“Let me introduce you to everyone,” Brie said, a curious tone in her voice when she caught the looks between Mitchell and Dawn.
Damn it, she wasn’t good at hiding her feelings even if she didn’t know exactly what she was feeling to begin with.
“Over there is Ryder and his mate Leah.” Brie pointed to a slender male and a willowy woman whose energy told Dawn she must be a witch instead of a full human or shifter. Ryder, Dawn knew, was the Heir to the Pack, but wouldn’t be once Gideon and Brie’s daughter, Fallon, grew up into adulthood.
“Hello,” Leah said with a bright smile, and Ryder tipped his head at her in acknowledgement.
“And over there is Brandon with his mates Parker and Avery,” Brie continued.
Dawn knew all about those three as their mating and everything that had happened to them in the process was rather public. She waved awkwardly since she didn’t like being the center of attention, but Cole went through the room and shook everyone’s hands like the Alpha he would be. He was far better at this socializing thing than she was, and she worked at a damn coffee shop.
“And you know Mitchell and Walker.” Again, there was that all too curious tone.
Walker nodded at them, while Mitchell stood there, silent and brooding. She honestly didn’t know what she’d done to piss him off this time, but she didn’t care. He wasn’t going to ruin this night for Cole, so she’d just have to ignore the man. He’d spoken to her once, and yet he kept glaring in her direction like she’d stolen his car or something.
Well, she wasn’t in the mood to deal with him or his moods, so she’d just ignore him. That was how she’d gotten through the past year with her wolf going crazy at just the sight of him.
Once introductions were made, Brie took her over to where Avery and her men were, and they started talking about random day-to-day things like any other normal person would. As soon as Dawn got over the fact that these were wolves of high power and realized she just needed to act normal, she relaxed somewhat.
Later, after they’d eaten an amazing meal that consisted of red meat, lots of potatoes and pasta, and a few veggies, her stomach was full, and her wolf was a bit more relaxed. They ended up moving around the house again, talking in small groups and completely welcoming Cole and Dawn. She figured tonight couldn’t have gone better, and she hoped she didn’t mess anything up going forward. When she caught sight of a photo of Fallon and who had to be her cousins on their bellies as they crawled around a blanket, Dawn’s smile widened, her wolf whining.
Brie narrowed her eyes and snapped her fingers. Dawn took a step back, her gaze lowering. She might be more dominant than Brie, but that didn’t mean anything when it came to an Alpha’s home.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend.” Crap. She so wasn’t good at this Pack politics thing.
Brie reached out and lifted Dawn’s chin up, her eyes worried. “You didn’t. I only snapped because I finally figured out your wolf. I’m sorry, I should have said something as I snapped my fingers like a crazy woman.”
Brandon, the Omega of the Pack, leaned forward and sniffed like he was in wolf form as his eyes widened. She’d have thought it rude, but hey, they were wolves, sniffing was what they did.
“You’re a maternal,” Brandon said slowly before understanding dawned. “And you don’t have kids in the Pack yet, do you?”
Dawn shook her head. “No, Cole and I are the youngest wolves for now. There’s another wolf, Sam, who is around our age, too. But when we’re allowed to create mating bonds again…” She trailed off, not knowing what else needed to be said.
Brie reached out and squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry the children aren’t here tonight for you. It must be hard to have a desire to protect and yet nothing to protect.”
Dawn shrugged. “I’m fine.”
“You should talk with Gwen,” Walker said as he walked up to their small group. “She’s the lead maternal of the Pack and could probably help you once the Centrals grow a bit.”
“And I’m sure she could use help at the daycare,” Brie put in before holding up her hand at Dawn’s protest. “My wolf trusts you, and you’d never be alone on Pack grounds to ruffle anyone’s fur. You need balance to be healthy, Dawn, and we all know the Centrals are on their way to becoming a true Pack. You need to be trained.”
