Wolfe's Mate

by Caryn Moya Block

  “I don’t understand why Pierre didn’t stop her,” Granger said.

  “Oh, Pierre is a nice guy and all …” one twin said.

  “But he’s not an Alpha,” the other twin said. “Esme could tell him to jump off a bridge, and he would probably do it without question.”

  The twins introduced themselves as Donny and Adam MacDonald. Both were blond with blue eyes. A slight difference in hair color was the only way to tell the two boys apart with Donny’s hair being a shade darker than Adam’s.

  “Besides,” they said in unison, “Pierre has a terrible crush on Esme.”

  “WHAT!” Jared roared. He would kill Pierre. He would rip him to shreds.

  “Easy, Alpha …” Granger gripped Jared’s arm.

  “Don’t worry, Esme is kind to Pierre, but she isn’t interested in him,” one of the twins, maybe Donny, said.

  “We could tell when they came out to Somerset for pack dinners,” Adam added.

  “Yeah, Pierre practically drooled, and Esme never paid him any attention.” Adam glanced back at Jared and Granger.

  “Eyes on the road, if you please,” Granger pointed out.

  Jared wanted to beat his head against a wall. Why did Esme run from him? Maybe Granger was right, and Esme needed to see for herself that her brother worked for those doctors.

  Esme, please answer me, mon coeur. I know you’re angry with me, but it hurts when you shut me out of your mind like this. Would she answer him? For the past twenty miles, she’d remained silent.

  If I were really your heart, you would have listened to me. I need to see for myself what’s going on with Norris.

  Of course, you are mon coeur. I was wrong not to listen. I tried to protect you. I need you, ma petit louve.

  Don’t ‘little wolf’ me. You think you can walk into my life and tell me what to do.

  No, Esme, I just want to protect you. I want to hold you in my arms and make love to you as we have dreamed. I want only what is best for you.

  What you think is best, you mean.

  I am used to thinking as an Alpha, not as a mate. I will try to listen, Esme. Please stop and wait for us. I will go mad if I have to stay in this tiny car with these twin louveteau.

  Twins? You mean Donny and Adam? Why are you with them?

  They were sent to protect you. I’m not sure who will protect them. They are children.

  Don’t underestimate them. They turned eighteen two months ago. Grigori, the English Alpha, trains them in physical endurance and hand-to-hand combat. He feels that helps them learn to control their wolf as well as their bodies. I wanted to be trained, too, but Norris wouldn’t permit it. I was allowed to go out and run with the pack only once a month.

  Yes, they mentioned that they knew you. Please, Esme. Stop and wait for us.

  Do you promise to let me go to Aberdeen?

  I will take you, mon coeur, now that I know how much it means to you.

  Fine. I’ll tell Pierre to stop in Luton. We’ll wait for you there.

  Jared opened his eyes.

  “She answered you that time?” Granger looked over, worried.

  “Yes, they’re going to stop in Luton and wait for us.”

  “Good, I’m getting hungry. We can stop and eat.”

  “We’ll be taking Esme to Aberdeen, and we have a long drive ahead of us.”

  “I didn’t pack a bag. You rushed us out of the house so quickly, I have nothing to wear.” Granger stared at Jared.

  “We’ll buy something once we get there.”

  “We can send your bag up by train, Mr. Wolfe. Just call when you arrive and let us know what hotel you’re staying at.” Donny flashed a smile.

  “You too, Granger, and a bag for Esme if she needs anything,” Adam added.

  “Thank you, boys. That would be most helpful. Remind me to give you money for petrol, and I will buy you lunch before you head back.” It was the least Jared could do after he’d ordered the boys to follow Esme. She didn’t know about the grieving that would take place if she and Jared got too far apart. The mating bond required that the linked couple be in close proximity or touch each other’s minds. Also, he didn’t want Esme out of his sight until he knew she was safe.

  §

  “I don’t think you should trust him, Mademoiselle Esme.”

  “Oh, Pierre, Jared is my mate. He would never harm me. Now, pull off at the rest area. I’m hungry. We can get something to eat while we wait for them to catch up with us.”

