Fate Bound (Fate Bound Trilogy Book 1)

by Madeline Freeman

  He shrugs and I nudge his shoulder playfully. “What can I say? I liked seeing you all possessive. Very alpha. Very sexy.” He snakes an arm around my back and pulls me flush against his body. The mischievous sparkle from moments ago is gone, replaced by a smolder that hollows out my stomach, displacing the ravenous fire brimming there. He kisses me, crushing my lips and taking my breath away. My wolf approves and urges me to return his embrace, to press myself closer still, but the fire inside me rekindles. I need to feed.

  When I push him away, disappointment flashes in his eyes. “What’s wrong?” He glances over both shoulders and the corners of his mouth twitch. “Would you like to move this inside?”

  “No,” I say quickly, realizing too late it’s the wrong response. I absolutely want to continue what we’re doing, and being somewhere alone with Jack has never been more appealing. “I mean, yes—just, not right now.”

  His eyebrows draw together. “I’ve got to tell you—you’re sending some pretty mixed signals right now.”

  I sigh. “I’m not trying to. I’m just… I was about to go for a run.”

  “Sounds great.” He takes a step back and turns toward the woods. When I don’t imitate his posture, he tilts his head. “Unless you don’t want company.”

  I twist my fingers together, my gaze dropping. “I kind of wanted to go alone. After everything that happened today I’m a little… hungry.”

  “And you didn’t think you could tell me?”

  Embarrassment sweeps through me. I’m not sure why it didn’t occur to me to tell him to begin with. It’s not as if he hasn’t helped me hunt already. “I’m sorry. I just feel so weird about it. Like, I’m just going to go off and suck some blood. Be back later.”

  He brushes his fingers under my chin until I look up at him. “I hate vampires—have longer than I’ve been a wolf. But you are not one of them. Don’t ever feel like you need to hide who you are from me.”

  I allow his words to sink into me, to calm me. He’s right, of course. There’s not one thing he’s done since learning I’m a hybrid that would lead me to believe I have to keep anything from him. “Okay. But I do think I want to do this on my own. This time.”

  “Of course. Whatever you need.”

  I try to step around him, but he stills my progress long enough to press a kiss to my lips. By the time he releases me, I’m smiling. “Will you be at your place?”

  He nods. “Probably there or with Cassandra. Find me when you’re done.”

  Feeling his eyes on me, I shift and run off toward the nearest set of trees. I’ve done a lot of running in the last few days—mostly toward or away from dangerous situations. But this is nothing like that. I allow myself to feel the ground, to smell the air, to feel the wind as it rushes through my fur. It’s exhilarating.

  I run as fast as I can, testing the limits of my speed. I’m getting farther and farther from the enclave, but I’m always aware of its location in space. I get the sense that no matter how far away I get, I’ll always know exactly where home is.

  For a long time, I concern myself more with speed and agility than stealth, and the noise I generate scares off all the wildlife. Eventually I slow down and decide to test my skills at hunting. Last time I had Jack’s help, but I can’t rely on that all the time. I need to know I can catch prey myself, that if it comes down to it, I can do it on my own.

  It takes a long time before I catch the scent. A deer. I don’t know how I’m so sure before I can even see it, but I am. I approach it as stealthily as I can. Night has fallen in earnest now, and I see it lying down among some trees. It’s not exactly the kind of hunting I need to practice, but I figure for tonight, simply locating it on my own is good enough.

  I shift back to human before drawing near to it. I’m able to get within feet before it senses my presence, but before it can get to its hooves, I’m on it. I sink my teeth into its neck and drink long gulps. Like last time, I don’t take enough to harm it, but before I climb off its back, a twig snaps and I freeze. The scent on the air tells me someone is approaching. Someone familiar. For a split second I smile, the familiarity in the aroma making me think it’s Jack. But it’s not Jack.

  In a flash, I’m on my feet and I’ve spun around to face the man who approaches. “Luke?”

  The moonlight filtering through the branches makes his blonde hair look silver. He smiles, teeth flashing. “Fancy meeting you here.”

