Forbidden Claim

by R. L. Kenderson

  Quentin nodded. “Yes, ma’am. Will you update my alpha on Hunter’s condition?”

  The doctor nodded and looked at Hunter again. “Call us if you need anything.”

  The females turned and left, and Quentin crumpled in his chair.

  “I’m sorry. I know I had no right,” he said as he stared at Hunter’s feet. “I just…I just couldn’t handle watching you drink from someone else.”

  Hunter grabbed his hand. Quentin looked up into Hunter’s blue-green eyes.

  Hunter smiled. “It’s okay. I’m not mad.” He closed his lids. “I want to feed from you.”

  Quentin didn’t know if Hunter had closed his eyes because he didn’t want to say the last sentence while looking at Quentin or because he was going to fall back asleep.

  “Hunter, you’d better feed before you go unconscious again.”

  Hunter smiled again and opened his eyes. “Give me your wrist.”

  Quentin really wanted to give Hunter his neck, but it was too much for the both of them. “Do you need me to wash it or anything first?”

  Hunter laughed. “No. Just give it to me.”

  Quentin held out his arm and placed his wrist near Hunter’s mouth.

  Hunter grabbed his fist and licked at his pulse. The vampire closed his eyes for a moment and sighed.

  Then, Hunter struck, sinking his fangs into Quentin, and Quentin relaxed, knowing that he was the one who was going to help Hunter heal.

  ISABELLE WOKE UP, feeling warm. That explained why she hadn’t slept that well last night. That, and Zane had woken her several times to fuck her.

  She preferred the temperature to be cool, so she could snuggle under the covers all night.

  But she’d been so hot last night that she kicked the covers off sometime while she was sleeping.

  She looked over at Zane. He was still sleeping. He was under the sheet and comforter and didn’t seem to be having any problems.

  Of course, he’d been up a lot, screwing her brains out and marking her all over. But she’d been up just as much as him, yet she felt wired for some reason.

  She might as well get out of bed. Maybe she’d be able to sleep on the plane on the way back to Minnesota.

  She went into the bathroom, flipped on the switch, and practically screamed when she looked in the mirror. She looked like she’d gotten in a fight with a pack of dogs.

  She had bite marks on both sides of her neck, on one breast, on the inside of both thighs—she turned around—and on one ass cheek.

  There was no mistaking that she belonged to Zane now.

  Despite the possessiveness of it, she thought it was hot as hell. She chuckled. Bram would flip his lid when he saw her.

  Isabelle turned on the shower and emptied her bladder while she waited for the water to warm up. She was halfway through her shower when Zane stepped in behind her. She turned to tell him to wait his turn, but his eyelids were half-closed, and he looked exhausted. Her bite marks on his shoulders stood out against his pale skin.

  She stepped closer to him. “Hey, what are you doing up? You look like you need three days of more sleep.”

  He shook his head. “I can’t leave you. What if something happens?”

  Her heart went out to him. “Okay, turn around. I’ll wash you. You just stand there and let me take care of you.”

  The corner of his mouth tipped up, and he turned.

  “Oh my God.”

  Zane looked over his shoulder, a little more awake. “What’s wrong?”

  “Your back.” She looked lower. “And your butt.” There were slashes going up and down and left to right. “I scratched the hell out of you.”

  “Oh.” Zane shrugged and looked forward. “I don’t mind.” She could hear the smile in his voice, but she still felt a little bad.

  She took her time in washing his body, and when she was done, he did the same for her. They got dressed and headed for the kitchen. Zane got sidetracked by Ranulf and Reid, so Isabelle went in search of breakfast on her own.

  When Isabelle got there, Tegan was already in the kitchen, standing in front of the coffeemaker. Her hair was wet, but she was still in her pajamas.

  Tegan turned and saw Isabelle looking at her. “I went swimming,” she explained.

  Isabelle looked out the window into the back. “That sounds heavenly. I should have done that this morning. I’ve been hot since I woke up, and taking a warm shower didn’t help.”

  “I’ll go swimming with you later, if you still want to. We can go buy ourselves some suits this morning. We’re all going to need more clothes, so we might as well go shopping early.”

