by Amber Lynn
“Since he’s standing outside the door, I don’t think you have far to go, but then he was probably blocking you from knowing that fact.”
The stupid smirk highlighted Jack’s face again. As if on cue, I felt the tingle that indicated the man was around strengthen. I wasn’t sure I could take both of the men in a fight, but I was ready to try.
My eyes darted towards the door, surprised it hadn’t opened immediately to reveal someone listening to our conversation. I imagined he’d been at the station a few times visiting Jack, so the woman manning the front desk had probably waved him right in.
“How can he make me sense anything different than what you do?”
I didn’t bother asking how long he’d been out there. I hadn’t felt him follow behind me, but I had a pretty good idea that he had.
“He’s as good as you are about answering questions, so I can’t explain that one. Maybe if you sweet talk him, he’ll tell you. Partner, you want to come in here and talk some sense into my sister? I’ll make sure you’re left alone for a little while, but we’re supposed to meet up with that yahoo from the drug task force to go over how their undercover agent is screwing with our case.”
Jack winked at me, knowing I didn’t have a clue the man worked with him. He walked over to the door and opened it. I could see his partner on the other side, hands up on both sides of the doorframe.
“I know things have been a little tense between us for a few years now, Nikki, but I’d like to get to know my nieces, so try not to screw things up.”
I loved how every person in my family solely blamed me for wanting to make sure my daughters didn’t have to deal with the same crap I had to when I was growing up. It was ridiculous, and one of the key reasons the girls had never met anyone from my side of the family.
The man moved out of Jack’s way. As Jack moved passed him, he patted him on the shoulder. I could tell he was offering him luck, which was moronic, but that was my favorite word to describe Jack.
After Jack was out of sight, the looming man in the doorway took ten steps forward and closed the door behind him. He stood there staring at me for a few seconds, his green eyes causing my skin to crawl a little.
“I suppose we should at least try to get some of the answers to the questions we both have while we have a few minutes. Why don’t you make yourself comfortable? I promise the chairs aren’t as uncomfortable as they look.”
The overwhelming smell of pine in an enclosed space was almost too much for me. I darted my eyes to the chairs and decided it would be better if we weren’t within two feet of each other, so I remained glued in my spot, waiting for him to say something that would make things fall into place and somehow make sense.
Chapter Eight
“I didn’t figure you’d take me up on it, but the gentleman in me had to offer. Sorry that Jack was the one who explained what I do when I’m not busy keeping an eye on you. I prefer you learn about me from me, but he does tend to have a big mouth.”
“At least we can agree on one thing.”
My eyes followed his path as he made his way over to the table and took a seat. Even with a table covering half of his body, he was an opposing force to be across from. I felt sorry for any criminal who had to sit on the other side of the table while he interrogated them.
“It’s sad you two can’t see eye to eye, but unlike him, I understand the reasons you hate the way of life we’re meant for. I wasn’t able to run from it to try something different, but it’s understandable that you would. There’s a good reason why females aren’t the firstborn.”
My eyes narrowed as I took in what I considered a dig against me. Girls weren’t born first, and I’d always been an anomaly, but I wasn’t an inferior anomaly. I was just the first one to stand up against the centuries of stupidity.
Being the firstborn of an alpha came with responsibilities, ones I never accepted or pretended I would. It probably made things more difficult on me as my father and the other leaders in our pack did their best to train me.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love when you get that defiant look on your face, but maybe it’s best you not flash it too many times while we’re without supervision. I prefer we not start off our official relationship the way we met. I believe we’re both more evolved than that.”
I didn’t know enough about him to have an opinion about his evolution, but I did tone down my glare. I couldn’t deny that I felt the attraction pulling me towards him, and that was reason enough for me to keep my position across the room. The small ten by ten room had started feeling like a closet.
“I like to think I’d be able to stop things from escalating, but I imagine neither of us has that ability. Speaking of abilities, would you please explain to me how you’re able to mess with mine? I know you mentioned not filling me in on that particular secret, but I can’t help thinking that my girls are in danger if I can’t sense someone coming.”
The man stretched his hands out on the table in front of him. There was a good chance those large mitts would easily encase my whole head.
“You honestly think I’d allow someone to be around if they were a danger to the girls? My ability is unique to me, so you don’t have to worry about anyone else sneaking up on you, but I think it’s important for you to know that I wouldn’t let anything happen to either of our daughters.”
I supposed that answered any questions about whether he accepted both of the girls. I immediately moved to correct him about the number of children we shared, but he raised his hand to stop me.
“I’m sure your claim that Sierra isn’t mine is justified, but she is technically more mine than his, since she is a wolf. I highly doubt he can teach her to hunt the same way I can.”
“I don’t agree with that logic, but I’ll save us time and not argue about it right now. If we’re limited on time, we need to talk about Paul, and where lines are drawn for you. He understands that any physical relationship between us is over, but he’s hesitant to dissolve our marriage.”
