That wouldn’t have been the case if she’d purchased condoms from the pack store. Within half an hour everyone would know and be wondering why. It would put a huge target on her back to be the topic of jokes or worse, they’d start speculating on who she had bought them for.
The Bitch Trio had seen her leaving the picnic with Trayis and might put it together. They’d gossip hard, twisting any details they made up into something to embarrass her for years to come.
And a promise was a promise. She wasn’t going to break her word to Trayis to tell anyone about them, even if it meant leaving pack territory to venture into the human world to shop.
She pushed the cart to her car in the parking lot, feeling relieved. That hadn’t been so difficult after all. Trayis may not want to have sex with her again, but she’d be prepared if he did. She’d also bought some sexier pajamas, still feeling a little regret over him seeing her in the kitten ones. They’d been a gag gift from Marcia on her twenty-third birthday months before. The thing was, she loved how soft and comfortable they were.
Shay fished out her keys to unlock her trunk, dropped the bags inside, and closed it. She turned, looking for the nearest cart corral. She spotted one five parking spaces over and headed toward it.
The hair suddenly rose on her arms, the feeling of being watched striking hard. She froze, glancing around.
A young man with dark brown hair, piercing eyes the same color, stepped out from between a van and a large SUV in the next row. He locked gazes with her, and his nostrils flared. She realized the light wind was hitting her from her right, the flow of air traveling his way. The fact that he seemed to be smelling her put every fiber of her being on alert.
He wasn’t human. It was daytime…which only left one option.
The man approached slowly. She should have fled to her car, and would have…but there was something familiar about him. He wasn’t a part of her pack, though.
Five feet from her, he stopped. Cars cruised past them, hunting for open parking spaces. She was safe in public. No way would he attack or cause a scene.
“I’m not rogue,” she informed him.
He studied her. “You’re a half-breed.”
“Yes. But I belong to a pack. You can move along. I’m not committing a crime.”
He just frowned at her.
“What?”
“You’re the first one I’ve ever seen.”
He seemed more curious than threatening as she studied his face. It was tough to tell the age of Werewolves, but she’d guess he was anywhere between sixteen to early twenties, considering the way he dressed. He had big bones but looked as if he hadn’t grown into them yet, with his thin build. No animosity showed in his expression. He blinked, simply watching her back.
A thought struck her. “Are you a half-breed? Do you belong to a pack?”
He jerked as if she’d slapped him. “No. And yes, I belong to a pack. Why would you ask me that?”
“No offense, but you seem to be wandering around aimlessly in a parking lot. I was just making certain you didn’t need help.”
“Help?”
“Yes. Like money. An introduction to my alpha to see if he could find you a home. I’m willing to do that if you need help.”
“You think I’m some homeless rogue?” Anger flashed in his eyes.
“You don’t look it, but if there’s one thing you should already know, it’s that looks are deceiving. All these humans around us aren’t aware that we’re different from them. I didn’t mean to insult you. I apologize. I’ll be leaving now.” She pushed the cart between the metal rails and turned, only to find him blocking her path to her car.
“You don’t seem crazy to me.”
She frowned. “Is that what you’ve heard? Half-breeds are all nuts? I’m sure that some are, but I was raised with a pack.”
“That’s pretty rare.”
She shrugged, figuring he must be from one of the three packs bordering hers. They weren’t big on humans. “Alpha Arlis took me under his protection.”
He paled.
“Are you okay?” She felt alarmed at his response.
“I know who you are now.” His gaze scanned down her body slowly, and then back up to her face. He curled his lip up in disgust.
She glanced around, seeing humans nearby, and acted without thought. She strode toward him and put her hand on his arm. “Close your mouth.”
“Or what?” he growled.
“Or someone will see those canines you’re sporting. Get control of yourself.” She released him and took a step back. “How old are you?”
He hid his extended teeth and looked around. A faint redness showed in his cheeks, as if he were embarrassed by his slip. “Fifteen.”