  How did Jared discover her missing so quickly? She’d been very careful not to let anything slip through the mating bond to alert him. She sighed. At least, he’d agreed to take her to Aberdeen. She got out of the car. Pierre hurried over and took her arm.

  “You don’t have to mate him. The Paris pack would give you asylum. They would never force you to accept this Québécois.” A scent like wild onions filled the air. Was Pierre jealous of Jared?

  “Pierre, Jared is my heartmate. I would never choose another over him.”

  “He’s an Alpha. He will control your life and tell you what to do. I would never do that. I would adore you and do anything you asked of me.”

  “Pierre, you’re very sweet. I’m sure that one day you’ll find your heartmate.”

  “I don’t want another. I want you, Esme.” Pierre suddenly grabbed her. His lips came down hard on hers, crushing them into her teeth. She tasted blood. She tried to pull away. He only tightened his grip. His fingers dug into her arms. If he’d been human, she could’ve broken free easily. But a male lycan was stronger and bigger than a female. Terror engulfed her. She struggled harder. She couldn’t breathe. This couldn’t be happening. She’d trusted Pierre.

  Suddenly, she jerked backward, out of Pierre’s embrace. She gasped, trying to fill her lungs. Nausea made her stomach roil. Pierre stood frozen in place, his eyes wide with terror. Jared turned Esme’s trembling body toward his. He rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip, and she gasped at the sting. “Breathe, mon coeur. I’ve got you.”

  “What do you want me to do with this one? I like this new trick of freezing someone in place Asena’s handmaiden shared with us,” Granger said as he glared at Pierre.

  Esme put her hand on Jared’s chest. He was being gentle with her, but rage churned under his skin, waiting to explode. “Send him back to Paris, Jared. I don’t want to see him ever again,” Esme said.

  Jared glanced from her to Pierre. Jared’s eyes grew cold as he looked at the man brazen enough to put his hands on her. “You’re lucky my mate is tender-hearted, Pierre. If I had my way, you’d be dead.”

  Fear washed over Esme. Jared wasn’t kidding. She could feel violence swirling in his system. Jared looked at Granger, and Esme knew Jared gave him telepathic instructions. Her teeth began chattering and her shaking increased.

  “Jared, you need to get her warm,” Granger said. “I’ll take care of Pierre. You take care of your mate.”

  Jared swore and lifted Esme into his arms. Unwilling to see the reaction bystanders were having to Jared carrying her around, Esme put her face against his chest. Tears came from her eyes, and she hated it—hated that she felt so weak, so confused.

  “Hush, ma petite amour. Your tears make me crazy. You are safe, mon coeur. I have you now. Everything will be all right.” Jared carried her to a picnic table and sat down with her in his arms.

  She wanted to believe him, wanted to let his tender care chase away her fears. Then, she remembered Jared’s rage and coldness when he said he wanted Pierre dead. Maybe Pierre was right. Maybe she wasn’t cut out to be an Alpha’s mate.

  “Don’t let your fears come between us, Esme. You know you are mine, as I am yours.”

  “I don’t know if I can do this, Jared. I’m not sure I can live this way. After Norris turned me into a lycan, bad things started happening. Being a lycan is scary.” You are scary.

  They both heard the thought ringing in Esme’s mind. Jared held her close. Never once did he hurt her.

  “I
can be very scary but never to you, ma petit amour. You are always safe in my care. I will never harm you. I would kill for you, and I would die for you. You are my life, my love. You are the reason life is worth living. Don’t let that idiot place fear in your heart. You know me. You live in my heart and in my soul. You touch my mind and see all my secrets. You know me as no one else ever will.”

  “Excuse me, is everything all right? Do you need some help?”

  Esme glanced up and noticed a police officer standing near. She wiped her face.

  “My fiancée is feeling ill,” Jared said. “We need to stop our trip for now and let her rest. Is there a hotel nearby?”

  “Yes, sir. Just down the road about three miles. The Premier Inn off Osborne road. Take 10A, Airport Way.”

  “Thank you, officer.”

  “Are you sure you’re all right, miss?”

  “Yes, officer. I’m fine. Thank you for your help.” Esme wiped her face again and smiled at the officer.

