ChasingCassie

by Lorna Jean Roberts

  Cassie forced herself to stay still, not dropping her gaze. She wasn’t going to show any submission to this werewolf. Something that may have been surprise flickered across his face. It passed so fast she wasn’t sure whether she’d imagined it or not.

  “No.”

  “No?” Jay’s hand covered hers. “No, what? What’s going on?”

  “Nothing,” Ryan snapped.

  “Your brother told me to leave you. He doesn’t think I’m good enough for you. I disagree.” She didn’t take her eyes off Ryan, determined not to give in. “I’m not easily scared off. I love Jay. I deserve him. And I’m not going to let anyone, including you, scare me away. Got it?”

  Ryan glared back until she figured they were going to be stuck there forever, staring at each other. Either that or he’d growl at her. Her insides quivered.

  “What, exactly, did he say to you?” Jay asked quietly.

  “It was a private conversation,” Ryan interjected, his voice a low growl. She stood her ground. She knew Jay wouldn’t let him hurt her.

  “That if I loved you, I’d leave you, let you find someone who deserved you. He even offered to set me up somewhere else.”

  “Boy, what a jerk,” Ella remarked, her voice scornful. “You should be thankful Jay found someone as kind, generous and lovely as Cassie.”

  Ryan glared at Ella until she paled slightly and turned away. “I was simply trying to convince her to do what’s best for both of you.”

  Jay let out a low, lethal growl and she saw both men tense, ready to fight.

  “Jay!” she exclaimed sharply, relieved when his eyes turned her way. They were shining, glittering—the wolf was close to the surface. He visibly shook himself before turning back to his brother.

  Cassie took a deep breath. “I’m not going, no matter what you do, I won’t leave him.”

  “Let’s go somewhere private for this, shall we?” Ryan looked over at Jay. “Alone.”

  Cassie swallowed. “I’ll just—”

  “Lead us to somewhere private,” Jay interrupted her. He glared at Ryan. “This concerns Cassie as well. I’m not having this conversation without her.”

  Cassie sent him a small smile before turning and walking through the kitchen into the large storeroom.

  Ryan closed the door and leaned back against it, scowling at them.

  “Do you want me to come back to the pack, Rye?” Jay asked.

  “Of course I do, it’s your home, where you belong. Why? Is she trying to convince you not to come back?”

  “Stop assigning her the role of the bad guy, Rye. I love Cassie. I intend to spend the rest of my life with her.”

  “What about what Cassie wants?” Ryan turned to her. “You’ll be an outsider. There are no other humans living on the estate. You’ll be different from everyone else. The majority of the pack have never lived with a human. They won’t like it, they won’t like you. At best, you’ll be treated as a guest. At worst, you’ll be ostracized. Is that really what you want?”

  Actually, it sounded awful, to be excluded, ignored…that wasn’t how she wanted to live her life anymore. But this was Jay’s home they were talking about and she would try to live there, for him. Besides, she was determined to make an effort, not to hide herself away. They’d just have to accept her. She held her shoulders straight and stared Ryan right in the eyes.

  “They’ll have to get used to living with a human, won’t they? We’re actually not that bad, once you get to know us. We’re toilet-trained, we don’t smell and most of us have good manners. Can you say the same?”

  Jay stepped slightly in front of her as Ryan’s eyes flashed amber.

  “There’s no way I would allow Cassie to be treated so poorly.”

  Ryan’s gaze moved off her to focus in on Jay, and Cassie shivered with relief. Ryan was truly scary.

  “So you won’t be bringing her back?”

  “No, I will be. But we won’t be staying if the pack treats her so badly. I won’t live with a pack who would treat my mate like that.”

  Cassie stared at Jay’s back, tears welling up at his words.

  “They won’t know how to treat her. She has no place in the pack. Even if they make the effort to be polite, to be respectful, she’ll have no role, no contribution. Is that what you want for her?”

  “No, not at all, which is why I spoke to Cooper. He’s agreed to let us petition the advisors, asking for Cassie to be accepted as an honorary packmate.”

