Romancing the Sweet Side

by Tianna Xander, Elle Boon, HA Fortman, Trinity Blacio, Cheryl Dragon, Caitlyn O'Leary, Dawn Montgomery, Megan Slayer, Viola Grace

  He laughed and kissed the top of her head. “Please, go, and it must me a mother thing, because I swear my mom does the same thing.”

  For the first time in the past two hours, Betsy smiled. “Don’t worry, my mother can still do it to me, and I’m thirty-seven, but I’ll take your advice this time.” Jumping off the car, she headed toward Angie’s.

  A lone wolf’s howl pierced the night, and it was close. Betsy rubbed her arms; for some reason, she knew the wolf was hunting, looking for something. Glancing to her right at Angie, she had her head to the side, and Betsy could have sworn her eyes had golden flecks in them right now.

  Even Jared seemed to stop and stare toward where the wolf had howled. It was as if everyone stopped and listened to it. “Okay, why do I feel like I’m in the twilight zone here? Do you understand the wolf?”

  Angie smiled; opening her door, she looked at Betsy and asked, “What do you think the wolf was saying?”

  Taken back, Betsy grinned. “I don’t know why, but he sounded angry, like it was hunting. I’ve always been close to animals, actually seem to draw them to me, but it’s weird; this sensation is even stronger here in this valley.” She got into the car as Jared came around the corner with her ripped-up purse.

  “I don’t know if any of it is useful. The whole inside of your car is trashed,” Jared said, kneeling down in the doorway of the car. “This will be taken care of, I promise.”

  “Yeah, but it won’t replace pictures,” she whispered, staring at what used to be her wallet. Every single one of her pictures of her kids gone.

  Betsy closed her eyes and took a deep breath, wishing the lump in her throat would go away. She had each of her kid’s grade school pictures, from kindergarten to graduation, in her wallet, and every single one of them was gone. Her driver’s license and cards were safe because she had put them in the hidden part of the purse.

  “I should have hidden the pictures, too,” she whispered, feeling a warm hand on hers, squeezing it.

  “Jared, I want to know who?” Angie growled next to her, bringing her out of her self-pity moment and turning to look at her.

  The kind, young woman she had seen earlier gone, replaced by a very, very pissed-off person. “I’ll get through this; you shouldn’t be getting all worked up. You have a little one to worry about now.” Betsy squeezed her hand and nodded but still held Jared’s gaze.

  “You will let us take care of the, Angie. You know Kale would spank your butt if he even thought of you doing anything.” Jared lifted his head and looked toward the apartment. “Plus, we have it under control.” He stood, shutting her door, going back toward the front.

  “Let’s get you to my house. I bet a nice hot bath will help. I’ll even let you borrow some of my clothes that used to fit me for tomorrow. Then, we’ll go shopping, make it a girls’ day; what do you say?” she asked pulling out of the drive.

  “I have a job to start tomorrow, but thank you; the clothes will be helpful. Maybe after work we can go, and by then, I can find out the damage to my apartment and car so I can start planning where I’m going to come up with the money to replace everything.”

  Angie stopped at the light in the middle of town, turning to look at her. “You’re not paying a cent. We will replace everything that you lost. So don’t even worry about money.” She said with a snarl, and Betsy couldn’t help but laugh.

  “You, my dear, are going to be one fierce mama. But really, this is not your fault or your brother’s. I will take care of this,” Betsy said, staring up at the mountains and taking a deep breath. If she had to, Betsy could take money out of the account she had set up where her alimony payments were being deposited.

  She hated the thought of using anything coming from him, but Betsy might not have a choice now.

  * * * *

  Gage watched his little sister’s car drive away with the woman inside it, his woman. The first day he had seen her at the grocery store asking if there were any openings, he knew she was meant to be his.

  But Gage also knew that he’d have to court her slowly, ’til he could bring her over. He smiled. The woman thought she was older than his enforcer had him smiling as he turned his head, watching Jared come up to his side.

