by V. Vaughn
He laughs, and when I pout, he says, “C’mon. A human girl, no matter how badass, isn’t going to be able to get past warriors to kill an alpha, let alone four of them. Actually—” He holds up his hand and lifts fingers to count.
“Yeah, yeah,” I say. “I know there are a lot more than four, considering the alphas in line for the position. But maybe there are more people than Josie involved. What if she’s just a spy and the assassin stuff is supposed to help her stay safe?”
Trent leans forward and kisses me slowly, seductively, and I lose myself in it for a moment before pulling away. He trails a finger down over my breast. “Darling, if she’s a spy she’s not going to get far.”
He rubs his thumb over my nipple, making delicious sensations travel through my body, and I let out a small moan of pleasure. A gasp escapes my lips when he moves to suckle me, and now my insides are trembling with a fiery hot need like nothing I’ve ever experienced. My new werebear senses let me feel so much more. I mewl as my eyelids flutter shut, and desire washes over me like a tidal wave.
I lie back on the bed, because he’s right, Josie’s evil plan can wait. I reach for Trent’s cock when he climbs over me and slides his hand between my legs. I arch up when he strokes my folds and cry out when he thrusts two fingers into my channel.
“God, you’re sexy like this,” Trent says as he looks down at me.
I smile as I rock my hips, and the sheets wad up in my hands when I let go of him to grab on from the force of my orgasm as it slams into me. Pure bliss drowns me with its intensity, and I writhe beneath him.
“That’s it, darling,” he says as he continues to pump his fingers in and out of me, rubbing my g-spot. I’m quaking as my climax keeps rolling through me, and the sensations overwhelm me to the point that I gasp and push at his arm to stop. Trent grabs my hands and pulls them up above my head to press them against the pillow.
I squirm beneath him as if I’m trying to get loose, but my smile tells him I’m not. I want him to dominate me and share in the ecstasy I’m feeling. “Take me, my mate.”
He pumps his eyebrows at me as he enters me slowly, and I lift my hips to take him deeper. “Fill me,” I beg, wanting more. He sinks further, and I wrap my legs around his waist. My entire being is lit up like a live wire, and Trent makes sparks between us with each thrust. He causes tiny embers of pleasure to build to the point where I can’t contain it, and I scream out when an orgasm takes me on a wild ride beyond any I’ve known before.
Trent’s release follows mine, and my heart is beating hard against my chest when he collapses on top of me, panting with his exertion. We lay together quietly, breathing deeply as we let our bodies recover.
Once we’ve caught our breath, he lifts up to grin at me. “Not bad, huh?”
I chuckle at his cocky attitude. “It was amazing. You’re amazing, darling.”
“So are you.” He leans down to tweak one of my nipples with his teeth. “Give me a minute and I’ll give you more.”
Trent begins to flutter kisses down my stomach, and I moan as passion begins to burn in me again, but the image of Josie with a gun flashes in my mind, ruining it. I grab his head to halt him.
“Doesn’t that feel good?” He waggles his eyebrows. “Or am I too much for you?”
I roll my eyes at him before getting serious. “I can’t stop thinking about Josie.”
He lifts up to look at me. “Really?”
“Really.”
He lets out a sigh and sits up. “Fine. I’m on board with figuring out what’s up with that girl so you can let this whole thing go. What do you want to do?”
I consider his question. I haven’t seen Josie for a couple days, although I did get a lame text from her sometime last night during my change that said her phone was dead and that’s why she hadn’t replied. But I recall the last time I was in my dorm room her laundry pile was practically growing things as if she hadn’t been there for a while, and I wonder if she’s telling me the truth.
I shake my head at myself because I’m probably overreacting. But it doesn’t stop fear from prickling along my spine. “I need to see her,” I say. Because I have a sinking feeling that, no matter who Josie really is, she’s in trouble.
