Sedona Scandal (Sedona Pack Book 3)

by Lisa Kessler

  Something about the dangerous glint in his eyes had my wolf in full defense mode. I stepped into the middle of the testosterone-filled living room, struggling to keep my voice down so the little guys didn’t come in.

  “I know we don’t officially know each other, Jett, but I’m not the same girl you left cowering in a pool of her brother’s blood. I survived on my own, learning how to be a werewolf for years, and now I’m trained to fight, too. Whatever you did to my head that night, don’t you ever try that again or I’ll kick your ass.”

  And suddenly, I realized I meant every single damned word. My hands were trembling with adrenaline, not fear. I didn’t break eye contact. I didn’t even blink. In fact, I almost hoped he’d make a move.

  I felt like a freakin’ werewolf.

  “I’m sorry,” Jett said again. “For everything.” He glanced at Chandler and back to me. “Your brother was a good man. It must run in the family.”

  Without another word, he walked out of the room.

  Asher met my eyes. “I wanted you to meet Jett.”

  “Did you know he left me behind all this time?” I crossed my arms to hide the tremor in my hands.

  “I didn’t find out until a couple months ago.” Asher looked between us and added, “We didn’t realize the woman Bo had bitten was Brock’s sister. We thought you must’ve been his girlfriend and were probably on the other side of the country by now.”

  Chandler wrapped his arm around my shoulders, the warmth of his body helped fortify my emotional barriers. I wasn’t in this alone, and I wasn’t going to cry.

  “Why didn’t you say something?” Chandler asked.

  “Because he asked me not to.” Asher lowered his voice. “Jett’s the only surviving member of an experiment from Nero. It’s not my secret to share.”

  I stared toward the room Jett had disappeared into. What had he done to make me forget his face that night? I could remember every rushed word he’d said to me, but no face. Mind control?

  “So all that talk of being pack was bullshit,” Chandler growled.

  Asher raised a brow. “If a gunman walked through that door right now, Jett wouldn’t hesitate to lay down his life to keep you safe.” He focused on me. “He knows you’re pissed. He probably even welcomes you trying to kick his ass, but he would die for any member of this pack. That’s what being pack is. We’re not always going to agree, but we’re going to protect our own. That includes Jett. He’ll tell everyone about his abilities when he’s ready. ’Til then…” Asher rolled his shoulders back, power rippling through the room. “We protect him.” He studied us and then tipped his head toward the kitchen. “You should come and eat.”

  He walked away, and I looked up at Chandler. “I could feel Jett inside my head just now. It happened before.”

  “Maybe that’s how he made you forget his face.” Chandler paused, his brow pinching with concern. “Are you all right?”

  I nodded. “I think so.”

  “Do you want to leave?”

  “No.” I took his hand. “I promised the boys I’d stay.”

  He squeezed my hand, a gentle smile tugging at his lips. “You’re amazing.”

  Heat flushed my cheeks as I rolled my eyes. “I’m pretty sure I couldn’t kick Jett’s ass even if I wanted to.”

  “Doesn’t matter. You stood up to him anyway.” He chuckled and lifted my hand to kiss it. “Remind me to stay on your good side.”

  The afternoon passed without incident. Jett kept his distance, and I enjoyed getting to know the pack members better. The more time I spent with all of them, the more I wanted to be a part of the pack. I missed having a family.

  After dinner Naomi took the boys to their room for bed, and I wandered into the kitchen to help Kaya clean up. I filled up the sink with soapy water and started washing. “Can I ask you something?”

  Kaya grabbed a towel and dried the pots and pans. “Sure.”

  “How did you know Vance was your mate? He’s a jaguar so he didn’t feel anything, right?”

  “Apparently he was feeling things all along. We both did. We just never said anything.” She shot me a knowing look as she opened the cupboard. “He was my best friend in this pack, and I didn’t want to mess things up. It never occurred to me he might be my mate.”

  “So it’s not like you touched him and bam! you were in love?” I washed a couple of glasses and set them aside for her.

