Jessica Lee

by The KinKaid Wolf Pack Trilogy

  "That's it? No sex?"

  Evin's gaze darted to Mason, then back to the road. "What makes you think sex would be involved?" He released a chuckle that seemed to relieve some of the ominous atmosphere inside the cabin.

  "Hey, you're asking the man who's spent the last four days in your bed...on your table, in your woods..."

  "All right. All right." Evin laughed again. "Point taken, and well, you're partially right."

  "I knew it." Mason flipped his hand up in the air in a gesture that said I told you so. Evin looked over and rolled his eyes.

  "Just like in most human marriages, there is a wedding night, but it's not a necessary part of the mating. The couple is bonded by the ceremony's end."

  "Other than the sexual side effects to the male, do you feel any different?" Mason studied Evin's profile.

  "I've heard some say that it's possible to have a stronger mentalconnection to their mate. For instance, if one of them is hurt or distressed, sometimes the other can sense it. Sometimes even hear them inside their head."

  "Like telepathy?"

  "Yeah. Something like that." Evin nodded.

  "But this type of mating can only happen between two shifters, right?" Mason glanced at his fingernails. "Meaning, if you wanted to mate a human, it wouldn't work like that?" The heat of Evin's gaze washed over him like a rush of warm cognac seeping into his bloodstream.

  "Right. That type of mental and physical connection is only possible between shifters."

  "Makes sense." Mason directed his attention to the road. "It's hard to absorb all this." He shook his head. "If I survive after tomorrow, I can't believe this will be my world."

  "When you survive, you mean." Evin's deep voice, lined with a hard edge, filled the space between them.

  "Yeah." Mason dragged his gaze from the road and risked a glance at Evin. "Yeah. Sure. That's what I mean." Piercing blue eyes bore into Mason's soul.

  "Then say it like you mean it." Evin's dominant tone reached inside, commanding that he respond, to give him what he wanted. But this wasn't the bedroom. And a part of Mason itched to piss him off.

  Mason narrowed his gaze. "Kiss my ass." The words fell from his lips like a line drawn in the sand.

  The car swerved hard to the right.

  "What the hell?" Mason gripped the dashboard as the BMW's tires bit into the soft shoulder, then came to a halt in a section of tall grass. The seat belt grabbed his shoulder, yanking him back against his seat. Before he could form another question, Evin was out the car and making his way around the front fender toward the passenger side. What is he doing?

  Evin jerked the car door open, then reached in, unfastened Mason's seat belt, and pulled him from the vehicle before slamming the door.

  "What the hell is your problem?"

  His only response was a deep rumble emanating from Evin's chest, followed by hard hands spinning him around, putting him face-first into the car door. Evin's hand went straight for Mason's button fly.

  "If that's what you really want, I'd be happy to kiss your ass right here." Evin growled into his ear. The words were punctuated by a firm grind of his erection into Mason's backside.

  "Have you lost your fucking mind?" Mason squirmed against his tight hold. "Let me the hell go."

  "No." The single word vibrated inside his head and set off a tremble that raced through his system.

  Mason exploded.

  His vision hazed.

  He twisted, breaking free, spun, shoved, then swung.

  His fist connected with Evin's jaw with a loud crack of bone against bone. The bolt of pain ricocheted up his arm and into his shoulder. But he didn't give a shit. In some messed-up way, it felt damn good.

  "Come on!" Evin cocked his head, then swiped at the blood trickling from his busted lip. "Is that all you got?"

  Mason lunged, fists clenched tight, and slammed into Evin. At some point, not sure when exactly, their fight had mutated into more than just his being pissed at Evin. Maybe it happened after the rapid one-two slam into Evin's jaw that had the other man staggering but coming back with a grin. Or perhaps it was after the right hook that came out of nowhere and crashed into Mason's face, making his ears ring but had him begging for more. Who knew? But this was fucking great. Each punch, every impact, felt like an exorcism of the demons eating away at his insides.

  Evin's hands snatched Mason's wrist; then his body impacted Mason's chest, knocking him back against the car with a grunt. Mason's arms went over his head, and Evin pinned them to the roof. The air sawed in and out of Evin, his bloodied face inches above Mason's.

