by Lia Davis
“What? No….”
She shook her head. Torin felt her wolf withdraw a little more.
“But they’re your ideas. I heard the excitement in your voice as you spoke.” He squatted between her and Alec. Taking her hand in his, he softened his tone. “I believe you can do this. I can sense you want to do this.”
She swallowed, but didn’t tug free, which left him and his wolf grateful. “Who…who will be my team?”
Alec smiled and nodded. “Tanner.” He held his hand up to silence both Torin and Cora. “One, you’ll need a sentry who knows the area well. Two, you get to boss him around.”
A shy smile formed on her full, kissable lips.
Torin rose to his feet and added, “Tanner is good to work with. He actually takes direction better than he likes to let people know.”
Another beautiful, smile lifted her lips. “Who else?”
“Ana.”
Alec nodded. “Yes, Ana will be great. I’m thinking it would be good for Gina to help also.”
Torin snapped a narrow-eyed glare at the leopard Marshal. Gina was a mutant and only allowed to live in the den because of the enchanted collar she wore. He worried what kind of stress Gina’s presence would place on Cora. Torin opened his mouth to protest, but Cora spoke before he could.
“Gina and Ana are good. Is that it?”
“No. I was thinking Robyn would be great with infusing the magic triggers along the way,” Alec suggested.
“Robyn will be perfect. I don’t know her, but she’s settled into the Pack well, I think.” Cora glanced up at Torin, sending a shockwave of desire straight to his cock.
Reaching out, he lifted the end of one of her strawberry curls. She stiffened briefly, then gently tugged her hair from his fingers. Amusement lit up his wolf’s attention. Alec shook his head and turned toward to the monitors.
Torin ignored the leopard Marshal/acting Beta and offered Cora his best attempt at a gentle smile. “Come, Cora, have breakfast with me.”
She studied him for a long moment before dropping her gaze to her lap. “Oh. I’ll need to change. I…”
Tracing a finger down her cheek to her chin, he gently lifted her face to his. “You look beautiful.”
Her cheeks colored once more, and she eased out of his grip. Standing, she turned her attention to Alec, “Can I have access to the files so I can look them over and draft up a plan tonight?”
The leopard smiled wide, scribbled something down on a sticky note and handed it to her. “Have fun. I can’t seem to narrow down one option. I can’t wait to see what you come with.”
She carefully folded down the sticky part of the Post-It, then folded it in half before slipping it into the pocket of her sweats. “Thanks.” Then she paced to the door, not bothering to wait on Torin.
His lips lifted as he followed her out the room, attention riveted on the way her hips swayed. He was going to unleash her wolf if it was the last thing he did.
****
Cora exited the room with her heart pounding in her throat. Pressing her back to the wall, she closed her eyes. Every nerve sparked like a live wire under her skin. Torin’s presence was too intense in large doses. Now she was going to have breakfast with him.
She opened her eyes the moment he followed her out into the hallway. He stopped in front of her and braced one hand beside her head. Not exactly trapping her, but close enough. Remembering to breathe, she tried not to shake. His cool, mint scent enveloped her, taunted her, and made her ache in all the right places.
When he dipped his head, she held her breath. Kissing him would be too much, would break her more than she was already broken. Because it’d been too long since she allowed skin-to-skin contact with a male—or any contact with anyone except the occasional casual touch between friends.
“What is your favorite food?”
She let out the breath she held. “Pizza.”
Good one, Cora. How old are you again?
“I love pizza.”
She met his desire-hazed stare, but was able to hold it for only a moment before her wolf whimpered. “No, you don’t.”
Her eyes widened, and she slapped a hand over her mouth. Before this, she’d only sassed off to her brother in a show of play between his cat and her wolf. Tears stung as they pooled, then spilled over her lashes. She squeezed her eyelids shut. Jason.
Torin’s warm fingers stroked her cheek, then swiped a tear that escaped. A moment later, she was pulled into his arms, and she buried her face in his shirt.
