“She’s on her way.” River leaned her head against her mate’s shoulder and Tahl could feel them communicate. Fated mates did that, or so the old tales went, and he envied their connection.
“You still haven’t given up, Tahl,” his Alpha said, a commiserating look softening his eyes. Eyes the same color as his sister’s, though without that distant, cold look.
“On a time clock now, Jett.” He didn’t know how the months had slipped by, in truth. He came back home, settled in, and took notice of Desiree—who blithely didn’t notice him. For months and months no matter what he did.
“You know how I feel about—” River bit her lip at Jett’s sideways glance. “Okay, but I think Tahl should tread carefully.”
Jett tugged her long, blonde hair. “You can’t dismiss our customs, sweetheart. Female shifters get claimed, and for the most part, it all works out well in the end. Like it did for us, even if it was … rushed.”
River blushed and muttered something about him being lucky, and Tahl decided it was time to change the subject. At least as far as he could change it without losing sight of his objective. “I’d like to have some time alone with Desiree. When she arrives. I want to follow up on a conversation I had with her this morning.”
“We can make that work.” Jett easily overrode his mate’s faint protest. “River, best check on Andrew and Bella. They’re pretty quiet. And the nanny isn’t back yet.”
“I’m sure I hear them playing nicely.” River hustled away, an anxious expression on her pretty face.
“They’re playing with building blocks, not dismantling anything or otherwise getting into trouble. And the pool’s locked, though Andrew will likely be able to circumvent that obstacle any day now,” Jett said, his gaze intently following his mate. He turned to face Tahl with a wry smile. “My hearing’s better than hers. Now, what’s your plan?”
Tahl had heard the little ones playing as well, kept their sounds within easy access despite his distraction with Desiree. Pups were a treasure, and any adult shifter watched out for them. “I don’t have a plan.” He didn’t. He’d come home, hung around, made himself available, given her space and stayed celibate so she couldn’t misconstrue his singular interest—to no avail.
It was time he told her what was in his heart. Surely she would listen to him. He’d grovel if need be. Appeal to her somehow. The only thing he couldn’t share was what transpired at Dawnfall. “Get us in a room together, alone, and I’ll figure it out.”
“I’ll do you one better.” His Alpha tossed him a key. “The cabin up north is standing empty. Take my sister up there for however long it takes.”
“I believe that’s called kidnapping.”
“For fuck’s sake, Tahl. She’s miserable. You’re miserable. She was crazy about you and I still see it. But my sister has more pride than anyone I know and she’s painted herself into a corner. You need to give her the opportunity to step out.”
His wolf prickled against his skin in avid agreement. “I’m trying to be civilized about this.”
“We aren’t civilized, buddy. Not at the heart of it.”
“You are. You’re driving this pack into the present with an eye on the future.” And he had his Alpha’s back because he believed the path they were on was righteous.
“Not always when it comes to our females.” Jett’s tone reflected a hint of remorse. “But damned if I can figure out the correct balance between tradition and today’s times.”
“You’ve opened the council up to them.” Two select females, ones with something to offer. But then the males on the council weren’t there by political appointment. They’d earned their place too.
“River helped me see the necessity, the advantage of having females dictate policy. It’s a work in process. But that doesn’t change the fundamental basis of claiming. Shifters mate, Tahl. Don’t lose sight of that, at least until we find a better way.”
“She’s gonna hate me.” Except they were running out of time…
“Then see to it you give her a reason to get past it.”
He now had his Alpha’s permission to claim Desiree. It also was tradition, what shifters did. Destiny. He wanted her, loved her, so what the fuck was he waiting for?
Turning on his heel, he strode out to the Camaro, plotting an interception course.
Chapter Two
Her brother’s house was only a couple of miles away, and Desi eased up on the gas. She’d been driving around, in flight, but barreling down the roadway could garner her a speeding ticket. She snorted. That was the least of her worries, though it hadn’t been that long since the last one.
