CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER TEN

Walking Jesse to the front door, Harley asked him, “You leaving with Nick soon?”

“Yes,” he replied. “Hopefully Hector’s old Alpha will have something interesting to tell us.” Even though he’d be back by the evening, he’d miss her. Miss her humor, her smile, her scent, and that sense of whimsy that warmed his life. “Any plans of your own for today?”

“I’m hoping to finish the book I started yesterday.”

When she said no more, Jesse arched a brow. “Nothing else?”

“Nope.” Reading would be quite enough to get Harley through the hours alone. She’d also practice the violin later while she wouldn’t have an audience. She didn’t like to practice in front of people. Refining and reconnecting with her craft was an intensely personal process.

“No baking at all?”

The hint made her roll her eyes. “What is it you want me to make?”

“It would be good if you could make more cinnamon twists.”

She released a long, suffering sigh. He was so spoiled. “Fine.”

Satisfied, Jesse nodded. “We’re visiting Tess tomorrow, right?”

“Right.”

“Do you think she’ll approve of our mating?”

“She will if she thinks I’m happy.”

“Are you?” he asked carefully.

She pretended to think about it, and then she was squealing because he threw her over his shoulder and spanked her ass. Spanked. Her. Ass. Twice. She bit him hard and pounded his back with her fists, but he just laughed. Bastard.

Chest rumbling with laughter, Jesse put her down and kissed her hard. She literally shoved him out of the lodge, which just seemed to make him even more amused. Alone, she settled at the reading nook. Forty minutes. She got forty minutes of peace before there were light knocks on the door and two pups yelled her name, giggling. It was ironic that Jesse worried Harley would be lonely; she rarely had any time to herself.

The moment she opened the door, the two pups rushed inside, telling her all about their brand-new coloring books. Shaya, Ally, and Roni followed them into the lodge, looking at the pups with affectionate exasperation.

“Why don’t you two girls sit at the big table while you color your books,” proposed Shaya, ushering them into the dining area.

As Harley closed the front door, Ally said, “We were going to leave them with Kathy, but once they heard we were coming here, they begged to come along. They said it smells good here. I’m assuming they mean because it always smells like a bakery.”

Roni pulled her lollipop out of her mouth. “We came to talk about the club. Ally told us you’re hoping to buy it.”

Unable to tell by their expressions whether or not they were going to back her on it, Harley simply gestured for them to sit on the sofa and said, “All right. Who wants coffee?” Once everyone had a drink, Harley settled in the rocker.

“So, about the club,” said Shaya.

Harley sighed. “Nick’s not gonna go for it.”

“No, he’s not,” agreed the redhead. “We need to be smart in how we go about this.”

“You mean we need to manipulate him,” said Roni.

Shaya cocked her head. “I prefer to think of it as avoiding complications.”

Lightly rocking the chair, Harley said, “Can’t I just go to him and—”

“No,” stated Shaya. “If you’re serious about buying the club, we need to be smart about how we present the matter to Nick. Trust me, I know him well.”

“Have you mentioned it to Jesse yet?” Ally asked Harley.

“Yes. He didn’t react well initially, but he’ll support me as long as he’s responsible for the security. Since that’s not my area of expertise and it gives him peace of mind, I’m okay with that.”

Shaya smiled. “It would be really cool to have a place to go that we know is safe for us. I love our territory, but there are times when I’d like to go have some fun without Nick worrying too much. I’m glad you’re willing to stick around, Harley. I know you haven’t officially claimed Jesse yet, but you’re not holding back—you’re really giving this relationship a try. I like that. He’s a good guy, and I’d really like to see him happy.”

“It really doesn’t bother you that I come with a ton of shit?” Harley asked.

“Even if I didn’t like you—which I do—it wouldn’t.” Shaya was silent for a moment. “You know, I always thought Jesse was bad at relationships. They never lasted long, they often ended badly, and he just didn’t invest anything of himself in them. But when you came here and I saw him with you, I realized it’s not that he’s bad at relationships, it’s just that—to put it simply—those females weren’t you. He knew who he wanted and who could make him happy. And I want Jesse to be happy.”

