A Mate's Healing Touch

by Merryn Dexter

  Word had spread their former pack in the Black Hills was looking for families to return. The previous Alpha, Magnum, had been a mean, crazy bastard. Their father spirited the family away one night when the boys were eleven and thirteen once it became clear Magnum’s roving eye had fallen on Connor’s twin sister, Caitlyn, and refused to shift away. Their father had help from the pack Enforcer, Ryker, and he, along with Gee, the local Were-bear and bar owner in Los Lobos, had distracted Magnum and his gang of cronies long enough to allow the Burrows family to flee.

  That had been fifteen years before, and Caleb wasn’t keen to return anytime soon. The pull of pack was different for his parents; he knew they mourned the loss of connection much more deeply than their children did. His father also asserted they had the skills necessary to help the new Alpha, Drew, with his plans to rebuild their town. Los Lobos had fallen into a desperate state after years of neglect.

  Dad had made a couple of exploratory visits, and his sons had accompanied him on his last trip. The new Alpha seemed sincere in his desire to pull the pack together and rebuild their spirit along with their town. Drew’s quiet determination impressed them all. They had also been reintroduced to the enigma of Gee. He’d sized them up, placed a couple of beers and a plate of fried pickles in front of them, and grunted, “You’ll do.” A mark of approval, according to their father.

  The family agreed they would honor all the current orders on their books before they transferred the business to a couple of their foremen who had banded together to cover the cost of buying the Burrows’ out. Plenty of work awaited them in Los Lobos. Work and the possibility he could find his mate once he returned to life among the Wolves.

  The number of human mates hadn’t escaped their notice. Taking a human as a mate had been anathema under Magnum’s reign of cruelty. While Caleb enjoyed human women, enjoyed them a lot, there’d never been more than a passing attraction for any of the ones he invited into his bed.

  The door to the diner opened and closed, bringing a whiff of ozone and the scent that came on the cusp of a sharp autumn storm. He could taste the impending rain and glanced out the front window to make sure he’d left the tarp secure over the flatbed of his truck. He and Will had bent down to examine the existing pipework under the sink when the front door opened again, admitting a gust of cooler air and the most delectable fragrance of raspberries with a spicy, peppery undertone. He dropped onto his knees as the scent slammed into him, winding around his senses. His cock ramrod stiff in his jeans, he clutched at his knees to stop himself from springing over the counter. The wolf within stirred, dark fur brushing against his mind. He closed his eyes and met the golden stare of the wolf behind his closed lids.

  Mate. Ours. Seek. Claim.

  The wolf was sure of himself, even though they had yet to make visual contact with the owner of the delicious scent.

  A peel of high-pitched giggles accompanied a softer, richer laugh, and he opened his eyes as he sensed Will standing up next to him. The older man wiggled his fingers in the direction of the feminine greetings floating toward him before he returned his attention to Caleb. “Those are my girls arriving. Hannah and her daughter, Jessie. Light of my life, Jessie is, a little angel. They live in the apartment upstairs. They’ll be down in a moment so I’ll introduce you. Now that I think of it, there are a few jobs you could do for me there. Their shower is little more than a trickle, so maybe you could see what you can do about replacing it?”

  Caleb blinked rapidly as he tried to assimilate this flood of information. His potential mate was Will’s daughter? The excitement of finding the one person meant for him was dashed in the cold wash of reality. And she’s got a kid. “Shit!”

  “Is there a problem?” Will frowned down and Caleb realized he’d cursed out loud.

  “No, no problem at all, I err, I banged my knee on the leg of the counter, that’s all.” He rubbed his knee in an exaggerated manner as he stood.

  He was acting like a damn fool and, from the confusion on Will’s face, he wasn’t buying it. He cast around for a way to turn the conversation back to something practical when the scent of pepper and sweet, sharp fruit filled his nose again, giving him another metaphorical kick in the balls. He wanted to throw his head back and howl his frustration as his pulse sped, heating his veins. Adrenaline flooded his system and everything went on point. He could feel her behind him, sensed her cross the room and pause. His attraction to her left him powerless to do anything other than turn to examine his prey.