  “Are you stalking me?” I can’t think of any other reason he might be in the forest at this time of night. Unless he’s on the hunt himself, but given my interactions with him so far, I highly doubt he’s interested in animal blood.

  He holds up his hands innocently. “Don’t flatter yourself. I was on my way to a favorite spot of mine when I sensed you were near. You’re closer to civilization than I think you realized.”

  The weight of the situation crashes on me. What am I doing so far from the enclave alone? I’m vulnerable out here. I should’ve let Jack come with me. What if Luke pulls the same trick he did when I showed up at the mansion? What if he convinces me to go with him? Or, worse, what if he’s figured out what I am? So many people already want to do me harm—is he one more to add to the list?

  The corner of Luke’s mouth quirks upward. “You’re afraid of me. May ask what’s happened? If memory serves, you had quite a different opinion last time I saw you. Are the wolves who spirited you away brainwashing you or something?”

  I can’t suppress a sneer. “Like you care.”

  “Normally, I wouldn’t. But I won’t lie—you fascinate me.” He takes a step closer, and I direct all my willpower into not shrinking back. “Our kind don’t usually spend time with dogs, and I can smell them on you.” I blink, and when I reopen my eyes, he’s standing so close his breath tickles my face. He inhales deeply, his nose wrinkling. “What interest do they have in you, anyway? And why do you want to stay with them?”

  Relief sweeps through me. He doesn’t know what I am. Good—too many do already. “That’s my business.”

  His face hardens. I can tell he’s the kind of person who’s used to people giving him what he wants. “I could make you tell me.”

  After our last encounter, I have no doubt he could. Cassandra told me about how a sire can impose his will on the vampire he created. As much as I want to dare him, I’m afraid he’ll follow through on his threat. And if he starts forcing me to talk, what will he learn? What else could he make me do?

  He traces a finger down my cheek. “You should leave them and come with me. I’ll show you what life can really be like for our kind. You don’t have to feed on poor woodland creatures.”

  I take a step back. “What would you rather I do? Drink the blood of unsuspecting people instead? No thanks.”

  He tilts his head and studies me. “Have you ever tasted human blood? Besides when you came to me. You burned through that too quickly to really appreciate the taste, the effect.”

  I swallow, fighting to hold his gaze. I don’t want to tell him the truth—besides animal blood and what he gave me, the only other kind I’ve had is Jack’s.

  But he doesn’t seem to expect me to answer. “You have no idea what you’re missing out on. Come with me. I promise, if you don’t like what I have to offer, you can go back to your pets.”

  A voice in the back of my mind urges me to go with him. He could show me more than I could ever imagine. I’m not living up to my full potential, and Luke can teach me so much more than Jack can.

  No sooner do I think his name than his face flashes in my mind. Jack. My alpha—my other half. As alluring as Luke’s offer is, I don’t want to leave Jack. The whole time I’ve known him, the only thing he’s wanted is to take care of me. He could have pressed me to merge before the council meeting, but he refused to take advantage of the situation to force me to do something I’m not ready for. He respects me and my needs. Luke only cares about his own.

  But when I look into his electric blue eyes, my resolve wavers again. What
if he’s right and I really am missing out on something?

  I open my mouth, but before I can speak, a sound catches my attention. The scent comes next, and I immediately recognize it for what it is—a vampire.

  Luke curses. “I’ll be right there,” he calls.

  I don’t wait for him to turn back to me. Taking advantage of his momentary distraction, I run. My human form isn’t as agile as my wolf, but I wait until I am far out of Luke’s line of sight before shifting.

  I want to go back to Jack. I want to go home.

  Chapter Nineteen

  I smell the bonfire before I reach the enclave. Joyful shouts rend the air. When I finally emerge through the trees, an orange glow peeks over the top of the meeting house hill. It’s not entirely surprising—the pack weres seem to hang out most nights of the week. This week, a party is more important than ever. After Mel’s defection and the loss of the dozen who followed her, spending time with those who are left and remembering what being a pack means is crucial.