  Isabelle grabbed a coffee cup from the cupboard. “But we’re leaving today.”

  “Oh, you probably haven’t heard yet. We’re staying put for a bit. Bram showed up at the wolves’ house this morning.”

  Isabelle dropped the cup, but Tegan caught it before it hit the ground.

  Tegan set the cup on the counter and put her arm around Isabelle. “Hey, it’s okay. He doesn’t know where you are. You’re safe here.”

  “Was anyone hurt?”

  “Nah. He was sent on his way by Damien. He pretended like he hadn’t seen you in a while, and it worked.”

  Someone cleared their throat from the doorway.

  “That’s not entirely true,” a male voice said.

  Isabelle and Tegan looked over to see Zane, Reid, and Ranulf in the doorway. All three males looked grim.

  Zane stepped forward, and Tegan dropped her arm.

  He picked up Isabelle’s hands. “Uh, Isa…I just found out that Hunter was hurt. Bram had hit him and run him over with his car as he was leaving the property.”

  “Oh no,” Tegan said.

  A wave of incredible guilt washed over Isabelle, and her knees gave out. Zane caught her, but she wished he’d just let her fall.

  “This is my fault. I’m the one who brought Bram to your doorstep. If it wasn’t for me, Bram wouldn’t have hurt anyone.”

  Zane raised her chin. “Except you. He would have hurt you, Isa.”

  “But that I could live with.”

  “Not if you were dead,” Zane said in a stern voice. “And everyone took an oath to protect all wolf-shifters. Even ones with asshole boyfriends.”

  She knew he was trying to make her smile, but it wasn’t going to work. “But Hunter’s a vampire. He didn’t take an oath to protect me. And it’s my fault he’s hurt.” Something just occurred to her, and she grabbed Zane’s shirt. “He’s still alive, right? Please tell me he’s still alive.”

  If Bram had killed Hunter…she didn’t know what she would do.

  Zane ran his hand down her hair. “Yes, he’s still alive. Hunter is at the Vampire Clinic. He’s conscious and feeding as we speak. His prognosis is good.”

  Isabelle sighed and fell against Zane.

  He wrapped his arms around her, and despite everything, she’d never felt safer in her whole life. At that moment, she never wanted him to let her go.

  Zane pulled her upper body away from his and met her eyes. “Right now, Bram is in jail. He had an altercation with the law this morning. We don’t know how long he’ll be there. He’ll probably make bail. But Damien is staying on top of the situation. Bram will not escape punishment for what he did.”

  Isabelle wanted to believe Zane, but Bram had a way of always getting out of stuff.

  About a month ago, she’d overheard a conversation he was having with his dad, and she’d found out the real reason he’d moved to Minnesota. It’d seemed like a punishment for Bram to get exiled from his own state but not enough of a punishment when he should have been convicted of attempted murder. That was when Isabelle had begun to plan to leave him.

  She’d begun to see his true colors, and she’d always felt he was holding himself back with her, especially when he was upset. But to find out that he’d nearly beaten a male to death was the last straw.

  “I don’t think you understand how ruthless he can be,” she told Za
ne.

  He rubbed his thumb across her chin. “I’ve seen a lot of things, Isa. Please don’t worry about us.”

  “That’s impossible,” she told him. Of course she was going to worry.

  Zane smiled and pulled her into his arms again. “You need to eat something.”

  Isabelle curled up her nose. She couldn’t possibly eat at a time like this. “No, thanks.”

  Zane turned the two of them, so they faced the counter. He poured coffee into the mug she’d dropped earlier. He let her go and handed the coffee to her. “You’re eating. Now is not the time to not keep up your strength. I know you feel guilty, but, honey, you cannot let this prick win.”

  Tegan rubbed Isabelle’s back. “Zane is right. I’m not saying you shouldn’t feel guilty. You have a right to feel the way you feel, but you cannot let this guy ruin your life. Because then he wins. And I think we can all agree that we don’t want him to win.”

  Isabelle took the coffee cup from Zane. “I see your point.” She looked at her mate, pleading with her eyes. “Is Hunter really okay? You’re not lying to me?”

