Marked

by Aline Hunter

  “Be careful, Gavin,” Wade cautioned and took a step forward. “She’s unstable. Push her too far and she’ll crack.”

  “She’s not unstable,” Gramps corrected coldly. “She’s just got a keen nose for bullshit.” Shifting his feet, he declared, “My granddaughter wants to get hitched. Since her groom-to-be showed enough respect to ask for my blessing, I’ve given it to the happy couple. If any of you have a problem with that, now’s the time to say so.”

  Corresponding silence seemed to go on forever, especially with Gavin staring directly at her. Her heart clenched as she thought about her mother. The woman who’d given her life had never stood a chance. Gavin was extraordinarily handsome with his blond curls and bright eyes. Like the werewolves around them, he was also perfectly built, with muscles evident beneath his expensive clothing.

  “Gavin.” Wade placed a hand on the Alpha’s shoulder. “You can’t dispute the claim. If you do you’ll risk the future of your pack.”

  “The future of the pack is what put me in this position,” Gavin snarled and shook off Wade’s hand. Ignoring the gun pointed at him, he started toward Chloe and Jackson. She considered stepping back but Jackson didn’t allow it, squeezing her fingers almost to the point of pain.

  “Is this what you want?” Gavin didn’t stop until mere inches separated them. This close she could see the lines around his eyes, the pain on his face. “Is he who you want?”

  Jackson had warned her not to talk but there was no escaping it.

  “I’ll have no other,” she responded, remembering Jackson’s earlier declaration. Leaning to the side, she braced herself against Jackson, comforted by the warmth of his body. He released her fingers and wrapped his arm around her, sheltering her under his shoulder.

  “I’ll accept your claim,” Gavin turned from her and looked at Jackson, “but I want to speak to my daughter. There are things she needs to know. Things she deserves to hear.”

  Gramps’ “hell no” created movement in the werewolves. Vicious growls filled the air. Jackson swept her behind him, his own violent snarl loud in her ears. Veering to the left, she fought to see.

  Several werewolves had moved forward and Jackson’s pack rushed to intercept them. Panic broke her silence, ripping a horrified cry from her throat. The arm Jackson thrust out prevented her from aiding her grandfather, keeping her safely behind him.

  Gavin’s loudly bellowed “stop” clashed with Jackson’s thunderous “stand down”.

  She sagged against Jackson’s back as pure fire raced through her, the magnitude of her mate’s wolf absolute. Energy poured from his skin and seared into hers. Grasping at his shoulders, she fought to stand.

  There was no denying his order.

  Every fiber of her being told her to relent and do exactly as he said.

  Both packs immediately complied and stopped in place. A few of them swayed as though they too felt the strength of will behind the commands from their Alphas. The growls didn’t stop but at least they weren’t actually fighting each other.

  “Done,” Jackson retorted, the muscles in his shoulders flexing as she leaned against him. A steady vibration emitted from him—the pure and unadulterated energy created by his wolf—and poured into her. Oddly the sensation soothed rather than jolted her, becoming an anchor she desperately needed. “Seal the mating.”

  Gavin’s expression softened as he looked at her. She couldn’t identify the emotion that flickered in his eyes. Sorrow? Regret? Determination? Hope?

  Before she could compartmentalize her thoughts, he turned around and faced the packs. “I recognize and accept the young woman before me as my daughter. Let it be known that I’ve agreed to her mating with Jackson Donovan to strengthen our ranks,” he announced. “From this moment forward, our packs are united.”

  As quickly as tension filled the air, it dissipated. The wolves relaxed and the growls stopped. The arm Jackson used to shield her from harm disappeared. Gramps shifted his attention to her. There was so much adoration in his face—so much concern.

  “Chloe Bean?” he inquired softly.

  She knew then that her grandfather was sacrificing his happiness for hers. Even though he wanted to confront Gavin, he was willing to walk away if that’s what she wanted. Despite everything he’d been through, his love for her was stronger than the hate he’d held on to over the years. Her eyes burned with tears, stinging like needles. She forced a smile, unable to see him clearly as her vision blurred.

