by Dana Archer
His words rocked her. Made her feel incredibly special. She wanted to believe them, that she had some power over Rafe no other lover had.
She curled her hand around the back of his neck. Instead of answering with words, she kissed him, letting her actions speak for her.
Chapter 22
Rafe carried Jasmine to the couch. Flushed from their loving, she looked sated and far more tempting than she could ever imagine. He focused on her shoulder and ran his tongue over his descended fangs. The delicate slope would be a perfect backdrop for his claim.
For the mate bite that would tie her to his soul for eternity.
With one knee on the thin cushions, he stroked the crook of her neck. The raised scar would announce to the world that she was his. He wanted that—to claim the one female who’d captured him.
He breathed deeply, filling his lungs with her scent. The big predators he housed lay down, rested their heads on their paws, and closed their eyes. Their peace radiated through him. That was something all shifters—Royals and single shifters alike—sought.
Peace.
It was incredibly hard sharing a body with other souls, especially when the entities tied to each other didn’t get along. There was no running from them, and living in constant discontent often drove the person mad, along with the animals inside them.
Jasmine’s presence promised he’d never have to face that fate. He couldn’t say exactly what it was about her that had managed to not only tame his cats but mesmerize him. Her scent had attracted him, so had her beauty, but other women had smelled incredibly alluring and had aroused him instantly. Those clues weren’t enough to go by when looking for a true mate.
He knew of many males who’d thought they’d found their true mate, only to learn it had been nothing more than lust. A couple of times in bed with their supposed one true mate had cured them of the fascination.
For him, it was more. He respected Jasmine for raising shifters, protecting them as if they were her own. Add in her warm personality and ability to meet life’s challenges and he saw a woman strong enough to face an eternity’s worth of ups and downs.
Maybe his cats hadn’t realized how perfect she was for him at first glance, but they’d sensed something special about her. They’d wanted to get closer to find out what. Rafe was glad he’d given in to them.
She showed him what life could entail when he wasn’t always fighting his animals’ wants. He didn’t want to give that up. Neither did his cats. They’d made their choice—Jasmine.
It didn’t seem to matter to them that she was human and would never be able to carry his kids. For many older Royal males, that fact didn’t matter. After living alone for centuries, the promise of peace a true mate offered overrode their animalistic drive to breed. Rafe agreed. Eternity was a long time to spend with a woman you only desired, not loved.
He was ready to give up on having kids of his own. Hell, he’d give up everything.
Jasmine on the other hand? She wasn’t ready to accept him. She didn’t trust him, not completely, and he needed her to have complete faith in him.
The mating process between Royals and non-Royals was too dangerous to allow for even a second of doubt. If she fought him as he walked through her soul, she might die before he could complete their bond. For a human, that level of trust would not be gained overnight. He would gain it, though, and once he had it, he’d claim his true mate.
Rafe turned away from the couch and the temptation Jasmine posed and studied the room she used as an office. It was simply decorated—a desk, a couple of metal filing cabinets, and a small table shoved in one corner with catalogs and unopened mail on its surface.
The other corner held a tiny kitchen with a sink, microwave, and mini-fridge. Next to it, boxes of toys and stacks of books sat on the floor near an ancient boxy television complete with rabbit ears. A photo stood on top of the old set.
Brown hair, smiles that suggested their childhood had been a happy one, and eyes that stopped his heart exactly as they had the last time he’d looked into them. Darker than his with less of a luminous quality, their eyes hinted that their father was a single shifter, not another Royal.
Biologically, conception was possible as long as he was a feline shifter. Practically, Rafe had never heard of any Royal female willingly mating a single shifter. Why would she? The laws of the heavens didn’t allow her to share her immortality with a non-Royal. Eventually her mate would die. And she’d be left alone. For eternity. No sane Royal female would agree to such a situation.
