Hunter’s head snapped up, the grin on his brother’s teasing slipping from his face. “No fucking way,” Hunter cursed, his eyes widening at the truth in Garrett’s face. “No fucking way! That’s right. If she is Jonah’s daughter…she’s…holy shit!”
“How in the hell didn’t you know?” Garrett turned completely around. “Her wolf has been calling to me before I even saw her.”
Marcus and Hunter glanced at each other with knowing looks.
“And obviously Jasper and his son don’t know either or they wouldn’t have branded her for a Reaping.” Garrett leaned against the doorframe then looked at Marcus who was grinning like an idiot again. “What the hell are you grinning at?”
“You hear her wolf?” Marcus laughed. “And we don’t.”
“Damn, man,” Hunter piped in, shaking his head sadly. “Females are going to be weeping in sorrow.”
Garrett frowned with a growl. “What in the hell are you talking about?”
“Oh, you know, brother.” Hunter sighed dramatically. “The great and powerful alpha leader Garrett Foster is no longer available. Masses of females will literally throw themselves from the cliffs of the Gorge.”
“You are so not right in the head.” Garrett glared at Hunter.
“It’s true.” Marcus stared as if he was deep in thought. “The most eligible bachelor of Lee County is officially off the market.”
“Epic shit right there,” Hunter agreed, trying not to look at Garrett who was turning red in the face.
Garrett grabbed Hunter and Marcus by the back of their necks at the same time, banging their heads together. “We have more important things going on than this bullshit, so get your heads on straight.”
“Easy for him to say when we’re the ones suffering from lack of female attention.” Marcus laughed, not even hurting from the head bang.
“Actually, you can speak for yourself on that,” Hunter aimed at Marcus. “I’ve got two women right now who can’t get enough of me. Now with big brother out of the picture, I’m sure that number will grow.”
Marcus punched Hunter in the shoulder before walking toward the direction Jonah disappeared. “Come on, lover boy. Let’s go do what big brother wants us to do so he can go to his lady love.”
“How old are you?” Garrett rolled his eyes before pushing away from the wall.
“Old enough to know what it means when a female wolf calls to only one male.” Marcus laughed loudly as he pushed Hunter in Garrett’s path when Garrett went to go after him.
Hunter pushed off Garrett with a large grin. “He got you on that one.”
Garrett didn’t say a word, but pointed for Hunter to get the hell out of the room. Shaking his head at his brothers, Garrett turned following where Janna had left. Stepping out on the porch, his eyes found her instantly and his gut tightened. She leaned over her car looking at something Dell, who was an amazing mechanic, was pointing at. His eyes snapped to her ass and his body grew rigid, his wolf taking full attention. Yeah, he was in deep shit.
******
Janna straightened up after looking at what Dell was pointing at. She still had no clue what the hell was wrong with her car, but she tried her best to look like she did. “So because I’ve driven the car when it was overheating, I cracked its casket and what I’ve been smelling is that green anti-stuff?”
Dell looked at her confused for a moment before a large smile spread across his handsome face. “Close.” He laughed. “You cracked the gasket. The green fluid is antifreeze and yes, that is what you’ve been smelling.”
“And that’s bad?” Janna looked from the car to him, hoping he would say no; it wasn’t bad at all.
“Well, let’s put it this way, pretty lady.” Dell smiled down at her, making her blush. “There are a few places you never want to see antifreeze. Falling from the sky, in your cereal, or coming out of your tailpipe.”
Janna looked up at the sky and frowned. “I bet if it was coming from the sky and not my tailpipe, it would be cheaper for me.”
“That’s very true.” Dell grabbed a rag off the car, wiping his large hands.
“So how much is this going to cost me to get fixed?” Janna frowned, trying not to notice how handsome Dell was. With his stained tight jeans, black torn t-shirt, and with smudges of oil on his muscled arms and across his dark cheek, he was gorgeous. All the men around here were handsome to the point of total distraction. Hearing someone walking toward them, she spotted Garrett Foster who was the most distracting of the bunch.