“So I heard. Yesterday you were ready to end things, and if I remember right, you’ve already had papers drawn up. I’d like to keep things on that path. I understand feelings don’t disappear overnight, but continuing a sham marriage will only hurt everyone involved down the road.”
It had already hurt me more than I cared to admit, but I didn’t tell him that.
“What exactly do you see happening down the road? Paul doesn’t deserve to have the girls ripped from his life just because things have finally caught up with me.”
I heard the scrape of his chair against the floor as he moved it back a little. I was afraid he planned to come closer and, even with a voice in my head telling me to stay strong, I took a step back.
“As I said yesterday, I understand all the components at play. He’s only got a few more months in office. We can spend that time getting to know each other, and then make plans about the rest of our lives. Your brother has lobbied that we remain close, but frankly I could care less. What’s best for you and the girls is what will dictate what happens.”
Even though I’d heard the chair, his body didn’t appear to move at all. I relaxed a little, but my body felt like a live wire that was looking for something to shock.
“What if what’s best for us is to keep things how they’ve been?” I had a feeling I knew the answer to that, but I wasn’t going to leave the idea unsaid.
“Have you ever heard the term par lupu, Nikki?”
The question was so off-topic that it took me a second to answer.
“Anyone, and everyone, who’s like us has heard that old fable. Is there a reason you think this conversation needs to turn to make-believe?”
“No, I just wanted to make sure you haven’t forgotten everything you were taught as a little girl. As far as the question you asked, I mentioned both you and the girls being the number one priority. I know they’d be happy keeping things as is, but you’ve been miserable long enough.”
It disturbed me that he�
��d been able to watch me in the miserable state he mentioned without me knowing about it. The fact that he had for as long as he had only fed my assumption that he wasn’t normal. Wolf mates didn’t mind causing each other pain, but if an outside force was disrupting their mate, wolves did something about it.
“I promise you there aren’t two people more proper as mates as we are; it’s just that things are a little unique in our case. Would you like to get out of here and talk somewhere a little more open? I thought I could handle things, but between your mood and scent, it’s probably a good idea if we get a little air.”
“What are you?” I asked, my voice not much over a whisper.
When he let me feel him, he registered as a wolf, but there was too much going on that being a werewolf didn’t explain. I assumed he thought I wouldn’t have figured out that he’d read and responded to my thoughts, but that was kind of hard to overlook.
“Sorry. Even though I’ve followed you for a while now, I’m not aware of your abilities. I thought maybe you’d figured out a way to shut it off.”
“You think I’ve at some point been able to read people’s minds? Don’t you think I’d turn on that handy ability to try to figure out what in the world is going on?”
His logic was good, based on the fact that I wouldn’t even turn into a wolf if I didn’t feel the call to each month. I did a good job of hiding every ability that made me unique, but nothing I had compared to what he’d exhibited.
He sighed. I wasn’t sure if I was boring him or I’d somehow deteriorated the situation from his point of view.
“I suppose it’s a relief more than anything. If your powers haven’t peaked, it means we have some fun ahead for us. We got sidetracked from my question about whether you’d like to go somewhere to talk. My preference would be the woods you take the girls, but I understand if you aren’t ready to go running with me.”
My brain scrambled to try to figure out a way to grab the girls and Paul and run for the hills. It was bad enough I knew I had a mate out there somewhere; learning that he had a few screws loose was a little much for me.
“Let’s agree to disagree on that aspect. It’s getting a little weird with me doing all the talking. Why don’t you ask more questions? I believe you’re set on staying here, so I’ll continue to control myself.”
Neither one of us had moved more than the step I’d taken away from him. As much as I hated to admit it, that was a miracle.
“I’ll go back to my main concern. Are you going to kill Paul? I still don’t understand how you’ve lasted years watching us play house. That’s not normal.”
“You can’t imagine how many times your brother questioned my logic as far as your husband is concerned. There were times I had to prove to him I had a pair. If he’s getting on your nerves, make sure to ask him how the dirt outside his house tastes. I’m pretty sure it took him an hour to brush it out of his mouth.”
I liked the vision painted in my head by his words. I’d always walked away before I embarrassed Jack to that level during our fights.
“Did you ever give him an answer?”
I didn’t like needing to pull teeth to try to get answers to what I considered easy questions. Yes or no was all I needed.
“He wouldn’t have understood, so no, I didn’t tell him. Whatever agreements we figure out between us don’t concern him for that very reason. I have no intention of killing Paul. My reasoning is essentially the same he has for wanting to stay married to you, and why I don’t want that to happen.”
“Paul wants to stay married because we’ve been together for years and he loves me. I doubt your reasoning is as close as you think it is.”
“You’d be surprised. He’s not dead because killing him would hurt you, and that would hurt me. I’m not talking about the pain we share from being mates either. I’m talking about just the thought of hurting you in that way causes me pain – more pain than what I’ve felt from watching the two of you together.”
