by Kym Grosso
“I’m not talking about sex,” Dimitri said. “I’m talking wolf.”
Calling the power within, he allowed the seamless transformation to commence. The spectacular brown wolf barked and growled. He stalked up to his friend, who wore an expression of amazement. Jake reached out to Dimitri, running his hands through his fur as if to confirm what he was seeing was really happening.
Easily shifting back into human form, Dimitri crouched at Jake’s feet. The thrill of the metamorphosis left him energized, optimistic and looking forward to the full moon.
“But last night? You couldn’t…”
“Gillian,” Dimitri stated, his voice serious. “She did this.”
“What?”
“Her breed. It’s why Chaz was…is after her. Her mate would inherit her gift. The spirit of her beast. The mating healed me. She healed me.”
“I don’t understand how…”
“She lost her tiger. It’s gone.” Dimitri raked his hands through his hair and reached for his shorts. He put them on and waited on Jake’s reply.
“She can’t shift anymore? No way. She was beautiful. Her cat…just no.”
“This is why she always stayed away from wolves. She knew she’d find her mate. I wanted to wait, but last night…” Dimitri paused, recalling how she’d bitten him. “We’d discussed it and agreed to wait until the morning to make a decision. But then she bit me. Really bit me….hard. Not a mark. She broke skin. It’s not like I had a choice. Once she drank from me, I was done for. Game over.” Dimitri picked a bowl off the table and spooned in the yogurt. “I wish I could feel guilty. I know we should have waited, but my wolf wanted her so damn bad. I can’t even blame it on him. It’s me. She’s mine. I want her in my life.”
“You’re in love with her,” Jake laughed.
“I cannot confirm or deny those allegations,” Dimitri said with a sly grin. He could hardly believe it himself that he was falling for one female. The idea of him being with one woman for the rest of his life had been a foreign concept, but this morning, he couldn’t see himself with anyone else.
“So that’s how it’s gonna be? Okay.” Jake shot him a sideways glance and picked up an apple out of a basket on the table. “You got it bad.”
“Maybe I do. Again, that falls into the category of ‘don’t care’. She’s mine and no one’s taking her away from me now.”
“Again…what about her shifting? What’s the deal?”
“Don’t know yet. She said she can feel her wolf. Heard her last night when she was at the club. Gillian seemed okay with everything this morning.”
“I don’t know how. Think about it. You’ve been an animal your entire life. And poof. It’s gone.”
“I hear ya. Even after she told me her theory about being able to heal me with the mating, I didn’t want to do it. But what’s done is done. There’s nothing we can do but wait and see.” Dimitri didn’t mention to Jake that he might have super kitty powers. But his wolf was healthy and robust, as if nothing had ever happened.
“So is she going to try to shift? Before the run tonight?”
“I’d like to see her try. Let’s give her some space, when she gets down here, okay? I want her to eat and relax before we start shifting. ‘K?”
“You got it.”
Dimitri nodded to the steps, alerting Jake that Gillian was coming downstairs. She may have already heard part of their conversation, but he’d been serious. Gillian needed both sustenance and rest if she was going to try to shift and run with the pack. Knowing how she’d battled the wolf in the bathroom the previous evening, he was certain she’d be ready for revenge. Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself for the conversation.
Gillian adjusted the straps on her bikini. An odd sense of calm had settled over her mind. It was as if their mating had infused a shot of happy juice into her veins. Showering, she’d thought of her tiger, still unable to feel her. But the wolf inside paced, growing stronger. There was no doubt in her mind that she could shift. She’d been tempted to transform right there in Dimitri’s bathroom, but thought better of it, considering she should have the support of others as she did so.
She dragged the brush through her hair, securing it into a ponytail. As she turned to go downstairs, she smiled, seeing Dimitri’s mark on her shoulder. Feeling light as a feather, she bounded out of the room. Giddy like a schoolgirl, she couldn’t believe they’d mated.
Never wanting Dimitri to feel guilt for their actions, she’d taken the decision away from him. Knowing that his wolf had been fully restored, her heart was full of pride and what she knew was the seeds of love. Hearing voices coming from the kitchen, she smiled.
