“But what about your safety? How can I trust the police will keep you safe from harm?” His voice had softened and was filled with emotion. “I don’t know what I would do if anything ever happened to you.”
Aerilyn inched closer to give him a hug. His arms wrapped around her, squeezing her tight. With her cheek pressed against his chest, she answered, “I kept myself from shifting in the moment, but I didn’t know what to do. Emery’s taught me some self-defense moves. I’ve been practicing with her every day. I’ll know what to do if it ever happens again.”
Alaric sighed and pulled her away from him so he could look at her. He shook his head. “I am glad you’re taking this seriously, but it isn’t enough. The police may have been notified, but will they be there Monday morning when you walk into school to make sure you’re safe?”
She wasn’t honestly sure. When she’d left work Friday night, she’d been in shock and hadn’t retained everything she’d been told.
The anger Alaric had worn mere minutes ago had slipped from his face and was replaced by a deadened expression. He took a good minute before speaking again. “I know I’m overprotective of you. And I know you’re no longer a little girl I can walk to school.” He rested his chin on his hooked finger. “It is, however, my job to protect every member of the lodge, including you. I will concede that it may not be necessary for you to move home, but it is certainly not beyond reason for me to assign an enforcer to keep an eye on things to make sure you’re left alone.”
“That sounds reasonable,” she answered, feeling relief at knowing she’d have someone looking out for her at school. “Will you stop with the threats to move me home every time something happens that worries you? You never did this with Ryker or Finn.”
Alaric sighed once more and rubbed his temple.
“And what about Jax?” Nia said to her husband, touching his arm. “It sounds like we have him to thank for urging our daughter in the right direction.”
Aerilyn’s father stared into the darkened heights of the stairwell and turned around to face the light pouring in from the lodge’s hall. “I’ve spoken to Dinah in Nebraska about sending Jax to her lodge to deal with. It is clear my judgment is clouded on the matter. I think it’s for the best.”
“What?” Aerilyn shook her head in disbelief. “But I’m nearly done teaching him everything he needs to know. I’ve been trying to convince him to become a member. If you send him away, he’ll lose all faith in us—in me.”
Alaric leveled his piercing gaze at her. “The Society doesn’t need another mutt in its ranks when he could be unhinged, dangerous. Lyn, you don’t truly know who he is or where he came from.”
“Dad,” she whispered. “He trusts me, and more importantly, I trust him.”
“That’s the problem,” Alaric answered, his eyes flashing. “I can see how he looks at you, and I don’t like it.”
Aerilyn’s pulse picked up a beat, and she clenched her fists. Even though she felt like pummeling her father’s chest, she held her ground. She was beyond angry and wasn’t about to let him steamroll her once again. “Stop meddling in my life. If you send him away, I will never forgive you.”
“I have to do what’s right.” Her father backed away and wordlessly left the darkened space and disappeared into the throng of people.
Her mother stepped closer, filling the void he’d filled and looped her arm through Aerilyn’s. “Sweetheart, you know he won’t back down.”
“Neither will I,” Aerilyn answered through gritted teeth. “I am done with him controlling my life.”
Her mother studied her quietly. “You have feelings for him? The cougar?”
“I tried not to,” Aerilyn whispered, feeling tears well in her eyes. “I know Dad doesn’t like him, but—”
“When has he reacted reasonably to any of your boyfriends? He will have to accept him if he doesn’t want to lose you. Half-blood or not.” The tendons in her mother’s neck were pulled tight. “I’ve never been prouder of you. You have been forced to grow in the shadow of your father’s protective nature, which is a hard thing to endure. I just hope he chooses wisely.”
Aerilyn peered into the hall and spotted her father approach Jax and tried to settle the wave of nausea that overtook her stomach.
He’d been unsure about going to the gathering. If he’d had any doubt that Alaric wasn’t fond of him, it was all but confirmed when the lodge leader accused him of hurting Aerilyn.