  As alpha female, I know I should go—but after my interaction with Luke in the woods, I can’t bring myself to. Not yet. Maybe after a little time alone or after a really, really hot shower, I’ll be in a more social mood. But seeing the man responsible for my vampire side reminds me that our need for pack unity is my fault. If I weren’t a hybrid, Mel wouldn’t have had the same ammunition against me and Jack. Those who left with her wouldn’t have felt their alpha had placed more value on my life than theirs.

  Skye would still be alive.

  As I follow the curve of the road toward my house, I hope Lillie is still at Maggie’s place, keeping watch over Cassandra. If she’s at the house, it’ll be because she’s looking for me, and I doubt anything short of an alpha command would make her give up on dragging me to the party.

  I release a relieved sigh when the darkened windows of my cabin come into view, but before I can start for it, my eyes are drawn to Jack’s. Light spills through the large window at the front of the house, and a flicker tells me Jack is inside.

  Suddenly going home and being alone don’t sound as appealing. He did want me to come find him when I was done, and the idea of being in his presence calms me. I take off at a run and pad effortlessly up the hill. I don’t shift to human until I’m on the porch, and before I can knock, the door swings open.

  Jack smiles, holding a wine glass brimming with amber liquid in his outstretched hand. “I was hoping you’d come here instead of checking out the bonfire.”

  I relieve him of the glass as I step over the threshold. “You knew I was coming?”

  He nods, sweeping his hand toward the black leather couch. “It works better when distances are smaller, but I can sense members of the pack. It’s kind of like… feeling their energy.” As I settle on the cushions, he crosses to the long counter separating the living room from the kitchen and picks up another full glass of wine. “I knew when you were getting closer to the enclave. It’s something you can do too, with practice. But I have a feeling you’ll get the hang of it pretty quickly.”

  When he settles beside me on the couch, he takes a long sip of wine. I realize I haven’t had any and take a tentative taste, not entirely sure what to expect. I’ve done my share of drinking in my nineteen years, but I’ve never had occasion to try wine. It’s not exactly the drink of choice at the kinds of bars that don’t card. I’m surprised by its crispness and the strong fruity undertones.

  “This is really good.” I feel silly—childish, even—for saying it, but Jack only smiles.

  “I’m glad you like it. It’s one of my favorites.”

  My eyebrows hike upward. “You strike me more as a beer guy.”

  He shrugs. “I do enjoy a good beer, but my father was French. I started drinking wine with dinner as soon as he was sure I wasn’t going to spill any.”

  I sit a little straighter at the mention of his father. On my first night, Lillie mentioned how little she knows about Jack’s history, so the casual comment is unexpected. “You haven’t told me much about your family.”

  “There’s not much to tell,” he says, setting the glass down on the low table in front of us. I recognize his tone immediately—it’s the same one I’ve used a hundred times before when someone would ask me to talk about my past. He doesn’t want to talk about his family because something about them still causes him pain after all these years. I’m sure of it.

  I take another sip of wine, trying to come up with another topic. “Why aren’t you at the bonfire? It seems like something one of us should attend.”

  “I put in an appearance already.” Some of the tension in his shoulders drains and he picks up his glass again. “Sawyer and Dakota are both there. The two of us could go back later, if you want, but it’s not like we need to chaperone things.”

  Jack draws one leg up onto the couch as he angles himself toward me, his knee brushing against my thigh for a split second. Sparks dance on my skin where he made contact and part of me wonders whether we’re the ones in need of a chaperone. My body tingles when I remember how he looked at me before I went for my run—the way he kissed me. I’d needed to stop him then, to quench my hunger, but now there’s nothing else vying for my attention. I could get caught up in this moment—in the wine, and the way I always feel around Jack. The wolf within me likes the idea. She senses our connection, and it’s all she needs to want to pick up where we left off earlier.

