by Jade Royal
“It’s for Rita,” Kellan said firmly. Jayce’s eyes flashed between human and wolf as he tried to control his breathing.
“I’m about to lose my shit Kellan. And I swear to god I’m gonna start killing every fucking body left and right if I don’t get my mate right the fuck now,” the last bit of his sentence was blurred between a growl and his normal voice. When Kellan looked at him, his features were beginning change his brows thickening and growing and his nose transforming into a snout. Even though they weren’t werewolves they often appeared that way in between shifts when the human side was trying to control the shift.
Can’t control your wolf, can you? Maverick cackled in Kellan’s head. Jayce at the same time roared as he tried not to shift. Jaxson and Tristan held him down as he began to thrash and fight.
You better keep him away from me! Or else I’m going to kill her!
What the fuck do you want huh? I want my damn wolf back.
Same thing I wanted too but you refused to give in didn’t you? Remember that, bitch? Maverick growled.
You know damn well I can’t control a rogue wolf. So you decide what the fuck you’re doing before he gets loose and come after you. At that point I can’t stop him from ripping you to pieces.” Maverick went quiet as he pondered what Kellan had just said.
“What are you going to do?” Rita asked, her voice shaking. She was slowly losing confidence in anything Maverick was about to do. And with her pack right there to save her, Rita didn’t want her sacrifices to be for nothing. She didn’t want to die when her freedom was this close.
“He doesn’t have Bliss or the other she-wolves with him,” Maverick said.
“Why would he? He knows this would be dangerous!”
“Now you can prove your loyalty to me,” Maverick breathed into her ear.
“I will let you go. But you have to lure the she-wolves to me.”
“What?”
“You heard me. They trust you. I have a club in town. You need to convince them to follow you there without the male wolves. Got that?” Rita had no other choice but to nod.
“When and where?”
“In one week. The place is called Rogue. You don’t bring those wolves Rita, and it’s your life on the line. But first, you’re my ticket out of here.” A booming roar once again filled the nighttime. Powers or not, Rita knew the sound of her mate. A feeling of dread filled her. Something was wrong with him.
“Let’s go,” Maverick ordered. He dragged her away from the back door and took her to a side door. He dragged her out of the house and towards the woods away from where her pack was
Kellan could scent Maverick on the move. But Jayce was in an intense battle for control that was going over the edge. He threw Tristan and Jaxson off him in all his fury. Kellan was deeply concerned because he still hadn’t shifted. It was one thing to lose control and shift into your wolf, but it was another thing to lose control and not shift. If he didn’t give control over to his animal, he was going to severe the tie he had to his wolf.
“Jayce just shift!” Kellan boomed.
“I’m gonna kill someone,” he spoke his voice not even his own. Kellan understood the struggle, knowing that if he gave over to the wolf the animal would do something unthinkable. Kellan was going to force Jayce to shift, but Rita’s scent caught his attention.
“They’re running that way,” Dell pointed out. Kellan took a step forward but had to stop when Maverick’s voice filled his head.
Don’t even bother. I’m letting your wolf loose. But you’re going to have to let me go. You come after me she’s dead. You let me go, and she’s all yours. What’s it going to be?
Just let her go, Kellan gritted. Maverick didn’t answer him. Kellan began pacing feeling uneasy. This whole night had gone to shit, and he had no idea what the hell to do.
“You’re just going to let him get away?” Hera asked him.
“Shut up,” Kellan snapped.
“Weak son of a bitch,” Hera spat at him. She headed towards the direction of Maverick’s scent. Kellan didn’t even bother to stop her.
The she-wolf that wants you is coming your way. Just make sure to send my wolf my way. Kellan told Maverick. Again Maverick didn’t answer, but Kellan could still smell him, so he knew Maverick was still around.
Maverick got a couple of yards away from his mansion to a section of the woods that he knew would be safe for him to escape without being followed. He scented Hera coming close and didn’t make any move. She came running through the woods until she bumped into him and Rita.
“Please take me back Maverick,” she rushed out. Maverick glared at her. His trust was severed when it came to Hera, but he didn’t doubt she could be useful to him. He let go of Rita and quickly unlocked her cuffs.