  The roar of an engine ripped through the air, destroying the moment. Jackson spun around and Chloe did the same. A sleek, white BMW approached. A resonating snarl had her head snapping to the side. She looked over her shoulder at Gavin, who’d lost any semblance of calm.

  “Does she know about her?” Jackson asked, catching Chloe off guard.

  Before she could ask who “she” and “her” were, Gavin growled, “Yes.”

  “Is she the reason you left your child?” Jackson snaked his arm around Chloe’s waist and tugged her close. For the second time she felt his wolf rise. “Does she pose a threat?”

  “Yes.”

  Gavin strode over to them, reaching into his back pocket. His irises shone a vivid yellow-gold, accentuating the blond curls on his head. He didn’t dawdle when he removed a thick folded envelope and handed it to Chloe.

  “Everything you need to know is inside. When you’re ready to talk, I’m only a phone call away.” He stared, as though framing the moment in time, his green gaze taking in the contours of her face. Finally—though it seemed to take effort—he ripped his eyes from her and looked at Jackson. “You shouldn’t stay for the hunt. Things are bound to get messy.”

  “I won’t let my female lose face by running from your bitch of a Lupa,” Jackson replied levelly.

  “Former Lupa,” Gavin corrected, staring into the distance, a surge of wind sweeping through the random locks of hair at his nape. “I’m renouncing our mating.” With a parting look at Chloe, he started walking toward the car, calling over his shoulder, “Don’t make me regret trusting you, Jackson Donovan.”

  “Shit,” Jackson muttered and then yelled, “Fletcher, start the truck. We’re leaving.”

  “Whoa, hold up,” she gasped, trying to speak despite the arm that hoisted her from the ground. Clutching the envelope Gavin had given her, she fought to stay upright. “What are you doing? What’s wrong?”

  “I’ll tell you just as soon as we’re off the hunting grounds. We need to go.”

  Jackson reached the truck, opened the door and placed her inside the cabin. He moved away just long enough to instruct the pack to stay then slid into the seat beside her. In the short time she’d known the man, he had never backed down from anything.

  What the hell has him so shaken?

  Gramps tossed his gun into the bed of the truck and climbed in. One flick of his wrist and the engine came to life. Chloe managed to turn in time to see the BMW come to a screeching halt beside them. The driver’s side door flew open and a leggy brunette jumped out. Her furious blue eyes drifted to the truck and fixated on Chloe.

  “Go,” Jackson snarled, his head turned in the glaring woman’s direction.

  Gramps didn’t bother putting the truck in reverse. He rotated the wheel and skirted past the vehicles in front of them. Gavin intercepted the female—his Lupa, Chloe assumed—as she screamed something that was too garbled to understand and started striking him in the chest.

  As they drove into the fading dusk, she lowered her head.

  The envelope in her hand felt heavy—too heavy.

  Everything you need to know is inside.

  Jackson released a jagged breath. “I’m sorry. I didn’t have time to explain. Desiree might have—”

  “I don’t want to know,” she whispered, knowing he would hear. “Not yet.”

  Lifting her hand, she groped at the truck’s headliner. It wasn’t entirely dark out but she couldn’t read if she couldn’t see. When she found the button to turn on the interior light,
she pushed it on and encased the area in a soft glow.

  Jackson and her grandfather didn’t say a word when she took a deep breath, unfolded the envelope and slid it open. Nestled inside were pieces of paper.

  Letters.

  Her fingers trembled when her eyes skimmed over the first one.

  Gavin, I don’t know where to start.

  She kept reading, confirming her suspicions when she reached the end of the note.

  It was from her mother.

  She had obviously been infatuated with Gavin, putting her feelings to paper even though it was apparent she’d felt uncomfortable and awkward doing so. Chloe shuffled the note to the back of the stack. The second letter was written by someone else.

