Fifteen minutes later Jakob handed her a plate with bacon, eggs, and his special homemade latte. "I didn't even know I had all this food in my fridge," she said. "And since when do you cook?" She sipped the latte and her taste buds exploded. Sugar licked her lips and something unique… (lavender?) slid over her taste buds.
"What is this?" she asked, astonished at the complexity of flavors in a coffee drink.
"The first recipe that popped up on Google," he teased.
Her stomach growled louder and she put the latte down and picked up her fork. Jakob’s eyes never left her. He just continued to stare at her, watching her eat. "How am I doing?" she asked between mouthfuls of egg. "Do I pass the test?"
Jakob nodded, entranced at the way her mouth moved as she chewed. Her whole face was like an enchantment. Her skin like satin, her hair like silk. He was so unbelievably lucky.
"Marry me," he asked again.
Bree's fork paused halfway to her mouth.
"Eat your food," she said. “If you get to watch me eat eggs, I get to watch you.”
"Damn it, Bree," he said, slapping his hand on the counter. She put her fork down and stared at him with angry eyes.
"I love you," she said, "I do. And, I'll never leave you again. But marriage… marriage ruins everything."
Jakob sighed. What was he going to do with this woman?
She hesitated before speaking again. "You'll still come with me to my parents' anniversary party, right?"
"Of course."
She smiled and picked her fork back up. Jakob picked at his food a moment before devouring it. Arguing with Bree made him hungry.
***
Blake was waiting for Jakob and Bree when they stepped outside. Blake could smell their sex on them. He tried to keep the acid from rising out of his stomach. The sun was just beginning to peak when he stepped from the shadows, hands outstretched.
Jakob's ears perked up, alarm registering on his face.
"What is it?" Bree asked. Jakob pushed her behind him. He hadn't sensed Blake's presence, and that was more alarming than his actually being there.
"May I speak?" Blake asked before Jakob could say anything.
"What are you doing here Blake?"
"Did Remy accept the offer?"
"Of course." Bree tried to step around him but Jakob held her back. Something about the man looked familiar.
"What do you want?" Jakob's lips curled back, his feline senses kicking in. He may have been having trouble reading Blake, but Jakob could smell the danger rolling off of him in waves. His instincts as alpha took over and he let a low warning rumble escape his throat. "I told you thirty days, Blake. It hasn't even been five."
"I want to apologize," Blake said. "and beg forgiveness. I should never have crossed you." He hoped he sounded sincere. The woman was staring at him. He thought she would look much better when those lips were torn off her face. Her flesh was ample enough to sink his teeth into and still have leftovers.
"Fine, you've said your apologies. Now go. It's inappropriate for you to be here."
"Is it inappropriate to deliver a gift?"
"What gift?"
"For the lovely lady. Bree, isn't it?"
Bree had stepped back, uncertain of the danger that came with this man that Jakob seemed intent on protecting her from. Now, at the sound of her name, she looked at him with interest. It was the man who'd stood next to Jakob in the photo on the online tabloid Walter had shown her. He'd looked so severe in the photo. The difference was striking. Now, he looked rather sickly. His skin was too pale, his eyes too orange. His hair was long and should have been lustrous, but screamed for a good shampooing and some conditioner. If this was one of Jakob's pride members, he must have been living out in the woods.
Blake stretched his arm out, something gold and delicate dangling from it. "A necklace?" Bree asked, hidden behind Jakob's massive shoulders.
"For you," Blake stepped forward. Jakob looked at the necklace, then let out a deafening roar before springing forward and snatching it from him. He glared at the necklace as if it had spoken something offensive, then threw it so far into the sky it melded with the clouds and Bree lost sight of it. She was surprised at Jakob's reaction. It had looked pretty to her.
People walking past them suddenly scattered in droves, eyeing Blake more so than her or Jakob. To him, they gave a wide berth. He smelled rancid.
"You are not to return to the pride. You are gone. Out."
"Am I?" Blake asked trying to hide his smirk. "Pity," he uttered, then left them alone to their rotting selves.
