by Michelle Fox
“Yes. I could smell it on you earlier and I figured you drank it a lot.”
*****
Damn, the man was being nice. But why? She took a good look at her capturer. He was handsome, that was for sure. In fact, she would go so far as to say he was downright gorgeous, with his black hair that needed a trim and the five o’clock shadow covering his jaw. Man, would she like to… Damn, she needed to stop looking at him. He was keeping her here against her will, but he did bring her favorite coffee. “Thanks, that was thoughtful of you, but you can’t control me with coffee.” Quinn closed her eyes as a memory of her father flashed into her mind.
“Father, you can’t take my doll away from me. I paid for it with my own money.”
“Sure I can.”
She’s hated her father because he wouldn’t ever give the doll back to her. He kept it to prove to her that he held all the power. After that day, she never purchased anything she loved too much to lose. She opened up a bank account in another town and never told anyone how much money she had in it, so that when she ran away she would have some start-up money. And now this asshole thought he was going to control her? She would never let that happen again, no matter how nice he was being.
Putting her face in her hands, she dropped to the floor. “You’re just like him.”
Arden rushed to her side. “What’s wrong?”
“Get away from me! I want out of here. I have a store to get ready to run. People will know I’m missing. My family will cause all kinds of trouble if you don’t let me out.”
“Quinn, I’m not trying to hold you hostage. I want you to understand that you just turned into a wolf, dammit. Don’t you get it? Life has changed for you, woman.” She could see the frustration in his face as he spoke.
“I understand that, but telling me that I’m not ever leaving isn’t helping me! I have a lot to do before the store opens this weekend,” Quinn answered. The man just didn’t get it. “Look, I understand, and I want to learn how to deal with this. But right now, all I can think about is my future, and that’s making Southern Treasures a success.”
“You changed the name of the store?” Arden sat down on the couch.
She raised her chin. “Yes, among other things.” Arden didn’t speak, but seemed to be waiting expectantly. “Do you want to know what I’ve changed?”
“Yes, I do,” he said, actually looking interested.
Quinn narrowed her eyes, but walked around the chair and sat down. “Well, for starters, I painted the inside of the shop and put up new counters and pictures. Then I put up my collection of clothes and shoes. I also put in a jewelry counter with a lot of pieces from local artists. If all goes to plan, the store should bring in a lot of business for the community, like the diner and the art gallery. Maybe other stores will open up, too.” She crossed her arms and waited for Arden’s response.
“Do you have clothes for me, too?” Arden asked with smirk.
“Yes, I do, but I’m still getting in some more stock for the men’s collection. That’s why I need to get back to the store and unload the shipments that I know have come in by now,” Quinn pointed out.
“Maybe in a few days we can help you with that.” Arden knew a fight was coming now. He wanted her close, and if she went back to the store she would be away from him, and in danger. The rogue pack was still on the loose, and he couldn’t chance her getting hurt. The mating pull was playing havoc on him every time he inhaled her unique scent of vanilla and chocolate.
“A few days? I can’t wait a few... Why?” Quinn sputtered.
“For one, you’re in danger of being abducted by the pack that bit you. We have a rogue pack going around biting humans, and that is unacceptable.”
“That’s your problem, not mine. I’m a victim, not a prisoner. I did nothing wrong but go outside to get my purse,” she argued.
He had to tell her what she meant to him. She needed to know the truth.
“I have to be honest with you, Quinn. Do you know what a mate is to werewolves?”
“Mate, like—” Quinn stopped talking and thought for a minute. “You mean like a friend or something?”
“Yeah, something like that.” Arden scratched his head. “To a wolf a mate is more than a friend. A mate is who we’re fated to be with forever. I’ll never want another person, love another person, or hell, have sex with anyone but you.”
Quinn jumped up and circled behind the couch, putting it between them. “Oh no you don’t. I’m not going to be your love slave or something like that. You let me go now.”
