Defender: Reckless Desires (Wolf Shifter Romance) (Alpha Protectors Book 3)

by Olivia Arran

  He glanced at me.

  I backtracked; he had to believe I was one of them. The old Vincent who wouldn’t have contemplated being tied to one woman. “Tamara’s not my type.”

  “Tamara’s everyone’s type, Vincent.”

  “Not mine.”

  He shrugged, not seeming overly bothered by my reaction. “Plenty of she-wolves out there who won’t turn you down.”

  I let the comment slide. “What’s the plan then?”

  “We’re getting out of here. I was sent to find you as you’ve officially been invited to join us at the Wolf Club this evening.”

  Now we were getting somewhere. “The Wolf Club?” I hid my eagerness behind a veil of bored disinterest.

  “You’ll see. Come on, we don’t want to be late. They might start without us.”

  I followed him out of the door in silence, my mind already drifting back to the woman I’d left behind. The feel of her body pressed against mine, the soft moans she made as she surrendered, the scent of her arousal that had perfumed the air and hardened my cock to steel.

  I was a man of my word.

  No way was I letting her walk away from me again.

  Chapter Ten

  Vin

  Jeremy stopped in front of a large wooden door, completely unadorned except for an imposing brass door knocker in the shape of a wolf.

  “Not going for the understated look, I see?”

  He shot me a look that told me he didn’t find me funny. Not one bit.

  I held my hands up in apology, giving him an easy grin. “Hey, come on. I need a drink and this place doesn’t look like it’ll have one.” I indicated the darkened windows and dusty drapes. The place looked abandoned, certainly not a place to have a good time, and if I knew anything it was this—Jeremy & Co. liked to have a good time.

  His lips twisted in a smirk. “You’ll get your drink.” He smashed the knocker against the door. Bang-bang-bang-pause-bang-pause-bang-bang.

  I raised my eyebrows in mock amusement.

  The door slid open, just wide enough for us to gain entry.

  Sliding in after Jeremy, I blinked against the sudden glare. How were they hiding the light from the street? From the inside the building was most definitely not abandoned; chandeliers lit a stately room, revealing gleaming mahogany wood floors and leather couches, most of them occupied with people I recognized from the party. In one corner stood my father, holding court with his cronies, in another lazed Jonathan and William.

  I turned to Jeremy in question.

  He shrugged, his face splitting into a broad grin. “This is where we come to talk shop and relax.” He guided me over to a serve-yourself bar, sloshing dark brown liquid into two glasses.

  “We?” I asked, accepting the drink.

  “Those in the inner circle.”

  I nearly choked on my drink at his pretentious tone. “The privileged, you mean?”

  “Exactly.” He clinked his glass against mine, as though I’d actually agreed with him.

  They’re all deluded! Stuck in the last century, at least.

  At his cheers I downed my drink, the liquor burning a path straight to my gut. Might as well make the best of it, though I was still fighting my wolf not to run out of the door and straight back to Grace.

  “Vincent! It’s good to have you join us.”

  I turned toward the voice, trying to place it. “Ah, good to be here, Gerald.” I recognized the man as Corbin’s Beta, and one of my father’s friends. He was a stocky man, graying at the temples, with deep frown lines etched permanently into his brow.

  “Once you’ve been inducted properly—not tonight, of course—I’m expecting big things from you. Your father has been telling me a little more about you, and how you’ve been spending the last five years.”

  Has he? I waited, wondering what the old man had said.

  At my silence, Gordon cleared his throat and continued, “The Council needs someone like you, a military man with training. Maybe one day you might be lucky enough to take over from me.” He slapped me on the shoulder with a chuckle.

  I forced a matching sound. I couldn’t imagine anything worse! From the looks of it, the Beta wasn’t even a real position, more of a title. Fuck knows what Gordon would do if I actually challenged him. One look at his expanding waistline told me: not much.

  Forcing myself to relax, I poured myself another drink. “It’s been a while since I was in the military—”

  “Yes, your father mentioned that, something about wanting to see the world and sow your wild oats?” Another slap on the shoulder, this time a little more forceful.