Dawn blew out a breath and forced a smile, the emotions running through her right then so intense, she wasn’t sure she could keep from shaking. These people…they’d accepted her so easily, even after everything they’d been through.
It was a stunning expression of what a Pack should be, and how strong they were.
Thankfully, the conversation turned to something else, and she excused herself, needing air. She walked out to the back porch, knowing she couldn’t venture far since this wasn’t her den, but she needed the space.
Only as soon as the door snicked shut behind her, she knew she wasn’t alone.
Of course, she wasn’t alone.
Damn him.
Chapter Five
Mitchell cursed under his breath as soon as she walked outside to the porch. He’d come outside to get away from her scent since it seemed to permeate the small house with the sweet and floral aroma that was all Dawn, and now here she was, invading his space. Again.
He didn’t know what it was about her, but he knew he needed to get a handle on whatever was going on. He might act like a bastard most of the time, but he wasn’t cruel. Yet right then, he just wanted to yell and scream and get away from her—and he had no fucking clue why. She was so damn close, too. So near, he could feel the heat of her skin against his. He hadn’t gone far from the door when he came outside, and now they were only a few inches apart.
“So…I didn’t know you’d be out here, or I would have stayed inside. Not that I’m avoiding you per se, it’s more that I know if you’re out here, then you’re probably like me and need some space to breathe or just be, and now here I am, standing in your way and not letting you be alone. So, yes, not avoiding, but I still try to give you a wide berth. Anyway, I can go back inside if you want, and go, uh…just go. Yeah, I’ll do that.”
She basically said all of that in one breath, and Mitchell had to admire her for that even if it sort of overwhelmed him.
“And now I’m talking too much, I can see it in your eyes. Or like, the corner of your eye since you’re not actually looking at me. Anyway, thank you for listening to me ramble. I’ll go back in and check on my brother. Oh, and thank you for helping him, by the way. I know you probably have four hundred things to do a day, but coming by the den and checking on Cole when your Alpha can’t…well, that’s truly just amazing. I hope you see that even if it might just be a duty to you.”
She opened her mouth and was either about to take a breath since she hadn’t in a while or start talking again. And since Mitchell didn’t know how to politely to tell her to shut up since her voice kept sending his wolf into an odd frenzy he couldn’t figure out, he did the one thing that came to mind.
Absolutely the most idiotic thing he could have done.
He turned and kissed her.
Hard.
She froze before moaning. She tasted of sweetness and the wine they’d had at dinner. Holy hell, this was a mistake, and yet he couldn’t stop kissing her. He cupped her face with one hand, using his other to tug at her hair so her head fell back and he could kiss her deeper. He nipped at her lips, and she let out small groans that went straight to his cock.
As soon as she raked her nails down his back, he knew he had to pull away. Damn it, he hadn’t been thinking, but now he couldn’t stop what he was doing. Annoyed, he ripped his hands away from her and pulled his mouth back, his chest heaving as he panted.
“Why did you do that?” she breathed against his lips, her eyes wide, and her mouth parted in that sexy way that made his cock ache and his wolf howl.
“It was the only way to shut you up.” A lie, and he knew it was the wrong thing to say as soon as her eyes dark
ened, her face showing how she closed herself off.
Without another word, she backed away from his touch and quickly walked to the door, going inside without even a backwards glance.
Hell, he was an asshole, and he only had himself to blame for his reputation and actions.
“What the hell was that?” Max asked from the darkness.
Mitchell didn’t jump, but it was damn close. He hadn’t been paying attention to his surroundings, not with Dawn and her delicious scent wrapped around him, so he hadn’t noticed his brother stalking up to the porch. Hell, that was dangerous.
Dawn was dangerous.
“Nothing.”
“Didn’t look like nothing. Looked like you had that very cute little wolf in your arms and your tongue down her throat. Then you said something stupid, and she ran away from you.” A pause. “So you did what any Brentwood would do in that situation and messed up.”
