by Marla Monroe
“Who is she letting stay in her house that would have the Ursus so upset?”
“Her brother will have a coronary, Serenity. She needs to live with her pack where she’s safe,” Shayne said.
“Her brother is part of the reason she wants to move out. I understand how she feels. She’s got the same problem I had in my pard. He’s trying to mate her off against her will. I won’t stand back and watch that happen to anyone else,” Serenity said.
Warren felt his stomach drop at that piece of news. He looked over the top of the truck at where Eason’s head snapped up at that piece of news. Yep, his friend had put two and two together as well. Wren was who Serenity was letting use her house. This wasn’t going to go well.
“Oh, hell,” Eason spoke out loud what Warren was thinking.
“Yeah. We better head to town and get those supplies. I have a feeling we’re going to be pretty busy over the next few days. Our mate is going to be within reaching distance of us. We’ve got a basement to finish so we have a room ready for her.”
Eason eased inside the cab and closed the door even as he grabbed for the seatbelt. Warren followed the other bear’s example before starting the engine. He was just backing down the drive when a sassy, bright green VW Bug turned down the short road to Serenity’s old house and squealed to a stop inside the garage. Seconds later, Wren emerged from the small car with a purse over her shoulder.
“Fuck!” Eason said, his voice turning gravely again. “She’ll kill herself driving like that in that tiny thing.”
Warren couldn’t help but laugh. “I agree, but talking her into doing anything she doesn’t want to do is going to be hell.”
Eason looked at him and grinned. “I’m going to love every second of our fights. Just think of all the make-up sex, brother.”
Warren shook his head. Only Eason would see fighting with their mate as fun. The other bear enjoyed verbal sparring and thrived with a good rumble in fun. The only thing that bothered Warren about the future once they claimed Wren as theirs was that instead of complementing each other as mates should, they would clash and always be at odds with each other.
“Remember that fighting all the time won’t bring you closer no matter how good the make-up sex is later. You’ve got to cultivate a strong bond of closeness and trust to fully cement our mating with her.” Warren could see the other bear thinking about that. Good.
I have a feeling life with the two of them is never going to be quiet much less boring. I just hope I can bridge the gap that’s bound to open up now and then.
With Wren moving in right under their noses, they were going to have to tell their Ursus and the Zashchita of their sleuth that she was their mate. It was going to cause some tension in the den if they didn’t put it out in the open. The other males would need to remember to steer clear of Wren as much as possible. Any comment or physical closeness to their mate would bring out their protective side and lead to fights.
As they drove toward town, Warren tried to think about what it would take to keep Eason from attacking anyone who got close to their mate. Keeping him busy remodeling the basement was their only hope. He would enlist the help of his sleuth brothers in keeping Eason occupied in the basement as much as possible.
“Do you think she’ll want us one day?”
Warren almost didn’t catch his friend’s question. He realized that he hadn’t been paying attention to Eason’s emotions as they bounced from one extreme to another.
“What do you mean?” Warren asked. “She’s our mate. She already wants us. She’s just resistant because she’s being pushed toward the wolf and doesn’t want to acknowledge us as her mates yet.”
“But will she want us—fall in love with us, like our Ursa fell in love with her mates?”
“She will, brother. It might take a little time, but she will come to love us just as much as we’ll love her.” He smiled. “I plan to treat her like an Ursa and make sure she has anything she could possibly want or need.”
“Do you think she’ll think less of me because I’m different? I mean what if our cubs end up bi-natured like I am?” Eason asked.
Warren kept his eyes on the road, not wanting to give the other bear any reason to worry, but he’d wondered the same thing on occasion. By the way Eason was fidgeting in the seat next to him, his friend had probably dwelled on it a lot lately. Even now, he could feel Eason bouncing his leg.
“I don’t think she’s like that at all, brother. I don’t think it will matter what we are or aren’t once she allows herself to embrace the mating. As for what our cubs will be, it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that they are healthy. We will meet any need they or our mate has. It’s that simple.”