  His gut spasmed at the sight of her. She was a pocket rocket. All sweet curves and sass. Her thick black hair swung in a ponytail down her back, highlighted with a white streak at the front. Her cute white apron, worn over a baby-pink T-shirt and a pleated white skirt, made her tanned legs glow. Her chocolate-brown eyes seemed to widen as he focused on her. A soft blush brought warmth to her skin, and he wanted to strip her naked to see if he could make the rest of her body flush as well.

  She raised her hands in front of her as though trying to shield herself from his stare. He hunted over her hands, seeking and, thank the gods, not finding any gleam of gold to indicate a wedding band.

  A breath he wasn’t aware of holding huffed out as she broke away to turn her attention to the table of old men behind her. Her skirt flared a little as she spun in place before settling around the lush, round globes of her ass. Saliva flooded his mouth at the thought of getting his hands on all those tempting curves. Built for him, she would be soft and warm and yielding as he powered into her. A sharp cough dragged his attention from his potential mate to Will who frowned hard at him.

  “Whatever you are thinking, son. She’s not for you.” Although low, his tone was determined and forceful.

  “I’m not thinking anyth….” The lie fell away as the words soured on his tongue. A change of tack was in order, and he folded his arms across his thick chest. Body language displays were as effective on humans sometimes. “Why wouldn’t she be for me? I don’t see a ring. Is there a husband or a boyfriend?”

  When Will shook his head, a flash of anger surged, and Caleb didn’t fight it.

  “You think I’m not good enough for your girl, is that it? That I’m some working stiff, only good with his hands. I run the business with my father and my brother. I have prospects, money, a good future any woman would be pleased to share with me.” Snapping his mouth shut, he cut off the embarrassing need to sell his worth to this man. What the hell is wrong with me? That raspberry-and-pepper scent overwhelmed him as she crossed toward the counter. Hannah. He rolled her name around in his head. It suited her.

  “No I don’t think you’re good enough for her, but that’s not the goddamn point,” Will snapped before he rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “Look, Caleb, I’m sure you are a fine young man, and your daddy has a real good reputation with his business. But that girl has been hurt enough to last a lifetime, so I don’t want you messing with her because she’s caught your fancy.”

  Caleb stepped back as Will moved in front of him and stepped toward the counter. His hackles rose at the invasion of his space and the clear challenge in the move before he clamped down hard on his instincts. A man had every right to defend his daughter from a relative stranger. The wolf snarled and snapped in his head, and Caleb gave it a mental swat on the nose. He was the boss, not the wolf.

  The sweet affection she bestowed on Will had him longing for her to turn his way. When she met his gaze, however, only trepidation lit hers. Unable to tear his attention away, he was rewarded with a brief flare as her pupils expanded. She feels it, too. Regardless of what Will said, this woman is most definitely mine. Now to figure out how to get her on the same page or, better still, in the same bed.

  He took a step forward, using his bulk to force Will to yield space at the counter. A quick smile flashed across those soft pink lips before it faltered a little as he held out his hand toward her. No way would he let this opportunity pass without a little bit of skin contact. Sh
e hesitated, her scent shifting to something more than nerves, something sour like fear. Disliking the acrid sting in his nostrils, he withdrew his hand too late—she’d already reached out to him. Their fingertips brushed and a jolt of heat shot through him like the time he’d touched an ungrounded appliance. She snatched her hand back, massaging her fingers with her other hand.

  “Hannah, this is Caleb. He’s the contractor who’s going to be helping us with the kitchen upgrade. I’ve also suggested he could make some improvements to the bathroom in the upstairs apartment. It’s way past due for a new shower.”

  The introduction from Will broke the tension between them, until he brought up the subject of her apartment. Her eyes widened as they flicked over Caleb, but too fast for him to snag her gaze again. Now that she was closer, he noticed a ring of dark gray, almost black, enclosed the chocolate brown of her irises, and a smattering of freckles danced across her pert nose. Not obvious, due to the rich shade of her skin tone, but there nonetheless. Had the sun caused them? What other little hidden treasures on her body awaited his discovery?