“Hey.” He cupped her face, forcing her to look at him. She lowered her lids because it hurt too much to meet his stare, his power. “Cora, look at me.”
He didn’t command it. In fact, she swore she heard a plea in his tone. She met his gaze and, for the first time, truly saw how beautiful his silver eyes were.
“I can’t—”
With a press of his lips to her, he cut off her objection. Sensation, heat, and desire rolled through her. Her legs went weak, and her pussy ached even as her panties went damp. She flattened her hands on his chest and realized too late the additional contact was a mistake. Tingles of electrical current passed between them, igniting a wildfire inside her.
Her wolf paced within, confused and needy. She didn’t know what to do. Neither did the woman.
Torin broke the kiss and watched her with a heavy, passion-filled gaze. His dominance, even reined in as much as it was, still made her wolf bare her neck. She wasn’t ready. She couldn’t mate with him. Not now. Maybe not ever.
“I know the perfect place with the best pizza in Cherokee. You up for the drive?”
Narrowing her gaze, she scanned his handsome face. One corner of his mouth lifted in a sexy-as-hell half-smile. “For breakfast?”
The other corner of his mouth lifted into a smile that reached his eyes. “By the time I take you home to change and we drive into Cherokee, it’ll be close enough for lunch.”
A hint of playfulness hid within his smile, calming her wolf enough that she wanted to play with his. The beast never responded to anyone but Torin. Not even Cora. She wasn’t sure what it meant. Did her wolf like him better than her? Impossible. But Cora did begin to wonder.
His words sank in, reminding her she was still in her PJ’s. Embarrassment flooded her, and she wanted to crawl under a rock.
Nodding, she whispered, “Yes, that sounds great.”
Holding out his hand, he waited with a patience she hadn't realized he possessed. When she placed her hand in his, he linked their fingers together and leaned in so his lips brushed her ear. “Because you are taking on the project management for the new security system, we’re going to be spending a lot of time together. I plan to desensitize you and your wolf in the meantime.”
Her heart jumped, and hot liquid desire pooled between her thighs. God help her, Torin was going to kill her with pleasure overload.
Chapter Three
“So…I saw you with Torin yesterday.”
Cora felt her cheeks heat at Cam’s statement. Glancing at the jaguar briefly, she nodded. “He took me out to lunch. Well, I guess it was really brunch.”
“Uh huh, and…?”
Scanning the open, yet private, field where they took the kids to play, Cora sighed. There was no keeping information from the Alpha’s mate. Well, one of the triad. “He kissed me.”
“And…?” She drew out the word, eagerness infusing the single syllable.
A giggle bubbled up and out before Cora could stop it. Out of all the dominant females in the Pack, Cam and Luna were the only two she was completely at ease with. “It was intense and confused my wolf.”
Cam grunted. “That’s Torin. He’s too….”
“Alpha male.”
“Yes, to put it mildly.” Cam laughed, then asked, “Do you want me to tell him to back off?”
Fear settled in her chest and burned its way to her belly. “No! Please don’t.”
“Okay. But if you can’t handle it and he pushes too hard,
you know you can come to me and Luna.”
Nodding, Cora sidestepped a toddler running full force after a ball toward the woods behind them. She scooped him up and tapped his nose. “No, sir.”
“Ball.”
“I know, Brian, and I’ll get it.” She set him on his feet. “Now, stay here.”
She raised a brow and waited. He folded his arms over his little chest, but nodded. Smiling, she jogged after the ball and returned with it. Brian clapped with excitement before taking it from her and throwing it into the small group of children.
“You’re really good with the kids.”
She shrugged. “They need direction and love.”
Cam leaned into her so their shoulders pressed together. “So does Torin. Think of him as a big kid.”
“A big, sexy, aggressive kid,” Cora said dryly. “I can’t even look him in the eyes. Not even after he asks. And the passion he stirs inside me is frightening.”
“But you like it, right?”
Cheeks heating again, Cora nodded. “Yes. Even though I may die from sensory overload.”