  Ryan gaped at him, stunned. Cassie had to resist asking him what the hell he was talking about. She’d wait until later, when they were alone.

  “You’ll never win the vote.”

  Jay shrugged. “If we don’t, then we’ll see how things go. But if Cassie dislikes living in the pack, brother, if she’s treated with anything less than the respect and warmth she deserves, then we will leave. Cassie is willing to try to live with the pack to make me happy, how can I do anything less?”

  “You owe your loyalty to the pack,” Ryan rumbled.

  “Yes, and other than one lapse in judgment years ago, I have always done my best, given my all. But Cassie is my mate, she comes first.”

  “But she’s not your true mate, she isn’t a werewolf. I thought you would have learned your lesson after Lia.”

  “Cassie isn’t Lia.”

  “You’d leave your pack, your family for her?”

  “In a heartbeat.” Jay sighed. “Enough. You won’t ever understand. I think it’s best we say our goodbyes now, you’re needed back home.”

  Ryan shook his head and left, closing the door behind him.

  Cassie immediately jumped into Jay’s arms.

  “Thank you,” she murmured.

  He ran his hands down her back. “For what?”

  “For sticking up for me like that.”

  “I will always have your back.” He grinned. “I can’t believe you told Rye off. You know, he’s not used to people speaking to him that way, especially not a human.”

  She gulped. “Is he really mad?”

  “Yeah, but don’t worry. He knows where I stand now.”

  “But wouldn’t he have sensed your lie? About leaving the pack?”

  He began kissing down her neck and she clasped his shoulders, leaning into him. “No, because it wasn’t a lie.” He cupped her face. “If you don’t like living with my pack then we’ll leave.”

  He kissed her deeply—long, slow and sweet. When he drew back, she gazed up at him, astounded.

  “Y-you mean that? You’d give up living with the pack, your family, for me?”

  “Yes. I love you. You’re willing to live with the pack, even though you’re afraid and unsure, how could I be willing to sacrifice anything less?”

  “But what about you? They’re your family, you wouldn’t be happy living apart from them.”

  “Yes, I would. Because I’d be with you. I will not have you treated as anything less than the wonderful person you are. Yes, they’re my family and I will miss them. But I cannot live without you. If you wish it, we’ll go somewhere else. You come first, baby, and you always will.”

  Her insides melted and she took his mouth in a rough, scorching kiss.

  “God, I love you. So much.”

  He clasped her face, staring intently into her eyes. Reaching into his front pocket, he withdrew a small ring box. “Cassidy Callington, I love you. Will you marry me?” He flicked open the lid and she gasped. Inside was the hugest, ugliest ring she’d ever seen.

  “It looks like something out of a Cracker Jack box,” she blurted out, slamming a hand over her mouth as she realized how rude that sounded.

  He merely chuckled. “Not quite, it’s from a junk shop. There’s no jewelry store here. The ring box, Ella provided and, well, I hope you’re not too disappointed. I’ll get you a real one when I can. But if you agree to marry me, I want everyone to know you’re mine. I don’t want to wait.”

  “Even though Ryan was right and I can never be your true mate? Neve
r have that bond?” Laney had once explained the true mate bond to her as a linking of souls. Cooper and Laney could communicate through their link. Sense one another’s feelings and thoughts. It sounded…magical.

  He clasped her face firmly. “You are my life. We have a tie just as strong, just as real and special. And I know that both of us will fight to keep what we have. Marry me, Cassie. I’ll love you for eternity. No matter where we are or what we do, you’ll always be in my mind and filling my heart.”

  Tears welled in her eyes, blurring his face, but the intensity of his feelings still shone through. She reached for his hand. “That’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard. Sometimes I can’t quite believe that you really love me. I get this shock when I realize this is all real, not a dream.” She held out her left hand. “I would love to marry you.”

  “Thank God,” he whispered before leaning down to kiss her lovingly. Then he placed the garish ring on her finger as tears escaped down her cheeks.