Damn the man. She’d been running from him that time, too. He was always turning up wherever she was, and she was terrified he’d scent her interest. Well, her wolf’s interest, because the woman wasn’t taking the risk. She sidestepped him, reverted to outright avoidance and managed to circumvent any alone time over the past many months, but invariably he cornered her. That left her no choice but to walk away, making it obvious she wasn’t interested—to everyone, and acting like a snobby brat. And she regretted behaving in such a manner because she’d grown up and matured, she hoped. Though surely a mature female could come up with a way to dissuade a shifter. Except, this time, he’d asserted his interest—and his intent.
She shivered. Once upon a time she’d have done anything to be cornered by that particular predator. And Tahl was, indeed, a hunter. Shoving her ridiculous, historical thoughts away, she reminded herself she’d been a young, impressionable female back then and Tahl embodied everything a susceptible heart could desire.
A faint flush crawled up her throat, heating her flesh and coloring her cheeks, and she didn’t dare glance at herself in the rearview, knowing she would witness the humiliation she felt. She could still remember telling River about her crush, loftily announcing her fondest—and sexual—hopes regarding Tahl. Out freaking loud. Like it was a done deal. Then it turned out the man in question not only hadn’t even noticed her that way, he’d had his eye on a redheaded troublemaker from a totally different pack. She must have been blind. Blinded by love, because while even the thought of Tahl made her want to do all sorts of unmentionable, sexual things and caused her wolf fits, unrequited lust didn’t break hearts.
Something had happened with Peyton Leaf and now Tahl was settling for Desi. Except, she wasn’t interested anymore. She. Was. Not.
A familiar black shape in the distance teased her vision, coming fast, her shifter eyesight superior to a human’s. “Oh, shit.”
She glanced in her mirrors and stomped on the brake, pulling a credible three-point turn on the fly, relying on muscle memory. She punched the button on the steering wheel. “Call River.”
“Calling River on cell,” the nasal, automated voice concurred.
“Desi?” The shrill laughter of children echoed in the background.
“Tahl was there.”
“He left.”
“Okay.” Maybe he was giving up. Heading home. Good. Great. Somehow she didn’t think so, although she no longer trusted her instincts.
“You’re sure about it, Desi? You aren’t … interested?”
Was she? The instant she’d wrestled her car into submission, moving quickly in the other direction, she regretted it. Her response was animalistic, yet her wolf wasn’t even on the same page, so why on earth was she running?
But she felt committed to flee, her manner of interacting with Tahl a habit she couldn’t break, especially when he’d up stirred the embers of smoldering hope today. She risked a quick exit into the only industrial section on the outskirts of Blue Star. Her tires protested with a scream and she winced. Comforted by the looming structures, she deked across a busy yard and bumped over a rail line. She scanned for Tahl’s distinctive ride and told herself she was vastly relieved not to see it. Or him.
The spurious release of adrenaline hollowed her belly and she chose a route to get her back onto the interstate. She wasn’t sure where she was
going, but that talk had turned her inside out. He apparently wanted her—now—and she wasn’t interested. She couldn’t be.
“Are you there? Desi?” The connection crackled. Probably all the surrounding metal.
“Sorry, just taking a detour.”
“You’re running out of time.” River sounded both worried and anxious. “Have you thought about what will happen?”
How could she tell her friend that very event starred front and center in her daydreams and her nightmares? She’d had something quite different all planned out well over three years ago, hell since she and her wolf melded and set sights on Tahl—and now she had no idea what to do. None. While she’d been making plans, life had rolled on without her.
“I’ll find myself surrounded by shifter males and one will claim me.” She hadn’t said it out loud before, and to hear it spoken so baldly made her want to scream in frustration. She wasn’t ready. She’d never be ready. Because the only male you want is the one you’ve decided you can’t give the time of day. “Unless I take a vacation and hide out someplace, wait it out until the next month. Buy myself more time.”
“I planned something like that and was thwarted, so I feel for you.”
“I know, River. And you had good cause.”
“No, I was confused and misled. I’ll never regret being Jett’s mate.”
