Her mother was covering her mouth, laughing while Cole just shook his head, smiling. “You, little girl, should not have your first cup of coffee in the presence of others,” he grumbled.
“What? So I like my coffee,” she grumbled and peeked at the two behind R.D. even they seemed to…
“Father is right. From now on you will have your first cup of coffee in our room,” Logan snarled and went to grab her cup of coffee.
“Touch it and die!” she growled back, shocking herself at the venom coming out of her. “Damn, was that me?” she asked, frowning. “I don’t know if I like this change stuff.” She looked to her mom who came over to her and knelt down in front of her.
“You might have done things that we never knew, but in here,” her mother placed her hand over her heart, “you are still innocent, wanting to protect everyone and everything. In some ways I think you’ll always be that little girl who wants to believe that there is always good in people. That’s why this frightens you. You now have another side to you, one that is very dangerous. Allow your men to help you through this as your step father helps me.”
“Fine, but they’re not touching the coffee,” she grumbled, earning a laugh from Cole.
“Sara, make sure there is a coffee pot in our room along with a small fridge. I want all the makings for her coffee there,” R.D. ordered, not taking his eyes off of her as he moved towards her. “Can you drink that coffee without making another sound? Because I’d really hate to have to kill our guests for hearing your moans of pleasure.” He nipped her neck and she actually whimpered.
“I’ll try,” she whispered, a little embarrassed about the whole thing. “I’m sorry, Logan,” Jasmine said looking up at him as he took her mother’s place in front of her when Cole pulled Katherine away.
“I know, Princess. This will take time getting used to having another part of you, but we will be here to help you. I have to agree with my brother though. Your first cup of coffee will be in our bedroom with only us present from now on.” He bent in and kissed her lips softly without spilling the coffee in her hands. “The coffee taste on your lips has me wanting too…soon little Princess, soon.” Logan stood and adjusted his pants in front of her before turning.
She smiled, her face once more burning, and took another sip from the coffee cup in her hand. Jasmine closed her eyes, but heard the growl from who had been watching.
“Jasmine…” he warned her and she opened her eyes and noticed that about ten more men had come into the room.
“Damn,” she grumbled and sat back watching R.D., Logan, Cole, and Hendrick explain the situation to those who had gathered.
Ten minutes later Sara came in, followed by Monica, carrying trays of food that smelled so good Jasmine’s stomach grumbled. Both of them placed the platters down on the massive oak table across the room. It was time to test her legs. She was starving and Jasmine would be damned if she was going to interrupt the men to take her over to get food.
Taking one more sip of her coffee, she put the cup on the small side table and took a deep breath, scooting the edge of the chair. Jasmine glanced down at her legs realizing she desperately needed to shave, but that would have to wait. “Now you two, our meal is over there, we can do this,” she whispered, placing her hands on the arm rests and started to lift up, but stopped when she heard a snarl from across the room.
“Crap,” she mumbled as R.D. stomped over to her.
“What do you think you are doing?” he asked.
She waved him away. “Don’t worry about me. Just go about your business,” Jasmine said and once more tried to stand to only fall back into the chair. “Damn it, when are my legs going to work!” she smacked her stupid thigh as a tear rolled down her cheek.
“Princess, stop,” R.D.’s words were soft as he picked her up again, just hugging her. “It’s normal, Jasmine. Your mom couldn’t walk until later the first evening.” He rubbed his cheek against hers. “Now, where did you want to go?”
Jasmine pointed to the table and he snarled. “Why the hell?” He moved Jasmine to the table and placed her on one of the chairs. “I’ll be right back,” R.D. kissed her check before leaving her.
He was angry, but she didn’t know why, but right now nothing mattered as Jasmine stared at all the food. One platter was filled with bacon, another with sausage links, there was actual sausage gravy and biscuits, not to mention the eggs, pancakes and hash browns.