  "You feel better?" Evin glared down at him, his left eye already swelling.

  Mason blinked, the question catching him off guard. He searched inside, grasping for the lingering feelings of anger, resentment, and confusion he'd been carrying around. Most of them had nothing to do with Evin—hell, he'd been the one bright spot in his life—but more to do with his father's expectations. It dawned on him then that while all the nagging feelings hadn't completely vanished, shit, he did feel better.

  "In some sick way," Mason began, pulling air into his lungs in greedy mouthfuls. "Yeah, I do." Mason shook his head. "Fuck. I'm sorry, man."

  Evin dropped his hold on Mason's wrists and backed up. "Nothing to apologize for."

  "Yeah, there is. I shouldn't have gone off on you like that." Mason ran his fingers over the section of lip that felt three feet thick and stung like a mother. Damn, that hurt.

  "You needed to." Evin came forward once more—slowly this time. With his thumb, Evin rubbed away what had to be a smear of blood from the corner of Mason's mouth. "I think you've needed someone to go off on for a long time now. Long before you ever met me."

  He turned into the brief caress, unable not to. Evin's touch was like a magnetic pull on his soul. "Still," Mason uttered past his busted lip. Evin's palm slid around and captured Mason's nape, forcing him to lock his gaze with the other man's.

  "Don't be sorry." A slow shake of Evin's head sent his dark hair skating over the tops of his shoulders. "I would do anything for you," he breathed, then pulled his hand away, pivoted, and headed toward the driver's side of the car.

  Mason was at a loss for words. He stood there, frozen in place. No one had ever said anything like that to him in his whole life. Well, said it and actually meant it. Mason swallowed, his throat suddenly verging on the Sahara, because he knew without a doubt, Evin KinKaid didn't say anything he didn't mean.

  Chapter Nine

  The sun dipped below the horizon, leaving streaks of red and gold visible along the tops of the trees as Mason and Evin pulled up to the locked gates of the compound. Evin tapped the brakes, then reached over and ran his palm down Mason's arm before giving his hand a squeeze, waking him.

  "We're here," Evin said at the same time a large dark-haired man, wearing a scowl and an all black uniform, stepped from the security house.

  Mason straightened in his seat. "Well, I guess Mr. Sunshine here is our welcoming party."

  "Yeah, we're about to see if Rosa arriving first and informing my father I was coming was a smart move."

  The guard strode toward the car, his palm riding on the grip of the pistol at his hip. Like that was really going to save his ass if Evin had wanted him dead. Evin lowered the window as he neared.

  "Tell the alpha I require an audience with him," Evin said, giving the other man a stare that spoke of his previous alpha prime status.

  "He's been expecting you." He stopped at the window, his baritone voice filling the cabin as his gaze assessed them. "Out of the car," he commanded and took one step back. "You can leave your vehicle here."

  "What?" Evin was about to blurt a few choice words as to what Sunshine could do with his orders, when a rush of movement caught his attention, stifling his protest. From every angle, a team of commandos who looked as if they'd stepped right off the set of another Rambo sequel surrounded the BMW. "Fuck. Me."

  "Love to, but I think we're about to be a little
busy," Mason mumbled.

  "Ha. Funny." Evin shot Mason a look that said bite me. He'd assumed getting to speak with his father would be a difficult task, unpleasant to say the least. But damn, he hadn't expected the old man would call out the National Guard to haul his ass in. Evin grinned. A part of him was a bit flattered. The alpha had treated him as less of a man the last time they'd spoken. Now suddenly he felt it was necessary for a group of armed men to escort him inside. Interesting...

  "Like I said," the original lone guard stated. "Out of the car." The slide of steel followed by a loud clank filled the air as the team chambered rounds into their rifles, punctuating his words.

  In his peripheral vision, Evin noted Mason's hand lifting in surrender as he did the same. Both went for the door handle to exit the car.

  "Slowly," Sunshine demanded.