  The idea of playing dot to dot across her soft skin had him practically drooling and he coughed to cover the hint of a growl rumbling in his throat. The silence stretched between them. The wolf bristled, reacting to the tension rolling off Will, so he forced himself to step back a little, when he really wanted to step closer to this delectable treat of a woman.

  “Nice to meet you, Hannah. No rush on showing me around upstairs.” But let’s go right now. “I’ll be around for the next couple of weeks so we can fit the work in around your schedule.”

  See how reasonable I am? How nonthreatening? Just your friendly neighborhood contractor, happy to help with your pipes and plumbing. Caleb shook his head at the internal monologue. He was a very real threat to her but damned if he would give the game away too quickly.

  Chapter Three

  “Really, Will. The apartment is more than fine for our needs. If you improve the shower, I’ll never be on time for work.” Don’t talk about being in the shower while staring at Mr. Sex-on-Legs! The permanent flush in his presence heated her face again, and she wanted to bang her forehead on the counter. Little hands tugged her skirt, and she welcomed the distraction as her daughter wrapped herself around her legs. It was rare for Jessie to leave her table, so it must be something important for her to approach now.

  She didn’t have the heart to scold her daughter, not when she was grateful for an excuse to escape such close contemplation from a man. His icy gray eyes heated as he watched her, stirring her in a way she hadn’t experienced since she was a simple, naive teenager. She licked her dry lips and ducked down to level her face with Jessie’s, mostly to give her daughter proper attention, but if it allowed her to escape this stranger’s hypnotic stare, then so much the better.

  “What is it, Jellybean?” Stray strands had escaped her daughter’s ponytail, so she brushed her hand over her scalp, soothing and tidying at the same time.

  The little girl’s head against her shoulder made it appear as though she sought a hug as she pressed close to whisper. “Nana Bridie is tired again. She told me she’s not, but I can feel it. I tried to help her, but she wouldn’t let me.” Her little voice oozed concern. Hannah scooped her up in her arms, stood and balanced her daughter on her hip.

  Although tiny for her age, Jessie would soon be too big to lift and carry. Hannah shot her hip and leaned against the high stool at the counter to better balance as she studied Bridie, doing her usual rounds with the coffeepot, chatting with the regulars. She sensed Caleb’s gaze on her and flicked a distracted glance at him. He stared over his shoulder at them as Will ushered him toward the kitchen.

  What is his problem? She scowled briefly before dismissing him and turning her full attention to her beloved surrogate mother.

  Jessie was right; Bridie didn’t look so hot. Her face was pinched, her makeup heavier than usual. The thick layer of powder and blush coated Bridie’s face like a mask, and Hannah cuddled her baby, using her warmth to drive a cold stab of fear away before placing her back on the bench seat.

  Hunkering down until they rested nose to nose, she spoke softly. “I appreciate you telling me about Bridie, and I’ll take care of it. I know you are worried about her, Jellybean, but you are too young to try and help. I don’t want you hurting yourself, and Bridie would never forgive herself if you came to any harm trying to help her. You’re not strong enough yet, baby, do you understand what I’m telling you?” She gripped Jessie’s chin gently but firmly in her palm, holding her daughter’s eyes as she spoke to reinforce the order. Jessie opened her mouth and Hannah cocked her head, making it clear this was one time when there would be no answering back.

  “Yes, Momma.” The agreement was muttered and grudging, but she still rewarded it with a kiss on the cheek. Hannah started to move away but stilled when little fingers reached out to touch the thick streak of white in her hair. Her daughter had strong empathy, could sense things about people, hints of personal traits if they were strong enough as well as illness and injury.