“Come,” he ordered to Hera. He clamped the silver cuffs on Hera as Rita fell to the ground as her power resurfaced too strongly.
“But this time you’re wearing silver cuffs,” he said.
“Let’s get the fuck outta here. Remember the plan, Rita.” And then he was gone. Rita’s senses were being distorted as her power was being restored. She didn’t have the energy or the wherewithal to focus on what Maverick was doing. The scent of her pack filled her nose. Standing on shaky feet, she wobbled from tree to tree. Jayce’s wolf was in distress more than Rita had ever experienced from him.
Jayce, she called out in his mind. Jayce snap out of it. I’m free. Rita clamped her eyes shut to focus on realigning her powers. She was going to fight through her weakness.
Rita? Baby? Jayce’s heart rate began to slow hearing his mate’s voice in his head. His wolf began to retreat giving Jayce all the control to go and get their mate. Her voice sounded weak in his head, so he knew she needed him. When he finally let his anger retreat all he could smell was his mate’s sparkling scent. It smacked him so hard in his face he couldn’t speak for a moment. Then he felt the pull of the mating bond. The bond that thumped harder and harder the more he craved his mate, the more he longed to have her in his arms. His wolf features receded bringing back his human brows and nose. Not wasting any time, he scrambled in the direction of his mate’s scent.
Rita could smell Jayce getting close to her. She smiled weakly knowing that she was indeed free for the time being, and she would be back home with her pack. Fighting through her drained energy, she used the trees to help her move through the woods. She kept it up until she was able to move the pace of a jog.
“Rita!” Jayce called out for her.
“Jayce!” Her jog turned into a run. But then she spotted him. “Jayce,” she sighed letting the words tumble from her mouth. Despite her weakened state, she felt her legs begin to move. And then she was full on sprinting. He was running towards her, jumping over branches and debris. They reached each other in seconds. Jayce caught his mate in his arms and held her tightly. Maverick’s scent lingered all over her, but Jayce didn’t even care. How could he when his mate was finally back in his arms. Her body trembled, and she held onto him as if she couldn’t believe she was free,
“It’s okay baby,” he kissed her temple.
“I’m never letting you go.” Hot tears streamed down her face landing on his shoulder. Jayce lifted her and wrapped her legs around his waist so he could carry her back. His wolf was prancing around with his tongue lolling out of his mouth in his content. Rita relaxed in his hold and closed her eyes feeling the security she’d been longing for.
Chapter Twelve
Jayce carried Rita all the way back to their new home. She was drifting in and out of sleep, the feeling of being in her mate’s arms too comfy to resist. The rest of the pack walked with them, but their pace was slow lulling Rita to sleep even more. They walked for some time before Jayce was patting the side of her thigh lightly.
“We’re here,” he whispered to her. Rita pried her eyes open as the sound of a waterfall filled her eardrums. She blinked and gasped.
“Wow. What is this place?”
“This is our new home.�
�� Rita wiggled out of his hold and stood on her own two feet. She watched as Kellan led the way down the rock side before disappearing behind the trickling waterfall. Jayce knew she was still weak so he promptly picked her back up so he could carry her. She didn’t argue, snaking around his body until she was on his back with her arms wrapped around his neck and her legs around his waist. He moved stealthily across the rock and climbed down to the waterfall before jumping behind it. Once he was on the other side, he put her down. Rita was in shock at the cavern behind the waterfall that was expertly hidden. It didn’t even look like anything was behind the damn thing. This was the perfect place for a well-protected home.
Kellan used his handprint to open the large metal door embedded into the rock. Rita just kept gasping. The place was amazing. They walked through the door and followed a path into a large kitchen and dining area.
“Rita!” Bliss shouted in glee. Rita turned to see her alpha female rushing towards her. Rita burst out in happy tears as she ran to hug her pack mate. Gemma and Kyra appeared next; joining in on the hug.
“Thank goodness you’re safe,” Bliss breathed.
“I’ve been so stupid. I should have realized sooner he would have been near the house. I just-”
“It’s done for,” Rita cut her off. “I’m here now that’s what matters.”