Considering that was the most he’d heard from his brother in a while, Mitchell should have been happy that Max cared about it enough to comment. Instead, it just sent him over the edge he’d been precariously leaning over for too long when it came to the tantalizing and far too young wolf. Oh, sure, Dawn was an adult, but he’d seen a lot more than she had, and there would always be that gap.
He pushed those thoughts from his head. It didn’t matter if there was an age gap at all since he’d already had his chance with a mate and lost it. He didn’t get another one, and that meant no women for him. It was too much of a betrayal.
The sweet taste of Dawn on his tongue faded to ash, and he swallowed hard, his stomach turning. He’d betrayed Heather by even thinking about another woman, and then he’d done the worst thing possible and kissed her.
“I need to go,” he growled out. He moved down the stairs and past Max, who narrowed his eyes at him. “Go inside. The others were wondering why you didn’t come to dinner.” So had Mitchell, but he knew the answer.
“I’m not going in,” Max said softly.
Mitchell stopped moving and turned to his brother. “You should. You can’t hide out here and be on the outside looking in. It’s not good for you.”
Max’s lips pressed into a thin line, the scars on his face tugging. “You’re the one leaving.”
“Yeah, because I fucked up. You haven’t. Don’t do so now by not showing up at all. You saw how Blade reacted at that meeting when Cole’s name came up. We need to be a united force and help the kid learn how to be Alpha. He’s way too damn young and needs some experience.”
“And seeing the monster behind the curtain will help with that?” Max asked, his voice deadpan.
Mitchell stalked up to his brother and growled. “No, damn it. You’re not a monster, and I’ll kick your ass if you keep calling yourself that. Now, go inside and hug Brie. She misses you.” Brie and Max had been good friends before she mated into the Pack, and when she became his Alpha’s mate, Max had only gotten closer to her. Now, Mitchell wasn’t sure if the two even spoke anymore—not that Brie wasn’t trying.
“I’ll go in. For her.” Max turned and walked up the steps before stopping at the door. “Want me to say anything to Dawn?”
For a moment, there was almost that teasing tone to Max’s voice that he’d had for so long. Mitchell swallowed hard through the emotion clogging his throat. “She’s fine,” he ground out.
“Sure, brother, sure.” And with that, Max walked inside to the delight of the others.
Mitchell turned away and started stripping off his shirt. He balled it up in his fist before making his way to one of the large trees that marked the running areas where the wolves could freely hunt. He threw his shirt down, toed off his shoes, and shucked his pants and underwear, leaving him naked under the moonlight with his wolf on edge.
He bent down on all fours near the base of the tree and tugged on the cord that connected him with his wolf. The change wasn’t easy, it never was and never would be. When they were children, shifters didn’t feel the pain they did when they were adults. It was as if the moon goddess shielded them from that particular part of shifting as soon as they were able to change around two or three years of age until they were strong enough to handle the pain.
The familiar burn slid over him, breaking bones and tearing tendons as his body morphed into a new shape. His face elongated and fur sprouted over his body. He gritted his teeth at the sweet agony before howling, his wolf now fully at the forefront. He panted and shook off any aches before stretching slightly and starting to run. Though it wasn’t a full moon, it didn’t matter—shifters could transform at any point during the month. It took energy, however, so they couldn’t shift over and over again without becoming exhausted. Stronger wolves could usually change quicker and more times throughout the day, but not always. It depended on the individual wolf.
Mitchell ran hard, his paws pounding the dirt and the wind sliding through his fur. He didn’t have a place in mind where he wanted to end up, he just knew he had to keep running. If he exhausted himself, then maybe he’d get Dawn out of his system.
Growling at the thought of her, he sped up and let his wolf do the thinking for him. A couple of hours later, he had his clothes in his mouth as he went to his house in wolf form. He used the lower keypad and his paw to get inside since each house was equipped with those now so wolves didn’t have to get stuck outside without a way to get in. The door opened with the use of the lower keypad so he didn’t have to stand up and somehow use the doorknob.
