Library

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER THREE

All right, so she hadn’t actually expected his Alphas to okay it. She was an outsider, half human, half feline, and had extremists on her ass. Some extremists were all talk, but these particular humans were prepared to use car bombs, so it didn’t seem logical that the wolves would accept her on their territory. But after a very brief call outside her boss’s office, Jesse had returned with the news that his Alphas would protect her. That had totally shocked the shit out of her.

On the one hand, she appreciated it. Sure, part of her bristled at accepting help—she was a dominant female, after all. But she’d rather be bristling and alive than be proud and dead.

Another part of her, however, was wary about the whole situation. She hadn’t spent much time around shifters since coming to live with Tess. Shifters behaved differently and played by a different set of rules. Harley wasn’t interested in following any such rules.

What made her most wary about leaving with Jesse was . . . well, Jesse. He was hard to read and could be very compelling when he switched on the intensity—both had a way of keeping her off-balance. Still, that might not have been so bad if her body didn’t respond so easily and strongly to his. It gave him a level of power over her that she did not like. And he was just so big, so dominant, so . . . everything. What’s more, he was shoving his way into her business.

“Here we are.”

His words broke into her thoughts. As they drove along a dirt path that was littered with leaves, Harley admired the tall, regal trees on either side. They all had typical territorial animal markings that served to warn away humans and other shifters.

When they came to a huge lodge and Jesse parked between a Winnebago and a Mercedes, she said, “I like the fairy lights hanging on the trees.” They gave the lodge an almost magical feel. “Are they always up there or is it a special occasion?”

“They’re always up.” He hopped out of the SUV and waited at the hood of the vehicle for her to reach him.

She should have objected when he took her hand, but she was a little nervous. She’d never been good with people she didn’t know well, especially complete strangers. It wasn’t that she was socially inept; it was just that it could take her a while to feel comfortable enough around people to be herself. She preferred her own company.

Bracken and Zander stayed behind them as Jesse pulled her into the lodge and through to a cozy living area, where five wolves waited. It was clear that the two in front were the Alphas. The female was smiling, but the male—who radiated dominance in a way that a lesser person would have found plain terrifying—stared blankly at Harley.

Rather than join the other wolves, Bracken and Zander planted themselves behind her . . . almost supportively. They were making it clear that they would side with her if there were a problem, which was kind of touching. Going by the grim expressions of the other males, she might just need that support.

Jesse said, “Nick, Shaya, this is Harley. Harley, these are my Alphas.”

Harley gave an awkward smile and nodded in deference. “Um . . . hi.” Her cat twitched her tail, watching them carefully. She was particularly dubious of the Alpha male.

“It’s good to meet you, Harley,” said Shaya, gracious and pleasant. She wasn’t small, but she had a pixie-like look about her and an impish air. “Nick’s delighted too. So delighted he’s at a loss for words.”

Harley inwardly smiled at the scowl Nick cast his mate. The blond, powerfully built male was as unnerving as Jesse and exuded supreme confidence. His green eyes glimmered with irritation as they sliced back to Harley. He may have accepted her presence, but he wasn’t happy about it.

Jesse continued, “Over there are my Betas, Ally and Derren.”

“Hi, there,” said the slim, olive-skinned brunette. Her dark-eyed, dark-haired mate merely inclined his head ever so slightly.

“Hey,” greeted Harley, keeping her half smile in place.

“And that’s my Head Enforcer, Eli,” added Jesse. “He’s also Nick’s brother.”

Well both brothers sure had the indomitable look going on. Eli gave her a short nod, though his large brown eyes held no more welcome than the other two males’ eyes did. Taking in their strong, solid builds, she wondered what the Mercury males were being fed around here.

“And the dog standing by Ally shaking his tail is Bruce,” Jesse told Harley once she’d answered Eli’s nod with one of her own. “It’s late, so you’ll meet everyone else tomorrow.”

“In the meantime, get some sleep,” said Shaya. “Jesse will show you to one of the guest lodges.”

“Um . . . thanks.” God, she was hopeless with strangers.

After a quick exchange of farewells, Jesse led her outside and across the open field to the trees. It was a reasonably short walk to the guest lodge. Timber and stone, the exterior had a very masculine feel to it.

Harley followed him up a set of stone steps onto the wraparound porch. Inside, he shed his jacket and slung it on the rocker that, like much of the den furniture—including the coffee table, TV stand, and firewood rack—was made of cedar logs. The den also featured a brown leather sofa, a shaggy rug, a wall-mounted TV, and a pool table. Nice.

Best of all was the little reading alcove in the corner. It was framed by shelves of books and had a built-in chaise with a pillow and fake-fur blanket, making it look like some kind of rustic magical retreat. Being somewhat of a book junkie, she was going to love spending time in that little haven. She distrusted anyone, anyone, who said they didn’t like reading.