Four
Audrey
“You look lovely,” my mother says when I walk into her bedroom. Because we’re going to see my grandmother to discuss the newest member of her clan, I decided to wear a skirt. Grandmother is old school and appreciates formal meetings, even with her family.
“Thanks.” But even though I look presentable for my grandmother, I’m not sure if she’s going to think my theory about Madison and Josie is solid. “I hope Grandmother doesn’t think we’re wasting her time.”
“She won’t. She loves spending time with you. With us. If anything, she’ll mention how we don’t visit enough.”
I smile at my mother, who looks pretty too. She’s wearing dress slacks with a teal blue silk blouse that makes her eyes more vibrant than usual. “I love that color on you. And your hair looks nice.” My mother started coloring it recently to cover up the gray, and she went with a lighter shade of her naturally brown hair.
“Thanks.” She grabs her purse off her bureau. “Ready?”
I nod, and we make our way out of the house and climb into her SUV to drive over to my grandparents’ house. When we enter the large Colonial-style home, we’re greeted by my grandfather. “Ladies, what a pleasure,” he says as he kisses both of us on the cheeks. He holds my hands in his smooth, cool fingers. “My heart still can’t get over how much you’ve grown up, my dear. You were supposed to stay little forever.”
I chuckle with him as he leads us into the study where we find my grandmother. “Girls,” she says to us. I suspect the term is her way of showing alpha dominance over both of us.
“Hello, Grandmother.” I step forward to kiss her.
“Mom,” my mother says as she does the same, “you look well.”
“I am, thank you, Carly. Audrey, have you heard that your grandfather and I took up yoga?”
I smile, picturing her looking over her reading glasses and telling my grandfather that was what they were going to do. “I think it’s great.” I wink at my grandfather. “Have you found your chi yet?”
His eyes dance with laughter. “I’m still looking for my keys.”
“And your phone, too,” my grandmother says with a little mischief in her voice as well. Louise, their housekeeper, enters the study with a tea tray.
I notice a plate of shortbread cookies when the older woman sets the tray down with a thud. Once she leaves, we all help ourselves to tea, and my mother asks, “How did Madison’s change go?”
“I hear it went quite well.” My grandmother lifts her cup of tea to sip on it. “She’s even shifting without trouble.”
“That’s a relief,” I say. “Madison is actually the reason we came to see you.”
“Do you know the girl?” Grandmother asks.
I shake my head. “I know her college roommate, who is also a half.”
My grandmother’s eyes widen, and her teacup clatters in its saucer. “Curious.”
“Yes,” my mother says. “Josie, the other woman who is Max’s true mate, told him her roommate was a half. We assume she’s talking about Madison.”
I add, “And she knew what Madison was. Even if it’s not Madison she was referring to, doesn’t it seem odd that two halves would end up roommates here? In the midst of one of the largest concentrations of werebear in the country?”
“It most certainly does. What do we know about Josie?”
I look at my mother, who has questioned Josie and likely left out a few details to spare my feelings. She says, “She claims she came to Maine to find her birth father, and that when she ran into Max at a diner, she felt a connection she knew must mean they were true mates.” Mom glances at me. “She tracked him down by his license plate. He was driving Audrey’s car back to Maine, and she showed up at our house looking for him
.”
Jealousy is burning in me when I recall the nerve of Josie, but I nod for my mother to continue giving my grandmother information. Mom says, “She was turned away, so she snuck back onto our land where she hid in a tree and was later discovered by our warriors.”
“Determined young woman,” my grandfather says before he sips on his tea.
I offer up the part that makes me look bad. “She knows a lot about us. We’re pretty sure she witnessed my power when I saved Max by lifting an entire river of water.”
“Yes.” My grandmother smiles but it’s not a happy one, and guilt swirls in my gut. “I heard about that incident.”
“Yeah, not one of my finer moments,” I say.
