His to Claim

by Paris Brandon

  Wait a minute. The first time Sid tried to terrorize Luna? The pieces of the puzzle clicking into place. Drew’s patience, his insistence Ray be socialized. “You called me home to be my father’s alibi.”

  Drew nodded. “Your father’s good, but he’s no Tracker, and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t have the knowledge it would take to mask his scent enough he’d leave no detectable evidence behind. He’s kept a low profile this past year, and as angry as he might have been, I don’t think the man I remember has what it takes to be cruel enough to leave Luna a reminder of being a serial killer’s hostage.”

  His dad’s mouth pulled to one side, opening his split lip. The blood made J.D. see red, but he kept his snarl to himself. As alpha, Drew had the final word on this.

  “It’s your father’s right to challenge Sid or to defer to Gunnar, since his mate was also victimized. Under the circumstances, if he wishes, I would allow you to take your father’s place.”

  Sid bristled under his father’s scrutiny, but a flash of something less than terror and resembling shame altered his gaze before it slid away. Weirder yet, Drew had noticed and didn’t seem surprised when his dad shook his head and nodded at Luna.

  “My reputation, such as it is, didn’t suffer half as much as Luna’s peace of mind. If it’s all the same to you, I’ll defer to anything she wants.”

  Gunnar’s canines flashed, sharp and white, as the air shimmered around him, but Luna hooked her hand over his arm, and the atmosphere calmed.

  “I’ve been scared by the best, Ray. A length of chain didn’t frighten me, it made me angry. I don’t trust anyone who would purposely try to hurt a member of the pack. I’ll leave Sid’s punishment to Drew, but I would ask that he be barred from serving in any official capacity for the pack. Ever.”

  “You’re sure you don’t want anything else?” Gunnar appeared puzzled but resigned.

  “From what I understand, his desire for status was his motivation for causing all this misery, and seems a fitting punishment. Anything more, I suggest we leave to Drew.”

  “Sounds fair,” Ray added.

  “Done,” Drew pronounced. “You’re also confined to pack land until I decide otherwise. Put as much as one paw outside Los Lobos territory and I’ll send Ryker after you.”

  “You’re not banishing me?” Sid seemed confused.

  “You’re my responsibility. I’m not going to free you to become another pack’s problem. Also, Ryker trained your father. Any trick you think you know about disappearing, he knows ten more. If I have to send him, you will cease to be anyone’s problem. Understood?”

  Sid glanced between Drew and Ryker, the weight of his sentence heavy enough to bow his shoulders. “Yes.”

  Nothing J.D. could have done to him would have measured up to the complete shunning the pack could inflict. The man had to have been seven kinds of stupid to risk alienating the community. As much as he would have liked to issue a little payback and make Sid physically bleed, the man had been figuratively eviscerated.

  He wished he knew the reason behind the odd glance his old man had shot Sid. A little sad and definitely disappointed, it had caused a flash of horror to spark in the younger man’s gaze before he’d looked away.

  Drew turned his attention to what remained of Gunnar and Luna’s deck, and the rest of them followed suit, leaving Sid to slink into the woods and watch as the rest of them dealt with the aftermath of his actions.

  “I can’t believe all the trouble he caused because he wanted a pack job,” Bree whispered softly enough for only him to hear

  “Me either,” he answered, careful to keep his own voice low. He needn’t have bothered. Everyone else busied themselves tamping dirt over dying embers and ripping away chunks of charred lumber. They helped with the efforts and volunteered along with everyone else, including his father, to help re-build the destroyed deck.

  Working in tandem, he turned over lumps of dry soil and Bree spread them over pieces of still smoking planks. “This is not what I had in mind when I thought about getting dirty with you, tonight,” he mumbled in her ear, when she got close enough.

  “The night is still young.”

  The sultry promise embedded in her teasing whisper went straight to his groin, and he forgot about anything else, except getting this job done and dragging Bree into a shower.

