For Toron's Pride

by Tressie Lockwood

  For Toron's Pride

  Chapter Eight

  Sienna kicked her heels off and flopped on the bed. She was exhausted. Over the last few weeks, she had been back and forth between New York to Vermont. Rather than move her boutique to Sutland, she had found a small storefront with a tiny apartment over it for less than the rent at her old place. Now she had the boutique in New York and a small venture here. Never in a million years had she imagined expanding so quickly. Of course, that didn’t mean she would sell well in Sutland. The ladies might hate her ideas, but she was will ing to give it a try.

  Aside from turning down every conceivable offer of help from Toron, things were looking up. The man wasn’t happy unless he had full control of everything. She wouldn’t accept his help. Her mother had raised her alone after her father died when she was twelve, and she had drilled into Sienna’s head to never make excuses—forge her own way in the world. She had done just that with her boutique.

  Keeping Toron out of her business was easier done than banning him from her head. When she had walked into his office, her worry had all been for her baby, but later, boy oh boy, did every touch, every word he’d spoken to her parade through her mind to torment her body and soul. The man was still sexy as hell . If anything, he’d grown more so. Her desire for him had grown, and whenever she was in his presence, she found it hard not to touch him or at the very least not to drink him in with her eyes.

  What made it all worse was that Toron seemed to feel the same way. When she walked into a room where he was, he always knew and turned his head to watch her approach. He made up excuses to brush a hand over her skin, to stand close to her. The bastard knew what he was doing, and yet, she believed he could no more help himself than she could. She wouldn’t give in. That couldn’t happen if she wanted peace in this small town.

  “Mommy?” Simeon pushed his head around the door. Sienna yawned and held her arms out. “Come here, baby. Mommy needs a hug.”

  “Oh, Maaaa.” He ran across the room and jumped on the bed. She gathered him close and tickled him. He squealed in his little boy high-pitched voice. For some reason, she wondered if it would deepen and sound like his daddy’s when he hit puberty. Deciding she never wanted Toron on her mind, she shook her head to clear it.

  “What are you up to, today? Do you like your new school?”

  “Yes!” He bounded out of her arms and bounced on the bed. “My daddy says all the kids that go there are like me, a lion, but they can’t change. I changed though.”

  She grimaced. Simeon had adapted fast to calling Toron daddy, even though he sometimes asked her about Hawke.

  Not knowing what to tell him other than their friend had to go away for a while, she steered the conversation off Hawke.

  What he did still hurt, and it pissed her off that Toron found it necessary to get someone to watch her like she was his property. “Yeah, you changed a little bit, baby.”

  “Daddy says I’m going to change all the way before long.”

  “Mmhmm.”

  “And Daddy says the three of us are going out to dinner.”

  “Whoa, let me stop you right there.” She held up a finger. “Daddy said what?”

  Her son grinned and put a hand up to his mouth, giggling behind it. “Daddy said that’s a secret.”

  Goodness, if he said, “Daddy said” one more time, she was going to lose it. She dismissed the idea of having dinner with Toron and decided to shower and find fresh clothes. Nothing had changed as far as she could see regarding all the women that hung around him. Stella lived at his house, so no, she would not encourage anything between her and the alpha. Toron had been good about taking her and Simeon to the elementary school to get her son enrolled, and from the amount of time they had already spent together and how attentive Toron was to Simeon, she thought he would be a decent father. That was enough.

  The following morning, Sienna opened her boutique with a flutter in her stomach. She had posted a sign indicating a grand opening and placed a small display ad in the local paper, but few customers ventured in. She had begun to worry that this undertaking would be a failure. Today, she pulled out the big guns, a few dress designs she hadn’t risked showing, thinking they might be a bit risqué for the small town ladies.

  When the bell jingled behind her as she set the last piece in place, she turned and gasped. “Stella.”