  Dearest Sylvie…

  She felt dizzy when she thought about what she held in her hands. There were many things Gavin could tell her about the past but she’d never know how her mother had felt. At least, she’d thought she’d never know.

  Everything you need to know is inside.

  The man she’d hated had given her a gift beyond measure, one that allowed her to get a glimpse into the mind of the one person she’d always wanted to know—her mother.

  Forcing aside tears, she settled back and started reading.

  Chapter Twelve

  Jackson watched Chloe step into the cabin. She’d refused to put away the envelope full of letters Gavin had given her, clutching them like a lifeline. The trip to her grandparents’ property had been a quiet one. After they’d arrived, she’d exchanged a tearful farewell with her grandparents, climbed into his car, turned on the light and continued reading. The few times he’d been able to sense her emotions—fear, hurt and despair—he’d touched her, alleviating her distress in the only manner he could. Now that they’d arrived at the cabin and she’d finished reading, it was time to talk to her about the past and their future.

  The heat of the moon beckoned but he forced his wolf back. He could scent Chloe’s desire to change, noted the way she’d fidgeted when she’d slid out of his car. Time wasn’t on their side but he was determined find out what she’d learned.

  Surprisingly, she relinquished her tight grip on the letters, placing them on the counter as she strode toward the kitchen. Then she pivoted to face him. Her skin was flushed, her green eyes changing to a breathtaking shade of emerald. She rubbed her hands over her arms.

  “My skin won’t stop itching.”

  He closed the distance and put his arms around her. Drawing her close, he breathed in her luscious scent. The wolf was there, waiting to answer the call of the moon.

  “I’ll take care of that shortly. Tell me about the letters.”

  She trembled, resting her face against his chest. “He tried to warn her,” she murmured. He could tell she was struggling not to cry. “He told her they couldn’t be together.” Her hands came around his waist, tiny fingers digging into his jacket. “She wouldn’t listen.” She took a deep breath and slowly released it. “She didn’t listen.”

  “Did he talk about the packs?”

  Her head bobbed as she nodded, wisps of her curly hair brushing his chin. “He said he was mated to someone but he didn’t love her. He never loved her.”

  She unexpectedly pulled away, looking up at him through eyes brimming with tears. “He was trying to protect her—to protect me. He didn’t want to hurt Mom. He only wanted to keep her safe.” Crystalline drops spilled from her lashes and her lower lip quivered. “How can I hate him now? What am I supposed to do?”

  “Take things one day at a time,” he answered and slid his hand into her hair, resting his fingers against her neck. “You decide how things play out. If you want to know more, you can get to know Gavin. If you don’t, walk away.”

  She seemed lost. “It’s not that easy.”

  The hell it isn’t. “Yes it is.”

  A tremor racked her and she muffled a cry. He wanted to roar at the full moon and tell it to go the fuck away. The scent of forest and pine caressed his nostrils, the wolf within her rising to take control.

  “He loved her,” she whispered, misery apparent in her voice.

  “I think he still does, Chloe.”

  The way Gavin had looked at his daughter at the hunting grounds had changed Jackson’s perspective on things. The Alpha loved his child. That much was evident. The pain in his eyes indicated their meeting dredged up memories of Chloe’s mother. A woman he’d lost and would never see again. A woman he might have claimed as a mate if the circumstances had been different.

  Usually Gavin was an arrogant pain in the ass. He expected his orders to be followed without question, running his pack with an iron fist. This evening he’d been cautious, humble and nervous. He’d wanted to know the daughter he’d given up. Everyone had sensed it. If Gavin did as he promised and ended his mating, he might have to give up everything he’d sacrificed so much to obtain.

  Which said a helluva lot about the bastard.

  “That woman. The one in the car. It was her, wasn’t it? His mate.” The animosity in her tone was impossible to miss. “She knows about me. That’s why he wanted us to leave.”

  He questioned whether it was better to tell the truth or a lie. Chloe’s wolf continued struggling to the surface, the energy and power bringing his own beast to life. Anger wasn’t a good thing during the full moon, when it was difficult to keep dangerous emotions under control.

