by Lacey Thorn
“He was in love with her,” Adam agreed then surprised her with his next words. “I told him Rissa would never be interested in him that way. That he was like another brother to her.”
“Was that how you felt?” Slade asked quietly.
Rissa nodded. “Yes. I never thought of Jack as anything other than my brother’s best friend. I had no clue he’d considered me differently. Not until he hinted he wanted to mate me. I was…” She paused, shaking her head back and forth.
“Blindsided,” Adam offered, and she nodded gratefully. That pretty much summed it up. She’d never given Jack the chance to say the words to her and that played a huge part in her guilt, as well. She’d never even allowed him to share how he felt. She’d denied him that, sending him off with a laugh while teasing him. She’d never forget the hurt lingering behind his smile as he’d walked away. She’d been consumed with guilt since she’d found out he’d been killed.
“Stop,” Adam commanded, and she blinked at him with surprise. “What happened to Jack isn’t your fault any more than it’s mine. That responsibility belongs to the men who hunted and killed our alpha and den mates. As well as anyone who helped them.”
“Amen,” Jensen agreed.
Slade didn’t say anything. He merely watched her, and she knew they’d discuss it more when they were alone. She knew he could pick up on her emotions. As their bond grew and strengthened, he’d pick up on even more. God, she needed him. His touch. His kiss. The brush of his naked skin against hers.
“How close—”
“We’re there.” Jensen spoke over her, cutting her question off before she’d fully spoken it.
She glanced out the window with interest then. They’d stopped at a gate. Coyotes prowled the fence line. She’d bet anything it was a security measure to help keep Talbot secure on the property and the rest of the pride safe.
“I thought this was a pride of cats?” Adam said as he stared out the windshield.
“They’re friends with a lot of different shifters. Coyotes, wolves.” Jensen indicated the four of them in the vehicle. “Bears.”
“Will Ariel be here?” Rissa asked before anyone could make a smartass comment.
“Daniel and Ariel should both be at the main house,” Slade offered. “There’s Gabriel now.”
Rissa watched as the shifter moved toward them, nodding at another man as he worked the gate open for them.
“’Bout time we had a few of you here for a visit,” Gabriel teased as Jensen lowered the window.
Rissa could tell the other man was trying to ease them, but she saw his concern when he glanced toward her. Since Ariel had been captured with her, Rissa doubted there was anything they didn’t know about what had happened to her. Hell, most of them probably knew more than she did. At least, more than she remembered on her own. She needed those memories back. It was driving her crazy that she had no idea what had been said and done to her while she’d been held by Dr. Talbot and his crazy group of hunters.
“We were just waiting for an invite,” Jensen joked back. “You know I’ve been wanting to take a look at the medical facility you guys have here. Plus, I’d like to pick the brain of the famous Professor Mueller you guys are always talking about. I’m starting to wonder if he really exists.”
Gabriel laughed. “No need to doubt. He’ll find you as soon as you get here. He’ll probably try to talk you into giving him some blood then start asking you a million questions about bear shifters and how you differ from us and wolves.”
“That’s right,” Slade murmured. “His daughter is the mate to the four alpha wolves.”
“Wait,” Adam interrupted. “One woman is mated to four alpha wolves? Are you serious?”
“Jess? Yeah,” Gabriel agreed. “I’ve met her a couple of times. She’s pretty impressive herself. Incredibly intelligent. A scientist like her father. They’re always researching something. Along with Abby, Diane, and Gideon. Mark my words, the professor’s going to ask for blood and anything else he can get from you.”
Rissa knew Abby was the mate to the alpha of the cat pride, Utah Pearce, or Tah as the pride referred to him. Diane was one of their doctors and also mated to a panther shifter named Zane Ephraim. Gideon she wasn’t familiar with, though she’d heard Holt mention Gideon’s mate, Vic, was a close friend. And that was just the tip of the iceberg. From what she’d learned, there were at least ten couples as well as a number of other shifters now residing at the ranch.
