by Tl Reeve
Osirus shrugged. “I called in a favor.” He strolled over to her.
“Fuck,” Jenna said. “Tell me it wasn’t one of the wonder sisters.”
He laughed. “Wonder sisters?”
“Keeley or Danielle or both.” She curled her lip. This was why she had to get away. Everyone was up in her business, trying to set her up with Osirus, when they never cared about how she might feel about it.
“No. Neither of them. Call it a hunch.” He gazed at her. His dark brown eyes swirled with lust and intention. “What are you doing, sweet pea?”
“Nothing. I’m taking the advice of my psychologist,” she answered, refusing to meet his stare.
“You weren’t going to tell anyone?” He cocked a brow.
“Why does it matter, O?”
He growled. “Why does it matter?” He blew out a breath and shook his head. “We care about you. All of us. If something happened to you, how would we ever know?”
“Nothing will happen to me. I can take care of myself.”
“That’s the problem, Jenna. You can always take care of yourself, even when you shouldn’t have to,” he yelled.
She flinched, recoiling from him. “Fuck you, O. I don’t owe you anything. I don’t owe anyone anything. I did my job. I did Rapier’s job. I protected Jasmine and the girls for ten fucking years. Then three weeks ago, I ended all the bullshit so Rapier didn’t have to get his hands dirty. If I want to take some time to myself, I fucking earned it.”
Osirus nodded. “You did. I don’t deny any of that, Jenna. What I don’t like is that you’re sneaking off, like whatever you got going on needs to be kept secret.”
Jenna bristled at his accusation. “I’m making it easier on all of us.”
“You sure about that?”
“Yes,” she said, exasperated by the conversation. “Look at what you’ve done! You closed a fucking road, just to what, Osirus? What is this all about?”
“Damn it, Jenna, I love you,” Osirus shouted. “Utah does too. I marked you last night. I claimed you.”
“How do you know I claimed you?” She winced at her tone. It was true. He had marked her, and she’d let him. However, she hadn’t set teeth to him, asserting her mating with him.
“Because of the way you melted all over my dick when I said, mine.” He gave her a smug grin. “Besides, you’re not alone anymore.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” She narrowed her eyes, not liking the superior way he stared at her.
“You’re carrying my cub,” he said then leaned in. “When I came inside you during your estrus, I knocked you up. You’ve got a piece of me and you inside you.”
“You’re full of shit,” Jenna snarled. “I’d fucking know it.”
“Denial is not a river in Egypt, mate,” Osirus teased.
Jenna flipped him off. “You’re lying. I’m not pregnant.”
“Fine. You need this time away,” Osirus said. “Maybe while you’re away, you’ll wake the fuck up and see we’re mates and you’re pregnant with my child.”
She shook her head. No, this couldn’t be happening. She couldn’t be pregnant. They’d only had sex a few times. Plus, she’d know. She’d sense it. Or whatever. Jasmine told her she’d known almost immediately when Rapier knocked her ass up. So, it would work the same for Jenna. Except, she didn’t feel any different.
“Whatever, O. You’re only saying that so I don’t leave.” She rolled her eyes at him, willing herself to stay calm.
“The truth has a sneaky way of biting you in the ass, mate.” He stepped away from her vehicle. “I’ll give you three weeks.”
“Well, isn’t that nice of you,” Jenna snarked. “Three whole weeks.”
He nodded. “You’re damn right. Because in three weeks, if you’re not home, I’m coming for you.” Osirus walked around the front of his truck. As he put one foot in, he yelled, “Mates are forever, and I’ll always find you.”
Jenna sat there staring after the white Dryer Construction truck as it sped off to the exit a few hundred feet away. What the hell just happened to her? How had everything spiraled out of control? She started up her vehicle and continued on her way. The idea of being pregnant crept into her mind over and over again, before she shut it down. No. She couldn’t be pregnant, because none of this was her future. Her life was meant to be spent alone, and by God that was how she’d live it.
Fuck Osirus and all his bullshit lies.
* * * *
Two weeks later...
“Breaking now!”
The urgent tone of the news reporter drew Jenna’s attention from the window overlooking Huntington Beach. She’d been there for three days now, and she loved it. Urban areas weren’t great for shifters. They couldn’t shift as much as they wanted to, but they could get lost in all the smells surrounding them, which had been pretty perfect for her.
“We’re over the scene of a rescue taking place in Window Rock, Arizona. Reports are sketchy for the moment, but let’s go live to the scene with our affiliate WKOA, News Leader 7’s Belinda Marks.”
“Thanks, Hank,” Belinda said, holding her finger to her ear. “Here is what I can tell you.” She glanced down at the pad in her hand. “At noon today, a call came in to the local sheriff’s department about two missing children. They had last been seen near a small playground inside a subdivision. They were described as being between the ages of five and nine and both were wearing shorts and t-shirts.”
“Any word on who made the initial call?” Hank asked.
“No, as of now the Sheriff, Kalkin Raferty, is keeping those details private as they continue with their investigation. However, what I can tell you is that they have been found.” She smiled. “According to the reports coming in, a boy along with his companion, Ajax, were training nearby with two more adults when the dog led them to the boys.”
