Beauty and Her Beast (Iron Hills Pack, #2)

by Jessica Coulter Smith

  It seemed he’d been worried about the wrong thing all these years.

  He scented the female before he saw her. The redhead slid onto the stool next to him and gave him what he assumed was supposed to be a charming smile. She wasn’t quite as fake looking as the other woman had been, but his wolf still grumbled in his head.

  Not our mate. Send her away.

  “I noticed you were sitting here alone, and since I’m alone, I thought we could be alone together.” Her smile widened.

  “How can we be alone if we’re together?”

  “Exactly!” She giggled. “I thought you could buy me a drink and we could get to know each other better.”

  Not ours. Not ours. The wolf was agitated and pacing in his mind.

  “I’m sure you’re a perfectly nice lady, but I’m not interested.”

  Her smiled dimmed, and she shrugged before walking off. By the time he’d finished his second beer, three more women had tried to pick him up, and he’d sent every one of them packing. They all smelled wrong. The beast inside of him was getting more and more upset with every manicured hand that landed on his thigh. Whether he liked it or not, it seemed Zach would have to deal with his wolf. The beast wanted Maggie, and it appeared that no other woman would do. Not even for a quick romp.

  Fuck. It seemed that life, as he knew it, was officially over. Now the question was, what the hell should he do with Maggie? She was still skittish and nervous enough around him to stutter. How did he calm her nerves, ease her fears, and convince her that he wasn’t such a bad guy? As much as she’d been through, what was it going to take to get her to see him as someone worth dating?

  Zach tossed some money onto the bar before heading out. If he wasn’t going to hook up with someone or socialize with the pack, there was no point hanging out in the bar. He could drink a beer just as easily at home. One thing was for certain. The next time he decided he needed to go out, he was going to take Maggie with him.

  Maybe that was the key. Maybe he needed to take her on a few dates, without necessarily telling her they were dates. If he asked her out, he had no doubt that she would say no. But if he merely asked her to tag along to a movie or out for dinner, then she’d probably agree, and they could spend some quality time together without being cooped up in the house. Despite the fact she hadn’t had a home in a long while, she would surely go stir crazy in the house after a while.

  He should ease her into things. Tomorrow sounded like the best time to introduce her to Abril and Weston. They could meet for breakfast at the diner like they used to do. Now that Maggie was clean and had new clothes, she wouldn’t balk at going there, would she? There was only one way to find out. Ambush her in the morning and tell her he had a surprise for her. If she didn’t know they were going to meet his family, then she couldn’t say no and hide in his house.

  Ours. Mate.

  Zach had always thought that each wolf had one destined mate, but what if fate were to intervene and give an alpha like him a second chance? He supposed crazier things than that happened. Instead of fighting his attraction for Maggie, he was going to embrace it from this point forward. And one way or another, she would be his.

  Chapter Six

  Maggie wasn’t sure what to make of Zach this morning. She’d woken to find him already up and dressed, and way too chipper. It wasn’t that he was overly surly before, but there was a definite change in him, and she couldn’t figure out why. Maybe he’d gotten lucky last night when he’d gone out? The thought bothered her, even if she didn’t want to analyze why. She was here as a guest, and an employee once she was back on her feet, and nothing more.

  Zach seemed excited, almost giddy, and it made her wonder what he was up to. She didn’t know him very well, but it was almost like he’d had a personality transplant. Once he’d told her that he was the alpha of the local wolf pack, she’d known who he was...the people in their town called him ‘the beast’ because of his beastly behavior. And yet, she hadn’t seen that side of him. He’d been considerate, even caring, since she’d met him. Had everyone gotten it wrong?

  And if Zach wasn’t the monster everyone claimed him to be, then why would he act like that in public? She knew there had to be a story behind his behavior, and she was more than a little curious to hear it. They’d talked a lot about her, but she’d hardly gotten a word out of him about himself. She knew he worked at home, but not what he did. She knew he lived alone, but not if there had once been someone special in his life. Everyone in town knew he had a brother, but were they close?

