowing on her beautiful face as she inclined her head and waggled her eyebrows. He got the message, loud and clear.
“Mom,” Rafe started in a gruff voice. “Do you think you could . . .”
“Don’t even say it.” She shook her finger at him. “I’m waaaaay ahead of you, Son. I’m going to stay with Myrtle tonight so you two have the place to yourselves. In fact, I plan on sleeping there for some time.”
Rafe grinned then felt a hard pinch at his side, turning to see Tasha frowning and giving a quick nod toward Jacy. He frowned but she pinched him again so he relented, coughing to clear his throat first. “Jacy, sorry about that.”
“That’s okay,” Jacy said solemnly. “I didn’t mean to upset either of you and I know how strung out you’ve been, Rafe. I should know when to hold my tongue.”
“Nah.” Rafe shook his head. “It’s my fault. I just have a lot on my mind.”
“Have you called the dreaded Council yet?” Jacy asked in a mock-horror-film voice.
“I’ll do it after I’ve eaten,” Rafe replied slowly. “I’ve been putting it off. You know what Atherton blinking Denholm is like, he’s a pain in the ass, but we need them on this. So I’ll put up with his moaning and talking to me as if I were a five year old.”
Ellie laughed. “You act like one often enough.”
Tasha stifled a giggle as Jacy chuckled, in full agreement with his mom but being smart enough not to voice his thoughts.
“Can we eat?” Rafe said instead.
Jacy nodded enthusiastically. “At last! I’m starving.”
“You boys, there’s no keeping up with you.” Ellie shook her head, smiling indulgently.
The next hour passed quickly, Tasha at ease with his family. Jacy might not be blood but he was definitely Rafe’s brother so it meant a lot that they got on. They would be working together running the Pack once the threat had been dealt with and they could get back to some semblance of normality. His mom and Tasha seemed to hit it off well and that was another relief for him. She was all he had left since they’d lost his father, he would hate it if they didn’t get along. Didn’t look like that would be a problem though as he rose to leave them chattering at the table.
“I’ll be back as soon as I’ve spoken to the Council. Jacy, stay put in case I need to discuss anything with you.”
“Sure,” Jacy answered as he shoveled another piece of his mom’s lemon pie into his mouth.
Rafe wasn’t looking forward to the call but he’d get it over and done with and then at least he’d have a better idea of what their next steps would be.
Closing the office door he took a moment to look around, not quite feeling at home here yet. He still missed his dad and every time he came in here the loss hit him like a shovel to the face. After all, this had been his father’s domain and those were a huge pair of shoes to fill. He’d done his best since they’d lost him, even opening up a couple more businesses in the nearby town. One of which was a huge success.
Who woulda thought that a Shifter bar would go down so well in middle-America? Especially when most humans were shit-scared of anything supernatural, Wolves included. More than a few obviously liked to live “on the wild side” so to speak.
It had though and brought in much needed funds for the Pack, as well as employing almost two dozen. He thought his father would’ve been aghast at the idea but that didn’t stop Rafe. He’d do whatever it took to ensure the continued prosperity for his people. Anything at all.
“Get it over with,” he said aloud, knowing he was procrastinating. He sat on the corner of the huge antique wooden desk, picked up the phone and made the call.
“Are you all right?” Tasha jumped up as he returned to the kitchen. “You’ve been away for ages.”
Rafe checked the clock on the wall above the window. Over a damn hour that old fart Atherton had kept him on the line, going over and over everything. He’d barely managed to stop himself from cursing and hanging up.
“I’m fine.” Rafe reached out, cupping her face and rubbing his thumb over her lips. “Atherton made me tell him everything ten times over and even then he wanted to hear it all again.”
“Oh dear.” Tasha leaned into his touch as she spoke.
“So what’s happening?” Jacy asked and Rafe noticed that his mother was nowhere in sight. He guessed she must’ve gone to Myrtle’s already.
“He’ll be sending a team out to the Pack to deal with burying them and he’s also going to send his top Enforcer to help us.”
Rafe paused, waiting, and it was a mere second before Jacy whistled. “Do you mean Zohar? The almighty and powerful Zohar Drake is coming here?”
The sarcasm hung in the room as Rafe nodded. “Yes, he certainly is.”
“Fuck,” Jacy spat out. “Oh, sorry, Tasha but that guy is . . .”
“Intense is the word you’re looking for, buddy.” Rafe chuckled. “Wanna beer?”
“Hell yes.” Jacy nodded vigorously. “We’ll all need to be on top of our game with Zohar around.”
“Who’s Zohar?” Tasha asked as she went to the massive double door fridge, opened it and grabbed some beers.
“You didn’t need to do that, I would’ve gotten them.” Rafe told her as he sat back down at the head of the table, tossing a beer to Jacy and opening one for himself.
“No worries,” she smiled. “I’m used to getting . . .” she paused, her voice lowering to barely a whisper. “I mean I was used to getting them for my dad.”
“Sorry,” Rafe said up at her, reaching for her arm and pulling her onto his lap where he engulfed her within his embrace. Kissing the top of her head as she took several deep breaths.