"Who the hell was that? What was that?" Bree asked.
"An ex-pride member. He's angry with me. Thinks I turned my back on my brothers for you." He saw her eyes widen. "I didn't. I just added you to our circle. I can't believe he..." Jakob realized Bree was going to be a part of all this soon. He might as well explain as best he could. "The necklace he offered to you was the mu'qaD jInaq, a cursed stone. It brings bad luck. I can't believe he thought I wouldn't notice something like that."
"Oh," Bree said, a little freaked out that someone she didn't even know might want to curse her.
"It's nothing to worry about," Jakob said. "He won't be back."
Bree did not fail to notice, however, that Jakob walked her to work and would not leave until he saw her safely inside.
***
Blake walked away, his heart light. Out of the pride. For good. He felt the last of Jakob's control leave him like melted ice. Now he could do whatever he wanted, and Jakob could not stop him.
Chapter 16
Bree's parents opened the door and failed to hide their shock. Her mother started to bow, thought better of it, and switched to a handshake. Halfway through the handshake she changed her mind again and threw her arms around Jakob.
"Mom," Bree said, her cheeks going red. She pulled her mother off Jakob and her father introduced himself.
"Nice to meet you both," Jakob said. "I've heard a lot about you."
Her mother burst into a fit of giggles and grabbed champagne off a tray as a waiter scooted by. She handed it to Jakob, who handed it to Bree. "Thank you," Jakob said, "but ladies first."
Bree's mother nearly swooned. Bree threw Jakob a look that she hoped translated to I'm so sorry, then grabbed her mother's arm and led her away from Jakob. "Come on, Mom. Party guests are waiting."
Her mother turned her head back towards Jakob and reluctantly walked backwards to greet her other guests. Bree's father smiled at Jakob and shrugged. "Women get crazy when you marry them," he said, and shuffled off after his wife.
The house was large, a mid-size mansion, and Bree's parents had decorated it with museum quality taste. Their furniture was richly colored and expensive artwork hung on the walls. For the event, they had hired the best caterers and florists in the city. A table, spread with foie gras, Beluga caviar, and a variety of French cheeses, stood against a backdrop of golden lights and a live orchestra set up on stage in the backyard.
Jakob wandered through the house to the yard. The crowd was made up mostly of wealthy men and women. Jakob knew a few of them, or at least, was acquainted with them. He said hello at the right times, then found a spot by a tree and hunkered down with a drink in his hand.
Bree came up to him a few minutes later.
"There you are!" she exclaimed, kissing him gently on the lips. Jakob saw Bree's mother watching them and decided to put on a little show for her. He pulled Bree into him, so close she felt his arousal growing in his pants. His breath was fire on her skin, then he touched his lips to hers. It was the opposite of a church kiss, this was raw and ragged with lust. His hands ran over Bree's curves, the fullness of her hips rounding out to give him a nice handful that he grabbed onto before delivering one last flick of his tongue over the delicate pink of her lips.
When he looked back at Bree's mom, her jaw was hanging open. Jakob smiled.
A microphone rang out with a loud squeal and Bree's father jumped on stage.
"I'd just like to thank you all for coming to help celebrate this very special day with us. I met my wife thirty years ago at a bar. A friend of mine poked me in the ribs and pointed to her and asked, 'What do you think of her? She's kind of cute. Maybe I should go talk to her.' I told my friend she was the ugliest woman I'd ever seen, then when he went for another beer I went over and talked to her myself."
The crowd chuckled and Bree thought her mother actually looked happy. Bree knew better though. She'd grown up with her parents bickering and hating each other. The root cause was almost always money. It made this whole party seem that much phonier.
She missed something else her father said, but now Bree's mom was on stage with him. She took the microphone and said. "I've always hated this guy." Bree's heart thumped in her chest. Oh God, she's drunk. She's gonna ruin Dad's toast. "Which is probably why our marriage has lasted so long. He challenges me. He won't just tell me what I want to hear. And sometimes, I hate him so much I want to punch his lights out." The crowd was laughing. "Then it passes, and I remember how much I love him. The next time I hate him, I remember the hate is the reason I love him in the first place."