With the exception of the wall of reflective glass at the rear of the lodge, which let in plenty of light, the interior seemed to be all wooden paneling and hardwood floors. Jesse headed straight to the open-plan kitchen and dining area.

“How did you know I was in California?” she asked him. “For that matter, how did you know where I worked and what car in the parking lot was mine?”

“I have my ways of finding things out.”

How delightfully vague. She watched as he moved around with ease, switched on the coffee machine, and grabbed two mugs . . . looking right at home, she thought with a frown. Realization dawned. “I thought I was staying in a guest lodge.”

“You’re not.”

“Is there a reason for that?”

Jesse backed her against the wall and placed a hand either side of her head, crowding her. “I don’t play games, Harley, so I’ll tell you straight. I want you. In my bed. In my life. Where you belong.”

Her heart slammed into her ribs and her cat stilled, feeling like a deer in headlights. The air began to charge with a sexual tension that threatened to suck every thought from Harley’s head. She gave herself a mental slap. “Where I belong?”

“You know you do. You knew it three years ago. But when I woke up, you were gone. Why?”

“I figured it would be less awkward that way.”

“Bullshit, baby. You ran.” He tucked her hair behind her ear. “Mia told you my mate died, didn’t she? It’s true. Torrie and Mia were in the lake when they were eleven. Torrie smacked her head on a rock, fell unconscious, and drowned. I think it was what sent Mia spiraling out of control.”

Harley marveled over how he could talk of the tragedy so calmly, hiding what had to be a wealth of pain behind a blank expression. “I knew about it, yeah.”

“In that hotel, I told you I was keeping you. That scared you because you knew how overbearing I’d be. You knew that since I lost the female who would have been my mate, I was going to be hell in a relationship; I’d be controlling and possessive and hold you too tight. The shifter world let you down and you didn’t want to be dragged back in it, so you hightailed it out of there. But you had to know I’d only let you run for so long.”

She frowned, shaking her head. “I didn’t think you really meant it. I thought it was just said in the heat of the moment.” Her cat was just as taken aback by what he was saying.

“The heat of the moment?” he echoed, incredulous.

“Well, yeah.” They had too many things going against them. They lived in different worlds, neither of their families would ever give their blessing, and fate had paired him with a submissive female because that was what he needed. Harley was dominant and proud of it, and she had no intention of squashing that part of herself for anyone. Besides, she wasn’t anything special. She was just . . . little ol’ her.

“Hmm.”

Hmm? What did “hmm” mean?

“You honestly thought I would say something like that if I didn’t mean it?” he rumbled.

“Emotions were running high that night. People say stuff they don’t mean when they’re emotional. Anyway, don’t get pissy with me. If you had really meant what you said, you would have found a way to contact me.”

He moved his face closer to hers. “I would have hunted your sweet ass down three years ago if I thought you were ready for what I wanted from you.” Now she had no choice but to be ready, because he wasn’t going to let her walk out on him a second time.

She swallowed. “What do you want?”

“I want what belongs to me. You.”

Harley had no idea why that dominant, nonnegotiable tone revved her engines, but she didn’t like her body’s response at all. His eyes blazed with pure masculine possession as they roamed over every inch of her face. He looked at her as if he owned her, as if he’d always owned her. It made her stomach clench. It also made her bristle.

“You know,” she began, “I would have thought that someone who’d tragically lost the chance at spending their life with their true mate wouldn’t take that chance from someone else.” She’d meant to offend him, but a slow smile curved his mouth.

“That right there is why you’re perfect for me, Harley. You take no shit.”

“So you admit this is shit?”

“You won’t push me away. You’re mine.” Since she was fourteen, though she may not know it, he’d looked out for her, protected her, watched over her, and aided her—he’d say that gave him as much of a claim to her as a hypothetical mate she may or may not find.

He knew he was taking a chance by laying it all out like this, because there was never any knowing how Harley would react to a situation. She was a passionate creature who had her own codes and a quirky outlook that both confused and fascinated him. But he’d take this chance, because living without her any longer wasn’t acceptable to him. “You know better than anyone that finding your true mate doesn’t always mean hearts and rainbows and a happily ever after.”

Harley couldn’t argue with that. Even her cat could concede that he had a point there. Hell, her parents’ mating was a total joke. Lily was lost and miserable, and Clive was in a damn cell.

Jesse brushed his thumb along the crook of her neck. “I remember leaving a mark right here.” He’d do it again soon. “I remember the taste of you. Remember the feel of your pussy hot and tight around my cock.”

He sucked her bottom lip into his mouth and gave it a sharp bite. She jerked away—maybe in surprise, maybe in withdrawal. Either way, Jesse didn’t like it. Instinctively, he dominantly snapped his hand around her throat. Her response was instantaneous; her pupils dilated, her nipples pebbled, and she sucked in a sharp breath. Fuck.

