Straightening his shoulders, he strode down the sidewalk. He glanced at his watch. It was still early. But he couldn’t afford to wait.
Hank was leaning against the doorframe chatting with two women when he spotted Isaiah. He straightened and said something to the women that had them laughing and walking into the club.
Music, laughter and happy voices drifted out from the open door. Isaiah hated that he was the one who was going to put an end to it. For all time.
“I didn’t expect to see you again.” Hank spread his legs and rested on the balls of his feet, ready to fight.
“This isn’t about Meredith and me. This is about the safety of all of you.” He stopped two feet from Hank, hands at his sides. He wouldn’t attack, but he would defend himself.
“You can tell me and I can pass your message on to her.”
Isaiah shook his head. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way, but I’m going to see Meredith.”
“What’s going on?” Michael stepped out, eyeing Isaiah cautiously.
“He wants to talk to Meredith.”
Isaiah studied Michael. He looked older, harder than he had twenty-four hours ago. He was sorry for that. He was sorry for all of it.
He couldn’t change the past. All he could do now was try to minimize the damage from the fallout.
Meredith’s son studied him. Isaiah didn’t shift position, didn’t fidget under Michael’s scrutiny.
“I thought you’d be long gone by now.”
“You thought wrong.”
Isaiah sensed no antagonism, no anger from Michael. The younger male actually smiled. That worried Isaiah. What the heck was going on?
“She’s in her office. You know the way.” Michael stepped back and motioned Isaiah inward.
Not hesitating, Isaiah walked into the club. The familiar sounds and smells surrounded him. It felt like home. He hated like hell that Meredith was going to have to leave it to protect her family.
Tammy waved at him as he passed by. Teague glared at him from his post just outside the kitchen door. Kevin was behind the bar, filling drink orders. He nodded, his gaze solemn, and went back to work.
Isaiah cut through the crowd like a shark through a pool of minnows. Everyone moved out of his way without his having to ask. He was throwing off don’t-fuck-with-me vibes even an idiot could sense.
The narrow hallway closed around him and then he was in front of her office door. He didn’t knock, didn’t want to give her the opportunity to send him away without allowing him to see her first.
He gripped the handle, turned it and shoved the door open.
She looked tired. That was his first thought. Meredith was sitting at her desk working on her computer. She wasn’t wearing her usual flashy, sexy dress, but a pair of jeans and a turtleneck sweater. The sweater was soft and clung to her breasts like a lover’s caress.
She glanced up, her eyes widening as she jumped to her feet. Her gaze went behind him and narrowed. “Did you hurt any of them?”
He took the punch to his heart without flinching. “I wouldn’t hurt any of your children.” And they all belonged to her, heart and soul.
She nodded and glanced down at her computer screen, downsizing whatever she’d been working on. Her hair was pulled back in a braid rather than flowing down her back. He wanted to release it, to set it and her free.
“We need to talk.” He shut the door and the room suddenly felt smaller. The noise from the club muted and he could hear every breath Meredith took.
He could smell her too. Her soap and the essence that was pure female, pure Meredith.
His cock jerked to attention. Isaiah longed to go to her and drag her into his arms. He wanted to feel her feminine curves against the hard planes of his body, softening and accommodating his much larger frame. He wanted to inhale her scent into his lungs until it drove out every other smell.
Her lips parted and her tongue flicked out to touch the bottom one. He swallowed a groan as his balls drew up close to his body. Meredith had lips that were made for kissing, full and soft and sweet.
He clenched the muscles in his thighs to keep from walking across the room and sweeping her into his arms. The urge to take her, to make her his once again was overwhelming.
The only other urge that could take precedence, that could control the primal instincts beating at him, was the urge to keep her safe. Nothing was more important than that.
“I thought you’d gone.” The words “for good” went unsaid. Tension crept over him, hardening every muscle in his body.
“No.” He wouldn’t tell her he’d rented a place and was watching her club for any sight of her.
“Oh.” She fiddled with her pen, then tossed it onto the battered desk and squared her shoulders. “Why are you here?”
Meredith could barely breathe. She was finding it extremely difficult to slap together a string of coherent words. Isaiah was here.
He filled the room with his larger-than-life presence. The jeans he wore clung to his thighs. They were well worn and had been washed so often they were soft and supple, molding to the thick muscles. They also did nothing to hide the rather large bulge pressing against the zipper.
Her sex spasmed and cream dampened her panties. She resisted the urge to cross her arms over her chest to disguise her puckered nipples. Thankfully, the sweater she was wearing was thick enough to hide her arousal. Not that it mattered. If he got close enough, he’d smell it.
He was wearing a T-shirt with a flannel shirt over it. The inner shirt stretched taut across his abs, outlining his hard chest. Her fingers itched to touch him.
She wanted to run her hands through his shaggy hair and touch her lips to his. He looked tired. The lines radiating from the corners of his eyes were deeper than they’d been. His chocolate brown eyes ate her up as they stood watching one another.
She realized his gaze was on her lips and they parted of their own accord.
Isaiah sucked in a breath and took a step toward her before coming up short. He raked his fingers through his hair. “We need to talk.”