That was a tough age for boys. She remembered what Rod had gone through. Control had been an issue, with all the aggression that came naturally with hormones. She rubbed his arm to help ground him with touch. “Just take deep breaths. I get that you don’t like me for some reason, but there’re cameras in this parking lot and it’s full of humans.” She lowered her voice. “Focus on the contact. It helps. Air in. Blow it out. That’s it. Again.”
He opened his mouth and ran his tongue over his now human-looking teeth. The sharp points were gone. “Why are you helping me?”
“I’m not your enemy, kid. Regardless of what you’ve been told about half-breeds.”
He jerked his arm out of her reach. “You are my enemy.”
She backed away from him. “Whatever. I’m out of here. Have a good life—and be more aware when in public. My older brother had a hard time controlling his shifts, thanks to his strong emotions. He said closing his eyes and thinking about something peaceful helped. Try that method.” She stepped around him, heading toward her car.
He suddenly reached out as she passed him and gripped her arm. It didn’t hurt but he got a firm hold on her.
She turned her head, staring up at him. “Let go.”
“You don’t have a brother. You have no family at all, Shay.”
It shocked her when he spoke her name, and the harsh tone he used. “How do you know my name?”
“I told you—I know who you are.”
“How? Have we met before?”
He stepped back, releasing her arm. “No. But I’ve heard all about you.”
Now she was confused. “How? From who?”
“You have no fucking clue who I am, do you?”
“No. Should I?”
“If you had family, I guess you’d call me your uncle. Not that I’d ever claim you.”
She nearly dropped her purse in astonishment.
He seemed familiar because she’d seen pictures of her father. The kid standing in front of Shay had her dad’s eyes and cheekbones. The mouth was different, his hair a lighter shade of brown, but the resemblance could be seen after she knew to look for it.
“My parents didn’t share my existence with that fucked-up pack they were stuck in for a while. Your alpha may as well have banished them to hell when he stationed them away from the pack and cut them off from everyone. Arlis did that as payback for saying he was an unfit alpha.” He leaned in closer, glaring at her. “My mother had to give birth to me without a healer. My parents feared Arlis would steal me, and they’d lose a second son.”
Still shocked, she did the math. He’d been born when she’d been about eight. Then his words penetrated. “What? Arlis wouldn’t have stolen you! They also weren’t cut off from the pack. Trust me. They had plenty of friends.”
“Liar,” he sneered. “You’re the nasty result of what happens when an unfit alpha forces a great enforcer into mating, just because he stuck his dick in the wrong hole! My parents are still furious that Arlis got Marcus killed.”
Shay felt like she’d been slapped. “Is that what they told you? That Arlis made my father mate my mother? You were lied to, kid. My father didn’t even tell Arlis he’d mated my mom until after he’d brought her home from California. He loved my mother.”
“You’re a liar!”
“No, I’m not.”
“You said you have a brother but you don’t. That’s proof that you lie.”
“He’s my foster brother. I actually have a few of them.”
He scowled. “You’re lying about my brother. Marcus was forced to mate an unstable human by his alpha, and he died as a result! My parents were punished for not keeping quiet.”
She frowned. “Do you have a best friend?”
He frowned at the question. “Yes.”
“Does that person know you better than your parents do? Do you tell your best friend everything?”
He hesitated…but then gave a reluctant nod.
“Dean and Sylvia grew up with my dad. They’re the couple who raised me. They were best friends to Marcus from the time they could crawl. The three of them were inseparable. They told me the truth—all of it. I wasn’t a planned pregnancy, but my dad loved my mom enough to mate her without getting permission first from his alpha. Arlis found out after it was done. My parents were tightly bonded mates. That’s why he didn’t survive her death. When he died, his best friends raised me—because your parents wanted me dead. That’s why Arlis had to assign them to new duties away from me. He was trying to keep a toddler alive. There was even fear that they’d poison my food, since they ran the pack store. Think about that—I was two years old.”