“I hope you’re right, Warren, but I have a feeling that it’s not going to be that simple. Nothing ever is when Mother Nature is involved,” Eason said. “Just look at me.”
Chapter Two
“Stupid, bullheaded, male!” Wren kicked the carport door shut and stomped into what was to be her new home. “How is he going to be able to handle the guys without me? I’m his freaking buffer!”
Deep down, Wren worried that he’d lose control and she’d be minus her brother as well as the pack. All of her life, Mojave had made her promise that she wouldn’t give in to just any male who wanted to claim her. He’d told her to wait for her true mate like their parents had. He’d made that same promise to her and together they’d stuck together and kept their meager pack safe and secure.
What had changed to make him want her to agree to Alex’s mating claim? Yes, he was past the normal lone male age for losing control without their mate, but Mo was stronger than any other wild dog she’d ever been around. That included her on father.
Wren’s stomach churned at the thought of something going on that she didn’t know about. Had her brother kept something more from her? She needed to find out and the only person she knew who might be able to help was TJ. Bless the poor dog’s heart. TJ was the lowest of the low in power within their pack. He was the nicest male she’d ever been around, but he had zero control and had to be monitored all the time to assure he didn’t end up in trouble. That also meant he couldn’t hide anything from her that he might know.
She checked her watch and nodded. He and Scoot would be bringing her things in the next fifteen minutes or so. She’d talk to him then. In the meantime, she needed to figure out where she wanted him to put all of it and come up with a way to get rid of Alex once and for all. There was something off about the wolf. Not only did he give her the creeps, but he didn’t feel right to her.
Maybe it’s just that I can’t stand the idea of him touching me, but I don’t think so. I think he’s got something wrong with him. I don’t want any part of it, and I sure don’t want my pack mixed up in whatever it is he’s got.
By the time Wren had checked all the rooms in the house and decided on a plan of action, TJ and Scoot arrived, backing a truck up the driveway. She opened the front door and jumped out to greet them. To her surprise, Mojave had ridden with them.
So much for talking to TJ alone.
“Hey, Mo, Scoot, TJ. This shouldn’t take long.” Wren turned her back on them and walked as calmly back inside as she could manage.
“Birdie, can we talk while they guys unload?” her brother asked.
Wren turned around and took a good look at Mojave. His bloodshot eyes with dark circles beneath them gave him a haunted look. She sighed and nodded before turning to lead him to the back porch.
“I’m sorry that I laid all that crap on you the other day, Wren. The thing is, I’m desperate now. The more I try to control the wildness, the harder it becomes. I’m afraid I’ll lose it and hurt someone. More than likely, it would be you, Wren. You’re the only one who can go up against me and that’s exactly what you’d do to try and keep everyone safe,” Mo told her when they’d stepped outside again.
“Mo. That’s not going to happen. We’ll work through this. We always do, but I’m not going to acc
ept Alex for any reason whatsoever. There’s something wrong with him. He makes my skin crawl, Mojave. I honestly don’t believe the pack will be safe with him and his.”
Mo sighed and leaned against one of the posts. “He’s pushy and arrogant, birdie. Most alphas are. You know that. Yeah, he comes on a little greasy at times…”
“Greasy? No. Slimy is the word you’re looking for. He stinks of it, Mo,” Wren said, interrupting him. “Why does he want our pack? We’re tiny without anything of real value. The garage does okay, but it isn’t a gold mine. So why is he even bothering?”
“That’s just it, Wren. It’s you he wants. He loves you and is willing to take on our scrawny pack to get you.” Her brother shook his head. “You just don’t see yourself like others do. You’re beautiful, Wren. Anyone would be crazy not to want you as their mate. I’ve never understood why you couldn’t see how pretty you are.”
Wren blew out a noisy breath. “Forget that for now. The issue is Alex. I’m telling you right now that I’m having nothing to do with him. End of story. He’s not my true mate and I’m not settling for anything less.”
