by V. Vaughn
I decide to pursue the running option anyway and ask, “Are there a lot of you in this town?”
“Hundreds. My clan is one of four that make up the Northeast Kingdom.”
Time for another plan. I’d be tracked and found within minutes. I’m not sure why I offer it, but I say, “My mother went to the University of Maine.”
“She probably met your father here.”
All I know about my sperm donor is that my mother said he wasn’t cut out to be a parent and that’s why he was never part of my life. While I’m not convinced he’s a werebear, I’m curious about what kind of man he is. I recall that Jax said in the past his clan didn’t let humans and werebear be together, and I ask, “Is there still a lot of prejudice against humans in your clan?”
“There’s some. But since our alpha was a half like you, it’s not tolerated these days.”
Maybe I will be spared if she believes I’m a half. I ask, “Is there some kind of test to find out if I really am half werebear?”
“You already passed it, Sasha. Being my true mate was your test.”
I scowl. “How do I know for sure?”
Jax reaches over to take my hand, and a warm buzz travels through my arm as he says, “This is your proof. I know you never felt our connection before you met me. Believe it.”
I tug my hand away. No. Acid burns in my stomach. I can’t be the thing I’m trained to kill. I can’t be. I wrap my free arm around myself as my ears burn with the shame of being something so vulgar. A creature that-- I glance over at Jax and notice the line of his jaw in the faint dashboard light. The truth is he’s far from repulsive. One would never know by looking at him that he can shift into a bear. And the way he kisses... My lips tingle with the memory, and they burn with heat when I reach up to touch them with my fingers. I tuck my legs up as I try to curl into a ball. How can someone who is supposed to be evil make me feel so good?
The car slows, and we turn onto a road that leads up a hill. Majestic trees line a driveway, and the entrance is lit up by tall lampposts. It’s so long that if not for the huge mansion laid out for us in the glare of spotlights, it could be a road. The ominous appearance chases my distress away as fear seeps into its place. The house appears to be Victorian style, and the car tires crunch over loose stones as we pull up into the U-shaped drive in front of the building.
Jax cuts the engine and turns to me. “It’s all going to work out, Sasha. I wish I could make you believe that.”
I nod and focus on controlling my breathing in an effort to stay calm when Jax opens his door. He walks around to my side to let me out. While Jax removes the restraint from my wrist and takes my hand to help me stand he says, “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
I’m not sure if I believe him because his words ring true, or if it’s because I need to. Jax is still holding my hand, and I thread my fingers through his as we walk. I say, “Thanks.”
We’re welcomed at the door by a tall, older man in a dark suit jacket. Jax says, “Hi, Thomas. Tori should be expecting us.”
“She is.” He offers me a smile that appears to be genuine, so I go with it and smile back. He says, “Right this way.”
The dark hardwood floor shimmers in the soft yellow light from a large, spectacular chandelier that makes my mouth drop open, and my boots thud on the floor as Jax’s sneakers tread softly down the hall. I imagine this is the kind of home where someone will scurry after us with a broom to sweep up the chunks of mud I must be leaving behind. We’re led to a room that reminds me of a traditional study, and a tall girl approaches us. She’s about our age and dressed in nice slacks with a purple silk blouse.
She embraces Jax quickly as she says, “So good to see you again, Jax.”
“You too, Tori. You look fabulous.”
Tori turns her attention to me, and I gaze into her vibrant green eyes that I’m beginning to realize must be a werebear trait. Whoa. I’m reminded of my own eyes that are a toned-down version of the same shade. She says, “Sasha,” as if it’s an order and not a greeting.
I take her hand and exchange a firm shake as if I’m not afraid, and I say, “Hi. Nice to meet you, Mrs. Veilleux.”
Tori says, “You can call me Tori. Let’s sit. Can I get either of you something to drink?”
I shake my head, but Jax says, “Two waters would be nice.”
Jax and I sit on a leather sofa across from the overstuffed chair where Tori places herself. She says, “Keith is up with the children, but he’ll be down shortly.”