  “It was Sara and her little group. They have destroyed everything, including her pictures of her family. Your woman is more upset about that than her belongings. I’m sorry I wasn’t here to prevent this,” Jared said as he shifted and stretched.

  “None of us could have known what Sara was up to. The men are hunting that woman now.” He moved to the apartment; stepping inside, Gage snarled. “She stepped over the line. I won’t have it. Did you locate her parents?”

  Jared nodded. “They are on their way here. I think both of them are done. They have tried everything to change her, but nothing can be done. Sara is out of control and needs to be taken down. This won’t stop either until she is put out of her misery. She claims you as hers.”

  Gage snarled. “I’ve never touched the woman and wouldn’t want her anyway.” Gage looked over his shoulder as he moved to his woman’s bedroom. “She is dead, understood?” Gage gave the order Jared had been waiting for.

  “As for the women with her, I’ll see when we capture them what happens to them. If they are so far gone... but the thought of losing more females,” he sighed.

  “It’s time to bring new blood into the fold, and your blood mate being new will help the others see it is time.” Jared laughed. “You will have a hard time convincing that one that she is not robbing the cradle. She was even thinking about fixing me up with her daughter.” Jared lifted a torn piece of a picture up he had in his pocket.

  His eyes shifted to that of the wolf. “I will have to meet this one. She looks so innocent though.”

  Gage nodded. “I’m afraid you are right about that. I’ve been checking on her children, and Betsy is very protective of her daughter. I believe, in most ways, she is like her mother, trusting everyone, not seeing the others that could hurt her. They both will have to be protected.”

  Jared snarled. “I don’t like the fact her daughter is away at school.”

  Gage grinned but nodded. “Maybe when she comes to visit her mother, she can talk her into staying or a certain man could persuade her. I know that Jason is very good at convincing young women to his way of thinking.”

  Just as he thought, the wolf inside Jared pushed forward. “He will not go near her. I will personally handle it...” He growled but didn’t turn fast enough, for Gage caught the smile. “Fine, there is something there, so keep him away.”

  “Good. This place is beyond repair; Sara’s stink is everywhere. Whatever we can fix, have it cleaned and sent to the penthouse; she will not be staying here. Also, take my Escalade for her; she can use it since her car is trashed.”

  “You’re not going to see her tonight?” Jared asked as they stepped out into the night air.

  “No, I’m furious and I don’t want to scare her. Plus, the wolf is too close to the surface with the threat to her; I’d be too aggressive, and she does not need that right now. Tomorrow morning will be soon enough.” Gage moved to where Sara’s parents were on the ground, kneeling, waiting.

  “Get up; there is no reason for you to bow. This is not your fault; far from it.” Gage helped Sara’s mom up, seeing the tears in her eyes; he hated to deliver the news, but he had no choice.

  “I’m sorry, Tiffany, David; I can’t overlook this threat to my woman. Your daughter has become a danger to herself and to the pack; she must be put down.” Gage reached over and squeezed her father’s shoulder.

  “Go home, take care of your family. You have three other children that will need you. If you need to leave, I’ll understand, but I hope all of you stay here. You are part of this town and community,” Gage said, doing his duty but hating it all the same.

  It will feel good to have someone to go home to, to hold on days like this. Gage shifted, taking off for the woods. A
long run would help release some of the anger that he buried deep. Tomorrow, his mate would be introduced to what he and the town people were.

  She had to know up front what they were if their mating was going to happen, and it was going to happen; he’d make sure of it.

  * * * *

  Betsy stared at the car then at Jared. “Are you out of your ever loving mind?” She gritted her teeth, ready to hit the boy upside his head. “This car cost more than I can make in ten years! NO! You take this nice machine back to whoever owns it. I’ll walk.” She crossed her arms and glared at the tall man.

  “Jared, are you hassling my new employee this early in the morning?” one of the deepest voices Betsy had ever heard said behind her. She slowly turned, and if it was at all possible, Betsy swore the sun just burned a hole in her head.

