by E A Price
She considered that maybe the Alpha had asked Nita to spy on her. If that were true, Nita wasn’t exactly being subtle about it. But after flying under the Alpha’s radar for the last four years, she worried about the interest he was showing in her. She had a horrific suspicion about his intentions regarding her having cubs. Ugh – she and her tiger shuddered every time she thought about it.
But, hopefully, soon, she wouldn’t have to worry. Cross her fingers, she’d be able to leave.
Over the years, Simone had been very careful with money. She’d wanted a job, but the Alpha wouldn’t allow it. Very few females in the pride were permitted jobs, and certainly not the Alpha's daughters-in-law. Instead, she had saved as much as she could, only replacing clothes and shoes when she had to and taking couponing to crazy extremes. She’d been saving for a rainy day… on which she could get away from the pride and take her mother with her. Honestly, her savings hadn’t amounted to much over the years, but the check from Acksel’s pack had really given her a boost.
She’d agonized over whether she should cash it, but after what the Alpha said about cubs, she decided she didn’t have a choice. She wanted out of the pride. Besides, someone had to take the money. Her Alpha had the chance to cash it, and he tore it up. He’d already supplied her with a new car. The pride was doing well; they could afford it. Plus, Acksel’s pack were expecting for the money to be taken anyway, so it didn’t make any difference to them who cashed it. She guessed Acksel was already disappointed in her – so what would it matter if he ever found out?
But, with Nita following her around, Simone had to be careful. She didn’t want the Alpha catching wind of her plans.
Nita turning up at the grocery store was just the last straw. Encouraged by her tiger, Simone abandoned her cart and stomped in the direction of Nita, currently gossiping with another pride member.
Simone was about to give her a piece of her mind when a ripple of awareness rolled through her body. Her tiger let out a heated rawr. She smelled something, spicy, something delicious. Oh god, that was a wonderful scent. She moved through the store, desperate to get to the source. She allowed her beast to guide her. She felt like a cartoon character drifting through the air on the waves of a delicious scent. She felt… oh, good lord!
Her tiger bounced up and down ecstatically. Acksel! Acksel was there. He was there talking to one of the cashiers. She’d recognize those broad shoulders, golden hair and silky voice anywhere. Her body shuddered as arousal surged through her. Had it only been a week since she last saw him? Had it only been a week since they met?!
Why was he there? Did she dare hope that he had come for her? Or had he tracked her down to yell at her?
He must have sensed her. He turned to look at her. A sexy grin spread across his face. Oh, he was pleased to see her! Her knees wobbled as her tiger purred like a kitten.
Acksel took a step toward her, and she instinctively stepped away as she saw the interest on the cashier’s face. Hurt marred his handsome brow, and she felt a stab of guilt. No, she didn’t want to hurt him – she wanted him to be safe!
She inclined her head and strode down the cat food aisle. Acksel followed, wordlessly. He opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off. In spite of her animal’s vehement objections, she whispered, “I’m sorry. You shouldn’t be here. You have to go.”
He sniffed the air and frowned at her. He could scent her arousal. She pressed her thighs together; it probably was confusing that her mouth was saying something completely different to the rest of her body.
“Why’d you leave? I’ve been going crazy.”
“You have?” Damnit! It was just what she wanted to hear, and just what she dreaded hearing.
“Simone, what’s going on with you? I thought that we… well, I…” He growled in frustration. “Just, tell me why you left without even saying goodbye.”
“It’s complicated.”
“Simone! Fancy seeing you here!”
Nita waddled up to them. Acksel took a step back from Simone and watched Nita, cautiously. Nita for her part was trying to devour Acksel with her eyes.
After a few moments of silence, Nita said, “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your… friend?”
“This is Acksel,” Simone said with forced civility, while wishing a hole in the ground would open up and swallow Nita whole. “He helped me after the car crash. He’s just passing through. Acksel, this is Nita.”