  “That’s about right,” I murmured, sipping my drink.

  “Well, I’m glad you’re back with us, son. Especially after everything that happened with—” Gordon broke off, glancing across the room, then lowered his voice from a boom to a whisper, “—well, you know.”

  I followed his gaze, my eyes locking onto Sidney Archibald Firbright Sr.., Sid’s father and Grace’s uncle.

  He chose that moment to glance up, our eyes colliding across the room. Hatred oozed from him as he curled his lip in disgust, then turned his back on me.

  His reaction brought the memories screaming back, the reason I’d left, why I hadn’t returned until now. I knew the time would come when I’d have to confront him. Grace was my true mate—and his niece—but luckily the time wasn’t right now. First I needed to talk Grace into the idea, and I wasn’t one hundred percent sure what her reaction would be. Now, if I could get her naked, then maybe I’d stand a chance. Her body wasn’t doubting me one bit. Her response to the kiss had bowled me over, and fired me up. Maybe if I—

  “Are we boring you, Son?”

  I gave my father a bored expression. “Well, there’s not a lot going on around here, is there? Just a bunch of guys, hanging around with drinks in their hands. Could happen anywhere.”

  Gordon stepped in before my father could answer. “We do a lot more than that, I assure you. The Council decisions are all made here, for one.”

  “And other projects,” Jeremy added, his words a little slurred. “The Council has to have funds to survive, right? So we brainstorm ideas, the best are put into action. This is our War Room.” His drink sloshed over the rim of his glass as he waved it around.

  Things were getting interesting. “What kind of ideas? Give me an example of something recent, something I can get excited about.”

  “We’re working on expanding into importing,” Jonathan offered, strolling over to join us.

  “Okay. I was thinking something a little more hands-on. No offense, but exporting sounds a little dull.”

  “Not dull at all! You should speak to Sidney. It’s his idea,” Jeremy answered, his voice booming out across the room.

  I gave him a glare. “Not my kind of thing.” Especially not with Sidney.

  Jeremy didn’t get the hint, or he was too far gone for it to even register, because he blathered on, “We’re not importing boring stuff. No, this is unique. We’re filling a gap in the market, one only our kind could—”

  “Jeremy, that’s about enough.” Corbin’s voice called from the doorway, and I turned to watch the powerful man enter the room. He stalked over to us, his hand coming to rest on Jeremy’s shoulder. From my friend’s wince, it was a painful squeeze. “Vincent still needs to be initiated. Until then, the circle’s secrets should remain just that.” He met my eyes and understanding passed between us. He didn’t trust me. Not yet.

  Well, that was fine with me. I didn’t trust him either.

  I nodded, then threw back the last of my drink. No point in wasting an excellent single malt. “Thanks for the invite, I’ll leave you guys to it.” Nodding at everyone, and ignoring their suggestions that I stay, I strode to the door.

  Once outside and safely across the street away from prying eyes, I paused, trying to sift through the scraps of information I’d picked up.

  One, my father had unknowingly reinforced my reputation as a good
-time playboy.

  Two, he’d also broadcasted my military background, something only close family had known about. Not so good, but it could work out.

  Three, this weird-ass inner circle thing they had going on. The elite maintaining absolute power, something I despised. But I also remembered not questioning the fact when I was younger. I hadn’t known any different, so I was giving most of the group the benefit of the doubt. I still hadn’t figured out if Corbin led the Council as a dictatorship or not. Shelving that worry, I pressed on.

  Four, the weird-ass stuff making the house look abandoned. What the hell was that shit? Some sort of new technology? Magic? Did it fucking matter? Moving on.

  Five, the Council was dabbling in areas outside their jurisdiction. From the way Corbin had shut Jeremy down, I seriously doubted they were all legal. Human illegal, I could tolerate. Something that broke shifter laws? My hands clenched into fists, anger thrumming through me. In America, the Shifter Council ran everything with a certain level of transparency. Every single Shifter could request to see any reports and documents pertaining to the running of their pack, financial or otherwise. Unless they were sealed. But they only sealed reports that were highly confidential, or life-threatening.

