by Kimber White
We didn’t stay at the store. Camilla helped Jarred keep his shit together long enough to form a plan. I went to Clint. The urge to touch him, to tuck myself against him, burned strong. But, it wouldn’t help matters with Jarred one bit. I needed the men in my life to stay calm.
Neither Clint nor Jarred spoke to one another. For his part, Jarred’s wolf simmered. I don’t think he could have formed words if he tried. Clint seemed calmer. He sensed my need for caution around my brother.
“We’ll go back to the house,” Camilla said, brokering the deal. “Meet us there in an hour out in the barn.”
“You need to keep the rest of the pack out of this,” I said. “I mean it. I will not have a repeat of the other night.”
Jarred was nonverbal. He voiced his dissatisfaction with a sharp growl. But Camilla kept him steady. I turned to Clint. He stood with his hands shoved into the front pockets of his jeans. A good choice, I thought. Any slight movement might have triggered my brother and hell might break loose all over again.
I put my hands flat on his chest. The moment we touched, my nerve endings carried little sparks of pleasure. We had to get out of there. Fast. Never mind my brother keeping his wolf in check. My own was about to tear out of me.
Clint glowered at Jarred over my shoulder. I slid my arm around his waist and pulled him out of the room. My head swam. It seemed every emotion I had came roaring to the surface. Aching desire. Fear. Joy. Anger. I could barely put one foot in front of the other. As we left the store, I was no longer the one trying to keep Clint under control. He was doing it for me.
As we passed the customer service counter, Andre turned. His eyes were pure silver. He let out a low, rolling growl, signaling to Clint to steer clear. Clint pressed his lips to my temple as we pushed through the door.
“Come on,” he said. “It’s not safe for you here.”
He led me to a black Jeep parked at an angle in the fire lane.
“You have wheels?” I asked. “How did you get wheels?”
“I’m not without means, Lucia. No matter what your brother thinks of me.” He opened the passenger door and put a gentle hand on my lower back, guiding me inside. Scanning his surroundings, Clint came to the other side and climbed behind the wheel.
“We can make the border in a little over an hour,” he said. “I did some recon. I found a way that’ll draw as little attention to us as possible. Probably.”
Alarm bells flared. One side of my heart soared with joy. I wanted nothing more than to just run with Clint, find some secret place where no one could find us, and lose myself in him. But, the other side of my heart was still firmly rooted in Wild Lake.
“Clint, we can’t run. Not like this. Not now.”
The Jeep jostled down the back country roads. He picked up speed, gripping the steering wheel so hard his claws came out. I put a light hand on his forearm, not sure if that would act to calm him or kindle him. In my case, my burgeoning desire was getting hard to shove aside.
“Lucia…”
“No. Like it or not, I’m still connected to my brother’s pack. Not as much as he’d like. But, the things I do, the choices I make impact him. They impact the people I love.”
Clint kept on driving. “And what if your brother refuses to give you his blessing?”
Pain stabbed through my heart. “In the end, I make my own choices. But, if I leave without giving him a chance to settle things, it could start a pack war that we started. I couldn’t live with myself if I wasn’t here to help him fight it. It matters, Clint. I know this is probably foreign to you. Tigers don’t…”
He turned the wheel hard and pulled to the side of the road. The car stopped so quickly, it threw us both forward. My seatbelt snapped and I braced myself against the dashboard. He turned to me, eyes blazing.
“Tigers don’t what?”
I blinked. “Well, I mean…”
“Lucia.” He stared at me head on. His eyes burned through me. A muscle in his jaw twitched. At the same time, the heat between us flared. I wanted him. Now. Always.
“I love you,” he said, his voice filled with cold fury and conviction. Those three words hit me right between the eyes then pierced my heart so I couldn’t breathe.
“I love you,” he said it again. “Since the second I set eyes on you. Before that, even. I didn’t know what I was looking for. Hell, I didn’t realize I was looking for anything. But, I came here. It made no sense, but I came here. It was for you. You are my people.”