An older woman appears out of nowhere to hand me a glass, and ice rattles as I take it from her. “Thank you,” I say.
Jax says to me, “I’ve told Tori most of what I know.”
I imagine he called her when I was asleep, and I gaze at the young girl who is the alpha of a clan as I wonder how she became the leader. She says, “Jax says you’re part of a group that hunts werebear. Tell me about them.”
I clear my throat and say, “The Eradicators are a group of concerned individuals whose sole purpose is to keep the human race safe from werebear by doing whatever is necessary.”
“That sounds like a mission statement,” says Tori. “Did you memorize it?”
A flush rises to my cheeks because I did when I was twelve years old. I shrug. “That’s what we do.”
“So you kill werebear.” Tori’s gaze is so intense I feel naked, and I no longer wonder how she can be a leader.
My cowardly streak comes forward, and I say, “The group does. I’ve never killed anyone.”
Tori scans me with her gaze before she asks, “Why not?”
“I’m on my first assignment.” I flash to the image of Jared in my scope. All I had to do was pull the trigger, and I would have shot him in the head. But I didn’t. And now Rand is dead because of it.
Jax says, “Since she didn’t kill anyone, there shouldn’t be a reason to punish her.”
Tori ignores Jax and asks, “What do you want tonight’s outcome to be, Sasha?”
“I want you to let me go so I can return home.” Jax stiffens next to me, and Tori’s gaze darts to him before it returns to me.
She says, “I can’t let you do that yet. Explain to me how the Eradicators work.”
While I want to be let go, I’m not about to give up secrets, so I decide to give her the broad strokes of our organization. “We’re based in the mountains of Pennsylvania. When we get reports of werebear, a team is sent to take care of them.” What I don’t tell her is that there’s a network of groups like ours that fly under the radar to protect the human population that is too foolish to do it for themselves. When people hear what we do, they think we’re like a crazy cult that chases fictitious beings. I was chosen as a young girl to protect them anyway.
Tori’s voice cuts through me as she says, “Courtney was human when your partner tried to kill her. Sounds like you could use better intel.”
I prickle at her words and blink to hide my anger, because while Courtney wasn’t our target, she became one for saving Jared. I assumed it was because she was a werebear, but now that I think about it, there was nothing graceful about her takedown. She didn’t have the speed of a werebear, and Rand was seasoned enough to know it. He went to kill someone he knew was human. Ice runs through my veins as I protect my mentor. “I’m sure she gave Rand a good reason.”
Tori nods once and asks, “If I let you go, would you go back to the Eradicators?”
That’s the only place I can go. My family moved to the compound when I was chosen to be an assassin at the age of twelve--it’s all I know how to do. “I have nowhere else to go.”
She looks at Jax. “She’s not leaving. Because Sasha is your true mate you have the option of changing her, or we’ll deal with her as we would any other hunter.”
I gasp and glance at Jax. He reaches for my hand as he says to Tori, “Understood.”
Bile rises in my throat as the heat of his touch does little to warm my chilled fingers. How do I choose between becoming the
enemy or death?
4
After Tori made her decision about me I was led upstairs to a guest bedroom where a hot bath and clean clothes are waiting, and Jax stayed with Tori. I glance around a room with ornate furnishings. Everything is oversized, and I gawk at the bedposts that are the thickness of my thigh. Even the mattress is higher than usual, and I guess it’s to account for the larger stature of werebear. Since I’m just over six feet tall, it will be nice for me too.
The sound of water rushing draws me to the bathroom, where a tub is almost full. Steam curls up from the bath as I peel off my dirty clothes. The old-fashioned handles squeak when I turn them off, and I sigh as I sink into the hot water. I lean back and let the warmth travel to my bones as I contemplate my situation. The only way to stay alive is to change into a werebear and spend the rest of my life in love with Jax. If my family found out, I’d be hunted too. There’s got to be another way.