No. Seth and Levi’s mother likely hadn’t agreed to a bond with their single shifter father. He’d no doubt forced her into a breeding bond. Probably so he could exploit their kids. Even as a single shifter, his kids would be Royals. As strong as their mother and just as valuable. Those groups who experimented on shifters would pay a hefty amount for them.
Rafe didn’t want to imagine which one of his missing relatives had met that fate. Nina wasn’t the only female they’d lost over the years, she was just the last. But in the end the ‘who’ didn’t matter. One of his relatives—sister, niece, or cousin—was tied in a breeding bond with a single shifter. The proof was right in front of him.
He replaced the picture. How had Jasmine ended up with Seth and Levi? Her account of finding them abandoned didn’t ring true. She’d lied, at least about not knowing the mother. But why? Even if Seth and Levi had been conceived through rape, their mother would still be protective of them. A shifter’s instincts were powerful.
Jasmine had been afraid when she’d delivered her lie. Something bad had happened that had left her alone and fearful. He had to get her to share the whole story. It would be the first step to earning her trust.
He walked back to the couch and traced the length of her calf. Determination settled over him. He’d protect her and learn her secrets. No other option was acceptable. He wasn’t losing her, not to another male or to death.
Rafe allowed his fingertips to linger against her soft skin a few moments more before he forced himself away from her.
He picked up his phone from where it had fallen in his haste to love Jasmine.
A grin spread as he took in the state of his dress. He still wore his shirt and boots but his jeans lay in tatters on the floor. Although he was five hundred years old, Jasmine made him act as if he was a barely mature male and driven by his hormones.
Rafe moved to the farthest end of the studio apartment so as not to wake her and called Kade. “Have you arrived yet?”
“We’ve just turned down the driveway.”
“Get the kids settled, then bring me a spare pair of pants from the car and shorts or something for Jasmine.” He imagined she wouldn’t be comfortable walking into the house in her short skirt without underwear.
“Overly eager?”
“A little. My woman’s hot.”
“That she is, brother.”
Rafe gripped the phone tighter. “Jasmine is special. I told you that. Do not look at her.”
“It’s hard not to. She’s beautiful.”
“She’s also mine. Do you understand me?”
A long moment passed before Kade mumbled, “I’ll be right there.”
The lack of response angered Rafe, but Kade ended the call before Rafe could demand an acknowledgement of whom Jasmine belonged to. Rafe was being possessive but couldn’t help it. The goddesses had promised shifters peace in the form of a true mate. Jasmine was his.
Why wouldn’t he want to keep other males away from her?
Several minutes later, the door opened a crack and two pairs of shorts came flying in. Rafe placed one pair on the sofa and tugged on the other.
Dressed, he slipped outside. Kade leaned against the wall at the bottom of the stairs.
“You’re serious,” Kade said the moment Rafe stepped in front of him.
“Yes. She’s mine.”
Kade flicked his gaze to the second-floor door. “Your lover or your true mate?”
“
She’s tamed my cats. They feel at peace near her.”
“She bridged you as a true mate would? You’re sure? She’s human.”
“I’m sure.” Rafe crossed his arms over his chest. “The goddesses never said our perfect complement had to be another Royal. It’s why they’ve allowed us to tie any female to our souls.”
“That was an oversight on their part. They’ve told us that many times.” Kade pressed a balled fist to his chest. “The golden goddess wants us to prosper and grow our family, even if that means mating a single shifter in order to do so. Our family is her only tie to the human world. Mating Jasmine won’t bless our family with babies.”
As the leader of their pride, the goddess and mother to the first Alexander could visit Kade, though the deity rarely did.
“She’s told you this?”
“Yes.” Kade slowly nodded. “The last time she spoke to me she said our family was special. We’ve been chosen to lead the way into the new world, and we’d need to remain strong to face its challenges.”
“And you didn’t think to tell us?”
Kade shrugged. “It was the night after I took our father’s place. We had other things on our minds.”
“True, but that was a century ago.”