“I’ll bet he’s happy that you smell of him,” said Roni.

Harley snorted softly. “I’m not surprised I smell of him. He rubs himself all over me every day.” Like a damn cat.

“No, I mean . . . his scent is imbedded in your skin. There’s a difference.”

Ally stood and sniffed Harley. “Roni’s right. And you know what that means.”

Imprinting had begun. Harley was shocked enough about that for it to override any other emotion she might have felt. “I didn’t think it would start unless I returned his claim.” Having been out of the shifter world for so long, she wasn’t as educated about these matters as she should be.

Ally shook her head. “Imprinting is a tricky thing that I don’t think anyone fully understands. It’s a process that, if completed, will result in a mating bond. It seems to work differently for each couple. Sometimes it begins quickly, sometimes it takes years, and sometimes it doesn’t happen at all. I was in a relationship with a guy for quite a while. I cared about him, and he cared for me. But we didn’t imprint on each other. Probably because I didn’t love him.”

“I’m not so sure it’s about love,” said Shaya. “I’ve known couples to begin imprinting on each other when the emotion wasn’t yet present, but maybe love is the kicker. Maybe without it, the couple can’t fully imprint on each other.”

“But that doesn’t account for the couples who love each other yet haven’t fully imprinted,” Roni pointed out. “It could be that a host of things need to be present. Like love, loyalty, respect, acceptance, and trust—the type of things that build and sustain not only relationships but mating bonds.”

“That would make sense,” said Shaya. “The couple needs to have the building blocks as well as the willingness to completely expose themselves to one another before nature will grant them the bond.”

“So what does it mean if I’m wearing his scent but he’s not wearing mine?” Harley asked.

Roni frowned. “If you’re wearing his scent, he’ll be wearing yours. That’s how it works.”

“If that was true, he’d have said something,” said Harley. “I’m surprised he didn’t sense it.”

“Oh, he’ll know you’re wearing each other’s scents and he’ll be damn smug about it,” said Ally. “If he hasn’t mentioned it, it could be because he’s worried how you’ll react. Or maybe he just wants you to sense it for yourself.”

“If it’s the latter, I’ve totally ruined it.” Roni slipped her lollipop back in her mouth as if to shut herself up.

“He should have told me.” Harley rubbed her forehead. “But, then, he also shouldn’t have slung me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and then spanked my ass.” Recalling why he’d done that, she said, “Ah, maybe that’s why he never mentioned it.”

Confused, Ally asked, “You think he was distracted by spanking your ass?”

“No. He asked me if I was happy. To tease him, I pretended to mull it over. He wasn’t upset or anything, he even seemed amused, but he could have read something into it.”

“He’s probably just being cautious,” hedged Shaya. “I guess you’ll find out later when you make him talk about it.”

“I guess I will.”

The Alpha of the Trantham Pack leaned back in his leather chair, tapping his fingers on his office desk. “So, Nick, what can I do for you?”

So far, Jesse kind of liked the guy. Garth Whisler didn’t seem interested in petty posturing and dick measuring, which was rare among Alphas. He didn’t use his stocky build to intimidate, and he appeared to have the immense respect of his Beta and each of the enforcers he had introduced them to. That spoke well of him.

“I’m a direct person,” Garth went on, “so I don’t mind admitting that I’m hoping you’re interested in an alliance. Like you, I have a reasonably small pack.”

Nick already had plenty of alliances and, considering how many contacts he had, didn’t really need more. However, there was little chance that Garth would share pack business with an outsider unless there was an alliance between them, which was only fair.

“There would be a condition,” said Nick.

“Condition?”

Nick leaned forward in the seat opposite Garth. “I need you to tell me what you know of Hector Flynt.”

“Ah, bothering you, is he?” Garth sighed, exchanging a look with his Beta. “I’ve heard all about his hobby of pressuring shifters to sell their territory. You’re not the first to come here asking questions about him. I can only tell you what I told them, which I will warn you is very little.”

