Jessica’s Wolves
Wolf Masters – Book 3
Becca Jameson
Published 2012
ISBN: 978-1-93176-118-5
Published by Liquid Silver Books, imprint of Atlantic Bridge Publishing, 10509 Sedgegrass Dr, Indianapolis, Indiana 46235. Copyright © Published 2012, Becca Jameson. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.
Manufactured in the United States of America
Liquid Silver Books
http://LSbooks.com
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.
Blurb
Jessica Murphy has been living a lie. A childhood trauma has caused her to deny her true self, and she has no intention of ever revealing who she really is. As a first-year teacher making her way in life, the last thing she expects or desires is for two hunky men to walk into her school and insist she is their mate.
Charles Masters has been sowing his wild oats in Texas with his best friend, Reese Becker. When the two return home to Oregon for the holidays, they arrive with a young woman in tow who carries her own bundle of secrets. Caught between two females, Reese and Charles must juggle the woman they are destined to claim and the promises they've made to the desperate younger female wolf.
A complex web of secrecy and denial unfolds as Jessica accepts her mates … and herself. Will the mysterious past uniting Jessica to her new extended family prove to be more than she is willing to handle?
Acknowledgements
A special thanks to Vanessa North for beta reading for me in a pinch. And to my editor, Devin Govaere, for catching all the things that slipped by me!
Chapter 1
Jessica Murphy hugged her lined coat a little tighter and squeezed the sides of her hood together around her face. Wind whipped across her cheeks until they felt raw and tight. Leaning against the fence railing, she rested her chin on the rough wood and stared out across the acres of pasture presented like a photograph. White extended as far as she could see, unmarred by any human or animal prints after this morning’s dusting of snow that erased all the smudges and dents that had covered the several inches already in place. Through the small slit she left open for her eyes, the world narrowed until she could almost imagine she lived inside the picture-perfect rolling terrain. Nothing but her and the land.
Footsteps gingerly shuffled toward her from behind. She didn’t turn to look at the intruder. She didn’t need to.
“When are you going to tell them?” The gentle words were not accusatory or angry or worried or even frustrated. They were simply words. A question. One she didn’t know the answer to.
“Tell who what?” She still didn’t turn, but kept her gaze on the pasture, the pure white innocence of the snow sparkling as the sun peeked between the dense clouds. Large glorious flakes still landed all around her and on the fur lining of her hood. She wanted to stick out her tongue and grab a unique piece of fluff, but that would be childish, and this conversation should be a serious one. She needed to pull up her big-girl panties and act like an adult.
Justin didn’t say anything else. He didn’t need to justify her ridiculous counter-question with a response. He merely leaned against the fence alongside her. Glancing his way, she wondered if his gaze interpreted the same thing hers did. Did he too find the expanse of land as beautiful as she did? Did he, or anyone else for that matter, ever stare out at this field and let all of life’s responsibilities just fade into the background for however long one could hold them at bay?
Jessica cleared her throat and reluctantly turned to face her friend’s mate; well, one of them anyway. She was surprised Trevor wasn’t standing here also, doubling their efforts. “This wasn’t supposed to happen. I never meant to come out … ever.” She enunciated that last word so Justin would understand better.
He chuckled. “You say that as if you’re gay.”
“Ha ha. You know what I mean. I wanted to live a normal life. A regular, human, average existence.”
“I see.” His brow furrowed as he stared. “It wouldn’t have worked, you know. At least not for—ever.” He repeated her word. “You can’t deny who you are … what you are. What did you think you were going to do when you met your mate?”
“Ignore him and run for the hills.” Jessica half-chuckled. That had been her plan, actually. Precisely her plan. Until she’d witnessed what happened to her two best friends, her roommates, when they met their mates. Kara and then Lindsey had clearly experienced a sexual frenzy that was undeniable. Even though they were both humans and this world of wolf shifters was new to them, they’d both succumbed, unable to fight the inevitable pull of mates.
Jessica glanced behind her toward the house. It felt awkward standing out here talking to one of Kara’s mates like this.
“They know something’s up. You’ve been avoiding them. Acting kinda strange. They’ve both mentioned it.”
Jessica ducked her head. Lindsey and Kara had been her best friends for four and a half years, ever since they’d been assigned as roommates when they’d arrived at Oregon State University as freshmen. “I’ve been busy. They know that. I’m working.”
“Yes, but they also realize you never come out here to visit. They have to come to you. Jess, they don’t understand why. They’ve spent months pondering the possibilities: ‘Do you think she’s that uncomfortable with our lifestyle? Do you think she blames us for what happened in August?’” Justin enumerated the possibilities her friends had expressed in Kara’s sing-songy tone of voice, making Jess smile. He did a pretty good imitation. A chill went down her spine as she recalled being kidnapped by religious zealots at the end of the summer. Thank God she’d had a pack of wolves to rescue her, literally.
Her expression fell flat when he repeated the initial question. “Jess, they are your friends. You need to trust them. When are you going to tell them?”