“Okay.” She managed to nod. Neither of them moved. She didn’t know how she felt about him being here. She was elated and frightened at the same time.
She’d sent him away. A man as proud as Isaiah wouldn’t come crawling back. That meant something had sent him here and whatever it was, it couldn’t be good. Only his innate sense of responsibility would have brought him back to her.
“What is it?” She had to know. Her stomach was jittery and her palms were sweating. “Is it about what happened in the park?” She felt slightly ill. Had someone seen them last night?
“I overheard a conversation in a restaurant,” he began. She nodded encouragingly and he continued. “There were three of them. Werewolves.”
“Oh, God.” She swayed, catching herself on the back of her chair. “What did you hear?”
“With the noise of the crowd, I could only catch a word or two so I followed them when they left.”
Meredith swallowed hard. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe it was—
She stopped trying to kid herself. If it weren’t deadly serious, Isaiah wouldn’t be here.
“They stopped in an alley and found a note they’d been told to expect. Seems that the bounty hunters saw where you came from last night and set someone to watch your place today. They had a man on a nearby roof and saw Benjamin and Neema. They also saw Teague.” He hesitated for a second and then continued. “They suspect he might be a half-breed.”
This couldn’t be happening. This was her biggest nightmare unfolding. “Oh, God,” she whispered.
Isaiah’s grim expression didn’t give away any of his thoughts or feelings on the matter. “They also know there might be two werewolf females here.”
Meredith flew around the desk, making for the door. Her kids. She had to protect her children.
Isaiah’s muscled forearm shot around her waist, stopping her. She turned on him and struck out. He captured her arms
easily, pinning them behind her. She brought her knee upward in a lightning-fast move, but he countered it. Shoving her against the wall, he leaned against her, holding her prisoner with his weight.
She glared at him, trying to ignore the feel of his body against hers. His thighs were on the outside of hers, squeezing them. That put his erection right at the juncture of her legs. His cock was hard and hot against her mound. His broad chest covered hers, making her nipples ache.
“The others are safe. For the moment,” he added. He leaned down, touching his forehead to hers. “The wolves are planning to wait until closing to check out the situation. They want to make certain of their information before they attack. After all, the intel came from hunters.”
That made sense. She took a deep breath, but relaxation was beyond her. “I don’t understand. Why would hunters contact werewolves and why would the wolves have anything to do with the hunters?” That didn’t make any sense. All wolves hated bounty hunters. It was bred into them from the day they were born. They were natural enemies.
“I’ve come across this before. The bounty hunters use the wolves to do their dirty work for them. They let us kill one another without putting any of their men in danger. And the purist werewolves don’t care. All they care about is keeping the species line strong and untainted.”
“That’s crazy.”
“Yeah, it is.” Isaiah raised his head. “Considering how our species is clinging to survival, every member needs to be protected.”
Something deep inside her broke open and a warm, healing balm enveloped her. “Then you don’t agree with them?”
A low growl came from deep inside Isaiah. “Hell, no. What kind of male do you think I am?”
Pain flashed in his eyes and then it was gone. He stepped away and she felt the loss of his warmth.
“That’s why you didn’t tell me.” He glared at her and she felt the full weight of his displeasure.
Emotions pummeled her. Fear warred with desire, making her lightheaded. It took her a moment to make sense of his words. “You knew?”
“I suspected as much. It wasn’t hard. You’re a female alone with two pups. The rest of them would have been children or barely adults when they came to be with you. There’s only one reason all of them wouldn’t have been within the protection of a pack.”
“I think I need to sit down.” Her head was spinning. She lurched for the desk and sat down on the corner. Isaiah’s hand shot out to steady her while she tried to absorb everything he’d told her.
The sensual tension between them sizzled, but she shoved it aside. Bounty hunters knew about them. Werewolves knew about the half-breed members of her pack.
It hit her with the force of a sledgehammer. Their home had been compromised. Chicago was no longer safe. Haven was lost to them forever.
Tears threatened, but she blinked them back. She’d done harder things than this before. She would survive. Her pack would survive.
But there was something she could do.
Isaiah wasn’t a part of this. Nothing he’d said indicated they knew anything about him or his involvement with her pack. It might kill her, but she had to do this. She had to send him away again. And this time it had to be for good.
He was a pure werewolf with a pack of his own. He didn’t need to be a part of this mess. She and her small pack would spend the next five or ten years running and hiding until it was safe to set up a home base again. She couldn’t ask that of him.
Taking a deep breath, Meredith faced the male she loved. “Thank you for telling me this. We’ll take care of it.”
His expression went blank. “That’s it?”
She forced herself to shrug nonchalantly though her heart was breaking. Her wolf was howling in pain at the thought of never seeing her mate again. Because that’s what he was. And she would protect his life at all costs. “What else did you expect?”
“What else indeed?” he muttered.
He turned to leave and her hand automatically reached for him. He opened the door and she closed her eyes, not able to watch him leave again. This was the third time she’d sent him away. Maybe it was karma for what she’d done, for leaving her pack and taking her children with her. Being forced to do this to him was killing her even though she knew it was the right thing, the only thing to do.