“Well, I’ll be somebody’s mate.” Just not Tahl’s.
“It probably won’t be so bad.”
“Well, you did luck out…”
River sighed audibly. “Exactly. And if you look around, most all couples have good, solid relationships.”
“Sure.” She should be so lucky. And less conflicted. The only man she’d wanted had looked elsewhere, and then came home, tail between his legs. Well, not exactly. But he’d returned, unmated, nearly two long years after declaring his intent to claim another, and nobody knew why. Oh, her brother would know, but despite the rampant speculation, and idle gossip, she had no clue. Not that she’d wondered. Much. Whenever anyone hinted, that gorgeous face had tightened and the inquisitor had backed the fuck off. The way she’d done earlier, maybe because she’d been afraid he’d read her guilt. You had nothing to do with it. Quit thinking that way.
“What are you doing now?” River nearly whispered into the phone, so Jett was probably nearby. Her brother disapproved of Desi’s cold-shoulder technique, but then her brother was as arrogant as Tahl. At least he hadn’t decreed she choose his lieutenant, but then Jett was more sensitive than that.
“Driving. Thinking. I’ll check in later, River. Hug the babies for me, okay?” The one thing about being claimed meant having her own pups, and she was more than ready for that. Her niece and nephew were amazing, even if Andrew made everyone nuts with his precociousness, and Desiree wanted one just like him. With Tahl’s eyes. Goddamn it. Another country heard from—via the projected thought of her wolf. It paced and whined whenever Tahl was nearby, and the failed to understand that forgiveness—and taking sloppy seconds—wasn’t their thing. The silly bitch would take Tahl under any circumstances, but then wolves had no pride and certainly held no truck with possible paranormal influence they couldn’t even see.
Tears stung her eyes as River wished her luck and disconnected the call.
The miles melted under the determined press of the accelerator as she ran away. So much for maturing. Thanks to her sister-in-law, she had learned the smart way to manage her financials, and her website business, including the oversight of Simply Dressed, meant she was an independent businesswoman. Moderately successful. And it could all come tumbling down in a few short months when your first heat strikes.
“And it wouldn’t have worried me, not one bit if he hadn’t waltzed off after her!” It was okay to say it out loud, here. In the privacy of her car. Because she’d stupidly assumed he would want her too, back then.
She blinked against burning tears. “And I am a grown up. Even if I’m running like a child.”
Of course, no one commented, not even her wolf.
Desiree couldn’t get past the devastating emotions of that day. They simmered just below the surface and short-circuited any meaningful connection with males. It was like she couldn’t trust any of them, which was crazy. She knew that, but her psyche, or whatever it was called, didn’t. The vignette flashed before her eyes.
“I’ve come to say goodbye,” Tahl announced.
She tensed, foreboding stirring in her belly. But she pretended there was nothing to worry about. “Goodbye? Are you going on vacation? In the middle of this rogue issue? Or are you convinced the situation is stable?”
Tahl glanced at Jett, who lifted a shoulder. “We routed them, and the leader is on the run. But it’s not a vacation. Jett’s given me permission to leave the pack and head over to Ashton Leaf’s territory. I expect to stay.”
Her brother had known, and somehow that made everything worse. And River had been there to bear witness after she’d told her sister-in-law about her aspirations where Tahl was concerned. Her starry-eyed, lofty, ludicrous hopes. She felt sick to remember, and hoped she’d schooled her features back then. And she’d asked the question she’d known the answer to, preferring to rip the bandage straight off the wound.
“Who is she?”
Tahl didn’t prevaricate. “Peyton. Peyton Leaf.”
“The Alpha’s granddaughter. Right. She… I remember her.”
She’d smiled widely, like she was giving her blessing, for heaven’s sake, and could remember her response as if it was yesterday, the only thing she could take pride in. Hiding her devastation with an aloof, “Then I suppose there’s nothing to say but congratulations!”
And he’d protested, saying it wasn’t a done deal, and she’d somehow been gracious…
“I hope you get what you need, regardless.”