“We missed you,” Gemma said.
“Hell yeah,” Kyra added.
“We are never going to let you out of our sights.”
“Oh don’t be dramatic,” Rita laughed. She looked around the large space. “Wait! Did you guys find three young wolves?” Rita asked turning around to look at the men.
“Yes, they’re here,” Bliss answered.
“They were so weak I advised them that a healing sleep would do them well. They’ll be awake by the morning.” Rita sighed in relief thankful that they were able to be found.
“Look at you learning about wolves and shit,” Rita teased her. They giggled and continued to hug.
“Alright break it up,” Jaxson said.
“I didn’t get to hug on my girl cause wolfman over there wasn’t letting her go once he found her.” Jaxson broke them up and grabbed Rita into his arms, hugging her tightly.
“None of us got to hug on her,” Tristan said pulling Rita from Jaxson’s hold and hugging her.
“But I should have had first dibs,” Kellan said jerking her away from Tristan. “I am her alpha of course,” Kellan smirked. Rita couldn’t help laugh as they jerked her around trying to hug her. She seriously missed her pack. And when she looked at Jayce who was shifting his weight on his feet trying not to flip out because males were all over his mate, she couldn’t help but smile further.
“Alright give her some space,” Jayce finally spoke up taking her from Kellan’s arms. He held onto her protectively.
“Go love on your own damn mate you and Tristan,” Jayce said to Kellan. “And you Jaxson, I don’t know go find some woman to love on and leave mine alone.”
“Ha, ha very funny,” Jaxson said flipping him the middle finger. A pair of footsteps sounded, coming into the large dining area. The she-wolf that Rita had pretended to fight off came towards them.
“You’re saved,” she smiled at Rita.
“Thank you for the warning about that wolf attacking us.”
“No worries.”
“My name is Mira,” she said.
“Nice to officially meet you.” Rita didn’t know what it was, but there was something off about the way Mira was looking at her. It was as if she was reading Rita’s thoughts. Both Rita and her wolf didn’t like it. So she turned away from her.
“So, do I get a tour or something?” Rita asked.
“YES!” The she-wolves shouted at once. They grabbed onto her and quickly led her away. That left Mira and the rest of the guys standing around.
“You and your pack are welcome to stay,” Kellan told Dell. With how small their pack was, Kellan was worried they might not survive for too long on their own, even with an alpha.
“Thank for your generosity,” Dell nodded.
“Be sure to remember who you are alpha too,” Jaxson said. Even though Dell was an alpha, Jaxson, Tristan, Jayce, and Kellan’s wolves were all more dominant than him. But the wolves in Dell’s pack were submissive, and that was why Dell could be their alpha. But in this circle, Dell was just barely submissive in the eyes of dominant wolves. When two alphas spent too long together, they started to butt heads. But Jaxson was reminding Dell that even if he was an alpha, he was only stronger than his own wolves.
“Heard you,” Dell responded.
“All the she-wolves are off limits by the way,” Jaxson added looking at Dell’s wolves.
“Jax,” Kellan said shaking his head. “Relax.” Even though Jaxson was always the most chilled wolf, and loved to joke around and tease the others, when new wolves were introduced into their territory he became serious about being an enforcer. Essentially, Kellan granted them access to their territory, but it was Jaxson and Tristan who would enforce their way of life and rules.
“You can relax if you want to,” Jaxson said. “But they’ve had one female in their pack, and now suddenly they’re surrounded by she-wolves.”
“They won’t touch your she-wolves,” Dell spoke up. “But Kyra isn’t mated, so if-” Jaxson cut him off.
“Off limits,” he said. “And if you or anyone of your wolves want Kyra you’re gonna have to go through me to get her.” Jaxson stood menacingly over them, and no one protested. Who would? Jaxson was dangerous, and they all knew that.
“Damn,” Kellan said. “Welcome to matehood.” Jaxson brushed him off.
“Don’t talk crazy. She’s not my mate.”
“You sure as hell acting like it,” Tristan commented.
“You don’t get to judge me,” Jaxson snapped.
