CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER FIVE

Taking her hand, Jesse led her out of the patio doors and into the sunshine. Anyone else might have been mesmerized by the view of the forest and mountains. His female was too busy gaping in awe at the thick tree right next to the lodge. “You’ll climb that the first chance you get, won’t you?”

She smiled. “Well, of course.”

He’d never seen anyone climb and navigate trees as well as Harley. Remarkably agile and quick, margays were tree dwellers and had the ankle flexibility that allowed them to climb down headfirst like a squirrel. He’d seen her beautiful little cat do it more than once.

He remembered the animal clearly. She had big brown eyes and a thick, plush, honey-colored coat that was patterned with black-ringed rosettes, spots, stripes, and elongated blotches. Her undersides were white, and she had two dark stripes on both sides of her face. Her tail was long and marked with dark bands.

He’d often tried to coax her to him when they were kids, but the little cat had always kept her distance. Still, she hadn’t hissed at him or warned him away—he’d taken that as a good sign.

“Right, time for a tour.” Over the next few hours, Jesse showed her everything. The forest, the lakes, the hot springs, the waterfall, the mountains, the other lodges, and the new kids’ play area. He showed her the spots with the best views and pointed out all the wildlife. He relished every smile and laugh, satisfied whenever her eyes lit up.

He wanted her to love the territory. Wanted her to see she could be comfortable, safe, and happy there. Wanted her to feel at home and see what it was like to be part of a pack that had strong leadership and took care of its own. He knew her cat would adore the land, and he hoped that she would quickly become attached to it.

He also pointed out the boundaries of the territory and taught Harley about their safety measures. “Although there are enough land mines, traps, sensors, and cameras to keep people from crossing the border of our territory, we’ll have to add a perimeter fence if the hotel is built or we’ll be getting sued every time someone is hurt.”

“Hotel?” she repeated, frowning.

“A half shifter called Hector Flynt bought the territory next to ours. He plans to build a hotel resort there.”

“Shit, that would be bad. I mean, anyone could be a guest in that place. People could go there to spy on the pack—reporters, naturists, loners, assassins, extremists, shifter groupies . . . the list goes on.”

“I know. The good thing is that, from what he told Nick, Hector doesn’t want those kind of guests either. The bad thing is that his idea of a solution is to buy our territory from us. Naturally the Alphas are refusing to sell, but Hector doesn’t seem to be getting the message.”

She sighed. “Maybe once the guy realizes there’s no swaying your Alphas on this, he’ll give up and sell the land.”

Jesse slid an arm around her shoulders. “Let’s hope so.”

Sensing that he’d prefer a change of subject, Harley said, “So, tell me what being an enforcer entails.”

As they made their way back to his lodge, Jesse told her about his duties: guarding the perimeter, patrolling the land, acting as a bodyguard, providing backup for his Alphas during meetings, and training with his Betas and the other enforcers. “We take shifts so that each of us has some downtime every day. Obviously we’re always on call in case an issue arises.”

“The position suits you,” she told him. He had always been a protective and proactive person. “Were you an enforcer in your old pack too?”

“No. My old Alpha never liked me much. Our personalities clashed.”

“So the Mercury wolves trained you?”

He shook his head. “You’ve heard of the Phoenix Pack, right?”

Of course. Who hadn’t? The Alpha male had a reputation for turning feral during battles, and his mate . . . well, she was apparently plain crazy. “Yes.”

“The pack is closely allied with mine. Their Beta and enforcers trained me.”

Her brows drew together. “Why not your own pack mates?”

“Nick didn’t really want to start a pack. He would have been happy just to live somewhere with his mate and pup. But he’s a natural born alpha, so his wolf wouldn’t have been content with that. Everyone knew it. So we just sort of formed the pack on our own and waited for him to finally accept the position of Alpha male. In the meantime, the Phoenix wolves put some of us through enforcer training.”

Then she was grateful to them for giving him what his previous Alpha wouldn’t.

“So, what do you think?” he asked as they stepped onto his porch.