“Stop, and calm down. You’re not listening to me.” Arden put his hands up, trying to placate her.
“What are you leaving out, the part where you tie me up and then have your way with me?” Quinn was panicking now. She picked up a throw pillow and held it in front of her like a shield. “Look, I may have been bitten by a werewolf, but that doesn’t give you the right to make me have sex with you.”
“You’re right, and I’m not trying to force you to do anything. But I want you to at least talk to someone beside me about it. Maybe they can explain it better—” Arden inhaled “—because right now all I want to do is fuck you.” He got up to leave, needing to get away from her scent, then stopped and leaned his head against the door. “Quinn, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen. I know you’re my mate, but you need someone who can explain this to you besides me. I’ve got to get out of here.” Arden could smell her excitement, even though she was scared too, and it was tearing him up. He opened the door and walked out before he did something he would regret later.
He leaned against the wall outside and panted, thinking about how close he just came in jumping her, ripping her clothes off, and having his way with her. Then she had to mention him tying her up, and that was it—he had to leave, or he was sure to do it.
Jade was coming around the corner with a tray of food.
“Great timing. Jade, I need your help.”
“Of course Alpha.” She sat the tray down on a side table.
“I need you to talk to Quinn and explain what an Alpha’s mate is. She’s my mate, Jade, and she doesn’t understand what that means. I can’t stay in the room long enough to really talk to her about it, or I’m…”
“Oh, okay. Sure, I can do it.” Jade smiled, and then blushed.
“Thank you, Jade.” Arden kissed the top of Jade’s head and then walked away, because right now the further he got away from Quinn, the better.
Chapter 4
Quinn heard someone whispering through the air vent and went to sit down next to it.
“Hellooo.” She giggled, because whoever was speaking tried to say it like a little kid would talk into a fan.
She leaned in closer. “Hello back to you.”
“I feel like I’m a prisoner in a movie and I find out that someone else is being kept next door.”
Quinn’s eyes widened as the voice spoke. “No, you’re not alone. Wait; this a joke?” Quinn asked. If it were then she would just go flop on the couch, or maybe run laps around the room because that’s what she wanted to do anyway.
“No, I’m in here too. I’ve been bitten as well. Arden said you were bitten soon after me.”
Quinn leaned in closer as the voice stopped talking. “Really? What’s your name?”
“Finley Egan. What’s your name?”
“Quinn Lamone.”
“Well, Quinn, it’s nice to meet you.”
“You too, Finley. Hey wait, someone’s coming.” Quinn got up and stood behind the couch. The door was unlocked, and a young lady with blonde hair walked in. Quinn took a step back when the woman looked up, revealing the scar that stretched across her face.
“Hi,” the young woman said hesitantly.
“Hey.” Quinn tried not to stare, but she couldn't stop herself. “Did...did they do that to your face?” Quinn knew the moment she said it that it was a stupid question to ask, but apparently she was a glutton for punishment.
“No!
Of course not. Why would you ask something like that? Have they been mean to you, or showed you anything but kindness since you got here?” Jade demanded.
Her scar stood out more when she frowned. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked that. It was rude and inconsiderate of me. I do apologize for my insulting behavior, but I’m a little stressed out here. First, I’ve been bitten by a wolf and told, ‘oh yeah, now you’re a werewolf.’ Then the big, good-looking guy tells me I’m his mate and all he wants to do is have sex with me. Then he tells me I can’t leave. Yep, I’m a little pissed off right now, so please excuse my rudeness.” Quinn walked around the couch and stuck her hand out to the woman.
“My name is Quinn Lamone. I just moved to town and opened up a new store called Southern Treasures, and now I’m a werewolf.”
“Really, you the one who bought Charlotte’s Closet? This is great. Now we’ll have someplace to go and buy our books,” Jade said happily.
“Unfortunately, I don’t have any books right now. It’s a clothing store, with jewelry and other things, but no books. Sorry.” Quinn sat down on the couch across from Jade.