“Hey there,” she called, her bare feet padding across the smooth wooden floor. She fell into Dimitri’s embrace, giving him a quick kiss.
“You trying to get me back in bed, woman?”
“What?” she laughed
“That bathing suit is killin’ me. You’re gonna give me heart failure.”
“You’re the one who gave it to me.” She shoved at his muscular arms, ones that never moved from her waist. “I need sun. I’m tired of lying in bed.”
“I can give you something to do in bed if you want,” he countered.
“Is that right?” She smiled. “Guess I better eat something to keep up my strength.”
“Hey there.” Jake waved hello and opened the refrigerator, looking for orange juice.
Gillian gave Dimitri a devious grin and broke free of his arms. Slowly approaching Jake, she glanced back to Dimitri right before she swatted Jake’s bottom. He jumped, nearly banging his head on the inside of the fridge.
“Hey, now. What’s that for?” he asked, smiling.
“That’s for not coming to my rescue last night.” She pointed a finger at him.
“What can I say? I know better than to interfere when my beta’s trying to teach his mate how to submit. Although I must say, D, I don’t think you trained her very well. She just spanked me.”
Dimitri raised his eyebrows, shrugged and laughed.
“And this,” Gillian wrapped her arms around Jake, hugging him, “is for saving me last night.”
“Now this is more like it. Oh yeah.” Jake returned her embrace, watching the look of amusement on his friend’s face.
“And this,” she stood on her tip toes and kissed his cheek gently, “is for last night. Turns out, that after you refused to help me, I got lucky…really, really lucky.”
“Aw baby, I’m the one who should be thanking you and D.”
She reached behind him, grabbing a bottle of water, then pulled away from his arms. Unscrewing the bottle, she gave him a flirtatious wink before taking a drink.
“She’s somethin’,” Jake said, still surprised. He held his fingers to his lips, and looked to Dimitri, who seemed to enjoy the way his mate had thrown his friend off kilter.
“Yes, she is.” Dimitri drew Gillian into his arms. They exchanged a brief embrace, and he guided her to the table. Standing, she began to pour herself cereal.
“I’ve gotta make a call to Logan, let him know what happened last night,” Dimitri announced.
“Last night?” Wide eyed, Gillian looked at Jake and then Dimitri.
“Not everything, cher,” he assured her. “I want to let him know I’m healed, find out what dickhead told him.”
“Dickhead?” she questioned.
“The wolf from last night. Logan has him held up in a cell. They’re coming soon.”
Gillian silently nodded in response.
“Can you two play nicely while I’m gone?” Dimitri asked.
“Hey, I’m not the one who’s slapping asses this morning. Look to your girl over there.” Jake grinned at Gillian.
“What? His ass was just there…waiting for me. Besides, it’s true. He didn’t save me. All’s fair.”
“Also, I forgot. Jax texted me earlier. I sent him my address, so he should be here any minute,” Dimitri mentioned as he walked out of the room.
> “Do you have any sunscreen?” Gillian asked.
“What?” Dimitri turned, giving her a questioning look.
“You know. Sunscreen. I want to lay out for a bit.”
“You don’t get sunburned. You know that, right? You’re a shifter.”
“Yes, but I don’t want to dry out my skin.” Gillian smiled, giving a side glance to Jake. “Besides, Jake, here, owes me. I think a nice back rub will suffice.”
Dimitri laughed in response. “No sunscreen, but the lotion’s underneath the sink. And before you make any wise cracks, wolf, I like to keep my skin soft, too, okay? No judging. I’ll be back in a bit,” he told her.
He thought to tell her he loved her as he left, as if he wouldn’t see her for eons. The words caught in his mouth; he was aware that it was completely irrational. Yet as he walked down the hallway, looking over at his mate, her smile melted his heart and he was certain he’d fallen in love.