“Would her words have soothed you?”
“No. I would’ve been angry. If we’re so special, why allow every one of our females to be taken from us?”
“Which is why I didn’t bother saying anything then, but it doesn’t change things.”
“I agree. It doesn’t. Jasmine is my true mate.”
“She’s also human and can’t give you children.”
“And? I’ve lived long enough to know a male should never settle for a breeding partner when his true mate is out there.” Rafe motioned toward the apartment. “Jasmine is mine.”
“But the goddess wants us—”
Rafe stepped forward. “And would you turn your back on your true mate just so you could tie yourself to a breeding partner? Just so you could make babies with a female you didn’t love?”
“Yes.” An incredulous look passed over Kade’s face. “I’m the head of our pride. I have an obligation to carry on our family.”
“If your true mate ends up being a human, you’ll change your mind.”
“I doubt it. My true mate will be a Royal. I just haven’t met her yet. The goddess wouldn’t punish me that way.”
The stony look on Kade’s face matched his tone.
Rafe shook his head. “If you say so, but I am under no such obligation. As soon as I earn Jasmine’s trust, she’ll become my soul-bonded mate.”
“And if you don’t earn it?”
“I will, but it won’t happen anytime soon.”
“She’s wary of shifters.”
“Yes, and I hate that it was her fear that sent her running from me this morning.” Rafe curled his fists. “And because I kept secrets from her, Jon knows about her. For that alone he will go after her, but if he suspects Jasmine is not merely a lover but my true mate, he won’t back down.”
Kade cursed. “I doubt time has dimmed his hatred of our family. If he doesn’t try for Jasmine, he’ll go after Seth and Levi.”
Rafe glanced at the woods. “Agree. He’s out there. Waiting. Planning. I fear he’ll set a trap for them.”
“And that is why it’d be best to take them back to our home.”
“Jasmine wants to stay. Besides, this might be our last chance to punish Jon for taking Nina. Don’t you want to avenge her? Maybe find out where he took her?”
“Of course, but at the risk to your female and the kids?” Kade narrowed his eyes.
“We’ll protect them.” Rafe wouldn’t allow any other outcome.
“Jasmine lives in the middle of nowhere.” Kade waved an arm out to encompass the yard. “And with Jon masking his scent, he can wait until we are out of sight and attack. There is nothing to stop him. No cameras. No motion sensors. No electric fences. We’re sitting ducks. We should pack up the kids and the humans and go back to our home. There, they’ll be safe.”
“And how is that going to earn Jasmine’s trust? She actually thought we were going to take her kids.”
“She doesn’t still believe that. If she did, she wouldn’t have left them in our care.”
“Did she trust us with them? Or did she trust that Josh would protect them from us? She had wanted to talk to me. Alone. Maybe that was why she’d left with me.” Rafe sighed. “Don’t you see? I don’t know Jasmine. I have no idea how she’ll react to moving home or the mate bond. I don’t even know if she would want me.”
Kade’s brows scrunched. “Why wouldn’t she? You’re a good male, and she’d be getting immortality. What else is there to consider?”
What indeed? Rafe’s gaze strayed to the house where Josh was waiting for his chance to steal her away.
Rafe rubbed his thumb over his fingers to ease the sharp pinch of his claws pushing against his skin. “We’ll give it a couple of days. Jon might not even stick around. We’ll sit tight and wait. As long as the kids and the humans are with one of us, Jon won’t dare touch them. He knows he’s no match for us.”
“I hope so, brother. I don’t want to lose any more of our family.”
“We won’t,” Rafe said, then jogged across the lawn.
It was time to learn more about Jasmine, and his best source of information was Josh. Actually, Jasmine should be the one to reveal everything, but Rafe didn’t have time to get to know her, not if he wanted to gain her trust before the next time it was tested.
Chapter 23
Jazz stretched, and the bed she was lying on squeaked. No, not a bed. She recognized the sound. It belonged to the sofa in her office. Why was she sleeping on it?