  The woman’s shoulders were back, and she held her chin high. If Sienna didn’t notice the way her fingers bunched in the material of her dress, she would have bought the high and mighty act. Sienna raised an eyebrow to indicate she wasn’t fooled and approached Toron’s lover. Thinking of her that way helped keep Sienna from getting stupid ideas, but it always hurt a little, and she hated that most of all .

  “How can I help you?”

  Stella hesitated and then came forward. “I am going to a special event—with Toron—and I wanted to have something different to wear. I heard you have some okay dresses.”

  “Okay?” Sienna got her back up, but she couldn’t help remembering how her son had said the two of them would be having dinner with Toron. Now she heard he was going out with Stella too. The man wanted his cake and to eat it too. Not with her he wasn’t. She forced a smile with a stiff jaw. Stella’s relationship with Toron made her influential in this town. “Let me show you a few items.”

  Against her better judgment because she didn’t want to encourage anything between the two of them, she showed Stella her latest sexy pieces. I do not give a damn if he will be staring into her cleavage all night. Not at all!

  “This might be a bit much for you, but the women in New York love to flaunt it when they have it. They, better than anyone else, know how to use what they’ve got, if you know what I mean.”

  Stella rolled her eyes. “None of those humans have what I have.” She actually perked her boobs with a hand under each, and Sienna bit her lip to keep from laughing. “Let me try this on.”

  Sienna sighed in relief and set her up in the makeshift dressing room. She’d scarcely turned away, when the bell rang again, and then again. Her little shop at once seemed to burst at the seams with women, all chattering in elevated voices and exclaiming over Sienna’s creations. “Oh would you look at this one, Lena? They have nothing like this at the department store,” one woman said. Sienna spun away, hiding the moisture gathering in her eyes.

  When the bell jingled again, she pulled herself together to greet her next customer. Before she could say more than good morning, all the women paused in their conversation and greeted the woman in the doorway with quiet respect.

  Sienna guessed she was someone of high standing in the community. She examined the woman, who was tall , at least six feet, a long, will owy figure but with full breasts.

  Being in the business, Sienna knew expensive clothing when she saw it, and these were designer brands without a doubt.

  Behind the woman with long, flowing blond hair, two sexy men stepped in. They couldn’t be above twenty-five, yet the woman appeared to be in her early sixties or late fifties.

  Golden eyes scanned the small space of the shop and then settled on Sienna. “You’re her.”

  Sienna tilted her head. “Ma’am?”

  “You’re the mother of my grandbaby.”

  Sienna gasped. This was Toron’s mother? Of course, how could she not see it? Toron looked just like her, and both had a powerful presence even without the alpha gifts.

  “Walk with me,” the woman commanded. She peered past Sienna’s shoulder. “Stella, mind the store until we’re back.”

  Sienna turned around as Stella was just coming out of the changing room. She nodded, but Sienna saw the annoyance. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “But I—” Sienna began but found herself propelled out the door.

  “You two go find something to do,” Toron’s mother ordered the two men, and Sienna’s eyes bugged when she slapped each on the ass. She turned a beaming smile to Sienna. “They’re hot and great in bed, but empty-headed.
>
  Now, we can have some time to talk. Oh and call me Vivian.”

  Sienna had trouble saying anything in response. At least now she knew why Toron turned out the way he did. His mother was apparently a slut. “It’s nice to meet you, Vivian. I’m Sienna.”

  She held out a hand, but Vivian waved it away. “Pish, you don’t fool me, girlie. I’ve been around for a long time, and I can sense how disgusted you are with me. Not unlike my son, but why shouldn’t I do what I want? I’m a widow, and if I want to have a string of affairs—some at the same time— who cares? And he’s one to protest with all his women.”

  Sienna tensed. She schooled her face to appear disinterested but felt Vivian’s gaze on her.

  “You’re different though.”

  “Excuse me?” Sienna hadn’t considered herself a prude until that moment. She bristled at the woman’s tone.

  Vivian chuckled. “I don’t mean it like that. I mean you’re different to Toron.”

