Changing Hearts

by Marilu Mann

  Joie caught herself humming as she wandered through the cabin. Malcolm had gone off to check on Tante. Whether he admitted it or not, she knew he cared about Tante, she also knew he felt something strong for her. Perhaps those feelings could be enough to keep him here with them and not cause him to lose his freedom.

  “Girl, don’t go there. Malcolm’s a wanderer even if he isn’t running. He needs his room, his space, his freedom. I can’t ask that of him.”

  But maybe, just maybe she could talk him into giving her the child she would so dearly love to have.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Twenty minutes later Slade pulled up in front of a ramshackle cabin. Joie’s directions indicated he’d have to go on foot from here. He pocketed the bike keys, glancing around as he did so. There was a rusty car up on blocks, all the windows busted out of it, no tires visible and the interior shredded, probably by animals. Nothing but raccoons and squirrels had been living around here for a while. He sniffed again and caught the faint scent of water, herbs and humans from his right. That way led to Kay.

  Slade skirted quickly through the woods to the edge of the bayou. A newer cabin had been built here. It stood off the ground about four feet, held by sturdy posts. A wide porch angled down both the sides he could see. Faint music came from inside the cabin, a woman’s voice joining the singing from the radio. The air also held the smell of chicken, making his stomach rumble even though he’d just eaten. Kay’s small boat bobbed gently at the dock. He noticed three small blond kids watching with big eyes as he came down the path and stepped down into the boat. Kay waited there with them.

  “You know what you’re doing, boy?” The old woman seemed to stare into him. For a moment he imagined she asked him about something other than the pirogue. His eyes narrowed as he considered her. Her direct gaze held his until he let his eyes slide away.

  Slade shrugged off the odd feeling that came with that gesture. Kay knew what and who he was. That hadn’t been a dominant display, therefore he hadn’t just submitted to her. Her leathered skin crinkled as she began to laugh.

  Slade felt slightly claustrophobic as the kids moved closer together, then moved, almost as a unit, toward the boat. They acted so smoothly and without words that he imagined them to be a wolf pup pack. But they just stood there watching.

  “Better than most, old woman.” He removed the engine casing and checked the small outboard motor. “Spark plugs are wet. You got any spares?”

  “In the tackle box by your feet. I didn’t think about them.” Kay lowered herself into a lawn chair on the dock as he found the spark plugs. He pulled his shirt off, pulled the useless spark plugs out, dropping them onto his shirt, and started replacing them.

  Slade glanced up as the children moved even closer. “Who do the rug rats belong to?”

  “Those children are all Boudreaux’s. Their momma be having a brother or sister for them just any day now. I thought it would be tonight but this baby, it’s stubborn. Just like some other folks I know. You like kids?”

  “Never been around them much.” Slade glanced up again to find the smallest of the children grinning a mostly toothless grin at him from mere inches away.

  “Well, little Chantal seems to like you plenty.” The old woman cackled at him as the little girl reached out to touch his shoulder.

  Slade forced himself to stand still as her tiny hand touched his tattoo. He’d never felt such a tentative touch before.

  “Pretty.” She lisped at him as she patted the wolf’s head on his shoulder.

  “She likes your tattoo.” A second child, this one a boy, stepped forward to stand behind his sister.

  “Yeah, I guess.” Slade put the engine casing back in place. He turned to face his audience. The little girl, Chantal, held her arms up to him. Slade looked helplessly at Kay. “What?”

  “She wants you to pick her up, boy.”

  “Me?” Slade stared at the kids for a moment then held his arms out slowly. Chantal launched herself into his arms, giving him a wet smacking kiss on the cheek, her tiny bare feet thumping into his chest. Slade flinched even as his arms tightened around her. She squealed and he stared at Kay with what a look of complete horror.

  “You’re holding too tight, boy. Ease off a bit.” Her cackle punctuated her humor.

