“Seem like good kids.” Garrett walked past her down the steps, looking over the area before turning toward her.
Janna’s smile disappeared quickly, nervous energy zinging through her body. “Yeah.” She cleared her throat, her eyes still on Sam, yet not really seeing him. “They are.”
“Who put those bruises on your ribs?” Garrett walked into her line of vision, but she didn’t look up.
“It’s nothing.” Janna wished her voice would stop cracking whenever she talked to him. She cleared her throat again.
“The hell it is. Look at me,” he ordered, his voice deep and stern.
Janna did and wished she hadn’t. Her eyes shifted away nervously. This man set her on edge. She felt it when she first spotted him on the road. He caused a restlessness in her that she had never felt before. Her beast was closer to the surface than ever and it scared her; he scared her.
“I know it wasn’t the bastard who carved on you because you would have been healed by now.” Garrett’s eyes narrowed. “How recent is that injury?”
She thought about lying, but decided against it. She really needed this man to like her enough to at least keep Sam and Leda so they could belong to a pack. It was the only way they could survive. “Three days ago.”
“You need to shift so you can heal,” he ordered again, his alpha coming to the surface.
“What makes you think I’m a shifter?” Janna looked up at him in surprise.
“Because your wolf has been calling to mine ever since you set foot in Beattyville.” He growled before kneeling down in front of her, his face inches from hers. “I’m tired of asking questions. I want your story and I want it now.”
Janna wanted so badly to tell him to go to hell, but she heard Sam’s laughter. This wasn’t just about her anymore and she needed to remember that. Once she was sure Sam and Leda would be taken care of, she would tell the arrogant ass to go to hell. “How do I know I can trust you?”
“You don’t,” he responded bluntly. “But it doesn’t look like you have much of a choice.”
He was absolutely right. She didn’t have a choice and that made her stomach pitch painfully. “My mother was human.” She blurted it out so quickly she wondered if she had even said it aloud, but the look on his face told her that she had indeed said it for him to hear.
Garrett’s face went from shocked to expressionless in a heartbeat. “That explains the green eyes,” he said, more to himself, before nodding to her to continue.
“I’ve never shifted,” Janna went on and tossed that one out there. She even grimaced when she said it.
“Never?” he said loudly, and then cursed, standing up and running his hand through his hair. “That’s impossible. How old are you?”
Janna bit on her lip nervously. “Twenty-three.” When he didn’t say anything, but stared at her with that dark relentless stare, she swallowed hard before continuing, “It was just me and my mom. She had no one to talk to. She didn’t know any other shifters other than my….father.” The word father left a sour taste in her mouth.
“Which is?” Garrett’s head snapped down at her when she didn’t answer.
She glanced at him for a split second before looking away. The harsh cursing indicated he had put two and two together.
******
Garrett looked from the woman in front of him to the house, and then back to the woman. She was Jonah McCall’s daughter? Not a lot shocked him, but it seemed this woman had a unique way about her that did just that. Not only was she the daughter of a full-blooded shifter, she was bred by a human. That was rare, not impossible, but very rare. What the fuck had Jonah been thinking? Garrett snorted at that thought. He knew exactly what Jonah had been thinking. It was impossible for them to keep their wolves in check where women and sex were involved.
He studied Janna who was doing her best not to look at him. She was a beautiful woman. Her blonde hair was long with dark brown streaks, but it was her eyes that drew him—a deep, but bright green, shaped like teardrops. It was an odd, but erotic combination. His eyes roamed her body and he felt his wolf shift. He loved a woman who had a figure and Janna Lawson had a body that curved in all the right places. She wasn’t a big woman, but she wasn’t skinny enough he’d snap her in half with one plunge inside her.
His wolf howled inside his head at that thought, his body responding just as quick. What the fuck was he thinking? Hell, he knew what he was thinking; the same damn thing Jonah McCall had been thinking when he took her mother. The same thing any hot-blooded man would be thinking. That thought made him angry, and had his wolf clawing to break free, but he gritted his teeth, demanding his wolf to calm. He was in control, not his wolf.