Her mouth curved. “It’s a peaceful place. I can see why you’re so happy here.”

“I can see you being this happy here. And so can you, can’t you?”

Hands up, Harley backed into the lodge. “Look, I’m not going to deny that it’s the type of place a person could easily fall in love with. It’s relaxing. Peaceful. But what I’m feeling right now . . . it’s like when you go on a great vacation. You’re so happy and relaxed, and you’re so sure you could relocate there and love it. But after a couple of weeks, you’re ready to go home.”

“Where’s home to you, Harley?” he asked quietly.

Honestly, she didn’t feel that she really had one. But she didn’t say it aloud . . . because she could sense that she didn’t have to; he already knew it.

Jesse covered the distance between them. “Home isn’t always a place, sweetheart. Home is something that anchors you, comforts you, and is a safe haven for you.” He rubbed his nose against hers. “Let me be that for you, Harley.”

If he made her cry she was so gonna hit him.

“We both want this. We’ve both wanted it for a long time. Really, it was inevitable. I’ll tell you how it’s going to work: I’ll claim you, you’ll claim me, you’ll come to trust the pack, you’ll settle here, we’ll imprint, and we’ll be fucking happy.”

Harley could only stare at him. “You’ve got things all planned out, huh?”

“I’ve had this planned for a long time. The moment you stepped into California, you sealed your fate. There was no way you were leaving. I’d decided to give you another week at most to come to me; if you didn’t, I would have gone to you.” But if Cassidy hadn’t had that vision, he’d have been too late to claim Harley; she’d have been dead. Just the thought made his throat burn.

“I thought you only came because of the car bomb,” she mumbled, surprised.

“Think about it, baby, why else would I have fucking peppermint tea bags? The cupboards are stocked with foods you like. I wanted you to have what you like and need. Jesus, I picked this fucking lodge out of all the others because of that damn tree out there—because I knew you’d love it and I knew one day I’d bring you here. When a team came out to restore and modernize all the lodges three years ago, I had them build that reading alcove for you.”

“You’re serious, aren’t you?” she breathed.

“Deadly.” He cupped her throat. “I’ve wanted you since I was fourteen and too young and messed up to do much about it. You had that permanent frown, black lipstick, skull earrings, and dark clothes. You acted like you didn’t give a fuck about anything, but I knew that was bullshit. You gave a fuck about Mia and tried to help her. You gave a fuck about your mother and tried to get her sober. You gave a fuck that your pride was a joke and you felt helpless that you couldn’t change that.” He combed his fingers through her hair. “You were so strong and you didn’t seem to see it, just like you didn’t see that I wanted you. And you wanted me, didn’t you?”

“Maybe. I can’t remember.”

He smiled at the dry response. “I want you more now than I did back then, and I won’t be satisfied until I have every part of you.” He gripped her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Every. Part.”

Yeah, but what if she gave him every part and he couldn’t give the same in return? She tried to keep her tone sensitive as she spoke. “I know this is a hard subject for you, but I’m going to bring it up because this needs to be said. I’m sorry that you lost your mate. I can’t even begin to understand how soul wrecking that must have been for you, even though you were only kids and hadn’t bonded. While I understand and sympathize—”

“You refuse to be second best,” he finished.

She blinked. “Well, I wouldn’t have worded it that coldly.”

“It’s not cold. It’s fair. Just the same, I have no intention of being second best for you.”

“It’s a little different with me. I never met my mate. You did. You spent a lot of years with her. You made plans with her, envisioned a life with her, and no doubt had deep feelings for her. I don’t want to be a substitute. It sounds bitchy and selfish, and I hate that. But I know myself, Jesse. I know that I would grow to resent being a stand-in—that resentment would twist me inside, and then I’d make us both miserable.”

Maybe she’d have a point if she and Torrie were anything alike, but they weren’t. “You’re not selfish. Bitchy, yeah, but I kind of like that.” So did his wolf. “There’s something you’re not considering. Her death changed me; I’m not the person I would have been if she’d lived. And the person I am now . . . I wouldn’t have suited her. I would have hurt her.”