  Chapter Ten

  Luna had wiped Ray’s face with a wet towel and tended his busted lip before promising they’d see him home. It would have been impolite to refuse, but Bree couldn’t wait to hear all the details the next time they saw J.D.’s father.

  She and J.D. decided to walk home through the woods, their way illuminated by an incandescent moon throwing enough light to make everything sparkle. Of course, the night air shimmering around her mate made him even more appealing than usual.

  Her mate. The idea slid through her, stoking her desire.

  They were sweaty and soot-streaked, and her shower would need an industrial cleaning unless they got rid of at least part of the grime. “How do you feel about a little night swim?”

  A flash of lengthening canines sort of mangled his answer, but he pointed in the direction of the swimming hole.

  She barely kept pace with her mate, and his eagerness lent an unexpected thrill to their mock race. He reached for her grimy tee shirt as she yanked at the button fastening his jeans then lifted her face for a kiss.

  He tasted smoky and sweet beneath the fine layer of bitter ash dusting his skin, and he groaned as naked flesh met naked flesh and limbs twined around torsos and anywhere else they could reach.

  “The faster we get at least part this filth off, the faster I can get you into the shower,” he mumbled against her ear.

  She laughed and broke away. “Who says I want to wait for a shower?”

  He dove in after her, catching her legs as she swam away and dragging her under. She came up sputtering, and he barely gave her time to catch her breath before he kissed and wrapped his arms around her. She drifted in his embrace, letting him set the course as she floated on her back.

  Her hair drifted around her, and she combed her fingers through the tangles, dislodging dissolved bits of ash and dirt, while J.D. took his time rinsing parts of her body the debris had never touched. He pushed them to shallower water, but she had to wrap her legs around his waist or stand on tiptoe to reach his mouth.

  She feathered tiny kisses over his cool, damp lips, and he lifted her hips. Reaching between them, she grasped the hard column of flesh pulsing against her belly. The moon, bright enough to illuminate his face, allowed her to watch his expression as she guided him to her hot center.

  He began to move, and she answered, rocking into a rhythm as slow and sensual as the gentle tide lapping at their bodies. Sound magnified and the breeze fluttering through the trees became a symphony conspiring to lull them into a less frantic joining than they’d known before.

  Each time would be special, but, tonight, every move seemed guided by the realization nothing would separate them. Not family strife or pack politics, or any outside influence.

  He didn’t warble off-key after an orgasm rocked him off his feet, and he stumbled to catch her. She didn’t laugh or fall, still caught up in the tremors rippling through her, she drew him into a languid, floating embrace and didn’t object when he carried her out of the water and set her onto the bank.

  They didn’t bother dressing or running. Holding hands, they walked toward the little house where they could laugh and shower, make love, and plan for the future.

  Chapter Eleven

  Everyone had arrived, as promised to help build Gunnar and Luna the new deck, and the enthusiastic crew had labored all morning assembling the structure. Work always went quicker with a happy crew.

  He and Bree, along with his father, had arrived early. His dad’s apology to Luna for his part in making her return to Los Lobos more painful than it should have been, had been accepted with more grace than he’d h
oped for.

  Through the chatter, he overheard Luna asking his dad for the umpteenth time if he needed anything. “Would you like to tell me what makes women fuss over my father so much?”

  Bree crunched a potato chip and grinned. “He’s a challenge. Edie asked me if I’d look in on him, and he was so grumpy I almost gave up. By the time I’d gotten home, I’d decided he wasn’t beating me. I’d kill him with kindness.”

  “Are you saying I was too easy to get?”

  “What do you mean easy? I had to wait half my life for you.”

  “Tell me more.” He couldn’t keep his lips from curling into a grin.

  “You’re worse than your dad.”

  “Who at this moment is trying to refuse another piece of peach pie.” He watched his dad talking to Gunnar as he air sketched a plan to attach the structure.

