by Jade Allen
“You’re not being charged with anything, but you’re welcome to have an attorney present.”
“I have one...I mean, I know one. He’s not a criminal attorney, though. He worked with me when I purchased the bar.”
“I can help you find one.”
“But I’m not being charged, you said.”
“Not a public defender. There are plenty of wolves who provide their services pro bono. I know a few; I can call them when we get there.” He offered her a reassuring smile. “I want you to be comfortable, Aiza. You’re going to be a very big help to us.”
“Thank you.” It did seem like a good idea to at least consult with a lawyer before she spilled her guts and incriminated herself. Why would they offer her full immunity when Dwight was already dead? She didn’t know anything else about the rest of the Brotherhood—the only members she ever met, she killed. It was in self-defense, true, but what proof did she have of that?
Only the truth. The whole truth. And nothing but the truth.
With bathroom breaks, water breaks, and crying breaks, it took a little over four hours to get through the entire story. Noah remained standing for most of it, his face set in a pensive mask as his partner, Dana O’Driscoll, asked questions to guide Aiza’s long narrative.
She started at the beginning, the night she met Dwight, and continued through the details of her accident, her damaged memory, and her decision to be made into a werewolf. That was the easy part.
After she started talking about the night Butch came to her bar and demanded money, and then attacked her, she couldn’t look at Noah any longer. She couldn’t meet Dana’s eyes, either. She just stared at her hands and recited as much as she could remember. By the time she detailed the attack that killed Franklin, she felt winded and sick to her stomach with shame and fear. It seemed to her that she gave them no choice. They would have to arrest her when she confessed that Dwight convinced her not to call the police, to just let him hide the bodies, like it was no big deal.
She half-expected her new attorney to stop her story, but he allowed her to continue speaking without interruption. He’d introduced himself as Sam Longtail, and Aiza’s eyes had darted to Noah’s face, searching for a family resemblance. Maybe it was only a coincidence, but Yakima wasn’t that big and the name wasn’t that common. But if they were related, her guess would be distant cousins.
Finally, she ran out of things to say and Dana ran out of questions to ask her. She stood and offered her hand with a small smile that reached her eyes. “I wish we’d met under different circumstances, Ms. Simpson, but I’m very grateful you chose to come in and speak with us today.”
“Oh, um, you’re welcome. I hope I can actually help with your investigation. I never meant...I’m not a murderer.”
Dana’s warm grip tightened and her smile turned reassuring. “It will help and we know you’re not a murderer. Now if you’ll excuse me for just a moment, I need to talk to my partner.”
They stepped into the hall and Aiza turned to Sam, looking for any sign of what to expect next.
“It sounds like you’ve had a hell of a year,” he said.
“It’s been rough. I just hope the next year isn’t spent in jail.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Sam said confidently. “You did the world a favor when you removed those mutts from it. And those two have bigger fish to try. Noah said he’s going to keep you safe, and he will.”
As if summoned by his words, Noah reappeared. “Are you ready to move?”
“Where are we going?”
“A safe house we’ve got ready for you.” He looked to Sam. “I’ll be in touch.”
She followed Noah out of the room, her heart still hammering in her ears. She didn’t feel better until they were in the car and the building was several miles behind them. “Where’s the house?”
“It’s best if you don’t know.”
“What do you think I’m going to do? Call the Brotherhood and tell them where to find me?”
“No, but a secret safe house is a secret safe house. Until everybody knows the secret.”
“Why not just blindfold me then?”
“I will if I think it’s necessary,” he said lightly.
She smiled despite herself and let it drop. It didn’t really matter to her where the safe house was or why he wanted to keep the location a secret, as long as she was safe and had a place to heal and figure out her life.
He took her north, further from Portland and the Brotherhood’s territory. She never spent much time in Washington, so she could gauge the direction but not the location. He slowed down to thirty miles per hour as they entered a tiny town and began pointing out different places of interest—the general store, the bank, the post office, and the local watering hole. Finally, he pulled to a stop in front of a bungalow at the outskirts of town.
“Home sweet home.”
It looked nice enough on the outside. The house had been recently painted white with green trim, the yard was well cared for and bursting with flowers, and a tall oak tree cast a long shadow over the front porch. He opened the car door for her and moved to the trunk where he pulled out several bags of groceries, loading his arms before moving to the front door.
“The key is in my pocket,” he said, nodding towards his right leg.
“Oh...um.” She delicately reached past the tight lip of his pocket, sliding her fingers down his hard thigh in search of the key. She snatched it and quickly pulled her hand back, her cheeks suddenly suffused with heat. Ducking her head so he wouldn’t notice her strangely flustered reaction, she unlocked the house and pushed the door open. He stepped in first, turning off the security system and flipping on the lights before gesturing for her to follow.
“I’ll teach you how to use all of this. But I promise, you’ll never wake up with a stranger in your room again.”
“The alarm is that good, huh?”
“Nobody will even get this far. There are sensors all along the perimeter of the property. They are rigged to set off silent alarms that’ll bring down a team of armed men like the wrath of an angry god.”
Her eyes darted out the open door. “There’s a team watching the house?”
“Yes.”
“Where are they?”
Noah smiled and gently closed the door. “There will also be a two-man detail assigned to you at all times.”
“I’m going to be followed twenty-four hours a day?”
“For your own safety.”
“But only for, like, a couple of months, right?” His eyes darted away and she felt her heart sink. “You don’t think this is only going to be for a few months, do you?”
“There’s no way of knowing,” Noah said. “If it were up to me, I’d have every mongrel and cur locked up by tonight. But it’s not up to me. Come on, let me show you around.”
There wasn’t much to show. It was a single level home with one bedroom, one bath, and a kitchen split from the living room by a wet bar. The carpet was a neutral beige, the walls all a bland white, and the furniture was far from plush.
“I know it’s not much, but it’s got a satellite dish and Wi-Fi.”
“Wonderful.”
“The fridge is fully stocked,” he said, opening the door to show a fridge that was, indeed, full of food. None of it looked like anything she wanted to deal with, though. What was she going to do with a whole chicken, raw spinach, and a giant pork roast? She usually survived on cereal, burgers, and whiskey.
“The store is only a mile down the road,” he said, as if sensing her thoughts. “And you’ll be provided with an expense card. You can decorate the place. Hang a few things up on the walls. Make it more like a home.”
“Yeah, I’ll think about it.” She didn’t have any desire to make the place homier. She had a home. “What about you? Will you be staying here with me?
“I’ll be checking in on you often. And I have a phone for you with my number programmed in. If you need anything, call me anytime.”
> “So, you’re just going to leave me alone up here? Can I let anybody know I’m here?”
Noah shook his head. “Everybody thinks you’re dead, Aiza, and until we wrap up our investigation, it’s safer for you if they keep thinking it.”
She saw there was no point in arguing so she inclined her head. “I guess that’ll give me plenty of time to...reflect on what I’ve done.”
“Hey.” He reached out, resting his hand lightly on her shoulder. She automatically leaned into the friendly touch, drawn to both the warmth of his skin and the strength she could sense in his long fingers. “I know it seems bad now.”
“Not as bad as jail,” Aiza said. “So it could be worse.”
“It could be worse,” Noah agreed. “But I promise, I’ll make it better.”
“Why do you keep saying things like that?”
“Like what?”
“Promising to help me, keep me safe, and make things better. Are you just, like, the world’s nicest guy or something?” He was still holding her shoulder, and for the first time, she realized how close they were standing. She wanted to move in even closer; wanted him to wrap both of his arms around her and hold her because she had the feeling he actually was the world’s nicest guy.
“No, I’m just a decent man who believes in helping those who need help.”
“In my experience, there’s not many decent men around. Not when you need them.”
“Then I’m grateful our paths crossed.”
“Grateful?”
“So I can be the one who gives you a new experience.” He squeezed her shoulder gently and then stepped back. “I’m sorry I have to go, but I’ll be back in the morning.”
He did return the next morning, bringing bagels, juice, and a half dozen thick books. “These are my favorites” he told her. “They got me through some rough times. Maybe they can help you, too.”
Every time he returned after that, he brought her something new to help her pass the time. She welcomed the books, the DVDs and the distractions, but she found—more than anything—it was his company, his smile, and his warmth that made each day better and better.
****
On the morning of their wedding day, Seth woke Sera with soft, sweet kisses against her neck. She smiled sleepily and tilted her head back, allowing him to nuzzle his lips over her pulse and under her ear. His hand rested on her hip, pulling her back against his body, his long leg draped over hers. He slid his palm up her ribs, coming to rest on her larger-than-normal breast. He sighed as he cupped its weight, her nipple hard against the palm of his hand.
She shifted, her ass coming to rest more firmly against his growing erection. He couldn’t help but move his own hips, grinding against her, seeking more heat, more pressure. Despite his growing hunger, his lips were still slow, gliding over her neck and shoulder as he took deep breaths, savoring her scent, both familiar and new.
This was how they woke most mornings, wrapped in each other’s arms, mouths seeking contact, bodies still supple with sleep. It was strange to see the same person every day, to go to sleep content because that person was there, and to wake smiling and aching for more contact.
He’d never met anybody he craved like he craved Sera. He even dreamed about her.
He wanted Sera near him at all times—a sharp deviation from how he used to run his life, but one his pack members had become accustomed to. Stephanie had helped considerably with that, as she had realized right away that Sera was different—not only from his previous one-night stands and flings, but also from the pack. He loved his pack; he cared for every one of his wolves and devoted his life to them, but that was instinctual due to the wolf inside of him. It was the man who found Sera; who yearned for her and loved her.
“Oh,” she gasped, and he knew that it wasn’t a sound of pleasure. “He’s got a lot of energy this morning.”
Seth moved his hand to her stomach. He didn’t have to wait long to feel the powerful kick of his son. “He’s really got a strong pair of legs on him.”
“Yes, he does.”
“Maybe he’ll be a soccer player like his old man.”
She looked over her shoulder. “You played soccer?”
“In high school.”
“Were you any good?” Sera asked with a smile.
“I was the team captain.”
She laughed. “Of course you were.”
“Why is that funny?”
“Did you ever participate in anything without being the captain, or president, or Alpha?”
Seth considered the question for a moment before answering with an honest, “No.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought. What time is it?”
He pulled her closer. “Why?”
“Because I have to get up.”
“No you don’t.”
“Yes I do.” She covered his fingers with hers but didn’t try to move his hand away. “I have one more dress fitting this morning, and then there are a million things to do before the ceremony tonight.”
He lifted his head, frowning. “A million things to do?”
“To supervise,” she quickly amended. “You know Stephanie and everybody else has been such a big help with getting everything taken care of.”
“I still think we should have waited,” Seth said. Not because he had any desire to delay being married, but because the doctor had already warned Sera she needed to take it easy, stay off her feet, and rest as much as possible. She set the date, insisting it needed to be before the baby was born, despite the inherent stress of planning a wedding. She’d also rejected his suggestion that they have a quick, private ceremony at the courthouse, stating that since she was only going to do this once, she was going to do it right. What choice did he have but to agree?
“I don’t think I can even stand to wait another day to be your wife,” she said, kissing the corner of his mouth. “Just think. At this time tomorrow, I’ll be Mrs. Seth Longtail.”
“Just think?” Seth grinned. “I can’t stop thinking about it.” His grin turned lascivious and he attacked her neck with playful bites. “Or the honeymoon.”
She laughed. “Stop! Stop!”
“Really?”
“No. But, yes.” She pressed a kiss to his mouth. “Stephanie is going to be here in less than thirty minutes.”
“You know, that’s plenty of time,” Seth said.
“Not if I want to shower, do my morning yoga, and eat a healthy breakfast,” Sera reminded him.
He relented, relaxing his arms and allowing her to scoot to the edge of the bed and swing her feet over the side. He had his own busy day ahead of him, with plenty of things to do before the bonding ceremony that night, but he still lingered in bed, watching silently as she performed her morning regimen. He couldn’t explain why—she had asked several times—but he loved to simply watch her complete the most mundane tasks. He noted every moment of her brushing her teeth, taming her hair into a ponytail, bending her way through fifteen minutes of yoga, and stripping to take a quick shower.
Once she was under the spray, he made his way to the kitchen. He was in the habit of cooking for her at least once a day, though he preferred to see to all of her meals. Today he made an egg and bacon frittata, served with a fruit smoothie and a Greek yogurt with a touch of raw honey. By the time she emerged, the freshly plated food was waiting for her on the table.
“Thank you. This looks so good.” She tilted her chin up for a quick kiss, and he couldn’t help but deepen the kiss, prolonging the contact for as long as he could.
“Eat up. You’ll need the protein.”
“Yes sir.”
He checked the clock and swore softly. He was already running behind, which was his own damned fault. But he wouldn’t have changed a thing—well, that’s not true. He would have stayed in bed even longer if she’d been willing.
“I have to go to my office this morning to see to a few more things before we go out of town. But I’ll be back here by one. Two at the latest,” Seth said.
“Okay.”
“Call me if you need anything at all. I’ll pick it up on the way home.”
“Will do.”
“Be sure to drink plenty of water, take breaks, don’t do anything too strenuous.”
“Honey?”
“Yes.”
Sera smiled. “Please relax. I’m fine. The baby is fine. Everything is fine, and tonight, everything is going to be perfect. Okay?”
Seth bent to kiss her smile. “Okay. I love you.”
“Knock knock,” Stephanie said as she stepped through the back door. “I hope somebody is ready for her fitting.”
“I am. Is Peggy here?”
Peggy was the seamstress making the dress. Sera had never had an article of clothing to order before, and she’d been thrilled to collaborate on designing a beautiful dress appropriate for the bonding ceremony. Sera had balked a little at the additional expense of having a hand-sewn dress, but Peggy was a member of the pack, and Jackie had insisted. Jackie was the wedding planner that Seth had insisted on.
“She is. She’s on the phone.” Stephanie wrapped her arm around Seth in a friendly hug. “I see you are literally hovering over her now.”
“Just to say goodbye.” He returned the hug and then grabbed his keys and wallet from the counter. “Make sure she drinks enough water and stays off her feet.”
“And doesn’t stress out, or pick anything up, or move. I know the drill.”
Seth gave his co-Alpha and pack sister an affectionate smile before pulling himself away and hurrying out the door. They weren’t siblings, but they were born within a week of each other, raised together from birth, and best friends from the beginning. He knew most of his pack expected the two of them to marry one day. It made sense when he looked at it from their point of view—they were already co-Alphas and nearly inseparable—but for the two of them, it had never been an option. She was his sister in all ways but blood. There was nobody else on Earth that he would trust with his mate and his unborn child.
His phone rang, pulling him from his thoughts. “Hey, Noah. What’s the word?”
“Nothing good, I’m afraid.”
“What happened?”