  “I was just doing what you told me,” Jared said beside her, jarring Betsy out of the fantasy she was having.

  “You did this? Why?” she frowned, watching as Jared stepped away from her as the hottest man she’d ever seen walked around her slowly, actually checking her out from head to toe. “Um, hello, I’m not a piece of meat here?” Betsy said but silently liking his attention.

  “Really, I’d swear you were a raw piece of porterhouse myself and so damn beautiful I’d hate to eat you.” He stepped in close behind her, but that he’d save for another time. He lifted his hand and pointed to the car.

  “That is my car, and now, it’s yours.” He placed a hand over her mouth and whispered in her ear. “Wait ’til I’m done speaking, then you can freak out all you want.”

  Freak out, maybe, but right now, Betsy was trying not to rub her damn legs together. She didn’t know what was going on; it almost felt like the first time she had a major crush on her high school sweetheart, but look at how that turned out.

  “Ouch! Did you just nip my ear? And who are you?” Betsy had a very bad feeling about all of this.

  “I’m your new boss and other things, but for now, we’ll concentrate on the boss part. But I’m afraid my sister didn’t let you in on a few facts before hiring you. So, I’m here to tell you personally.” Gage stepped in front of her.

  “We here in this valley are very different from what you are used to out there. We have our own way of living, and we’re not totally human either,” he said, waiting.

  “And what would you be?” Betsy asked, proud she didn’t even flinch, but inside, her stomach was in a knot. On one hand, she knew this man wouldn’t hurt her; if anything, Betsy would bet her life that he’d protect her with everything he had. Yet, the unknown was scaring the living shit right out of her.

  “Jared,” Gage said, and Betsy turned her head to see the man shift right before her eyes. It was fast, and if she hadn’t been staring right at him when it happened, Betsy would have never believed what she was staring at—a wolf. And it wasn’t a small one either.

  “Well, crap, and no, I didn’t do that yet,” she said, making Gage laugh.

  “You are doing just fine. Come; let’s take this upstairs in the office where we can speak. Oh, and just for the record, Jared is one hundred and twenty years old, quite young, actually, by our standards.”

  “Young!” Betsy stopped and stared at the man beside her. He had black hair to his shoulders, dark blue eyes and a body of the fighter. Lean, but she also had the sense to know he wouldn’t hesitate to kill if he needed to. “How old are you?”

  “You are right, I would kill anyone that threatened to hurt you or what I consider mine, and I am older than Jared; let’s leave it at that for now. Don’t want you to come up with some excuse as to why you can’t be seen with me after all,” he actually teased her.

  They had just made it into the office when the impact of what he just said made sense. “Wait? See you how? And you still haven’t answered my question to why all of this? The car and your sister telling me that ‘they’,” she used her fingers for emphasis, “‘would pay’ for all my things?”

  “Please, sit, and I’ll try and explain a few things.” He pointed to a big, huge lazy boy chair, and that is when she realized his office was freaking huge and so different.

  There were two long couches against two of the walls. A massive desk in the corner next to a brick fireplace, a small table in one corner with a small kitchen, and another door looked to go into a bathroom or to some other room, which was too dark to see what was in it.

  “Nice, but so different than what I was expecting. I take it that is your desk?” she asked, pointing at the beautiful maple, handmade desk.

  “Nope, that is yours. I had it made for you, but for now, please, sit. I know you didn’t sleep well last night. Angie said she could hear you tossing and turning in your sleep,” Gage said, but Betsy was staring at the desk as she plopped down in the recliner.

  “You got me that desk? Why?” Betsy felt as she was a parrot. “Damn it, what the hell is going on?”

  * * * *

  Gage pushed his wolf back. Her alpha status was evident in the way she held herself. Yes, Betsy would be an amazing wolf to stand beside him. He pulled over a chair, placing it in front of her, sitting in it.

  Jared, now back to his human form, stood behind them. “It is rare, but among our kind, there is called a blood mate. Where, once a person sees or is around another, there is no question that this person is supposed to be theirs. Not only is that person’s body calling out to the other’s, there are changes starting. For example, no other females compare to the one that was meant for him. All he sees is her.”