Jade shrugged. “I always thought that Charlotte should’ve had a small book section with coffeemakers on the side and places for men to sit while their wives shopped, but Charlotte never wanted to do it. I just thought it would look pretty cool.”
“I’ve never thought about it, but I’ll look into it. I do have other things that you may like,” Quinn assured her. “Jewelry and purses, stuff like that.”
“Purses? I love purses.”
“Then you need to come check the store out! I have all kinds. I was hoping to sell some of Janice Evans’ purses. But she turned me down, saying the store wasn’t big enough and the town was too small.” Quinn looked over at the small purse Jade had draped over her shoulder. “I love your purse, actually. Who made it?”
Jade laughed, then pulled it off and showed it to her. “I made this.”
Quinn couldn’t believe she’d made the purse herself. The quality was excellent, and the vibrant colors were the coolest she’d ever seen. “You made this?”
Jade nodded.
“Wow, Jade. This is wonderful, and gorgeous. You should sell these. I mean, have you ever sold any?”
“No. I usually give them away for presents, but everyone seems to love them,” Jade said.
“Girl, I could get at least fifty dollars for these small ones with my online store, and even sell them in the shop. I use a lot of local artists and people who don’t sell through mainstream channels. Would you be interested? You’d need to get a stockpile, with examples for me to put on the site, and then extras in case they sell. Well, I know they’d sell.”
“Oh, I have lots made already. I just put them in boxes when I’m finished making them. Here, let me show you what I have.” Jade pulled out her phone and opened up her pictures. She handed the phone to Quinn, who sat there and looked at picture after picture of the coolest purses she’d ever seen.
“Jade, these are wonderful. I mean the quality is first-rate, and the colors go so well together. They’re so cool. You have to let me sell these for you.”
A new smile graced Jade’s face at her announcement. “Yeah, I guess. Are you sure?”
“Yes I’m sure. You’ll make a fortune. Now we need to put these pictures on my website to sell. Do you have a laptop?”
“Yes, hold on. I’ll be right back.” Jade started to leave the room, then turned abruptly and sat back down. “I forgot to tell you something. You mentioned mates, and I don’t think you actually get what a mate means to my kind. You see, we wait our whole lives to meet our mate. We get one mate in a lifetime, and that person fits us perfectly. That person will love us and we will only mate with that one person forever. We don’t cheat, or even have the urge to cheat. I know humans sometimes get divorced and move on to someone else, but not us. We never want to leave our mate. Sure, we get mad at each other, but we never get the urge to leave. It’s a way of ensuring the continuation of our race and to keep us going. Arden, our Alpha, says you’re his mate. I figure since you’ve just been changed it may take a while before that mating pull gets a hold of you, but don’t you worry; once it does, girl, all you’ll want to do is have…well, lots of sex.” Jade whispered the last part bashfully. “Now, let me go get the laptop.” She got up, leaving Quinn alone with this new information.
*****
Jade locked the door behind her, but before she could head to her room, she saw Alice leaning against the wall.
“What’re you up to, Scarface?” Alice giggled at her own joke.
“Nothing.” Jade tried to brush past, but Alice jumped in front of her.
“Nothing? It didn’t look like nothing to me. Looked like you were trying to make a friend, Scarface. But nobody wants to be your friend. They’d get sick to their stomach looking at your big fat scar all the time.” Alice reached out and traced the scar with her finger.
Jade could feel the tears coming, and she tried again to get away, but Alice grabbed her and punched her in the stomach. Jade gasped as she fell to her knees.
“Just remember, nobody wants to be your friend, even the new girl,” Alice told her, then sauntered off like she didn’t have a care in the world.
Jade let her tears fall until she heard a voice say, “You should stick up for yourself.” It was the new wolf, Finley.
She couldn’t face him right now; she was too embarrassed. Looking away, Jade ran off to her room.
*****
“Dammit.” Unfortunately, Jade had locked the door when she left, but she did leave her phone. Not wasting another minute, Quinn dialed 911 and waited for the operator to answer.