“On the contrary my dear.” Sadness fills her eyes. “We’ve all done foolish things for the person we love more than anything.” She looks at my mother with an expression that’s full of sorrow and perhaps regret, and I wonder if she’s thinking about the human man who was my mother’s father. “I’m sure Max is grateful.”
My grandfather says, “I heard it was impressive display. You’re going to be a fierce Robichaux alpha one day.”
Even though I’m a Le Roux clan member, the fact that my parents are both alphas means that two of their oldest children are alphas too. My triplet brother Everett is next in line to become the Le Roux alpha, and I’m second, after my mother, to become the leader of the Robichaux.
“We also know that destiny sent Max here for more than Audrey,” says my mother. “We believe Josie and Madison may play a part in it.”
My grandfather picks up the plate of cookies and holds it out toward me. “I imagine it must be hard having your true mate torn between you and another woman.”
“It is.” I take two cookies. “Especially since she’s living in the dorm because we can’t trust her enough to let her leave.”
“The interesting thing about this girl is her physical abilities,” my mother says as she takes the cookies Grandfather offers. “She’s as fit as our warriors and seems almost as fearless.”
I recall Max telling us about how intense she was playing bean bag toss. And how spot-on her aim was. “She’s had training of some sort. Almost like she’s a spy.”
“Is that what you suspect?” asks my grandfather with a frown.
“I know it sounds a little crazy,” I say.
My mother says, “But we have concerns, and we’d like to rule out the theory.”
“I see,” Grandmother says. “You want to question Madison?”
“Befriend her,” I say. “Perhaps as the alpha’s granddaughter, I could welcome her to the clan and help her acclimate. I did spend a whole year in the human population.”
“So you did.” My grandmother chuckles. “I’ve been meaning to ask you if the bakery near the park in Venice Beach is still there. The one with the bear claws that are almost as good as your mother’s.”
I blink in surprise. My mother was a half, and while I knew that my grandmother had fallen in love with her human father, a tattoo artist, for some reason I’d thought their affair had happened in Maine. “The Cookie Jar?”
“That’s the one.” Grandmother smiles and reaches over to place her hand on my grandfather’s. “It’s funny the little things you remember about the past.”
I’d love to ask more, but I suspect that my grandfather would appreciate it if I didn’t reminisce about the man his wife used to love. “It’s nice to be home. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere but Maine.”
“I agree,” he says as he leans forward. “Now tell me more about this spy business. I’m intrigued.”
“It’s just a hunch but one I feel obligated to pursue.” I look at my grandmother.
“Very well, I don’t see any harm in you spending time with Madison.” She sighs as she lifts her cup of tea. “But I dare say she’s not a spy. Clever, I’m sure, but I suspect her talents are best suited for things like children’s birthday parties and Halloween costumes.”
“That sounds like the perfect cover to me.” My grandfather gives me a sly smile. “Let me know if I can help smoke her out.”
If my grandmother was the type to roll her eyes, she probably would. But she changes the subject instead, and we move on to her updating us about the Robichaux clan happenings. I listen, but not carefully. I’m plotting how to get Madison talking in a natural way, because this is my chance to make sure Josie is going down, one way or another.
Five
Madison
My future mother-in-law is a dream come true as well as an inspiration. “My goodness,” I say to Livy as I look around the backyard of Trent’s family home. A large grill is ready to sizzle with steaks and fish, while lobster await their plunge into a large vat of steaming water. A long table is covered with various forms of salads and salty snacks. Numerous buckets full of ice contain beer, wine, hard seltzer and soft drinks, and five large picnic tables are set up for eating.
It took Trent, his father John, Livy, and me most of the day to set everything up. And now that we’re done, showered, and awaiting guests, I’m beginning to get nervous. I ask, “How many people are coming again?”
Livy giggles with her excitement. “The entire clan.”
My stomach drops and my palms dampen.
John comes to stand beside us and says, “Not all of them will show, but it’s been a while since we’ve had a new clan member to celebrate. We werebear love a reason to party.”
