by Aline Hunter
How had she possibly resisted him for so long?
She struggled to talk, suddenly shy and aware of herself. “Appreciation?”
He bent down, placing a kiss to the top of her head. “I’m going to spoil you rotten, beautiful girl. I’m going to spend the rest of my life showing you how special you are.”
Another scent came to her, reminding her of cotton. It was new and she couldn’t place it but her wolf easily did. Tears burned her eyes.
Sincerity.
“You rest,” he ordered and pulled away from her. “I’ll be back for you.”
She closed her eyes before her tears could fall, trying to keep her emotions in check. As he walked away she felt every step, the distance nearly too much. She took comfort in his scent, latching on to the smell of pine and forest. If this was how Chloe felt she could understand her best friend’s constant need for Jackson.
It was as if a part of her vanished in Declan’s absence, leaving her incomplete.
She’d only felt like this once before—right after her father had died.
The puzzle slid together, pieces falling into place. Her eyes flew open and she stared at the ceiling. It couldn’t be possible. It had happened so fast. Too fast by human standards. In mating with him, she’d given him more than her body. She’d given him her heart.
Heaven help her.
She loved him.
Chapter Nine
Declan watched Rachel from the kitchen, not wanting to intrude as she got to know the pack. After her bath he’d called Chloe and invited her over, thinking it would ease any apprehension Rachel might experience. Although the wolf in him wanted to keep Rachel by his side—greedy and eager for more of her sweet, lithe body—he’d denied the creature.
She’d done so well so far.
He wasn’t fucking things up now.
Chloe had agreed but indicated it was best to introduce Rachel to the pack right away, before any hesitation might build. The full moon was coming, granting them little time, and she felt her friend needed to be up to speed with the pack before she changed. He’d reluctantly agreed. After all, though he adored his mate, Chloe—to his regret—knew Rachel far better than he did.
For now.
“My car is a hunk of junk,” Elise—Clint’s mate—told Rachel, easing into amiable conversation. Chloe had talked about Rachel numerous times with the pack so they knew a lot about her. It made things a tad easier. “Maybe you could take a look at it.”
Rachel’s eyes quickly darted over the room before she asked quietly, “What’s wrong with it?”
He moved immediately, striding to the couch. The pack had taken his mating in stride, congratulating him and Rachel, but he’d wanted to give his female breathing room. Sadly she was nervous again, her worries overriding her newfound liberation. He rested his hand on her shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze. When he bathed her he’d learned she ached to be touched. Any kind of contact seemed to settle her. The muscles beneath his palm immediately relaxed and she leaned into his hand.
“It’s got a steady miss. Drives me nuts,” Elise said, shooting Declan a hateful look.
You deserve it. Think of all the times you gave Clint shit about her.
Back in the day he’d have met Elise’s venom with a smile. Now that he had mated he felt a sliver of shame. It wasn’t easy to smile at her but he tried, wanting to make things right for a change. He hadn’t intended to be a smartass all the time. He just hadn’t known how deeply his words had affected Elise on occasion. The heat in the female’s gaze faded, her scowl vanishing.
“Have you changed the sparkplugs?” Rachel asked, fidgeting as she sensed the tension in the room. Until she changed she wouldn’t understand why she reacted in certain ways. A wolf always felt emotion, using the ability to sense feelings as a weapon. “That could be the problem.”
“No, she hasn’t,” Clint interjected, placing his hand on Elise’s neck. “The car is a hunk of junk because she doesn’t care for it properly. She thinks all she has to do is feed it gas and oil and all is well.”
Clint’s eyes lifted and met Declan’s. A rush of relief swept through him. If anyone understood, it would be Clint. His mating with Elise hadn’t been entirely easy. The female had given him hell prior to their mating. Clint had always been a ladies’ man. Elise hadn’t forgiven that. Prior to dreamsharing he’d actually turned his back on his mate. She’d been too young at the time, nowhere near mature enough for him. But she’d felt an awareness that Clint hadn’t. She’d known something had been going on between them. So when the years passed, Elise neared her season and Clint finally got wise to the situation.