Mo shook his head and pushed off from the post to jerk the back door open. Wren stopped him before he walked inside.
“Are you going to let me continue to work in the office or do I need to find another job?” she asked.
“What the fuck?” Mo turned back around with a look of horror on his face. “You think I’d kick you out of the pack? You’re my sister! Of course you still have your job. I’m not going to disown you for going against my wishes, pup. I don’t have to like it, but I can live with it—for now.”
Wren sighed and watched as her brother stomped back inside the house, leaving her on the back porch. She couldn’t stop the tears from slipping down her face but managed to stop them from multiplying. Why did it have to hurt so damn much to grow up? Nothing had been this hard or hurt this badly in her entire life. They’d lost their parents at a young age and then fought for their lives nearly every moment since then.
Now, when they’d finally made a home for themselves in a peaceful community, her brother’s nature was trying to come unhinged and the hunters had moved in. Life sucked and there was nothing she could do to stop whatever was going to happen when it all came down to it. Well, other than keep Alex and his pack from destroying hers. She knew they would if he got his hands on them.
How do I stop him from taking them anyway if Mo checks out? All we need is for Mojave to find his mate. He could control his nature and the pack would grow stronger because of it. Or, I could take my mates and hold the pack.
She’d tried very hard to keep that thought from making its way to the surface, but now that she was out of options, it blew past her defenses and became real. She had a pair of mates out there who could help her save them all. Was she willing to make that sacrifice, though? They weren’t wild dogs, or wolves, or even canine. They were bears. Two very big, very good-looking bears.
“Hey, Wren! Can you come here a minute?” TJ’s whiney voice made her smile.
“Sure!” She opened the door and jogged inside to find TJ and Scoot trying to figure out how to put her bed in the bedroom.
“He said to put it there under the window, but isn’t that like dangerous or something? Wouldn’t you rather put it over here and something that would make noise under the window to let you know if someone was trying to get in?” TJ’s one strong point was that he was good with logic.
“You’re right, TJ. That’s safer.” She grinned and gave him a quick hug. “Where’d Mo go?”
“He went next door to talk to the bears,” Scoot told her. “I’m sure he’s reading them the riot act about making sure you were safe and all.”
Wren rolled her eyes but wasn’t about to go over and say anything. She might run into her bears if she did that. She needed to think more about the issues concerning them before she let herself jump into that particular fire.
“I hope he doesn’t annoy them. I figure I’m safer here than somewhere in town if I’m not going to be living at the den. I’m just lucky that Serenity, their Ursa, likes me and is letting me rent her house.” Wren strode over to the window TJ had been worried about and looked out into the dense tree line that separated her from any other houses.
“Are you sure you want to live all the way out here, birdie?” TJ, outside of her brother, was the only other person she knew who could get away with calling her that.
“I’m sure. I need some distance from everything right now. I can’t stand that wolf bastard around all the time. He’s got something going on that smells. You and Scoot need to watch out for him. Let me know if you think he’s doing something he has no business messing with. Got it?” she asked, turning to stare at the two wild dogs.
“Got it,” TJ said. Scoot nodded.
“I’m going to put the tools up and bring in the rest of the boxes,” Scoot said.
She watched as he gathered the screwdrivers and wrenches then walked out of the room. Wren turned to TJ, intent on finding out whatever he might know.
“Is Mo okay, TJ? I depend on you to keep an eye on him,” she told the other wild dog.
“He’s really fighting his nature, birdie. I’m worried. And that Alex is bad news. I can smell evil on him.” TJ shivered then picked up her sheets and started helping her make up the bed.
“What do you know about him? Have you heard him say anything?” she asked.
“Not really, but he’s made comments to his soldiers to keep a watch on us and make sure we don’t make any changes. Don’t know what kind of changes he thinks we could make.” TJ slipped on a corner of the bottom sheet.
“Soldier? Why do you call them that?” she asked as she mirrored him on the opposite corner.