Trent has come to join us, and he puts an arm around my waist. “You’re in for a treat. If you think frat parties get wild, wait until you see what werebear do.”
“I’m a little afraid to find out.”
“Don’t be,” Livy says. “Everyone is excited to meet you, and it will be fun.” She touches her son’s arm. “Trent, honey, go get Maddy a glass of wine to settle her nerves.”
John walks over to man the grill, and Livy says, “You’re going to meet a lot of people today, but don’t worry about remembering names. Everyone understands.” She hunches up her shoulders and lets out a little squeal like a teenager. “I just love a party, don’t you?”
I chuckle at Livy, because I actually do get what she means. I think it’s fun to plan an event and set things up for friends and family, too. “I do. Where on earth did you find the adorable bear-themed plates and napkins?”
“Oh, there’s this great little place—”
“Thank god my mother is finally going to get the daughter she deserves,” a woman says.
I turn to see she has the same dark shade of hair as Trent as she heads our way. She holds out a glass of wine to me. “I’m Trent’s twin, Tracy. Say that three times fast.”
She must have just arrived from Brunswick, Maine, where she’s going to Bowdoin college. I smile and take my wine. “Thanks. It’s nice to meet you. I swear Trent has only told me good things about you.”
She scoffs. “I doubt that, but chances are good what he told you is true.” She winks at me. “I’m the trouble of the family.”
I smile at her, and she looks around. “Mom, you outdid yourself, and Trent tells me it’s because you have Madison to help.” She puts an arm around my shoulders and whispers, even though Livy can hear her. “Thank you. I’ll forever be indebted to you for this, because now you can plan my mother’s birthday party until the day she dies.”
I chuckle. “I’d be delighted to have the chance.”
“Don’t think you’re off the hook,” Livy says to her daughter. “I saved a job for you. Come with me.”
The two women leave me standing alone, and I wander over to double-check on the salads. I snatch a noodle from a pasta salad and chew on it as I think about Josie. As much as I’d wanted to see her yesterday to make sure she’s okay, I only managed to send a text before Livy grabbed me and Trent for breakfast and a day full of errands as we prepared for tonight’s party. Today was about setting up and decorating, and I could hardly beg off to go to my dorm room considering the whole purpose of the event is to welcome me to the
clan.
I have checked my phone a hundred times, hoping to see a reply to my latest text asking Josie if we could meet for coffee and catch up with each other. Unfortunately, I haven’t heard a peep back from her, and I’m even more worried than I was before. It could be that Josie’s mad at me for disappearing on her, but she’s not the sensitive type so I don’t think that’s it. Especially since I can’t get my vision of her on the gun range out of my mind. It was unsettling, and I fear those men might still be in her life in some way. I let out a sigh because there isn’t much I can do. My party is going to go well into the night, and meeting up with my roommate is going to have to wait until tomorrow.
I walk over to John and ask, “Is there anything you need?”
“No, I think I’m all set.” He gives me a kind smile. “How are you doing? Are you ready for this?”
I smile back. “It feels a little strange to be the center of attention.”
“You’ll be fine. Like I said, while people do want to meet you, they’re also coming for the excuse to eat, drink, and carry on.”
“Maddy, hon!” Livy calls from the house as she walks through the French doors with an older couple. “Your first guests are here. Come meet the Tibbetts.”
It doesn’t take long until the backyard is full of people and my head is swimming with names and information I can’t possibly remember. Trent pulls me away from a group to sit and eat before things get too crazy. I have a mouthful of juicy steak when I notice the volume of voices goes down, and I turn toward the house to see what might be causing it to happen.
Marion Robichaux and a younger woman have come through the doors. Clearly, the alpha has the same effect on her other clan members as she does on me. She and her companion walk through the partygoers, pausing to greet the people who stop them as they head toward me. I gulp down my mouthful of food and wipe my hands before I stand up to greet her.