“Well, that depends on if I have any used parts I can use and if you have dinner with me.” Dell’s voice was smooth, indicating he had a way with women, which probably worked every single time.
“Why don’t you go see what parts you have, Dell?” Garrett’s deep, hard voice was a demand, not a suggestion.
Dell growled at the interruption, but quickly toned it down when he spotted Garrett. “Just trying to help the lady out, boss.”
“Then go find some parts and leave feeding her to me.” Garrett narrowed his eyes in warning.
“So, that’s how it is?” Dell nodded, a small smile curving his lips.
“It is,” Garrett replied without further explanation.
“Actually, I just need my car fixed,” Janna added, not liking the angry tension coming from Garrett. “I’m not even hungry.”
Both men snapped their attention toward her. Dell leaned his head back laughing, Garrett didn’t. “She’s going to be a handful, Garrett.” Dell shook his head as he walked toward his small garage. “I’ll let you know when it’s fixed, boss.”
“How much is it going to be though? Don’t do anything until I know that…do you hear me?” she called out after him, and then cursed when Dell kept walking, totally ignoring her. “What an ass.”
“He has orders from me to fix your car,” Garrett said, startling her as she glared at Dell’s retreating back.
“But I’m a customer. He should listen to me.” Janna frowned, her eyes narrowing.
“No, he should listen to his alpha, as should you.” Garrett grabbed her arm, but she jerked away.
“No, I don’t think so.” Janna crossed her arms, doing her best to look intimidating, but knew with her 5’3 stature next to his over 6’ massive frame, it was a losing battle.
“Don’t think so, what?” Garrett actually gave a crooked smile at her brave stance against him.
“You’re not my alpha,” Janna replied, not liking the fact that she was attracted to his smile way more than she should be.
His smile slid slowly off his face. “Do you belong to a pack?”
“You know I don’t,” Janna countered, wondering why she felt the need to push this man. Her beast was happily urging her on, and that surprised her. Her beast was usually just fighting to break free, but so far, she had won that war. So why now was she listening to her beasts’ desire to fight with this man.
“Are you in my town?” Garrett took a dominant step toward her as he asked that question.
“In the flesh.” Janna spread her arms out as she gave her smart-ass response.
Garrett’s eyes flared as they ran up and down her body. The intensity of his gaze when they met hers was electrifying. “As long as you are in my town and under my protection, I am your alpha.” His last step brought him so close to her that, she could feel his heat. Her beast growled a soft purr and she felt herself sway toward him. With all the purring her beast was doing, her mother may have been mistaken and her father was a damn cat rather than a wolf.
“They’re coming after me, aren’t they?” Janna asked, taking a step back, his closeness doing something to her body she wasn’t used to.
“Yes,” Garrett replied, the one word spoken deep and truthfully.
Janna’s stomach dropped and then rose quickly to her throat. She was terrified, but knew she couldn’t stay here and put these people at risk. There were too many children. “I need my car fixed so I can get out of here.” When he didn’t say anything bu
t shook his head, Janna frowned. “I’m not putting anyone in danger. I have to leave.” She started to walk toward the way Dell disappeared.
“You’re not going anywhere, Janna.” Garrett stopped her by grabbing her arm and leading her in the opposite direction. “We are going to let Jonah calm down and process that he has a daughter. Then we are going to figure out what is going on. One thing I can promise you is that you are safe here.”
Janna looked up at Garrett as she let him lead her. “But you don’t even know me.”
“Doesn’t matter.” He looked down at her, his gaze penetrating. “I know Jonah, and that’s good enough.”
As much as Janna wanted to protest, a part of her felt safe for the first time since her mother had been killed, and it was such a relief. The other part feared for the young children she had seen earlier as well as the two she brought here. “But what about your people…your pack? If they are coming here for me, I don’t want anyone to be hurt.”
As they continued through the small town, he led her up to a small white house. Before opening the door, he stopped and looked down at her. “It’s my job to keep my pack safe and it’s a job I do very well. You are under my protection and I will make sure no harm comes to you.”
