“I think she’s afraid he’ll hurt her, but there’s more,” he replied, frustrated with the situation. His instincts had told him Jase would be a good match for Vexx from the beginning, but he’d never expected the match to be this good. Vexx and Jase being true mates proved he was right, but it made things more complicated. “I suppose you could be right about this being related to her witch heritage.”
Beck chuckled. “Trying to find something to blame her stubbornness on?”
“Not that,” Cord replied. “I’m talking about her being resistant to accepting her mate. Winn didn’t accept me at first. I heard Quinn was difficult for her vampire. Maybe their instincts aren’t as strong with their true mate.”
Beck shrugged. “The question you should be asking is how long it will take Jase to come back for her.”
“Max will force him to come back,” Cord replied.
“Is that really what you want?” Beck asked. “Vexx isn’t a full shifter, and she’s never felt like one. Her witch side has always played a big role in how she reacts to the world. She doesn’t accept the dominance of shifters above her in the clan’s hierarchy, mostly because she’s never accepted that she’s part of that hierarchy.”
Cord let out a frustrated sigh. “I shouldn’t have confronted her in front of Jase.”
“Nope,” Beck agreed. “Not only did you embarrass her, you humiliated Jase. Vexx will get over it faster than Jase will.”
“Winn knew about all this,” he told Beck.
Beck’s eyes widened. “She knew Jase was Vexx’s mate?”
Cord nodded. “Vexx told her, yet Winn never mentioned any of this to me.”
“We should go for a run,” Beck suggested.
“I need to talk to Winn,” Cord argued.
Beck shook his head. “Eventually. For now, it would be best if you stayed away from your mate. She’s not going to agree that she should have told you because you’re the leader of this clan.”
“I’m also Vexx’s father,” Cord pointed out.
“You need to remember that Winn lived away from her own clan most of her life, and she probably thinks Vexx is old enough to handle this without her father intervening,” Beck stated. “Winn is probably only seeing this as a personal issue, not a clan issue.”
“And you agree?” Cord’s question was more an accusation.
“If it was any of your other daughters, I’d be on your side, but Vexx is different,” Beck pointed out.
“You’ve always had a soft spot for her,” Cord huffed. “Fine, we’ll run, but I’m not guaranteeing I won’t still be angry with Winn for keeping this from me when we get back.”
Beck laughed. “With any luck, you’ll just realize what a mistake it would be to stick your foot in your mouth the second you see her.”
“You’re an annoying pain in the ass,” Cord grumbled. “Let’s go for that run, and then I’ll deal with my mate.”
Chapter Forty-Six
Winn still had no clue why Vexx was so upset. Vexx had simply found her and insisted they go for a run. She figured they’d talk about what was bothering her later. Winn and everyone in the clan had heard Cord yelling for Vexx, so she assumed it was something Cord had said.
The run was exhilarating, and Winn was surprised by how much her mage abilities carried over when she was in jaguar form. Her mother had led her to believe that the two were incompatible, but she was quickly finding it was even easier to connect to the land as a jaguar.
Nearing the edge of the cougars’ land, Vexx stopped and stared out into the woods. Winn could tell her friend wanted to run further, almost as if she could run from her problems.
Winn decided it was time for their talk before Vexx did something impulsive and dangerous, like leaving the cougar land. “Are you ready to tell me what’s bothering you?” Winn asked after shifting.
Vexx shifted and sat on the ground, hugging her knees to her chest. “Jase came here today.”
“Uh-oh,” Winn uttered. “I take it he talked to your father.”
Vexx let out a humorless bark of laughter. “They talked, and my father figured out everything.”
“Did he at least discuss it with you before telling Jase?” Winn suspected he hadn’t.
Vexx shook her head.
“What an idiot,” Winn muttered, which made Vexx laugh.
“You can’t blame him,” Vexx argued. “I really screwed up, and he was caught off guard when Jase showed up demanding answers. Jase being my mate fits right in with my father’s desire to unite our clans, but I screwed it up.”
