by Jen L. Grey
"Like someone else I know." I arched an eyebrow. He’d fought our bond for almost two months. “And why am I not surprised you figured out they were mates?”
"Because, I pick up on things. And you and me, well that was different." He narrowed his eyes at me. "And you know it. I thought I was putting you in danger." He paused and held up a finger on his left hand, which was on the steering wheel. "Correction, I've put you in danger."
"Not any more than I'll be when the truth comes out, and besides, you're worth it." I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes. Even though I was better, I still got tired easily.
"Take a nap. I'll wake you up when we get home." Liam's voice was deep and comforting.
For once, I didn't mind listening to him, and I faded into sleep.
As we climbed out of Liam's car, he stepped around to my side and took my hand. "Come on, let's get you packed before we head over to my dorm. We need to sleep there tonight so we don't wake Bree up in the morning. You know how she is."
"Wait. Why am I getting packed?" I'd been avoiding thinking about him leaving me for a week and purposely had steered clear of that conversation with him. I was afraid I'd guilt him into staying, and that was the last thing I wanted to do.
"Because we travel in the morning." He arched an eyebrow at me, and then he nodded his head as if realization had sunk in. "Did you really think I would leave you behind unprotected?"
"No … I mean I was going to stay on campus and not follow anyone, especially Amber, anywhere." The thought of going with him excited me, but I didn't want him to feel obligated to take me.
"I'm not going without you." He stopped and turned my body to face him. "So if you don't want to go, say the word."
"I don't want to cause more problems between you and your father." At the end of the day, Mr. Hale was still his dad.
"Do you really think there could be anything else that got in between us?" Liam raised an eyebrow. He tries to control me. He tried to keep me from mating with you, and he hired mercenaries to kidnap you. Hell, I have no clue what their plans at the end of that fiasco were for you. He doesn't have my best interests at heart, and I'm starting to have my doubts about whether he should actually be in power. I don't trust him with you, and honestly, I don't want to go anywhere without you by my side. So are we going, or are we staying home for the week?
He won't let me on the plane. I could only imagine his reaction when I showed up.
He won't be there. That's one reason why we're going so early. Evan scheduled it with the sole purpose of you going with us. After all, we are really just following his directions. All the heirs are to go on this trip, and you are, in fact, an heir too. You need to see all this just as much as the four of us.
It would be helpful for me later, especially since I would wind up being a council member. Okay, let's go. I hadn't ever gotten to travel before, so this was exciting. Not only that, but we'd get to meet other wolves and see what kind of problems their packs had.
Good, now let's go get your stuff. He took my hand and led me inside the dorm. When we entered the room, Bree was pulling two large suitcases behind her.
"Where are you going?" Liam's forehead wrinkled as his eyes landed on the suitcases.
"I'm... uh..." Bree looked at me and cringed.
"She's going home with Nate to meet his family." He had to get over not wanting them to be together.
"Like hell she is..." He growled.
"Oh, shut it." I rolled my eyes and stepped in front of him. "He's her fated, and she has just as much right to be with him as you do with me. So stop acting like your father."
It was like he deflated right before my eyes. His shoulders sagged, and he stared at the ground. "I am, aren't I?"
"Don't you want her to be happy?" I walked over to Bree and wrapped my arm around her shoulders. "She deserves to have what we have. Do you want to keep pushing her, making her feel like you did when you were trying to reject me?"
Bree let go of one of her bags, which had been rolling behind her, and wrapped her free arm around me as well.
"God, no." He ran a hand through his short, dark hair. "Fine, go. But don't tell Dad."
"Really?" Her mouth spread into a huge smile. "I love you both so much." She pulled me into her arms and then ran over to Liam and hugged him. Her face was glowing with happiness. "Okay, I've got to go. But I'll see you next week. You two be safe." She grabbed her luggage once again and wheeled it out to the elevator, slamming the door shut behind her.
"I'm an asshole." Liam finally looked up at me. "What the hell am I doing?"
"You're trying to protect your sister." For the first time, he was starting to see things differently. It proved he was the man that I’d always saw in him.
"No, I was being my dad." He huffed and shook his head. "You hit it right on the head."
"He is who taught you right from wrong." I walked over and took his hands in mine. I lowered my head and caught his gaze. "But you're waking up and becoming your own person."
"Do you think so?" His eyes locked on mine.
I reached up and touched his cheek with my fingertips. "Of course. You let her leave with your blessing. That counts for something." I stood on my tiptoes and pressed my lips against his.
A low growl emanated from his chest. "You do realize we've got this place to ourselves and it's been close to two weeks since I've been able to touch you? Are you sure you want to be kissing me right now?"
"Most definitely." It felt like forever since he'd touched me. I kissed him again, deepening our kiss.
I don't want to hurt you. He responded to my kiss, and his fingers dug into my sides.
Maybe I want you to. I wrapped my arms around his waist and slipped my fingers along his waistline.
Even if you wanted me to, I couldn't. His hands slid down my waist, all the way to my ass. He grabbed me and pulled me flush against his hardness. I love you too much.
As long as I don't raise my arm above my shoulder, I'm good. I unbuttoned his khakis, reaching further down until I felt him.