  Zane smiled, but his eyes were sad. “I wouldn’t lie to you, Isa. Hunter is really okay. He can’t do much with a broken leg for a few weeks, but he’ll make a full recovery. I don’t know the male well, but I’m sure he wouldn’t want you beating yourself up.”

  Isabelle nodded.

  “Good. Now, I’m going to get you something to eat.”

  She nodded again.

  “And then we’re going shopping,” Tegan said.

  Isabelle looked at her like she was crazy, which made Tegan laugh.

  “Not for fun, silly. But I don’t have much for clothes, and I’m guessing you don’t either. It’s shopping out of necessity, and it’ll keep your mind occupied.”

  “You’re right. I only have one other change of clothes.”

  “Good.” Tegan poured herself a cup of coffee. “I’m going to shower, and we’ll leave within the hour.” She turned and left the kitchen. As she walked by Reid, she said, “I need to speak to you.”

  Reid smiled and followed.

  Isabelle looked over at Ranulf. She knew he hadn’t been happy when she showed up, looking for help. She expected to see contempt in his eyes.

  Instead, there was sympathy.

  “Tegan’s right, Isabelle,” Ranulf said. “Hunter wouldn’t want you blaming yourself.”

  Isabelle took a deep breath. “Thank you.”

  Ranulf nodded and left.

  Isabelle looked back at Zane. “All right, I’m ready. Feed me.”

  TEGAN AND ISABELLE walked into the next clothing store. The she-wolf was feeling a little better despite this morning’s news. It had helped that Zane got Hunter on the phone to talk to Isabelle.

  Isabelle felt a little less guilty after being able to apologize, and Hunter had reassured her that he didn’t blame her in the least. She was not responsible for other people’s actions. Isabelle still felt bad, but at least Tegan and Zane had gotten her out of the house.

  Ranulf had stayed behind to watch the hotel suite, and Reid and Chase were sleeping.

  “I just want to pick up a few things for Reid, and then we can go home,” Tegan said.

  “No problem. Take your time,” Isabelle responded.

  But Tegan could tell that she was eager to get out of there. They’d been shopping for over an hour, and Isabelle had been getting antsier with each store. She was too polite to tell Tegan that she wanted to leave.

  “Thank God,” Zane said. He was not polite at all and had no problems with bitching the entire time.

  Tegan put her hand on her hip. “Do you want to walk around Vegas, naked? Or perhaps you’d prefer to wear dirty, smelly clothes?”

  “I don’t care as long as we get to leave soon.” He scratched the back of his neck and curled his lip, as if he couldn’t get rid of his itch. “I need to get out of here.”

  “That’s easy for you to say. You found clothes at the second store we went to.”

  “It’s because I’m not picky.”

  Tegan rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Neither is Reid. He knows exactly what he wants. I just saved this store until last.”

  “Seven-hundred-dollar shirts, and he’s not picky?”

  Tegan sighed. “They’re not seven hundred dollars. Exaggerate much?”

  “Fine,” Zane said. “But I could buy a whole package at Target for one shirt here.”

  “And that’s why you look like a bum.” Tegan spun on her heel and walked away.

  “I don’t look like a bum,” Zane called after her.

  “Jeez, you two fight like brother and sister,” she heard Isabelle say.

  Tegan smiled. Zane was definitely like a brother to her.

  Unlike Reid, who’d given her the best damn orgasm of her life this morning. Twice.

  She shook her head as she went through the pile of T-shirts.

  All those years wasted that she could have been having phenomenal sex.

  She couldn’t wait to tell Phoenix. She’d never believe it.

  Tegan picked up two shirts that she thought would look good on Reid. A blue one and a black one.

  Tegan went to the checkout, glancing over just to make sure Isabelle was okay and that no one was watching her or looked suspicious. And ten minutes later, she was finished.

  “I’m ready.”

  Zane opened his mouth to say something smart-ass-like, she was sure, and Tegan shot him a look.

  “Let’s go,” was all he said instead.

  Once they walked outside of the mall, Isabelle said, “Why is it so hot?”