  He relaxed his hold slightly to be rewarded with a ripple of laughter along with soft, sticky lips pressing against his cheek. She smelled of apple juice and pudding. Her hair gleamed almost white it was so blonde and her eyes were as blue as the sky. She grinned at him again and he could see the glimmer of teeth breaking through her pink gums.

  “How old is she?” He couldn’t take his eyes off the child. In his mind he could see a baby girl with Joie’s burnished curls. She continued to pat his face and shoulder, saying “pretty”, over and over again.

  “Chantal’s two. My name’s Tyler. I’m seven and Jackie’s four.”

  Slade looked at the little boy with a slight grin. He recognized another Alpha when he met one, and this kid had it in spades. Protective of his sisters, a little wary of this stranger, but willing to put himself out there. Slade tried to remember the last time he’d interacted with kids.

  The Pack members had known his feelings about children and kept the kids away from him. Tyler’s skinny arms stuck out from his t-shirt and his hands were fisted on his hips.

  “You the oldest, then?”

  “Yeah.” The kid puffed his chest out and Slade’s grin widened. Yeah, this kid definitely had Alpha potential.

  “Hey, you kids, get on back to the house.” A masculine voice intruded and Slade moved his gaze from the boy. A man in a dirty blue shirt and faded jeans stood at the foot of the porch. The older kids whooped as they ran toward him. Chantal squirmed until Slade set her on her feet, then she took off after her siblings. Slade flinched as she fell, but she got right back up, scrambling up to her father.

  The man hugged all three then picked the little one up, holding her quite naturally against his chest, brushing the dirt off her knees. He kissed her cheek then set her on her feet, gently patting her bottom. “Y’all get washed up for supper, now. Miss Kay? You and your friend will be staying?”

  “No.” Slade shot a quick look at Kay. “I mean, you can stay if you want. I need to get back to Joie.”

  She laughed at him again! “Thanks just the same, Boudreaux, we’ll be heading home. You, boy, get back on that fancy motorbike of yours and I’ll take my time in the boat. You tell Joie I’ll be home by dark, you hear?”

  “Just make sure you are. I’d hate to have to come looking for you.” Slade pulled himself easily out of the boat and onto the edge of the dock then handed Kay down into the boat. The engine roared to life with a quick pull on the starter and Boudreaux helped him untie the boat.

  “I appreciate you coming down here, mister.” Boudreaux held his hand out for Slade to shake. He shrugged and grinned. “Me, I was still at work over to the mill or I’d have helped Miss Kay. She’s a nice lady.”

  “Yeah. So, those are your kids?” Slade had shaken the other man’s hand, not exactly comfortable with the process, but knowing it was something human males did.

  “Yep.” Slade watched as the man’s chest expanded with pride. “They’re all mine. Number four is on the way. You sure you don’t wanna stay for supper? My Evie, she makes real good fried chicken.”

  “No, thanks. I’d better go.” Even though his stomach rumbled disapproval, he still didn’t feel comfortable talking to humans for any length of time. The man nodded then shook his hand again as they parted by the house. Slade took off down the path back to his bike.

  Slade took a quick look around again before he started his bike. These people didn’t have much but they seemed to be happy. The kids were well fed, clean, obviously cared for. The man’s pride in his family had been so obvious. Slade wondered what it would have been like to have had someone be proud of him. His uncle had terrorized him, his aunt had been afraid of him and he didn’t really reme
mber his parents at all.

  Shaking off the past, Slade straddled his bike and revved the engine. Still, he touched the side of his face where Chantal had kissed him. He grinned as he put the bike in gear and took off toward the cabin.

  Joie waited for him and, if he timed it right, they’d be able to spend some time in bed before the old woman got home. He hit the gas harder, letting the wind blow his hair back from his face. Going home never felt so sweet.

  * * * * *

  Slade pulled up at the cabin a little over an hour after he’d left. He saw movement in the kitchen window then watched Joie peer out through the small window in the door. When she recognized him, she opened the door with a smile.