“Me and Gemma have an understanding alright? So butt out of it.”
“An understanding?” Jaxson gasped.
“I oughta slap the shit out of you for not mating that sweetheart. You sound dumb as fuck.”
“How you giving me shit when it seems like you won’t claim your own mate?”
“Because she’s not my mate Tristan! We’ve all known Kyra forever. If she was my mate, I’m pretty sure I would have known way before now.”
Jayce watched his pack mates go back and forth. Their talk about the imperfections of their mating reminded him that even though he’d found his mate, they hadn’t completed the bond. But all that changed now. After losing her to Maverick, Jayce knew how important it was to complete the bond with Rita.
“I don’t know why you giving me all the shit,” Tristan said.
“Jay ain’t mate with Rita.” All three of them looked at Jayce.
“You should probably go take care of that,” Kellan said.
“I agree,” Tristan and Jaxson said at the same time. Jayce smiled and shook his head at his packmates as he walked away. He followed the scent of his mate surrounded by the other she-wolves of the pack. They were in Bliss and Kellan’s room chatting. Jayce closed his eyes and knocked on the door.
“Get decent, man entering,” he said. The females laughed.
“No one’s naked,” Gemma said. Jayce opened his eyes.
“Can I steal her from you all?” Jayce asked.
“Well, technically she is yours,” Bliss sighed.
“Go on, have her. We’ll take her back tomorrow morning.”
“Oh, I thank you so much my alpha.” Jayce bowed sarcastically. Bliss threw a pillow at him.
“Get the fuck out,” she laughed. Jayce smiled and took Rita’s hand leading her out of the room and through the tunnels.
“You must be exhausted,” he said to her.
“I am. But so happy to be here with my pack.”
“I’m more than happy to have you back,” Jayce told her. He walked with through the tunnels until he got to his room. He opened the door and let her walk in first.
“I’m not much o
f a designer, so it’s pretty bare, but I figured you’d want to do all the designing yourself anyways.” Rita looked at him with a confused look.
“You usually don’t take my advice on much,” she said. “Why would you do so now?”
“Well if this is our room then I would need your advice on some things no?”
“Ours?” Rita asked. She backed away from him.
“Yes ours,” Jayce said. “I know you’re not about to try and deny our mating.”
“I’m not denying we’re mates Jayce, but we didn’t complete our mating bond for a reason.”
“True that. But I watched you get kidnapped, Rita. And then I had to spend days without you. I went fucking nuts. And realizing how it was to be without you, I know I can’t take for granted having you in my life.” Rita crossed her arms and sighed hard. While being held captive, all she could think about was her mate, and she wanted him bad. But that didn’t change the fact that they both wanted two different things.
“I don’t mean to be a bitch about this Jay, but what changed?” she asked. “The fact that I was kidnapped?”
“Well, yes,” he replied.
“What if I told you that’s not enough?”
“Not enough?”
“I’ve been here Jayce,” she said. “Before I was kidnapped I was here. You could have mated me at any point. But because I was kidnapped, now you realize you wanna complete the mating bond.”
“You weren’t necessarily making it easy for us to mate,” Jayce said.
“And then you ran off to be with Kellan without even coming to me about it first.”
“Well, you made it clear you had beta duties, and I didn’t feel safe, so I had to find Kellan. In the end, I still got kidnapped, so it doesn’t even really matter. We’ve had disagreements and arguments, and we barely spoke after I left to find Kellan.”
“I know it hasn’t been perfect, but I just want you.” Rita felt horrible to have him confess to her. Because even if she could get over the fact that she didn’t want to be a beta, or that he wasn’t ready to have pups, her being kidnapped in the first place changed her. From the scars on her body to knowing fact that she willingly gave herself to another wolf even knowing she had a mate. If Jayce knew that about her, he wouldn’t be thrilled. She wasn’t even thrilled with herself. And he didn’t say anything, but Rita could smell Maverick in her pores, and she knew if she could smell it, so could he. And it disgusted her. But there was no getting rid of his scent because he’d marked her. And once Jayce found that out she didn’t know how she was going to save face.