Jax drove them back home with the radio on to relieve him from the responsibility of discussing how horribly the evening had gone. He didn’t want to tell her about Alaric’s proposition. That her father had confided it would be better for him if he transferred to the Nebraska lodge. The leader there was kind and wise and would likely allow him to leave so long as he left a blood and hair sample.
At first the idea of leaving Colorado was appealing. The thought of getting back onto the open road made his energy hum with excitement. Alaric watched him with a careful look in his eye, making clear he wasn’t ordering Jax to go. That it was up to him.
It hadn’t gone past Jax’s notice that her father had opened the gate to his pen, giving him what he’d been itching for. Freedom. He knew when he was being shown the door.
His thoughts were interrupted by Aerilyn clearing her throat. She lifted her voice above the music. “It looked like you were having a good conversation with Garren.”
Jax turned his head and glanced at her momentarily, not wanting to take his eyes from the snowy road for long. “Yeah, he’s got a project car he needs help with. I’m heading over to his place on Sunday to take a look.”
The corners of her mouth curled up, and she said nothing. The sound of the wipers thumping back and forth, keeping the windshield clear of snowflakes, filled the silence once again. He turned the bend in the road, and Aerilyn’s hillside house came into view. The trees and ground were coated in a deep blanket of white powder.
Jax slowed down as he crept up her driveway to her detached garage. After stopping, his truck slid backward a foot or two, and he pulled his emergency brake. The vehicle finally came to rest.
“Thanks for driving—it’s always more exciting with snow.” She picked up her purse from the floorboard and set it in her lap.
“It was no problem.” He looked over at her wrapped up in her jacket and her uncovered legs. Jax pointed at her exposed skin. “You must be cold.”
She shrugged. “I’m fine.”
Again, an awkward silence fell. He wasn’t sure what to say.
Aerilyn turned to face him and tucked a wavy strand of hair behind her ear. She took a long, deep breath before saying, “I noticed my father pulled you aside.”
It wasn’t really a question or a statement the way she said it. It was something in between. Her eyes lifted to meet his, and their gaze locked.
“Yeah.” His brows furrowed, and he stared out the front windshield at the flakes collecting on the glass. “He, uh, he recommended I head out to the lodge in Nebraska for a bit. He said the leader there would probably just ask for a blood and hair sample and let me go.”
“I see,” she said in a whisper.
She was too observant. He’d hoped he could avoid talking about Alaric’s offer, but he wasn’t about to lie. He watched her as she looked out the window at the falling snow and wondered whether she could perceive what he was feeling in that moment.
She spoke in an undertone. “Are you going to go?”
Jax remembered the time he’d been in cougar form, exploring the wilderness, and he’d found a bear trap. Its rusty metal jaw had gaped open, waiting for an unsuspecting target. He’d avoided it, knowing what it was. But in that moment, staring into Aerilyn’s eyes, he felt himself walking straight into a life he’d been able to avoid successfully until now. And he didn’t want to turn away. He wanted to step right into it.
“I thought I’d stay.” He felt himself leaning into her. His arm stretched across the back of the seat, and he cupped her cheek. Her b
reath warmed his lips as her eyes blinked back at him. Jax pressed his mouth to hers.
The kiss wasn’t like the last one they’d shared. It was hungry and deep, not sweet or cautious. She moved in closer, slipping her hands around his abdomen. He let go of his fear of intimacy as his passion for her grew.
Aerilyn broke away for a breath of air and panted near his ear. The sound only fanned the fire of his desire. She whispered breathlessly, “Come inside.”
He nodded. The grin he’d grown to love flashed back at him, and he wrenched open his door. Nearly a foot of snow welcomed him when he stepped out. He held his hand out to her. He grasped onto her and pulled her into his arms. She yelped and giggled in response.
Jax closed his door and carried her all the way to her stoop. She fumbled with her keys, her cheeks flushing with color. Once they entered her darkened house, he pulled her against him. They ignored Petey at the top of the stairs, welcoming them with tail wags.