Nita gave him a finger wave. “Our mates are brothers. They’re sons of our pride Alpha,” she told him with a horrific amount of smugness.
Crap.
The polite smile on Acksel’s face froze. His eyes shone amber as he looked at Simone. She changed her mind – she wanted a hole to swallow her up instead.
Acksel nodded at Nita. “It was nice to meet you, Nita, but I gotta run.”
Nita pouted. “Oh, so soon?”
“Yeah, I just stopped by to say hi. I better get going.”
Stiffly, he turned and walked away, refusing to look at Simone as he went.
“Bye!” called Nita.
Double crap.
*
Acksel growled and grabbed Simone as she walked out of the grocery store. “It’s me,” he breathed as she started to struggle. With a sigh, she went limp and allowed him to carry her into the alley, away from prying eyes.
Gently he pushed her up against a wall and placed a hand on either side of her head, ignoring the distressed look on her face. His wolf was ecstatic to see her again, but there were one or two things that they needed to talk about.
“You’re mated,” he said, roughly. He wouldn’t hurt her, but his patience was holding on by a mere sliver of a thread. He needed answers. Although, he was grateful that at least she didn’t bear a bonding bite on her shoulder. He would have noticed a thing like that the last time they met.
Simone met his eyes with such a look of sorrow that he almost caved and said he was sorry for upsetting her. Almost. He wasn’t quite that mushy.
“Yes, but it’s complicated. It’s not what you think – we’re not really together.”
“You’re mated,” he hissed through gritted teeth. His wolf paced, irritably.
She looked at him with pleading yellow eyes. Her tiger was close to the surface. “We don’t even kiss - never mind anything else. It’s not a real mating. I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to get involved, but I… I couldn’t help myself.” She lowered her eyes in embarrassment. “I wanted you.”
Acksel could feel himself softening. “You’re trembling,” he murmured. He cupped her cheek. “Why’d you run? Why didn’t you talk to me?”
“I left you because I worried you’d get hurt. I still do worry.” She looked up and down the alley, furtively. “My Alpha’s not a good man; you should leave.” She pressed her hands against his chest and tried to push him away; he didn’t move. “Acksel, I couldn’t bear it if you were hurt because of me.”
“Is that what you want? For me to leave? For us to never see each other again?” His wolf protested – he didn’t like the sound of any of that.
Her face tightened, and she looked like she was going to argue, but she didn’t. Simone’s fingers curled into his shirt. “No, that’s not what I want.”
His wolf whooped. “Come back to Rose with me,” he entreated softly.
“But…”
“No buts, whatever it is, I can help.” He rubbed his thumb over her cheek. “This last week has been hell. “I want you; I need you. I don’t feel like I can breathe when you’re not around.” He took one of her hands and placed it over his heart. “Do you feel it too?”
She nodded. “It’s strange, I feel like my beast and my heart are reaching out to you. It felt like I was tearing in two when I left Rose.” She wiggled her fingers under his hand and giggled, bashfully. “It’s corny.”
“Yeah, but I like corny.” He brushed his lips over hers and for the first time in days, his animal seemed to be at peace. Simone sighed against his mouth. “Come h
ome with me.”
“I can’t leave my mother.”
He shrugged and peppered kisses over her cheek. He’d almost forgotten how soft her beautiful skin was. “Will she come with you?”
“Yes.”
“Then bring her,” he groaned as he inhaled her glorious scent.
“The Alpha, the pride…”
The wolf pawed the ground, impatiently as she tried to come up with excuses. There was nothing she could say that would scare him away. “My pack will protect you – and your mother.”
“But, I could be an axe murderer for all you know.”
He chuckled at her teasing tone. “Are you?”
“No.”
“Good enough for me.” He kissed her, full on the mouth, enjoying the pleasurable moans he elicited.
“Acksel,” she entreated. With a grunt, he allowed her to push him away, and he tried to put on his serious face. Not easy considering he was dealing with an excitable wolf and arousal that could pound nails. But her face had a serious mien – she wanted to talk.