  “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah, Kay’s on her way back here in the boat. Anything going on here?” Slade followed her back into the cabin into the living room.

  “No.” He heard her catch her breath then swallow hard. “Malcolm, I was wondering…” Joie stopped beside the couch then turned to smile at him. “Would you like to go away for a day or two?”

  “Go away? Where?”

  “Well, my father had a fishing cabin back further in the bayou. It’s kind of secluded and kind of small, but I’d like to show it to you.”

  “Why?”

  “It’s sort of my, well, sort of a special place. One I’d like to share with you.”

  “I’m not going to run away again, Joie.” The words left his mouth before he could think what they meant. Not going to run away? He had to leave. It was for her own good.

  “No! That’s not what I meant.” She came to him then, wrapping her arms around him and resting her head against his chest. “I know you have to leave, you’ve made that clear. I just hoped we’d be able to spend at least one night completely alone.”

  Slade let her warmth fill his heart as it did his arms. A smile moved over his face. This tiny human woman held onto him as surely as though she held a leash. “Can’t get enough, baby?”

  When she sputtered and tried to pull away from him, he laughed as he tightened his grip then leaned forward to kiss her. When he pulled his mouth away from hers, he stared straight at her.

  “I know I can’t get enough of you. I want to have you completely naked and lick my way from your toes to your forehead. Then I want to turn you over and start again. Then I want to suckle you until your nipples are so sensitive that just my breath going across them makes you come.”

  Her breathing sounded jagged and unsteady as he continued telling her exactly what he wanted to do to her. Joie moaned helplessly in his arms as he picked her up and carried her to her bed. He loved the feeling of her soft curves pressing into his chest and arms. She might feel delicate in his arms but he knew her strength, knew how fierce she could be when protecting her loved ones. Hadn’t she proved that when she’d faced Maggie down? He didn’t know of any Alpha Bitch that could beat Joie there.

  Joie looked up at her lover as he leaned down. Her heart skipped a beat. He looked so tender. The warm glowing of his eyes nearly untied the emotions she’d so carefully put away. If he would just give her a few days in the cabin, she would be able to let him go with less pain. A tear leaked down her cheek. Malcolm’s finger traced its path.

  “What is it, baby? Why are you crying?”

  The puzzlement in his face made her smile. Joie reached up to draw him close. As she kissed him, she murmured against his lips, “It’s nothing, Malcolm. You just make me feel so sweet inside.”

  As she’d hoped, he didn’t question her. Instead he covered her body with his and she reveled in the feeling of being entirely buried by hard muscular flesh. Her nails gained purchase on his shoulders as he nipped at her ear. Joie thought heaven must have come down to earth in that moment. Even though Malcolm seemed to want to move slowly with her, she wanted it all now. Her hips rose to merge with his.

  Happiness sang through her blood as she felt him grow even harder. She’d never realized the power of enticing and exciting a lover like this before. As he slid inside her, she threw her head back and pushed at his shoulders. She wanted to watch him as he moved on her body.

  Malcolm responded to her shoving at him by stopping, but began his luscious thrusting again when she whispered, “Don’t stop. Please don’t stop.”

  His smile of pure delight warmed her. This was what she’d always dreamed of. A man who would love her and let her love him in return. Then her thoughts fell into a dark well of passion as her belly tightened then melted beneath him. Through her own haze, she felt him pulsing inside her.

  Part of her regretted that he’d remembered to grab a condom before they began. But she wrapped her arms around him as he rolled to his back, pulling her with him. The hollow of his shoulder seemed custom-made for her head. She kissed him gently before drifting off to sleep.

  Slade smiled into the soft cloud of curls surrounding his face. Joie responded and gave in ways he’d never known possible. He couldn’t imagine ever being with anyone else. His time with her was limited so he intended to take full advantage of it.

