by Jenny May
A sob broke through Georgina’s throat. “You can’t erase what me and my brother watched my mother go through.” Almost every other word was clipped. Nothing she did in her mind helped calm her reaction to her fate.
“What happened to her?” Austin’s hand lifted. When she flinched before contact, he froze. Georgina wiggled against Damien. She had to get down. To get away from these men who were already breaking down her resistance to them.
“Sit.” The voice didn’t ask. It demanded. And she couldn’t defy the command. No matter how much she wanted to. Something about that tone twisted her stomach until all she wanted to do was turn in his lap and press her lips against his.
A frustrated sigh came from her mouth. And it wasn’t just from not wanting to open up to them. Her body was becoming enflamed from the hardness she was leaning against. Georgina swallowed hard. “My mother completely shut down after my father died. There was nothing me or my brother could do to get her out of bed. She wouldn’t hardly eat or drink. We watched her waste away until she, herself, passed two months later.” Frustration coursed through her body. “What kind of love makes you turn your back on your own kids? We needed her, and she didn’t care enough to see that.”
The men in the room just looked at her. Endless emotions made Georgina try to stand again. Pressure gripped her hip and jerked down. As if she was a baby, Damien tucked his hand at the bend of her knees and pulled her to mold against his chest. “I can feel your pain, Georgie. Literally. And I have no answer to why your mother did that. All I can assume is that she loved your father very much.”
He picked her up and began to pace. “Some people are just stronger than others. I don’t see you doing anything like that if you ever had a child. You can’t just assume that because your mother was that way that everyone is.” He walked to Austin and she looked at his hurt face while Damien continued. “Don’t deny this gift because of what-ifs. Embrace it. You’re not going to lose who you are. That’s what you’re afraid of, isn’t it?”
Georgina couldn’t deny it. “Yes. I think it’s going to change who we all are.”
“But for the better,” Logan said, quietly. “I promise you that you won’t regret it.” He took a deep breath.” Damien, what’s the news on your house?”
“Bought it this morning. Cash. Already have the keys. Movers are getting everything in as we speak.”
“Good.” Logan put his hands in his pockets and worry clouded his features. “I was going to send you three to Iso. It’s a cabin we have to lock you all inside until the mating takes effect. But I’m not sure that would be a good idea with how upset Georgina is. The last thing I want to do is make her feel any more trapped than she already does.” He turned to her. “You will stay with Damien and Austin at his new house. You can still come to work every day, but you will not distance yourself. If I find out you have, I will send you three to isolation immediately.”
Heaviness settled in Georgina’s stomach. Her eyes lifted to Damien. “May I stand now?” A smile came to his face at her asking.
“You may.” He put her down and Georgina turned to her alpha. “I’d like to request the rest of the day off to gather my things from my apartment. I’ll have to speak with my manager about breaking my lease. I’m not stupid enough to believe I’ll ever be going back there.”
Logan nodded. “On one condition.” He narrowed his eyes. “If you try to leave or hide anywhere, I’ll lock you three together. I’m not playing around, Georgie. If you disobey my order to stay with Damien, and betray my kindness, it’ll be the last time.”
The threat sent shivers down her spine. She couldn’t deny the thought of disappearing had crossed her mind. Actually, it was the only thing she could think about. But Logan had laid down the law, and she had no choice but to follow them. Even if it went against everything she believed in.
“I’m not leaving anywhere.” She glanced to her soon-to-be mates. “They can even come with me if they want. I could probably use their help.” The words left a bitter taste in her mouth. Just because she could take orders, didn’t necessarily mean she had to like them. Not Logan’s anyway. But Damien’s…Well, those might be worth listening to.
Chapter 4
Austin looked over at his two mates. Damien now wore tight jeans and a gray T-shirt. He was currently helping Georgina take out the clothes from her closet, and Austin couldn’t take his eyes off of either one of them. The tub his female mate had given him was now filled with shoes. Or, more like boots, a pair of tennis shoes, and one set of high heels that he could have bet his life that she only wore on special occasions.