“Why haven’t you phased?” Garrett asked a little harshly, but dammit, he was a very dominant alpha. He remained calm in all things, even sexy strangers who showed up out of nowhere. When she looked at him as if she didn’t know what he was talking about, he cursed again. “Shift, why haven’t you shifted?”
“I don’t know,” was her reply, but he knew that was a lie.
“I’m about two seconds from sending you out of here,” Garrett answered her lie with a lie. He knew he wouldn’t send her packing, but she needed to start coming forth with her answers honestly. He wasn’t known for his patience and right now, his patience was quickly dwindling.
“That’s fine.” She stood quickly as if she were waiting for those exact words. “Just promise me Sam and Leda have a chance here…with your pack.”
“Are you serious?” Garrett looked at her in disbelief.
“A simple no would have been sufficient.” Janna reached back to where she had dropped her bag. Picking it up, she headed down the steps and past him. “I’m sorry we wasted your time.”
Garrett stood frozen as he watched her call for Sam and Leda then head out the way they came. Sam was looking at him as if he betrayed him, all the while begging Janna to stay. The frightened look on Leda’s young, innocent face was what set him in motion.
“Stop!” Everyone in the vicinity of his voice stopped, except Janna. Taking long strides, he passed Sam and Leda. Reaching out, he grabbed Janna’s arm. Turning her, he faltered at the tears in her eyes. One escaped, sliding down her cheek. Fuck! He could handle almost anything, but a woman’s tears were not one of them.
Sam looked around at Janna. “Why you crying, Janna?”
Janna didn’t answer Sam, but she did angrily wipe the tear from her cheek before looking down at him. “Where’s your bag?”
Sam looked confused. “We aren’t staying?”
“No.” Janna hefted her heavy bag higher on her shoulder. “Both of you go and get your stuff.”
“But I don’t want to go,” Sam continued, not moving to get his stuff. His eyes went back and forth between Garrett and Janna.
“Neither do I,” Leda crossed her arms, trying to appear tough, but Garrett had already seen the fear on her face.
“Why don’t you wa…wa…want us?” Sam looked up at Garrett.
Garrett frowned at Janna who wouldn’t look his way. “Both of you go back to what you were doing,” he ordered, but when they stood there staring at him he became angry. “Go!”
“Don’t you dare yell at them,” Janna turned on him so fast, her face inches from his. “You can do whatever you want to me, but do not yell at them.”
“I am not yelling at them,” Garrett growled just below a yell.
“Yeah, you kinda did.” Sam shoved his hands in his pockets. “We just wa…wa…want a place to live. I can almost shift. I can help just as mu…mu….much as any of the other wolves here.”
That drew Garrett’s attention. “Almost?”
Leda laughed nervously. “Yeah, he tried to shift to protect Janna from the man at the restaurant, but all that shifted was his nose.”
“It’s not funny.” Sam pulled his hands out of his pockets, his small hands balling into fists.
“Yeah, it is.” Leda’s grin spread. “You freaked everyone in
the restaurant out.”
Garrett did his best not to laugh, but he couldn’t help it. He could only imagine the sight of this young boy trying to shift only to have his nose turn into the snout of a wolf. He threw his head back and laughed, something he hadn’t done in a long time. Seeing that his laughter wasn’t making Sam feel any better, Garrett stopped. Putting his large hand on top of the boy’s head, he knelt down so he was eye level with the boy.
“Your first shift never goes the way you think it’s going to go,” Garrett told the boy, his tone turning serious.
“It doesn’t?” Sam asked, narrowing his eyes at Leda before his attention went back to Garrett.
“No,” Garrett replied with a grin. “My brother Marcus’s first shift produced just a tail.”
Sam snorted, then laughed. “No way.”
“Yeah, but don’t tell him I told you that.” Garrett ruffled the boy’s hair. “Now, you guys head on over to Molly’s. Take your stuff with you because that’s where you’ll be staying for now.”
“The lady who gave us the food?” Sam asked, his eyes widening with hope. “So we get to stay?”