  Six, the importing business. The only piece of information I’d gotten that I could actually act on. Something Corbin didn’t want me to know about.

  Which meant I was going digging.

  My feet had been moving without any sense of direction, carrying me along the street and across London.

  I ground to a halt, staring at the door in front of me.

  I looked around, then back at the door. For some reason it looked like the universe wanted me to pay Astrid a little visit. I could leave an update, let whoever is receiving my messages know I’ve got a lead. It didn’t feel wrong. I had a lead, kind of. I just wasn’t sure it was going to go anywhere.

  As I struggled with my indecisiveness, the door swung open.

  I peered inside, but couldn’t see anyone. More fucked-up shit. Striding over to the counter, I grabbed a pen. Scrawling a note, I placed it next to the till where it couldn’t be missed. Still nobody appeared. Shrugging, I left the shop and headed home.

  Chapter Eleven

  Grace

  “I don’t think he’s the right man for you, Grace.”

  I set my purse down on the small table in the foyer and turned to my auntie. “Why’s that? I thought you wanted me all mated up?” Knowing she would follow, I headed on back into the kitchen and grabbed a glass out of the cupboard.

  Sure enough, she did. “Vincent…he’s a bit of a wild card.”

  “He prefers to be called Vin,” I interjected, not really listening. Swiping the apple juice out of the fridge, I poured some into my glass, shaking the carton at my aunt in silent question.

  Her lips turned down in obvious displeasure.

  At the apple juice or Vin? That was the one-million-dollar question. Or pounds.

  “No, thank you. He’s…” she trailed off, as if searching for the right words.

  Handsome? Hot? Thrilling? Fascinating? A sex-god? My mind helpfully suggested as the silence dragged on. I blamed my rusty libido, mentally adding playboy, arrogant, and controlling to the list.

  “Have you been listening to a single word I’ve been saying?” Her exasperated tone snapped me out of my mental argument.

  “Huh?” I tried to cover by taking a sip of my juice. “Of course I have! And I think you might be right. I need to think on it.”

  She clucked in approval, as if I’d already agreed. “Very sensible. Your parents did a fine job of raising you, Grace. They would have been so proud.” Her eyes watered alarmingly and I grabbed a tissue and waved it at her.

  Sniffing, she accepted it and dabbed at her eyes. Then she continued, “I think once you get to know Jonathan you’ll realize it’s the perfect match. His family is very well connected, and Jonathan is a very handsome man. You would have beautiful children.”

  Bile rose in my throat at the thought of having to allow Jonathan to touch me like that. Maybe I’d been a little too vague. “Actually, I think I’m sticking with Vin.” The second the words left my mouth I realized how right they felt. Dangerously right.

  “But…but you can’t! He’s no good. Look at the way he ran away trying to escape all responsibility. A real man would have stayed and faced up to what he had done. He’s despicable!”

  That got my attention. “What exactly did he do?” This was the first hint I’d heard as to why he’d left, and from the sounds of it, it hadn’t been good.

  She waved off my question as insignificant. “It doesn’t matter exactly what he did, but take it from me: he’s trouble.”

  I leaned back against the counter, sipping my juice. “If you don’t tell me why, then how can I make an informed decision?”

  She flinched, a tick working in her jaw. “I’m not going to drag up the past, Grace. Take it from me, your uncle will not approve this match.”

  It was the last bit that got my back up. “I’m not a child anymore.” And you’re not my mom, I added silently. My mom wouldn’t have kept me in the dark, making decision on what I needed to know.

  “You live under our roof.” The statement came out on a huff as she stared me down.

  Trying to cow me into submission. I knew how it worked, how shifters vied for dominance. But we were both human. I held her gaze, refusing to blink.

  She was the first to look away, hiding the fact by busying herself tidying away my now-empty glass into the dishwasher.

