“Fuck!” Bas said, slamming his hands down on the steering wheel a couple of times. “I fucking know because my bear is out of control. I feel my hold on him waning every day. I fucking know because even though I want you, I can let you go just as quickly. Do I want you, hell yes! I want to fuck you until you feel me in your body for days afterward, but that doesn’t make you unique, Sky. I’ve wanted to fuck a lot of women, and I have. The big difference is, I don’t want to keep you.”
Wow, those words cut like a knife being shoved straight into Sky's heart. Here she was pining for a man who just wants to fuck her. Why the hell did she even want to convince him of anything after he had the gall to say that to her? Sky shifted in her seat, unable to look at him any longer.
“You still don't get it,” Bas yelled. “My Alpha had to lock himself in a fucking safe room and let one of the guys tie his ass up just to let his mate leave the damn house. He can’t bear to be without her. If you would have done what I said back there at the hotel, then we wouldn’t be together right now, and that would’ve been fine with me. Don’t you get it, we are not mates, true or otherwise!”
Sky could feel her cheeks warm. She was angry, a little depressed, and felt stupid for putting herself out there so much. Bas was intentionally cruel. She wasn't stupid, they didn't know each other that well, but there was something beyond lust going on between them. Bas just didn't want to accept that. No, he wanted to ignore the feelings and everything that had happened between them. The rejection was just enough to put her over the edge. He wanted to leave, and she wasn’t going to stop him. She didn’t need any of this crap in her life, anyway. She wasn’t a quitter, but fighting a losing battle and beating a dead horse wasn’t her style either.
Sky only wanted to design and build her bikes and get as far away from Sebastian Frost as possible. What she couldn’t figure out was why she was holding on so tight to begin with. Was it chemical or natural? She didn’t know this man, and Sky sure as hell shouldn’t be feeling all these things for him after only two days. Maybe he was right, and it was all chemical. She doubted it, but really, how could she convince him otherwise, and why would she want to after he’d just said to her? He’d made his position clear, he didn’t want her for more than just a quick fuck.
“Oh, no worries, Sebastian, you’ve finally cracked through my thick skull. Count the topic officially closed, never to be addressed again.” Sky still couldn't look at him, so she continued to stare out the car window at the countryside speeding past her.
Bas felt like a fucking ass. He’d just laid things out for Sky that weren’t even close to the truth, but it was for her own good. She didn’t need to attach herself to him, and Bas wasn’t going to let her. He probably could have made the same points without going so far, but he needed her to forget about him. Forget about this strange bond and move the fuck on with her life. If she was destined to be a fated mate, she could find another Shifter, one who destiny hadn't already cursed.
As long as that happened after his ultimate demise or thousands of miles away from him, he would deal with the backlash. The thought of her with another man enraged his beast and his human side, but he was all about control, and he would keep that control until his last breath. The choices he was making were the best for both of them. Sky would be safe within NAC, and Bas could live out his final days without the burden of making Sky’s life miserable. There was no other way.
In the meantime, Bas followed the directions Jacks had given him and made his way to the small airport. There was only one plane on the tarmac, and it was one Alpha’s. Cash was standing outside, waiting, so Bas figured Ryleigh must be inside.
Parking the car, he got out and motioned for Sky to do the same. She followed his non-spoken instruction, but still didn’t speak to him. He knew she was mad, could feel it, smell it. Sky was putting off emotions of anger and hurt so strongly, Bas could almost taste them on his tongue. It made him question himself again. Was he legitimately doing right by her?
Sky followed Bas as instructed, looking around the field she supposed was some kind of airport or landing strip. To her, it looked like a road in the middle of a cornfield. The plane on the ground was sleek, seemed to be a jet of some kind, but she had no idea, planes weren't her thing. Now put a motorcycle out there, and Sky would be able to tell the make, model, year built, and in some instances, the town the factory was in that had created it. The plane, however, was her only clue this place was something other than farmland. Didn't they need permits and stuff to take off and land? NAC must have more pull than Sky considered.
