by Cane, Laken
“Can I get you a drink?” she asked. “Coffee?”
I shuddered at the thought of risking coffee in the pristine room. “I’m fine, Nell, but thank you.”
“Jared will be here soon.” She sailed away, leaving me alone. I stood as soon as she left and began pacing, feeling a little claustrophobic and a lot nervous. Everything was so…white.
And then I felt Jared coming, and my breath whooshed out of me as I turned and caught him filling up the doorway. He was fierce. He stared at me, unsmiling, before he finally stepped into the room, making it feel about a hundred times smaller.
My mouth dried up and my wolf sat up with her tongue lolling, panting like a dog in heat. Last night had changed us both, and it had made my connection with my alpha even tighter. Larger. More intense.
I saw a subtle change in his eyes, and my face heated as I remember the way I’d behaved when he’d dropped me at my house. I cleared my throat and forced myself to look away from him so I could think.
“Something happened?” he asked. He walked closer to me and though I was torn between throwing myself at him and running out the door, I forced myself to stand my ground.
“Axton’s human servant happened. She didn’t die when I killed Axton, and now she’s pissed. Apparently she’s decided to mess with me. And by me I mean with everyone I care about.”
“Why did you come to my house?”
I hesitated, thrown by the change of subject. “I don’t know. Just seemed like the thing to do.”
He studied me for a moment, and I had a feeling he was seeing way more than I wanted him to see. Finally, he nodded. “Avis Vine. She’s dangerous. You and Susan will move to Shadowfield until I’ve handled the threat.” Then he smiled, but just barely. “You’ll stay in my house where I can better protect you. That’s why you came here.”
I didn’t know whether to laugh or punch him. “Why do you want to insult me like that?”
“I’m your alpha,” he said calmly. “Protecting my wolves is what I do.”
“I thought we’d discussed the fact that you’re not exactly—”
“I am your wolf’s alpha.” Now he was angry. “I will protect you.”
“I get it,” I said, surprising him. “You want to protect me. And you know what, Alpha? I want to protect you. That is why I’m here. To tell you that Avis Vine is coming for you, and that I’m going to make sure she doesn’t touch you.” I gave him a brisk nod and strode toward the doorway, smug as I could be.
He was so fast that he was standing in front of me before I realized he’d moved. He blocked the doorway, his hands loose at his sides, his stare dark and just a little frustrated. “You’re going to get hurt.”
I recoiled, my eyes narrow and my heart pounding. “I’ve been hurt before, Alpha. You can’t do anything to me that—”
“Not by me, Kait. Fuck. When will you trust me?” He closed his eyes for a second, clenching his fists. “I’m not Adam Thorne. I’m not my father. And I am not your fucking father.” He grasped my shoulders, squeezing gently. “Kait.”
I was full of emotions and confusion when he slid a hand to my braid and tugged gently, bringing my chin up. He stared down at me, frustrated, angry, hot. “Damn you for being so fucking broken,” he murmured.
I opened my mouth to argue, to tell him he was mistaken. I was far from broken. He had the wrong idea about me. But when I opened my mouth, he covered it with his, and I forgot how to speak. I forgot that I’d even wanted to speak.
The alpha was kissing me, and it didn’t matter that I wanted to fight to the end to make sure everyone knew how strong I was, how unafraid, how badass. I felt that kiss to my soul. And at that moment, it was the absolute only thing that mattered.
My body was suddenly boneless and heavy and though I wanted to lift my arms and wrap them around him, all I could do was hang in his grip while my wolf howled and my heart thudded and my body responded in ways it had never responded to a man before, and that was because no man was my wolf’s alpha. My alpha. God, I wanted him. In all ways.
I wouldn’t admit it, not out loud, but there was no better feeling than giving myself over to him. To letting him take control. My mind shut down and at that moment, I did trust him.
I didn’t fight it, and I didn’t want to.