“Depends on what he’s offering in exchange,” Jensen answered Gabriel, and Rissa wondered if Jensen had another reason to make the trip with them. She’d been surprised when he’d backed her up then decided to come with them. Perhaps, she should have questioned that sooner.
“Follow us up to the main house. We’ll introduce you to everyone then get you settled. There’s a room at the main house and a cabin for the newly mated couple,” Gabriel told them, casting a smile at Rissa before glancing at Jensen again. “I figured you’d want to stay close to the medical center. Professor Mueller has a room set up for you there.”
“And Talbot?” Slade asked, voice hard and cold. His expression was the same. In that moment, Rissa glimpsed a side of Slade she hadn’t really seen before. She’d heard about it, though. This was the Slade who’d gone after her, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake.
“Tony has him locked up. We’ll head over there later,” Gabriel stated, then drummed his fingers on the door before turning and walking away.
“Deep breath, brother,” Jensen warned as he drove. “Calm the beast. You don’t want to meet the alpha and the rest of the pack with your bear so close to the surface.”
Rissa released her seatbelt, then leaned forward and reached for her mate. When he turned to her, she pressed her lips to his. He easily took control of the kiss, and when he finally drew back, the SUV was coming to another stop. Slade’s color was still high, but his rage was now replaced with lust. She planned to act on it as soon as she could get him alone.
“Damn,” Adam muttered, and she blinked slowly as she glanced past Slade and took in the people waiting to greet them.
Damn was right. Front and center stood a man Slade’s height. His very presence practically screamed alpha. In fact, he reminded her a lot of Laramie. As she watched, a woman stepped up beside him, and the little girl she held immediately reached for the big man. He took her instantly, peppering her face with kisses then lifting her until he could rub his nose in her belly. Her laughter greeted them as the doors opened, and they stepped out.
Slade waited for Rissa, taking her hand as they all stepped forward. It was the woman who greeted them first, stepping up and immediately hugging Rissa.
“You must be Rissa. It’s so good to meet you. Ariel’s told us all about you.” She turned to Slade. “And Slade and Jensen Holloway. It’s so good to meet you both. We can’t tell you how much your help has meant to us. We’ll even forgive you for taking Holt from us. And you must be Adam. Welcome. We’re glad to have you here.”
“Thank you for allowing us to come,” Rissa offered when the three men with her remained silent.
“Of course,” Abby assured her. “Ariel’s chattered away about you since she got back. She was so worried until she found out you woke up.”
“I doubt I’ve ever chattered in my life.” Ariel stepped up, and Rissa’s gaze flew to the other woman. She waited for the moment everything would hit her. For all her memories to come rushing back in. But there was nothing. Not even when Ariel stepped in and hugged her. “I’m glad to see you looking back to normal. My last view of you wasn’t a good one. Of course, I didn’t look so good myself, either.”
Ariel’s mate growled behind her as did Slade. She suspected neither man liked to be reminded of what she and Ariel had been through. Of what they’d narrowly escaped.
“I hear congratulations are in order,” Ariel continued with a wide grin. “It’s nice to see you took your new bestie’s advice.”
“What?” Rissa as
ked.
Ariel gave her a curious look. “You informed me we were going to be besties. We were planning to do something wild and crazy to commemorate our friendship when we were attacked and taken.”
“Just a bear and a…” Rissa let the words trickle off, unsure where they were coming from.
“Tiger,” Ariel offered. “Let me know when you feel like shedding your skin and going for a run.”
As if the words had lifted the heavy veil that had shielded her mind since the capture and torture she’d endured, fragments of memories poured back in. Rissa couldn’t contain her cry as she relived hard hits from a metal rod. She felt the metal against her skin as if it were happening in the present, on the porch where she stood. The give of her bones as they shattered and broke. Her torture came vividly back to life. Tied down. Defenseless while several men surrounded her and inflicted debilitating pain. She automatically stepped back, seeking to distance herself from the memory and the pain it brought screaming back to mind.