My mind was still trying to figure out if he’d honestly said he thought he loved me, when he appeared in front of me. I couldn’t tell if my brain had just stopped being able to process more than one thing at a time, or if he’d moved faster than my eyes could take in.
“Our kind doesn’t tend to understand love. It’s something that’s usually too complex for our primal minds to comprehend. We find someone we want to mate with, mark them as ours and then live the rest of our lives trying not to kill each other. You asked me yesterday if I loved the woman I’d decided to mate with. Did it even register in your mind that no one else like us would’ve asked me that question?”
He was inches away from me and his minty breath was doing a good job of masking the wilderness smell that was messing with my hormones. I wanted to blame those hormones for me not once being able to control the conversation.
“Jack said you had to go do something in an hour and I imagine we’re getting close to that time, so I think I’m going to leave.”
Things were fine when we were focused on his weird ability to read minds and disappear from my radar. Turning things towards emotions he feels for me was a mistake I hadn’t meant to make.
“I’m technically not working today. He only said that to give you an out if you needed to escape, which I guess you want to use. I didn’t mean to scare you away, but it’s good that you know that I do have reasons for trying to make things work.”
“Your reasons are based on something you’ve decided you like from afar. I’m having trouble connecting the dots to rationalize your claim of affection.”
Even though I’d said I wanted to leave, I didn’t move. If he wasn’t working, I assumed he’d continue to follow me around, and I felt like I needed some space. Standing there within arms’ reach, I definitely needed some space.
“How about I give you a week to let things sink in a little and get things in order. Do you think there’ll be any issues with you continuing to sleep in the girls’ room? I know I said I want you moving towards the divorce, but I think we can all agree that’s something that can coincide with his exit from the Governor’s Mansion. We don’t need to drag things out in front of the media.”
“A governor getting a divorce warrants a media circus, even if he isn’t in office, so I don’t think we’ll be able to avoid a media circus.”
“If they can’t find us, they can’t bother us. I plan to make sure they can’t find us.”
If that was one of the abilities he had, I wanted it. They didn’t follow me around as much as they once had, but I wasn’t a stranger to finding someone peeking around corners to see what kind of toilet paper I bought.
“Good luck with that. It’d be easier if you’d just let the marriage stay intact and we deal with the wolf side of things without worrying about the human part.”
“Last I checked it isn’t legal to have two husbands, and our future plans include a wedding.”
I raised my left eyebrow in question. I’d assumed the divorce was only needed so another man couldn’t claim me in some way. Weddings rarely happened between wolves.
“I hope you understand that my future plans are my own to make. You can ask my pack about what I do when other people try to decide my future.”
One of his massive hands engulfed my right hand, and for the first time ever I thought of my own hand as dainty. I wanted to rip my hand away from him, but I’d learned not to antagonize the man. Getting control of my suddenly rapidly beating heart was more important anyway.
“I’m showing you that just a touch between us can change plans.”
I didn’t need the demonstration. I remembered extremely well how just a touch could have my internal fight versus submit sensors at war. The submit side never fully won out, but the part of my brain that wanted to throw off my clothes was telling me that was a good idea.
“Making me want to test out how sturdy that table is isn’t really that big of a plan changer. A quick five-minute tussle wouldn’t have a big impact on my future.�
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He kept my hand in his while he raised the other and placed it on my chest. I didn’t know if he was trying to get me to fight back; I just knew I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. Instead of quickening my heartbeat, which would’ve really popped my treacherous organ out of my chest, I felt my pulse slow.
“The next time you and I are together that way, we will both want it, and I can promise you it will last longer than five minutes. Why don’t you get back to your family? I’ll give you a week to try to settle into a temporary routine before I insert myself in the dynamic. I know that won’t seem like long to you, but I’ve waited a long time to get to know my daughters.”
I was still up in the air about him claiming both girls as his own. A part of me was happy that he wouldn’t shun Sierra, but I wanted to defend Paul’s claim as father to both girls.
“Everything doesn’t need to be a fight in life, Nikki. Having me in their life will only provide them with more love and a second ear when they have questions about their furry sides.”
“I’ve learned fighting is a prerequisite for every relationship. I hope you’ve accounted for that in the little future you have planned out.”
He hadn’t removed either of his hands from my person, and even though my pulse had calmed, I felt like a fever was coursing through my body. Being a werewolf was my living nightmare.
“I’ve watched you long enough and heard enough anecdotal evidence to know how things are. The problem with your life up until now is that you didn’t understand why you are how you are. I don’t think you’re ready for the answers today, but I do have them for you.”
If the fact that he was my mate wasn’t enough to grate on my nerves, thinking that he had the answers to what made me who I was, was enough to make me seriously contemplate his death. Wolves had an issue with being cocky, and he was no different from every other male I’d met.
“Good luck getting me to listen to anything you have to say on that subject. I’m going to go home to my husband and kids now.”