“What do you mean?”

He clamped his hands around Harley’s hips. “She didn’t have the type of personality that could withstand the person I am today. Not because she was a submissive wolf.” Although submissives were physically weaker than dominants, they could be mentally stronger and braver—his Alpha female was a perfect example of that. But Torrie had been nothing like Shaya, who pushed back when her mate became too forceful. “Torrie was very passive and hated confrontation so much that she always backed down. She could never have dealt with this version of me.”

“Jesse . . . I get what you’re saying, but the inescapable fact is that fate paired you with a submissive female because, deep inside, it’s what you need. Submissives are built for the kind of relationship you want where one leads and the other follows. Dominants feels challenged by those types of relationships. We’d drive each other insane.”

He traced her hip bones with this thumbs. “I like control in a relationship, I admit that, but not the kind of control that means my female isn’t my equal. I want and need a female who’ll stand up and fight, demand to be considered and call me on my bullshit. That’s you, baby. So stop overthinking this and do what you should have done three years ago.”

“What’s that?”

“Admit that you belong to me.”

Harley swallowed. “Do you have any idea what you’re asking of me?”

“I do. I’m asking you to forsake your true mate. I’m asking you to step back into a world that let you down. I’m asking you to give me every part of you. And I’m asking you to accept every part of me—a lot of those parts are dark and broken.” When he said it aloud, he realized just what a shit deal she was getting.

“We all have parts that are dark and broken.”

He knew she was not only comforting him; she was warning him. He didn’t give a fuck how many dark or broken parts she had—he wanted her as she was.

“I can’t promise you I’ll be happy in a pack, Jesse. They’re a lot like prides and—”

“Yours wasn’t anything like a real pride, so how can you know that you won’t be happy here when it’s something you’ve never been part of before?”

She couldn’t deny that he made a good point. Hell, her “pride” hadn’t even had territory to call its own. There was an Alpha and a Beta but no enforcers. She sighed. “I need time to think.”

Think? He did not like the sound of that. “No thinking.”

“Jesse—”

“You’ve had three years to think. Plenty of time to come to terms with what I want from you.” He couldn’t, wouldn’t, wait any longer.

She growled, exasperated. He was too damn pushy—always forging ahead because he was so secure in his convictions. It didn’t bother her cat as much as it did Harley; the margay admired his perseverance and was drawn to his strength. She viewed him as a good potential mate—one she cared for.

“Jesse, feeling possessive and sexually attracted to me isn’t a reason to mate with me, and it’s definitely not a reason for me to accept you as a mate.”

“You know this is more than that,” he rumbled. “You’re more important to me than anything. Anything. I care about you. And I know you care for me, Harley, or you’d have walked away from this conversation long ago. Admit it, if you didn’t want to be here, you’d have slit my throat while I slept. In fact, no, you’d have done it while I was awake. But you didn’t, just like you didn’t object to staying in this lodge with me. You want to be right where you are.”

“Part of me does,” she admitted, because honesty deserved honesty.

“What about the other part?”

Even though he’d claimed to care for her . . . “It’s worried that you can’t be happy in a relationship with a female who won’t follow your lead.” He hadn’t said he loved her, but she didn’t put a lot of stock in that word. Her father used it all the time.

Jesse combed his fingers through her hair. “Baby, I like that you have your own mind. I like that you’re strong, smart, and willful. All I want is to make you feel safe, take care of you, and be your strength when you need it. Is that so bad?”

Something inside her melted. Her cat, a lover of indulgence, liked the idea of him caring for her when she needed it. “No, it’s not bad. But I’ll still buck every time you try to take over.”

“Of course you will. And I’d be lying if I said I won’t make you crazy—I’m bad at compromising and I like having my own way. I’ll push every hot button you have. But you’ve got to admit, it will make things interesting.” His hand slid up to span her neck. “Tell me you don’t want this.” He flexed his grip on her throat. “Tell me I’m not what you want. Say it and mean it.” She couldn’t; he could see it in her eyes. “Then kiss me, Harley.” She didn’t, and he growled, “Fucking kiss me.”