Since Tori didn’t say when Jax has to bite me, I’ve got time and plan to make it last. Maybe I can escape after all. What I need is a public place where I can steal a cell phone and make a call. People will start to look for me if they don’t hear from me soon, and they’re bound to find the camp where we-- I left our things. Rand. My throat gets thick as I recall how I let him down. Tears I can’t hold back begin to fall when I think about how disappointed he was when I couldn’t make the kill. He told me I’d failed and that it would cost me dearly. And then he ordered me to stay behind so that he could get our mission accomplished without me messing things up.
I grab the washcloth set on a small shelf and soak it with water before I massage it on a bar of soap. A light floral scent surrounds me, and I attack my dirty limbs with vengeance. By the time I’m done, my skin is rubbed raw, but I can’t wash away the shame of my failure as an assassin. If I had just pulled the damn trigger I never would have ended up in this mess. And Rand wouldn’t be dead. A fresh sob escapes, and I try to muffle my cries with the washcloth. Crying is a weakness I haven’t allowed myself in years, but I can’t help it. I have no idea how thin the walls are, and I’m afraid someone will hear me. The last thing I want is sympathy.
When I pull myself together I get out of the tub and dry off. An array of toiletries is set out on a white marble counter, and the cap of a deodorant container pops when I remove it. I gaze at my reflection in the mirror as if I can see the bear that resides in me. But since I can’t see it in Jax, I don’t expect to find any signs.
Once I’m dressed and combing out my hair a gentle knock raps on my door. Jax asks, “Sasha, can I come in?”
His voice makes me frown, but when I open the door I long to throw myself into his arms for comfort. I wrap my arms around myself. “Come on in.”
The door snicks shut softly behind him, and he asks, “Are you okay?”
I shrug because my red-rimmed eyes and blotchy face make it clear I was crying. “I’ve had better days.”
Jax steps forward and rubs my arms. “I bet.”
His touch draws me in, and I grab on to him in an embrace. His cotton tee is soft on my cheek as I inhale his scent. It makes my heart hurt a little less. I gaze at our feet as I say, “Rand was like a brother to me, and it’s my fault he’s dead.”
“Oh, Sasha.” Jax tilts my chin up with his finger. “Don’t do that to yourself. I’m sorry for you that he’s dead, but I’m not sorry that my brother is still alive. You have to believe all of this happened for a reason.”
Tears burn in my eyes, and I drop my gaze, because if Jax is right, then Rand died so I could find out I’m a werebear. Or even worse, so I could find my true mate. I shudder at the idea I’m supposed to be bonded to Jax for life. I’ve got to find a way to escape. Jax squeezes me tighter and says, “We need to talk.”
I guess it’s about when he’ll bite me, and I step back and move into the bedroom to sit on the bed cross-legged. “Okay. Talk.”
Jax mimics my position across from me. He says, “I meant it earlier when I said I want you to beg for me to bite you.” He grins. “Maybe beg is too strong a word, but I need you to want it.”
“And what if I never do?”
“You will. Our connection is not something that can be denied, and I’m prepared to wait.”
This is good news for my escape plan. I ask, “But will Tori? How much time do we have?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll stall her as long as I can.”
He reaches over for my hands, and I grab on. His grip is like a lifeline for me, and I have a sudden urge to kiss him. It’s stupid, but I convince myself it’s part of my plan to make Jax trust me. I get up on my knees, and the muscles in his thighs are hard under my hands as I brace myself on them to lean in. Jax moans in my mouth when we connect, and he lies back on the bed as he wraps his arms around my body to pull me with him.
I can’t seem to taste enough, and I break away from his lips to move down his neck. His skin is hot under my mouth, and he shudders when I move up toward his ear. Jax whispers, “Sasha.” The gravelly sound of his voice saying my name pushes my desire further to my core, and I shove his shirt up so I can move to his bare chest.
A dusting of hair covers his pectoral muscles, and the soft down tickles my lips as I move toward his stomach. His abdominals quiver beneath my touch, and I know I want to taste his essence in a way I’ve never wanted with anyone else. It’s beyond a craving, it’s a need, and I’m rough when I yank his jeans open.