  “Not a problem, miss. I hope you’re feeling better right away.”

  Esme nodded. The police officer walked away.

  “You shouldn’t carry me around like that. You draw too much attention to yourself.”

  “I don’t care what anyone thinks. I’m going to take care of you.”

  “We should be getting out of here,” Granger said, striding up to the table. “Donny and Adam will escort Pierre to the train station and make sure he buys a ticket back to Paris.”

  “Go get us some food,” Jared said. “Then, we’ll go to the hotel the officer told us about.”

  “Hotel?” Granger asked. “I thought we were going to Aberdeen.”

  “The trip can wait a little while longer. Esme needs to eat and rest,” Jared explained.

  “I’m not sure I can eat now, Jared.” Esme’s stomach still felt queasy.

  “Granger can get you something for later. I need some time to hold you and know you’re safe.”

  Granger headed inside to buy food. Esme thought rest might be a good idea. She could use some time to recover. But who would keep her safe from Jared?

  §

  Jared slipped into the bedroom that adjoined the room where Esme lay sleeping. “She’s afraid of me now, afraid of what it means to be a lycan,” he told Granger. Jared wanted to hit something, preferably that idiot Pierre. “What was he thinking, attacking her? She’s heartmated. The fool must have known she’d never accept him. If we’d been at home, I would have killed him. He should die for laying his hands on her.”

  “Donny said the Paris pack is in trouble,” Granger said. “Its members haven’t been taught the laws of Asena. Pierre may actually have thought Esme could choose him.” Granger sat in the middle of a double bed, bags of food around him, as he scarfed down a sandwich.

  “How’s that possible? I will write to their Alpha and demand he take action. Pierre must be punished.”

  “When Esme said she never wanted to see him again, that was punishment enough. He cried when he got in the car to be driven away, begged me to let him tell her he was sorry. I almost felt bad for him.”

  “Sorry? It’s a crime to attack a female, punishable by death. Attacking an Alpha female is unheard of. The Paris pack should fear that I’ll declare a blood feud.”

  “Jared, I know you’re angry. I don’t think fighting a whole pack is the answer. Demand your pound of flesh if you must, but don’t endanger our whole pack by starting a blood feud. We can’t afford it, and from what Donny and Adam have said, attacking a sick pack will not satisfy your honor.”

  “Maybe not, but if I see Pierre near Esme again, I’ll kill him.”

  “Which is your right, and also the reason your mate now fears you. She was a human. She doesn’t know our laws or traditions. All she knows is her mate thinks of killing without a qualm.”

  “I’m an Alpha. Discipline and protection of my pack is my job, and sometimes that means removing a threat permanently.”

  “I know that, Jared. I also know you’re a fair man who would never take a life without extreme need. Esme doesn’t know that however. She hasn’t seen you as Alpha.”

  Jared ran his hand through his hair and looked at his friend. Soon, Jared would become more wolf than man. He wasn’t thinking clearly. “I can’t wait, Granger. I have to claim her. I’m becoming more and more aggressive. My wolf can’t handle waiting any longer. It wants to break free. The danger facing Esme is pushing me to the limit. When Pierre put his hands on her, I was almost undone. I don’t know how I stopped myself from ripping him apart. I wanted to sink my teeth into his throat and not let go until his body was cold.”

  “You kept yourself under control because Esme needs your tenderness more than your rage. Take her, claim her. I know you won’t hurt her. With you, she’ll be safe. I’ll watch your back. Just try to keep the sounds down, will you?”

  Jared nodded his head. Granger was a good friend. “When will our bags arrive?”

  “Someone from the English pack will call. They’re working on getting the bags on a train.”

  “I’m going to let Esme rest a while. I don’t want her thinking about Pierre’s attack when I make love to her.”

  “Here, eat something. You’ll need your strength. Something tells me Esme is going to wear you out. She may be afraid, but she is all Alpha.”

  Jared took the sandwich Granger handed him. Esme was definitely Alpha, his Alpha.