  He’d been a little surprised when the two had started talking today. Not exactly best buddies, they seemed to be making an effort for the laughing woman at Ray’s elbow as she tried to still his hand so she could put another plate in it.

  Women had always confounded him; their strength amazed him on most days, but Luna didn’t seem to have a vindictive bone in her body. When his father had apologized, she’d hugged him and told him to let it go, and they could start over. She thanked him for trying to save their house, and promptly thrust a glass of lemonade at him.

  At first, his dad had seemed puzzled, until Gunnar had mumbled something about hormones making her weepy. His dad had chuckled and wished him luck, and they’d both relaxed.

  Small steps, but not to be taken for granted.

  He’d asked his dad about the strange look he’d shared with Sid the night of the fire, but Ray couldn’t remember much about Sid, except he’d been a skinny wisp of a kid, always skulking around in the shadows, waiting for a scrap of food or affection. He didn’t envy him his punishment.

  His father had recognized guilt and shame and knew from experience living with both punished a man, body and soul. The hard road back to earning even a small amount of respect would be more than penance enough for what he’d done. His father speculated Sid would never be happy unless he made the journey, and the worst part would be, he’d have to do it alone.

  His dad had sounded almost sorry for the man.

  “Where did you go?” Bree teased.

  “I didn’t go anywhere. Just thinking about how happy I am to be home, mated to the woman I’ve loved since before I knew what love was. Why?”

  “I asked you if you’d like another piece of cherry cobbler, or would you rather go home and have dessert?” She smiled, and he would have started singing racy limericks, but they had an audience.

  “I think I’ll have both, if you don’t mind.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

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  Chapter One

  Gunnar Redmond’s blood still raced from his morning run, and the female’s musky scent hit him doubly hard. The haggard white wolf had been running in a straight line since she’d hit the perimeter a few minutes ago. Nothing ran that hard unless something chased it, and he didn’t see or smell anything following her. Too soon to call a warning for something he could probably handle himself, the pack protector kept well behind his quarry. The third time she stumbled, his wolf reached for her, nearly stopping him in his tracks.

  The urge to catch her before she fell surprised him. He breathed in her scent once more, finding her human nature had become much stronger and stank of a fear so fierce it permeated the crisp autumn air. She’d transformed. The scent grew stronger. His quarry had stopped, perhaps to get her bearings.

  Every wolf in Los Lobos knew the location of the pack land boundaries.

  She was obviously lost and confused.

  Downwind and hidden by a small stand of trees, Gunnar crouched on the crest of a small hill. Naked and filthy, twigs and leaves riddled her tangled mess of dark hair that reached past her shoulders. Mud streaked her bare arms and legs. Her thin flanks trembled as she rubbed her hands up and down her arms and looked around. She might not be very tall, but her obvious curves left no doubt she was all woman.

  His wolf whined.

  If he waited any longer, his wolf was going to behave inappropriately. Knocking her down so he could clean her and show his obvious interest probably wouldn’t win him any points. He stood and unbuttoned his shirt as he walked down the short incline.

  The wind shifted, and she lifted her nose, turned, and froze. Her dark eyes widened, and he scented the fear she tried to hide. His size intimidated most, but her gaze had locked on his fingers, still working his shirt buttons free, and it occurred to him what the situation must look like.

  Nice going, dumbass.

  He let his arms drop and sighed. “Did you know you were trespassing?”

  Her shoulders slumped. She stared at him a moment, and her mouth worked in a silent effort that seemed to frustrate her. Finally, her words tumbled like so much static from a radio. “Am I in Los Lobos?”

  Gunnar nodded, and a shaky smile quirked one corner of her mouth.

  “My name is Luna Sinclair, and I beg sanctuary.”

  He stripped off his shirt with a little more force than necessary and handed it to her before turning to give her some privacy. And so she couldn’t see his face. “Are you Ed Sinclair’s daughter?” He hadn’t meant to snap.