“That’s not what happened—”
“It is. And as for your parents losing all their friends? Total bullshit. They talked over twenty pack members into trying to have me banished when I was still a few years younger than you, all because I couldn’t shift. Do you understand what would have happened to me? You smelled what I am. So would other Werewolves. If you haven’t figured it out, they wanted a thirteen-year-old girl thrown off pack land and out into the human world. My own grandparents basically tried to kill me, again. I wouldn’t have survived a week. That’s when Arlis sent them to live with another pack. They just wouldn’t stop trying to hurt me. And the sad part? Until the day they left, I still kept hoping they’d learn to love me.”
“You’re the reason they lost their son.” He no longer met her gaze, though. “You can’t blame them for that. You were and are a reminder of that pain.”
She stepped closer to him, until he finally held her gaze. “I can and do blame them. I want you to think about something, kid. One day, you might fall in love with someone they don’t approve of. God forbid it’s a human. That’s what happened to my father…your brother. He fell in love with my mom. Your parents refused to accept her. From what I was told by his best friends, they went out of their way to make my parents miserable. They refused to acknowledge their own grandchild, kept sending single Werewolf women to attempt to seduce my dad.
“It hurt him that his parents purposely insulted his mate and tried to drive a wedge between them. So imagine how a young human girl felt, having women throwing themselves at her mate, all the while, being told by her in-laws that she was ruining his life. She killed herself. And my father died three days later of a broken heart. She meant that much to him. You’re a fucking Werewolf. You know he would have survived her death if she hadn’t meant everything to him.”
Shay blinked away tears. The kid said nothing, but he had paled again.
“You’ve been told a twisted version of the truth by your parents. But we’re blood. That means something to me. You know where to find me if you ever want more of the truth, or just need someone who will accept you no matter what. I’ll always welcome you. Don’t believe me? Talk to Sylvia and Dean, the two people who knew your brother best.” Shay hesitated before asking, “Will you even tell me your name?”
At that, he backed away and fled.
She watched him disappear between the cars and wiped at her tears. It took her a few tries to open her car door, but she finally did, collapsing into her seat. She closed the door and locked it, letting the tears flow. People may have stared at her, but she didn’t care.
She had an uncle. Once again, her grandparents had denied her family. It hurt…badly.
It took Shay a good fifteen minutes to pull herself together. She hoped he’d return, but he didn’t. Finally, she started the car and drove back to pack territory.
* * * * *
Trayis knocked on Shay’s door. He heard her moving around, and then she unlocked the bolt and opened it. Her eyes were watery, slightly swollen, and red. She’d been crying—again.
Rage filled him.
“That son of a bitch Tegan hurt you, didn’t he? Where is he? Do you know? I’ll fucking kill him myself!”
Shay’s mouth fell open.
Trayis gently pushed his way inside the cabin, moving her back, and closed the door behind him. He didn’t think, just acted on instinct by scooping her into his arms and cradling her there. The couch was the only surface to sit on, since her coffee table didn’t look sturdy enough to hold their combined weight. He took a seat and held her on his lap even tighter, needing to comfort her.
“I’ve got you, doll. It’s going to be okay.”
She turned her head and lifted her hands, touching his shirt. He liked the feel of her small hands on him. “I’m fine.”
“You’ve been crying. I didn’t get many details except that some asshole came after you. I want to hear everything that happened.”
“I’m not upset about this morning. I’d actually already forgotten about Tegan.”
He was confused. “Then why are you crying?”
“I have an uncle.”
“What did he say or do to you?”
“I didn’t even know about him.”
Trayis shifted her on his lap, turning her enough to see her face better. “How is that possible?”
“My grandparents had another son. He’s fifteen years old, and I ran into him today in a parking lot.” Fresh tears filled her eyes. “They told him horrible lies. I don’t even know his name…”
He reached up and gently wiped at her fresh tears, trying to make sense of what she’d said. “What parking lot?”