  “Yes.”

  “I want to hurt her.”

  “I’m sure you do.” He ran his thumb over her throat, hoping to calm her, using wide, sweeping strokes. “And I don’t blame you. But maybe you should wait until you talk to Gavin before you make big decisions. He can answer all your questions. There could be other things you don’t know.”

  “I know enough.” Her voice dipped several octaves, deeper and throatier than usual. “I saw the way shelooked at me. That woman knew about my mother and father. She understood what they felt for each other and she didn’t care. The bitch is a menace.”

  “It’s not always that simple.” And it wasn’t, not for wolves. When packs were involved it changed things. Desiree wasn’t likable—hell, she wasn’t even nice—but she was respected by the packs for a reason. She put her wolves before everything else, including herself. That was why she’d agreed to the arranged mating with Gavin, to make the wolves who depended on her stronger.

  “I can’t believe it.” She tried to rip herself from his embrace. “You’re defending her!”

  “I’m not.” Fuck it was hard to prevent his beast from responding to her anger. The bond they shared made him want to react—to destroy whatever caused his female distress. “Things are different when it comes to pack. I’m simply stating the truth.”

  Again he felt the surge of energy that came from her wolf. The strength of the animal collided with his, fighting for supremacy. He felt her rage as her lips pulled back, forming into a snarl.

  “Don’t lie to me.”

  “I’m not.”

  Instead of settling, she struggled even harder. He managed to keep her close but she got a few elbows to his chest and arms. Her tiny little snarls soon turned to growls, the presence of her wolf pouring off her in waves.

  Goddamn it.

  The time for discussion was over.

  So much for keeping a lid on things.

  He dropped his guard and let his wolf slide into the passenger seat. The beast recognized its mate, rushing to merge its force to hers. They collided in a flurry of fur and growls. Chloe tensed against him, gasping for air. He molded her body to his when she tried to move away, holding her firmly to his chest.

  The first step of the shift had started.

  There was no turning back.

  “Let go,” he instructed, his own voice a heavy growl. “Set the wolf free. I’ve got you.”

  He hurried outside, no longer able to mute the mesmerizing cry from the moon. His pulse was pounding, the rush of blood through his head deafening. A quick flick of his wrist opened the back door. He gl
ided over the porch and down the stairs. The orb floating in the sky above blanketed them in soft white rays. Her whimper seared through him, yanking him away from the urge to change.

  Focus, asshole.

  Once he’d reached an open area near the tree line he carefully lowered Chloe to the ground. She was shivering, her hands bunched into fists. Teeny claws were visible at the ends. She gazed up at him and he saw her eyes were no longer human. Beautiful chartreuse rimmed the pupil, as bright as spring leaves rippling in the summer sun.

  “Clothes off,” he growled and started peeling the layers away from her body.

  Her clawed fingers shook as she helped him, stripping off her shirt and pulling it over her head. She trembled, no doubt due to the chilly air. Thankfully cold wouldn’t be an issue for much longer. Not when she was covered in fur. When she tugged at the button of her jeans he went to work removing his own clothing. It only took seconds but it wasn’t fast enough. His muscles were on fire, his bones starting to ache. Each garment he removed allowed the beams from the moon to caress his skin.

  The wolf bristled. It was almost time.

  Scents assailed him, the lure of the wooded forest taunting him. Soon he’d feel the earth beneath his paws, the way his claws sank into its cold depths. The wind would rush through his fur as he embraced his feral half.

  Glorious. Pure. Unleashed.

  Not yet.

  Chloe sank to the ground and yanked off her shoes and socks. She was nude from the waist up, covered only in jeans twisted around her legs. Her claws tore the denim as a frustrated growl came from her. A sliver of relief surged through him. Pain would be minimal her first shift. She probably wouldn’t even remember it. The wolf wouldn’t let her think about the consequences of changing. The transformation would be quick, any fears she might experience minor.