He turned, opening the door for her, but she didn’t move for a second, surprised at the sincerity in his dark golden eyes. Not sure what to say to that, she just kept it simple as she walked past him into the house, trusting him fully. “Thank you.” She stepped past him
CHAPTER 6
A delicious aroma hit her senses as soon as Garrett opened the door. She took a deep breath, inhaling the scent, her eyes closing as her stomach growled loudly.
“It’s about time you got here.” A woman’s voice filled the room.
Janna’s eyes popped open only to land on a beautiful redhead who had walked into the room. Her beast growled a threat deep inside her as a nip of jealous swirled in her stomach, which was absurd. She hardly knew this man, at least not enough to be jealous of another woman. The stress must really be getting to her.
“Roxy, what are you doing here?” Garrett’s voice was more annoyed than angry.
“I wanted to make you some dinner.” She walked closer to Garrett, but her eyes stayed on Janna. “Who’s your friend?”
“How did you get in?” Garrett stepped in front of Janna, blocking Roxy’s view of her. “You know what? Never mind, I don’t want to know. I have business to take care of, Roxy.”
Janna took a step to the side so she could see the woman and suddenly felt sorry for her. The woman’s face went from beet red to pale within a split second of Garrett’s dismissal. She could see this woman had feelings for Garrett, but of course, him being a man, he didn’t get it. They never did. The woman looked from Garrett to her without any emotion other than hurt.
Taking a step forward Janna reached out her hand. “Hi Roxy.” She smiled. “I’m Janna. I’m sorry that I interrupted your plans tonight.”
Raising her eyebrows, Roxy took Janna’s hand with a shake then let go. “It’s okay.”
Hunter walked in at that moment and took in the situation. “Oh, shit.” He gave his brother a look of pity. “Awkward,” he whispered loudly in a strange tone.
Janna frowned at him. “You’re already on my shit list and I’ll still throat punch you.”
Hunter raised his hands in surrender, a large smile playing across his lips. “Sorry.” His tone of voice and large grin indicated he was anything but sorry.
“Listen, why don’t you guys do your…thing?” Janna backtracked toward the door. “And I’ll talk to you later.” She barely glanced at Garrett as she reached behind her to open the door she had just stepped through.
“Do not go out that door,” Garrett ordered, his eyes narrowed in warning before he turned his focus to Roxy and Hunter. “Out! Both of you.”
Roxy, Hunter, and Janna all started talking at the same time. Garrett stood in the middle of them, his eyes narrowing further to the point of almost closing.
“I was just trying to…” Roxy started to say before she burst into tears then ran out the door.
“Way to go, brother.” Hunter frowned as he watched Roxy run out the door, his eyes on her ass. “I guess that’s another heart I’m going to have to mend.”
“Hunter, you are so close to getting your ass handed to you.” Garrett frowned at his brother. “Now go, make sure Roxy is okay.”
Hunter shook his head sadly as he headed toward the door. “If I must.” He sighed heavily, heading toward the door.
Janna watched quietly, suddenly liking the younger brother. As annoying as he was and conceited as he was, he made her smile, which was something that had been missing in her life for quite some time.
“Oh.” Hunter snapped his fingers, stopping at the door. “Jonah is ready to talk again. He wants to see her.” He nodded at Janna.
“Her has a name and is standing right here.” Janna responded. “And her will be ready to talk to him when she is ready.”
“Nice.” Hunter nodded with a smile. “I will tell him that her will see him when her is damn good and ready.”
Janna covered her laugh with her hand as Hunter closed the door behind him. Glancing to her left, she saw that Garrett was staring at her oddly. “What?”
“You have a nice laugh,” he grunted before heading to the kitchen.
“Ah, thanks.” Janna tilted her head, watching him walk away while wondering about that little statement. Figuring he expected her to follow, she did and was surprised when she walked into the kitchen. A small table with a romantic setting for two, down to lit candles, warmed the small kitchen. She felt really bad for the redhead Roxy. “I’m sorry your night was ruined with your girlfriend.”
Garrett was also looking at the table, but with a frown. “It wasn’t ruined.” He blew out the candles then stood straight, rolling his shoulders. “And Roxy is not my girlfriend.”