Sara and Monica had just become her best friends. Jasmine grabbed a plate and started to fill it ignoring everything until Sara rushed in and fell to her knees beside her as did Monica, crying.
“We’re so sorry, please forgive us,” Monica cried, her head bowed down as Sara’s.
“Forgive you about what? I should thank you. This food smells so good. Now explain what’s wrong?” Jasmine asked, sitting back as R.D. came back over to the table, followed by Logan.
“We were told to put the food here, otherwise I would have made you a separate plate,” Sara stated, looking over at R.D.
“As you should have,” he snarled and Jasmine rolled her eyes.
“Stop it R.D. I’m fine here. Plus, mom needs to eat and I’m sure you are hungry too. There’s no reason why we can’t all sit and eat together. I’m not stuck up and sure not a princess, as you keep calling me.” Jasmine waved her hands. “Get up Monica, Sara. You did nothing wrong. But tell me who told you to put the food here?”
“I did, after all, we all usually eat together, don’t we, Logan?” A blond woman said as she came into the room, moving next to Logan and running her hand up his chest.
Her appetite was now gone. The thing inside her rushed forward, pain, her skin felt like it was burning alive. “Get your fucking hands off of him now!” Jasmine ground out. Even through the pain, she wanted to rip this woman’s head off.
“Enough!” the yell came from her right side.
She looked up through different eyes, seeing Hendrick lift her up into his arms, holding her. “Shhh, settle down,” his voice rumbled, calming her like he had when she had been a child. He took her place at the table, holding onto her, rubbing her arms. “Pull the wolf back, Jasmine, you are not ready for the change. The woman is gone and will not be allowed in this house again,” Cole’s father stated.
The pain was slowly going away, and the old man’s words were sinking in. “If that is what it feels like to shift, I’m so not going to do that,” Jasmine curled up closer to him. “I take it that was one of Logan’s bimbos he was telling me about?” she asked, slowly lifting her head and moaning. “Why would they change me to live in this pain?”
“It won’t be like that when you shift, Sweetie. Just right now you are still healing and your body is not ready for the shift. I’m afraid Greta knew this and took advantage of the situation. I’m sorry, Jasmine,” Logan said beside her on his knees next to the chair with his head in her lap. “I didn’t think she would behave as badly.”
To see him on his knees, his head resting on her lap, tugged at her heart like nothing could. Here was one of the fiercest men she had every known, yet he was asking her for forgiveness.
She reached over and ran her hand through his hair. “Logan, how could you know what she was going to do? There is nothing to forgive, but please keep her and the other one away until I’m healed. Then I’ll deal with them personally.”
Her stomach rumbled again and Hendrick laughed, lifting her up and placing her into Logan’s arms and he took her to the table and sat with her in his lap. “Eat while I get our guest settled.”
With his arms wrapped around her, Logan nodded to the plate she had started. “Go on, I’m just going to sit here and hold you,” Logan stated, rubbing his cheek against her shoulder.
“What’s wrong?” Jasmine asked, glancing over her shoulder at him.
“He’s upset that you were hurt because of someone he was with,” R.D. sat down next to them. “We’re both upset. She is part of our pack and to have her do something so vindictive toward
s the next queen of the pack is wrong.”
“Queen!” she squeaked.
Chapter Eight
R.D. took a plate and started to fill it. His brother wasn’t the only one that was furious. The fact that someone from their pack tried to harm their mate had him furious. Even his betas had been shocked at Greta’s aggression.
“What are you talking about? I’m not queen.” Jasmine glared at him as she poured the gravy over her food.
“I’m afraid so, Jasmine,” his father responded, pulling out a chair at the table for her mother. “You will be the next alpha bitch.” Cole held up his hand. “I know you hate the wording, but it what it is. In a pack, the Alpha couple is the backbone. In other words, you are their queen.” Cole took a plate and handed it to Katherine. “Eat and stop your growling. She’s been taken care of Momma wolf,” Cole ordered, making him grin.
