Jazz studied him for a moment. Although he slouched and appeared relaxed as he studied the trees, tension radiated off him. She stepped closer. “Don’t lie to me, Josh. What’s wrong?”
He slid his gaze to her. “After Mira came back and told me about Mr. Wilkins, I called my parents’ house but there was no answer. I just tried and got the machine.”
“Oh god, I never thought about asking Rafe to send someone out to them. I just…” The guilt rushed up. She choked back a sob.
“Stop it, Jazz. I didn’t either.” A tic started in his jaw and he clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white before releasing them. “I never thought about my parents. What the hell does that say about me?”
She reached for him but he jerked back. “Your life has been turned upside down. I’ve had five years to get used to this world but I still wasn’t prepared for murdering shifters or Rafe’s family showing up and making this their new home.” She pointed back toward the house. “On top of finding out shifters existed in the first place, you got a daughter and lost your brother. I’d say that’s excuse enough.”
Josh stepped closer and glared at her. “Excuse? Is that what I should say when the authorities call and tell me my parents were found murdered too?”
“You don’t know if they’re in any danger. They might be at the church or something. Now that they’ve retired they’re more active than we are,” she reasoned.
“I’ve been telling myself the same thing. It’s not unusual for them to be out and since they don’t have a cell, they’re hard to get a hold of.” He glanced toward the woods. “I just have a bad feeling. There is no logical reason why this guy would hurt Mr. Wilkins. Your kids weren’t there.”
“Rafe said he’s been chasing this guy for a long time and that the murderer was crazy. Maybe that’s reason enough.”
“A serial-killer shifter. Great.” Josh ran a hand through his hair. “Did Rafe tell you anything else about him?”
“He’s the same guy who kidnapped his sister and nieces.”
He groaned. “Jazz, I think moving home with Rafe’s family would’ve been the safer choice. They’re obviously not equipped to protect you here. I think you should reconsider.”
“And if the murderer follows us? We’ll endanger everyone there.”
“Mira said they have ten times the people at their compound.” He shook his head and gave her a lopsided smile. “And they’ve probably marked every damn tree surrounding the place.”
“Rafe marked my land too.” She wrinkled her nose at idea of what marking meant. “It didn’t help. The guy still came here. He doesn’t care.”
Josh laid a hand over hers, gave it a little squeeze and let go. “It wouldn’t hurt to consider it. Think of it as a honeymoon for you and Rafe.”
She stared at him open-mouthed for a moment. “I never said I’m marrying him.”
Josh chuckled and gave her a disbelieving look. “Mira said Rafe’s going to make you his mate. From how she explained it, it sounds like it’s the same thing as marriage, just without the option for divorce.”
She rolled her eyes to hide how much the thought affected her. “Please. I haven’t known him long enough to think about marriage or mating.”
Josh shrugged.
She sighed. “Just say it, Josh.”
“From what I’ve gathered from these shifters, they base a lot of their choices on their animals’ instincts. When you look at it that way, it makes sense.”
That was what Rafe had said too. His animals recognized her as a potential mate.
“But I’m not an animal. I can’t make such a life-altering decision after only a few days. That’s just crazy.”
Josh cupped her face in his hands. She was left staring into the blue eyes she’d looked into for what felt like forever. A lifetime of memories passed between them—once lovers, always friends. “I always regretted letting you go.”
“I had to leave. My mom got a job and—”
He pressed his lips to hers, “Shhh. I know the reasons. I had my driver’s license. I could’ve come to see you more often.”
“So did I. We were just too young.”
“And too damn stupid.” He tipped her head down and kissed her forehead. “But now that I see you and Rafe together, I’m glad we didn’t hook up again. You never looked at me the way you do with Rafe. You love him.”
“I don’t know, Josh. I mean, I like him but—”
His gaze hardened. “Don’t lie to me, Jazz, not after everything we’ve been through. You love Rafe.”
“Maybe. It’s happening too quickly. I’m scared to make the wrong choice,” she whispered.
