Rescuing Their Virgin Mate[Pack Wars-Book 3]

by Day, Vella

  “The men who took you are not ordinary men.”

  She placed her hands on her lap and wove her fingers together. “I’ve been brought up to believe most people are good at heart.”

  “That’s not quite what we meant.”

  Dirk’s brows furrowed as he turned to Clay. She caught the small shake of his head. Clay faced Dirk. “We have to. She’ll find out sooner or later.”

  They acted as if she wasn’t there. “You can tell me.”

  “Once we do, will you hear us out?”

  “Yes.” After what she’d been through these last few weeks, she could handle anything.

  “Harvey Couch and the men who took you are werewolves.”

  While their demeanor appeared about as serious as it could get, the idea was so preposterous she dropped her head back and laughed. The pent-up fear and frustration from this whole ordeal just bubbled out, and it was only when she couldn’t get enough air that she calmed.

  Tears brimmed on her lids, and she wiped them away. Neither man smiled. Her heart hitched. “You were kidding, right?”

  “I’m afraid not,” Clay said.

  She failed to comprehend this concept. “God made man in his likeness, and God doesn’t shift into another beast.” Moisture pooled under her arms.

  “Do you know that for sure?”

  She hesitated. “No.” Was God testing her right now? God was all powerful. If he wanted to shift into a wolf, he could. Her breath caught. The devil turned into a snake. Oh, my dear Lord. Werewolves might exist.

  Dirk pushed back his chair and came over to her side of the table. He swiveled the seat next to hers, placed it backward, and straddled the seat facing her. “That’s not the only part we need you to understand.”

  There was more? He’d blown away her reality and now wanted her to accept something else. “What it is?”

  “Clay and I are werewolves, too, but we’re the good kind.”

  She pushed back her chair. This couldn’t be true. Stay calm. Growing up, her cousins always played practical jokes on her. She wasn’t good at realizing it until too late. “Show me.” She swallowed hard.

  Dirk glanced at Clay. Their mouths twitched and their brows rose and lowered as if they could communicate silently. What she wouldn’t give to have that talent.

  Clay walked to the middle of the living room. “Please don’t freak out by what I’m about to do.”

  This had to be some parlor joke to lighten the mood. She inhaled slowly to steady her nerves. Werewolves indeed. To think they had her questioning her core beliefs. “Are you going to turn into a wolf right before my eyes?” She didn’t know whether to smile or be horribly afraid.

  “Yes.”

  She glanced behind at Dirk, but his lips were pressed together as if he didn’t approve. “Let me see you do it.”

  Dirk placed his palms on her shoulders but didn’t squeeze. A quick tremor of fear raced down her body, but she dismissed it immediately. When she focused on Clay, her vision blurred, and he appeared to spin. She rubbed her eyes, and when she lowered her hands, things like arms, legs, and fur bundled together. She blinked a few times and out of nowhere, a wolf appeared.

  She screamed, and as she tried to stand Dirk held her shoulders. She slapped her hands over her eyes and gulped in air. The world as she knew it had just gone dark.

  Chapter Four

  Damn, damn, damn. Dirk never should have let Clay shift in front of her. It was too soon. Their poor mate had not even recovered from all that had happened to her. He pulled Elena up and held her tight. Her sobs were like daggers piercing his heart. Thankfully, she didn’t pull away.

  As her back heaved, his thoughts shot to when he was six and his mother had held him like this saying his dad would never be coming home again.

  He rubbed her shoulders. “It’s going to be okay. Look.” He turned her. “Clay is back to being Clay.”

  Elena lifted her head and hiccupped. “Clay?”

  “Yes, sugar. It’s me.”

  “How did you do that?”

  Clay didn’t come near. Instead, he sat back in his chair and poured the meat sauce over a pile of spaghetti as if he’d done nothing unusual. Dirk hoped his friend’s casual actions would calm her.

  She sat down and clasped Dirk’s hand. As soon as their fingers touched, his fear disappeared. Maybe she would accept them.

  “Drink some water,” he said.

  She shook her head. “I want some answers.”

  He appreciated the strength in her tone. They owed her that much. To him, reassuring her they didn’t intend to cause her any harm was the primary task.

  He glanced up at Clay. Let me talk.

  Clay’s brows rose. Go ahead.