“Yeah, that’s Molly and she already has rooms ready for you both.” Garrett nodded for them to go.
Both Leda and Sam were reluctant to go, their eyes going to Janna. “But what ab…ab…about Janna?” Sam asked, his voice torn with loyalty.
“I’m going to take care of Janna,” Garrett answered before Janna could. “Now, go on. Molly usually has homemade ice cream before her young ones go to bed.”
Sam didn’t need to hear anything else. He turned to run, but stopped quickly to look at Janna. “Promise not to leave without saying bye.”
Garrett watched Janna nod with a shaky smile. “Go on before all the ice cream is gone. You’d never forgive me.”
Sam ran up to Janna and hugged her around the waist, and then was gone. Leda also looked torn by what to do. “Thanks for everything you did for me and my brother.”
Janna smiled. “We helped each other out, Leda. You take care of your brother.” When Leda just stood there, Janna nodded toward where Sam disappeared. “You better go. We both know how much that kid loves ice cream. He’ll eat your share.”
Leda went to walk away, but stopped, hugging Janna tightly before letting go quickly and running away.
Garrett watched everything closely, and those few moments told him more than anything what kind of woman Janna Lawson was. “How long have you known them?”
“Three days.” Janna continued to watch the kids until they disappeared with an older woman into a small house.
“And you trust to leave them here?” Garrett wasn’t watching Leda or Sam; he was watching her.
Janna turned toward him in surprise. “Why? Are you going to eat them?”
A grin broke out across his face. “No, but you are a little trusting.”
Janna nodded, raising her eyebrows at that. “I don’t have a choice. Anyway, in the short time I’ve been here sitting on that porch, I’ve seen the kids here and they look happy.”
Garrett nodded, glad that she was at least that observant and not just dropping a burden off, but this woman didn’t seem like that kind. She was in trouble that much he knew. “We are a close pack.”
A sadness flashed across her eyes, but then it was gone, replaced with an expressionless façade. “Thank you for taking them in.” Janna heaved the bag on her shoulder before turning to walk away.
“You’re welcome.” Garrett grabbed the bag off her shoulder before walking in the opposite direction. “But you’re going the wrong way.”
CHAPTER 4
Janna frowned, reaching for her bag, but missed. “Listen. I don’t want to be where I’m not wanted.” She hurried to catch up with him. “I’m a big girl and can take care of myself.”
“I never said you weren’t wanted. You just assumed.” Garrett tossed her bag back up on the porch they had just left before turning around. His eyes roamed down her body and back up. “And yes, you are a big girl who can take care of herself, but you are the daughter of a former alpha and will be treated as such.”
That snapped her head back in surprise, but she didn’t know if it was his gaze that raked down her body or his statement about her being the daughter of a former alpha that surprised her. “I’m nobody to anyone here,” she said, and then realized it sounded like she was feeling sorry for herself, which was far from the truth. She had her moments of ‘what the hell’, but she dealt with them on her own. “What I mean is I didn’t come here for handouts or…”
“Then what did you come here for?” Garrett tilted his head, his penetrating gaze seeing more than she wanted to share.
“The last words my mother ever spoke to me was the name of my father. Up until four weeks ago, I didn’t know. All I knew about the sperm donor….”
“Sperm donor?” Garrett grinned with a chuckle. “Never heard Jonah McCall addressed like that.”
Janna ignored him as she glanced at the house, then back to Garrett. “I want to know why he left my mother when he knew she was in danger. And he obviously knows something about the brands the bastards put on us.”
Garrett nodded deep in thought. The door opened and then slammed shut. “He’s sober.” Marcus walked across the porch looking down at Janna, hearing her last words. “Whoever branded you like that will die.”
The promise in his voice was almost overwhelming. He looked a lot like Garrett, but a little younger maybe. His hair was just as black, but buzz cut and eyes the same golden hue. They both had strong features with square jawlines. Marcus had more of a scruffy look with his five o’clock shadow. She honestly didn’t know if you thanked someone who just vowed to kill a man over something they did to you or not. She looked to Garrett as if she could find the answer, but was taken back as the same promise shown from his stare. All she could do was clear her throat with a nod.