“Don’t you want to hear my reasons for running out? Don’t you want to hear about my… mating?”
His beast growled. Yes, he was trying to avoid thinking about that – it was only palatable because she insisted she didn’t have sex with her, grrr, mate.
“Baby, I’m not happy to hear you’re already mated.”
“I swear we only did it so the Alpha…”
“But,” he interrupted, “you said you’re not really mates, and I trust you.”
Simone frowned. “You don’t know me.”
“I do,” he insisted. “I may not be able to tell anyone what your favourite color is, or your favourite ice cream flavour, but I do know you, deep down. I know my mate.” His wolf roared as he admitted it – yes, she was his mate. No matter what happened, she was his.
Simone pulled him to her and hugged him tightly. “Blue and pistachio,” she whispered into his ear.
His chest vibrated with laughter. “Well, there you go.”
“But, don’t you want me to explain first?”
“You tell me there’s a good reason, and I believe you. I’d like for you to tell me what it is, but I don’t need to waste time with explanations now. I can see you’re worried, and the only thing I care about right now is making sure you’re safe.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You’re disgustingly perfect, do you know that?”
“Everyone who’s come into contact with me since you left might disagree with that. I’ve been in kind of a bad mood. Will you come back to Rose with me?”
“My Alpha…”
“I don’t care; you’re worth the risk. I won’t leave without you.”
A couple of happy tears escaped her eyes, and she nodded.
“How long do you need to get your things together?” he asked, delight burning a path through his heart.
She thought about it for a moment. “Three hours, it’ll be dark by then, and I can sneak out. I don’t need much; I just need to pack a few things and get my mother.”
“Where do you want to meet?”
She bit her lip. “The bar at the end of this street, it’s called Hannigan's, I’ll meet you in the parking lot.”
“I’ll be there… mate.” Mine.
Chapter Fourteen
Acksel checked his watch. Only an hour to go. He tapped the steering wheel, played with the radio, turned the radio off when the DJ pissed him off and then started tapping the steering wheel again. Only fifty-nine minutes to go.
His animal wagged his tail like a puppy. Time seemed to be creeping forward slower than a tortoise, but at least he something wonderful worth waiting for.
He was thrilled at seeing Simone. Thrilled that she wanted him. Thrilled that she didn’t recoil when he called her his mate.
He was concerned that she was already mated. Yes, his beast had a few issues with that, too. He wasn’t the type to fool around with mated females, but she made it clear it wasn’t a real mating – he was sure there was a good reason. Plus she wasn’t bonded – she didn’t have the bonding mark. The mating was reversible.
He did want to know what was going on, and why she seemed to fear her Alpha so much, but even his wolf could see that getting her back to Rose and to the safety of the pack was the most important thing at that moment.
The wolf yowled, eager to see their mate again. Okay, only fifty-seven minutes to go. The sun was just starting to set. The last few rays of sunshine danced across the parking lot.
Acksel closed his eyes and leaned back in his seat. Damn, he wished he’d actually cleaned his house before he left. He wasn’t usually messy, but in the last few days, he hadn’t been overly concerned about washing dishes, picking up used towels or worrying about where his underwear fell when he got undressed… Yeah, anger turned him into a slob. He wondered whether he could call his sisters and bribe them into running over there and tidying up for him. He should probably call his Alpha, too. There was no way he was going to let his Alpha get in the way of him taking Simone home, but if her pride was dangerous, he needed to give his pack a heads up.
His wolf growled, throatily. Acksel opened one eye and caught sight of a large male approaching in the mirror.
Fuck. The male was so big and muscled that he had to be a shifter. He had to be part of the pride. The pride that had his mate so scared.
Acksel snarled and got out of the car. His wolf howled at the scent of tiger shifter.
The male was smiling, genially as he said, “You have a very familiar scent.”