  “Not exactly.” Her gaze went distant as she wrapped the towel around the glass. “I wouldn’t have said it out loud, but I think I already loved him before we ever touched. Hearing my wolf howl when we did definitely made things more intense. My feelings for him had a more primal side. I needed to be near him, to protect him, if that makes sense.”

  It made more sense than I was willing to admit. I focused on scrubbing the next dish.

  She put the glass away and turned to me. “Are you asking me all these questions, because you touched Chandler and your wolf howled or because it didn’t?”

  I chuckled. “Oh, she howled.” I met Kaya’s eyes. “I almost fell over, but I had no idea what was happening, and I’ve been second-guessing it ever since. I wish Chandler had felt it, too, so we could compare notes.”

  Kaya nodded. “Yeah, Naomi and Asher don’t know how lucky they are. They both knew instantly. I fought the connection for a while because I wasn’t sure I could trust it.”

  “Right?” I grinned, plopping my hands back into the soapy water. “And it’s scary to realize this bond is growing for me, but maybe he’s not feeling it, too.”

  Kaya put another glass away and glanced over at me. “Have you seen how Chandler looks at you? He’s feeling it, too.”

  I laughed. “He runs hot and cold. I feel like I’m on uneven footing.”

  “Have you told him that?”

  “Not exactly.” I shrugged and rinsed the silverware. “He’s taking me to meet his sister, so that’s something.”

  “I haven’t known Chandler as long as the rest of the pack, but from the second Asher invited him to join us, he’s been all in.” Her features softened a little. “He has a job that could lead to playboy tendencies, but he always sacrifices for the pack. He’s a good guy.”

  “I know.” And I did. I’d seen him do that for me, too. “I wish he’d let me do the same for him.”

  “Does he know?”

  “I told him, but I don’t think he believes me.” I paused, raising a soapy hand. “Or rather, he’s afraid to believe me.”

  Recognition shone in her eyes. “Somebody hurt him.”

  I nodded and pulled the stopper out of the drain in the sink. “More than one somebody.”

  And tomorrow, I was meeting one of them.

  CHAPTER 20

  Chandler

  Wendy and I left the ranch before the sunrise. She’d been quiet on the drive, and the distant numbness I had enjoyed last night was gone. I ran through my preflight checklist, trying not to notice Wendy’s silence and wishing I had found a way to leave her in Sedona. I wasn’t eager for her to witness my relationship with my parents. They didn’t bring out the best in me.

  There was no turning back now. The plane was fueled, and we were ready for takeoff. The Navion had about a thousand-mile flight radius without refueling. From Sedona to San Francisco was just over six hundred miles so even if we burned extra gas fighting strong winds, we’d still be able to make a direct flight. I’d be face-to-face with my father in less than three hours.

  I radioed my flight plans and taxied onto the runway. I glanced over at Wendy. “Ready?”

  She nodded, and I turned the throttle. We shot across the airstrip and lifted into the air. Once the landing gear was up and the hydraulics were off, she reached over to squeeze my thigh. “Fill me in on your family.”

  Tension coiled in my gut. I’d start with the one bright spot. “My sister, Madison, is two years younger than me. She’s a marketing wiz. Right now, she works for Goldstone Properties up in Lake Tahoe. The broker who owns i
t is married to a werewolf. They’re part of the pack in Reno.” I checked my instruments, hoping she wouldn’t probe further.

  “What are the chances your sister ended up working for a shifter?” Wendy peered out the window as we banked to head north. “I never would’ve dreamed there were so many of us.”

  “Her boss was single when Madison started working there. My sister knows a few of the other pack members now, but she doesn’t know they’re shifters.” I glanced her way. “She doesn’t know about me being bitten, either.”

  “Don’t worry. I won’t spill the beans when we’re up there.” She raised a brow. “But she’d still love you. I can tell by the way you talk about her. You guys are a team. You can trust her.”

  I’d never recover from seeing my sister look at me with fear in her eyes. Besides, life for shifters was dangerous and sometimes even deadly. What kind of big brother would pull his baby sister into that? No. It was better for her not to know.