  “Hey, no crying. The big, bad wolf is gone now. He can’t hurt you anymore.” He wiped her cheeks with his thumbs.

  “It’s not that, I wouldn’t waste tears on him. These are happy tears.”

  “Ahh.” He grinned. “Well, good.”

  He took her mouth with his, his hands almost shaking as he began stripping her shirt off.

  “Jay,” she whispered, trying to sound stern. She grabbed his hands. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  He grinned, devilish glee filling his face. “I’ve always longed to have sex in a storeroom, haven’t you?”

  She blushed. “Someone will hear us,” she protested, but didn’t stop him as he undid her jeans, pushing them and her panties down her legs, tugging them completely off her.

  “Then you’ll have to be very quiet, won’t you?” he whispered as he cupped her breasts. His thumbs circled her nipples until they strained against the lacy bra confining them.

  She whimpered.

  “Shh now, baby.”

  She watched as he tugged his jeans and boxers down. Yum. It didn’t matter how often she saw him naked, he still had the power to leave her breathless and aching.

  “Hmm, aching?”

  She blushed, realizing she’d spoken aloud.

  “Poor baby, shall I kiss it and make it all better?” He began kissing down her jaw.

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Does it hurt here?” He kissed the sensitive crease between her neck and shoulder.

  “Umm,” she moaned as he reached down and cupped her mound, teasing her.

  “What about here?” His mouth moved to her collarbone.

  “Y-yes.”

  “What about here? Are these hurting, my love?” His free hand cupped her left breast, holding it up so he could kiss her nipple through her bra. She whimpered as her other nipple received the same treatment.

  “Hmm, these seem very sore, my love, let me kiss them all better.”

  “Oh yes.”

  He showered her breasts with attention as she bit her lip to hold in her cries.

  Suddenly, she found herself turned, facing the wall. Jay pushed on her shoulders.

  “Bend over. Place your hands on that crate.”

  She did as he ordered, reaching down to rest her hands on the wooden crate before her. Jay moved her feet apart, splitting her legs wide.

  “Hurry up, before someone comes in to get something.”

  “Yes ma’am.” His legs brushed up against the back of her thighs before he entered her slowly, pushing inside her, filling her bit by delicious bit.

  Once he was fully seated within her, he paused, letting them both get used to the heavenly delight. Then he moved.

  Hard. Fast. Explosive.

  He held her hips, keeping her still as he drove her higher with each deep plunge. She clenched her teeth, fighting back orgasm, trying to hold on to some semblance of control. But it was useless. He was never going to let her hold back from him. Ripples of release slammed through her, stealing her breath, robbing her mind.

  Jay lifted her so her feet were completely off the ground. She forgot where she was, forgot about remaining quiet as he drove into her again and again. Then Jay slammed into her, stiffening, letting out a low groan of satisfaction.

  Breathless, Cassie would have collapsed if he weren’t still holding her up.

  “Wow,” she panted.

  “Yeah,” he replied, equally as breathless.

  She wiggled in his hold until he set her down. Turning, she sat on the crate, yelping as the rough wood scraped the tender skin of her bottom. She jumped back up and tugged on her jeans.

  “How loud were we?” she asked, blushing.

  Jay chuckled. “I wasn’t loud at all. You were the one screaming.”

  “Oh Lord.” She covered her face with her hands. “I can’t go back out there.”

  He tugged her hands from her face before leaning in and kissing her. A leisurely, tender kiss that had her toes curling. She swayed as he let her go.

  “You’re braver than you give yourself credit for. Not many would stand up to my brother. If you can do that, then you can easily go back out there and finish your shift.”

  She smiled at him. “I guess you’re right.”

  “I know I am.” He turned and gave her a small push.

  “Get moving, wench.”

  Chapter Twelve

  “Oh man, that was the longest shift ever,” Cassie complained as they climbed into bed that night. “Was it my imagination or was everyone staring at us?”

  “Your imagination. Well, mostly.” He winked at her and she blushed.

  “Jay, what were you talking about when you told Ryan about petitioning advisors?”