“But queen?” Jasmine looked behind her and then at him. “Do you really think I can do this?” she asked.
He leaned over and covered her hand with his. “Yes, you wouldn’t have been sent to us otherwise. We’ll do this together and you’re not alone. You have family to help you.” He sat back and laughed. “Do you really believe grandma isn’t going to be here helping you?” he challenged and she snorted.
“We’ll see,” she mumbled, taking a bite of her food to feel all eyes on her. “What?”
“Food is good?” Logan laughed.
Her face turned a little pink color. “I moaned again, didn’t I?” she whispered, but stuffed her mouth again.
“Has she always been this way?” R.D. turned to Katherine and noticed her eyes closed as she ate, a little moan coming from her.
“I’m afraid she’s just like her mom. As you can see, they enjoy life very much,” Cole wrapped his arm around Katherine and nipped the side of her neck. “You’re doing it again.”
“So you see, it isn’t just me.” Jasmine grinned and reached up to scratch at her bandage. “So what is the plan?” Stuffing a piece of sausage in her mouth, she turned and looked at him. “Are you going to use me as bait? I mean it would make sense, since it’s me he’s after, plus it might save a life or two. We don’t know how many people he has working with him.”
He just sat there staring at her as she ate until her mother screeched from her chair. “Are you out of your freaking mind? No, you are not putting yourself out there as bait, and if you even think, so I’ll kick your ass,” Katherine snapped, glaring at Jasmine who rolled her eyes.
“Mom, if I’m going to ever feel free without looking over my shoulder, I need him dead. I never thought I’d want to see someone dead, but I’m tired of having to worry if he is going to come after me tonight. Or is he going to be in my dreams.” She took her hand out of R.D.’s and rubbed her arms.
“Can dreams be real? Can he come in my dreams?” She questioned his father, then him. “My God, what if…” R.D. leaned over and kissed her, stopping all of those thoughts from her head.
“No,” he growled against her lips. “He can’t come into your dreams. Stop all this. You are going to make yourself sick.” R.D. ordered and a small grin touched her lips.
“Are you giving me more demands, Sir?” Jasmine asked, trying to tease him, but he could see the worry behind her eyes.
“Yes, I am, and you know I’m very good at it, too,” he nipped her bottom lip before sitting back in his seat, noticing their two guests, his grandfather’s friends, at the end of the table. “Please, have a seat. Join us.”
“He’s here.” Jasmine whispered so softly that he turned back to her, frowning.
“What?” he asked, looking to his brother, who frowned. “Who’s here?”
She turned her head towards him as tears rolled down her cheeks and her hand trembled while she wiped the tears away. “I smell him, feel him inside me. Not in my head, but in my blood.” Her gaze moved to their guests.
One nodded. “ I am Malik Doux. If he took your blood and made you take his, you would know. Not even their bonding could prevent that. Can you tell how close?” he asked.
“I don’t know. He’s never been this close. This is the first time I’ve felt it like this.” Logan pulled her back into his arms, holding her tight.
“Why the tears, Princess?” Logan kissed her cheeks, holding her tight.
“If he is this close, he’s on your property which means…” her gaze turned to him.
“That either some of my men are dead or somebody here is working with him,” R.D. growled, and stood so fast his chair went flying backwards.
“Daman, have we heard from all the sentry posts?” he shouted, moving towards the security room. Just as he stepped foot into the room, all the power went out in the house. He could hear his wolves howling, the fight was on.
R.D. ran back towards the room, but already Logan was moving towards him with Jasmine in his arms and his father carried Katherine. “Maddy!” he screamed, but didn’t have to. She met them at the bottom of the stairs.
“Safe room now! Daman, you and Grandfather will stay with the women,” R.D. ordered hoping his grandfather wouldn’t argue as he met them at the room.
“I will make sure that they stay. Take care of this threat, R.D.,” his grandfather said, taking Jasmine from Logan’s arms and heading into the room. He turned and met R.D.’s gaze. “Use the power that was given to you at birth, you know you can do it,” Hendrick said as the door to the room closed and locked.