The order made her spine snap straight. “If you want a kiss, you’d better get it yourself.”

With a growl, Jesse palmed her ass and pulled her flush against him, but he didn’t kiss her hard. He sipped and licked at her mouth, tasting and savoring her. She tasted of everything he’d wanted since he was fourteen. Tasted like sin. Tasted like his. She inhaled sharply as he slipped his hand under her T-shirt and possessively palmed her breast. Her scent warmed and ripened with need, making his whole body tighten.

“Your scent is like a fucking zap to my cock.” Jesse bit her lip hard. She didn’t jerk away like she had last night, and he growled in approval. “Give me your throat, Harley.” It was a demand that held a dare.

His dominant tone made her nipples tighten, but hell if she’d submit to that extent. She dug her fingers into his shoulders. “If that’s what you want from your female, you should go get yourself a submissive.”

“The only female I’m interested in claiming is you. Yes, that’s right, you’re about to get claimed.” One second, she was plastered against him and the next she’d somehow broke his hold and was five feet away. “Come here.”

“It’s one thing to fuck me. It’s another to claim me.”

“Yes, sweetheart, I’m well aware of that.”

She backed up as he prowled toward her. “If you leave a claiming mark, it’ll never fade.”

“I know.” He lunged, but she evaded him and continued to backpedal.

“That means if you decide this relationship isn’t working for you and then you choose another mate, she’s gonna be pretty damn pissed that you once officially claimed someone else. And my partner would be just as pissed to see that mark every day.”

He growled. “There will be no one else for me. Only you.” She bumped into the dining table, so he lunged again; he grabbed her, spun her, and trapped her against the wall, his front to her back. He bit her earlobe. “And there’ll be no one else for you. Only me.” She struggled against him, all elbows. He turned her to face him and slammed his body against hers, pinning her to the wall with her hands above her head. “There’s nowhere to go, Harley.”

She curled her upper lip. “The bite won’t mean anything if I don’t accept your claim.”

“You’ll accept it.” He rocked his hips, thrusting against her clit. She gasped. “Because you know you’re mine.” Defiance flared in her eyes. He tightened his grip on her wrists. “Tell me you’re not, Harley. Say those words. I dare you.” But she didn’t. “You can’t, can you?”

No, she couldn’t. He was offering her what she’d always wanted but had never dared to hope for. Her cat wanted him just as much. Being his mate wouldn’t be easy—in fact, it could very well test her sanity—but she knew it would be harder to walk away than it would be to take a chance. And, well, it was hard to hold out against him when he was crowding her this way, sending raw need coursing through her. Still . . . “If you fuck me over I will claw your face right off your skull.”

Jesse had no idea why he found it hot when she threatened him, but he decided not to question it. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.” He slammed his mouth down on hers, driving his tongue inside, feasting and consuming, and she gave as good as she got. He moved his mouth to her ear, rubbing his cheek against hers. “Open your jeans.” He released her wrists and she slowly did as he’d asked. “Very good.”

He thrust his hand into her panties and slid a finger between her folds, finding her deliciously wet. “This is what’s going to happen. I’m going to fuck you with my finger and make you come. You’re not going to move. You’re going to stay still and take what I give you.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Then you’d better give me something good.”

He collared her throat as he plunged his finger in and out of her, watching every flicker of emotion cross her face. She held still, though her thighs trembled. “Such a good girl,” he whispered against her mouth, driving a second finger inside. “I’ve dreamed about this pussy. Dreamed of it milking my cock. Is that what it wants, baby?” Her response was a moan. “You know what else I dreamed of? This gorgeous mouth. One day, I’ll fuck that too.”

She growled. Dominant females gave oral sex in their own time, so he could damn well wait until she was ready.

Bunching a hand in her hair, he snatched her head aside to expose her throat. “Anything I want. You’ll give me anything I want.” Ignoring the warning prick of her claws, he licked, kissed, sucked, and nipped at her neck—knowing how sensitive it was. Soon enough, she was like melted wax in his arms and her pussy was getting tighter around his fingers.