“Rissa.”
Slade’s voice was laced with concern as he reached for her.
“What? I…” She shook her head, unsure for a moment what was memory and what was happening. It was real. All too real. She backpedaled faster, ignoring the voices of those around her as she searched frantically for the one person she needed. Slade.
“I…” She reached for him, her admission of need dying on her tongue as pain filled her head almost as quickly as the memories had. She grabbed her temples and fell hard to her knees before Slade could grab her.
“Rissa!”
His voice was the last thing she heard as blessed darkness took her away from the pain.
Chapter Seven
Slade paced beside the couch while Jensen checked over Rissa. She’d scared years off his life when she’d gone down then passed out. He still had no idea what had happened. One moment, she and Ariel had been talking, and the next Rissa had gone pale as she’d backed away. Then she’d dropped to her knees before he could reach her, head cradled between her hands. She’d just woken up before they left home. He couldn’t handle losing her to a deep sleep again.
“How is she?” he demanded, and his brother sighed. At least, this time, Jensen answered him.
“She’s just passed out. Give her a few minutes, and she’ll wake up.” He glanced up and met Slade’s gaze. “I swear.”
“I heard you guys had arrived.”
Slade glanced over as Tony walked into the room.
“What happened?”
“She passed out,” Slade growled as Tony headed toward Rissa.
“What precipitated it?” Tony asked.
“I’ve got this,” Jensen snapped.
Tony held up his hands and chuckled. “I’m sure you do. Just offering to help.”
“Why don’t you both give her some air?” Slade nudged both men aside and squatted beside his mate to check her over. Color was good. Breathing was good. She merely appeared asleep as Jensen had stated. Then again, she’d spent a hell of a long time sleeping while she’d healed from the torture she’d endured. He growled as he recalled how she’d looked the last time he’d found her out cold.
“She’s okay, Slade. She’ll wake up soon,” Jensen tried to assure him. “Why don’t you take her to a room, so she’s not surrounded by everyone when she comes around?”
“I’ve got a Jeep outside,” Tony offered. “I can drive you to the cabin they had prepared.”
“You can use one of the rooms here if you’d prefer,” Tah offered.
As much as Slade wanted to get her to a more private place quickly, he wasn’t willing to stay in the house with who knew how many of the other shifters. He wanted the cabin, but he didn’t want to cause any conflict with the alpha of the pride. He glanced toward his brother, trying to convey some of what he was thinking without speaking aloud.
“Let’s get her to the cabin,” Jensen said, and Slade nodded in agreement. “Rissa will want some privacy, and Slade isn’t much of a crowd person, either.”
“No,” Slade confirmed.
Tah nodded, and his expression made Slade feel as if he understood. “The cabin is completely stocked, but please, let us know if you need anything. We’ve made accommodations for two of you at the medical center, Jensen and Adam.”
“I’m looking forward to checking it out,” Jensen agreed. “Once I see my brother and his mate settled.”
Adam’s gaze was on Rissa, and Slade knew he was reliving the last time she’d been out, as well. The two siblings had a close relationship, though from the conversation on the ride in, there were still things they hadn’t discussed. Jack being one of them.
“Let’s head out, then,” Tony said. “I’m sure all the testosterone in the room isn’t helping her want to wake up.”
Slade growled and wasn’t surprised when the other shifters in the room did, too. Tony grinned as if he’d known how they’d respond to his jab.
“Shut up,” Tah growled with a shake of his head, but there was no anger behind the words, and Tony merely grinned wider.
“Let me—”
Rissa’s moan cut off Slade midsentence. He’d been ready to scoop her up, and now, he sat beside her, instead.
“Rissa?” he questioned, dropping his head toward hers as she blinked open her eyes then closed them again immediately.
“My head,” she moaned, keeping her eyes tightly shut then burying her head in his neck, lips grazing his throat as she curled into him.