The small apartment she called home wasn’t much of a home at all. No pictures littered the walls. Most of her things were still in boxes piled in the corner of her room. He looked around puzzled. “How long have you lived here, Georgina?”
“Huh?” Blonde curls shadowed her face as she peered up from the pile of clothes she was placing on the floor. “Oh.” She stood, and took in the small bedroom. “A little over a year. Why?”
“Just curious.”
Realization came to her face at noticing the boxes. “I’ve moved around a lot since I left my parents at twenty. I couldn’t ever make this place my home. I’ve been saving up now for almost ten years to buy a house. Guess I don’t have to do that anymore.”
Damien looked over at Austin, and sadness came to his face. “I think you’ll like our place, Georgina. It’s true I’ve been looking since before I met either you or Austin, but I promise you, after we connected yesterday I had you in mind the most when I purchased the ranch.”
“Ranch?” Her mouth parted as she stared at him.
“Well, it’s not anywhere near as big as Dark Days, but it’s sixty acres. I’d say that’s pretty comfortable, I think. It was that, or a cute two-story house in a subdivision. I picked the ranch for you.”
Georgina’s eyes went big. Slowly, she looked over at Austin, and then back to Damien. “You bought a sixty-acre ranch…because of me?” Her hand came to her mouth and she sunk to the bed. “I can’t believe this. I don’t know what to say.”
Damien kneeled before her, wedging himself between her knees. Austin couldn’t help but notice her stiffen. She hadn’t really said much to them outside of telling them where everything was, and how she wanted it packed.
“Say you will embrace me and Austin as your mates. Tell me that you’ll give one hundred percent to making things work.”
Her gaze came up to his.
“Say it, Georgina.”
Heaviness came over her lids, and she bit her lower lip. “Tell me that again.”
A half grin came to his face. “Say it.” His arm wrapped around her waist. He pulled hard, and molded the top part of her body to his.
Georgina took a deep breath and glanced at Austin. He watched the battle play across her face as she brought her attention back to Damien. She wanted it. Austin knew she did, but her fear was obviously making it hard for her to let go of her past. “I will,” she whispered. “I’ll try my hardest to accept this. But it’s not going to come easy.”
“I doubt it will. But at least try. That’s all we want.” Damien stood and grabbed a large pile of her clothes. “Georgie, why don’t you go handle things with your manager. Austin and I will load everything up. I want to hurry up and get home. My stuff should already be delivered. Then, we can figure out where everything should go.”
She nodded and left the room. Austin grabbed the tub of shoes and followed Damien out. They were on the fourth trip when some unknown prickling against his neck had Austin rotating his head. What the hell was that? He slid the box in and began to head in the general direction of the courtyard that the apartment building surrounded. Austin turned in a circle as he scanned the doors. Damien was suddenly by his side.
“What is it?”
“I don’t know.” Austin began to walk to the middle. He turned and looked at the second floor of the area he’d been standing under. Red flags were flying every
where in his mind. Austin wasn’t sure why, but he started running in the direction of the stairs. He took three at a time and sprinted toward the middle of a row of apartments. The whole placed was shaped like a square. He stopped in front of a door and looked around, confused.
Needles stabbed into his skin. He turned back to the door. Damien slid up beside him. The redness on his mate’s neck made Austin’s eyes grow big. “You feel it too?” Austin traced his finger over the discoloration.
“I thought it was just me. Is this where you feel the pull?”
“Pull?” Austin glanced at the black metal door. “Yeah, I guess.”
The snap kick was so fast and hard that Austin wasn’t prepared. Wood cracked and Damien pushed through the entrance. What Austin saw had anger rushing through him like he’d never felt before. A man jumped up from Georgina and pulled her to stand in front of him. Austin’s beast immediately took over at the scent of the wolf holding their mate. Heat blazed behind his eyes, and he knew there was an illumination behind them.