  “Maggie, I thought we’d get breakfast out this morning. Go put on your shoes and we’ll head out.” Zach smiled at her, as if he had a secret he was anxious to share.

  Maggie retrieved her shoes and put them on, then met Zach at the front door. When they got into his truck, he gave her another secretive smile before backing out and pulling onto the street. She watched the scenery go by and was a little surprised when he pulled into a parking space in front of the diner. Why was he taking her to breakfast? Was it normal for guys to take their employees out for a meal? She was trying really hard to keep things professional between them, but every kindness he showed her made it that much harder.

  Zach ushered her into the diner and waved to someone at the back. They stopped at a table where a man, who looked similar to Zach, and a pretty woman were already seated. Maggie wasn’t sure what was going on, but she hoped Zach started talking fast. Introducing her to his friends seemed a little odd, considering their relationship, if you could call what they had a relationship. It wasn’t like they were dating.

  “Maggie, this is my brother, Weston, and his mate, Abril. Guys, this is Maggie.”

  Weston smiled and stood, offering his hand. “So, you’re my brother’s mystery guest. The entire pack has been talking since the night he took you home. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

  Abril smiled warmly at her. “I hope the clothes I dropped off fit okay. The one you’re wearing looks nice on you.”

  Maggie’s cheeks warmed under all the attention. She dreaded opening her mouth. Would they look at her with pity when she started stuttering her sentences? She didn’t want to embarrass Zach, and she was tired of feeling embarrassed herself. Maybe she would work with that book Zach mentioned. It wouldn’t hurt to try.

  “It’s n-nice to meet you.” There. Not too horrible.

  Zach motioned for Maggie to take a seat and he slid into the booth next to her, their arms brushing. A thrill shot through her at the small contact, and she tried to get herself under control. Zach made her want things she’d never have.

  “Maggie, Zach mentioned you’d been sick. Are you feeling better?” Abril asked.

  “Y-yes, thank you.”

  “Abril is a romance writer,” Zach said. “Since you like to read, maybe the two of you could talk books sometime.”

  Abril’s eyes lit up. “Do you read romances?”

  Maggie nodded. “They’re my f-favorite.”

  “I have a paperback coming out next month. I’ll make sure you get a signed copy.”

  Maggie was a little awed that she was sitting at the table with an author. Everyone at the table was probably far smarter than her, and she envied them a little. She wanted a job with purpose. Cleaning Zach’s house would be fine. It was honest work, but anyone could clean a house. She wanted to do something that most people couldn’t, like Abril and her writing. With only a tenth grade education, she wasn’t going to have too many doors open for her.

  “Did Zach tell you that he writes books with Weston?” Abril asked. “They write gory books, but they’re good. I don’t know if blood and guts turn you off, but you might try one of them.”

  Maggie looked around the table. “Y-you’re all w-writers?”

  They nodded.

  Now she felt especially stupid. It must have shown on her face because Zach reached over and squeezed her hand under the table. She wanted a normal life. A job people respected, a family to call her own. Was it too much
to ask that the misery she’d lived with all her life would finally end, and there would be some light shining in her world? It sometimes felt like the entire world was against her. Even her own body betrayed her with her stupid stutter.

  “Maggie, I’m going to the bookstore when we leave here. Would you like to go with me?” Abril asked. “We could get some coffee at the little café they have there.”

  Maggie looked at Zach, unsure if she should accept or not.

  “If you want to go, I think you’d have fun with Abril,” Zach said. “I’ll get some work done while you’re gone and then maybe we can do something when you get home.”

  Home. Such a small word that meant so much. Did he really see his place as her home too?

  “Maggie, did Zach tell you anything about me?” Abril asked.

  “N-not much.”