  Silence filled the cockpit. Finally, Wendy looked my way. “What’s your dad’s story?”

  Bitterness seeped into my voice. “He runs a big business and brings in plenty of money. I don’t, which makes me a disappointment to him.” I kept my eyes forward and added, “If you’re really asking why he’s a dick, I don’t know. He was probably raised that way.”

  “But you’re not.”

  I chuckled and met her eyes. “Maybe you just haven’t known me long enough.”

  She shook her head. “In my line of work, I meet plenty of rich, entitled jerks. Trust me, you aren’t like that.”

  I sighed, adjusting my grip on the yoke. I’d never talked about this with anyone before. There was a dark part of myself that worried my father might be right about me. Maybe I wasn’t good enough and never would be. It was easier to pretend my father didn’t exist than to face the fact I would never earn his approval.

  “My dad wanted me to be as driven as he is,” I said. “But I never cared about his money. It was his time that I wanted, and that wasn’t available.” She rubbed my leg, encouraging me without saying a word. “As a kid, I tried everything to please him, but when I got to high school, I realized it was too late. I’d always be lacking in his eyes, a son not worthy of his attention.”

  I focused on the instrument panel, girding myself to share a humiliation I’d never repeated out loud. Rationally, I trusted Wendy, but the lanky kid inside me worried that this might be too much. What if she looked at me with pity in her eyes? What if this changed her opinion of me? I cleared my throat and forced the words out. “I was on the varsity basketball team, and we made it to the state finals. My dad never made a single game, but for that championship, he showed up in the stands.” Bitterness stewed in my gut. “I missed a penalty shot during overtime and he left.”

  “Wow, he is a dick.” She rested back into the copilot chair. “Sorry he did that to you.”

  “I don’t want your pity.” I glanced her way, trying to gauge her reaction. “Have I ruined everything between us?”

  “No.” Her gaze locked on mine. “I wish you could see yourself through my eyes.” Her tone softened. “You’re a smart, strong, way-too-good-looking-for-your-own-good guy who is willing to sacrifice for the people he cares about, and that’s gotten you burned before.”

  I faced forward again, a smile tugging at my lips as a gust of relief blew through me. “I am pretty good-looking.”

  Her laughter filled the cockpit, buoying my spirits. She gave my shoulder a playful swat. “You’re pretty funny, too.”

  I glanced her way again, and the sight of her grin warmed me all over. I reached for her hand, lacing our fingers together. “Thanks for coming with me. I’m glad you’re here.”

  “Me too.” She squeezed my hand. “I talked to Kaya last night…”

  “About?”

  “Mates.”

  My mood plummeted as I steeled myself. No wonder she’d been so silent earlier. She was trying to figure out how to let me down easy. Fuck. I knew better than to care, to open my damn heart. I was an idiot.

  I gripped the yoke tighter. “What did she say?”

  “We compared notes, and—” her voice dropped to a whisper no human could’ve heard “—you’re mine.”

  I blinked. I had no trouble hearing her over the hum of the engine, but I still worried I’d dreamed it. I looked over at her and frowned. “You seem…well, not happy.”

  She met my eyes. “Well, I did wait to tell you until we were trapped and you couldn’t run away so…”

  “You thought I would run away?” My heart raced. She had to hear it. Could she possibly not know how I felt?

  She lifted her gaze. “You’re it for me, but you don’t have that instinct. You could walk away anytime. Do you have any idea how terrifying that is?”

  “Yeah, I do.” I lost myself in her eyes. “Can you hear my pulse right now?” She nodded, and I started to smile. “It’s not pounding because I want to run.”

  “No?” Her lips curved.

  “It’s because I want to scream to the entire world that I’ve never been this happy before. I want to pull you into my arms and never let you go.” I forced myself to check the instrument panel. “Sadly, I have to land this plane in San Francisco first.”

  She rested her hand on my thigh, the heat of her touch burning me right through my jeans. “While we’re trapped up here and you can’t get away, there’s something else I need to tell you.”

  “That sounds ominous.” I chuckled.