I swallowed past a lump in my throat. “Clint...I…”
“You don’t have to say anything. It doesn’t really matter what you do say. You’ve imprinted on me. I never knew that was possible, but it’s a fact. Now, will you leave here with me? You’re not safe. I know what I’m talking about. You asked me to trust you. Now, I’m asking you to trust me.”
A beat passed. Then another. Tears sprang to my eyes. I didn’t know if it was joy, sadness. Probably a mixture of both. I wanted nothing more than to lose myself in this man. But, for the first time in my life, I didn’t want to run.
“I can’t leave my brother this way. I have to at least try to make things right. If he won’t listen...then…” I couldn’t finish the sentence. Clint hadn’t asked me to choose. Not in so many words, at least. His lids got heavy as he let out a sigh.
“Fine,” he said, putting the car back in gear. “We’ll meet with your brother. But, I swear to you, I will not let any harm come to you. I’ll stop any shifter who tries, including him.”
The tires spun and kicked up gravel as we rocketed back down the road.
* * *
The tension pouring through Clint showed in his hands. His claws kept popping out. A vein bulged in his temple, but he kept his stripes from showing. I knew what I was asking of him, bringing him to my brother’s farm deep in pack territory. If the wolves came, we’d be surrounded on all sides with nowhere safe to run.
As he parked the car near Jarred’s barn, I had second thoughts. I knew Clint was worried about an ambush. I’d been quick to dismiss it. Jarred would never do something like that? Would he? As I got out of the car and shut the door, I could feel the eyes of predators everywhere. Jarred had put the pack on high alert. Andre knew exactly what Clint was and watched me leave with him. The cat was literally out of the bag. Every shifter in Michigan and further north probably knew by now exactly where to find Clint Yeager, outlaw tiger shifter.
Oh, God.
There were lights on in the barn. I took Clint’s hand. He steeled himself by squaring his shoulders as we walked up. Just before going inside, I turned to him.
“If anything happens, I need you to promise me something.”
Clint reminded me of Jarred just then. He too had gone nonverbal. He chuffed. Those magic eyes of his with the green center and rings of gold flared hot. More than just his protective instincts ignited behind them. Echoes of our one brief coupling made me tremble. We had to get through the next hour. I had to stay on two feet and keep my head clear.
I went up on my tiptoes and slid my fingers to the back of his neck, pulling him down to me. It was a risk to give in to even a second of lust. But, my hunger took hold. I kissed Clint. His moan of pleasure vibrated through me. Somehow, I found the strength to pull away.
“Promise me, if things go south, you’ll stick to me like glue. The pack won’t risk hurting me to get to you.”
Clint growled. “You think I’m going to use you as a human shield?”
I tugged his ear. “I think you’re going to trust me to get you and me both out of this without anyone getting hurt. I’m as much worried about the damage you can do to the wolves as they can to you. More, actually.”
The barn door opened. Camilla waved us forward. My heart skipped, but I kept my head up and laced my fingers through Clint’s. He hadn’t made his promise to me in words. I just prayed he would in deed.
Jarred was inside. He used the building for storage, poker nights, and had a small workshop in one corner.
He sat at the end of a long, foldable banquet table tapping his fingers on it.
“Where are the packs?” I asked.
Jarred’s words hit me like a slap. “If you hadn’t cut yourself off, you’d know that already.”
Clint went stiff beside me. I never had the chance to tell him what I’d done. His eyes flashed with understanding. I knew he thought I’d put myself at even greater risk. He also had to know I’d done it for him. For us.
“I won’t beg for your blessing,” Clint said. “You think you know what I am.”
“I’ve seen what you are. And I know enough about your kind to form my own conclusions.”
Clint dropped my hand. He moved so fast I barely registered it. He slammed his palms against the table and stared my brother down. “Then you know one on one I could tear you apart like tissue paper, wolf.”
“Stop! We’re not here for that,” I said. Clint’s threat, though noble, could backfire. If Camilla turned on me, we’d be lost.