The man standing outside of the jet, yeah, he was another matter altogether. He stood tall, at least six and a half feet, probably closer to seven, his tatted-up arms crossed over his massive chest. The shirt covered his chest said, ‘If I wanted your opinion, I would beat it out of you’ and only added to his intimidating size. His head was bald, and he was sporting a goatee. But what honestly caught her attention was the look on his pierced face. It said she was anything but welcome here. He looked cold, angry even, and his focus was trained on Sky. What the hell was Bas thinking sending her away with this guy?
Bas stopped and introduced her to the man she found out was Cash. He didn't do the normal things a person would when being introduced to someone for the first time, like hold out his hand for a handshake. No, he just stood there, glaring at her. He did, however, nod his head to acknowledge Bas, but that was it. Sky felt strongly this was a man she needed to stay the hell away from at all costs. When no other pleasantries were left to be expressed, Bas grabbed her by the shoulders and kissed her.
She resisted at first, not wanting this contact or connection after having made up her mind that if he was so willing to let her go, she needed to do the same. But as soon as he nipped her bottom lip, requesting entry, Sky opened to his kiss, and she couldn’t help but melt into it.
“Babe, I’m sorry, but one day you’ll realize this was for the best. NAC & The Holly Group can offer you things I can’t. Now go on and get on the plane. Ryleigh is waiting for you. I’m going to talk to Cash for a bit, but it should be long”.
With that, the bastard had the nerve to slap her on the ass and send her on her way. What a total fucking jerk.
Once Sky made her way on the plane, Bas turned to Cash.
“I’m not going back with you. I’ll clear it with Jacks, but I can’t head back to Alpha right now.”
“What the fuck are you talking about, Bas?” Cash demanded. “Jacks sent us out here to pick your ass up, and that’s what I’m going to do. You’ve been ordered back to base with your package.”
“No, man, that’s not what’s going to happen. This situation with Sky is different. I need to get some space between her and me. I’ll make my way back to Alpha, but not with the three of you,” Bas said, running his hand through his hair in frustration.
Cash had no idea what was going on between them at the moment, and it was evident he had no intentions of explaining it all to him either. The fucker had changed lately. He used to be Alpha Team’s go-to guy for problems or someone to shoot the shit with, but lately, he’d been distant, moody, and brash. He wasn't even cooking all that much anymore, something he had always said he loved. Now Emma was taking up most of the slack in the kitchen.
Cash grabbed his forearm roughly, and asked, “What is this?”
Bas knew he was looking at the mark on his wrist. “Shit man, that’s part of the problem,” Bas said, pulling his arm away from Cash.
“I don’t see how it’s a problem,” Cash snapped. “You're mated. Why the fuck would you want to leave the one woman who could save your ass?”
“Fuck!” Bas yelled, turning around and threw his hands up in the air. “That just it, man, we aren’t mated. We haven’t fucked... This,” he said indicating his wrist, “happened with a simple touch of the hands, a kiss, and just fucking fooling around. My bear hasn’t calmed down. The bond, shit yeah, it's there, but it’s beyond intense. She can feel what I fee
l. It’s not natural. Something must have happened to her when she was created or born or something else entirely, and now it's affecting me. This thing between her and me isn’t like the others. We aren’t mates. WE HAVEN’T MATED! Shit, right fucking now, my bear is tearing me apart. The only logical conclusion is I’m going rogue, and before that happens, I want to do some fucking good. Can you understand that?”
“Oh, I can understand that,” Cash retorted. “Here’s what I don’t understand. How can you be such a fucking pussy coward? I’ve watched you take on odds average men or Shifters would run away from, but you prevailed. I’ve seen you go up against men twice your size and still, you’ve won. Your Alpha, one of the best of the best, and you’re going to be taken down by and run away from your mate? What the fuck is wrong with you, man!
“I wished and prayed every day in the hope of finding Jessie again, but there’s no hope, she is gone. I’ll go rogue, period. You, on the other hand, have a chance. One that only happens once in a lifetime, and you’re just going to throw it away because it doesn’t follow some SOP you’ve made up in your head? Nothing, and I mean nothing, in life works the same way. Why in the hell would you think mating would?