“That’s it, baby, come.” He upped the pace of his thrusts, ruthlessly hitting her G-spot. “Come, Harley.” With a throaty cry, she came all over his hand, her pussy quivering around his fingers. His cock throbbed, needing to be in her. Possessing her. Claiming her.

Sucking his fingers clean, he hummed. “Like warm honey.”

“You’re good with those hands.” She licked her lips. “But then, so am I.” Harley snapped open his fly. He was full and long and thick. Remembering what he liked, she used both hands to jack him off, keeping her grip tight and doing a gentle twisting motion each time she headed to the base. Resting his forehead against hers, he growled and thrust into her hands, taking the control—not surprising.

Knowing he was going to come soon if she didn’t stop, Jesse stilled and clamped his hand around hers. “I don’t want to come all over your hands. I want to claim you. But first . . .” With a growl, he clawed off her T-shirt and bra. Her breasts were round and full and soft. Lifting her, he drew a nipple into his mouth, rolling the taut bud on his tongue.

Harley’s head fell back as he drove her insane with his mouth, licking his way from nipple to nipple as he devoured each one. Just like that night at the hotel, his teeth grazed and bit. His tongue laved and swirled. His calloused fingers stroked and dug into her skin. She needed more, wanted his cock inside her, but she was still half dressed. “Jesse,” she rasped.

The one word was a demand. Jesse might have made her wait, but the need to claim her was pounding through him. He carried her to the bedroom and over to the foot of the bed, but he didn’t lay her on the mattress. He let her slide down his body until her feet touched the floor. There, they quickly shed the rest of their clothes. Fuck, she was beautiful. Perfect breasts. Wicked curves. Toned abdomen. And long, shapely legs he knew felt good wrapped around him.

Jesse sucked at the patch of skin beneath her ear. “Turn around and bend over.”

Harley was too busy drinking in all his sleek, tanned skin and roped muscles. There wasn’t an ounce of fat, just pure hard muscle and untamed power. She smoothed her hands up his solid chest as she licked along his collarbone and gave it a sharp nip.

“Baby,” he rumbled. “Turn around and bend over. I won’t ask again.”

Defiantly taking her sweet time about it, Harley did as he’d asked. She glanced at him over her shoulder. “Do it now.” But he didn’t, the bastard.

Instead, Jesse crouched behind her and used his thumbs to part her slick folds. “So pretty.” He took a long lick and groaned. “Your taste drives me crazy.” He pumped his tongue into her pussy, wanting more of her taste on his tongue. But he didn’t let her come; he stopped just as she reached her peak . . . and then he smiled when she cursed the fuck out of him. “That’s not nice.” Jesse nipped her ass hard enough to leave a mark. No one else would see it, but they would know it was there; she’d remember who this ass belonged to.

As he rose behind her and the head of his cock bumped her folds, Harley bit her lip. “About fucking time.” But he didn’t thrust inside her. Instead, he licked along her spine and danced his tongue over the owl tattoo on her upper back. “Jesse,” she drawled warningly.

“What do you need, baby?”

“I need to come.”

“That’s the wrong answer.”

She ground her teeth. “I need you to make me come.” She sucked in a breath as he fed her an inch of his cock, stretching her until it burned. She didn’t care. She needed . . . “More.”

Jesse groaned as he sank into the tightest, hottest pussy he’d ever fucked. His pussy. He’d missed it, dreamed of it, jacked off to the memory of how it felt around him. Balls deep, he groaned, digging his fingers into her hips. “On your elbows, baby.”

Harley glared at him over her shoulder. “That position sounds a little too submissive for my liking.” He smiled, but it was a smile that made her nervous.

“I accept that you’re a dominant female, sweetheart. But you’re never gonna be dominant in this bedroom.” Then he was hammering into her. Hard. Fast. Going deep enough to hurt. He was ruthless and demanding, knowing she could take it, knowing she wanted it. Her pussy clutched and squeezed him as she arched into every thrust. Fuck, he loved how hot and slick she was. “Who’s in you, Harley? Who’s fucking you, owning you, right now?” When she didn’t answer, Jesse stopped midthrust and gave her ass a sharp slap. “Answer the fucking question.”