  Sienna held up her hands. “Oh, please don’t get the wrong idea. Toron and I made a mistake a long time ago, and well …”

  “So you consider Simeon a mistake?”

  “No!”

  “Come on. We’ll sit here.”

  Vivian all but dragged her to a bench, and Sienna dropped onto it feeling worn out despite it being just after ten in the morning. The older woman faced her, a pleasant expression on her face, which didn’t fool Sienna in the least. Something told her this woman got off on being as blunt as possible just to see people’s reaction.

  “I hurt Toron years ago. Beyond repair, I sometimes think, but when I heard about you, I began to believe that would change.”

  Those words were not what Sienna expected. “I don’t think I understand.”

  She reached out and squeezed Sienna’s hand. Sienna shifted on the bench, wanting to pull away but not wanting to offend Toron’s mother.

  “I am an alpha,” she said. “My husband wasn’t.”

  Sienna’s brows went up. “I didn’t know that was

  possible.”

  “It’s rare, but it happens. I took on the power, but I let his father lead the people. I preferred the other benefits.”

  “Other benefits?”

  Her pursed lips and narrowed eyes said she didn’t doubt Sienna knew exactly what she meant.

  “Men are attracted to me, and I encourage it.”

  “You’re saying…”

  “Yes, I had many lovers before Toron’s father died. I was addicted to it and wanted to see how many more I could get. After a while, I wondered if it was just the power and not me, so I learned to hone it, to suppress it. They still came.”

  “I have to get back to the shop.” Sienna made to stand, but Vivian held onto her hand like a vise. Unless she wanted to make a scene, she had to wait the woman out, but Sienna was already turned off. Did Vivian think her story did anything other than solidify all her fears about Toron?

  “Hear me out…please.” The pain in Vivian’s tone surprised her. “I abused my power, but it wasn’t intended that way. The leader has appeal only to draw his people close, to nurture them, to protect them, and heal when necessary. In return, they also give him strength when he needs it. The power isn’t a sexual draw. I perverted it, and it broke my Marrin.”

  “Marrin?”

  “Toron’s father. He didn’t die of natural causes. He committed suicide.”

  Again with the bluntness. Sienna’s mouth went dry. “I’m so sorry.”

  The older woman nodded, eyes vacant as if she was remembering. “He loved me more than life because I was his mate. I loved him too, but I was young and stupid. Marrin was much older than me. The alpha blood came through my line, not his, and I had no brothers. No one at the time challenged my family for leadership, and so I came into the power. I know now it shouldn’t have been. If only… Well, I can’t live in regret.”

  Sienna guessed she did regret what she’d done, driving her husband to end his life because she cheated and kept cheating. The entire story made her want to run and never come back, just as she did five years ago.

  “I had to wait until Toron was old enough to lead after his father’s death, but I knew right from the start he could be different. He had a natural ability to control it and himself. The problem was, he didn’t want to. Not that Toron wanted to sleep around. He loved his father very much. It broke him when he lost Marrin, and so he decided he would never love someone like Marrin loved me. He would never accept a mate.”

  Sienna shook her head and looked away. “That has nothing to do with me.”

  “It has everything to do with you.” She squeezed Sienna’s hand. “You are Toron’s mate.”

  “No, no, no. Hell no.”

  Sienna tore her hand from Vivian’s and surged to her feet. She started off down the street, but Vivian’s next words brought her up short, and her heart raced.

  “After he met you, there has been no one else.”

  Sienna shook from head to toe. She couldn’t bring herself to turn around.

  “Stella tries to pick up where they left off, but Toron has denied her. Before you say how would I know, remember this.”

  Sienna had no choice. She spun slowly on her heel. Vivian stood beside the bench with a self-satisfied grin on her face, tapping her nose. “From the day he met you, the scent of any other woman on my son began to fade. If you learn more about our ways and about what you are, you will be able to pick up the truth for yourself. I hope you will, Sienna. And now, I’m going to visit with my grandbaby.”

  She started off, but Sienna called out after her. “He’s at school.”