Cam laughed so hard Cora thought the female would fall to the ground. “Not possible. Trust me. I’ve been pushed over the edge many, many times.”
Cora shuttered. “I couldn’t imagine two of them. Although Graham is a beta.”
“Believe me, he can alpha up when he wants or needs to.”
“One Torin is enough for me.” Cora’s laughter faded as she caught the scent of the wolf in question. Glancing over her shoulder, she spied Torin crossing the nursery courtyard, on a direct course for her.
“Oh, I almost forgot. Keegan arranged a job for me. I start today.”
Cam smiled as she looked at her. “I know. Alec told us last night at dinner. Congrats. It’s perfect for you.”
The other female’s praise and confidence in her made a lump form in Cora’s throat and her heart swell with pride. She hugged Cam. “Thank you. It’s so good to hear it from you.”
Cam returned her hug. “It’s true.” She released Cora. “Now go before your male grows more impatient.”
Feeling a little less anxious, Cora turned and met Torin halfway. “Hi.”
He kissed her on the cheek and took her hand. “Morning. Did you eat?”
“Yes. Cam and I ate with the kids.”
“Good. Are you ready to go meet your team?”
Excitement and anxiety swirled the butterflies in her belly, but she took a deep breath and nodded. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Come on then. I have to run into town for Alec first.”
“Sounds great.” She drew in a deep breath and released it as she followed him to his truck. This was going to be one long day.
****
Torin white-knuckled the steering wheel as he pulled into the main entrance of Ashwood. Cora’s lily scent filled his truck, driving him and his wolf insane. It didn’t help since she barely said a word the whole trip into town and back. Instead, she had her attention focused on her tablet.
“Alec is really impressed with your design ideas.”
“Really?”
He shook his head. He brought up their task, and she paid attention. Okay, he could work with that.
“Yep. It’s all he talked about this morning with your team. I tuned most of it out because it started to sound like a foreign language.”
She laughed, soft and song-like. “I guess it could be to someone not familiar with it.” She turned off her tablet and closed the cover. “I’m sorry. I’ve been a terrible companion this morning.”
He relaxed. He reached over and squeezed her hand. “I know you’ll be great.”
She turned to peer out the window to hide the fact she was blushing. “Thank you.”
Releasing her hand, he pulled into the gravel parking lot next to the office complex. He hopped out of the truck and took a deep breath, trying to clear her from his senses. She needed space. She needed to be able to come to him on her terms. Damn. What had already been hard now seemed impossible.
So, he would give her twenty-four hours. One day where he wouldn’t be breathing down her neck and pushing her wolf further into submission.
He walked around to the passenger side and opened her door. She smiled and hopped down, avoiding his attempt to assist her. He suppressed a growl and followed her inside the building. She’s nervous.
Before he opened the door to the security room, he studied her. She clutched the tablet to her chest and scanned her surroundings. He’d noticed she performed the same perimeter search every time she left the comfort of her friends.
He traced her jaw with a finger, and she jumped slightly. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
There was a tremor in her voice as she responded, but he didn’t tease her about. Instead, he opened the door and gestured for her to enter ahead of him.
The first thing he noticed inside the room was how relaxed the atmosphere felt and how comfortable everyone appeared. Alec, Tanner, and Ana huddled in front of the computer monitors while Robyn and Gina sat at a small round table a few feet away, drinking tea.
Robyn met his stare. “Gina still gets tense around the enforcers so I made her a charm to relax everyone around her.”
Torin studied the mutant Hayden and Christa found hiding out in Hunter Ridge. The female was more human-like than other mutants. Since arriving to the Pack, she’d had her excess body hair removed to fit in better. Unfortunately, no magic could fix her cat-like snout or the fangs sticking out of her top lip. A result of the serum Felix used to turn humans into mutants.
Although Felix had made a mistake with Gina. She carried two strands of shifter DNA in her bloodline. She was currently working with the Healer from the Birchwood Pack—a wolf Pack that had recently formed an alliance with Ashwood. Sven wasn’t only a Healer by birth, the wolf was also a genius in medicine and genetics.