“While I understand his desire to unite the clans, it’s not fair to put that kind of pressure on you,” Winn argued.
Vexx shrugged. “It’s not like he’d have forced me to do anything. Now, I’m not so sure he won’t send me to the lynx.”
“He can’t do that,” Winn argued, but she knew he could. “I won’t let him.”
“Don’t get in the middle any more than you already have,” Vexx warned. “He seemed really mad when he learned I’d told you about my situation with Jase. I’m really sorry I told him about that.”
Winn waved off her apology. “Your father will get over being mad soon enough.”
Vexx scented the air and looked around. “He and Beck are headed this way. We should run.”
“Where do you think you’re going to run? As I understand it, you have to stay on cougar land.” When Vexx looked annoyed, Winn almost laughed. “You’re just mad because I’m right.”
Vexx blew out a frustrated breath. “We don’t have time to run now.”
Beck shifted first and grinned at Vexx. “Were you really thinking about avoiding us?”
“Avoiding you is always a top priority for me,” Vexx grumbled, but Beck didn’t take offense. He merely gave Vexx a one-armed hug.
“I hear you’ve had a rough day,” Beck remarked.
“Is this where you tell me my father should have beaten me as a child?” she grumbled.
Beck leaned over and kissed the top of her head. “Never, brat. I can tell you’re beating yourself up enough about this.”
Cord had shifted, but he remained off to the side, watching with a scowl. Since his scowl wasn’t directed at anyone in particular, Winn had to assume it was the situation he was frustrated with. While many wouldn’t understand, Winn saw how Cord struggled with his responsibilities as a father and clan leader. They didn’t always coincide.
Vexx looked over at Cord. “Are you waiting to tell me how much I messed up again?”
Cord shook his head. “Beck is right about you doing a good job of beating yourself up. I’m not entirely certain what I’m going to do about this mess. I should send you to Max and let him deal with this.”
Vexx gasped.
“You can’t do that,” Winn argued, stalking toward him.
“I am the leader of this clan, and it is my decision,” Cord reminded her.
Hearing Cord confirm what Vexx had said made Winn so angry, they were all lucky she’d remembered how to control her power. Without that control, she was sure they’d all be standing in the middle of a thunderstorm, or worse. This was one thing she remembered hating about living among shifters.
“None of us can ever be free,” she muttered.
“That seems pretty melodramatic,” Beck stated.
“You feel like a prisoner here?” Cord asked, moving closer but not touching her.
“Don’t,” she warned.
“Don’t what?” he asked.
“Don’t pretend you’re insecure about my feelings for you,” she replied. “Don’t pretend you don’t know how much I want to be here with you. That doesn’t mean I like realizing you’d send any of us away for the good of the clan.”
Stepping even closer, Cord gripped her chin, holding her in place as he stared into her eyes. “Bringing you here wasn’t done for the good of the clan.”
“You’re right, but you didn’t have any reason to believe it would harm your clan at first,” Winn r
eminded him.
“Cord has to consider the clan first,” Beck defended his friend. “Do you think any of this is easy for him?”
“Don’t,” Cord warned Beck. “I’ll deal with my mate on my own. Escort Vexx back to her home.”
“I want to run more,” Vexx foolishly argued.
Beck laughed and caught her arm. “You never know when to stop, do you?”
Cord’s attention turned to Vexx, and he studied her for a moment before speaking. “I’m not going to send you away, Vexx. I’m frustrated and surprised by what you’ve done, but I’d never force you to leave your home.”
While Vexx was trying to appear unaffected by Cord’s words, Winn could tell she was mostly relieved. There was also a hint of disappointment, making Winn wonder if part of Vexx hoped her father would push her toward Jase.
“I’ll talk to you later, Winn,” Vexx said quietly.
“Are you sure?” Winn asked. “Your father will understand if you need me.”