Goddamn son of a bitch. That confirmed it—no caution lights in his head at all. Shooting him another glare over her shoulder, she hissed at the warning prick of his claws. “You might claim me, Jesse, but that doesn’t mean you own me.” Again, he gave her another of those unnerving smiles.

Jesse slowly reared back. “Baby, that’s exactly what it means.” He slammed home with a grunt. “And you know it.”

Harley twisted and slashed his chest with her claws, drawing blood. His eyes flashed wolf, making her cat rise to the fore for a mere second. Then Jesse slapped her ass again and resumed furiously powering into her. She fisted the bedsheet, thrusting her hips back to meet every possessive stroke. He took her without mercy, gave her no reprieve. Her cat loved every minute of it.

Curving himself over her, Jesse slid an arm around her waist and spoke into her ear as he plunged in and out. “This is my pussy, Harley. You’re never gonna take it away from me again. You can’t. It doesn’t belong to you. It belongs to me. Every part of you does.” He fucked her harder, driving home his words—wanting them written on her soul. He could feel the telling tingle in the base of his spine. No, he wasn’t ready yet.

Jesse pulled out of her, yanked her upright, spun her around, and tossed her onto the bed. Then he dragged her to him, hooked her legs over his shoulders, and thrust back inside her, groaning as she rippled around him. “I want to look at your face when you come.”

He fucked in and out of her like a man possessed. The sight of her there—all flushed and restless with her nipples rock hard, her eyes sex drunk, and her mouth swollen—pushed him that much closer to coming. “Give me your throat.”

She bared her teeth. “I told you before, if you need that, then go get yourself a submissive.”

“The only thing I need is you.” He looked at where their bodies were joined, watching her pussy suck him back in again and again. As she began to tighten around him, he growled, “Fight it.”

“Can’t,” she rasped.

“Fight it.” He draped himself over her, spreading her legs wide and plunging even deeper. “Tell me who you belong to, Harley. Fucking tell me or I swear to God I’ll pull out and come all over you!”

With a resigned growl, she ground out, “I’m yours, you motherfucking, pushy bastard!”

“Never forget it.” He bit her neck, sinking his teeth deep and tasting blood. As she screamed and her pussy contracted around him, he licked and sucked, making a definitive mark that told the world she was mated, that she was his. That thought threw him into a climax so fucking powerful it hurt. He buried his face in her neck, jammed his cock deep, and exploded, shooting jet after jet of come inside her. It went on and on and on, vibrating through him.

Shaking, Jesse slowly slid out of her and collapsed at her side, heart racing. Fuck, he’d never come that hard or that long. And he’d never felt that satisfied. It went bone deep, fed his soul. Dragging his mate—his mate—against him, he stroked his thumb over his bite. It was done. She was his.

Of course, she could try denying his claim, could refuse to claim him in return, and could even choose to leave. Those thoughts would have sent him in a blind panic if he didn’t fully believe that Harley was content right where she was. If she needed time, he’d give it to her . . . even if it would make his wolf go insane. The animal intensely felt the absence of the mating bond. Until he and Harley imprinted, there wouldn’t be one, but Jesse was resolute that they would one day be fully mated, bond and all.

Panting, Harley lay in his arms. Limp. Sated. And satisfied on a level that wasn’t just sexual. Her cat was practically curled up in a ball of contentment. He’d claimed her. Jesse Dalton had claimed her. She expected him to complain that she hadn’t claimed him right back, but he seemed content enough to play with the mark on her throat. When she looked up, she realized . . . “You’re staring again.”

“I’ll stare at my mate all I want.” Threading a hand in her hair, he kissed and ate at her mouth, loving the taste of her. A growl of masculine satisfaction rose up his chest. “I missed you.”

“I don’t see how. I mean, apparently you’ve been stalking me.”

“Stalking? No. I just kept myself . . . well informed on your whereabouts.”