  “It’s not bad. I’m wrapping my brain around this primal side of myself, the wolf, but you’re my mate, and I feel like you know everything about me and I barely know you.”

  “What do you want to know?” I rolled my shoulders back, releasing some of the tension bunching in my muscles.

  “I know your parents are distant, your dad has dick tendencies, and your sister is amazing like you.” She paused, and without looking, I could feel her sizing me up. Finally, she said, “Tell me about when you lost your virginity.”

  I laughed, shaking my head. “Okay, I wasn’t expecting that one.”

  She grinned. “We’ve got time to kill. Spill it.”

  I glanced her way. “Are you going to share your first time, too?”

  “What do you mean?” Her jaw dropped dramatically, and I could practically see the crooked halo over her head. “You were there.”

  “If you were that amazing your first time, then there’s no way I’m telling you about mine.” I rolled my eyes, laughing all over again. My heart pounded harder. This connection with her was so much more than physical.

  She polished her nails on her shirt, raising a brow. “It’s not my fault I’m a natural.”

  Her smile dazzled me.

  “I’m a lucky guy.”

  She busted out laughing and nudged my shoulder. “Fine. I’ll share, too. You first.”

  “Okay.” God, I hadn’t thought about my first time in years. “It was with Peggy Hargrove the summer before I left for college.”

  “High school sweetheart?”

  I shook my head. “Not really. I think I was an experiment.”

  Confusion lined her eyes. “How so?”

  “I was on the varsity basketball team, and she was a cheerleader. We flirted some, but we never dated.” I shrugged. “She called me one night about a week before I was leaving for Boston University. Her parents were out of town.”

  “She just said, ‘Let’s have sex’?”

  I chuckled, shaking my head. “Not exactly. If I remember correctly, she said we could ‘fool around.’” I looked her way for a second. “I think she thought I was experienced, and she wanted to lose her virginity before she went to college.”

  Her jaw dropped. “You didn’t tell her it was your first time?”

  “No!” I laughed. “I brought pizza and a hopeful box of condoms. A few minutes after she opened that door, her mission was accomplished.”

  “That’s it?” She squeezed my thigh. “Did you just leav
e?”

  “I’m not an asshole.” I rested my hand over hers and shrugged. “We ate pizza and watched TV for a couple hours, and then I kissed her goodnight.” I chuckled. “I think we were both relieved.”

  “That good, huh?”

  “Safe to say I didn’t know what the hell I was doing so…not memorable.” I squeezed her hand. “Your turn.”

  “Mike Jones, freshman year of college. He was a music major like me. We dated for about six months.”

  I hated that asshole already. “Did he sing to you?”

  “All the time. He had a gorgeous voice.” She looked at me and tried not to smile. “Are you jealous?”

  “No.” I lifted her hand to my lips. “Okay, maybe a little.”

  She smirked. “It was over so fast, I couldn’t figure out what the fuss was about.”

  “He didn’t know what he was doing, either.”

  “Nope.” She let out a wistful sigh. “But he was sweet.” She glanced my way. “Are you going to tell me about your ex?”

  “Her name was Vivianna Lopez. We were both journalism majors, career driven, and I thought we made sense, you know? We didn’t fight, we had great conversations, but there was always this part of her…” I shook my head. “She never let me in. I’d been so focused on this imagined future together that I never noticed.” This was the painful part. I checked the instrument panel to keep from making eye contact. “She was my sister’s best friend. That’s how we met. I had this perfect picture in my head of what my future would like without ever realizing she didn’t share vision. I asked her to marry me…” I waited for the pain and bitterness to sour in my gut, but it didn’t muster.

  Wendy patted my leg. “She wasn’t the right one.”

  Her simple words sank through my thick head, and I blinked. I’d spent all these years feeling as though I wasn’t worthy, like I wasn’t good enough, like Vivi’s ex must’ve been better than me. Until now, it had never occurred to me that maybe it just hadn’t been meant to be. With Wendy sitting beside me, it was easy to see what had been lacking in my relationship with Vivi. We had never shared this kind of connection. We had worked well together, but we hadn’t been partners, two parts of one whole.