Dammit. He reached down to pick me up in his arms before heading down the hallway and into my bedroom. He shut the door and locked it. "In case she forgot something." He laid me on the bed and unzipped his pants, removing them as well as his boxers.
I took a second to enjoy the view before he climbed over me. He began unbuttoning my shirt as his lips found mine once more. His kisses were making me dizzy. He reached underneath me and unfastened my bra, lifting me up to remove both items from my body. "Damn, you're so beautiful."
He kissed his way down my neck and stopped at my breasts, focusing on them. His teeth and tongue working their magic along my body. His hands worked gently, removing my jeans and panties until only his shirt was between us.
"Can you take off your shirt?" I hated to ask since I loved unwrapping him, but my shoulder would scream in pain, and then he wouldn’t go any further. I didn't want him to stop.
"Yeah." He sat up and removed his shirt, revealing his large, sculpted muscles underneath.
I reached out and ran my fingers over them as he lowered himself back over me.
His lips met mine again and his hand traveled downward, hitting just the right spot. Within moments, my breathing increased as the friction started to build. "It's been so long."
"Damn right it has." His mouth went back to my breasts, and the sensations inside me began magnifying.
"It's my turn." I pushed him over and climbed on top.
He scooted toward the head of the bed and propped himself up as his lips met mine again.
I started to move slow, enjoying him inside me. It wasn't long though before we both began breathing fast.
He moaned as I increased the speed, bringing us both closer to our climax. He began moving with me, and within seconds, we both released together.
I love you. His words were a whisper in my mind as I collapsed against his body. He turned so I could lie on my uninjured side and wrapped his arms around m
e.
"I'm going to take the other two to the airport. I’ll tell them you had to do something and will meet us there." Evan stood at the door to Liam’s bedroom, looking at both of us.
It was six in the morning, Liam and I were moving slow. After our round at my dorm, we came back here for a few more before we finally fell asleep only a few hours ago.
"That's the best idea." Liam zipped up his bag and laid it next to mine. "We need to be pretty much taking off before they see her; otherwise, Simon may be tempted to call his dad."
"It's not like they'd given you any choice." Evan frowned. "They'd kidnapped her in broad daylight. With you gone, they could just bust into the dorm and take her from there."
I hadn't even considered that before now, but he was right. Most everyone had gone home for the holiday. If they knew there was a chance of me staying at the dorms alone, they could take me effortlessly.
"Don't freak her out," Liam warned as he reached over and took my hand.
"I'm not trying to, but she needs to get a grasp on whom she's up against." Evan shook his head. "We all need to be vigilant. Our parents aren't exactly who we thought they were."
"No, he's right." I gave Liam a small smile. "I need to start thinking about things like that."
"See, she gets it." Evan took a step back. "Be there in thirty. Our plane leaves at six forty-five." He turned around, and within seconds, the front door opened and shut.
"Do you really think they'll handle it well?" Who was I kidding? Simon was going to lose his shit.
"It'll be fine. Otherwise, we leave." He shrugged his shoulders as if it wasn't a huge deal. "Let's go find something to eat and have you take some more Advil before we leave."
My stomach growled in response. "I guess we have burned a lot of calories."
"I'd be up for losing some more." He winked at me.
My body warmed at the thought.
"Tonight when we're settled in our hotel room." He leaned over and kissed my swollen lips. "Right now, getting you food and medicine is more important."
"Nah." I grinned at him and kissed his lips once more.
"I wouldn't be a good mate if I didn't take care of you." He kissed my cheek and grabbed both his luggage and mine.
I couldn't hide my laugh.
"What?" He arched an eyebrow.
"You have two bags compared to my one." I had enjoyed watching him pack. He couldn't decide what to take, so he started throwing everything in them.
"You have two." He pointed to my backpack that I was bringing as a carry-on.
"Yup. You got me there." I tried to keep my smile hidden, but he caught sight of it.
"Let's go eat." He shook his head and carried our bags out into the living room.
It wasn't long before we'd eaten, I'd taken my medicine, and we were heading to the airport. As we pulled into the parking lot, I couldn't help but feel anxious. I took a deep breath and climbed out of the car while Liam grabbed our bags from his trunk. As I waited, I put my backpack on.
When he headed over to me, there was a smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Where are you going?"
I pointed to the larger building of the small airport. "Right there, where they keep the planes."
"The private jets are kept over there." He motioned to the smaller one to the left.
"Oh, right." It made sense that they wouldn't take a commercial flight. "Okay."
We made our way through the building and headed to a small jet that had a stairwell built into the open door. An older woman dressed as a flight attendant stood at the door. "Mr. Hale, we were getting worried. Here, let me take care of your bags." Her brown eyes landed on me, and her eyebrows raised. "Are you bringing a friend?"
"I'll take care of the luggage, and no, this is my mate, Mia." He nodded at her as he carried the three bags up the stairs.
She startled, shaking her composure, but then smiled at me. "Go on. I'll close the door behind you." The woman took a step closer to me, and her musky scent alerted me to the fact that she was a wolf as well.
"Thank you." I climbed up the stairs to find Liam putting our bags in a storage area in the front of the plane.