She snorted. “I should be mad about that. Why aren’t I mad?”

“Because you get me,” he said simply. “You know I did it because I was set on protecting you; it’s how I’m wired.” And she accepted and dealt with him. Rolling her onto her back, he said, “You missed me. Admit it.”

“Maybe a little.”

Humming, he lapped at her mark. Three years. Three fucking years, and now she was here—in his bed, exactly where she belonged, marked and claimed. Jesse pinned her gaze. “I won’t let you go.” He’d been possessive of her before. Now? Fuck, he was dangerously possessive. He knew for a fact that if anyone tried to come between them, they wouldn’t live long.

“I’m beginning to realize that, considering you just claimed me.”

“My wolf is pissed that you didn’t return the claim; he doesn’t understand the issues around the matter.” Their animals were too elemental in their way of thinking.

She smoothed her hands over his broad shoulders. She could touch him now whenever she wanted; he was hers. “You’re not pissed?”

“I understand why you’re hesitating. You wouldn’t just be claiming me; you’d be claiming a different way of life. If you need time, you take it. But I’ll only give you so much time. There’s only so long a guy can wait for his mate to claim him.”

Mate . . . She’d really never expected to hear Jesse call her that. It was a little surreal. “You were right in what you said earlier. I wasn’t happy living among a race where I always had to hide half of who I was. But I wasn’t ready to admit it to myself because that left me the option of giving into my cat and joining a pride. I don’t associate prides or packs with anything good. The fact is that I’ve never really had a place in either the human or shifter world.”

“You have a place with me.” He slid his hands under her back to hold her tighter to him. “Joining the pack won’t mean turning your back on Tess and the rest of your human family who were there for you all these years. It just means extending your family.”

“Not to them. Tess would respect my decision if she thought I was happy. But not my grandparents.”

“If they’ll only love you if you deny half of yourself, they’re not truly family and it’s not real love.”

Yeah, but they had still accepted her into the family . . . though sometimes she’d wondered if they’d done it just to piss Lily off.

“If I thought for even a moment that my pack wouldn’t accept and protect you, I’d leave with you. You’ll have problems with Kathy at first. She doesn’t like change and she sees threats to the pack everywhere. But I have a lot of respect for her because, although her mate died, she hung on and survived the breaking of the mating bond so she could raise Nick, Eli, and Roni.”

Having lived with a mother who wasn’t strong enough to survive restricted contact with her mate, Harley could also respect Kathy for that.

“I swear to you right now that if you can’t be happy here, we’ll leave together. I’m just asking you to try for me, baby.”

She inhaled a deep breath. “Okay.”

The last bit of tension left him. “Good girl.”

Bones snapped and popped, and suddenly Harley had a very large gray wolf standing over her, licking at her jaw. Smiling, she petted his neck. “You’re going to get fur on the bed.”

The wolf nipped her chin and then jumped off the bed. His eyes flashed human—there was both a challenge and an invitation there. And then the wolf took off running.

Harley shifted as she rose from the bed, releasing her cat so she could play with her mate.

The small cat did a long stretch, fitting into her skin. She padded down the stairs and tracked the scent of her male. As she walked through the lodge, she rubbed against the furniture and doorways, scent marking her home. Satisfied, she followed his scent out of the lodge and to the forest, where he waited. She slowly walked toward him. Then she abruptly veered left and ran. She clambered up a tree, out of reach, and easily swung from one branch to another by her flexible front and hind paws, enticing him to play.

The gray wolf kept pace with her as he charged through the forest, leaping over thick roots and logs. The wildlife scattered as he passed. His mate was fast. Agile. But he knew his territory well and navigated it easily. When she finally leapt to the ground, he came at her from the front. The female halted, panting. She was graceful. Strong. His.

The little cat sprang at the wolf and bit into his neck hard enough to mark him. He marked her right back. They wrestled, pounced, and played until she tired. Though happy, she still mourned the absence of the mating bond. Lamented that they were not true mates. And, like her human half, hoped that imprinting would one day bind them.