Aerilyn’s hands reached for her jacket zipper. He watched her in the dim and remembered once again the events of the night.
“What about your father?” he asked, catching her hand. “He basically accused me of abusing you in front of the whole lodge tonight.”
She hesitated and tilted her head back to look at him, grabbing hold of his jacket. “He’s always been overprotective, overbearing. He’s never given any of the guys I’ve brought home a chance, and I’m done. I’m done with him controlling my life.”
Resolve filled her eyes, and she blinked at him. “You’ve given me the confidence to stand up for myself. Thank you.”
The smell of her shampoo filled his nostrils, and all he wanted was to feel her skin against his, but the last thing he needed was to upset a lodge leader from a clandestine society who had a hell of a lot more power than he did.
Aerilyn, clearly sensing his concern, went up a step and looked him in the eye. “I don’t care what my father thinks. I’m tired of him controlling me. If he wants to be in my life, he needs to stand by and let me make my own decisions.”
He brushed his fingers along her temple. He could see the alpha wolf staring back at him deep within the well of her eyes. She was stronger than any woman he’d ever met. His inner cougar rose to the challenge, reacting to her pheromones and delicate touch.
Jax raised an eyebrow and reached for the zipper of her jacket. He drew it down and slid the coat off her shoulders. It fell to the stairs. Aerilyn turned around, slipped out of her shoes and went to the main level of the home. Petey had since gone to lie down, giving up on getting a greeting from either of them.
Using the banister, Jax leaped after her and backed her against the wall. Aerilyn threw her arms around his shoulders and grinned up at him. His heart sped at the sight of it. Never had he wanted to be close to anyone like he did with her. And never had he hungered or yearned for a woman like he did for Aerilyn.
He lost no time. Jax scooped her up, and she wrapped her legs around him. He carried her through the dark into the confines of her room. The passage of time blurred, and his night was lost in a mixture of dreams and passionate fantasies.
Aerilyn lay beside him, staring at him as he slept. His face was still and peaceful as his bare chest rose and fell with every breath. She slid her hand across his waist and nuzzled against him.
Her tenacity took her by surprise. All in one night, she’d given her father an ultimatum and challenged Jax to stay with her. To do that, she’d pushed aside her own doubts and fears. Jax wasn’t the kind to remain in one place. So, when he told her he wasn’t leaving, it had shocked her.
She had no idea what she was doing. The man lying beside her was nothing like the picture that had been painted for her as a child. She’d been told since her youth that a generational shifter was her best match and to expect a well-bred man with a matching bank account. Her mother didn’t have to whisper in her ear about finding love and friendship in her mate. Aerilyn saw it in her parents’ union. It was what she considered to be the most important thing when it came to a partnership.
Aerilyn might have spoken confidently last night, but she feared her father’s response. He’d made it clear he didn’t want her spending more time with Jax. If she had to cut Alaric out of her life, she would in order to gain the freedom to make her own choices. She loved him, but she’d had enough.
Although she hadn’t known Jax long, a connection had been forged between them. She felt it every time she was in his presence, and even when they were apart. She’d never felt this way with any other.
Rays of sunlight crept in through the blinds of her bedroom window. It was just past seven in the morning, and she was too awake to go back to sleep. She might have normally gotten up to make herself some coffee, but having a strong arm wrapped around her was too enjoyable to interrupt.
She closed her eyes and listened to the rhythm of his heartbeat. A loud thump and scratch came from her door, and her lids flipped open. She’d never let Petey out last night, and he wasn’t used to being locked out of her room.
Jax inhaled deeply and adjusted under the sheets. This was the moment of truth. The morning after. If he’d only wanted to get into her bed, he’d find some excuse to leave. This was Emery’s area of expertise. She preferred one-nighters without strings attached. Aerilyn, however, was more guarded about her sex life. She’d never done any such thing.