  Since he didn’t know if he’d survive the challenge that he would eventually have to face, Slade decided to put as much living into the next few days as he could. And if that meant spending a few days at some remote cabin, he’d go there with her gladly. If he could make her smile and keep her sated, so much the better. He let her sleep for a bit but roused her when he heard the boat returning.

  When Kay had put her satchel away and had a bite to eat, the three of them sat down to discuss their plans. Kay wanted to spend some time with the Boudreaux family so she’d be there when the newest child arrived and be there to help with the others. Delight creased her face when Joie told her of their plans to go to the cabin. Tante Kay decreed that they’d drop her off then continue into the bayou to Joie’s cabin. Slade just sat back and, for the first time in a long time, let someone else make plans and decisions for him.

  * * * * *

  Maggie sat up in the massive bed, stretching languidly. Slice slept beside her, his breathing deep and even. He’d been an interesting bed partner, one she knew she could train. He had known what to do with his equipment, now she just needed to teach him to be a bit more aggressive. The more aggressive the better, as long as he remembered who was in control here. That had been her mistake with Slade, she’d never truly controlled him.

  Yawning as she got out of the bed, Maggie strolled over to the mirror. The black eye had almost completely faded and the bruises on her shoulders were from Slice, not from her fight with Slade. She dressed then walked back over to the bed to weigh her options with Slice.

  He stood about her height, but packed more solid muscle. He’d be able to give Slade a good run in the Challenge circle if it came to that. Maggie shook her head. She wouldn’t think about that right now. Now was for making plans and solidifying her control of the Pack.

  Several males had been leery of her taking over so she’d had to surround herself with wolves ready to do whatever she asked. She’d found them in Ramsey and Slice. There might be a few more, she’d wait and see.

  Picking the leather strap up from the floor, she ran it through her hands a few times then smacked Slice across the ass with it. He jumped and growled as he woke to face this threat. Maggie laughed then leaned over to rub her hand over his ass, squeezing the area she’d just smacked, and kissing him hard. She broke the kiss when he reached for her.

  “Time to get up. I’m hungry.”

  “Come back to bed, I’ll slake that hunger.” Slice reached for her but she evaded his hands.

  “Later. Meet me back here at midnight.” Maggie strolled out of the room, leaving Slice to get dressed on his own.

  She had plans to make. It would soon be time for Slade to return to the compound and face the Pack. The time for a new era had arrived and she would be in charge of things from here on out. And she knew just how to hurt Slade in the worst way possible now.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Morning came much too
early. Slade groaned as he rolled onto his side. Joie molded her body to his back, bringing a smile to his face before he even opened his eyes. It felt nice waking up with her. More than nice, spectacular.

  She’d tried to put her gown back on last night and he’d tossed it under the bed. Her breasts pressed into his back and her arm lay across his waist. He felt her move behind him, felt her press a kiss right between his shoulders. When she touched the same spot with the tip of her tongue, he got hard.

  “Malcolm?” Her voice came out as just a whisper of sound.

  “Hmm?”

  “Are you awake?”

  Slade rolled onto his back, wrapping his arms around her. “Yeah. What’s up, baby?”

  “I just wondered about something you said last night. You said you might not be able to come back. What did you mean?”

  His morning erection flagged a little as he thought about never making love to her again. No. That wouldn’t happen. He’d survive the Challenge circle if it was the last thing he did.

  “You never know what’s going to happen in a challenge, baby.” He moved his head to kiss her and she pulled back from him slightly.

  “Like what?” She ran her fingers through the hair on his chest then propped her chin on him. Slade sighed as he thought about what to say to her.

  “The first time I ever went into a Challenge circle I was eighteen. I wasn’t anywhere near ready for it, but I sure as hell thought I was.” Slade paused a moment, gathering his thoughts again, letting his mind drift back in time.

  “It wasn’t a challenge for Alpha, just a second spot. The Beta wolf standing in the circle had nearly ten years and thirty pounds on me, but I was just cocky enough to think I could kick his ass.” He huffed out a laugh then met her gaze.