Cocking her eyebrow, she looked at the table again. “Anyone tell her that?”
“Actually, yes, repeatedly,” Garrett grunted again, turning off the stove before opening the oven door looking in.
Dropping her bag, Janna sat down at the small island bar that sat in the middle of the small kitchen. The aroma of whatever was in the oven hit her full force, her stomach growled loudly. Loudly enough that Garrett looked up at her from his bent position at the stove. She watched as he pulled out a large pan of lasagna. The cheese was browned to a perfect golden color and bubbled with juicy sauce. She watched him set the lasagna on the burners before bending again, taking out a steaming loaf of bread and setting it next to the lasagna. He looked at her again as he grabbed one of the plates off the table, handing it to her.
“I’m fine.” Janna shook her head, not taking the plate. “I’m not hungry.”
“And you are a liar.” He brought the plate closer to her, urging her to take it. “Your stomach proved that. They probably heard it down the street.”
“That was rude to bring up.” Janna frowned, still refusing the plate. “And I am not eating something a woman made for you with romantic intentions. There’s a woman’s code for something like that. It’s not right.”
“A woman’s code?” This time Garrett cocked his eyebrow with a laugh. “God help us.”
“If God can’t, we women will have to.” Janna shot back.
“Suit yourself.” Garrett shrugged, taking the plate and digging into a big slab of lasagna before breaking off a hunk of bread. Setting his plate down across from her, he went to the refrigerator, poured himself a large glass of milk, and then sat down.
“Milk?” Janna looked from the glass surprised to Garrett. “Really?”
“Does a body good.” He raised the tall glass, drinking half of it down in one drink.
“It sure does.” Janna sighed, watching the muscles in his throat work as he finished the milk.
Garrett glanced at her, putting the glass down. “What?”
“I ah…” Crap she sai
d that aloud. She watched as he started to eat, and then frowned. “I can’t believe you are eating the food she made after being so mean to her.” Janna watched as Garrett shoveled in the delicious looking food, actually catching herself licking her lips. His eyes rose from his plate catching her doing just that. She watched as he took another fork full of cheesy lasagna, bringing it to his lips. Slowly, he put it in his mouth, chewing it with his eyes closed.
“It is not my fault that women break into my home, cook dinner, and then expects something from me that they are not going to get,” he finally responded after a long swig of milk. “And anyone who knows anything about wolves, knows it’s against our religion to let any food go to waste.”
“Women?” Janna said surprised.
“Yeah, women,” Garrett grunted, breaking off another chuck of bread and slathering it with butter. “I never know what I’m going to find when I walk into my house.”
Janna’s eyes couldn’t stay off the buttered bread. “Like what?”
“That is something me and you will never have a discussion about.” Garrett shook his head, using the bread to sop up the sauce from the lasagna.
“So you use these women?” Janna frowned, her eyes leaving his plate to land on him.
“You’re a woman so you would think that.” Garrett frowned with a jaded laugh. “No, I don’t use them, but I could very easily. Every woman from sixteen to sixty wants to be mated to an alpha, most will do anything to have that status.”
“And you really hate the benefits that brings.” Janna snorted, not believing it for a second as she watched him finish his meal from one of those women. “Come on. I wasn’t born yesterday.”
Garrett pushed his plate away, sat back in his chair and stared at her for what seemed like forever. “Some alphas probably take advantage of the situation, but I don’t.” The stare he was giving her was full of nothing but the truth of his words. “I am more than an alpha.”
A wave of respect for this man overwhelmed her. He didn’t seem like a player to her. Quite the opposite. He wasn’t like the type of person to say anything he didn’t mean, as it would be a waste of his time. Garrett Foster was a man who spoke his mind and damn the consequence. Making a decision to put her trust in him, she gave him a small smile. Standing and grabbing an empty plate, she filled it with the lasagna and bread. Setting it down on the island, she glanced at his milk. He pointed to where the glasses were. Filling up the glass with milk, she walked back over, sat down and took a large bite of lasagna. Closing her eyes, she moaned.
Forbidden Hunger (Lee County Wolves Book 1) Page 4