Elise hadn’t given in to the mating without a fight.
A knock came from the door and the room went quiet. An odd thing since there were twenty people inside the space. Rachel’s shoulders tensed again, her gaze going to Chloe. Jackson leaned down and kissed the top of his mate’s head before he walked to greet their guest. The night had gone well so far but the good mood might not last. With everything that had transpired it was important to talk to Gavin—Chloe’s father—before they made any important decisions.
Chloe hadn’t seen the male since he’d given her the letters her mother had written to him years ago. Before Chloe had been born her father had been forced to turn away from her mother—his true mate—in order to maintain his arranged mating. As far as Declan knew, Chloe had yet to forgive him. Desiree Benson hadn’t made things easier, either. Once she’d learned about Gavin and Chloe she’d gone crazy. Gavin had banished her from his pack, which had brought them to this point in time.
Jackson opened the door and greeted Gavin. “Come in.”
The heaviness in the room increased, the pack uneasy. Chloe shifted in the loveseat, staring at the ground. When he thought Rachel might rise and go to her friend Declan applied weight to her shoulder, keeping her where she was. She peered up at him, a spark of anger in her eyes. He accepted the anger, knowing soon Rachel would understand. Chloe couldn’t appear weak in front of the pack. By rushing to support her friend, Rachel would imply Chloe couldn’t handle the situation.
Gavin walked in, a near mirror-image of his daughter—blond hair, green eyes, similar facial features. He stopped just inside the room, his gaze resting on his child. Declan felt sorry for the male. The love he felt for his daughter was apparent. He didn’t move closer, waiting for her welcome. They’d spoken on the phone but Jackson hadn’t told the pack how the conversations had gone.
“Rachel,” Chloe finally said, lifting her head, “I’d like you to meet my father.”
Rachel tensed, her muscles drawing tight beneath his hand. Just as Chloe knew Rachel better than him, Rachel knew far more about Chloe’s feelings toward her father than anyone else. Declan didn’t move, waiting to see if the fury he’d seen earlier in his mate resurfaced. Hopefully she wouldn’t cause a scene.
“Hello, Mr. Worthington.” Rachel, brisk and a tad cold to the man.
“Take a seat.” Jackson motioned to an empty chair. “We’ve got a lot to talk about.”
Gavin wanted to go to Chloe—that much was obvious—but he did as instructed. Sliding into the chair, he leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “I appreciate the invitation. You know how much Chloe means to me.” He gave his daughter a small smile before he looked at Jackson. “What have you found?”
“The snitch is telling the truth,” Shane responded before Jackson could, shoving away from the wall. “I visited him tonight to make sure. No one could stand up under the strain I put him through. He’s not lying.”
“So he’s still alive?” Gavin asked. “You still have him?”
“We do,” Jackson answered, narrowing his eyes. “Why?”
Gavin’s gaze rested on Chloe. “I’d take him to the hunt. Bring the male before the packs prior to the full moon. See if he can identify the person responsible for my daughter’s attack.”
“A female is responsible,” Jackson growled and crossed to Chlo
e. He stood beside the loveseat and she shifted closer to him, sliding her hand around his leg.
“Desiree?” Gavin asked.
“She might be involved. There’s a chance.” Jackson drew his fingers through Chloe’s blonde curls. “Right now all fingers point to Simone.”
“Simone?” Gavin’s laugh was cynical at best. “That female is dumb as a brick. There’s no way she could pull something like this off without help.” His laughter abated, his voice lowering to a growl. “Desiree could though. With a little assistance.”
“Our source didn’t see Simone but he said he could point her out by scent,” Shane said. “The rogue behind the attack apparently got a bonus when he agreed to help. Seems the female was more than happy to seal the deal with her body. After it was over his friend decided to brag about his conquest. Our rogue got a good dose of her scent coming from his acquaintance. He thinks she tried to mask it with perfume.”