“Trust your instincts, Jazz. You might not have an inner animal to guide you but you have a good heart. You’ll know the truth when the time comes.”
She didn’t want to think about love right now. There was too much going on, too many unanswered questions. “All right. I’ll talk to Rafe about packing us up and moving up there. Wherever there is.” She huffed.
“Catskills.” Josh smirked at her questioning look. “While you’ve been screwing your brains out, I’ve been talking to Mira and the others. I figure if I’m going to be involved in the shifter world, I better learn about them.”
No, she hadn’t had much time to talk with Rafe, which was why she had so many questions. “Okay, know-it-all, what did you learn about human-shifter matings?”
“Only royal males can bind to a human.” He cleared his throat. “And it ties the two together.”
“They’re immortal. What does that mean for me?”
Josh raised a brow. “No idea. I’d guess you’d be immortal too. That should be reason enough for you to jump at the chance to mate him. Right?”
“If I mate him, it’ll be because I love him not because of what I’d gain from him. But I must admit, the idea of being immortal is pretty cool. To live forever and always be a part of history.” She looked into Josh’s blue eyes and the reality of what immortality meant hit. “I don’t want to watch you die.”
Josh pushed away from her. “Yeah, well, I’m not looking forward to it either.”
He walked toward the patio door but she grabbed his arm before he slid it open. “Josh, wait. I—”
He turned his head and glared at her. “Dammit, Jazz. Let it go. Mate Rafe. Be happy and have lots of little kids or cubs or whatever they call them. And leave me the fuck alone.”
She followed him inside and watched him stalk across the empty dining room. She should say something to make this better, but nothing could, and that hurt her. He reached the hallway door and pressed his hand to the wood. He stopped when his phone rang. He yanked it out.
“Hello?”
He listened for a moment then tensed. “Mom, stop crying and listen to me. Lock the doors and get inside the bathroom. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
Josh slid the phone back into his pocket and ran out of the room.
She went after him and grabbed his arm. He yanked it away and picked up his car keys. She spread her arms wide in front of the door.
“Wait a minute. What happened?”
“He’s there! At my parents’ house,” Josh growled.
“Your mom saw him?”
“Yes, she saw him. Not too many lions roaming the streets of Pennsylvania. Now get out of my way, Jazz.”
“And what do you think you’re going to do? They live over ten minutes away! By the time you get there, they’ll be dead,” she yelled.
“I can’t sit here and do nothing.” He lifted her out of the way and opened the front door.
She saw Mira approaching from behind. In one quick move, Mira yanked the car keys out of his hands and wrapped her arms around his waist. Josh spun and raised a fisted hand but let it fall to the side.
“Mira, let go,” he ordered.
She shook her head and kicked the door closed. “I can’t let you go. Jazz is right. They’ll be dead by the time you get there. And if he’s close by, he’ll kill yo
u too. Going out there by yourself is suicide.”
He didn’t fight her but the agony etched onto his face broke Jazz’s heart. “I have to do something.”
“One of the others will go. Be realistic, Josh. What were you going to do? You’re only human,” Mira reasoned.
“Where is everyone?” Jazz asked.
Mira flashed her a sympathetic look. “More of your neighbor’s dogs were found dead not far from here. Kade and Rafe went to investigate. The others are close by. Patrolling.” She pointed to the couch. “Sit. I’ll go tell Devin.”
Mira didn’t wait to see if he complied. She turned and ran out the front door.
Seth’s voice called out from the top of the stairs, “Mom, is everything okay? We heard yelling.”
No. Everything is not okay. She glanced from Josh who held his head in his hands, to the front door, and back to the stairs. Once again, she was forced to play two roles—protector and mom who had to downplay the dangers. “Yeah, kiddo. Just grown-up stuff. Put on another movie and I’ll bring some popcorn up in a few minutes.”
“Okay, Mom,” he said.
She waited until she heard his bedroom door click before turning to Josh. “Please stay here while I take care of the kids. Don’t run off and do something stupid.”