Laughter erupted from the house, even though it was quite a distance from where the two stood. Jessica jerked her attention to the back door again, uncomfortable with the conversation and the circumstances. There was a baby shower going on, for heaven’s sake. Shouldn’t Justin be inside with his “wife” opening gifts instead of out here entertaining her wayward friend?
“Stop worrying about them. They know I’m out here. Hell, they sent me.”
Jessica jerked her gaze back to his. “What?” Embarrassment made her cheeks burn, though she doubted they could get any redder than they already were from the cold wind beating them.
“Hey, they were just hoping if they sent someone else, you might be willing to talk since you sure aren’t really confiding in them.” Justin threw his hands in the air.
Jessica exhaled, defeated. It was true. She was going to have to come clean. Soon. Later. Not now. “Look, this is just weird. Let’s go back inside.”
“Will you at least think about it?”
“Yes. Please, don’t tell them. I’ll figure something out.”
“You have to ask? Come on, Jess. There are only two people in that room who haven’t known you were lupine for the last seven months. You don’t think we can keep a secret?” He laid a hand over his heart in mock wounded gesture.
True. He had a point.
“Hey, join us for Christmas.”
“What? No. I couldn’t.”
“Why? You have other plans?” Justin narrow
ed his gaze. “Look, I don’t know what your secrets are, but I do know you don’t have any family, at least not family you are willing to acknowledge. I know you’ve spent every Christmas for the last four years at either Kara’s or Lindsey’s house. I’m just asking you to join a bigger group this year.”
Jessica tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Ever since she’d started growing out the thick brown locks in order to look more sophisticated as a teacher, she’d been in a constant battle with the new bob to keep it out of her eyes. She’d loved her shorter spiky hair for several years.
She wasn’t ready. She’d been ignoring her genes for so long now she couldn’t remember what it had been like to be a wolf. Not that she’d ever shifted. Females didn’t until they mated. But still…
Sensing her hesitation, Justin rambled on. “We’ll all be there. Even Charles is coming home.”
“Your brother? Where’s he been?”
“He went to Texas with his friend Reese Becker to ‘sow their wild oats.’”
Jessica laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“I can’t imagine why any of you would have to go somewhere else to sow wild oats. Isn’t that all you do around here?”
“Hardy har har. I have my theories about those two.”
“You think they’re gay?”
He laughed this time, loud and short. “Hell no. Not any more than I think you are. I think they share women.”
“And? There aren’t any around here? They needed to go to Texas to find women?” Jessica furrowed her brow. This family was so complex she couldn’t even begin to understand the dynamics. And why on earth would Charles need to hide that fact? Hell, both his older brothers shared women with other men.
“It’s tough.” Justin turned to stare out across the land and then lifted his gaze to the sky before inhaling a deep breath of the clean air. “I’m only speculating here, of course, but Trevor and I have known each other since we were kids and shared women almost as long.” He turned back to face her. “That’s a hard way to live. Society doesn’t accept it. Even our society finds it a bit unusual. Rare. Well, it was rare until recently.”
Jessica smiled. “I guess so.” Hell, first Justin and his best friend, Trevor, had claimed Kara, and then right on their heels, Justin’s brother Ryan had claimed Lindsey in a similar threesome with Alejandro. There must be something in the water around here.
Justin could surely sense her thoughts as she pondered all this. “Yeah, it’s rare among wolves, but not unheard of. Not sure how all three of us happened to enjoy that way of life. I think Charles was embarrassed. Maybe he didn’t want us to know. Or maybe he thought we would think he was a copycat or something.”
“How are you so sure? Just because he went to Texas with a friend doesn’t mean they’re having sex with every woman they meet.”
“I saw them together, once.” He scrunched his nose, chagrinned. “They were with a woman in the barn. They didn’t know I was there. I slipped back out unnoticed, but there was little doubt.”
“Oooh.” Jessica squeezed her eyes shut, imagining walking in on three people having sex. In the barn.
“Anyway, we should get back inside. Before they cut the cake and play pin the tail on the wolf pup.” Justin flashed a proud grin.
Jessica cringed. There was something just wrong about that.
With a glance back at the perfection of the gorgeous northwestern landscape, Jessica followed Justin back into the house. Right on his heels, she walked straight into the crazy world she was quickly coming to realize she was going to have to own up to.
Chapter 2
Jessica kneeled on the floor, one hand rubbing the little girl’s back, the other holding her hair while she vomited once again. Poor Miranda had obviously succumbed to the flu just like half of Jessica’s first grade class. Fortunately, her brother Jeremy had fallen victim before school had started this morning. He’d stayed home. Unfortunately, that meant his mother was at home also, with her hands very full, unable to come pick up Miranda.
It had been a coincidence Miranda had ended up in Jessica’s class. Nevertheless, Jess had a special bond with the child, who was also a shifter. Tessa, Miranda’s mother, was Justin and Ryan Masters’ sister.
As soon as the child had looked a little green, Jessica had phoned Tessa at home, but someone else was being sent to get the child. One of their many family members.