He held me against him, and every touch was magnified. I felt his restrained strength, his fierceness, his passion. I felt how much he wanted me, and I was satisfied that he wanted me every bit as much as I wanted him.
Heat roared between us like a tornado of fire and he slammed me back against the wall and held me there, his mouth controlling me, his hands roaming where they would. He nipped my bottom lip and it split, swelled, and then healed, and I shook with the excitement of realizing that when two wolves had sex, it was not gentle. It was intense.
I wanted intense.
My body reacted to his roughness and I no longer hung passive and dazed in his grip. I had to touch him. My fingertips throbbed and my body buzzed and I craved him like he was a drug and I was beyond addicted. Yes, I had to touch him.
In the back of my mind, I realized this wasn’t normal. Our snarling, hungry wolves wanted to devour each other and we could only go along with it and hope that when it was over, we weren’t too fucked up. At least that was how I felt. I couldn’t know what was in his head.
My wolf was in heaven. He swept his tongue across mine and sucked my swollen lips and slipped his fingers beneath my clothes, and I was impatient at the barriers, because I needed the feel of his bare skin against mine.
I’d forgotten where we were. Only when he gave a harsh groan and pulled away from me, holding my shoulders firmly when I tried to bring him back, did it begin to sink in that we were in the pristine room, and this was definitely not the place to finally taste the alpha.
The reason for his sudden return to sanity became clear when the sound of heels clicking on the floor wafted to my ears. We were about to be interrupted, and he’d heard her long before I had.
He straightened my clothes and smoothed my hair and finally, as I stared up at him, he winked at me. But there was nothing lighthearted about his expression. I shivered, burning up and freezing at the same time, and I was not embarrassed. Not even when his housekeeper stuck her head into the room, took a quick look, and then hastily withdrew.
“Am I ready yet, Alpha?” My voice was raw and hoarse and even to my ears, it sounded nothing like me. “I think I’m fucking ready.”
“Shit,” he muttered, and put his hands on the wall on either side of me, his heart pounding so hard I could see his chest jerking. He dipped his head and gave me one last, lingering kiss, then stepped away. He ran his hands through his hair, then took my arm and pulled me from the room. “I wonder if either of us is,” he said.
We didn’t say another word as he led me from his house and walked me to my car. To say I was confused was an understatement. I knew the politics and hierarchy and rules of a pack were complicated and somewhat extreme, but come on.
Could we not just have sex like a couple of fully consenting adults and forget the complications?
Apparently not.
I knew it had bothered him when I’d thought he was going to hurt me, but surely that wasn’t what was holding him back. I also knew he believed I wasn’t ready for him. I didn’t know what that meant, not really. My body was ready for him. That was what mattered.
I wasn’t one to stew and wonder, either, so before I got into my car, I turned to look at him. “Why are you hesitating, Jared? We want each other. No strings. Just…” I had to swallow hard before I could get the word out. “Sex.”
Finally, he cracked a smile. “No strings,” he said. Then he huffed a laugh and ran his hand over his face. “No strings.”
I clenched my fists, then turned from him, yanked my door open, and got into my car. “Fuck you, Alpha.”
Before I could slam the door, he caught it. “Do you think I could just fuck you and leave you, Kait?”
&
nbsp; My breath caught. “What I think,” I said, my voice calm despite the storm inside me, “is that having sex doesn’t have to change anything. There’s this heat between us, and I…” I shrugged. “I just want to get it out of my system and get on with my life.”
He actually paled. He didn’t say another word, simply stared at me with something in his eyes I couldn’t recognize, then turned and strode away.
“What the hell?” I muttered. “What’d I say?” Then, “Jared,” I yelled. “What the hell?”
“Not ready,” he snarled, and kept walking.
Mystified, I sat there for five minutes before finally, I drove away from Jared’s house. I needed to see Lennon. And it didn’t matter that the alpha was nowhere near me. I still felt him. My body was still full of heat. Damn him. And damn my wolf.
“Assholes, both of you,” I grumbled, then went to see the seer about some wards.