  "It's all good," Evin stated with his arms out to his side. "I just need to see my father, not kill anyone."

  "Well, thank you sharing that.” Sarcasm dripped like venom from the guard's words. “I feel so much better now. t's a relief to know I won't have to waste any of the silver in my rifle on your ass." At that moment, a black van appeared and pulled up alongside their car. The gates released a click and jumped into action, rolling open with a steady hum.

  "Into the van." The leader gave a sweeping motion with his arm in the direction of said vehicle.

  Evin and Mason did as instructed. At this point, what choice did they have if Evin wanted to speak to his father? Mason's life depended on that very event. Both men headed toward the van's door, but before Evin could step inside, a broad hand landed between his shoulder blades and shoved him against the cool aluminum exterior.

  "What the fuck?" Evin whipped his head around, noting Mason had been forced to assume a similar position beside him.

  "Shut up," a deep voice grunted and gave another shove against Evin's back. Several hard pats landed up and down both Mason's and Evin's torsos and legs. "They're clean," their inspector declared to the rest of the team and stepped away. "Now. Inside."

  Evin looked to Mason, who gave him a nod that said he was okay. They both climbed on board.

  The drive toward his childhood home, across land that was part of his blood, his heritage, should have been one filled with joy. Instead, it was one smothered in dread. Many families occupied the several thousand acres claimed by their ancestors going back multiple generations. And the KinKaids had led the pack for the past five. Until tomorrow night's full moon. Evin breathed deep. Mason, as if sensing his unease, leaned into his shoulder. Damn, he shouldn't be the one attempting to offer comfort right now.

  After a ten-minute drive, Evin spotted the familiar glow of the landscape lighting that highlighted the stone exterior of his family's two-story mansion ahead. Evin nudged Mason.

  "This is it," Evin said.

  Mason's chest rose and fell on a deep inhale. Evin itched to take him in his arms one more time and tell him everything would be fine. But a show of affection right now toward another man was probably not the wisest choice. Evin assessed the armed men who watched their every move; then his gaze drifted to the one beside him who held a piece of his heart. He needed Mason healthy if he was to have a chance of surviving tomorrow night.

  The van's tires hit the curb of the driveway and lurched, forcing the passengers to brace themselves, then came to a halt next to the Lexus parked before the open garage door.

  "It's do or die time—literally," Mason mumbled.

  Evin hit him with a glare. "Not funny."

  "Not laughing."

  One of the guards swung the door wide, then exited. "Out," he ordered, turning back around in their direction.

  They filed out from the vehicle, and with the gunmen on their heels, Mason and Evin headed inside.

  Through the garage and into the home via the side door, the guards marched them straight to Evin's father's receiving room. The large room hadn't changed since he'd last seen it over a year ago.

  "Wait here," one of the armed men commanded. "The alpha will see you once he's free."

  Evin glanced over his shoulder, then spun, narrowing his gaze. "And when will that be, exactly?"

  The other man shrugged. "You'll have to wait and see." A smirk curled his lips; then he turned and left, with the two other guards falling in step behind him.

  "So they stick guns in our backs nearly all the way here, and now that we're actually in your father's home, they're just going to leave?" Mason cocked a brow at Evin. "That's fucked up."

  Evin grabbed one of the straight-back chairs in front of the alpha's desk and whipped it around before straddling the seat.

  "We're not alone." Out of the corner of his eye, Evin couldn't miss Mason's nervous assessment of every corner of the room. "My father always has a couple of personal guards who stay on the premises. What we experienced on the way in was a power display on behalf of the alpha. He wanted to make sure I knew he was still fully in charge"—Evin laced his fingers, staring at the lines crisscrossing his palm—"and that if I came here needing something, I would damn well have to go through him to get it."

  "Well said, Evin." His father's gravelly voice washed over him, tightening his gut.

  Evin eased off his chair and pivoted on his heels. Barron KinKaid's six-foot-four frame filled the entryway. Reflex moved Evin and placed his body slightly in front of Mason's.