“Let go of her.” Damien took a step forward, but the man tightened his grip, causing their mate to scream out. Blood ran from her nose, and her cheek was swollen.
A growl came from Austin. “If you don’t hand over our mate right now, I’m going to tear you to pieces. Do you hear me?”
“Good, then Georgie and I can die together.”
“Michael.” Georgina whimpered. “Please.”
“Never. You promised me.” He shook her hard. “You fucking said you’d never betray our pact. And you are.”
Austin began to circle around slowly. He was two seconds away from changing into his wolf and sinking his teeth in this piece of shit. What kind of man treated a woman like this?
Damien connected eyes with Austin, and continued to talk to the man. Anything to distract his attention from Austin getting closer. “Why don’t you tell me who you are and explain your deal with Georgina. Maybe I can help.”
His eyes wildly went to both of them, and Austin paused. “My sister’s not going with you two. We promised, no mates. Didn’t we, Georgie?” He looked down at her to emphasize his point, and Austin didn’t hesitate at seeing her fight for breath. The pressure of his boot snapped the guy’s knee to the side, breaking the bone. A cry came from his mouth and his hand immediately went to reach for the pain. Damien pulled Georgina to his arms. Sobs poured from her as her brother fell to the floor.
“Georgina!” He jerked forward to get to her and Austin grabbed his collar bone and slammed him to his back.
“If you ever touch our mate again, a broken knee with be the least of your problems. Stay the fuck away from her. Next time I’ll kill you. That’s a promise.”
Damien motioned for him. “Austin, take her to the apartment. I’m going to call Logan. He can deal with Michael, here.”
“No!” He rolled to his side and pushed himself to a sitting position. “You fucking promised you wouldn’t leave me alone. Georgina!”
Leaving this man almost felt like the wrong thing to do. He was clearly unstable, and Austin wasn’t sure it was a good idea turning his back on him. At all. Not just for today, but in the future, too.
Georgina rushed to his arms and Austin gave Michael one last look before heading for the stairs. His mate did not need to see this. As they approached the steps, she clutched to his shirt tightly. “I just wanted to tell him good-bye. I swear, he’s never done anything like that before. He just snapped.” She wiped the tears from her face and leaned heavily into his side. As they came into the apartment, Austin shut the door and had her sit at the table.
“Let me see your face.” He brushed back the hair from her forehead and took in the damage. “You got quite the knot there above your eye.” His fingers trailed over her cheek bone where it was dark with bruising. Georgina’s mouth parted and he paused. “I’m sorry. Am I hurting you? I’m just trying to make sure there’s nothing broken.”
“No, I’m fine. Really.”
Austin walked over and grabbed a paper towel, wetting it under the sink. While he cleaned the blood from under her nose, and the smear from her cheek, he couldn’t stop the conflicting feelings in his heart. One part of him was in awe of her beauty, and the other was heartbroken that she was going through the pain. By her own brother, no less.
After almost a half hour went by, Austin could feel himself getting antsy. Where was Damien? He knew he was probably up there with their alpha, but he hated that they were separated. The wolf in him wanted to head up there and check, but he couldn’t leave Georgina by herself, and he sure as hell wasn’t going to subject her to having to face her brother again. The best thing he could do was wait it out. Even if he couldn’t stand it.
* * * *
Damien looked down at Georgina’s brother’s bloody face. The guy just didn’t want to stop rushing for the door. He’d knocked him on his ass three times already, and still he tried to get back to his sister.
“You fucking ruined everything,” Michael yelled. “Did you see her? She’s already changing into someone else.”
“We are her mates,” Damien snapped. “She belongs with us.”
Michael shook his head violently. “No. You will kill her eventually. Better I do it first. At least she still has some of Georgina left in her.” He sprung forward again, hobbling on his leg, and Damien grabbed his throat and brought him back down. The grip he had was barely supplying the guy with any air.
He leaned forward and stared into Michael’s blue eyes. “I don’t think you understand. You threaten my mate one more time and I will end your life right now. She has not changed, nor will she ever. Get that through your head.”