Clint straightened when he felt my hand on his shoulder. With a begrudging sigh, he took a seat at the table. I stood behind him, keeping my hands on his shoulders. If it came to it, even I wasn’t strong enough to keep him seated. I just hoped my touch helped center him.
“She is never going to mate with a Wild Lake Alpha,” Clint said. “And you know she was never born to.”
Jarred scowled. Fur sprung on his hands. Camilla moved to his side, trying to calm him like she’d done before. Then, incredibly, Jarred’s shoulders dropped. His eyelids became hooded. It looked like resignation.
He looked up at me and my heart cracked a little. “Lucia, are you sure?”
“Yes,” I gushed. “I’m as sure as I’ve ever been about anything. Even Sarah saw it. Clint is my mate. I swear it on my life.”
Jarred rubbed his chin. He tapped the table with his other hand.
“On my life, I will keep her safe,” Clint said. “If Lucia does me the honor of letting me claim her, I’ll find a way to make her happy. You have my word.”
Jarred punched the table, nearly upending it. “You expect me to let a tiger live in Wild Lake as my sister’s mate?”
“Jarred…”
Clint put a hand up, silencing me. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a chunk of metal. He threw it across the table. It skidded and landed in front of my brother. His eyes grew big.
“What the hell is that?” I asked. It was a few links of chain of some kind, blackened and twisted. Jarred reached for it. When he picked it up, the color drained from his face and he dropped it as if it burned him.
“Clint?” I asked.
“Tell her,” Clint said, staring at Jarred.
“Where did you get it?” he asked.
Clint slid an arm around me, pulling me to his side. “You’re right. I did tear through Peter Matthews’s property.”
My anger ran out. I jerked away from Clint. “They could have killed you. If they’d caught you, they would have.”
Clint gave me a sly smile. “No wolf was going to catch me.”
“It’s dragonsteel!” Camilla said. She’d picked up the links of metal and cupped them in her hand. “Where on earth did you get dragonsteel?”
I held out my hand and Camilla put the piece of metal in it. As I looked at it, I knew instantly what it was. While it burned in my hand, I felt lightheaded, almost like all my power drained from me. And that’s exactly what dragonsteel was supposed to do to shifters.
“There’s no such thing as dragons,” I said. “They’ve been extinct for a thousand years!”
“Well, that chain was forged by one when they were still around. And your friend Peter has a lot more where that came from. I’ve heard rumors the Chief Pack in Kentucky keeps their prisoners chained up in that stuff. It immobilizes them. Cuts them off from their packs. Shifters can’t break out of it.”
“You found this at Peter’s?” Jarred asked. The color hadn’t yet come back into his face.
“That’s right,” Clint answered. “He’s been keeping secrets from you.” Clint leaned far forward and took the length of chain away.
“Clint, you have to tell us what you know,” Camilla said.
“He’s made himself a dungeon,” Clint said. “There’s an outbuilding on his property sort of like this one. You’ve seen it?”
Jarred winced. “I helped him build it. He was storing farm equipment in it.”
“Not anymore,” Clint said. “He’s got it set up with a cage and made four chains. Wrist and ankle shackles bolted to the floor.”
“But why?” I asked, though the truth hovered at the edge of my imagination. Horror filled me.
“He knows I’d never force you to mate with him,” Jarred said, but his voice had a faraway quality like he was talking more to himself than the rest of us.
“No.” I backed away. It was too awful. He couldn’t. He wouldn’t. But the truth burned through me just like it did for my brother.
Clint slowly rose. “Peter Matthews plans to try and take Lucia as his mate any way he can. He built that place for her, and you know it. But, I’m here to tell you it’s never going to happen.”
“Clint,” I said, but he only had eyes for Jarred.
“You tell Peter Matthews he can have his challenge next week when the moon turns full. Just like he wanted. But, instead of facing you, he’ll have to face me.”
“No!” Jarred rose. “It doesn’t work like that. I’m Lucia’s Alpha...if.”
“You’re not,” I said, horror making bile rise in my throat. “Oh, God. You’re not. I cast you out. Peter knows it.”