She put the mic down and kissed Bree's father. The crowd clapped, Jakob along with them, but Bree stood confused. What kind of toast was that? Bree unwrapped Jakob's arms from around her waist, pained the slightest bit at having to withdraw from his warmth, and told him she'd be right back.
She wove her way through the crowd towards her mom. "Mom," she said. Her mom grabbed her and pulled her close.
"Oh, god, honey, he's gorgeous. Even better looking than his pictures. And, boy is he into you."
"Mom, you act like you're more excited about Jakob than about your anniversary."
Her mom's brows furrowed. "Don't misunderstand. You know I love your father, but seeing you happy for a change is the best anniversary present a parent could get."
Now it was Bree's turn to furrow her brow. "Do you really love Dad as much as you made it sound just now?"
Bree's mom cocked her head and looked at her with quizzical eyes. "Of course. How can you even ask that?" Her mom sounded offended.
"It's just... growing up, you guys were always fighting and..." but she couldn't finish her thought. Her mom was watching her with wonder.
"Because he doesn't take all the shit from me that other people do? He never has. That's one of the reasons I fell in love with him. But that doesn't mean it doesn't piss me off when he's doing it."
Bree's knees shook. Was it possible she'd been wrong all these years? That her parents really did love each other? That she'd misunderstood?
Bree looked across the yard where Jakob stood, watching her. She smiled back at him, and felt the slightest tingle shoot through her ring finger.
***
Jakob walked Bree to her door and kissed her good night. "Thank you for going with me tonight. I know my family can be a bit much to take."
"I want to come in," Jakob said, kissing her hand, "but if I do, I won't leave, and there's something I need to take care of tonight." Jakob was thinking of Blake. Tonight was the full moon, and Jakob had a bad feeling. He wanted to check on his pride. He knew Blake was nowhere near Bree's— he would have sensed him in an instant—and the pride house was the only other point of concern for him.
Bree was locked in to Jakob's worry. If she'd tried, she could have pried it from his mind easily. They were too connected now not to know each other's feelings. His mouth tantalized her and she licked her lips before kissing him hard. Her hand swung behind his neck, and Jakob gently pulled it off and slipped something onto her finger. She looked down and saw a small square cut diamond on a tarnished silver band. It looked old.
For once, Bree didn't have to fight dizziness and hyperventilation. "It's perfect," Bree said, her pink lips turning up to meet his. Jakob smiled back. Finally, he had gotten something right. He'd had to push aside his natural inclination to go to Tiffany's, and instead had gone to a small antique store that could never compete with the likes of The Silver Vaults in Chancery Lane, London. This was an old mom and pop shop that had been passed down from one generation to another. Nothing was specifically organized, and nothing was terribly expensive. There, in a corner, he'd found this ring. He knew she'd love it.
"So, you'll think about it?" Jakob nudged.
Bree shook her head. "No. I don't need to think anymore. The answer is yes." Her heart went wild in her chest, her face flushing, her thighs burning. Jakob sensed all these things and didn't think he could leave her. It was too difficult. It was not always easy being the ruler of a pride.
"I'll come back later," he said.
"Good." She pressed her core against him, sliding her hand along the bulging muscles of his back. He let his hands trail up her waist and stop at the voluptuous curve of her breasts. His breath was fast and almost as hard as the bulge that rubbed against Bree's lower half.
"Go," she said, pushing him away. "But hurry back."
He adjusted himself in his pants, grunting, and hurried home. The faster he took care of this, the faster he could return.
Bree stepped inside and closed the door. She leaned against it and let her eyes close. She didn't hear anything until it was too late. Blake's hand was already over her mouth, and his claws were already ripping her flesh.
Chapter 17
Jakob paused at the door to his home. His head thumped like a jackhammer and his eyes felt like they wanted to shed blood. He could hardly breathe and fell to the ground just as he crossed the threshold.