Aerilyn pinched her eyes shut, waiting to see what he would do. She felt him move beside her, then his arm wrapped around her waist. His breath warmed the top of her head, and his lips pressed against her temple. She couldn’t help but open her lids and found herself staring into his blue eyes.
“Morning,” he mumbled.
She smiled back at him, unable to speak. Another scratch came from the door, and she sighed. “I need to let Petey out.”
“I can,” he answered.
He let go of her, and she rolled away, watching him sit up in bed. Her eyes traced over his muscles as he stretched with a groan. Disappointingly, he slipped on his boxers and jeans and went to the door.
She listened to the sound of him leading Petey down the hall and her dog’s happy footsteps. Aerilyn decided it was time for her to get up, too. She crept out of bed and went to put on some underwear, socks and a T-shirt. Her hair felt tangled, so she pulled it into a messy ponytail.
Aerilyn shuffled out of her room and yawned. Noises came from the kitchen, and she nearly walked into Jax as she went over the threshold.
“Oh!” she exclaimed. “I was going to make some coffee. Would you like some?”
“Sure,” he answered and moved out of her way. He seemed to be holding back from saying something more but remained silent.
She decided to keep herself busy, still unsure of where they stood. Were they in the beginnings of a relationship, or had he decided dealing with her father wasn’t worth the trouble?
Aerilyn reached for the cabinet to get some mugs down and heard him open the fridge. His deep voice filled the room. “Are you hungry for breakfast? I can make an omelet, or if you have things to do, I can get out of here.”
She closed her eyes and leaned against the counter. “Omelets sound good, unless you want to take off.”
The fridge shut, and his hand touched hers. She looked down at his fingers curling around hers, then she glanced over her shoulder at Jax, who was frowning at her.
“Not unless you want me to,” he answered.
She spun around and whispered, “I want you to stay.”
Aerilyn rested her hands on his chest, and he took her by surprise, leaning in to graze his lips against hers. His warm fingers lifted her T-shirt and traced around her waist and up her back. The hairs on her spine rose on end, and she let out a shuddering breath.
“It’s about time,” a voice said.
Aerilyn whipped her head around, staring at Emery standing in the doorway of the kitchen. A smirk was perched on her friend’s lips as she stared approvingly at them. Jax lowered the hem of Aerilyn’s T-shirt and cleared
his throat.
“Nicely done, really. Walking on the wild side.” Emery entered the room in a pair of sweats and a tank top. “But if this is going to be a regular thing, then maybe you can cover your vents. You’d be amazed how much sound travels.”
Jax caught Aerilyn’s eye. A slow grin curled the corners of his mouth as he snickered in her ear.
Fifteen
“There has to be something out there that can help clear your name.” Aerilyn leaned closer to the laptop’s screen, scanning the results of her Internet search.
Jax stretched out on her couch. Petey had wormed his way onto his lap and was getting belly rubs from his new best friend. “You and I both know I didn’t attack KT.”
“Yeah, but my dad seems to need a banner stating your innocence.”
She felt his eyes on her.
His voice filled the room. “I thought you didn’t care what he thought about me.”
“I never said that.” Aerilyn corrected him. “I want him to see you for who you are—a good man worthy of everything good in this world just like anyone else.”
She touched her fingertip to her laptop’s screen, selecting a promising list of cougar attacks. From what she’d gathered, it was a pretty short list. Only about a dozen had been logged over the last century. If a cougar had been blamed for KT’s attack, then who knew whether others had been miscategorized in the absence of a logical answer.
Jax’s muffled voice came from the living room. “Hey buddy, you’ve probably got better breeding than me. Does Alaric like you?”
Aerilyn rolled her eyes and continued reading. She scrolled through an old newspaper excerpt from 1927 that detailed a man being dragged off by a cougar in a rural county in Washington. His body was never found. The witness, a man by the name of Ramsey Wilkenson, claimed his neighbor had put up a good fight, but the cougar was the stronger of the two. When asked why he didn’t intercede and try to save his neighbor, he answered that it wasn’t worth his life.
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