“You won’t survive it,” Jarred said. “You have no pack of your own. If you challenge Peter, you’ll have to face his entire pack. Not even a tiger is strong enough to take down that many wolves. It’s suicide.”
Tears streamed down my face. No. I couldn’t let it happen. Clint turned to me, knowing my pain. He shot me a quick wink and pulled me close. “I will take Peter Matthews out. If it means sacrificing myself to the rest of his pack once it’s done, at least I’ll know you’re safe from him.”
I pushed myself away and staggered toward the door of the barn.
Eighteen
“Lucia.” Clint turned to me. He was careful not to touch me. Tensions couldn’t get higher. I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to kiss him or strangle him.
“No,” I said. “You are not going face the entire Matthews pack by yourself. That’s ridiculous. Jarred, you can’t let this happen. If you do, I swear I’ll do more than cast you out of my head.”
“Lucia, be careful.” Camilla stepped forward. “Don’t say things in anger you might regret later.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing! All three of them stared at me like I was the crazy one.
“We’ll run,” I said. “That’s just all there is to it. If Peter doesn't drop his challenge, I’ll just make sure I’m nowhere he can find me. Ever.” I realized as I said it, it hadn’t been a full hour since I argued to Clint why I wouldn’t. I felt so spun around.
Clint and Jarred looked more like twins now than Jarred and I did. They stood on opposite ends of the table with the same stone cold gaze. Both of them were on the verge of shifting. I supposed it was a miracle they’d manage to keep it together this long. Being in the same room together stoked the feral core in both of them. It was Camilla...it was always Camilla...who stayed calm.
“Then you’ll be hunted for the rest of your lives. Peter knows it. We’re not isolated here in Wild Lake. Running out on an Alpha challenge like that will put a target on your back. Someday, somewhere, there will be another shifter looking to score points with a Wild Lake pack. Or someone who still feels they have a score to settle with Clint.”
She directed her pointed stare at Clint. He worked the muscles of his jaw. I didn’t have to read his mind to know what he was thinking. He had enemies. No shifter who lived the way he did could escape that. I knew about the Jaguars, but Clint’
s fierce stare told me there were more. His tone was low and flat when he finally spoke.
“I won’t let you live your life with every shifter in the world thinking I stole you. That’s no kind of life for you. Lucia, you mean too much to me to let you live that way. This ends here, on Wild Lake, one way or the other. I thought running would keep you safe. Now, I see it won’t.”
Shaking my head, I threw my hands up. “I get no say in any of this?”
Jarred straightened. He moved around the table and came toward me. I backed up. He honored the look in my eyes and froze.
“Will you please let me have a few words with Clint alone?” he asked, softening his voice. When Camilla came to me, I let her. She rubbed my back and smiled at me.
“Come on,” she said. “Let them talk. You’ve got to be starving. I’ve still got a big pot of venison chili on from dinner. When Jarred and Clint finish their conversation, they can join us.”
Jarred clamped his mouth shut when Camilla shot him a pointed stare. He gave me a curt nod and I recognized it for the earth-shattering concession it was. My brother had just invited a tiger into his home to take supper with him. If said tiger weren’t hell-bent on a suicide mission against the Matthews pack, I might have been grateful. But, I knew I had to take concessions where I found them if I was ever going to help Clint get out of this mess alive.
“I’ll wait for you both up at the house,” I said. “But if I hear anything that sounds like an argument, I’m coming back out. You won’t like the mood I’ll be in if that happens.”
I took Clint and Jarred’s silence as agreement and went with Camilla up to the house. Sarah was waiting in the kitchen, stirring Camilla’s oversized silver stewpot. My stomach growled when the scent of the venison hit me, but I still didn’t feel like eating.
“The boys are fast asleep in Tucker’s bed,” Sarah said. With Marcus still gone, his son Asher was staying here. Among other things, Sarah was the go-to shifter babysitter of Wild Lake.
“Thanks,” Camilla said, taking the ladle from her. “Sorry we were a little later than I promised. Why don’t you let me call your parents so they don’t get worried?”