Had that been a curse? Had she ruined Tahl’s hopes and dreams the way he’d ruined hers, like jinxing him or something? Once the hurt and humiliation had eased a trifle, and it had been after he’d returned to Blue Star—sans mate—that she’d been haunted by the absurd thought.
Except it wasn’t so ridiculous when one considered who her mother was and Desiree’s apparent ability to influence the outcome of certain things. She didn’t talk about it, though Marlene had noticed. Oh, nothing nefarious. Little things, like telling the obnoxious and handsy supplier of one of their garment lines that he wouldn’t keep customers if he continued to renege on production schedules. He’d lost his business license shortly thereafter and fell afoul of the IRS.
And there was the time that she’d been justifiably upset with a partner site, and suggested—via a personal message—that they honor their side of the agreement or find another partner. That site had crashed, irretrievably.
Coincidence, she told herself, ignoring all the other times, all related to things that impacted her negatively. Bad luck. She hadn’t influenced Tahl’s pursuit of that Peyton Leaf, despite how wrong the female had been for him. She hadn’t wished it. No, her power wasn’t in her mind, like that girl in the horror movie who had killed everyone at her prom. Desi had to voice her jinxes.
But she hadn’t been so much of a child, bent on revenge, that she’d do that to him. Not even subconsciously. Tasting for the truth in that thought, she debated turning off at the next exit and heading home. She’d done enough soul searching. And would stand by her decision to refuse him, because the woman in her might not be vindictive, but she deserved better than being second choice. Her wolf whined and pressed for escape, clearly at odds with her belief—again.
Automatically checking her mirrors, she started, her foot faltering on the gas. A sleek, black Camaro sat squarely on her tail. Heart pounding, hands trembling, she swallowed against a dry mouth and tried, unsuccessfully, to ignore the burst of butterflies in her belly.
She could continue her aimless drive or return home—except he’d follow. She was out in the middle of nowhere, asphalt flowing ahead and behind with nothing but fields and
the occasional groupings of bushes on either side. Great planning, Desiree. Now you’ve got to pull up your big girl panties and face the music. She could do it.
Signaling, she eased onto the verge and parked on a conveniently level patch. She shut off the engine and listen to it tick over as it cooled. A few deep breaths and she felt able to face Tahl. Not. Her wolf pranced excitedly and she sent it a nasty message to calm down.
Throwing the door open, she flinched when Tahl caught it, holding it for her as she clambered out, her short skirt making a mockery of any attempt at modesty. She caught his glance as it swept over her legs, and she hesitated. His eyes were pure amber wolf, his features strained and his sensuous mouth set in a straight line. She quailed and he caught her arm, nearly lifting her out and onto the solid surface.
The occasional car barreled past, leaving a faint scent of consumed carbons in its wake, and a semi lumbered by, a swirl of wind tugging at her hair.
“You never run from a shifter. Desiree. Not so overtly. I’m through with you running. My wolf has long since lost patience, and the man can’t do this anymore.” Even Tahl’s voice was different. Not smooth and deep, but a harsh sound, as though he’d swallowed a mouthful of gravel. Like his fangs were showing.
“I was going to Jett and River’s. Eventually.” His implacable regard both terrified and aroused her. Was this was the part of Tahl he kept under wraps, the piece he released when he shifted? Her wolf scratched frantically within, whining, welcoming, and not at all afraid.
Those tawny eyes flared and she panicked, sensing what was coming. “No. Don’t. I can’t.”
She’d heard about the males asserting their claim, been taught what she might expect, but nothing prepared her for the wave of heat washing over her or the surge of abject need erupting from her core. Wavering on her feet, she closed her eyes against the overwhelming sensation, and Tahl steadied her, drawing her close.
His elevated heartbeat pounded at her senses as she leaned against his broad chest, taking in his familiar smell. Something uniquely Tahl and undertones of bergamot. How long had it been since she’d been within proximity to thoroughly scent him? A sob clawed its way up her throat and erupted past her lips as his pheromones worked their magic.
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