  “Yes.” She delivered the one succinct word in the same brusque tone he’d used. She didn’t sound happy about relaying the information.

  “The alpha will want to see you.” He turned around. Why did he and his wolf always choose the most difficult path to reach any desired destination?

  She nodded and rolled the too-long sleeves of his green-plaid flannel shirt with a brisk efficiency he admired. When she raised her head, her gaze snagged on his bare chest before she hastily averted her eyes.

  Her skittishness held a primal appeal he barely resisted. He had a job to do. All the same, his skin rippled in response. His wolf growled possessively, though he doubted the sparkle lighting her eyes had anything to do with desire. If he had to guess, her tears masked the fear she tried to contain.

  “What are you afraid of?”

  “I’m not afraid.” Doubt clouded her gaze. “I’m not afraid.” Her second attempt came out whispered, as if repeating it again would make it true.

  His wolf wanted to comfort her. His alpha, Drew Tao, wouldn’t appreciate him putting his own needs, first. He’d been tasked to be a pack protector, and, at the moment, he didn’t like it much. “You were running as if you were being chased.” He softened his voice. “I need to know who or what has you so scared.”

  “Who are you?” Suspicion tinged her question.

  “Gunnar Redmond, and it’s my job to know, so you might as well tell me.”

  “I’ll tell the alpha. No sense in repeating it twice.”

  “It is if the pack is in imminent danger,” he snapped.

  “I had a pack of dogs chasing me. I didn’t remember the exact location of our border, but, apparently, they did. I wanted to make sure I was on Tao land before I stopped.”

  She’s lying. Dogs giving chase barked like mad, and he hadn’t heard anything. Interrogation was a tricky thing. Sometimes he learned more by listening. “The dogs around here aren’t usually that stupid. What did you do to piss them off?”

  “I’m female, you work it out.”

  No wonder his wolf had been rippling under his skin. “C’mon, then. I’d best get you someplace safe before I need to fight off anything stupid enough to follow you.”

  He had enough trouble ignoring the panting beast trying to claw its way out of him. In a few minutes, he’d need to ask for his shirt back so he could hide the evidence.

  Her scent beckoned the wildness inside, and one glance at her bare feet as she picked her way over the rough path stirred another desire. He scooped her u
p and tried to ignore her trembling. Tried to ignore the bones stretching her flesh too thin. She held herself stiffly and as far away as his arms would allow as he carried her, clearly intimidated.

  “I’m not going to hurt you.” He spoke in a gruff manner because if he tried to be kind, he’d end up doing something to appease the beast clawing at him and demanding more.

  “Unless I’m a threat,” she whispered. Any returning wolf had to be vetted. This could go either way. He’d never known Drew to be vindictive, but her father had a nasty reputation and his actions had harmed more than one family.

  He hadn’t known Ed Sinclair personally. He’d heard the were-bear, Gee, and some of the older wolves mention the bad old days and the men who’d followed Magnum into the kind of depravity no one liked to talk about.

  Ed Sinclair had been a mean-spirited bully whose temper worsened with each drink. Man, woman, or child had been fair game as long as Magnum issued the orders and supplied the booze.

  Try as he might, he couldn’t remember ever hearing anything about Sinclair’s family.

  This time of day, Drew was probably having lunch at The Den, which meant Gunnar would have to parade Luna through Gee’s bar, half-naked and filthy. He could have taken her to his cabin, let her at least clean up, and gotten something to cover her, though he doubted she would have trusted him to have her best interest at heart.

  “I appreciate the lift, but I’d rather not be carried through town,” she growled, and he almost smiled. It had been a tiny growl.

  If he’d been Ed Sinclair’s offspring, he’d be trying to retain a speck of pride, too. He lowered her to the ground and winced when one of her heels left a bloody print in the dirt. She defiantly lifted her chin, and he knew he’d have a fight on his hands if he suggested she return to his arms.