Harley gasped as his mouth took complete possession of hers, greedily feasting and dominating and burning away rational thought. His tongue licked into her mouth, bold and sure and taking everything. Memories slammed into her just as heat surged through her and melted every bit of resistance she had . . . and there hadn’t been much left to begin with.

Wanting more, Harley tried to deepen the kiss. His hand fisted in her hair and held her head in place, letting her know who was in charge right then. Too turned on to bristle, she went lax. He rewarded her by taking her mouth again, this time harder and deeper and hungrier. She could only cling to his shirt to anchor herself.

Then he bit her. Sank his teeth into the crook of her neck. And that snapped her out of her aroused daze. Both her and her cat bucked at the proprietary act. With a growl, Jesse dug his teeth in harder. Only when Harley stopped struggling did he release her. He licked over his mark and pulled back, savage possessiveness stamped all over his features. Her pussy clenched at the sight, throbbing with a vicious ache. “Bastard,” she hissed. “I didn’t say you could mark me.”

“I’m not a guy you can manage, Harley—you know it. Just like you know that neither you nor your cat would want me if you could control me.”

“You’re still a bastard.”

“Maybe.” Seeing her mouth swollen, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes glazed with need, it took extreme restraint for Jesse not to take that mouth again. He wanted more, but he needed her to be with him all the way. Right now, she was shocked and unsure—not to mention tired. She needed time to get used to the fact that everything had now changed for her.

Jesse swept his thumb along the black smudge beneath her eye. “You’re exhausted. Go to bed, Harley. We’ll talk more tomorrow. The bedroom’s upstairs—you can’t miss it, because it covers virtually the entire floor.”

Trying to steady her breathing, she asked, “Where will you be sleeping?”

“Next to you. But not yet.” Because there was a wolf outside who clearly wanted to speak with him. Jesse backed up, letting her hands fall away from his shirt. “Go on, I’ll be up soon.”

He watched her go, satisfaction welling up inside him despite the deathly glare she shot him. Three fucking years he’d waited, and here she was—albeit begrudgingly. With an inward smile, he slid open one of the rear patio doors and stepped outside, closing it behind him.

Nick looked up from the porch swing. “I figured you’d bring her to your lodge.”

“Did you?” His attempt at flippancy fell flat.

“Well, since you told me over the phone that if her presence couldn’t be accepted on our territory you’d be prepared to leave, yeah.” Nick pursed his lips. “I’ve never seen you even the slightest bit possessive of a female before. You’re pretty serious about her.”

“She’s mine.” It was that simple and that complicated.

“So you’re hoping to imprint on her?”

“Yes.” Shifters who weren’t true mates could still form the mating bond through imprinting—a process that mostly happened without any prompting from the couple. The bond was just as strong and vibrant as one between true mates.

“What about her true mate?”

“Fuck him.” If there was one thing that losing two people had taught Jesse, it was that life was too damn short to spend pondering and overthinking shit. He was someone who believed in going after what he wanted. For a long time, what he’d wanted most was Harley Vincent. Now he finally had her and he was damn well keeping her.

“I had a call from someone who claims to be a . . . friend of Clive’s,” said Nick. “He knows she’s on our territory and wants my assurance that she’s safe here.”

Jesse wasn’t surprised. “Clive probably has people monitoring her. Did you tell them about the bomb?”

“Yes. They said they would ‘take care of it.’”

“Which means the extremists who planted the bomb will soon find themselves the targets of an attack.”

“It won’t be as easy as that. They knew when they planted that bomb that there would be retaliation. They’ll have taken precautions, found a place to lie low.”

“One good thing about them lying low is that they won’t be able to reach her.” Even if they did try tracking her, it would take them a while to realize she was here. After all, they would never think she would join a pack, considering she was not only half cat but also had been living with humans for a long time. The moment he claimed her, she’d officially be a Mercury Pack member.

“If Clive really does run The Movement, he’ll have the resources to find them before they find her.” Nick’s gaze moved to the view ahead. “I know a lot of shifters revere Clive. They use him as a symbol of rebellion, imply he’s a hero. But I’ve heard stories from people who actually know Clive. I don’t think he was thinking of shifters everywhere when he hunted those humans. I don’t think he was pushed over some kind of edge by the death of his son. I think he was just doing what came naturally to someone who likes to cause pain.” Nick looked back at Jesse. “Do you think he formed The Movement?”

“It’s possible. What better cover is there for the front-runner than to be under lock and key? But if he was, he wouldn’t tell Harley.”

“Why? She’s his daughter.”

“I know. But such knowledge would put her in a massive amount of danger.” The Movement kept the names of the key players secret because, sad as it was, there were shifters out there who would sell them for the right price. It wasn’t just the extremists that were greedy for those names. Human law enforcement would definitely offer a high reward for such information. “Clive might be cold, but he’s protective of her. He even granted custody of her to her aunt because his pride wasn’t a good place for her.”

