Claimed by Love

by Skye Jones

  Kayley shook her head. “Not true. He wants me to come home for good and could easily push for me to accept your…proposal. I’m not sure how I feel about the idea still. I need more time.”

  “I think you are sure, deep down,” Luke answered.

  Sean grit his teeth. The damned prideful idiot! He’d worried for days over Luke pushing like this. They’d agreed; slow and gentle. About to open his mouth and speak, Luke beat him to it.

  “But I get it. It’s a huge deal for you and scary as hell. We love you. Those feelings aren’t going anywhere, so you take all the time you need to figure it out. We’ll be waiting for you, if and when you come to us.”

  Sean’s heart stuttered in his chest as Luke made the simple declaration.

  “And I know it scares you to death hearing us say we love you, but one day it won’t.” Luke went on. “One day you’ll trust what you already know, deep in your soul. You are ours, and we are yours. We belong to one another and nothing can change that. Even thousands of miles away you’ll be connected to us. We’ll always be there for you, and if it takes the next couple of years for you to come home, when you do we’ll be there.”

  “You’d really wait that long?” Kayley was back to nibbling on her lower lip again.

  “Yes.” Sean nodded.

  “Longer,” Luke said. “If you want to spend the next ten years here, figuring it out, we’ll still be waiting.”

  Kayley stood and walked over to the window.

  “I’d hope we could keep in touch. I’d hate not to speak or know how you are. And purely going on emotion, I do want to be your mate…I do. I’m scared…but I do want it.” Kayley turned round to face them, her eyes bright. “I’m terrified, though. Scared like I’ve never been in my entire life, more so even than after the attack because all of this is so strange and sudden and out of my reality. I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole for real. Despite all of the weirdness, though, I want this. I can’t keep on denying it. It’s as if I’ve woken up out of a deep sleep and I’m finally living again. I don’t want it to stop. I don’t want to go back to my safe, ordered, lonely world. Even though I’m scared to death of taking this step, I want it. Badly.”

  Sean’s heart slammed before launching into a fast, racing patter. Did she mean it? If so, he’d be ecstatic. Despite his early misgivings, he wanted her with them more than anything now.

  “Don’t say it if you don’t mean it.” Luke’s eyes started to change, the gray warming up and glowing as if lit from within.

  “Yeah. Don’t play around with this. With us.” Sean counseled. Christ, Luke would really lose it if he thought they had her, only for Kayley to change her mind. He’d find it hard to deal with, too.

  “I do mean it.” She moved back to the bed and sat between them.

  “What you said, just now?” She focused those incredible baby-blues on Luke. “About me being able to spend years here while you wait? I can’t imagine spending the next two weeks without you two in my life. How would I cope with months or years? I couldn’t, and my heart knows that, no matter how scared I am.”

  She stood again and paced. Luke made to go after her, but Sean pulled him back onto the bed and shook his head. He instinctively knew not to crowd her right now.

  “That it doesn’t make sense—and is as weird as fuck—is what’s holding me back. Rationally, I shouldn’t be feeling this way. But we’re not rational, and I’m starting to understand following feelings can be okay. If you can change form from man to wolf, is it that incredible that I can fall in love with you so fast? And my dreams clearly mean there’s some sort of fate at play here. Grams will be all over this, telling me to follow what the signs are showing.”

  “You sound like you’re trying to convince yourself,” Luke said.

  “No. I’m not. I’m maybe trying to frame things in a way I can wrap my head around. I want you guys, and know it enough to come back to Alaska and spend more time with you. You’ve all become my family in this short time. I can’t imagine not seeing you regularly. And when I think about both of you being somewhere together and I can’t be a part of that…I want to give this a go. A trial period if you like?”

  Eyes wide with unshed tears, Kayley blinked twice, hard. “It’s how I know I can’t walk away from this. Only…you can’t hurt me.” The first tear spilled out and trailed down her cheek. “I can’t go through that again. And, I know,” she said, holding her hand up. “I know, that neither of you would hurt me in any way physically, but you could hurt me almost as badly if you betray me. Nothing like this has ever happened to me. I’m this independent person who lives alone and has a couple of close friends. Yet here you two are, making me lose my mind and fall headlong into this craziness. I do want to be with you. More than that, I want to be like you.”

  She moved toward them and looked down at Luke. “If it goes well back in Alaska, if we work out together, will you turn me? I want to run in the snow with you.”

  With a strangled sound, Luke jumped up from the bed and grabbed her shoulders. “You don’t need to ask twice.”

  Sean fought the urge to change form and howl out his happiness as he watched the two embrace. Luke turned fiery eyes on him, and Sean knew he understood completely. Their wolves were finally getting what they wanted.

  Chapter 12

  “Where’s the salt and pepper?” Kayley didn’t know her way around the kitchen, which hampered her efforts to cook a meal for everyone.

  “In the cupboard above the sink,” Taylor called out to her. “I’m going for a swim. Don’t call me if you can’t find anything else.”

  His laugh echoed after him as the glass doors slid shut.

  She hummed as she set out ingredients for the pulled pork. Giddy happiness kept bubbling up inside her. She’d told Sean and Luke she’d give the idea of them as a…thing a chance; would go back to Alaska and see how things went. Best of all? She had no regrets in the cold light of day.

  Luke telling her they’d wait forever made the decision for her. Not out of pity for them or gratitude at the space they gave her. Luke stating she could take as much time as needed made her realize, with absolute certainty, how she couldn’t bear to be away from them for a week never mind years. Not with the way she currently felt about them, she needed to let this play out and see where it led. Once she understood that simple fact, nothing else mattered. All her other concerns slipped away one by one, and she finally gave into what her soul whispered to her. Something deep down told her she belonged with Luke and Sean, no matter how crazy it sounded.

  The only thing to do was to give things a chance. To go home with them, visit, stay a while, and see if they worked together, day by day. She could tell neither of them quite trusted it yet and worried she might change her mind and stay in Miami. She wouldn’t.

  Something powerful and preternatural zinged between the three of them. Instead of scaring her in the way it once would, the idea of something more at hand, guiding them, reassured her. They were meant to be and how many people could say that?

  “Morning.” An arm slipped around her waist for a brief second before pulling back. She didn’t have to turn to recognize Sean as his voice and scent were already achingly familiar.

  “Morning to you, too. Where is Luke?”

  “He’s finishing up getting dressed. Where’s everyone else?”

  “Taylor’s in the pool. Julie and Will went for a run and they’ll be back in about an hour.”

  “Do you need a hand?” He leaned his chin on her shoulder. “Mmm, it smells great.”

  “It’s a rub for the meat. My great-aunt, who lives in Mississippi, gave me the recipe. It’s real soul food.”

  He reached over and grabbed a tomato from the chopping board.

  “Hey.” She smacked his hand away. “Don’t go eating my ingredients.”

  “What else do you expect a guy to do when there’s no breakfast on offer?” Sean’s eyes sparkled.

  “What am I? The hired help?” She tried to look stern, bu
t couldn’t help grinning. “There’s a box of Lucky Charms in the cupboard.”

  “I need protein, woman.” Sean couldn’t keep up the façade either, and he cracked with laughter.

  Kayley rolled her eyes. “You could do something useful and make us both some coffee.”

  “I think I can do that. But first, while your cousin’s out the way, I think I’ll take the morning kiss I’ve been dying for.”

  He cupped her cheek and pulled her in, his lips warm and firm against hers. He tasted of toothpaste and smelled of lemon aftershave balm. After a brief moment he began to pull away, but feeling devilish, she slipped her tongue inside his mouth, and pressed herself against him. It had the desired effect, and she couldn’t help her smile as he pushed back, trapping her against the countertop.

  “What the fuck!”

  Kayley squeaked, and Sean jumped back as if scalded.

  Will stood in the kitchen, glowering at them as if he wanted to rip something apart. As he stared, his face turned a deep shade of red.

  “Will.” Shock seared through her, but the look on Will’s face was what really scared her. His eyes flashed with anger and something else. Something almost like disgust.

  Searching for an explanation, she spoke in a rush. “It’s not what you think.”

  Kayley stepped closer to her cousin. God, her words were so lame, they probably only made things worse. He deserved an explanation, but she hadn’t the first clue how to begin.

  Julie stepped into the room behind Will. “Grab your water, Will, and let’s get going. It’ll be too hot soon. Come on. We’ve already wasted time coming back. I told you we should have dashed to the store.”

  Will ignored her completely, focusing all his attention on Sean and Kayley. “Oh really?” he sneered. “Because what I think is that you’ve been sneaking around and lying to me. I kept getting the strongest inkling something was going on between you guys. Your scent changed.”

  He pointed an accusatory finger at her. “But I thought, no, it can’t be because no way would my cousin fucking lie to me! And as for you.” Will turned his ire on Sean. “With your bullshit about the pack and family? You lied, too. And what about Luke? Christ, how can you do this to him?”

  “Uh, I’ll just give you guys a moment. I’ll be outside by the pool.” Julie walked across the room to the door leading to the pool and closed it softly behind her.

  “Don’t blame Sean.” Kayley moved forward, but Will took a step back so she stilled. “I wouldn’t let them tell you.”

  “Them? So you’re fucking both of them? Jesus, Kiki! One not enough?”

  She gasped. His cruel words hit like ice crystals, flaying her skin with their vicious intent.

  “Don’t talk to her like that.” Sean moved toward Will, his face a mask of rigid tension and his voice a deep, guttural warning.

  “Oh my God! Have you mated with her?” Will ran a shaky hand through his hair. “You’re acting all protective and shit. This isn’t simply some kinky thing you’ve got going on, is it? It’s not Kayley’s fault. I can see it now. You lied to me. Used me to get to her. You believe she’s this mythical mate you harped on about.” He paused mid-rant his eyes narrowing.

  “It’s why Luke acted so weird when she arrived. Did you know about her before we came here? Christ, I am such a fucking idiot.”

  “You’re not an idiot and this wasn’t planned.” Sean lowered his voice, seeming to make a concerted effort to calm himself. His hands still balled into fists, though, and Kayley kept a wary eye on the two men. “We didn’t have a clue about Kayley until she walked through the door. I don’t understand how, as a human, but she seems to feel the same pull. She’s bonded with us.

  “You know how powerful the bond is. You don’t have to worry. We’ll look after her, love her, and protect her. She’ll come home with us, visit with us and so you’ll get to see a lot more of her. And if it goes well, yes, we hope to mate and for her to join the pack. This is a good thing. You should be happy for us. For her.”

  “Happy? Are you shitting me? Look at me? The mess I’m in after what your great leader did to me—without my permission I might add—and now you want to do the same to my cousin? You’ll ruin her life. Don’t you get it? You’ll be responsible for ending her life as she knows it. You might as well kill her. Because it’s what you’ll be doing, one way or another. You’ll kill her soul in a very real way. You’re a fucking bastard, and you don’t get to destroy her humanity.”

  Kayley couldn’t speak at all during Will’s awful rant. She held her breath until he’d finished, frozen to the spot. This wasn’t her cousin. She almost didn’t recognize any vestige of the kind, patient man she knew in the hysterical person in front of her.

  Sean’s face twisted into a tight grimace at Will’s words, and she read the hurt there as plain as day.

  Will spoke again. He uttered only one word. “Murderer.”

  “Sean?” She moved into his line of vision, cutting the eye contact between them, scared to death by the cold, hard look in Sean’s gaze. “Do you mind if I have some time to talk with Will?”

  “Knock yourself out. I’m going out for a bit.” His face set into even tighter lines, and his lips disappeared when he spoke.

  She reached out and touched Sean’s arm, but her jaw dropped when he shook her off with a violent throw of his arm.

  Without a backward glance, he turned on his heel and stalked out the front door.