  But I am not my wolf, and when Jack leans forward, I bring the wine to my lips and drink until the glass is empty. My distraction gone, I spring to my feet and cross to the counter where the open bottle sits. Jack’s eyes are on me as I pour another glass. I take my time at the task and sip a small measure before turning, but he’s still watching me.

  “What’s going on?” he asks.

  “Nothing,” I say quickly. “Just… wanted more wine.” I hold up the glass as evidence.

  “You’re acting strange.” His expression is curious, but not accusatory. “I’m not… making you nervous, am I?”

  “No.” I sip some more wine. I should slow down, since I’m not sure how the alcohol in it will affect me, but drinking it is an easy stall. My human side and my wolf side are warring within me—one cautious, the other impulsive. I’m not entirely sure how to put everything into words without hurting Jack’s feelings.

  I set the glass on the counter and return to the couch. I came here tonight because I wanted to see Jack—and he’d clearly hoped I’d come. The least I can do is attempt to explain what’s spinning through my head. “I like being near you. I like the way it feels—the way you make me feel. I’m drawn to you in a way I’ve never experienced before.”

  He nods enthusiastically. “It’s the same for me. It has to be because we’re halves.”

  He brushes his fingers along the back of my hand and the sensation makes me close my eyes for a moment. There’s more I need to say, but it’s hard to think straight when he’s so near. “But it doesn’t change the fact I don’t know you very well. You’re a hundred-year-old half-French werewolf. Beyond that, you’re pretty much a mystery to me.”

  The corners of his mouth twitch. He exhales through his nose and leans forward to pick up his wine glass, but he doesn’t drink from it. Instead he holds it by the stem with his right hand, rests his left elbow on his thigh, and cradles his face in his hand. He spins the glass between his index finger and thumb. “I don’t like talking about the past. I got the feeling we were the same in that way.”

  I take the glass from him and set it down before taking his hand in mine. “Don’t tell me about the past. Tell me about you. What are some of your favorite things? What kind of music do you listen to? What’s the best thing about being a wolf?” He laces his fingers through mine and I smile. “I want to get to know you so all these romantic feelings don’t feel so out of nowhere.”

  The corner of his mouth quirks upward. “Romantic feelings?”

  I tug on his hand. “You know what I mean.”

  He allows t
he momentum to pull him inches from my face. “I think I do.”

  I want to kiss him—badly. If my wolf had it her way, he’d be in my arms already. But I’m not ready to give in. Not yet. Not entirely. I plant a chaste peck on his lips and lean back. He takes the hint and backs up, leaving our hands linked.

  “Favorite things?” he asks. “That was the first topic, right?”

  We talk for hours. It’s incredible how much we can say about ourselves without drawing too deeply on our pasts. The topic does come up, of course. I tell him how my mom died after I was born and how my dad never remarried. I explain how he died of cancer, but I don’t dwell on the time I spent bouncing from house to house after that. He mentions his mother was a Cherokee Indian, and that unlike me, he wasn’t an only child. But that’s all he says about his family. I suppose I can’t blame him; it’s difficult speaking of the dead. I can’t imagine it gets much easier as time passes.

  Given he’s acquired so much more life experience than I have, I’m surprised how easy it is to talk with him. So much of our time together has consisted of toe-curling kisses and adrenaline-fueled escapes, part of me worried that when it came down to it, we wouldn’t have much in common. But conversation flows more freely between the two of us than it does even between Lillie and me—something I was beginning to think was impossible, given that she’s quickly become the closest friend I’ve ever had.

  I also learn he’s musically inclined. He’s spent decades studying and practicing playing piano, guitar, and drums, and he offers to play a few songs for me. His singing voice isn’t that of a rock star, but it’s warm and clear. I’m pretty sure I could happily listen to it for hours.

  I lay my head on the couch’s arm rest while he strums the guitar, allowing the music to infuse every part of my being. As the sounds float around me, my body relaxes and I slip into the space between wakefulness and dreams. Jack’s songs are like lullabies.

  When the music ceases, my eyelids flutter. The gentle weight of a blanket settles over me. “Shh, go back to sleep,” Jack murmurs.