“You weren’t kidding,” Logan said, shutting the door behind him and Ty. “So what’s going on?”
Damien let go of Michael’s neck and stood. Coughing filled the room. “Georgie’s pretty messed up. I think she came up here to say good-bye to her brother and he flipped out. Still is,” Damien said, looking down. “Keeps saying he’s going to kill her before we do. The guy needs help.” He shook his head against the anger pulsing through him. “I swear, Logan. I’m about two seconds away from eliminating any worries of him hurting my mate in the future.”
Logan’s mouth twisted. “No need for that. Michael, stand up.”
The guy stood and limped against his hurt leg. “Austin broke his knee. Just so you know.” Damien noticed their alpha’s eyebrows rise.
“That’ll heal in a few days.” He turned to look at Damien. “Well then, I guess his face is your handiwork?”
“Sure is. He kept trying to get out of the door to get back to Georgina. He’s lucky he’s still alive.”
Logan walked forward and grabbed Michael by the arm, dragging him to the couch. He tossed him down like a rag doll. “I think you and I are going to have problems, aren’t we?”
The guy didn’t say anything as he glared up at their leader.
“I asked you a question.” The scent of Logan’s wolf exploded through the room. Damien felt his stomach tighten against his own creature feeling the authority. Still, blue eyes just stared up at him. The guy clearly wasn’t home upstairs or else he wouldn’t have been able to hold Logan’s eye contact like he was.
Ty walked forward. “He’s not trustworthy enough to leave him on his own. I say we call in Chief and inform him of the situation. Let them stick his ass behind bars for a few days until he calms the hell down. Maybe he’ll come to his senses.”
The wolf inside Logan must have gotten even angrier because the air was so thick Damien could hardly breathe.
“I think you’re right. I’ll deal with him when he’s released. I’m not going to take one of my own pack disobeying my orders.” Logan lowered, and got in his face. “You better pray you see the light because if you don’t and any of these three are injured, it’ll be just me and you, buddy. I promise you that you don’t want that.”
Ty’s voice filled the background as he talked on the phone. Damien came up next to Logan. “I
’d like to go back down and check on Georg—” Weight crashed into Damien’s side and he grabbed Michael’s arms and jerked him up, pinning his wrist behind his back. “What the fuck did I tell you last time you came at me? Do you have a death wish?” Logan snatched him from Damien and flung him on the couch.
“Go ahead. We’ll stay here and watch over him. Get your mate home. You won’t have any worries about him for a few days. I’ll let you know when he gets out.”
Damien nodded and looked over at Michael. “I hope to hell you have a breakthrough behind bars. If not, I’ll be keeping my eye out for you.” He turned to leave when waves of energy rippled against his back. The wolf inside of him roared through his limbs and Damien held the creature at bay as he spun around.
The guy didn’t know who he was messing with. Damien’s blood was thick with alpha lineage. His father had been one. His older brother, Knox, was currently one. The power Damien possessed could easily warrant him the title if he truly wanted it. But leadership wasn’t in his path.
A howl went through the air just as Logan caught the fur on the back of Michael’s neck and Damien’s fingers clutched his wolf’s windpipe. Sharp teeth snapped in the direction of his hand. Damien looked at the wolf pinned between him and his alpha. “You have quick reflexes,” Damien said, smiling at Logan.
“So do you. But I can do something you can’t.”
Damien narrowed his eyes. “What’s that?”
Black took over Logan’s stare. A sense of supremacy like he’d never felt before sucked the air right from his lungs. Damien’s mouth opened at a strength that almost made him gag. Michael’s human body sagged in their grasp as he screamed out in agonizing pain.
“What the fuck did you do? Did you just force his change?”
“That, I did.” Logan blinked his eyes and they turned back to normal. “Perks of an alpha. If you ever decide you want to be one, come talk to me. A position is about to open up at The Big C, and we could really use another ally.”