  “I understand that Zach found you living in the alley behind the bar.” Abril tilted her head. “When I was a teen, I lived on the streets for a short time while I found a job and earned money for a small studio apartment. It’s where I lived until I moved in with Weston a few months ago.”

  “You w-were homeless too?”

  Abril nodded. “I know what it’s like to scrape by, to fight for every little thing you have. But I’m going to tell you something. You can trust Zach, and you can trust the pack. None of them will care that you were homeless for a while. All they’ll care about is that you’re taken care of now. You can have a family, if you want one.”

  Maggie looked at the faces around the table and realized that Abril was serious. She was offering Maggie the one thing she’d always wanted. A place where she belonged. It was hard to imagine the beautiful woman in front of her as being homeless. Did the pack just take in strays all the time?

  “Each wolf has a destined mate,” Weston said. “I knew Abril was mine, but I was too scared to claim her. I’m hoping my brother doesn’t make the same mistakes I made.”

  Zach growled a little.

  “I know my brother better than anyone,” Weston said. “Zach wouldn’t bring home just any woman. There has never been a female in that house, except for Abril. He’s stubborn as hell, and he’s been hurt badly. I don’t know what’s between the two of you, but I think you’re special.”

  “Enough,” Zach said.

  “It’s o-okay,” Maggie told him. “I kn-know you wouldn’t b-be interested in someone l-like me.”

  His eyes flared, and for a moment she wasn’t looking at Zach. She was looking at the beast within. The wolf peered out at her, and a soft growl escaped Zach’s throat. She wasn’t scared. Far from it. Slowly, she reached up and placed her palm on his cheek. Zach leaned into her touch, or maybe it was the wolf who did it. For the first time since he’d taken her home, she felt like she was seeing all there was to see of him. No part of him was hiding in this moment.

  “Maybe you should meet with Abril another day,” Zach said, his voice rough and hard. “I think we need to talk.”

  Weston smirked. “Come on, love. I believe our work here is done.”

  Abril and Weston stood, both grinning from ear to ear as they made their way out of the diner. Maggie wasn’t sure she understood exactly what had just happened, but something told her it was something good.

  “Maybe we should talk here,” Zach said. “If I’m alone with you, I’m not sure I can trust myself.”

  What exactly did that mean?

  “Wh-what do you want w-with me?” she asked.

  “As Weston said, every wolf has a destined mate. His mate is Abril. My mate’s name was Delfinia. She died when I was seventeen, and I thought that meant I would be alone the rest of my life. No one has piqued my wolf’s curiosity since Del. Until now. Until you.”

  “M-me?” she asked with wide eyes.

  “My wolf was insistent that I check out that box in the alley, and when I first laid eyes on you, he wanted to take you home. The needy bastard has insisted that we mark you and claim as your ours. I don’t want to scare you, but I think maybe I’ve been wrong this entire time. Maybe wolves don’t have just one chosen mate. Maybe there are several, and we only cross paths with one at a time.”

  Her brow furrowed. “So you th-think I’m your m-mate?”

  “Yes.”

  Maggie took a moment to process that.

  “Wh-what does it m-mean to b your m-mate?”

  He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Essentially, being mated is like being married. Except my wolf will refuse any other female who comes near us. It’s already happening. When I went to the bar, all of the women smelled wrong. I won’t lie to you. I went there last night thinking maybe I needed a release, so I wouldn’t want to keep you. But the longer I sat at that bar, the more I realized that I was running in the wrong direction.”

  “Running wh-where?”

  “I was running away from you when I should have been running toward you. Something changed when you got sick, Maggie. Something inside of me. I’ve been a cold, heartless bastard since Del died, but being around you is bringing me back to life.”

  “Wh-what happens n-now?” she asked.

  “Being mated is a serious commitment. There’s no divorce in my world. We barely know one another, so I’m not asking you to jump right in. But I would like to date you, if that’s okay?”

  She smiled a little. “I-I’ve never b-been on a date.”

  “Then we should definitely go on one.”