“We all know who does that.” Declan entered the conversation, his fury rising.
Most werewolves avoided cologne as it clogged the nose but not Simone. A few times in her youth—when she tried to dip between the sheets with various males—she’d attempted to hide what she’d done using the stuff.
“You can’t place the blame on someone with something as simple as perfume.” Gavin took a deep breath and appeared to be getting his emotions under control. He steeped his fingers together. “If you bring this before the packs Ward Wilson won’t take it kindly. He adores his daughter.”
“I want this shit over and done,” Jackson snarled, pulling back his lips. Rachel backed up, moving closer to Declan. “My mate will not live in constant fear. As one of the Alphas in this area I’m demanding action. The others need to rein in their wolves before someone gets seriously fucking hurt.”
“I’ll back you up, you know that.” Gavin sat back in the chair with a sigh. “But things in my pack have been unsteady since I denounced Desiree. With Ward offering her sanctuary some might think this is being done out of pettiness on my part. I could cause more harm than good.”
“So what do we do?” Chloe asked quietly. “Nothing?”
“No, we have to do something.” Gavin rose from the chair. “I suggest you bring the informant to the hunt but don’t tell the Alphas what’s going on. Arrive early and ask for a gathering. They know about the attack. They’ll have to listen.” His gaze drifted to his daughter. “I’ve spoken with my wolves. Most of them are willing to accept the mating between you and Jackson and unite our packs. Those who aren’t have been given my blessing to leave. I’m offering—right here and now—to step down as Alpha and let Jackson assume the position if that’s what it takes. I want you to be safe.”
Everyone shut up then. What Gavin had just offered was enormous.
In essence, he’d just handed his pack to Jackson.
Everyone with a wolf’s nose could scent Jackson’s reaction. He was shocked and panicked. Jackson didn’t want a large pack, not being keen on the dynamic. Shit happened in bigger numbers. He’d have to control more people than he felt comfortable with. Everyone had joined Jackson because of that. They preferred his pack’s smaller size as well.
Declan felt torn, knowing he also would have to step up to the plate.
Shane had agreed to be the second-in-command but only for so long. Rachel would have to accept a hell of a lot more than she already had. There was no way he could force Jackson to face the challenge alone. If he did the wolves were likely to rebel and the males would start fighting for pecking order. Things were shitty already. With five unmated males in his pack, Jackson had already been dealing with his fair share of testosterone.
“That’s a lot to consider.”
“I know it is,” Gavin replied. “But it’s one way to keep Chloe from harm.”
“I need to talk to speak to my mate before I make a decision,” Jackson eventually said. “I’ll also need to consult the pack.” The Alpha’s gaze went to Declan and Rachel. “Why don’t you and Shane meet me in the office? I’ll meet you there after I speak to Chloe.”
Declan reached down to pull Rachel from her seat.
Damn it. Motherfucker.
Things had gotten better only to become worse.
Everything was turning into shit.
Rachel couldn’t describe what she was experiencing. Somehow, in some strange way, she could feel Declan’s uneasiness. She tried to force aside her own worries, needing to support him.
After all he’d done, how could she do any less?
He stepped in beside her and she wrapped her arm around his waist—the first time she’d touched him in front of his pack. She felt his muscles shudder beneath her palm, his body warm and firm. For a moment her mind skipped through time, taking her back a few hours.
Declan had run a bath, put her inside the steeping water and had then gone to cook her breakfast. He’d fawned over her. Doted on her. Adored her. She hadn’t been able to focus, finding his presence distracting. To her shame she’d felt the most profound lust—her wolf wanting her to climb on his lap and ride him to completion. She hadn’t been able to stop staring at his shoulder, tempted to bite and mark him in the same way he had her.
“Easy, sweet girl,” Declan whispered and bent down to murmur in the shell of her ear. “We need to take things one step at a time.” Another horrible lick of embarrassment chilled her blood, cooling her ardor. The pack could easily smell her desire. He must have felt it because he added, “I’m as eager as you are. Don’t think for a second I’m not.”