  Chapter Five

  Esme emerged from the darkness of sleep to feel warm lips kissing her stomach, then her breast. “Jared …” Her heartmate. She sighed and slipped her fingers through his silky hair, holding him close to her.

  His scent filled her nostrils, and she breathed deeply, wanting to take him into her body. He nuzzled her breast as his hands roamed down her stomach and skimmed closer to the dark curls that were quickly becoming moist with need.

  She loved the feel of his hands on her, his lips kissing her skin. His mouth found her nipple and licked around it before sucking it deep into his hot heat. Esme moaned.

  I need you, mon amour. Give yourself to me, Esme. Let me give you pleasure as I claim what is mine. His fingers skimmed over her moist heat and cupped her.

  I’m already yours, Jared. I have been from the first moment your thoughts touched mine. It was true being a lycan sometimes scared her. However, she knew Jared would never hurt her.

  His mouth continued to torment her as he pressed kisses first to one breast, then to the other. His fingers slipped between the folds guarding her sex and massaged gently. So many times they’d shared moments like this in their dreams. Why did she ever let Pierre make her doubt her feelings? Something wild and untamed rose within her. She wanted to lick and bite. She wanted to claim her mate. Jared was hers.

  She ran her fingers down his chest, lightly brushing his flesh with her nails. Jared quivered, and Esme felt emboldened. She leaned over and licked his skin, loving the taste of salt and man as it filled her mouth. Her fingers trailed through his chest hair and lower, following the line of hair that pointed to his growing manhood. She tested the skin of his shaft, so soft, and gripped him. He was hard underneath. His breath hissed out, and she feared she’d hurt him. She pulled her hand away. He captured it and put it back in place. “Don’t stop, mon coeur.”

  Feeling more confident, she continued to explore him. Reaching lower, she took his sac in hand, feeling the stones roll as she squeezed. Jared groaned and captured her lips again, licking and claiming her very breath. She gasped, her body on fire, even as her skin pebbled with goose bumps.

  §

  So good. Jared wanted to gobble her up. Esme responded to his every touch. His wolf rose to the surface as her scent changed, indicating her willingness to mate. Jared growled low, unable to stop the possessive needs of an Alpha. He grabbed Esme by the waist and flipped her onto her stomach before blanketing her and pressing kisses to her neck and shoulders. His wolf demanded that he take her. Jared pushed the wildness back, not wanting to scare hi
s mate. He reached between her legs, feeling the moisture. She was ready for him.

  “On your knees, love. Open for me.” Jared helped her lift up. He rubbed his hand over her buttocks before spreading her legs wider.

  Esme looked over her shoulder at him. Her eyes filled with trust and something else that sent a rush of warmth through his system. Jared reached for the mating bond with his telepathy, opening his mind to Esme as her thoughts flooded into him. His desire became hers, as her need became his. There was no hesitation in her thoughts. Esme wiggled her butt against him, signaling her readiness to continue.

  Jared’s control broke. He slammed into her, filling her completely. Gripping her hips, he feared he would leave marks on her. Esme moaned and pushed back, giving her consent to continue. He withdrew, then pushed deep, over and over. Esme quivered beneath him, meeting him thrust for thrust, her breath coming in quick pants. His canines lengthened as his wolf wanted to bite, to mark her as his.

  He leaned down and licked at the soft flesh where her neck met her shoulder. Esme gasped and tilted her head, giving him better access. He bit down, breaking the skin. Her blood trickled into his mouth. His tongue licked at the wound even as his teeth pinned her down. “I claim you as my heartmate. I take everything you are into my keeping, and give everything I am into yours.”

  Esme moaned. Desire built, licking at their skin. Their emotions, fires waiting to explode, were firmly entrenched in their partners’ minds. She was so close. He pushed his fingers between her folds, finding the nubbin of nerves hard with desire. He stroked her. Once, twice, and she exploded, crying out his name.

  A rush of ecstasy filled her and flowed into his mind, triggering his own rapture. His body tightened as he filled her with his essence. Mine. They flew into the ether, their souls mixing, becoming one. The mating bond, now the diameter of a rope—connecting them heart, mind and soul—glowed brightly, cemented into place. It was done, never to be broken. She was his, forever.