“What did he mean by that?” Cole asked as they ran towards the front where R.D. knew their target was fighting to enter the building. The two elders followed them to the front hallway.
R.D. reached the front door and glanced at his father. “I need to do this, father.” He flung open the door and was the first to step outside, followed by his brother, father, and the elders. As soon he moved out of the house all fighting stopped.
A tall bloodsucker stepped out into the open.
“That is Hisao and that is part of his flock on either side of him. I don’t know who the puny human is behind him or why Hisao even has him here. If you will allow me?” Malik Doux stated, staring at the men across the drive border by the tree line.
Behind them R.D. knew his men were slowly moving into position, but he also knew Hisao was aware of this. “Does he actually believe we’ll just hand her over?” Logan asked next to him.
“Yes,” Malik said and stepped forward with his partner, but R.D. reached out and grabbed his arm.
“No, this is mine, but by any chance if he gets by me…” R.D. stated.
Malik stopped and nodded. “He won’t get by us. Your women will be safe,” Malik stated as R.D. moved forward. Muscles stretched, bones cracked as he became the beast that only a few of his kind were born to be.
Over seven feet tall, with a black pelt, R.D. knew he was impressive to see. “You and I are having a talk young man when this mess is over,” his father snarled, stalking their prey next to Logan. He recognized the human from Katherine’s memories. He was Jasmine’s father. “The father is mine.”
“The one on the right of Hisao is mine,” Logan stated, moving off to face his foe.
“I guess that leaves the one on the left for me. I haven’t fought anyone in a long time,” Daman snarled, changing halfway between beast and man. “Let’s do this,” he snapped, moving to the left.
“This could all be avoided if you just hand over Jasmine. She is meant to be at my side, not yours. I paid for the child a long time ago and I’ve come to collect what is mine.” Hisao glanced at Cole.
“So how is your old man? I’m surprised he’s not out here…” That was the last words he said before his grandfather came rushing out from the side of the mansion.
***
Jasmine stood on the upstairs balcony looking out over the property as she watched R.D. and Logan cleaning up the mess that she had brought upon to their family. The nightmare was dead, but so were a lot of other people. And so was her pet, Norman.
One of the ranch hands h
ad come over from the other house a couple of hours ago, to inform Cole that something had killed every single gopher on their property and that gopher blood had been smeared throughout the house including in her room. She overheard that Norman had been nailed to her headboard.
With shaky legs, Jasmine had slipped away to where she stood now with tears rolling down her face. The past was dead along with the one reminder of that night so long ago. Her pet gone. It was time to grow up. She would miss the little guy. The threat to her was gone thanks to Cole’s father and R.D. It had taken the two of them to kill the Nightmare Man, but he was gone along with the man who had helped create her. She wouldn’t call him her father, no Cole was her father and had been since the day she had moved into his home.
Jasmine turned and sat down on the chair before she fell. Her legs still were unstable and hurting a little. She had taken the bandage off of her neck, too. All that was there now were three little cuts. Her life was upside down, her belongings ruined and her pet dead, but even with all the bad, Jasmine felt free for the first time. There was nothing stopping her. Well, there was still the mess her presence had caused, but Jasmine didn’t have to look over her shoulder any more.
“There you are. I’ve been looking all over for you,” her mother said, taking the chair next to her. “How are you doing?” She handed her another protein drink and Jasmine groaned.
“I’ll be happy when I don’t have to drink these things, that’s for sure. So how bad was the house?” Jasmine asked.
“Bad enough. We’ll be staying here for a few days until it’s cleaned up. Cole is furious that they got into the house, but it seems there were a few traitors in the pack.” Her mom held out her hand. “The pack. They’ve come to welcome you.”
“What? Who?” Jasmine frowned, but took her hand and leaned on her as they moved to the banister.
Her Stepbrothers' Demands Page 6