Determined not to stumble, she kept walking, taking his words at face value. Again she felt his wariness. Something wasn’t right. She didn’t have the luxury of worrying about herself. Each time she thought of Declan her heart literally ached.
For him she’d do anything—be anything.
She’d brought it on herself, of course.
So this is how love feels?
“You two go ahead.” Shane opened the door they’d ventured to and stepped aside. “I’ll wait out here. Jackson and Chloe might be a while.”
It felt like fire branded Rachel’s face. She didn’t dare look at Shane as she entered the room, realizing he’d been able to smell her lust. Declan ushered her in and followed, closing the door behind them.
“Doesn’t it embarrass you?” she asked, mortified.
Declan seemed unfazed, guiding her to a chair behind the desk. “What?”
“Me!” she snapped, trying to shake him off. “They know how I feel. They can smell it!”
“Good,” he countered and surprised her when he didn’t put her in the chair but reached for her jeans. He popped the top button open and lowered her zipper. “I want them to know how much you want me. It makes me hard as hell.”
“What are you doing?” Attempting to slap him off didn’t work. He ignored her, sliding his hand beneath her panties. A tremor shot through her, the desire she’d kept tapped rising up. “Declan…”
“I’m going to make you feel good.” He pressed two fingers into her slick pussy, sending her on her toes. “You shouldn’t be embarrassed. What you’re feeling is natural. It’s like this between newly mated pairs.”
“But…” She couldn’t think clearly, wondered why she should argue. Then she pictured the faces of the pack—strange men and women. “They know,” she repeated but ground her mound against his palm.
“You wanted me to be yours, didn’t you? This is a part of what you asked for.” His mouth came to hers, so close they nearly touched. Their eyes met. His irises had turned amber. “You don’t know it yet but soon you will. When your sense of smell kicks in you’ll realize I’ve been harder than a rock all night. I’ve had a tent in my pants and everyone could see it. They’ve been too busy laughing at me to notice you. I’ve never been this way with anyone, Rachel. They think it’s funny as hell. But not because of you. They think I’m the luckiest fucker alive.” His breath mingled with hers, his heat so close she could taste it. “And they’re right.”
“I want you.” Why not? Anyone who entered the room would know what had gone down—even if he only pleasured her with his hand—due to the scents. She might as well enjoy the moment thoroughly. “Please.”
“Fuck,” he growled, pulling his fingers away. “You drive me mad.”
As soon as she had room she toed her shoes off and worked her jeans down her thighs. Declan didn’t give his own clothing as much thought. As soon as his jeans dropped to his knees he put her on top of the chilly wood desk. He moved between her legs and she parted her thighs, leaning back, resting her hands behind her.
“The things you do to me,” he groaned, easing the head of his cock into her. He was engorged, heavy and wide. Even though she’d taken him before she had to force herself to relax, remembering how good he felt moving inside her. “I wasn’t lying. You own me. Heart and soul. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you.”
He parted her, diving deep. She threw her head back, accepting the invasion.
Feels so good.
“There you go, there you are,” he whispered and rested his fingers over her clit. This time his touch was too light, a gentle tease. “Give me that sweet pussy. Burn me up. Bring me over with you.”
It wasn’t easy to move but she did her best.
She used her arms for leverage, meeting his thrusts. His cock glided in and out of her, rubbing sensitive places. She’d been so keyed up it wasn’t going to take much. She wanted this. So did the animal she’d finally started accepting—a wolf that had as much adoration for Declan as she did. He plunged, moving perfectly, his fingers giving her clitoris the friction it needed.
“Declan.” Targeting his mouth, she lifted herself and tried to bring her lips to his. “Kiss me.”
He met her halfway, driving into her body as their mouths touched.
Their tongues darted to each other’s, dancing and swirling. It was too much yet not enough. All she needed was to hit that sweet spot in her center, the one that made her see stars. A simple swivel of her hips and she was right where she wanted to be.