Chapter Nineteen
Gillian stretched her hands above her head, reveling in the sunshine. The deck provided a spectacular view of the bayou, and Gillian began to understand why this place was so special to Dimitri. The day he’d refused to kill Chaz, unwilling to take over his pack, had confused her up until now. Most wolves aspired to be Alpha, no matter the circumstance. But Dimitri showed steadfast loyalty to both his Alpha and pack.
The quiet hum of crickets serenaded her as she spread a towel on the chaise. She smiled at Jake who joined her, wearing only his shorts. Barefoot, he trod across the cedar planks. Silence settled, each unsure of what to discuss. Gillian, unable to handle the quiet contemplation, broke the reticence.
“So…about last night. I meant what I said.”
“Thank you,” he responded.
“For what?” she asked.
“Dimitri.”
“He told you?”
“About your mating? Yeah, he told me. You okay?”
“Me? I’m fine.”
“But your cat? If it were me…”
“I think I can shift… we’ll see. I just can’t feel my tiger. She’s gone,” she replied.
“Last night in the bar. When we saw you on the floor…the way you’d attacked that asshole. Dimitri’s lucky to have you for a mate,” Jake began, reaching for the bottle she’d set on the outdoor table, unable to look her in the eye. “Anyway, just wanted you to know I’m grateful. D is a tough son-of-a-bitch, but this thing with his wolf…he would have lost his family, our pack. You changed all that.”
“He’s my mate. I can’t explain it more than that.”
Gillian avoided Jake’s question, realizing she really didn’t have answers. All she had were feelings, the kind of feelings that wouldn’t be shaken no matter what happened in the future. None of it made sense, except for the fact that it felt right. After years of hiding from wolves, their mating had turned her world on its side.
Crawling onto the chair, she lay on her stomach. She took a deep breath and blew it out as her muscles began to relax. She blinked, her eyes focusing through the slit of gate surrounding the deck. In the distance, small lilts of waves rolled through the water, the tide receding. Warm strong hands settled on her back.
Jake remained quiet as he caressed the balm onto her skin. Gillian recalled how, on Dimitri’s instruction, she had thoroughly enjoyed watching Jake in the shower. Although she thought him good-looking, she’d never been with two men at once and had never dared to imagine a scenario where she’d engage her fantasy. Yet Dimitri continued to push her sexual limits all the while making her feel as if she was the only woman in the world. She supposed it was the wolves, their openness that was rubbing off on her as she began to look forward to the possibilities and what Dimitri would teach her next. Closing her eyes, she fantasized, imagining her hands touching them both. As her body began to heat up in more ways than one, she smiled.
“What are you thinking about?” Jake asked, his hands moving down the back of her thighs.
“Um, just thinking about how good the sun feels,” she lied. His hands were like sweet goodness all over. He moved to the soles of her feet and she released a loud moan.
“The sun, huh?” he laughed.
“Oh my God. Do. Not. Stop,” she groaned.
“Hey now, what’s goin’ on out there?” Dimitri called from an open window, holding his cell to his chest. “No gettin’ fresh with my mate, wolf. Lotion on her back. Nothing more.”
“You’re getting us in trouble,” Jake teased.
“Hmm…it feels good, though.” She laughed. Gillian gave a squeak as Jake smacked her butt, and lay next to her on a twin chaise.
“Better?” he asked, pushing on his sunglasses.
“Yes, thanks. Very nice. I was great before the rub, but now I feel awesome. I almost started purring,” she said. No I didn’t. Never again will I purr. A hint of sadness tinged her heart as she thought the words, reminded that she’d never be feline again.
The doorbell and commotion in the house caused her to lift her head. Hearing male voices, she assumed someone from Dimitri’s pack had come to see him. She took a deep breath, focusing on the sounds of birds chirping.
“Hey, baby sis,” Jax called from the kitchen.
Gillian startled at the sound of her brother’s voice. “Jax. We’re outside.”
She jumped off of her chaise to greet him. Even though they’d recently established their familial connection, her heart filled with happiness as she caught sight of her brother strolling out onto the deck. His blonde hair reflected like an angel’s in the sunlight. He was dressed casually, wearing a t-shirt and shorts, but there was no mistaking his commanding presence. Nick walked behind him, giving her a wave.