“No, it’s all right,” she said quietly. “I sometimes forget, ya know?”
“Yes,” Rafe said somberly. “I remember doing the same when my dad died. It gets better, I promise.”
“Thanks.” She smiled sadly up at him. “Now tell me, who is this guy you’re talking about?”
Jacy snickered as Rafe inhaled, exhaled then started. “Zohar Drake is the Council’s top Enforcer. He deals with their worst cases and he’s rather . . . intense.”
“That’s one word for what he is,” Jacy sneered. “Downright cold, hard and cold. He’s a fucking machine. Pardon my French.”
“Don’t apologize.” Tasha shot Jacy a quick grin. “I can cuss along with the best so no need to worry on my account.”
“Anyway,” Rafe carried on. “Zohar will be meeting us tomorrow and then he’ll be living here until this has been dealt with.”
“Oh goody.” Jacy clapped his hands, his tone as sarcastic as Rafe had ever heard.
“I know, but he is the best and he has some unique abilities that we don’t.”
“Like what?” Tasha asked.
“He can transform quicker than anything I’ve ever seen,” Rafe shook his head. “Damnedest thing to watch but I’ve seen it. That can come in handy at times,
especially as his beast is huge.”
“Bigger than yours?” Tasha asked, wide eyed.
“Yes,” Rafe said, hating to admit it.
“Damn, he must be a freak,” Tasha said seriously.
Jacy chuckled. “I agree with you there, sister.”
Rafe noted how at ease she was in Jacy’s company. It actually made him happy now, his jealousy abating with their impending mating. It meant she wouldn’t be scared if he had to leave her in his Beta’s care.
“Anyway,” he carried on. “The Council is as shocked as we are at what’s happened and they’re sending out a ton of other Enforcers, some with magical abilities, to search the area. They’re hoping that we can find who is behind this and stop him repeating this grotesque extermination of a Pack from happening again.”
Jacy’s face was grim as he nodded, Tasha’s was a mixture of sadness, grief and anger.
Rafe understood. As Alpha, his feelings were a combination of all those too but at this moment anger was taking the lead. He couldn’t wait to dole out some justice for the Pack that had been destroyed.
After they’d finished discussing what Atherton Denholm had said, Jacy slid out of his chair, stretching. “I’m going to get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.”
“See you out front just before dawn,” Rafe reminds him.
“Yeah, I’ll be there.”
Jacy disappeared out the back door as Rafe turned to Tasha. She looked nervous and worried, nibbling her bottom lip and picking at the skin on one of her fingers. So much so that she drew blood. What the hell?
“Tasha, are you okay?” Rafe asked quietly.
Her eyes remained downcast, refusing to meet his. “Tash?”
Finally she raised hers and the conflict he saw staring back clenched his stomach tight. “What’s wrong?”
“Promise you won’t be mad at me?” she pleaded softly.
“I won’t be mad,” he assured her.
“Can we wait? You know . . . to seal our mating?” She looked so upset that her words took a moment to sink in.
Dang! Struggling to mask his disappointment and hoping he’d managed as he said, “Of course, baby, if that’s what you want.”
“I’m sorry,” she sobbed, her voice hitching as she fought to stop her tears from falling.
“Don’t.” He reached over, wiping a stray tear from her soft cheek.
“I know you said no earlier and I don’t want to argue, but . . .”
He held up a hand. “Oh shit, any sentence that starts that way usually ends up in an argument.”
“I’m going with you tomorrow.”
Her voice was firm, her eyes locked with Rafe’s as she waited on a reply. Fuck! The last thing on this earth he wanted was her being there tomorrow. Shoot, he couldn’t even imagine how it would affect her seeing her Pack like that.
Dead. Every last one of them murdered. It was the thing of damn nightmares and not something he wanted to subject his mate to.
“If you refuse I’ll go anyway, on my own.” Her chin jutted out defiantly but to Rafe she looked adorable.
“Rebellious much?” he asked, head tilting to the side as he stared hard at her.
Anyone in the Pack would have backed down, without a second’s thought. Not Tasha.
Her head lifted as she nodded. “My mom used to say that all the time. I don’t like just being told what to do. Not if I have an opinion on something. And this I definitely have my own opinion. I have to go, Rafe. I don’t have a choice.”
“Sure you do,” he answered, using his firm Alpha voice. “You can do as I ask and stay here, where you’ll be safe.”
“I’m not sure if you understand,” she implored. “First, it’s my Pack! I have to go. Second, I feel safer the nearer I am to you. I won’t stay here alone.”
Rafe couldn’t help the exasperated sigh that exploded from him as he pushed his chair back and started pacing. “Tasha, you wouldn’t be alone. You’d be here with my Pack and a dozen guards with one order: to keep you safe. I have no idea what we’ll be walking into tomorrow. What if there are rogues still there and they attack? I need to be able to fight without worrying about you being hurt, or worse. I almost lost you before. I couldn’t stand losing you, my mate. I just couldn’t.”
“Yet you expect me to sit here and wait for you?” she said hotly, her face flushed with anger. “While you go off and possibly face rogues? That is not happening, Rafe. Not in a million years. I am . . .”