  “I’d like to petition the pack advisors for you to be accepted as a full packmate. It means you’d truly be part of the pack, included in everything, be allowed a voice, be able to contribute.”

  “So who are these advisors? And why did you never mention this to me?”

  “Well, we have a temporary setup at the moment, with the enforcers acting as the advisors, Laney too. When Cooper took over the pack, he got rid of any advisors Zachary used. They were corrupt, evil.”

  “So Cooper doesn’t vote?”

  “Well, yeah, he can have the final vote if necessary, but he generally only votes if there’s a tie.”

  “Great, that’s great.”

  “Don’t worry, everything will be all right. We’ll win, I know we will. I didn’t tell you because I had to check with Cooper first. I didn’t want to get your hopes up in case he said no. It’s up to you, though. We don’t have to go back to the pack at all. We can join another pack.”

  When he’d declared that he was willing to leave the pack for her, she’d felt a weight shift from her. Despite his reassurances, she’d still been worried about living with the pack. That she wouldn’t measure up, that she wouldn’t fit in. She’d never have let on, of course, would never have made him choose.

  But to know he’d choose her—it was everything.

  He rolled onto his side, resting his head on his hand as he peered down at her.

  “You have a family, Jay, a family who love you. I’d kill to have that. I’m not going to let you simply throw that away. I trust you. I trust that you’ll always be there for me. If I’m miserable or unhappy, I know that we can work together to fix it. I haven’t changed my mind. I’d still like to try to live with your pack. Let’s petition the advisors and see where things go from there.”

  “God, you’re amazing.”

  She sighed. “If only there was some way you could change me into a werewolf, I’d do it in a heartbeat.”

  He gazed at her silently before leaning down and taking her mouth in a kiss so intense he almost swallowed her whole. When he pulled back, she leaned forward, trying to recapture the oblivion of that kiss. It took her a while to realize he was talking.

  “That is…the most selfless thing anyone has ever offered to do for me. You amaze me, Cassie. Thank you.”r />
  “I was serious. If I could, I would.” She stared at him, wondering why he couldn’t meet her eyes. “But there’s no way, is there? Werewolves can’t change humans.”

  “Baby, even if I was allowed to change you, I would never put you through that.”

  She frowned. “Wait, what do you mean, allowed? It’s impossible, isn’t it?”

  “Not impossible, just dangerous and forbidden. See, when the packs came out, the Alphas all had to swear that they would never allow a human to be changed. It’s a law that is policed by the packs, and it means instant death for the werewolf who breaks it.” He swept his hand over her hair.

  “Apparently it’s very traumatic, with few successes. I wouldn’t risk your life to change you. There’s no reason for it. We can still do anything we desire with you as a human.” He placed a hand on her stomach. “Including having children.”

  She took a deep breath.

  “I never thought about having children.”

  “I’ve thought of it,” he said huskily. “I’ve dreamed of you pregnant with our child. And none of our children will ever feel alone or abandoned or rejected or worried that they don’t have their parents’ love.”

  “How many kids are we talking about here?”

  “Oh, dozens.” He grinned. “Much as my brothers annoyed me growing up, I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”

  Cassie bit at her lower lip. “Hmm, speaking of siblings, it turns out I may not be an only child.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Are there other, umm, beings like you?”

  “There’s no one like me.” He smacked a kiss against her lips, laughing as she took a fake swing at his head.

  “I don’t mean that. I mean, are there other beings besides werewolves?”

  He stilled. “Why would you ask that?”

  “There’s something I haven’t told you.”

  He didn’t speak, but his eyebrows rose.

  “After my talk with Ryan, this guy sort of, well, appeared. I’ve met him twice before. His name’s Brynn. He introduced himself when I first got here, but when Josh arrived he disappeared. Josh never saw him and I didn’t think I would see him again. Then he appeared again this afternoon after I left you tied to the bed. Anyway, he turned up again after Ryan had given me his little spiel about how I should leave you. It was really weird. He was giving me advice on what to do. He told me I had to stand up to Ryan or your brother would walk all over me.”