  “Wow, back up, cowboy. You’re not taking me, and who are you?” She jumped up and started to pace back and forth beside him.

  He didn’t say anything, just watched ’til she stopped, sucking in her breath. “This can’t be right. I can’t have any more children, Gage. I’ll be going through the change here in a couple of years. I mean, look at you; my god, you could have any woman around. This isn’t right.” She rubbed her hands on the skirt she wore.

  Gage held out his hand. “Come here, Betsy.” He waited. She stared at his hand for a few minutes. At first, he didn’t know if she would trust him enough, but Betsy lifted her shaking, cold hand, placing it in his.

  “This isn’t right. I’m older, have gray hair, sagging boobs and—” Her words cut off as he stood, covering her mouth with his, pulling her body up against his. She was cold and trembled in his hands, so he kept the kiss short and sweet when all Gage wanted to do was rip her clothes off and bury himself within her.

  He stared down at her. Betsy’s eyes were big. “This can’t—”

  “Yes, it can be and it is. Just give it time; that is all I’m asking. Give me the time to prove to you that you belong in my arms.” He reached up, burying his fingers in her hair before pulling her head back, making her to stare up at him.

  “The car is mine, and the penthouse I’ve set you up in is my home. I’ll stay here for now, giving you the time you need, but I will have you safe.” He released her hair and pulled her down onto his lap.

  “I owe you an apology for what happened to you. I should have had guards on you right away, but I didn’t honestly believe anyone would attack you.” He sighed, rubbing his cheek on her shoulder.

  “You know who did this to me?” She cocked her head to the side.

  “Yes, a woman that was jealous of you. She believes that I’m hers when, in fact, I’ve had nothing to do with her. Just like humans, we do have people who can’t handle the pressures of the world around us. I’m afraid this woman is one of those. She will be caught and taken care of.”

  Betsy stiffened in his arms. “What do you mean taken care of?”

  The door to the office busted open, slamming against the wall, surprising even him, which shouldn’t have happened.

  * * * *

  Being pushed back into the lazy chair so fast, Betsy shook her head and stared up at Gage’s back when she heard the snarling and yelling going on. She peaked around Gage to see
three women being brought into the office. Each seemed to have their hands bound behind them, but what sent a chill down her spine was the way the one girl with purple hair stared at her.

  From the snarls and flying spit coming from her, it was as if the woman had rabies, but what no one was expecting was the sound of breaking glass behind her. One minute, she was staring at a crazy person, the next, pain was ripping through her as a set of fangs sunk into her shoulder and claws tore at her arms as Betsy tried to protect herself.

  “No!” she cried as the wolf went for her throat, but before it could lunge, it was lifted off her and she heard bones snap before Gage was kneeling beside her on the floor.

  He carefully picked her up and moved her into the room she couldn’t see earlier. “Jared does what has to be done.” He snarled as another man rushed into the room.

  “Put her down onto the bed. I’ll need my bag from the car, towels and plenty of water. Miss, I’m the pack’s doctor. I know it hurts, and I’m sorry I can’t give you anything for the pain, but we have to allow this to move forward.”

  “I don’t...” she cough, trying to ask what he meant.

  “You’re going to go through the change, baby. One of the ways to change someone is being bitten. I’m so sorry I’ve failed you twice now.” Gage hung his head, kneeling next to the bed.

  “Since it’s obvious that you can read my freaking mind... stop. You know damn well this wasn’t your fault, but I tell you right now, it hurts like a bitch. You so owe me that car out there.” Betsy tried to tease him, but she was so cold, her teeth started to chatter.

  Gage crawled up on the bed, covering them with a blanket, while the doctor sat on the other side, her head in his lap, taping bandages to her neck.

  “What you are going through is normal. Soon, you will be sleeping, but know when you wake, Betsy, you’ll be a different person.” The doctor lifted her head carefully, but even being careful, it hurt and she whimpered.