Jessica smiled. That family was huge. Surely someone would be along shortly. Luckily, the rest of the class was at recess in the gym, so Jessica had headed to the nurse’s office with Miranda.
Of course, no doubt next week she’d probably be sicker than a dog, but she couldn’t leave the little girl to suffer alone. It tore at her heartstrings.
Plus Jessica really liked Tessa. Neither of them had mentioned the huge elephant waltzing around them every time they’d met, but that had only been a handful of times so far. Meet the teacher night. A parent-teacher meeting. The baby shower for Kara last week. A few other times in passing at Kara’s house.
Miranda moaned and lifted her head, dragging Jessica from her musings.
“I know, baby. You don’t feel well.”
“Is my mommy coming to get me?” Her voice was barely above a squeak, which said something coming from the usually loud, exuberant youngster.
“No. But someone is. One of your uncles I think.”
“Uncle Charles?” Her little eyes were red and watery, but they lit up ever so slightly at the idea.
“Not sure, baby. Isn’t your Uncle Charles in Texas?” When did Justin say he was coming home?
“He got back last night,” she mumbled, closing her eyes and plopping her tiny self on the bathroom floor.
The child moaned and curled into a ball in the corner. Jess picked up her little frame and carried her back to the small cot in the nurse’s station. Thank God there was an attached bathroom.
She set her down, smoothed her hair out of her face, and then froze, her fingers still tangled in the mass of blonde curls, her gaze still glued to Miranda’s burning forehead.
Her spine stiffened. Confusion warred with her senses.
Even though she’d only heard stories about this experience and hadn’t ever once acknowledged the actual validity of the idea, there was no doubt someone was in the vicinity whose pheromones called to her.
No. No. That wasn’t precisely true. More than one alluring scent filled her nostrils.
Fuck.
This wasn’t supposed to happen. This was exactly what she’d been worried about. The very reason she’d vowed to stay away from shifters, live a human life. Not that there was any guarantee she’d not meet a human mate at some point, but surely she could have avoided him if she did. After all, the man wouldn’t really realize what was going on, and she’d be long gone before he did.
But the two scents assaulting her right this second were both wolves. Could she have avoided this moment if fate hadn’t matched both her roommates with local shifters, thrusting her into a world she’d denied for all these years?
She couldn’t move yet. Her gaze rose to the wall behind Miranda’s head. She untangled her fingers from the little girl’s hair but clenched her fists and held herself rigid for several seconds, afraid to turn around.
“Uncle Charles!” Miranda bolted to a sitting position, pushing Jessica out of the way.
Charles? Was it possible? Fuck. Again that inappropriate word popped into her mind right here in the elementary school.
“I don’t feel so well, Uncle Charles.” Miranda lay back down and curled onto her side, the action of sitting up so quickly having upset her stomach once again.
Jessica laid her hand on Miranda’s shoulder and slowly turned her gaze toward the door, where the only sound so far had been deep breaths.
When she finally swiveled around completely, she gasped. In the doorframe were two of the sexiest men she’d ever seen. And both of them had their gazes locked on her, neither acknowledging the child.
Jessica sucked in a breath, which was a mistake, and held it. The man on the left was taller, maybe six feet two. Clearly this was the prodigal son, Charles, because he looked so much like the other men she’d met from the family. Brown hair in need of a cut, a shade lighter than Justin’s and Ryan’s, the two older brothers. His deep brown gaze burrowed into her soul. He was rock solid and stood like a statue, rigidly holding his own breath.
Jessica’s gaze darted one foot to the right. The man squeezed partway into the doorway next to him was about an inch or two shorter, but no less stunning. Blond hair, cut shorter than his friend’s, stood at all angles as though he’d just run his hands through it. His eyes were the deepest blue she’d ever seen, like the ocean.
This friend of Charles, whose name she didn’t even know yet, gripped one of Charles’ arms at the biceps, his fingers turning white from the effort. Charles didn’t even seem to notice.
A long moan forced all of them to turn toward Miranda, just before she hurled for the third time in the last half hour, this time right on the floor beside the cot.
“Excuse me,” came a muffled voice from outside the room.
When Jess glanced back at the door, Charles and his friend had separated and entered the room, allowing the nurse to get through. The poor woman had been down the hall tending to a youngster who’d fallen in the cafeteria. Since she’d returned empty handed, a Band-Aid must have done the trick.
“Oh, you poor, poor child,” she sang in the sweetest voice, perfect for a school nurse. Without batting an eye, the woman grabbed a cloth, wiped Miranda’s face, and then got on her hands and knees to clean the mess on the floor.
“Uncle Charles? Will you take me home?”
Finally, Charles acknowledged Miranda. “Of course, munchkin. I just need to sign a few papers up front and we’ll be on our way.” That voice, deep and gravelly, made Jessica nearly faint. Oh my God.
Lust slammed into her like a freight train. As if it could get any worse than the last five minutes had been.
Jessica's Wolves (Wolf Masters, Book 3) Page 1