He strode over quickly, grabbed her shoulders and lifted her up, cutting off her tirade. “You’re my mate and the thought of you being hurt is like a knife in my fucking guts.”
“Ditto!” she snarled back. The fire in her eyes bringing out sparks of silver in the pale grey that he hadn’t noticed before. Her clenched fists on his chest between them as her anger grew.
“Touché.” Rafe leaned down, his forehead on hers as he tried to control his breathing. “Okay, if I say you can come, will you promise to follow my orders? That’s what every other Wolf will be doing, Tasha. I am Alpha.”
He watched as her anger dimmed but her fire did not. He liked that. He needed a mate that was strong and could stand up to him when required. Even if that would piss him off.
Her nod was so faint that he almost missed it. Her voice reluctant as she agreed. “Fine.”
“Thank you,” he sighed as relief flooded through him. “You are too precious to me, Tasha. I can’t allow anything to happen to you, sweetheart.”
“I know,” she said, relaxing against his chest.
“I have to text Jacy to rearrange things for tomorrow.” He snatched his phone from his pocket, moving away. “If you’re coming with us then I’m taking the extra guards too.”
“I’m definitely coming,” she said firmly.
“I can’t change your mind?” He tried one last time.
“Nope,” she said, shaking her head.
Finishing his text he returned, his finger running down her cheek. “You’re going to keep me on my toes. Aren’t you?”
She smirked, shrugging. “Probably.”
“You need to listen to me tomorrow, stay close by and if I tell you to do something, baby, please don’t argue.”
“I’ll try my very best.” She made a cross over her heart before yawning. “I’m tired, can we go to bed?”
Rafe’s heart sped up. Could he have her close but not mate with her?
He’d have to. He refused to hurt her in any way and if she needed to wait for a day or so then he’d just have to man up. He would have to ask her something though. He’d wait until they were settled in his room first.
“Let’s go up,” he said instead, taking her hand and leading her upstairs.
“Rafe, in case you’re wondering, I don’t want to sleep alone. I just don’t want us to . . . you know. Not until I’ve buried my parents. It seems wrong somehow.”
Her emotion-filled words tore at his heart. He wished he could take her pain away but he knew he couldn’t. What he could do was respect her wishes and be there for her. No matter what.
“I understand and it’s all right.” He smiled down at her. “I’ll wait for you, baby.”
“Thank you,” she said softly as they walked along the hallway to his room.
Opening the door, he waved an arm around, showing her the room that would now be theirs. It was manly, nothing in it feminine at all, and he expected that to change. He was fine with that too. He didn’t care what his surroundings were. Only that each night his mate lay beside him. That was the most important thing of all.
“I know you’ll want to change it and that’s all right. I don’t give a hoot about any of that. All I care about is that we’re together.”
His voice had dropped, his feelings overcoming him as Tasha walked around. She looked over and gave him a smile that would be imprinted on his brain. Her eyes twinkling with mischief.
“You might regret saying that,” she quipped. “What if I want pink walls and ruffles
everywhere?”
Rafe winced. Pink walls? Shit, he hoped not.
“Emm, that’s fine with me,” he replied bravely.
Tasha spun around, her arms wide, singing. “Liar, liar, pants on fire.”
Laughter filled the room as he let rip, unable to hold it in. Tasha stopped spinning, giggling along with him until tears ran down her cheeks and she held her sides. She flopped onto the bed where her laughter finally died down.
“I’m not a ‘frilly’ type of gal, so you’ve no worries on that score.”
“Thank fu . . .” He stopped. “Sorry, you know what I mean though.”
“Will you stop that?” Tasha sat up, frowning. “You can cuss if you want. It doesn’t offend me. Let’s be honest . . . sometimes fuck is the only word that works . . . right?”
He couldn’t help but laugh, chuckling as he nodded in agreement. “Yeah.”
She got off the bed, looking around and looking embarrassed. “I don’t have much with me. I just grabbed a few things when I ran so I don’t even have anything to wear to bed.”
“No problem.” He walked into his huge wardrobe, fumbling around in a drawer and coming out with one of his t-shirts. “This should do you for now, until we can get your things from home. There’s also spare toothbrushes in the bathroom cabinet. Help yourself to anything you need.”
“Thanks.” She took the substitute nightwear and headed into the bathroom, closing the door.
Running a hand through his hair, Rafe knew he’d have to talk to her when she returned. He had to. There was no dodging what he needed to say. He only hoped she didn’t freak out and refuse. That would not be good for him, or his beast. His Wolf had been prowling around in his head since they’d first found her. Its desperation to make her their mate was all-consuming and he was finding it difficult to control it. He hoped the compromise he’d come up with would settle it down, for now.
That would only work if Tasha agreed though.
He undressed then went in search of a pair of pajama bottoms. He doubted he’d find any. It wasn’t as if he wore anything to bed but he didn’t think Tasha would be too happy if he jumped in au-naturale so he snagged an old pair of sweat pants and used those instead.
A Ravenous Pack: Wolf's Hunger 5 Books Page 7