“Let’s get her to the cabin, so I can check her over,” Jensen stated as Slade slipped one arm under her knees and the other around her back before standing and holding her against his chest. His brother cleared a path back toward the front door as he continued talking. “I’ll be back once I make sure she’s okay.”
“Should I send Diane over?” Tah offered.
“She’s a Holloway. I’ll take care of her,” Jensen countered, voice hard and firm. “No one knows bears better than I do.”
“You remind me of Jess’ Cody,” Tah offered with a smile. “He’d assure you no one knows wolf shifter biology as well as him.”
Slade knew he was speaking of the woman married to four alpha wolves. He couldn’t recall names at the moment but was guessing Cody was one of the alphas. Slade remembered hearing one of them was a doctor.
“Slade,” Rissa whimpered his name.
“We need to go.” Slade moved around Jensen as he headed to the front door, ignoring the conversation going on behind him. His complete focus was on his mate. She was hurting.
“Is she okay?” Ariel asked as she pushed open the door for him then followed him out. He hadn’t realized the other woman had waited around, but she had. Then again from what she and Rissa had discussed before Rissa had hit the ground, the two women had decided to be best friends. He opened his mouth to comment, but Rissa spoke first.
“Headache,” Rissa replied without moving her head from his neck.
“It was a long trip,” Slade offered.
“And she hasn’t been awake that long,” Jensen added from behind them. “I’m sure a good night’s sleep will work wonders.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow then.” Ariel reached out and squeezed Rissa’s hand. His mate nodded against his chest, prompting Slade to speak.
“Why don’t we plan to meet for breakfast?” he offered.
“Perfect,” Ariel agreed. “We can—”
“Meet here,” Tah interrupted. “Give us a call when you’re up and around and ready to head this way. Take your time. No rush. We’ve been looking forward to getting to know you better. All of you. Adam, if you have a minute, I’d like to go over some security protocols we have in place. You can fill in Slade and Jensen once they’ve seen to Rissa.”
“I’ll meet you there,” Adam called to Slade as he turned back to Tah and waited.
Slade slipped inside the vehicle when Jensen opened the back door of the SUV for him. He did his best not to jar his mate, not wanting to cause her any more pain th
an she already felt. The fact she was experiencing a headache so severe she’d leached of color and didn’t want to move shoved his worry off the charts. Rissa groaned as they took off, jolting across the plains as they followed Tony’s Jeep.
“What do you need?” Slade asked her. “I’m sure Jensen has something with him that can help.”
She shook her head.
“He won’t give you anything to hurt you,” Slade swore. “Let him help you. I don’t like seeing you in pain.” And she was. He could sense it through the link growing between them.
“No,” she growled at his throat. “You. I just need you. Nothing else.”
“You’ve got me,” he vowed, and they didn’t say anything else until Jensen was pulling to a stop in front of a cabin that wouldn’t have been out of place on Holloway land. It was very similar to what they had. Tony was already climbing out of his Jeep to join them.
“Looks new,” Jensen said, voicing Slade’s exact thought. “We’ll have you inside momentarily, Rissa. Hang tight.” Then Jensen was sliding out, closing the door softly behind him before skirting the hood toward the back door where Slade sat. Tony beat him to it.
“How we doing?” Tony asked as he held the door wide for Slade to slide out.
Slade grunted, moving to follow his brother’s lead as Jensen stepped onto the porch and pushed open the cabin door.
“This is one of the newer ones,” Tony said as they all stepped inside. “Locks are top of the line and on all windows and doors. Keys are on the bar in the kitchen-dining area. This is a one bedroom. It’s back this way.” He led them down a short hallway and into a huge room that was dominated by a large bed. Slade took quick note of the lay of the room, mentally storing where every window was as well as the doors to the closet, bathroom and the one they’d just entered through. Once he had Rissa settled, he’d look over the rest of the cabin and double check all the locks. Tah hadn’t yet mentioned attempts to rescue Talbot, but Slade was taking no chances.