“Hello, New Hope Police Department. How can I help you?” Good grief, they don’t even have a 911 operator, it goes directly into the police department.
“Hello, my name is Quinn Lamone, and I’m being held against my will at Arden…”
“Arden Dixon’s house, ma’am? Is that where you’re at?” the operator asked. Hell, everyone seemed to know the man.
“Yes, that’s it. Please send someone to help me. Please.” Quinn tried to sound desperate, but Jade was right; they were being nice to her. She looked over at the food the woman had brought: a big hamburger with french fries. It looked yummy.
“Honey, I’ve known Arden Dixon for a long time, and he wouldn’t hurt a fly, much less a lady. I’ll tell the chief, and you can talk to him.” Then the lady hung up. Shit, she was in a crossover between The Twilight Zone and the freaking Andy Griffith Show. But that hamburger smelled good, and she was starving. Putting the phone down, Quinn reached over and practically inhaled the food.
Just as she was finishing, Jade ran back into the room with her laptop and a handful of purses. “I thought before you put them up for sale on your site, you should see the finished products.” She dropped the purses into Quinn’s lap, then sat down and opened her computer.
“These are wonderful, Jade. The work you’ve done on them is better than I’ve seen in a long time. Where did you find the fabric?” Quinn asked. Then she looked up at Jade and saw that her face was red, like she’d been crying.
“I dyed it myself. I find the colors that I want, and dye the material twice. Then it takes a few hours to sew it. I’m so used to it now that I keep getting faster, but it relaxes me and I love creating things.” Jade looked over at her, but kept the scarred side of her face turned away.
“Are you okay?” Quinn asked, concerned.
“Yeah. What do you think of them?”
Letting it go, Quinn concentrated on the purses. “These are works of art, Jade. They’re just extraordinary! Now let’s find a place to hang them and then take some pictures.” Quinn looked around the room and found a table sitting against the wall. She grabbed one of the purses and started setting them up. “We need a card that we can fold over and put the name of the purse on. Hmm, what should we call this one?”
“Rainbow Delight,” Jade suggested.<
br />
Quinn’s eyes widened. “Yes, yes, that’s it. Rainbow Delight.” She went over to a drawer she’d seen earlier and found a bunch of markers and construction paper. She cut out some name cards, and then drew a rainbow on one. Underneath it, she wrote, ‘Rainbow Delight, by Jade Cross.’ Then she took a picture with Jade’s phone.
They named all the purses and took pictures of them with their tags. It didn’t take long before Quinn had Jade Cross purses up on her website. She’d price some of them at fifty dollars, but the bigger ones would cost around a hundred and ten dollars.
“We never talked about my cut. Would ten percent of the sale be okay?” It wasn’t hard putting the purses up on her site, and it wasn’t really costing her much. If they did sell, and she knew they would, she’d come out with at least five percent in profit. “When they start to sell, we’ll need to do some marketing for you, and then we can renegotiate the percentage.” It was a win-win for them both.
“Sounds good to me.” Jade and Quinn both laughed.
“Look you’ve already sold one.” Quinn showed Jade. “You might want to go and start working on more stock. I’ve got a feeling you’re going to need it,” she suggested. She watched as the excited young woman stood up, then turned around so Quinn couldn’t see her face.
“Jade, are you okay?” Quinn put her hand on her shoulder and turned her around to find that tears were falling down Jade’s face. “What’s the matter, Jade? Did I do something wrong?”
“No.” Jade sniffled, wiping the tears from her face. “Nobody has ever done anything like this for me.”
“What, been nice to you?” Quinn asked, shocked that nobody had showed this woman any kindness. Now she really wanted out of here.
“Yes. I only really have four friends, and that’s because there’s something wrong with each of us, so we stick together.”
“What’s wrong with you?” Quinn asked. She didn’t think there was anything wrong with Jade.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Jade pointed at the scar on her face.