Josh snorted. “Right. Nothing stupid. Got it.”
She dropped to her knees in front of him. “I mean it, Josh. You go running off and get yourself killed and Megan will have lost her whole family. She might not have been with you very long but she loves you.”
He nodded but didn’t say anything else. It was the best she’d get. She hurried into the kitchen, made the popcorn and breathed a sigh when she found Josh still sitting on the couch. Jazz ran up the steps.
She delivered her snack and spent a few minutes assuring the kids everything was fine. It was all lies, but how was she supposed to tell them the truth? Already they knew they were in danger, that there was a dangerous man after them. They didn’t need any more stress.
She made her way to the stairs. Rafe’s booming voice rang out. She smiled and hurried back down. He stood naked next to an equally naked Kade but she only had eyes for her golden-eyed man.
He opened his arms and she went to him. Wrapped in his embrace, the worry and sadness of the last couple of hours faded away. A sense of rightness settled over her. This was where she wanted to be. In Rafe’s arms. She felt safe now. Complete. It was an illusion. Until the murdering shifter was caught, they wouldn’t be safe but for this moment, she was. Rafe was here.
“Jasmine,” he breathed into her hair.
“I was worried about you. You left me and—”
He tightened his arms around her. “I’m sorry. I was a little shocked and—”
“Any word from Devin?” Josh asked.
Rafe released her and took the shorts Kade handed to him. Rafe yanked them on. “Isn’t he outside?” He glanced from Josh’s chalky face to hers. “What else happened?”
“That bastard went after my parents.” Josh stalked across the room, fists clenched at his sides. “Because I fucking forgot they’d be in as much danger as the rest of us!”
Rafe cursed and looked behind Josh’s enraged body to where Mira stood. “Mira?”
“Josh’s mom called about ten minutes ago and said there was a lion there. Devin went over to…” Mira glanced at Josh then back to Rafe. “To help them.”
“Remove their dead bodies.” Josh spun and glared at Mira. She stepped back. “That’s what you mean. Isn’t it?”
“Enough.”
Kade’s voice rolled through the room. Everyone besides Rafe flinched. It was hard not to react. The deep timbre sparked something elemental that made her want to cower under the nearest table. She didn’t though. Rafe stood inches from her. Her anchor. She shifted closer to him. He laid the tips of his fingers on her hip. The sense of rightness rolled through her, taking the fear away and replacing it with warmth.
“The past cannot be changed, Josh. Whatever happens to your family is ultimately my fault. You are now part of my pride.” Kade flicked angry eyes to Mira, who dropped her gaze. “It is my responsibility to protect you and your family.”
Josh strode forward but Rafe shoved him back and got up into his face. “Stop it, Josh. You and I are going to have to talk about your new place in my family but now is not the time.” Josh opened his mouth. Rafe hissed at him. “Go cool off, human. Save the fight for later.”
Josh pivoted and stormed back into the kitchen. Mira followed but stopped at the door. She glanced back at Rafe who shook his head. “Keep him occupied or he’ll end up with another scar.”
Kade grabbed handfuls of his hair and tugged. “You can take the reins any day, brother.”
“Nope. I don’t want the hassle, never did.” Rafe reached for her and she took his hand. “Besides, I’ve got my work cut out for me breeding the next generation of Alexanders. I won’t have time to deal with family problems.”
She stared at him wide-eyed. Rafe winked at her.
Kade shook his head and walked away. “I’m going to check on the kids. Explain the plan to your female.”
She waited until Kade left then looked at Rafe. “What plan?”
“The one to end this shit once and for all.” Rafe led her to the couch, sat and pulled her onto his lap. She straddled him. Slowly, he ran his hands over her hair. The strokes soothed her and she suspected they calmed Rafe too. After a moment, he continued, “He wants you, baby. Killing you will destroy me and he knows that, so he’s going to keep coming at us until he either gets you or I kill him.”
“Why does he hate you so much?”