Chapter Six
Jared’s wolves were still restrained around me, but they were not overly rude or disrespectful. Not to my face, anyway. They didn’t want to risk their alpha’s ire. But I could see the resentment in their eyes when they looked at me—some more than others.
I was directed to the witchwolf, who I found in her beautiful herb garden with another woman. The sun was weak and there was a chill to the air, but the garden was full of color and peace, and for a few moments I stood quietly soaking it in. After my encounter with the alpha, I needed a little calm and quiet.
But both women turned toward me, pulling in my scent. It was difficult to sneak up on a wolf. Lennon’s face was serene, but the other woman frowned slightly.
“Kait,” Lennon called. “Come inside.”
I pushed open the gate and walked down the path toward them, enjoying the greenery and the pots of herbs and the statues and fountains. Walking the garden was immediately calming, and I felt my tensions melting away. Probably Lennon had spelled it to bring calm and peace, but whatever the reason, I was grateful.
The seer introduced the woman with her as Jeanette Lister. She was a small blonde with sparkling green eyes and a ready—though somewhat hesitant—smile. She seemed friendly enough, especially considering most of Jared’s wolves had a grudge against me, warranted or not, because I’d been forced from my own pack when my father had betrayed our alpha. It was hard to recover from that. Wolves had long memories, and I was apparently guilty by association. It didn’t matter to them that I’d been a child when my father had brought shame to my pack.
Fuck ‘em.
Jeanette excused herself after a couple of murmured words and left me alone with Lennon. While not unfriendly, she’d avoided my eyes and seemed…jumpy, somehow.
“What was wrong with her?” I asked Lennon.
Lennon sighed. “You smell strongly of our alpha, Kait. We have good noses, you know.”
Heat spread up my neck and landed in my cheeks, and I pretended interest in a plant with long, gray leaves so I could hide my face. “I just had a conversation with him.”
“A conversation,” she murmured. There was a smirk in her voice. Then she sobered. “Jeanette is the young lady who was tentatively matched with Jared as his future mate.”
I jerked around to face her, shock fighting with the immediate and dark possessiveness that clutched at my heart. I opened my mouth to say several things but dismissed them all. I had no right to say anything.
“You believed there weren’t young ladies eager for such a position?” she asked. “The alpha needs a mate.” Then she softened. “They don’t love each other. It would be a match of convenience.”
“An alpha’s mate isn’t his equal,” I said finally, flinching at the disdain in my voice. “I would never want such a relationship.”
Lennon shrugged. “She has a heart of steel and a fierce love for her people. She would make a good, solid mate for Jared.”
“It’s no business of mine who he ends up with.” I forced my anger away.
She changed the subject, but there was a sparkle in her eyes. A sparkle that looked a little cold, if you asked me. “What do you need from me?” she asked.
“Axton’s human servant is going to cause trouble. Since I killed her master, she’s coming after me. She’s going to hurt people I care about. I need whatever protections you can give me. Wards on my house, spells…” I hesitated. “And I need you to surround Jared with protection. He won’t be careful.”
“No,” she agreed. “He will go after her before she can come after you.”
“So will I,” I said, “but it’s not me I’m worried about.”
“I’ll come to your house tonight.” She squeezed my arm. “Don’t worry about Jared, Kait. He can take care of himself—and you need to trust your alpha. We want to make sure you’re protected.”
“My friends,” I said. “They’re the ones who need protection. Axton’s former human slave is in my house. She’s going to go after him. And Lucy…” I ran my hand over my face. “And the detective. Shit. He can’t take another encounter with a vampire.”
“About you and Jared…” She took my hand and pulled me from the garden, and as soon as we were outside the gate, the stress came back.
“There’s nothing about me and Jared.” I shrugged. “He just has some strange rules.”
“Rules? What did he say?”
I shook my head and ignored the question. I didn’t want to have a conversation with Lennon—with anyone—about the fact that I wanted the alpha’s body and he was reluctant to give it to me. Then it dawned at me that she was casually holding onto my hand. “How are you touching me without a reaction?”