*
Simone pulled armfuls of clothes out of the closet and dumped them in her suitcase. She looked around her bedroom. She didn’t really have much, and nothing that was precious to her – except her mother. And as far as clothes were concerned, she didn’t need much.
She reached into the back of her closet and pulled out an old shoebox, the one hidden under four others, and pushed into the darkest, dampest corner. It was where she hid the pack’s money. She was planning on giving it back to the pack as soon as she got to Rose. Maybe it would be some consolation for whatever her Alpha might do to them for allowing her and her mother to stay with them.
She paused. Was this a good idea? Her tiger whimpered that it was. But Simone had her doubts. She wanted Acksel. She wanted him with a fierceness that almost scared her, but she didn’t want him to get hurt because of her. But she already tried that; she already left him so he wouldn’t get hurt and he came looking for her. An involuntary smile touched her lips. He did, didn’t he? He came for her. He wanted her. He said he wouldn’t leave without her. She told him about the dangers, and he didn’t even have to think about it. He was so sure that they should be together. The tiger howled, excitedly. Things might be difficult while trying to deal with her pride, but it would be worth it. Yes, yes, she was going with him.
Although, maybe she should leave a note for Parker. She had no idea where he was, but it seemed a little callous to leave without any kind of explanation. Things were strained between them, but he had been a good friend over the years.
She stiffened as she heard the door downstairs. Her tiger snarled as she scented the Alpha.
“Shit!” She dragged the suitcase under her bed and smoothed her hair down as she went down to see him. She hoped her anxiety didn’t show on her face.
She met the Alpha already coming up the stairs. “Oh, Alpha, I didn’t hear you come in. Ah…”
His face was a mask of stone as he continued up the stairs, walking directly towards her and forcing her back into the bedroom. The back of her legs hit the bed, and she dropped down onto it.
He looked around the room and inhaled deeply. “Funny,” he rumbled, smiling faintly. “I can’t scent my son in here.” Simone squirmed as he sauntered over to the closet and ran his hand through the remaining clothes. “None of his clothes are in here.”
“I’m a bad sleeper – we sleep separately,” she tried, trying to calm her worried tiger.
&n
bsp; He raised an eyebrow. “No scent of sex either, do you imagine I’ll find it in Parker’s room?”
Simone met his gaze and tilted her chin up, in a small show of bravado that she really didn’t feel. Her situation with Parker had always been tenuous; she’d always known this was coming. “I’ve been taking it easy since the accident.”
Locke looked at her in disbelief. “Really?” She forced herself not to flinch as he slowly lowered his large body onto the bed next to her. His thigh brushed up against hers, and she pressed her nails into her palms. She focussed on the slight pain, distracting her from her desire to move away from him.
He put a hand on her arm, and she held her breath at the unwelcome touch. “Too tuckered out after your night with the wolf?” he asked with deceptive softness.
Simone stared at him. Her heart thundered in her chest, and her cat cried in alarm, but she didn’t move a muscle.
The vague smile never left his face. “I know you cheated on your mate - my son.”
Seconds ticked by in silence before Simone caved. “You don’t understand.”
Locke grinned open-mouthed, showing his dangerous fangs. “I understand more about you than you know. You just can’t keep your legs crossed can you?” His hand moved from her arm and settled on her thigh. Her tiger wanted to lash out and scratch him, but Simone held still. One wrong move and he would kill her. She wasn’t in any doubt about that.
“You think I don’t know about you losing your virginity to that boy from town? You think I don’t know that Parker’s a fairy? You think I didn’t see the signs? I was hoping being mated to a whore like you would set him straight, but not even you could manage it.”
She bristled with hatred, and her claws pushed through her fingertips. What she wouldn’t give to swipe at the bastard, right in the jugular.
The Alpha continued in a disturbingly friendly voice. His words were anything but friendly. “Before Parker announced he was mating you – saving you from the shame of being a whore – I was planning on mating you myself. I just lost my mate, figured you’d do for me, wouldn’t have to shame you that way.”