  The woman waved her hand. “And I am the former alpha. Have a nice day.”

  Sienna swore under breath only to hear an answering chuckle from Vivian as she continued down the street.

  As the day wore on, Sienna didn’t know what she thought of Vivian. There really wasn’t anything to feel sorry for her about. She acknowledged her mistakes, but kept on making them, even after her husband killed himself. How shaming it must have been to the family, aside the hurt of losing him, to have the leader kill himself. But then, Marrin wasn’t the real leader. His wife was. Sienna had seen for herself how the women still respected Vivian.

  When Sienna locked the door behind the last customer, she stretched against the aches in her muscles. Grateful she’d arranged for Toron to pick up Simeon, she straightened the shop and prepared to go get her son. A knock on the door stopped her from heading in the back, and she turned to see Toron standing at the glass and Simeon waving with too much energy at his side. Sienna caught her breath, and a wave of longing washed over her.

  Without thinking, she parted her lips, and Toron’s gaze arrested on the movement. When she didn’t stir, he pointed to the knob, and she snapped out of it.

  “I thought I was picking him up.”

  “We’re going to dinner,” Simeon all but shouted. “I told you, Mommy.”

  “Simeon,” Toron chided him. “I told you I would ask Mommy to dinner.”

  Sienna suppressed a shiver of pleasure. “Why do I get the feeling Simi has the story right?”

  Toron shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “Well, I have a lot to do tonight. All the new dresses sold, and—”

  “And you have to eat to keep up your energy for making new ones.”

  She rolled her eyes at him. For some reason, the fire of her dislike had been stolen away, and she had trouble coming up with a reason not to go dinner. “I appreciate the offer and everything, but I can just order in.”

  His hand snaked out, and he encircled her wrist with long fingers. Sienna’s heart stuttered. Toron stroked a thumb over her pulse, and her teeth chattered. She clamped them together.

  “I can’t take no for an answer.”

  “Well you’re going to have to, buddy. I’m sure your date with Stella will give you everything you need.”

  “Oh, I forgot my crayons. I’ll be right back. Don’t leave me, Mommy and Dad
dy.” Simeon darted past and ran toward the back of the store where steps led up to their apartment.

  Sienna let out a shaky laugh. “As if I would.”

  “Neither would I.” Toron’s words were so low, she looked up at him. He stared at her, studying her face, and she bobbed from one heel to the other. He drew her closer, and she commanded herself to get away but instead drifted in to his loose embrace. Toron skated fingers over her hip through her clothes, and she considered dropping on the floor. The sensations overwhelmed her.

  “You seem less vehement,” he commented. “Why?”

  She made a noncommittal sound.

  “And what’s this about a date with Stella? I don’t recall making one.”

  Sienna took in a deep breath. Myriad scents confused her, but the main one, the one threatening to send her into meltdown, was Toron’s own, so distinctly male, so feral.

  She forced her gaze up to look into his eyes. “How can I distinguish scents, and should I have been able to smell that Hawke wasn’t human?”

  Toron’s jaw tightened. He appeared to have forgiven her for not telling him about Simeon, but sometimes when her son called him Daddy or just played nearby, a haunted expression came into Toron’s eyes as if he feared she would disappear one day with her son, and that made her feel guilty all over again. If she knew nothing else, she knew she would never do that to him.

  “Are you still interested in him?”

  Sienna frowned. She deliberated over letting him think there had been more to her and Hawke’s relationship as a way to keep him at bay, but thought better of it. “We were friends, nothing more. I considered it, but I didn’t see him that way. Hawke was there for us when we were alone. I appreciated that, but I feel ignorant, and I want to do better.”

  “Then you will . I will teach you.” He swept her into a tighter embrace, lowering his head to hers, his unexpected kiss traversing her senses. Back away, Sienna. Not a muscle twitched. Toron raced his tongue over her bottom lip and then darted it between them. Her knees gave out, but he held her upright. Ragged breaths were all she managed when he released her. “Tomorrow, we begin your training.”