  “I’d l-like that,” she said softly.

  Abril materialized beside the table with a smirk on her face. “So, now that you’ve settled the fact that the two of you should at least be dating, I think I need to whisk Maggie away for a few hours. I’ll drop her in front of the steak place at five o’clock for a dinner date with you. Dress to impress.”

  It was comical watching Zach open and shut his mouth, apparently speechless. Maggie giggled and bumped her hip against his to get him to scoot out of the booth. When he stood, she paused a moment to gather her courage before pressing her lips to his cheek. He looked stunned, and then pleased. She smiled and let Abril drag her out of the diner.

  When they were outside on the curb, Abril smiled. “I’m going to have Weston play chauffeur, if you don’t mind, and we’re going to treat you to the works. I’m taking you to a salon where we’ll both get our hair and nails done and then we’re going shopping for a killer dress and shoes for you. And anything else you might need for tonight.”

  “Th-thank you. But w-why are you d-doing this?” Maggie asked.

  “Like I said, I’ve been where you are. And I wish I’d had someone to confide in when Weston decided to pursue me. I didn’t really have many friends, and none who truly understood my situation. But I wanted you to know that I’m here whenever you need to talk. About anything.”

  Maggie’s cheeks flushed, and she smiled. She hadn’t had a friend since grade school, and it was nice to have one now. She’d like to think that Zach was becoming her friend, but she wanted him to be more than that. If what he said was true, and she was his mate, then they were destined to be together. If the wolf shifters were anything like the books she’d read, then they would mate for life. He’d never cheat on her, and even if he didn’t love her right now, it would grow, and probably at a rapid rate.

  Weston pulled up to the curb, and Maggie got in the back while Abril took the front seat. Her mate’s brother made her feel a little uneasy, but she wasn’t sure why. He’d been nice to her and seemed to care about his brother. Maybe it was his sheer size that made her tremble a bit. He was even bigger than Zach, and Zach was far from being a tiny man.

  True to her word, Abril took her to a salon, where she had her hair cut and professionally styled. It was still long, but they took off a few inches, and it made it her hair look so much healthier. Her nails were trimmed, filed, buffed, and polished. She’d never used nail polish before, but Maggie had to admit that she liked the way it looked. Abril assured her it was easy to apply, but told her she’d be happy to treat her t
o another salon day whenever Maggie wanted one. It was a little overwhelming, but she went with it. Abril seemed to genuinely care, even though Maggie knew she cared more because she was mated to Zach’s brother, than about Maggie herself. Either way, it was nice to have some girl time. She’d never experienced anything quite like it before.

  After the salon, they went shopping for the perfect clothes while Weston remained in the car. It took hours to find just the right outfit and the appropriate undergarments to go with it. Shoes weren’t an easy find either, as Maggie had never worn heels and couldn’t walk in them. They finally settled on a pair of kitten heels, the same royal blue color as her dress. The bra and panties Abril had helped her pick out were a pretty white lace, and far more delicate than anything she’d ever owned.

  “How about some lunch?” Abril asked. “After that, we can go to my house, and you can relax a little before you have to get ready for your date.”

  “That s-sounds good.”

  Maggie felt lighter and happier than she could ever remember feeling before. She just knew that tonight was going to be the perfect night.

  Chapter Seven

  Zach paced in front of the restaurant at ten minutes to five. He’d never felt so nervous in his life. His wolf paced along with him, anxious to see their mate again. Being without her all day had been torture, even though both man and beast knew that Abril and Weston were taking excellent care of Maggie. Weston had even been kind enough to send updates throughout the day.

  He looked up, and his heart leapt into his throat. The most stunning woman he’d ever seen stepped out of Weston’s SUV and made her way toward him. The blue dress she wore clung to her slender curves and dipped low in front, exposing more cleavage than Zach wanted anyone else to see. He felt like throwing a blanket over her, but he knew he was overreacting.