“That’s what he calls them. They’re his lead soldiers. They keep the others in line and protect him when he’s off pack land. Course he considers the garage his now. Says it’s just a matter of time before you’re his mate and he has what he wants,” TJ said.
“Has what he wants? Do you know what that is? It sure doesn’t sound like it’s me he wants, does it, TJ?” she asked.
“Nope. He wants you, but what he really wants is our pack for some reason. Not sure why. We sure aren’t worth all that much as a pack. In the first place, there’s not many of us,” TJ said as he helped her smooth the top sheet down. “In the second place, there’s only two mated pair in our pack so no real chances of growing either.”
“You’re right about that.” TJ was a lot smarter than maybe she’d given him credit for. She smiled at him. “Keep an eye out for me. Call me if you see or hear anything that isn’t right. Okay?”
“You got it. I won’t let you down, birdie.” He patted the bed. “Where’s your pillows? Can’t sleep proper without pillows.”
“In the car. I’ll get them.” Wren hurried out of the house and opened the back door of the car to retrieve her pillows.
When she’d managed to snag all four of them she slammed the car door with her hip and turned to slam into Alex. The feel of his soft hands on her arms turned her stomach and she jerked back to end up leaning against her car door.
“What are you doing here? I didn’t invite you here. Go away!” Wren snarled, showing her teeth.
“Now is that any way to treat your future mate? I came to get you. You’re not living out here alone with no one to protect you,” he snarled back. “And, no mate of mine is living next to a sleuth of bears.”
“Well, screw you, Alex! I’m not going anywhere with you and I sure as hell don’t need your protection!” Wren started to storm around him only to have her way blocked by one of his lieutenants or whatever the hell he called them.
“We need to talk, Wren. This rebellion has gone on long enough. It’s time to unite our packs while your brother is still able to handle the pass off. Let him go, Wren. He needs to be out there looking for his mate and free of the pressures he’s under with holding the pack.” Alex sounded almost compassionate if you
didn’t see the lie that swirled in his eyes.
Wren swallowed down the curses that sat on the tip of her tongue and counted to ten—twice.
“I appreciate your concern about my brother and my pack, Alex,” she managed to say without growling. “But they’re my pack, not yours. And Mojave is my brother.”
“Your brother is going mad because instead of being out there searching for the one who would save him from it, he’s babysitting you. You’re the one who’s holding him back by being stubborn and selfish. Grow up, Wren, and accept my offer to be my mate, so if it’s not too late, Mojave has a chance at keeping his sanity.” Alex spoke so low Wren almost couldn’t hear him, but she refused to lean in.
“My brother, my pack, my problem. Get out, Alex, and don’t ever come here again.” Wren pushed past the other wolf blocking her way.
Pain rippled across the muscles of her upper arm as a tight grip stopped her in her tracks.
“I’m not through talking to you, bitch. Don’t ever walk away from me until I say you can.” Alex pulled her roughly against him, the pillows she carried the only things separating them now. “You are going to go back into that house and pack up whatever you’ve unpacked and my wolves will load it into our trucks. You’re moving in with me. Now. Today.”
He gave her a shove toward one of his wolves, but Wren was having no part of the bastard’s power play. She was an alpha wild dog bitch. She didn’t play games and she didn’t take orders from anyone, not even her future mates.
Wren slowly dropped the pillows she’d been holding tightly on to and turned around to face the wolves’ alpha. It took every drop of restraint she had in her to keep her face neutral and stop her itchy fingers from sprouting the claws she ached to sink into the wolf’s gut. Instead she slowly lifted her chin and took one step toward Alex with her arms held loose at her sides.
“I’m not one of your wolves, Alex. I’m not your mate, so you have no say or control over me. If you ever lay your flea-bitten hands on me again, I will tear out your throat and gut you like a pig. Do you understand me? Don’t make the mistake of thinking I’m a mere female dog. No one who has made that mistake will ever make it again. Not because they learned their lesson at the mercy of my brother or my pack, but because I killed them. Do you understand me?”