It was good of Garth to not mislead them, and Jesse could see that he’d now earned Nick’s respect.

“I’ll agree to an alliance,” said Nick.

Garth accepted that with an incline of his head. No insistence on shaking hands or anything, which made Jesse like him more.

“I wasn’t a member of the pack during Hector’s time here,” began Garth, “so I don’t know him personally. Everything I know comes from secondhand knowledge.”

“I’d still be interested to hear it,” Nick told him.

“At one time, this pack was large. Strong. Respected. Seven years ago, it splintered. There was a terrible tragedy. A girl from the pack was assaulted—raped, strangled to death, and left in a wooded area far from her territory. She was only fifteen.”

Jesse growled. Each of his pack mates spat a curse.

“It was days before they found Jenny. The rain had washed away any scents, but everyone suspected it was her ex-boyfriend. He didn’t deny it, even seemed smug about it. Just before the Alpha executed him, he said that four other boys had taken part in the rape, but he wouldn’t give any names. Paranoia took over, and everyone started pointing fingers. A lot of the boys were accused, but they all denied having any part in what happened to Jenny.”

“Hector was one of the boys who was accused,” Eli guessed.

“Yes. He was an odd boy, apparently. Exceptionally smart. One person described him as a typical problem child, but others said he was quiet and kept to himself. Being half human meant he stood out from the others, and many teased him for it.”

Being different probably made Hector an easy scapegoat, but Jesse didn’t believe that meant he was automatically innocent.

“Anyway, his parents stepped down from their role as Alphas,” continued Garth. “No explanation was given, but I suspect they may have lost the trust of the pack since their son was one of the accused. Or maybe they didn’t feel they could protect a pack that turned on their child. I can only speculate.”

“And then they left the pack?” asked Nick.

“Not straightaway. Thad became a heavy drinker, and Adriane seemed very depressed and became somewhat of a recluse—wouldn’t eat with the others, wouldn’t socialize, wouldn’t attend meetings. No one cared because no one trusted each other anymore; the pack soon broke down and the families went their separate ways.”

Nick’s brow creased. “No one here is an original Trantham wolf?”

“The elders of the pack, whose mates were buried on the land, remained here so that they could be buried beside them,” replied Garth. “But they’ve all passed on since then.”

A muscle in Eli’s cheek ticked. “So there’s no one in the pack we could talk to who might know more?”

Garth shook his head. “Sorry.”

“Do you have any idea where Hector’s parents are?” Nick asked him.

“No, I’m afraid not. I really am sorry that I can’t be of more help. I don’t agree with Hector’s actions. All I can do is offer my support in the event that you have to go up against him.”

Rising, Nick nodded in thanks. “I appreciate you sharing what you know.”

Soon after, Nick led the way as they left the pack house and returned to their all-terrain vehicle. Inside, he said, “That didn’t go as well as I’d hoped. But I suppose it could have been worse. He might not have known anything.”

Switching on the engine, Eli spoke. “If Hector was falsely accused, it could have bred a rage against shifters that needs venting. His parents stepped down and his pack fell apart. He lost his life, in some ways.”

“I know from Derren what it’s like to be falsely accused of such a crime,” said Nick. “It can definitely eat at a person and give him some dark demons. But surely Hector would have sought vengeance against his old pack if they had really wronged him.”

Zander sank deeper into the seat. “What’s pissing me off is that we still don’t have anything we can use against Hector. There are allegations but no proof. And there’s no sense in searching for proof unless we know for sure he was guilty, or we’d just be wasting our time.”

Nick leaned his head back. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: we’ve got to talk to his parents.”

Scrubbing a hand over his jaw, Jesse said, “I think the only person who knows the full story is Hector. If they do know more than he’s comfortable with, he could have killed them.” Which would mean they were chasing ghosts.