Cord snorted, and Beck was clearly stifling a laugh. Even Vexx seemed amused when she spoke. “I seriously doubt that, but I really will be okay.”
Vexx and Beck walked away, leaving her alone with Cord.
Winn decided she’d speak first. “You’re mad.”
Cord stepped away from her and ran his hand through his hair. “Mad?” he asked with his back to her. “I’m not sure mad is the best way to describe what I’m feeling. Do you have any idea how much trouble this situation is causing me?”
“We’d both hoped Jase wouldn’t learn the truth this soon,” Winn argued. “Vexx was planning to tell him.”
Cord turned to face her. “Do you really believe that?”
“Yes,” Winn insisted. “Why wouldn’t she?”
“Because Vexx doesn’t want a mate,” Cord pointed out.
“She’s not stupid enough to think she could avoid him forever,” Winn said with a huff. “She realized both of you would figure it out, eventually. There was a short time when she thought of going to your brother’s clan.”
“She what?” Cord snapped, making Winn regret sharing that detail. “Is this a half-shifter thing? You find your mate and then deny him the thing he wants most?”
Winn saw Cord’s regret as soon as the words left his mouth, but she was no less angry. He might regret saying the words, but he clearly meant them.
“Don’t say another word,” Winn warned him. “I understand you are torn on how to react to what’s going on with Vexx, but you created part of this problem.”
“Me?” he asked. “How is any of this my fault?”
“You’ve been pushing her to find a mate, at least to take a male during her heat cycle,” Winn reminded him. “How long have you been harassing her to meet Jase?”
“I mentioned it when she had her last heat cycle. I didn’t bring it up again until she was nearing this heat cycle. It’s not as if I’ve been harassing her about it constantly.”
“Just when she can get pregnant,” she added. “How do you think it made her feel to have you trying to use her fertile time as a way to cement your bond with the lynx?”
“It was much more than that,” Cord argued. “I won’t deny that her involvement with Jase could help my clan, but Jase’s involvement with any of my female clan members would have the same effect.”
“Then why Vexx?” Winn asked.
“I’m worried about her,” Cord admitted. “Now, I’m even more worried. I loved Vexx’s mother very much. While she wasn’t my mate, she still made me happy. I wanted Vexx to have that kind of love. The chances of finding one’s true mate are slim, so I didn’t see any reason for her to wait for hers to come along.”
“So, this was really about you playing matchmaker?” she asked, having trouble accepting that answer.
“Yes,” he replied. “I wanted her to be happy. Now, she has a mate, and it’s going to take a lot for him to trust her again.”
Winn nodded her understanding. “I honestly didn’t think it would come to this. I should have considered the possibility of Jase finding out this way. We don’t do it on purpose.”
“Do what?” Cord asked.
“The part about being difficult isn’t intentional. We’re not full-shifters, and even now that I’ve accepted your mark and bonded with you as a mage would, I’m sure what I feel is much different from what you feel. When I couldn’t remember who I was, it was easier to allow the jaguar side of me to rule my feelings. There was no part of me that felt I needed to get to know you, but it’s not that way for my other half, and I’m sure the same is true with Vexx, only she has no one to talk to about her insecurities with accepting a mate.”
“It’s more than that,” Cord said in exasperation. “I’m sure she’s told you about her fears of passing on her witch abilities.”
Winn nodded.
“In the future, I need you to tell me things like this,” he said gruffly before adding. “Thank you for being there for Vexx. There are times when she feels isolated from the clan.”
“Vexx has been a good friend to me, and I’m more than happy to return the favor,” she assured him. “Does this mean you’re done being mad at me?”
“Yes, but I think you need to be punished so you don’t do something like this again,” he purred, moving up beside her and wrapping an arm around her lower back to pull her closer.
Winn smiled, loving that he was now in a more playful mood. “I’m concerned it will encourage me to misbehave even more.”
Cord chuckled, leaning in to rub his cheek against hers. “Ah, Winn. I want Vexx to have this more than anything. I hope she hasn’t caused irreparable damage to her relationship with Jase.”