  Which made me feel bad. No matter why she didn’t approve of Vin, she’d been nothing but kind to me. “I’ll think about what you’ve said, Auntie, but it would be easier if you’d tell me.” I held up a hand, halting her protest before it had chance to start. “Promise me you’ll think about it.”

  Eventually she sighed and nodded.

  I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, then left the kitchen. Pausing at the bottom of the stairs, I tried to talk myself out of it. Giving up, I grabbed my coat and slipped out of the door.

  Chapter Twelve

  Grace

  The bell above the door jingled with comforting familiarity as I stepped inside the shop, the sweet smell of incense easing the tension from my shoulders. “Astrid?” I called out as I wandered through the array of knickknacks and baubles, letting my fingertips trace a light path over the many tables and cabinets.

  There was a rustling sounded in the back, then my friend’s head popped out, swiftly followed by her body. “Grace! Hi!” she cooed, rushing toward me in a flurry of trailing scarves and swirling petticoat skirts. Reaching me, she squeezed me tight in an exuberant hug. “How are you?” Releasing me in a cloud of perfume that was all Astrid, she leaned back to examine my face. Clucking her tongue, she hooked her hand into my elbow, steering me through the shop and into the back.

  “I’m fine.”

  “No, you’re not,” she retorted, fiddling with an array of jars on a small countertop until she found the one she wanted. “Tea?”

  I nodded, sinking into an over-stuffed armchair with a small sigh.

  Humming under her breath, Astrid stretched up and snagged two cups off a ridiculously high shelf, given that she was as short as me, then flicked the kettle on. “Do you want to talk about it?” Her hips swayed to a silent beat, her long hair dancing down her back in a riot of curls as her hands deftly measured tea into a gaudy-looking pot.

  I let out another sigh. Kicking off my shoes, I curled my legs up and tucked them under my ass.

  She glanced at me. “That bad, huh?”

  “I don’t know.” I felt like I didn’t know anything anymore. My carefully thought-out plans were taking on a life of their own, my personal life was a mess, and—

  “Let’s concentrate on your plans first.”

  She did that sometimes—answered questions I hadn’t actually asked. At first it had been unnerving, but now I was used to it. “Okay—”

 
“You’ve got a letter.” She thrust a folded white piece of paper at me while simultaneously splashing hot water into the teapot.

  I scanned the letter. “He’s making progress.”

  Joining me, she placed a tray onto the table and sunk down into a matching chair. “That’s good. Right?”

  “Very good.” Whoever it was, he was working faster than I’d expected. My contact at the Shifter Council in America had promised they’d send their best, someone trained and experienced with this type of mission, but I hadn’t wanted to hope too much. I set the letter down and accepted a steaming hot cup of tea. Not really my drink of choice, but somehow I always ended up drinking it all when I visited.

  “It’ll grow on you.” She winked. “Your contact with the American Shifter Council is your cousin James, right?”

  “He doesn’t know that I’m the one sending him the letters. And more like second or third cousin. He’s my dad’s cousin’s nephew, I think.” I wrinkled my nose. Trying to work it out made my brain hurt. Not to mention if I tried to figure out what it actually meant that I was related to so many shifters…

  “It just gives you an advantage.”

  I blew steam off the top off my cup, taking a cautious sip. “What does?”

  “That, as a human, you might be a shifter’s true mate.”

  I sucked in a breath, the tea shooting down the wrong pipe and leaving me spluttering and coughing. “No way!”

  She peered at me, her green eyes flashing. “Why would that be a bad thing?”

  I backpedaled, hoping I hadn’t offended her. “It isn’t! I was just surprised by the idea. You know me. React first, think later.”

  A wistful smile played on her lips, her eyes taking on a dreamy look. “I would give anything to find my true mate.”

  I leaned forward, covering her hand with mine. “You still can. Don’t give up hope.”

  At my gentle squeeze, a smile broke through her sadness, banishing it from her eyes. “It doesn’t matter. I love my life, and I’m at peace with the decisions that brought me here.” She straightened in her chair, adopting a look that meant business. “Now, back to you. How is your love life?”