It was shortly before dinner when they arrived at their territory. Nick waited until after they had eaten and the pups were in bed before he held a meeting in the living area, where he relayed what Garth had told him. After plenty of speculation over whether or not Hector was guilty of the awful crime he’d been accused of, the pack dispersed and everyone went home.

In bed, Jesse took his mate hard and fast, seeking an oblivion that would let him escape the anger and frustration. For a while, it subsided. But only for a while. And so he lay there, staring up at the stars through the ceiling window.

Dancing her fingertips over his chest, Harley asked, “You all right?”

“Just frustrated that we have more questions than answers. I’d like to say that if Hector was really wrongly persecuted, I’d feel bad for him. But the truth is that I can’t feel bad for someone who’s trying to take our home. For me, nothing will justify that.”

“Of course it wouldn’t,” Harley assured him. She didn’t like seeing him so morose and pessimistic. “You know what I wonder?”

“What, baby?”

“Why he bothered offering to buy your territory when he could have just hit Nick with the blackmail material from the start.”

“He probably anticipated that Nick would refuse. This is a game to Hector—one he gets a perverse joy from. And if he’s so perverse, maybe he wasn’t falsely accused. That’s why we need to talk to his parents. I’ve been thinking . . . it’s possible that they didn’t give him up. Maybe he left them willingly. His father allegedly became an alcoholic. Living with an addict is no easy ride,” he added bitterly.

Harley propped her chin on his chest. “How bad did Mia get after I left?”

“Very bad.” Jesse ran his fingers up and down her spine. “I think people thought that she’d miraculously get better after you left.” He snorted. “If she wasn’t high, she was shit-faced. Sometimes she’d disappear for weeks. When that first started, everyone would panic and the pack would send out a search party. By the end, they didn’t bat an eyelid about it. That was why no one was alarmed when she went missing the last time. I probably wouldn’t have been either except so many other shifters were disappearing.”

“You tried to help her,” she reminded him. “We both did. She didn’t want that help.”

“I should have been grieving at the memorial. I just kept thinking of how selfish she’d been for dedicating years to killing herself. That’s what it was, Harley. A slow, drawn-out, drama-filled suicide. It didn’t even work. She died at the hands of extremists.” He sighed. “I tried to tell her so many fucking times that I didn’t blame her for . . .”

“For Torrie’s death,” she finished.

“But Mia wouldn’t hear it.”

“Because she blamed herself.”

“Losing her best friend should have made her appreciate life.”

Not if they were so close that Torrie had been her rock. Mia hadn’t been strong. “How long had she and Torrie known each other?”

He was quiet for a long moment. “I told you our pack has tangled with the extremists before, right?”

Harley blinked. Apparently he didn’t want to talk about Torrie. She might have pushed him for a little info if he weren’t already feeling so down. “Yes.”

“It was because of the hunting preserve where Mia was taken. We helped shut it down. The extremists behind its creation followed us to Phoenix Pack territory. Then both packs destroyed them. There were two leaders—one was actually a shifter. Zander, Bracken, and me . . . we killed him. It wasn’t a quick or easy death. It was long and painful. You should know that. You should know that I’m capable of that.”

“You think you’re scaring me?”

“You haven’t been in the shifter world for a long time. There’s a lot of violence in it.”

“There’s a lot of violence in the human world too.” A saddening amount. “You’re staring again.”

His hand clenched in her hair. “I won’t let them have you.”

She knew he meant the extremists. “Neither will I.”

Using his grip on her hair, he tugged her close and kissed her. “You wear my scent now.” He didn’t bother keeping his satisfaction out of his voice.

It was about damn time he addressed that, she thought. “Yes. And you wear mine. Why didn’t you mention it earlier?”

“I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about imprinting starting without your claim. You didn’t think it would, did you?”

“No,” she admitted.

He grinned. “I did.”

“Smug bastard.”

“Sore loser.” He rolled her onto her back. “I need to be in you again.” Needing to be buried deep in his favorite place where there was only her, where nothing and no one else mattered. So when she wrapped her legs around him, he thrust hard.