“Astonishing,” Hank said. “What kind of dog is it?”
“According to the website where Ajax came from, he is a rescue. He’s a Pit Bull, and he’d been trained to help the hearing impaired. His handler was led to the children, who are all being cared for at a local hospital.” Commotion broke loose behind Belinda as Jenna sat down on her bed. “It looks like we’re about to get an update. Let’s go.”
The woman squeezed between the reporters pushing her way to the front. There stood Kalkin Raferty, Caden, the county search and rescue team, along with Utah and Ajax. As always, Kalkin frowned at everyone who stood before him. The bastard hated being in the spotlight, and she didn’t blame him. It came with all kinds of responsibility even she didn’t want.
“At noon, the Apache County Sheriff’s Department was called about lost children. Immediately, search and rescue were activated to begin systematically checking the location of where they children were last seen. Within twenty minutes of the initial call going out, we were called once more to announce the children had been found.” Kalkin casted his gaze toward where Utah stood, chest puffed out.
“Utah Blake along with his companion Ajax happened to be out with his teachers.” Kalkin pointed two each man beside Utah. “Mark Hill and Sam Davis for a little instructional time, so Ajax could learn about Utah and vice versa. The companion alerted all three to the boys’ whereabouts then calmly sat beside the boys while Sam called 9-1-1.”
The reporters began to lob questions at Kalkin, and the big-ass Alpha raised his hand. “We won’t be taking any questions at this time. We still have an open investigation right now, and Utah and his companions still need to give their full statements to the authorities. When we have more information, we will give it to you. Thank you.”
He stalked away, pulling Utah and Ajax to his side. Shit. Jenna raked her fingers through her hair and tugged. She needed to go back. Even if she wasn’t ready, Utah needed her. And, if she was being perfectly honest with herself, she needed all of them too. She gathered her things then gave the scenic view from her hotel one final look, before she dashed from the room.
Fear
filled her. Osirus had told her, while they lay cuddled together, that Utah’s mother would always come looking for Utah. It’d been why he’d traveled so much before finding Rapier and his brothers. He hadn’t wanted to stay in one place too long just in case. The bitch had a hard-on for Utah. The primal need to kill her offspring meant one thing to Jenna—the woman was feral when she conceived, and the need for blood still ran through the bitch’s veins.
I can be home by nightfall, she thought as she exited the elevator. She could be there to help Utah navigate through the bullshit she knew was coming. Jenna stopped at the front desk and smiled at the woman behind it. “I’ve had an emergency come up back home. I need to check out.”
“Of course,” the woman said. “I hope all is well.” She handed Jenna a copy of her receipt. “We have refunded the remaining days to your card, and the money should be refundable in two to five business days.”
“Thank you.” Jenna snatched the printout from the counter and hurried out the door.
As much as she told herself she didn’t want to go home, she also had to. She was putting off the inevitable. The confrontation between her and Osirus had haunted her the whole time. She couldn’t deny the attraction any longer. She couldn’t deny who she was to him. She ached for her mate and damn it, she knew when she returned home, he’d likely rub it in her face, but she didn’t care. She might be there because she couldn’t handle being without him, but she also knew Utah needed her more now.
If the rumors Osirus had heard were true, this would give Utah’s mother a chance to enter his life again. She’d be damned if the bitch who killed Utah’s siblings would ever get her hands on Utah. Like with Raymond, Jenna would put a bullet in Utah’s mother’s brain before she laid another deranged hand on that boy.
I’m coming for you, Utah. I’m so fucking proud of you.
Also Available from
TL REEVE and MICHELE RYAN
Kalkin
Apache County Shifters, Book 1
Included with Kalkin…
Twins
Apache County Shifters, Book 1.5
Caden
Apache County Shifters, Book 2
Included with Caden…
Teacher
Apache County Shifters, Book 2.5
Rapier
Apache County Shifters, Book 3
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Unbreakable
Leaving the Past Behind, Book 1
Entrapped
Leaving the Past Behind, Book 2
*
Rule Breaker
Project ROOT, Book 1
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
TL Reeve, a multi-published author with Cobblestone Press, Decadent Publishing, Evernight Publishing, and Loose-Id, was born out of a love of family and a bond that became unbreakable. Living in Alabama, TL misses Los Angeles, and will one day return to the beaches of Southern California to ride the waves at Huntington Beach. When not writing something hot and sexy, TL can be found curled up with a good book, or working on homework with a cute little pixie.
You can sign up for her newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/bv07fn
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Michele Ryan is an author with Decadent Publishing, After Glows Publishing, and now Twisted E-Publishing. Michele embraced her creative passion and co-authored several books with fellow author and best friend TL Reeve. Michele has also published two solo novellas.
Michele is a lifelong resident of the state of New Jersey, along with her husband and three children, whom she refers to as her hobbits. When Michele is not plotting or writing, she can be found either volunteering at her children’s school or reading.
Twisted E Publishing, LLC
www.twistedepublishing.com