He says, “Oh god. Are you--”
“Shut up,” I bark out as I reach into his underwear and grip his cock hard. It’s huge in my hand, and I moan as I lean down to swipe my tongue over the moist tip. He bucks his hips up and shoves his jeans down further for me. A tiny part of me is horrified that I’m going down willingly on a man who is supposed to be the enemy. But everything about this feels right, and I’m not about to stop.
I take Jax far back in my throat and revel in the way he comes undone underneath me. A low rumble that must be a werebear thing vibrates through his chest as he guides my head at the speed he wants. His body tenses as his climax builds, and before he’s about to explode he pushes at me. “I’m so close.”
I lift up and smile as I say, “Good,” before I suck in as much of him as I can.
Jax jerks beneath me at a frantic pace before hot seed squirts down my throat. I swallow around him as he shatters with a roar. I sit back and shake my head. “Just like a guy to make sure everyone knows you’re getting some.”
He sighs. “Oh babe, werebear aren’t modest. Once I catch my breath I’ll make sure everyone knows you are too.”
With energy that surprises me Jax sits up and grabs me by the arms to flip me down onto my back. The mattress bounces beneath me as he hovers over me. I gaze at the hottest man I’ve ever seen. I’m not sure I want this forever, but it’s definitely working for right now. The hem of my T-shirt is soft in my hand as I lift it up to take off my top. I didn’t bother to put on a bra after my bath, and the sigh I get from Jax when I reveal that fact makes me glad I didn’t.
“Nice,” he whispers as he cups his hand around my breast to lap at my nipple. It hardens to a nub quickly, and he suckles me as I begin to moan. Jax gazes up at me, and his hair is silky in my fingers when I thread them through his locks.
Jax moves his hands to the waistband of my sweatpants and lifts up to gaze down at me. “May I?” he asks.
I lift my bottom off the bed to assist him as I say, “God, yes.”
Now I’m the one whose stomach is quivering as he slides my pants down. He tosses them over his shoulder, and they thump lightly on the floor as he begins to rumble in what I think is a bear version of a purr. Jax’s eyes flutter shut as he inhales deeply. “Your scent has been making me crazy all day.” His hands are warm on my thighs as he spreads my legs and sighs. “Finally.”
I jerk when he slides a finger over my slippery folds and says, “I believe you want more.”
I open my legs further to invite his touch, and when he chuckles I whim
per. “You’re mean.” He lowers his mouth toward my sex but doesn’t taste me. Instead his hot breath teases me, and I’m ready to beg. “Jax, please.”
“I thought you’d never ask,” he says before he begins to lap at me. It doesn’t take long for me to rock my hips as he gives me pleasure beyond anything I’ve ever had. And when my orgasm crashes through me, I’m sure the other occupants of the house know what I’m feeling too.
Jax slides his hands over my body as I tremble with my let-down, and he makes his way up to lie next to me. I turn to face him and stroke his lips with my finger. “I want you inside me, Jax.”
He grabs my hand and pulls it away gently as he says, “No. I know what just happened was because you needed physical comfort, and I was happy to oblige. But when we come together for the first time, it needs to be more.”
His denial stings, and my voice is harsh when I ask, “Werebear have a sense of honor?”
Jax sits up and scowls at me before he climbs off the bed to grab his jeans. Fabric rasps against his legs as he tugs them on and says, “I suggest you find a way to get past the hate, babe. I’m the only one keeping you alive.”
I don’t speak as a flush rises to my cheeks, and when he leaves, the door slams. I surprise myself with the ache in my heart because I upset Jax. Holy shit. I care.
5
I spend a good portion of my night tossing and turning as my emotions range from guilt and shame to desire and compassion for Jax. I manage to get a few hours of rest before Jax knocks on my door again. Thick carpet is soft under my feet as I make my way across the room to let him in.
His eyes are bright, and his face is clean-shaven, and my body reacts with wanting before my mind can tell it to shut up. I step back to place a barrier of space between us as he says, “Get dressed. I’m going to take you out to breakfast and drive you around my town.”