Rafe pulled her closer. “He was a member of my father’s pride. We were friends. I considered him a brother. I never knew he wasn’t quite right in the head.” The heartbeat under her ear sped but his slow caresses down her spine didn’t betray his agitation.
“He’d been seeing a human girl in town. I think he loved her, but he’s not royal, he couldn’t take her as a mate. One night he came home and asked me to mate her and share her with him.” She stiffened but his firm hands on her back held her in place. “I told him no, that he was nuts. I didn’t know how right I was at the time.”
“He didn’t take your refusal well?”
He stilled his hand a moment before continuing his downward stroke. “Actually, he laughed it off, but the following night Nina and my nieces went missing. Later we learned the girl he’d been seeing was attacked by a wild animal.” An agonized groan fell from his lips. “He must’ve tried to mate her but he wasn’t a royal. Instead of tying her life to his, he just killed her.”
“Nina was a part of your family?”
“My little sister.” He swallowed hard. “She was only sixteen.”
She sat back and looked into his eyes—golden, not hazel, but the shape was the same and so was the slope of his nose.
“I’m sorry, Rafe.”
He brushed a hair from her cheek. “It was my fault we lost her. I stumbled upon him in a situation that I should’ve questioned more, but I’d believed Calum and lost Nina.”
She froze. “Did you say Calum?”
Rafe nodded.
“That’s the name of the abusive husband Nina said she was running from.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Rafe’s heart stopped with Jasmine’s revelation. While Calum couldn’t mate with a human, he could take a royal shifter mate. In all the years Nina had been gone, that fate had always been one he hoped hadn’t happened. But it had. The deed had probably been done by the time he’d gotten to the garage that night.
He closed his eyes and let the truth settle in his heart. Nina had been forced into a mate bond and that meant Calum had fathered her babes.
“Seth and Levi are his,” Jasmine mumbled, mirroring his thoughts.
He held her close and kissed her cheek. “Shhh, it’s okay, love. He won’t get them or you.”
“But if he finds out the truth, he’ll never
give up. He’ll want them back.” She gripped his biceps. “I changed my mind. Let’s pack up the boys and move into the compound.” She squeezed harder. “They’ll be safe there, right?”
He pried her hands from his arms. They trembled. He rubbed her knuckles. “They’ll be safe here.”
She shook her head. Her eyes widened more. “No. You were right in the first place. We should go.”
He scented her fear. It hung in the air around them. Although he wanted to ease her anxiety, he couldn’t give her this. Not yet. “Your reasons for staying were valid. I refuse to be the one to rip you from your friends. Besides, you have a business here.”
“I don’t care. Because of me, Josh’s parents are in danger to begin with. If we left when you wanted, Calum would’ve either followed us or left town.” She swallowed hard. “If he kills them, I’m responsible. Their deaths will be on my conscience.”
He enclosed her in his embrace. “No, baby. If anyone is to blame, it’s me. I let him go in the first place.”
She pulled back and laid her palm on his cheek. “You didn’t know he was sick. It’s not your fault.”
Yes it was and he’d make amends for it—to Nina and her daughters, the little nieces he never got to meet. Rafe brought Jasmine’s hand to his mouth. He kissed each finger. “If we go back to the compound, Josh will have to move too. So will Mr. Wilkins when he recovers from his injuries.” Her brows furrowed. He ran his thumb over the creases to smooth them out. “And do you really think your stubborn friend will go? He’ll have to sell his bar, pack up his parents.”
She groaned. “I hate this.”
“I know. That’s why I’m going to take Calum out before he slips through our fingers again.”
She took a deep breath and sat up straighter. Her lips thinned. She leveled him with a hard look. “We need a plan. Stumbling around the woods and town, hoping to run into this nutcase isn’t working.”
He grinned and ran a finger down her cheek. This was the strong woman who took in two helpless infants, protected and nurtured them. Love for her grew. “We’re going to bait him with your blood.”
“Do you think it’ll work?”
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