  His reaction stunned her. Did she really did know him at all? Friendly, sunny, Sean, the one who normally managed to be the voice of reason, turning so cold was shocking. Will’s words might have been awful, but anyone could see he clearly wasn’t himself.

  The fact that Sean left the condo alone spoke volumes as to how churned up he was. She’d never seen one of the pack go off alone in the time they’d spent together. There’d always be at least two of them if anyone went out. The pack bond, she’d assumed.

  “What’s going on?” Luke’s terse voice interrupted her thoughts. “Why is Sean so upset? I can sense his distress. Where is he?”

  “He went out for a moment, alone,” she said.

  Luke frowned and shook his head as if he simply couldn’t comprehend such a thing. He opened his mouth to say something else, but Will butted in.

  “Forget about Sean. What about Kayley? I’ve found out you and golden boy are fucking my cousin behind my back. Not only fucking her, but intending to mate her, turn her and basically ruin her life, like you ruined mine.”

  Luke walked forward until he rode Will’s front. “What did you say to me?”

  Oh, hell. Kayley’s insides turned to jelly as she watched the unfolding scene.

  “You heard.” Will sounded like a toddler having a tantrum, and Kayley wanted to scream at him to shut up.

  She couldn’t believe this was happening. Just when her life finally seemed to have turned a corner, when she’d opened herself up and let herself feel for the first time in years, it all started to fall apart. A strong sense of foreboding told her this wasn’t merely some row they’d have easily forgotten by the evening. Sean’s rigid face as he left continued to trouble her deeply. She couldn’t put her finger on why exactly, but the intuitive side she’d really begun to listen to screamed things weren’t okay.

  “I’m so sorry I ruined your life, Will. Perhaps I should have let you lie there and bleed out?” Luke raised an eyebrow as he spoke, face impassive.

  Julie and Taylor entered the room, warily watching Luke and Will as they approached. Kayley wanted to weep with gratitude at their presence. Surely they’d stop things from going too far?

  “Well it might have been better if you’d let me bleed to death. I can’t control myself. I change form when I don’t want to. I’m terrified I’ll shift in front of people and be locked up in some sort of freak show. I just feel all these…things.” Will pushed a hand into his hair and fisted it tightly, as if about to pull a handful out.

  “I spoke to your mother last night
, Luke.” Julie approached the two males, her voice soft, head slightly down. “I told her how concerned we all are about Will here. She says we need to go back. Will needs time and space to get used to the sudden change. If we go home, he can spend some time with your parents’ pack. He’ll be around lots of other wolves and can run free without having to worry about people seeing him. I hope you’re not angry I called. I’ve been worried.”

  Luke sighed and slumped a little, some of the animalistic aggression bleeding out of his stance. “No, I’m not angry. You did the right thing. I’m worried too. I suppose I’ve been distracted and not taking care of my pack like I should.”

  “Maybe you’ve been a little distracted, boss. Love will do that to you.” Taylor smiled.

  Luke gave a tight smile of his own in return.

  “It’s not love. It’s some fucked up mating shit and it’s not going to happen.” Will glared at Taylor.

  “If we go back early you’ll still come with us, right?” Luke ignored Will and focused all his attention on Kayley, real fear in the depths of his striking eyes.

  “Yes.” She’d meant her words last night. Once she’d started to think seriously about going home, she’d realized how badly she wanted to return, see her family, the mountains, and old friends. As long as the pack went with her, she’d feel safe. Luke nodded at her, never breaking eye contact.

  “So you’re disowning me?” Will glared at them all. “When the new wolf gets a bit uppity, simply wash your hands of him and send him off to some pack of strangers.”

  “They are not strangers.” Luke spoke as if to a child. “It’s my parents’ pack, my birth pack. You’ll only go for a few weeks, we’ll come visit regularly when we’re not working. It means you’ll have time and space to come to terms with this. I should never have brought us here, should have realized what a toll it would take. It’s not good for you to be somewhere you can’t shift whenever you need to. Sean warned me…” He trailed off.