“What about her mother?”

“Mother” wasn’t the word Jesse would use. “Lily Vincent is too wrapped up in her own problems to take care of Harley or anyone else.”

Nick puffed out a breath. “Imagine how it would feel if one of the very few people in your life who ever made you feel important and kept you safe was a cold-blooded killer. He might not approve of you mating her. He might have hoped she’d live her life as a human.”

“I don’t give a flying fuck what he thinks or wants.”

“I can see that you’re set on keeping her. Are you sure she’ll be able to deal with you, Jesse? You’re a very intense guy. A highly dominant wolf with a very forceful personality. It’s a combination that a dominant female might find crippling and oppressive.”

“Nothing has the ability to crush Harley.” Life had thrown a lot at her, but she’d always stood strong in the face of it.

“Bracken’s family might not react well to her presence, considering they’re part of the pack that blamed her for Mia’s addiction. I’m not saying that it should influence any decision you make; I’m just saying you need to be ready for that. And there’s something else you need to think about. I know someone else who lost their true mate as a kid and then tried to imprint on another female. It didn’t work for him for the same reason that it might not work for you.”

“Why wouldn’t it work?”

“If what Bracken and Zander said is true, you walled up after your true mate died, which is only to be expected. But if you want to take Harley as your mate, you’re going to have to drop those protective walls. You need to be prepared to give her all of you or imprinting won’t fully happen. And you have to be sure you can do that before you make her promises and demand a commitment from her.”

“I wouldn’t ask anything of Harley that I wasn’t prepared to give in return.”

Nick rose from the swing. “That doesn’t mean you can do it, especially if you’ll feel guilty on some level about giving all that to her. And according to Bracken, you have a habit of torturing yourself with guilt.”

“That’s bullshit.” For some reason, Bracken had it in his head that Jesse blamed himself for Mia’s death, for not being able to find and save her. “I regret my sister’s death just as I would anyone in my family, and I avenged her death. But do I blame myself? No.” Did he miss having a drug addict hanging around, manipulating, lying to, and stealing from him and their parents—breaking their hearts on a regular basis? No. And if that made him a cold bastard, there wasn’t a lot he could do about it.

“Good,” said Nick. “Guilt has a way of eating people alive.”

As Jesse watched the Alpha walk away, he marveled at how right those words were. Guilt had devoured Mia, sending her on a dark path. He’d always thought it would be the drugs that killed her. Instead, she was kidnapped by extremists and taken to an illegal game preserve, where she was hunted like an animal and then killed. They hadn’t even had a body to bury.

He’d tried to find her and save her, but he’d failed. So he’d settled for getting vengeance by helping Bracken and Zander kill one of the bastards who ran the preserve—it had been an act of vengeance for them too, since they’d also lost family to the extremists. Nick had killed the other male who ran the preserve.

Jesse wished he could say he’d grieved for Mia as intensely as his parents had. Wished he could claim to be scarred by her death like any normal person would be by the loss of a sibling. But he’d lost his sister long before that. Lost her to drugs and alcohol and her chosen path of self-destruction.

When her drug addiction had strongly taken hold, she’d changed dramatically. Become someone he didn’t know or like. Someone selfish and abusive. In some ways, he’d felt sorry for her. After all, who actually wanted to be a junkie? Who actually wanted to be someone who would steal, lie, hurt, manipulate, and cheat as easily as they’d breathe? Surely, no one did.

He’d tried to think of her as a lost and weak-minded person who just needed help. He’d even tried to get her that help—over and over, for that matter. But he’d come to realize that Harley had been right in something she’d once said: you couldn’t help an addict unless they wanted that help. Mia hadn’t.

His soul may not be bleeding with grief, but her death had still deeply affected his life. If she hadn’t gone missing, he wouldn’t be a Mercury wolf right now. He, Bracken, and Zander had only chosen to leave the Sequoia Pack because they’d mistakenly suspected that the Alpha—an asshole of epic proportions—might have had some involvement in the kidnapping of the missing members of their families. Rather than return to their old pack, they had remained with Nick, an Alpha they could truly respect and follow.

None of that would have happened if Mia had just listened to Jesse. He had warned her that shifters were disappearing. He’d warned her to be careful, and if she had just listened to him, she might be alive. Harley would take this shit seriously, and he would ensure that the extremists didn’t take her from him. And if she didn’t like that he was suddenly all up in her business, demanding everything she had to give, too fucking bad.

Comments

0 Comments
Best Newest

Contents
Settings
  • T
  • T
  • T
  • T
Font

Welcome to FullEpub

Create or log into your account to access terrific novels and protect your data

Don’t Have an account?
Click above to create an account.

lf you continue, you are agreeing to the
Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy.