by Moxie North
“No, no. It’s not simple. That isn’t the word I would use for this,” she said, shaking her head. “So let’s just put a pin in the whole shifter thing and hold that thought for later. Not ready to really tear that ball of confusion open just yet. Let’s move onto the part where you think I’m your mate?”
“I don’t think you’re my mate, I know it. My wolf knows it. There is no doubt about it. But just because the fates have decreed we be together doesn’t mean that is what’s best for you.”
“Hmm, kinda getting sick of hearing that phrase, Maverick, I’ll be honest with you. I like deciding my destiny. So you telling me that the universe said I’m yours and you are mine and you think you know better? Who the hell do you think you are?”
Maverick jerked back in shock. This last phrase was yelled at him, and Prudence didn’t bother to hide her anger.
“I think I know that I’m not the best man for you. In fact, now that I’ve met you, I know you deserve the best, Prudence.”
“You met me twice. The first time didn’t count, so don’t think you know anything about me. I don’t believe in best or worst. I think humans beings—well, people—are way too complex to be whittled down to such a small description. What about you ‘thinks’ that you wouldn’t be good for me?”
Maverick gave her a look of surprise. “Are we really going to have this conversation?”
“Hey bucko, you started this. You beat up a guy, got mad at me, then you kissed me. Twice! Then we had hot sweaty sex against the door with you finishing it up by saying you’re not right for me. Pardon me if I’m confused and think you should have to explain yourself. I may not be whatever you are, but on a human scale a kiss and sex like that does not mean two people are not compatible. In fact, that is straight-up biology waving a big old flag saying pick this one.”
“I don’t know what to say,” he said, while dragging his hand through his hair.
Prudence had already noted that he did that when he was frustrated, nervous, or anytime really. It must be a habit he hadn’t recognized. She wondered if he’d do it if his hair were shorter, not that she’d ever suggest he cut it.
“Tell me the truth. Do you believe I’m the one you are supposed to be with?”
“I believe in another life, yes, you are the perfect person for me. It’s hard to explain it. You are everything I didn’t know I wanted. I guess that’s how it works. The universe knows us better than we know ourselves.”
“But in this life, we can’t be together?” She asked this quietly because she really wanted a straight answer. Her heart hadn’t stopped pounding since that first kiss and she was giddy with the sensation.
“You deserve a whole man. A good one that can give you the life you deserve.” He said this with a finality that she understood meant he really truly believed it.
“What’s a whole man?”
He scoffed. “Let’s start with two working legs.”
Prudence frowned at him. “Your leg? I’ve seen that. How does that make you not a whole man?”
“Well, it’s not there, so a part of me is missing. That’s less than whole.”
Pru kept the frown on her face. “Your prosthetic works, right? I hardly even see you limping. You ride a motorcycle, drive a car, walk unassisted. What about that is less?”
“You know when I shift I am a three-legged dog? In most packs that animal would be chased out. It’s not able to keep up or hunt like the rest. I’m disposable.”
Approaching the next question carefully she asked, “Is that what happened to you?” She still wasn’t a hundred percent sure on the shifter thing, but it was obviously real to him, so it was important.
“No, I never went back after I got hurt. I didn’t want them to have to accept me just because I was family. That’s not the way it works in the wild. So I just stayed away.”
Prudence could see he wasn’t as emotionally detached as he was trying to make himself out to be. There was pain behind his eyes. Longing too, for something that he clearly didn’t want to give up, but felt he had to.
“What did your family think about that? Did you give them a chance?”
Maverick splayed his hands out on the table in a gesture that belied more frustration than if he’d clenched them. “I didn’t want them to have to choose. Besides, I’m needed here. I have a job to do. A pack that needs me.”
Pru nodded to him while trying to remember her Psych 101 classes from college, hoping to keep him talking.
“So, if you get your wish and I leave here today, never show up here again, never see you again, will you ever find someone else?”
His jaw clenched, the muscle twitching as he ground his teeth. “I don’t need anyone. I was doing just fine before I met you.”
Ouch, that kinda hurt. Pru pressed on. “You are a wolf and man. Do you like being a wolf?” She wasn’t sure if that was a safe topic, but she also didn’t want him busting any teeth with his jaw clenching.
“No, I can turn into a wolf. He’s not the same as me.”
“Huh? I thought you turned into a wolf.”
“I do, but it’s not me exactly. It’s a different soul, another spirit inside me. I can let him have full control when I’m shifted. He does what he likes, runs, hunts. I can stop him from doing most things, convince him sometimes. But I’m stronger and can force the issue, not that I have ever needed to. We were matched up from the moment I was conceived, the fates giving me the perfect half to coexist with.”
“Like a mate?”
“Sure, my wolf is all the things I need him to be for me. Just like a mate is supposed to be for my human side. Do you really believe everything I’m telling you, or are you just trying to see how crazy I am?”
Prudence let a small smile curve her lips. “A little of both?”
“That’s honest at least,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “Prudence, I’m a shifter. I’m in a motorcycle club that has come first in my life for the last three years. I don’t know how to switch gears to a mate and still be what I have to be for them. Who do I let down?”
“It seems like the only person you’re comfortable letting down is yourself. What does the club need you for? Don’t you just ride around, drink, and break shit?”
Maverick let out a sharp laugh. “Sometimes. We also work for a living. Deacon, our President, worked with another shifter group up north to build some trucking contacts. We run anything that needs to be moved along the west coast.”
“Other wolves?”
“No, not wolves.”
Prudence waited to see if he was going to explain. He didn’t.
“You drive a truck?”
“Not exactly. I provide support for some of our shipments.”
“I’m sensing you don’t really want to explain that.”
“It’s club business,” he said flatly.
“Fair enough. You work for the club. I understand from my sources that you don’t live here,” she said, switching topics.
“No, I have a house not too far away. Too busy here. I don’t like the noise. High pitches bother me. Eardrums damaged from my accident.”
Prudence wanted to ask about his accident, but still didn’t feel confident delving into that part of his life. Granted, he did tell her he was an animal, so what’s a little amputation between friends?
“Are you going to get in trouble for hitting that guy? Is he going call the cops?”
Maverick gave another short laugh. “Stitch ain’t gonna do shit, except keep his nose to the ground if he’s smart.”
“Won’t the hospital want to know what happened to him?” Pru assumed from the amount of blood pouring out of the man that he had a broken nose, or maybe an eye socket, and possibly some missing teeth.
“He’ll be healed up before dinner. Shifters are lucky that way.”
That was an interesting if not casual statement. Seemed to be a lot of things people didn’t know about these supernatural beings. Pru was trying to keep a mental list of all the things h
e was saying. She wasn’t sure if she was just going to use it for cross reference later or to see if he could keep them all straight.
“You can’t tell anyone about us. We can’t have outsiders knowing about us. Humans aren’t well known for accepting anything different than they are. We have to protect our young and the older ones in our packs.”
“So why are you telling me?” Pru couldn’t imagine why he would be giving her all this information if it was such a big secret. Shouldn’t she have learned a secret handshake, signed a blood oath, or something first?
“The fates wouldn’t have made you my mate if they couldn’t trust that you’d keep our kind safe. It’s a lot of responsibility. I’m sure you can handle it. I don’t think you are the type of person that would want possible injury and deaths on your conscience.”
Nice of him to throw that burden on her out of nowhere, she thought sarcastically.
“Gee, I wish you had told me that before. I work for two very nosy ladies that would love to add to their Port May directory of residents. I’m sure your tab could use some updating.”
“I’m serious, Pru. No one can know. I probably shouldn’t have said anything to you, but my wolf is getting in my head more than normal. My walls seem to crumble around you.” His frustration was evident and it added to Pru’s confusion.
“I’m not saying I don’t believe you, but I really don’t think I’m going to be going around telling the townsfolk that the motorcycle club down the street thinks they are werewolves.”
Maverick stared at her for a moment. “You think I’m crazy?”
“No, I didn’t say crazy. I think you very much believe that you are a wolf and I’m your mate. There is no other reason that I can logically think of why you would even be interested in someone like me. So destiny makes more sense.”
“Someone like you?”
“You know, I’m not a biker chick that wears leather and has tattoos and belly button piercings. I like knitting and bright colors. I usually ride my Huffy everywhere and think hanging out with two little old ladies is the height of hilarity.”
“You think we don’t go together?”
“Do you?” She challenged him.
“I don’t care what it looks like on the outside. Our insides match. Our souls are compatible. That’s what mates are.”
“Now you think we should be together?” Prudence was working her way around to this. His pushback on her seemed halfhearted at best.
Maverick covered his face with his hands, rubbing it several times before dropping them to his lap. “Yes and no. I’m sitting over here trying to keep my fucking hands off you so I can explain why we are too different. You don’t believe me, which could be good if you thought I was nutters and you wanted to leave. Knowing you, you probably think you need to stay so the crazy man doesn’t do something to himself. Pru, I’m trying to make this easy on both of us. You are drawn to me because of the mating pull, nothing else. It’s like you said—biology. Pure chemical attraction. We can both fight it, move on, and make our own destinies.”
Chapter 17
Pru noticed his voice trailed off at the end. There was no commitment or passion behind that remark. He didn’t want to find his own destiny—she could see it. There was a longing in his eyes that she was pretty sure most women never saw in a lifetime of attempting to connect with men. His eyes didn’t just look at her, they saw her. He looked at all of her, his eyes scanning over her features like he was starving and she was providing sustenance. His gaze was greedy, and that just made her attracted to him even more. He wanted her and her body was happy to let him.
“Prove it,” she said as a dare.
“What, that we aren’t good for each other?”
“No, prove you’re a wolf. You said you can control it. Just do it.”
“You want me to strip down here and now to show you? I can’t promise what will happen if I’m naked. To be honest I don’t think I would be able to resist fucking you again. Hell, I bet I could have you bent over that couch without too much fuss.”
There was a pretty good chance he was right. Prudence was doing everything in her power to not wiggle her ass on the wood seat. You would think having just come hard she’d be good for a while. Instead, her nether regions were gearing up for round two. Being near him had her pussy aching. Her clit felt like a ticking time bomb that didn’t need much to have her coming again.
“Prove it. Show me you aren’t full of shit. Then maybe I can take the rest of what you are saying seriously.” The chance that she was pushing a crazy man past his limits was there, but she also wanted to see if the world was as big and magical as she had always hoped.
Mav watched her with a look of indecision on his face. Or maybe it was resolve, she wasn’t sure. She watched him drop his head like he was staring at his lap, and then his head slowly came back up.
Her eyes went back to his, but they weren’t only his eyes anymore. They were wider, bigger, but just as blue though. His jaw was sharper, with the lines of his cheekbones sloped down and between his lips. What had been perfectly straight white teeth were now exaggerated long canines that weren’t there before.
“Holy shit, you’re a wolf!”
Maverick had never tried to do this before. He let his wolf come out just enough to show her what he was. Shifting was always an all or nothing event. You gave your animal the lead and they pushed through. Same when he shifted back. Balancing the two souls just enough that neither was in the front was uncomfortable and awkward, but full shifting wasn’t an option. His wolf understood and was doing his best to not fully shift. Switching in clothes was problematic enough. You could get tangled up or hurt in human clothes. With his leg it made it a hundred times more difficult.
As he watched her eyes round in wonder, he knew he made his point. He let his wolf pull back, and her eyes got even bigger at his human face coming back.
“You see, this is who I am. This is what I am. I can’t be a man for you. I won’t be a day-job-home-by-dinner guy. I like my bike. I like kicking people’s asses. I like working for the club and making a difference. I also am not some pansy-ass guy that wants to sit around watching chick flicks and talking about my feelings.”
“I’m sorry, but what gave you the impression that I am wanting or needing any of those things? You seem to know a lot about nothing, Maverick. Don’t make assumptions about me and I’ll give you the same courtesy. Now give me a minute to process what I just saw.”
Her barking orders made Maverick want to smile. He didn’t, because he wasn’t a pansy that went around grinning like a fool. This woman—she was fucking funny even when she wasn’t trying to be. Every moment with her was making it harder for him to push her away. Just being in the same room with her was the most relaxed he’d been in years. It scared the shit out of him that this petite woman could alter his reality so much.
“What if you do want those in the future?” he asked.
“What if you do? What are we really talking about here? I wanted to ask you out on a date. You seem to be talking about the rest of our lives.”
“That’s what I’m trying to get through to you. This isn’t dating; it can’t be just dating. My need for you is tearing at me. I can be having a conversation with you while the whole time I’m wondering what your tits look like bouncing up and down while you fucking ride like a cowgirl. Remembering how your pussy tastes and how tight it would wrap around my cock the next time I take you. That’s what I’m thinking about. I also know that if you let me in there, I’m never leaving.
Understand this, Pru, there is no turning back for me. Body and soul, I won’t be able to ever let you go. That is why I’m telling you to fucking run as far and as fast as you can away from me. You clearly are a strong woman that likes to be in control of your life. Male shifters can’t resist the need to know where you are, who you are with, what you are doing and when you are going to be back. To protect you, to keep you safe. There is no privacy. We want access physically all th
e time. I’d become addicted to you and even if I know it’s better for us to be apart, I’ll still keep you knowing I’m being a greedy fucker and I don’t deserve you.”
“Well, shit.” Prudence probably could have come up with something more eloquent to say, but reactionary was all she could manage. The past week since she had met him was unlike her normal male encounters. She’d been obsessed with him, and it appeared that her feelings were normal. At least in his world. It was like a free pass to be as possessive and clingy. That was kind of cool.
“So, say I get all attached and needy. That’s cool with you?”
Prudence saw his eyes flare brightly, like someone had backlit them with a light. It took her breath away for a moment.
“Don’t say things like that, Pru.”
“Why not? Isn’t that what shifters do?”
“Yes, that’s what shifters do, not humans. Don’t say things like that because it makes me feel very possessive of you. A mate needing and wanting you just fulfills all the protective needs a male feels.”
Pru glommed onto that last part with glee. “So…you feel protective of me? That’s why you beat up that guy? Would you, say, jump in front of a bus for me?” She knew she was playing with fire. But she was feeling incredibly reckless toward this man. He was big, taller than her with hard muscles. But she had no doubt that he would never hurt her. It was something she could feel, something she could count on.
“I’d pull you out from in front of the bus, and then paddle your ass for being there in the first place.”
That wasn’t something she was used to talking about, so she decided to skip over that last part. “What are we going to do, Maverick Hale? Go our separate ways? Me thinking about you, you thinking about me? I like you, I’m drawn to you. I do believe the universe has plans for all of us and clearly there are things that are bigger than us. So what now?”
“You go home. You stay away from me and live your life. You’ll get over me.”