  When Hannah had caught her trying to heal a bird with a damaged wing, she had sat her daughter down and told her some of what had happened to her that fateful night. She’d kept it light, just said she had used her ability to help a friend and they had reacted badly. No mention of the beating or the terrible accusations that had poured from Robert’s lips. Nothing about her terrified flight through the freezing woods. Just a simple explanation that not everyone had the same abilities and it was not something to be talked about freely. People were frightened by things they didn’t understand, so better to be safe than sorry.

  It had taken time, but Hannah finally had some control over her ability to heal. She’d used it sparingly until Bridie had gotten sick a few months back. Her ability wasn’t strong enough to fully heal Bridie of the cancer gnawing away at her breast, but she could do enough to boost Bridie’s immune system. Enough to help her recover from surgery and keep the worst of the sickness from chemo at bay. Bridie was well on the way to recovery but still had a tendency to tire more easily.

  Guilt over being late and then mooning over a man washed through her. Bridie was carrying the load instead of the other way around. She kept a close eye on her throughout the rest of the dinner rush but there was little time to think as they hurried between the tables, the counter, and the kitchen in the fluid dance of service that was second nature to them.

  The last couple of stragglers remained, lingering over coffee and dessert when Hannah finally saw her opportunity. Will stood at the counter, chatting to one of the regulars as he wiped down and loaded cups and glasses into the under-the-counter dishwasher. She followed Bridie as she swung behind the counter to drop the coffeepot on the warmer and then pushed through into the kitchen to deposit a load of dirty plates. She grasped her by the elbow and steered her into the pantry before the older woman could so much as blink.

  The long shaft ran parallel to the kitchen, wider at the front and narrowing toward a small window at the back. Shelves ran the length of one wall, a low counter on the other at the widest part near the entrance.

  Hannah placed her hands on either side of Bridie’s face and drew on the core of strength deep within. Hands tried to tug hers away, but she held on firmly as she called on her ability. She gathered it up and pushed the golden strands out through her hands and into her beloved friend. Bridie’s grip on her wrists slackened, and the older woman gave a deep sigh as the healing energy flowed into her body. The brackets of strain eased around her eyes and color filled her cheeks to replace the sunken pallor beneath the powder and paint.

  “Better?” she whispered, and she felt Bridie nod before she released her hands.

  “Thank you, darling. You didn’t need to help, but I’m sure grateful you did.” Soft lips brushed her cheek. “You are our miracle, child. You and your beautiful little girl. Two miracles we are blessed to have in our lives.”

  At a
scuff of sound, she whirled around, her body moving instinctively to shield Bridie from whatever threat lurked there. Caleb stood a couple of feet away, tape measure in hand and a pencil tucked into the thick hair behind his ear. She swallowed hard before drawing herself up to her full height of five foot three. It was pitiful defiance in the face of this huge hunk of a man who towered over her by at least a foot, but she stood her ground.

  “Go on out, Bridie,” Hannah made sure a thread of steel shone in her voice although her insides had turned to liquid, and not in a good way. Surprisingly, Bridie did as she requested without argument. She held Caleb’s eyes in silence as the kitchen door swished and Will approached the pantry.

  Not turning, she spoke briskly. “I’ll handle this, Will. You get on out there and make sure Bridie is okay. I gave her a boost, and you know it can make her a little giddy until it settles.” The steel tone in her voice wavered a little this time and her shoulders tensed as she waited to see whether she would have to do battle on two fronts if Will defied her instructions.

  “It’s fine, Will,” Caleb rumbled and his voice rippled through her like a small earthquake, leaving her shaky and unbalanced in its wake. She frowned at him. Who the hell is he to interfere? She was in charge of the situation; she called the shots, not him. Still she was relieved when Will retreated from the pantry and she heard him return to front of house.

  The sudden absence of the others served to heighten her awareness of the man scant inches from her.

  Wait! When did he close the distance between us? She’d had no perception of him moving, but he suddenly loomed over her and she tried to take a step back but his hand shot out and grasped her upper arm, freezing her in place. Her gaze rose up and up, feeling the weight of him as though he pressed tight up against her, although the only contact was his fingers bound around her arm. The heat from his hand was a surprise and little shocks of electricity zapped through her from their point of connection.