  "You got my message, then," Barron went on to say, striding into the room. Evin followed his every movement as he passed, watching for the least sign of trouble—a twitch of muscle or a flex of his hand as he went for a weapon. "No need to stand in protection over your...friend, boy." The alpha's steps halted alongside his desk, his long dark hair bound at his nape and falling to his hips. His head swiveled over his shoulder in their direction, Barron's blue gaze pinning Evin's. "I have no plans to kill him." One shoulder lifted in a shrug. "Yet." The last biting word dropped with a flash of large canines.

  The warmth of Mason's hand pressed into Evin's lower back, sending a shiver up his spine and another layer of resolve through his soul. I can do this.

  For Mason, he would do this.

  "Sit down, boys," Barron said, his calm demeanor setting Evin's nerves on alert. The alpha lowered onto the large black executive chair behind his desk. The leather squeaked in complaint as his weight settled onto the cushioned surface.

  Evin looked to Mason, and then they both took a seat in the two chairs facing his father.

  "So, tell me, Evin. What have you done?" The alpha leaned forward, his thick arms sliding over the wooden top as he laced his fingers. His glare darted between them.

  "Rosa did come to you, I assume, or we wouldn't have got this far onto your land."

  "She did"—Barron lifted a brow—"but only to beg me to allow you on the property tonight. She wouldn't elaborate as to the purpose of your request for a meeting." He leaned back against his chair. "She caught me on a good day, and I agreed," the alpha added, then sized up Mason with a look that could only be called scathing. He gaze flicked to Evin. "So make use of my momentary good will, boy. Speak."

  "I request that my friend, Mason"—Evin's gaze touched his lover's profile, then returned to his father—"be allowed treatment from our healers."

  Both his father's brows shot up. "And why would he need help from us?" A corner of his mouth curled.

  Evin swallowed hard. It was bad enough to admit what he'd done to Mason, but having to reveal his slip to his father was nearly choking him. But there was no other alternative. Evin braced himself and uttered the words.

  "He's infected."

  "And let me guess..." His father's tone dipped into a snarl. "Not only have you fucked up, breaking law number one of our code and forcing our DNA into a human, but your timing may very well take more than his humanity. You've given him a death sentence."

  Mason's clutched hands dropped between his knees, his head rolled forward, and he stared at his feet.

  "Stop it," Evin snapped. "I know what I've don
e, and Mason already understands the implications. You don't have to shove it in his face."

  "I didn't create this problem," Barron growled. "And watch your tone if you don't want to find both your asses hauled back to the gate."

  Fisting both hands, Evin dragged a deep breath in through his nostrils.

  Patience.

  Control.

  Barron KinKaid was their only hope.

  "I know I fucked up, and I can only hope that one day Mason will forgive me." Evin glimpsed Mason's distressed profile, and his chest ached. He swung his gaze to the alpha's and shoved his pride aside. "That is, if you'll help him. Will you help him, Father? Will you allow the healers to get him through his primary shift during tomorrow night's full moon?" Evin's heart slammed against his chest as he bowed his head in submission.

  There.

  It was done.

  He'd laid it all on the table and humbled himself before his father. The next move was his.

  The incessant ticktock of the room's mantel clock while he waited for the alpha's response felt like an ice pick chipping away at his brain. Shit! Why wouldn't he say something? His father was fucking with him. Payback time, Evin guessed. Barron KinKaid had the upper hand at this moment, and it appeared he planned to make him squirm.

  Suddenly, chair wheels squeaked, rolling under the burden of over two hundred pounds of wolf shifter, signaling his father was on the move. Boot heels thumped against the wood floor as he rounded the desk.

  "My, you have created quite a predicament for you and your...friend, Evin," the alpha said, his voice taking on that calm and controlled tone that made Evin want to jump out of his skin. What the hell was he up to? "And what do you have to say for yourself?" Mason's sudden sharp inhale had Evin's head jerking up and swinging around.

  Before Evin could stifle its release, a low growl erupted from his throat. Barron had his hand wrapped around Mason's chin, forcing their gazes to meet.

  "Take your hands off him." Evin forced the words through clenched teeth. Fuck, he didn't even recognize the sound of his own voice.