Winn hoped that was the case, too. Given time, Vexx and Jase could be happy if they weren’t too stubborn.
Chapter Forty-Seven
Richard was certain the naked blonde was Rafe’s female, but he couldn’t get close enough to confirm it. She didn’t look overly powerful, but he’d noticed shapeshifters tended to have dark hair. Based on the green eyes, he’d guess the other female was the one Cruz was so eager to own. Her red hair also set her apart from the others.
He’d taken several pictures of the females before turning away.
“Did you see her?” Amanda, one of his guards, asked.
He shrugged. “I saw a blonde, but who knows.”
Starring off in the direction of the encampment, he wasn’t surprised to see Rafe approaching with Cruz and Kish.
“What are you doing this far from our protected area?” Rafe demanded.
Richard’s cold regard only seemed to anger Rafe more, if Rafe’s clenched jaw was any indication. The jaguar definitely did not control his emotions well.
“Need I remind you I’m not one of your jungle cats?” Richard asked with a pleasant smile.
“Perhaps I need to remind you Kish can only hide our presence within the encampment,” Rafe said through his teeth.
“So, your plan is to remain in the encampment forever?” Richard asked, sounding mildly bored.
“I didn’t take you for the careless type, vampire,” Rafe growled.
Richard bared his fangs, losing his patience with the fool. “I am by nature a patient man, but you are seriously testing that patience.”
“You need us to take over this territory,” Rafe reminded him.
“You need me to get your mate out of this territory, negating any leverage you have. I can guarantee the vampires in this territory won’t help you. The local shapeshifters are their allies. I doubt the cougars will want to part with your mate.”
Rafe growled low in his throat. “We still have no firm evidence she’s with the cougars.”
Richard was irritated with Rafe’s stupidity. “How much evidence do you need that she’s with the cougars? It was cougars who rescued her. Then your underling caught her scent on a cougar female.”
“She may have left them by now. I don’t see the need to risk being discovered.”
Richard pulled out
his phone and brought up the photos he’d taken before handing it to Rafe. “If I had to guess, I’d say the other female is the one your underling is looking for. She has unusual green eyes.”
Rafe’s jaw clenched, confirming Richard’s suspicions that the blonde was the female he was looking for. “That little whore will pay for this.”
“Yes, she was quite friendly with the male,” Richard remarked, looking over at the photo Rafe was studying so intently—the one with the male’s arm wrapped around her back.
“She may have been marked,” Rafe spat out.
In his short time around shapeshifters, Richard had learned a little about their barbaric customs, and apparently, biting a female and leaving a scar was a very significant act. With vampires, it was considered careless feeding.
“What difference does it make?” Richard asked. “You can just mark her again when you get her.”
“Not until I kill her mate,” Rafe growled. “If the cougar marked her, I’ll have to kill him first. She had better not have allowed him to mark her.”
“Who cares if she’s marked or not?” Cruz asked. “You’ll own her. Isn’t that better than her being your mate?”
Rafe nodded, but he still looked angry. “Were her father still alive, I’d kill him again. She was always meant to be mine. I was the one who was supposed to fuck her the first time and then mark her as my property. Now, I’ll forever be reminded she was stolen from me. I will make that bitch pay.”
“It wasn’t her fault she had to leave,” Kish interjected softly.
Rafe spun on her, looking ready to kill. He stalked toward Kish and backhanded her. Kish fell to her knees but continued to glare at Rafe. His little demon kitty was becoming harder to control. Richard smiled, knowing he’d had something to do with that. The seeds of doubt he’d planted in Kish’s mind were taking root.
“Go back to the encampment and wait for me,” Rafe ordered her.
Kish shivered ever so slightly before standing and walking away. Richard had no doubt Rafe would punish her in some terrible way—at least, he hoped Rafe would.
“You really need to do something about your demon kitty,” Richard remarked casually.
Untamed Winter Page 22