  Tegan looked at Zane, who was fanning himself with his shirt.

  “It is a little warm,” he said.

  She thought they were both crazy. “You guys, it’s, like”—she pulled up the weather app on her phone—“seventy-one degrees outside. It’s perfect weather.”

  Isabelle looked at Tegan. “It’s hot. I don’t think I can walk home.”

  It had taken them about twenty to twenty-five minutes on foot to get to the mall. It was not far to walk at all, especially for shifters.

  “We’ll get a cab,” Zane reassured Isabelle, putting his arm around her.

  Tegan had been looking forward to their walk home. They hadn’t bought that much, and it was a gorgeous day outside.

  “If we’re taking a cab, then we’re going to stop and pick up some groceries on the way home, so we can cook dinner.”

  They’d had airport food yesterday, then room service for dinner, room service for breakfast, and fast food for lunch. Tegan wanted something home-cooked.

  “That sounds great,” Isabelle said. “I’m too tired to go out to dinner, but I’m starved.”

  A cab pulled up, and all three got in the back after putting their shopping bags in the front.

  Tegan stared out the window on the way to the closest supermarket. Vegas was so bright and beautiful, and she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

  An enticing scent filled Tegan’s nose, and she turned to Isabelle, who was sitting in the middle of them. “When did you start smelling so good?” Tegan leaned close and inhaled.

  Isabelle laughed. “I don’t know.” She lifted her arm and smelled herself. “I don’t think I smell any different than normal.”

  Tegan moved closer. “Well, you do.”

  Zane reached behind Isabelle and pushed Tegan away. “Back off. She’s mine.”

  Tegan gave him a dirty look. “I wasn’t going to try anything. Sheesh. She clearly has a thing for you.” And I kind of have a thing for Reid.

  Isabelle put her hand on Zane’s leg. “I don’t think Tegan was going to try anything. She likes boys.”

  Tegan held a finger up in the air. “Correction: I like men. Not boys.”

  “And women,” Zane added.

  Isabelle looked at Tegan. “Really?”

  Tegan shrugged. “I’ve dated a couple of women.” That was probably another reason she’d thought she’d be mated
before Phoenix. The potential for her to find a partner was double.

  “Tell me, what’s it like? Is being with a woman super hot?” Isabelle gasped. “What’s it like when you’re going through your heat?” She whispered the last word, so the driver didn’t hear.

  Tegan laughed. Isabelle was like a kid. “It can be super hot. I dated a woman for over two years. Toward the end, it got to be that our cycles synced up, and we would go into heat together. Let’s just say, it was twenty-four hours of sex, sex, and more sex. The only downside was that there was no male there to give a…donation. After a while, we had to take medicine to dull the pain.”

  During a shifter’s heat, the female body’s goal was to get pregnant, and what the female body wanted was the male’s seed. It was really the only way to relieve the burning ache for a significant amount of time. Single females or females without a male partner often took muscle relaxants, antianxiety drugs, or sedatives to help them through their mating heat.

  “Have you been with a male during your heat, too?”

  Tegan nodded. “Of course. But only with human men, so they could wear a condom and never for the whole time. I had to use medication then too, but that was also hot.”

  Isabelle bit her lip and stared off into space. “I bet.”

  Tegan narrowed her eyes at Isabelle and leaned closer. “Have you never been with anyone during your heat?” she whispered.

  Isabelle quickly glanced at Zane and back at Tegan. She wiggled her eyebrows and shook her head.

  Tegan fanned her face. “Ooh…girl…” She leaned forward. “Oh, Zane—”

  Isabelle elbowed her in the arm.

  “Ouch.”

  Zane rolled his eyes. “I can hear everything you two are saying, you know.” He pointed to his ear. “I’m not deaf.”

  “So then, you heard me say that I was going to take Isabelle home with me?”

  Zane growled. “Don’t you dare.”

  Tegan sat back against the backseat and laughed.

  The car stopped, and Tegan looked out the window to see they were at a grocery store. She met the driver’s eyes in the rearview mirror.

  The driver was staring at her with his mouth open.

  She winked. “I’ll be back in a flash. Don’t leave.”