The door closed softly and she let out a soft moan of pain. Wrapping her arms around herself, she hunched over as pain radiated from her heart to every part of her body and soul. Tears seeped from the corners of her eyes.
He was truly gone.
Warm arms surrounded her, pulling her gently against a strong chest. Her head shot up and her eyes widened as Isaiah stared back at her. His expression was no longer blank. Fire burned from his eyes and determination filled his face.
“You cheated,” she accused. “You didn’t really leave.” She couldn’t believe he was here.
“So sue me,” he growled. He swooped down, captured her lips with his and thrust his tongue into her mouth, devouring her whole.
Chapter Fifteen
Isaiah didn’t know whether to shake Meredith or kiss her. The maddening female was going to send him away again. Or she was going to try to.
He wasn’t going anywhere. Not this time.
He’d gotten as far as the door, when it had hit him what she was trying to do. Her eyes had been closed, so he’d shut the door softly and waited. The cry that came from her almost broke his heart. It echoed the loss, the pain that he’d felt when he’d walked away from her the last time.
No more.
They belonged together. She was his woman. His mate. He’d do whatever it took to make her see that.
He knew he’d rather cut off his right arm than hurt her. Taking her in his arms and kissing her senseless seemed like the only reasonable thing to do. So he did.
Her lips were soft, yielding to his. Her tongue tangled with his, stroking, touching. Their breath mingled, combined, until they were one.
Isaiah cupped her jaw, stroking her cheek with his thumb. Her skin was like the finest silk. She made a small sound in the back of her throat. Her hands touched his chest, branding him with her fiery touch. Her fingers slid over his shoulders, clinging to him through the thick fabric of his shirt.
His cock was throbbing, aching to be buried in her hot sheath. He had to have her. Now.
He tore his mouth from hers and grabbed the hem of her sweater. “I’ve got to see you.” Sweat beaded on his forehead as desperation seized him.
“Yes.” She raised her arms, allowing him to remove the garment. Before he’d tossed it aside she was dragging his flannel shirt down his arms. Their limbs tangled with the fabric and he fought to get the shirt off.
Meredith didn’t wait for the shirt to hit the floor before her hands were buried beneath his T-shirt. He groaned as her hot hands stroked over his abs and up to his pecs.
“I love the way you feel. So hard. So strong,” she murmured.
Desperate, he yanked the T-shirt off. She gave a low hum of contentment and leaned forward, licking one of his flat nipples.
Isaiah thought the top might blow off his head. He caught her long braid in his hand, winding it around his palm. Using his grip, he tipped her head back and kissed her. He could kiss her for the next four hundred years and never tire of her taste, of the way her mouth felt under his.
He released his hold on her hair and stroked his hands over her shoulders. Her skin was like cream and he wanted to lap her up. He hooked his fingers in the thin straps of her bra and slowly lowered them over her arms. The cups flowed downward, revealing her bountiful breasts.
Lowering his head, he kissed the swell of the lush mounds before drifting lower. Her nipples were already taut with desire. He teased one tip with his tongue. Meredith arched her back, offering her breasts to him.
Satisfaction flowed through him. She wanted him. And he wanted her. Nothing short of an all-out attack would stop him from having her.
He pulled back and surv
eyed his work. Her nipple was red and wet, like some luscious berry. He blew softly on it, wringing a moan from between her sweet lips. It was music to his ears and a balm to his ragged soul.
Too impatient for him to wait any longer, Meredith attacked the button of his jeans. Now it was his turn to moan. The zipper came down and her hand closed around his hard, hot flesh. She gripped the base and stroked her hand all the way up to the flared head.
A pearly bead of liquid seeped from the slit and she used her thumb to spread it over the tip. This was going to be over before he got inside her if he didn’t stop her. He was too close, too needy. And he desperately wanted to be inside her when he came.
“I want to taste you.” Her words went through him like a wildfire burning out of control.
He wanted that too. But not now. “Later,” he ground out as he gripped her wrist and slowly removed her hand.
“Now,” she countered, curling her lip into a seductive pout.
The woman was lethal. He moved, banging into a chair. He shoved it out of his way as he backed her against the nearest wall. “Later,” he repeated. He went down on one knee before her and worked the fastenings of her jeans. Sliding his hands inside the opening, he savored the feel of her silky panties against his hands. He’d love to feel them rubbing against his cock, but he’d come for sure if he did.
Swearing, he thrust his hands beneath the waistband, trying not to notice how hot and supple her ass was as he pushed both panties and jeans down over her thighs.
The material bunched around her ankles and he swore again. His cock was bobbing in front of him, a stark reminder of how damn bad he needed to get inside her.
A soft laugh stopped him. He looked up and his heart turned over. Meredith was smiling at him, her blue eyes glowing with desire and something more. Something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. All he knew was he’d never seen a more beautiful sight in his life. Her lips were red and moist and inviting. Her bra was shoved beneath her breasts, showcasing them to perfection.
He took a deep breath, struggling for control. He was tearing her clothing from her like some animal. And that’s what he was. A werewolf desperate for his mate. He might be partially human, but the wolf half of him wouldn’t be denied.
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