“I’m going to get on this plane and give you a few minutes to get yourself together. Once you’ve done that, then we’re ALL going to head back to Alpha as planned. But I want you to think about one thing while you’re out here trying to convince yourself you’re doing the right thing and not making the worst possible move of your life by turning that girl away,” Cash emphasized by pointing to the plane. “Your bear isn’t calm because you haven’t fucked, asshole. He needs the connection of body and soul for the bond to form properly. Right now, everything is in limbo. Why you can't see what’s as clear as day is beyond me. You’re a fool! You’re running away from shadows that aren’t even there. Jacks and Senior filled me in on that girl, and all indications are she’s a natural. You get what I’m saying? She’s not a byproduct of Franklin, Pandora, or Davis Defense. So how could anything that happens between the two of you be the same as the others? Why on earth would you give up a chance for something as amazing as you could have with her because of fear? Or worse yet, cowardice?”
Chapter 22
Sky stormed through the door of the plane, but her stomping feet was doing nothing to calm her. When she got onboard, she noticed a lovely and very pregnant red-headed woman sitting in one of the chairs. This must be the illustrious Ryleigh, the one person all Shifter matings were modeled after. Ryleigh was perfect whereas Sky was unnatural and weird. Why was she so special? Her anger at Bas had hit the boiling stage, and she let loose on the poor, unsuspecting woman.
“Can you explain to me why, just because they have dicks, men think their way is the only way? Or how about that fact that somehow, just because we have boobs and a vagina, we have no idea what we could ever want and have somehow lost the ability to make our own decisions?” Ryleigh laughed at Sky, not helping her mood. But it also didn't stop her from continuing with her man-bashing.
“Or is it just a Shifter trait? Bas said you were mated or married to the Alpha. Are you allowed to talk and make decisions, or do you just nod your head and go along with everything because he’s the man? Or how about...?”
“Whoa, slow down, sister,” Ryleigh said.
Sky just looked at her. Shit, she had no business going on about any the crap she was dealing with to this lady she didn’t even know. Defeated, she slumped down in the closest seat.
“Hi, I’m Ryleigh,” she said, scooting forward in her seat, and held her hand out to Sky. “You must be Sky. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Sky took her hand and shook it. “Sorry about all that, Ryleigh. You didn't deserve that, but that man frustrates me to no end,” Sky said, pointing toward the door of the plane.
“Oh, I know the feeling, honey, happens to me several times a day.” Ryleigh laughed, holding up her perfectly manicured finger to her lip, tapping them. “Let’s see if I can answer some of those questions,” she said, a pleasant smile on her face.
“Yes, I am married and mated to the Alpha. I am also the daughter to the ultimate Alpha, so yeah, go me,” she laughed. “They both let me speak and make my own decisions, sometimes. Of course, just like any other dominant man on the planet, they think their ideas are usually better and say so more than once as if I would possibly forget the words that come out of their mouths. You see, it’s our job to convince them otherwise. The boobs and vaginas definitely help, though.”
Sky smiled, she liked Ryleigh already. She was kind and funny.
“Tell me what happened,” Ryleigh requested.
Sky told her everything. When Ryleigh requested to look at her birthmark, Sky didn’t hesitate and showed her.
“It’s different from mine, but it also still has the same three intertwined circles, just in a different shape,” Ryleigh observed. “I’ve learned they represent the past, present, and future. My mark is more elongated, like a straight line, whereas yours is shaped like a triangle. My guess would be they’re both mating marks.”
When Ryleigh released her arm, Sky couldn’t help but ask, “Can I see it? I’d like to see the difference for myself.”
Ryleigh’s face turned red, and Sky was confused. Maybe it was inappropriate to ask to see mating marks, but hadn’t Ryleigh just asked her? Sky didn't know proper-mated person etiquette, and if Bas had his way, she never would, the jerk-faced bastard.