Her smile was just this side of secretive. “I’ve built up protections since the last time. I’m prepared.” She squeezed my hand. “And it goes both ways.”
Meaning it wouldn’t kick my ass either, the way it had done the first time we’d inadvertently touched. “I’ll see you tonight,” I said. “I’ve got to catch this bitch before she hurts someone.”
But she wasn’t ready to let me go. “Kait, listen. You need to trust him to do what’s right. He knows what he’s doing. He knows what’s best.”
“Of course he does.” I pulled my hand away and hurried back to my car. I would rather take on three crazed human servants than have girl talk about the alpha. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but it pissed me off to think that she seemed to know more about it than I did. She was a seer though, so of course she knew things.
And maybe my wolf needed a little distance from Jared before she embarrassed us both further.
But was I strong enough for that? I was fiercely drawn to him, and that was part of the reason why I wanted to resist him. Not his body, but him. He had too much power over me, and that made me weak. It wasn’t getting any better. Just the opposite. “I’m going to back off,” I muttered, a vow my wolf didn’t like at all. But I would back off, and if Jared got himself straightened out, he knew where to find me.
I drove out of the sleepy community, forcing my thoughts from the alpha and putting them back where they belonged—on a couple of deadly enemies who wanted to take me on.
“Bring it,” I whispered, and eagerness tightened my belly. I was ready for a good fight. Always.
And I imagined my father peering over my shoulder, smiling and proud.
Chapter Seven
I put the vest on, then pulled my shirt on over it and at last, I buckled on the holster that would hold my demon blade. Something settled into my soul with a sigh when I lifted the blade from its bed and slid it into the sheath. I resisted wearing it when a fight was coming because I would need to shift, and it was a matter of time before I lost it. And for reasons that were more emotional than logical, that thought terrified me.
I was as addicted to my blade as I was to my alpha, or very nearly—and I couldn’t bear the thought of losing either one of them. It wasn’t just because the blade was so powerful, and it wasn’t just because Jared was my alpha.
I’d contacted Sixten and asked him to se
nd over two of the best ballistic vests he could find. Lennon could weave protection into them when she arrived later tonight, and I had silver chokers with crucifixes ready to wind around their necks. No vampire could enter my apartment, but Avis wasn’t really a vampire. And even if they didn’t come into my house, Avis would be patient—I couldn’t keep Lucy or Zach behind spelled doors forever. I also couldn’t force them to wear the vests every time they walked outside, but I’d do what I could to keep them safe.
And then there was the matter of Lucy’s dreams and the serial killer who had her in his sights. A vest and crucifix wouldn’t protect her from him, and when I’d suggested she get out of the city for a while—the country, even—she’d refused.
“Then I’d just end up with a killer and you wouldn’t be there to rescue me,” she said, and though she’d smile serenely and her voice was light, I’d seen the worry lurking in her eyes. Lucy was brave as hell, but she was scared, and rightly so.
When I called Rick, he didn’t answer. I didn’t want to leave a voicemail warning him about vampires potentially coming for him, so I made a mental note to call him back. They’d taken him once and they could take him again, but Rick Moreno wasn’t the type to let me lock him in with Lucy and Zach and try to protect him.
Finally, when dusk came, Bastien returned my call.
Frederick Axton’s half-brother had changed since he’d become the most powerful vampire in the city—I could hear it in his voice. “I am aware of Avis and her madness, Kait. I have people looking for her, including Farrow, whom I trust more than anyone else in the world. They will find her, and they will bring her to me.”
“Maybe,” I said. “But maybe she’ll get to my people before she’s caught. I need to kill the bitch before she hurts anyone. You have to have some information you can give me.”
“She has a weakness,” he said, his voice so smooth I thought for a second that he was trying some sort of magic on me. “All human servants who have become…twisted up with dark magic are imperfect in their composition. She will have an Achilles’ Heel.”