His body aching, he made the slow change back to human. His body was covered in sweat, and his bones ached. He’d run far too hard considering he had shit to do the next day and wouldn’t be able to sleep off all of the aches and pains. He didn’t care right then, though. He deserved any discomfort he felt for what he’d done earlier.
Naked, he picked up his clothes and went to the kitchen to grab some cheese from the fridge since he was too tired for anything else. His body needed the protein, and while meat would be better, some cheddar would have to do. He’d been set on running out his energy instead of hunting, so he hadn’t caught anything in the woods. He went back to his bedroom, tossed his clothes in the hamper, and swallowed the rest of his snack in one bite before getting into his large shower.
His wolf was exhausted but still whined at him ever so slightly. With a sigh, Mitchell let the hot water roll down his back and focused on the bonds within himself. He’d been feeling disconnected from the Pack that night, and he knew why—he’d shut himself off from what he was feeling for Dawn, and his guilt over Heather. That meant the bonds that connected him to the Pack were stunted, as well. And since he was the Beta of the Pack, those bonds were wound with another set through that connection. His job was to protect the Alpha. That was it in a nutshell. And doing that, he took parts of the job of being in charge of a large group of people and tried to help with the stress of being Alpha. He organized the daily duties of those not on patrols but still needed within the den like mechanics, juveniles that needed to be placed within multiple areas until they found their footing, and training for those going off into different sectors. Gideon, of course, was in charge of it all, but his cousin couldn’t do everything, and it was on Mitchell to make sure Gideon wasn’t so overwhelmed with inner Pack things that he couldn’t focus on the other hundred things on his plate.
As soon as Mitchell opened up again, the Pack bonds pulsated full force, and his knees shook. Their Pack was healthy, but it needed constant guidance and care. He couldn’t let distractions like a pretty wolf with biteable lips get in his way.
Determined, he finished showering and dried off before lying down naked on his bed, too tired to even pull back the sheets. His wolf, now as content as it could be, curled up into a ball, and Mitchell fell asleep, the taste of the woman he shouldn’t want still on his tongue.
The next morning, after he ate and stretched his sore muscles, he answered messages and headed over to the elder circle. Though wolves never truly aged and always looked like they were in
their mid-thirties or so—sometimes younger, sometimes older—some wolves lived for so long that they were slightly disconnected from the rest of the world and the Pack. They’d been through so much in their lives, seen so much, that some of them couldn’t function properly within normal wolf society.
They might look Mitchell’s age, but as soon as one looked into their eyes, they saw the vastness of knowledge. The Talons didn’t have a large elder group anymore, not since his uncle, the former Alpha, had destroyed so much of the Pack, but they still had a few wolves that tended to stay away from others. They’d even formed their own council, though they weren’t recognized as one anymore, at least not after a few had betrayed Gideon during his initial mating to Brie. They didn’t have authority over the Pack like they once did, but they still had the ear of the Alpha—and Mitchell for that matter.
Xavior, the wolf Mitchell had come to see, sat on his porch, a cup of coffee in hand and another on the table next to him. Unlike many of the older wolves, Xavior lived near the other elders, but he worked with the young pups, as well. He’d integrated himself more within the Pack since Gideon became Alpha, and it had only gone to strengthen the den’s base. He was also one of the ones who had fought alongside Mitchell during many of the battles over the past few decades.
“Thanks for coming,” Xavior said, taking a sip of his coffee.
Mitchell sat down on the rocking chair next to the older man and nodded down at the other cup. Xavior smiled and gestured toward it.
“I know how you like it, pup.”
Mitchell snorted then took the mug and sipped. Xavior was right, he did know how Mitchell liked his coffee. “I’m not quite a pup.”
“Compared to me, everyone is a pup.”
Destiny Disgraced Page 5