"It's about damn time that you got here." Simon's obnoxious voice was like nails on a chalkboard. "I thought you might bail and stay back with your lame-ass mate."
I turned the corner and locked eyes with him. "No, the lame-ass mate is here and will be part of your tour."
"What the fuck? I should've known something was up when you didn't ride with us." Simon glanced at Liam and shook his head. "She can't go on this." He looked at Micah and Evan. "Tell him."
"Actually, I helped him, so I'm good with it." Evan shrugged as he walked past the first recliner and then a couch, to the chair on the other side, and sat.
"Dude, she saved my life. I'm fine with her being here." Micah moved and sat on the first chair directly across from Evan.
I couldn't believe how nice this aircraft was. The colors were from Wolf Moon Academy. The leather couch and recliners were silver and the carpet was blood-red. A dark cherry coffee table sat in the center just like it was a living room back home.
Past those chairs was another set of recliners sitting across from one another. There was even a desk next to it like it was a working area.
"Has everyone here lost their damn mind?" Simon glanced from one heir to the other until his eyes landed back on me. "You're ruining everything. If they see her with us, they’re going to ask questions. Our dads will find out."
"Let me make it clear. She goes or I leave." Liam got in Simon's face and narrowed his eyes. "I'm tired of your shit and am looking for any excuse to beat your ass after what you did to Max."
"To who?" Simon's brow furrowed.
"My brother," I said the words loud and slow just to make sure the idiot understood me.
"Oh, that was so two or three weeks ago." Simon laughed. "You can't still be upset over that."
"Actually, she can be, and dammit, I am too. You purposely hurt her in the worst way, and you damn well know it. So what's it going to be, Simon?" Liam crossed his arms. "Are you going to stand down and let this plane take off like it should, or are you going to call your father? If it's the latter, Mia and I will march off this plane and go back home."
Simon growled as he glared at me. “Forget this shit.”
He pulled out his phone, but right before he could hit send, Liam rushed him. He twisted Simon’s arm, causing him to drop his phone.
“What the hell, man?” Simon spun around, shoving Liam off him with another hand. “That’s not fucking cool.” He reached for his phone.
Before he could get it, Evan wrapped an arm around his neck, putting him in a chokehold.
“Dude, it’s one thing to be supportive of her, but you’re hurting one of our own.” Micah’s eyes flickered back and forth from Simon to Evan.
“You weren’t worth the bullet she took for you,” Liam growled as he shoved Micah hard.
“Whoa, wait.” Micah ran his hands through his short, dark hair. “I’m fine with her coming. I just think everyone is going too far.”
I had to agree with that, but the more I was around Simon, the more unstable I realized he truly was. He had no remorse for what he did to my brother. To him, it was just a normal daily occurrence.
“I don’t think we’ve gone far enough.” Liam arched an eyebrow. “Unfortunately, there are sides now, and you’d better figure out which one you’re on. Being in the middle just aggravates him …” Liam said as he pointed at Simon, “further.”
Evan tightened his grip around Simon’s neck. “Are you going to be a dumbass or finally agree?”
Simon’s face was turning a shade pale as he struggled to breathe. He waited a few more seconds before he nodded his head.
“Good.” Evan released him and snatched the phone off the ground. “Now, I’m taking your cell phone. We don’t need you texting your father.”
He crumpled on the floor and took in a few deep breaths.
His hate-filled eyes looked up and locked on me. "Fine, but the first mistake she makes, she's gone."
"That's fine." Liam nodded his head. "If she makes a mistake, she and I will head home without arguing."
Simon huffed and glared at Liam. "I hope she's worth it." He spun on his heel and headed to the seats in the back.
I wasn't sure if I should be relieved or more worried. He was crazy, and I never knew what to expect from him. I knew one thing for sure… this trip wasn't going to be boring.
Chapter Twelve
The entire plane ride, Liam and I sat on the couch beside each other with Micah and Evan sitting on the recliners next to us. Simon refused to join us and stayed in the back, watching some show.
Where are we going? I just realized I had no clue how many stops we were making and what we were going to do on each of them. I laid my head on Liam's shoulder.
First stop is New York, so Evan will be front and center. Liam kissed the top of my head. We'll meet with the regional alpha there and take a tour of some of the shifter owned businesses.
"Wait... Isn't that Robyn girl the daughter of the eastern regional alpha?" I disliked that girl with a flaming passion. Her quickly agreeing to soak my clothes in skunk smell in an attempt to get close to the heirs had left me with a bitter taste in my mouth. Her constant snide remarks didn't make it any better either.
"If you think she's bad, wait until you meet her father." Evan shook his head and rolled his eyes. "There is a reason why my dad made me tough."
"Fat lot of good it did you," Simon said as he glanced from the television. "You've sided with Liam over a girl that's a nobody. If that doesn't show you're weak, I don't know what else will. You three are making a huge mistake letting her tag along."
"Other than my dad only being a pack alpha, what is your problem with me?" I hated the tension that was so thick in the cabin. It felt as if it was suffocating me.
"Oh, you think there is only one?" Simon's deep chuckle sounded crazed. "I've got a whole fucking list."