Jax opened his arms to Gillian and she fell into his comforting embrace. Her protector, she owed him her life.
“Jax, I’m so glad to see you. Is it weird to tell you that I missed you? I know we’re just getting to know each other, but you feel like family,” she admitted.
“We are family. You’re not alone anymore,” he assured her.
“Thanks.” She kissed his cheek and broke their hug.
“What about me? Hello? Chopped liver over here?” Nick gave her a wide smile, holding out his arms.
“He just wants to hold a hot chick in a bikini,” Jax commented. “Be careful with my sister.”
“Hi, Nick. Sorry.” Wrapping her hands around his neck, she gave him a quick hug. “Thank you for coming down. And thank you for not being my mate.”
“Oh my Goddess,” he exclaimed. Nick leaned in and sniffed her. “You didn’t?”
“Didn’t what?” she asked.
“Jax. Really? You’re not going to say anything?” he asked.
“He’s her mate. Always has been. Question is, what’s happened that has my beta in a tizzy?” Jax gave her a scrutinizing look.
Gillian bit her lip and looked to Jake, who gave her a smile before he headed inside. She mouthed ‘chicken’ at him as he left. She guessed he didn’t want to be around for the fallout; a serious conversation with one badass New York Alpha. She looked to the ground and wrung her hands.
“It’s done,” she said softly.
“What’s done?”
“We, um, we completed the mating last night. Now I know that you might not understand, but,” she began. Cringing slightly, she made eye contact with her brother. “He’s a good man. An even better wolf. He needed me.”
“Come here,” Jax said. Gillian slowly padded over and was surprised when Jax brought her into his arms again. “Tell me what happened. I know he’s your mate, but why so soon? It’s your gift, isn’t it?”
“Yes. He’s been ill. I don’t know if he told you or not. That witch. She did something to him. And wolves will never stop trying to get me. I just decided he was worth saving. I need him in my life.”
“Did he know about your gift?” Jax growled protectively.
“No. If he’d wanted to be Alpha, he could have done that when he had Chaz the first time. Last night, the
vampire…what she said. It just made sense. The witch was never going to cure him. She wanted him,” Gillian explained. “And that was just too damn bad because there was no way I was letting her kill my wolf. He’s mine.”
Jax laughed. “Possessive already?”
“Yeah, I am. Dimitri’s wolf was dying. I told him that I thought I could heal him. But he didn’t want to so I…you know, I bit him.”
“You started the mating? Without his permission?”
“Well, technically if you put it that way, I guess that is what I did, but I prefer to look at it as me taking the initiative.”
“You are your Alpha’s sister,” Nick interjected. “Dimitri’s going to have fun with you.”
“It’s done. And it worked. But my tiger…”
“She’s gone?”
“Yes, I think so. But Jax,” she whispered. “There’s a wolf in me. I can feel her. I heard her last night, even before we mated. I want to shift. I’ve just been waiting.”
“What for, girl? Come on now. Show us what ya got!” Nick said excitedly as if he’d been given a new toy.
Jax kissed her forehead and she fought the urge to cry. She wasn’t sure how he’d react, but he was understanding, caring; everything she needed her sibling to be. He cupped her cheek in his hand and smiled down at her.
“Congratulations, sister. I’m so happy you’re a wolf. I would’ve never forced this on you. I want you to know that. And even though I have a pack, you’re blood.” He turned to Nick and nodded. “You and Nick are my family. And he’s right. Let’s see what you’ve got. I want to see you shift.”
“Really?” Gillian asked. Excitement lit through her as she realized she was going to do it. She thought to wait for Dimitri but then she decided it would be a wonderful surprise for him to see that she was all right, that she could, indeed, shift.
“Yes, let’s do it. You go first and we’ll run with you a bit.” Both Jax and Nick began to undress in preparation.
“Okay, but not too far. I want to surprise Dimitri,” she told them. Stripping out of her bathing suit without a care, she bounded onto the lawn.