“Hello, Gina. How are you?” Torin watched the female look at the floor.
“I’m well. Thank you.”
Cora glanced at him, eyes narrowed slightly, then walked over to Gina, holding her hand out. “Hi. I’m Cora.”
Gina glanced from Cora to Ana as if unsure. Ana gave the female a warm smile and moved to stand next to her. After a brief hesitation, Gina took Cora’s hand. Cora stiffened at first, but relaxed as Ana spoke.
“I’m Ana, but I guess you know that. Gina is an example of what happens when a shifter’s animal is trapped or suppressed. She’s stuck in mid-shift, neither fully human nor cat. She is unsure about everything, but takes direction well.” Ana nudged Gina playfully. “Plus she can kick ass when she needs to.”
Gina smiled shyly and shook her head. Then Cora did something unexpected. She wrapped the mutant into a tight hug and whispered something Torin couldn’t hear from where he stood. Whatever it was made Ana snap her gaze to his, and a tear slid down Gina’s cheek as she returned Cora’s hug.
What the hell?
Your female can’t shift. Ana’s voice filled his mind. Apparently reuniting with her father and joining the sentries allowed her to communicate telepathically with the rest of them. Something only the Alphas, enforcers, and sentries could do thanks to their bond with Keegan.
Why not?
Her wolf is dying.
Chapter Four
Cora hated being around the sentries and enforcers for one reason. They always spoke to each other in their heads—especially when around the “civilians” of the Pack. It was annoying as hell and always left her feeling as if they were talking about her.
In this case, her secret was being passed around like a new toy, and she was pissed off. She fisted her hands at her sides and glared at Ana. “I can’t work with you.”
Alec stood from his seat, but Ana held up her hand. “She does have bite.” Sighing, she walked toward the door. “Come, Cora. I want to talk with you in private.”
Cora’s heart pounded, and her sudden spike of bravery turned into dread. Ana may have been raised by the e
nemy, but she was still part of the leopard Alpha family. Disrespecting her was viewed as an insult.
Torin stepped in front of Cora, his arms crossed as he spoke to Ana. “She’s not going alone.”
Ana shrugged. “Then come with her.”
Torin twisted to face her and held out a hand. Cora blew out a breath in frustration. Oh, hell, when would she learn to control her temper? She pushed pass Torin and followed Ana out into the hallway.
Once the three of them were outside the room and the door was closed, Cora glared at both of them. “I don’t like to be talked about while I’m in the room.” She faced Ana, annoyance rising again, making her braver than usual. “You have no right telling him anything I shared with Gina.”
Torin stiffened. “Then it’s true? You can’t shift?”
Cora dropped her shoulders and leaned against the wall. “Haven’t been able to since my parents died.”
“Have you tried?” Ana asked, drawing Cora’s attention again.
Tears blurred her vision, and her nose tingled. “Many times. My wolf doesn’t want to. She doesn’t talk to me.” Taking a breath to swallow her tears, she studied Ana for a moment.
“I’m sorry.” Ana frowned. “But Torin has to know. He is your mate, and your wolf is so sad and broken. He could help….”
“How do you know the state of my wolf?”
Ana looked away. She took so long to speak Cora thought the leopard wouldn’t answer. “You know, or at least Torin does, I can control the elements. What most don’t realize is I can connect with all five elements.”
Torin stepped closer to Ana as if trying to crowd her in a show of dominance. “What’s the fifth element?”
“Spirit. I can’t control anyone’s free will or his or her mind. I can sense their spirits, especially shifters’ animal spirits. I know Torin’s wolf is stronger than most and likes to be upfront with everything he does. Luna allows her wolf to the surface more than she should. Jared….” She shuddered. “Let’s say that is one angry jaguar. And Cora’s wolf is disconnected from the Pack. She’s depressed and suffocating herself.”