“Ah, that might be difficult,” Ryleigh stammered. “You see, mating marks appear on the pulse points, and mine is in a rather private area,” Ryleigh explained, indicating her lap.
Sky thought, no problem, I'm entirely okay with not seeing the mark. Bas said others had them. She just assumed they were in more visible locations.
Ryleigh continued talking without missing a beat.
“I was with a doctor friend of mine, Mia, when we heard about what was going on with you. Would you mind if I did a simple blood test? I only need to prick your finger, like a glucose test.”
Sky just looked at her for a minute and then said, “Sure, but first I need you to tell me why. A bunch of crazy stuff has landed in my lap lately, and although you’ve heard of me, I don't know you or your friend.”
“Sorry, I don't get out much, please excuse my rudeness,” Ryleigh laughed. “Well, like I said, I was with a friend of mine. She’s a doctor and also like me, one of Franklin’s creations. Bas indicated you knew that much, so I’m not going to go into any more details on that right now unless you want them.”
“No, I’m good.”
“Great, so initially we thought DNA tests were the only way to determine if the children Dr. Franklin engineered had Shifter DNA, which is still correct to some extent. We need those tests to determine the animals, but Mia found a protein in the blood that’s readily detectable. This protein is unique to Shifters, and the higher the number, the purer the donor. I have three sets of Shifter DNA, so my numbers are low. I only come in at a fifty-ne. Would you mind doing the test? I assure you it is entirely safe, relatively painless, and may answer a lot of questions.”
“Sure.”
Ryleigh got up and grabbed a little bag, then came back to squat in front of Sky. No way was Sky going to let that happen. The woman was pregnant, and the move did not look comfortable for her.
“No, how about you sit, and I’ll just hand you my hand, will that work?” Sky suggested.
Ryleigh pricked her finger with some kind of spring-loaded needle. A little bead of blood appeared and Ryleigh placed a small piece of plastic with a channel in it attached to a round meter looking thing to her finger. Her bead of blood was quickly pulled into the canal, and they waited and watched as the screen on the meter showed a spinning clock. When the device dinged and the clock stopped, the numbers on the screen read ninety-nine.
“Well, that answers one question. You’re almost certainly a natural. We haven’t gotten any readings higher than seventy-six, and we know that girl hel
d only one strand of animal DNA.”
Ryleigh wasn’t going to tell her that even McKenna’s blood only registered an eighty-two, and she was already showing signs of Shifting.
“So, what does that mean?” Sky questioned. “Were my parents both Shifters or just one?”
“Unfortunately, without more testing, we can’t be one hundred percent sure either was, but the protein is high in your blood,” Ryleigh revealed. “My guess is both of your parents had Shifter DNA, but again, that goes against everything we’ve learned so far. When we get back to base, we can run some more tests, but that’s up to you.”
“So, you’re not taking me in as a prisoner? Will I still be able to make choices for myself? Like not staying there once the threat is gone?”
“Listen, I’m not going to lie to you, The Association knows about you, and that isn’t good. The Association consists of Shifters who believe in a pure society for their race. Basically, they are fanatics who won’t stop until they get you or any women they deem worthy. I can tell you from personal experience, having had contact with a member, these men consider women property or more specifically, broodmares. I can’t imagine any woman wanting that kind of life. So, to answer your question, no, you’re not a prisoner, but your life will never be the same again. I can tell you that having one of those infuriating dominant Alphas as a mate will help though.”
“Well, see, that’s the problem. Bas has informed me, on more than one occasion, that we’re not mates. It looks like I’ll be taking this journey on my own.”
“No, honey, that’s where you’re wrong. You’ll have Alpha Team and the rest of NAC and The Holly Group to help you. And if I was a betting woman, I think Bas will come around. These guys are stubborn. It might just take a little time.”
“See, that’s just it, Ryleigh. I gave him a part of me, and he threw it back in my face. Even after that, I still tried. He took it and crushed it under his feet. How do I come back from something like that? How can I trust him not to change his mind again and do the same things? I don’t think I can.”
NAC & The Holly Group - Box set: Alpha Team Page 100