She blushed and dropped her gaze. “I left the territory to buy condoms. I was hoping maybe I’d see you again, and we’d need some. It would have everyone gossiping if I bought them from the pack store. Usually only pack males sleeping with humans buy them there.”
She’d left the safety of her pack to keep their seeing each other a secret—just as she’d promised—and then ran into a family member she didn’t even know.
“Damn it, Shay. Did he threaten you? Hurt you? I don’t want you putting yourself in danger.”
She lifted her gaze. “He didn’t threaten me or anything. I’m just upset. He thinks Arlis forced my father into mating my mom and…just a bunch of other bullshit. They made him seem like an evil alpha who would’ve kidnapped him at birth, and a lot of other crazy stuff.”
He stroked her cheek. “I’ve learned a little about your grandparents. They sound like idiots.”
“Dangerous ones. It was bad enough that they wanted me dead, but he’s fifteen, Trayis. They’ve twisted his mind enough to hate this entire pack. What if their lies drive him to do something stupid? I’m worried. I tried to tell him the truth, but I think I hurt him more. I was just so stunned and angry! I blurted shit out.”
He ached for her. She was too sweet. “You’re more upset for this kid than anything else, aren’t you?”
She nodded. “He reminded me of Rod when he was younger. He felt the world was against him because he was different from other boys, and he picked a lot of fights, trying to fit in. Rod isn’t dominant or a great fighter. He could have been killed. What if my uncle picks a fight with Arlis because he’s been lied to and thinks Arlis wronged his parents and my father? I called Arlis, but he was busy. I forgot about the alpha party tonight. Darlene said she’d get me in to see him in the morning. I need to tell him what’s going on, to make sure my uncle isn’t hurt if he does something impulsive. He really doesn’t know any better.”
“
Doll, you’re breaking my heart.” Trayis pulled her in close and hugged her, kissing the top of her head. “It’ll be fine. Arlis wouldn’t hurt a youth. It’s going to be okay.”
“My uncle hates me,” she whispered. “You should have seen the way he looked at me. I had to calm him down in the parking lot. He was losing control of his body.”
Trayis tensed. “Did he hurt you, Shay? Tell me.” He wouldn’t kill the kid—but he’d hunt him down and teach the youth a lesson he’d never forget about harming someone weaker. Especially Shay.
“No.” She shook her head. “My heart hurts, but he didn’t attack or anything. Just flashed some canines.”
He relaxed. “It will be okay.”
“I don’t see how. They’ve made Arlis out to be an evil alpha, and I think I made things so much worse.”
He wanted to fix it for her. Make her smile. The urge was so strong, it left Trayis unsettled. He stroked her back and held her even closer. “Do you know what you need?”
“Ten minutes in a room with my grandparents, where I shoot them with Taser darts and hold down the button while they flop around?”
He laughed, loving her sense of humor. “Besides that.”
“What?” She looked at him.
Her eyes were so beautiful. “Come to the trailer with me. Spend the night. I’ll take your mind away from this.”
She hesitated.
He didn’t like it one bit that she didn’t instantly agree. “Come with me, Shay.”
“I want to…but two nights in a row doesn’t sound casual.”
He knew that, too. “Come anyway. We’ll have fun, and Ginny is sending catered food from their party to the trailer soon. I have a feeling it will be a lot. You need to help me eat it all.”
She grinned. “Okay.”
He smiled back, glad she’d agreed. “Go pack a bag. Don’t bring the kitten pajamas. I like you sleeping naked.”
A blush crept into her cheeks. “Good thing I did buy those condoms.”
“Yes.” He eased his hold on her and helped her to her feet. “Hurry up.”
He watched her climb the ladder this time, up to the tiny loft she called a bedroom. Shay deserved so much better than living in a tiny home on his brother’s territory.
Trayis (VLG Series Book 11) Page 9