Mark was there and called the others, who came running. "I'm fine," Jakob said, standing up and shaking them off. Bree was dreaming again. It must be a terrible nightmare, he thought, for him to feel the sensations he was feeling so strongly. He walked to his study and sank into the deep plush of his favorite chair. The pride followed him in.
"I'm fine," he said. "Christ, I don't need a babysitter. Leave me."
They began walking away when something occurred to him. "Has Blake been here?" He'd specifically told them to keep an eye out for him. They looked around and shrugged.
"He hasn't been here," William said.
Jakob's heart began a marathon in his chest. He closed his eyes and tried to listen for Bree. He picked her out immediately. Her scent was easy to find, her thoughts nearly so. But what he felt couldn't be real. She was definitely dreaming. She had to be. In his mind, he saw her hurt and bleeding, felt her life draining away. He'd only left her a half hour ago. This wasn't possible.
Unless Blake... he reached out his mind to find Blake, and was horrified at the silence. His eyes snapped open, wide and frightened with sudden understanding.
"Oh God," Jakob said, "what have I done?" Jakob had banished Blake. For good. That meant he was no longer Blake's King, no longer his alpha. He had no control over him, and no ability to sense him.
The pride stared at him, uncertain whether they should try to help as Jakob jumped off the chair and ran for the door. He shifted so fast, the others almost missed it. His clothes ripped and scattered through the air. Bree was in trouble. It was no dream this time.
***
Bree was tied to the bed. Her shirt was split open and blood oozed out over her breasts, pooling between them as she whimpered. She called out to Jakob but wasn't sure he heard her. She thought so, but her mind was too rattled with pain. She couldn't concentrate on anything other than the razor claws Blake used to toy with her, cutting slices of her flesh. She prayed for neighbors to hear her, but the walls in this building were thick and Bree had a corner unit with only one set of neighbors, an old couple who both wore hearing aids.
Blake hovered in the background, watching her squirm. This was what he wanted. With Bree gone, Jakob would crumble. No one else in the pride was fit to lead. He would simply step in.
"Why are you doing this?" Bree sobbed. Her right arm was broken. It stretched over her head, tied to a post in her headboard. It shouldn't be able to straighten out enough to reach, given the
angle of the protruding bone, but Blake had forced it. It seemed hours or even days had passed since her parents’ party. The ring Jakob had given her less than an hour ago glistened in the light of her room. Blake followed her gaze and smiled at the ring.
"No," she begged as he approached her. His hand snatched the ring off her finger too quickly. His strength, even in human form, was somewhat superhuman like all shifters. She felt her finger crackle and a small splinter of bone poke out of her like a needle.
"Pretty," Blake said, then tossed it into the trash.
He slowly transformed himself into a half-lion for Bree's benefit. It was easy with the moon so full. He'd shut off all the lights in her room, wanting to see the glory of the moonlight. He paced around the room and stopped at the window, looking out. His body stood erect, hair sprouted from him in all directions. Bree didn't think of him as a lion. Lion shifters were not evil, Jakob had explained, they were simply humans with the ability to shift at will. They lived, they died, they loved, just like anyone. Blake was nothing but a monster.
His fingers had reshaped into huge paws, dangling at his sides, and with them, the razor-sharp claws that he traced over Bree's skin, threatening to slice her open once again. She already felt dizzy and wondered how much blood loss the wound to her chest had caused. Guess it's a good thing they're not vampires, she thought, and giggled in her slight delirium.
Blake thought she was laughing at him. He dug one claw deep into her belly and the giggle ran away from her, replaced with wide eyes and a piercing scream. He smiled, satisfied.
Chapter 18
Jakob moved so fast anyone who saw him would have had no choice but to believe he was something otherworldly. He moved through the night, letting the force of the full moon rush through him, filling him with strength and speed. The flesh of his paws pounded the pavement, creating a thud deeper than thunder. It shook the ground as he ran and anyone he passed might have thought there'd just been an earthquake.
Bears of Burden: HUTCH Page 67