She pried open her eyelids and scanned the room. Her gaze settled on the pair of torn jeans lying on the floor.
Rafe.
Memories rushed over her—spending the night with Rafe, hearing the fear in Seth’s voice, and the lion peering at her through the car window.
“Real. It’s all real.”
The sound of voices drifted to her before she could take the thought further.
She smoothed her skirt and top, but her ripped panties made her feel naughty. She and Rafe had come together in a rush of desire. It had been an amazing encounter, but she couldn’t go outside without wearing underwear. Her kids and Rafe’s family would be here by now. It wasn’t that she worried they might see something they shouldn’t. Her skirt was short but not that short. It just felt…wrong.
She reached for the phone to call Rafe to see if he’d bring her a pair of panties. The shorts neatly folded on the top edge of the sofa caught her eye. She grinned. Rafe had thought of her. She snagged them and changed.
Obviously his, the shorts hung to her calves. She had to roll the waistband three times for it to stay up, but she was decent. Fashionable? Not even close. Anyone who looked at the outfit and her disheveled, tangled hair would be able to guess exactly what she’d been doing. At least the adults would. Her kids? She often wore mismatched or too-big clothes while working on her cars. She bought whatever she could find at the secondhand store in town.
On her tiptoes, she peered out the top window of the door. The two tough brothers from Rafe’s background picture on his phone stood near an SUV, and the woman from the same photo leaned against a dark blue car. She had to be Mira, Devin’s twin. She was curvy, tall, and with the uniquely colored hair, exotic. She also looked incredibly sad. In the throng of men, she stood alone.
Jazz scanned the yard. No sign of her kids or Josh. In the house maybe? She had to make sure. She flung the door open.
Everyone looked in her direction. She froze under their unblinking stares. Rafe’s brothers openly perused her. If their heated gazes were any indicator, they liked what they saw.
She swallowed against the lump in her throat. It took every bit of self control she had not to slink back into the office and hide. She didn’t like being the center of
attention. It made her nervous. Her first thought was always—they know I’m a liar and a coward.
Silly, of course. How would anyone find out the truth about how she’d gotten her boys? Or that she’d left their mother behind to face those horrible men? Jazz never shared her story with anyone, not even Tony.
She forced her feet to move. Image was everything, especially when the shifters watching her could smell her fear. She could chalk hers up to being around strange shifters or the worry over Jon. Nobody needed to know it was guilt that plagued her.
Her attention zeroed in on Rafe. He stood with a raven-haired man in a kilt. She blinked. Nope she wasn’t seeing things. The guy wore a kilt and a leather vest. No shirt.
He was gorgeous, but one glance told her he wasn’t one of Rafe’s brothers. He didn’t have the same exotic eyes as Rafe or Kade. This new man’s were almond-shaped, deep-set, and brown but just as intense. Another predator. Wolf, maybe? Didn’t matter. He was obviously friends with Rafe, so he had to be one of the good guys.
She caught Rafe’s gaze and silently urged him to come over to her. He gave a small shake of his head and held out a hand. Was she supposed to walk across the yard in front of his family? When he didn’t move or drop his hand, she guessed that was exactly what he wanted.
Her hands shook with another wave of nerves, but she tucked her tangled hair behind her ears and went to him. She kept her gaze on Rafe’s face—her anchor—and ignored the ones that tracked her progress.
By the time she reached Rafe, her breath sawed past her lips. Rafe closed his hand around hers and pulled her into his embrace. She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her ear over his heart. It didn’t race. The beat was steady and strong. Hers slowed to match it, and each of his caresses over her messy hair relaxed her tense muscles.
“Where are the kids?”
“In the house with Josh and Kade.”
She nodded, then tightened her grip on him. “Do not make me do that again.”
“I won’t, but it was necessary to show them that not only do I own you, you’ve accepted me.”