Garrett reached for her, putting his hand on the small of her back and led her into the house. Her beast purred, surprising her. First of all, her beast never purred, and never had her beast been this close to the surface. It scared her because she knew it was a matter of time before she shifted. What if she got stuck in that form? What if she killed someone? Her mother had known a little, but not enough to tell her what to expect. Virginia Lawson only knew what she had learned from Jonah McCall, and that had been limited information that her mother never sought, just witnessed. God, she was a mess just waiting to happen.
“You okay?” Garrett was looking down at her as they stopped right inside the door of Jonah’s house.
Swallowing hard, she nodded. She could hear voices coming from the kitchen. Jonah’s voice sounded clearer, not slurred as before. “I’m fine,” she replied with a shiver as he leaned close to her.
“Don’t be afraid of who you are.” Garrett’s voice was close to her ear.
“I’m terrified of what I am,” she responded honestly, her gaze reaching his.
“I can understand that, but first things first.” Garrett nodded toward the kitchen and Janna was relieved he showed her no pity.
Stepping into the kitchen, Janna spotted Jonah who was taking long sips of what she hoped was coffee. Everyone was gone other than Garrett’s two brothers. Marcus was leaning against the kitchen counter while his other brother sat texting on his phone. His golden eyes rose to stare at her before dismissing her completely as he went back to texting. If Hunter hadn’t been introduced as one of Garrett’s brothers, she never would have guessed. His hair was a light blond with raven streaks. It was an odd combination, but worked well on the handsome brother. She could also tell he was youngest of the three.
“I’m sorry.” Jonah cleared his throat, grabbing her attention. “I haven’t been myself for quite some time.”
Janna cocked her eyebrow at that. It looked as if he had showered. His brown hair was slicked back and his clothes were different. What wasn’t different though, were his haunted eyes full of pain staring back at her.
“You ready to answer questions?” Garrett’s voice was soft, but had an edge to it as he stared at Jonah, who nodded. “How did you cross paths with Jasper Simone?”
“I was at a large council meeting in Cincinnati. All the pack leaders in the Tristate area were ordered to appear.” Jonah’s eyes went from Garrett to Janna.
“Who is Jasper Simone?” Janna asked. She wanted to know everything she could about the bastard who killed her mother.
“An enemy you don’t want to cross,” Jonah replied, leaning back in his chair while running his hand down his strained face. “He has a large pack, or at least he did. He’s a brutal leader and most follow him out of fear.”
“Does he still practice Reaping?” Garrett demanded, his voice not as soft as before.
“Yes,” Jonah answered, his eyes going to Janna. “That’s what the branding is.”
“Son of a bitch!” Garrett cursed, snapping his head back in anger. “And you never reported this to anyone?”
“No.” Jonah shook his head, looking somewhat hesitant in his answer.
“Why the hell not?” Marcus asked, his face also a mask of anger. Hunter had actually put his phone away, engrossed in what was being discussed.
“I was trying to keep her alive.” Jonah stood, grabbing his coffee cup and tossing it in the sink. “During the meeting, I kept hearing whispers about a Reaping, but I just thought it was a bunch of bullshit and didn’t take it seriously.” Jonah’s face transformed into rage, his fist tightening on the table as he shook.
Janna sat silently, listening, trying to keep up while keeping her mouth shut, which was not an easy feat. Yeah, keeping her mouth shut wasn’t something she was very good at. “What’s a Reaping?” When no one said a word, she frowned, grabbing Garrett’s arm, ignoring the pulse of electricity at their contact. “What is a Reaping?” she repeated, knowing she wasn’t going to like what she heard, but knew it had something to do with the marking she and her mother had.
Finally looking down at her, Garrett cursed again. “It’s an old practice that’s been outlawed by not only the human government, but our own kind.” He looked away to glance at his brothers, before looking back at her. “Any human who is marked will be hunted down. Once found, and they will be found, they are taken to a certain location, usually somewhere very remote. This happens on the night of a Blood Moon. The marked ones are let go. ”
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