  Dirk picked up the hand she’d placed in his and kissed her palm. “There is something else you need to know about us.”

  She licked her lips to wet them.

  He doubted she had any clue what she did to them.

  “How can there be more?” Her voice cracked.

  This wasn’t going to be easy. “It’s about werewolves in general.”

  “You like to eat women who wear red?”

  His chest caved. “Sweetheart, if you can make light of the situation after what you’ve seen, I know everything will work out.”

  She sniffled. “Go on.”

  He thought he caught a smile. “Werewolves have this thing inside them—I’m not sure what it’s called—but when they see the woman that’s meant to be theirs forever, they know it.”

  She searched his eyes, but his comment didn’t seem to register. “Meaning what?”

  He told her what happened physically when they met their mate. “I’m twenty-nine years old and I’ve never had that kind of reaction until I stepped in the room with you.”

  She glanced at Clay. “Are you saying I’m your mate?”

  “Yes. Clay and me both.” His gut twisted as he awaited her response.

  She slipped her hand from his, stood and walked over to the kitchen island, her movements jerky. She faced them. “I’m a good girl.” Her bottom lip trembled and she wove her fingers together.

  Dirk wanted to grab her and hold her. Was she upset by their werewolf status or that both of them wanted her? “We know.” Or maybe it was the idea of having sex.

  Clay twisted around in his seat. “Elena, we would never do anything you wouldn’t want.”

  She nibbled on half of her bottom lip, and Dirk looked away from the tempting sight.

  “I’m really confused and overwhelmed.”

  Dirk slammed a hand on the table and she jumped. “I’m sorry.” He hadn’t meant to hit the table so hard. “We’re telling you all of this so you don’t think we can’t trust you with the truth.”

  Clay held out his hand. “Please come, sit. We have a lot more to tell you.”

  She rocked back and forth looking like they’d sprayed her with a round of bullets. “More?”

  “It’s about your abduction.”

  Her shoulders sagged and she slowly eased past Clay and sat in her seat. “What about my abduction?” Her voice sounded stronger.

  Dirk nodded to her plate. “Eat first. You’ll need your strength.” Both he and Clay dug in and hoped she’d follow.

  For the next few minutes, all three finished their meal in silence. Dirk composed his thoughts and set down his fork. “Werewolves have a lot of unique characteristics.”

  “Is this about my abduction?”

  “In a way. You need some background information first.”

  “Okay.” She’d taken a moment before responding. “Like what?”

  “One is that we can read each other’s thoughts when they are directed at each other.”

  Her jaw dropped. “You know what I’m thinking?”

  “No, sweetheart. Not your thoughts. It has to be between werewolves. It’s like talking, only it’s quiet.”

  “Oh.”

  Clay put down his silverware. “Are you ready to learn what we do for a livi
ng?”

  She finished her glass of water. Dirk didn’t like how her hand shook. She nodded.

  “Dirk and I work for an organization called the Pack.”

  “Because they’re werewolves, too?”

  Clay smiled. “Yes. You catch on fast.” He drank his beer. “We’ve been aware of Harvey Couch’s connection to human trafficking for months but hadn’t made much traction until he lost his life in a skirmish over dealing drugs.”

  She clamped a hand over her mouth. “How could I not have known he was into drugs?”

  “Many were fooled. As soon as he died, we went back into your office and confiscated your computer.” He held up a finger. “Or rather the one you used at the office.”

  “There was no sensitive information on there.”

  “To you, maybe.”

  She shook her head. “I was just a secretary who processed applications for au pairs and paired them with families needing nannies.”

  “We gave the computer to one of our experts at our headquarters, and he was able to piece together a pattern of girls applying for those jobs with those reported missing from Europe.”

  She slid down in her seat. “You mean he lured the girls over to the US and then kidnapped them?”

  Dirk wanted to smooth the worry lines, but if he moved too fast, she’d resist. Her potential reaction made him ache even more.

  “Yes,” Dirk answered. “We also found a link to his appointments on the Cloud.”

  Her brows pinched. “What good could they do now that he’s dead?”

  “It’s who they were with that interested us.”

  She closed her eyes for a moment. “What does this mean to me? Are you thinking these men who sold me might want me back because I might know something?”

  While her words came out slowly, Dirk was impressed with her calm appraisal of the situation.

  Clay leaned forward. “It’s possible. That’s why we’d like you to stay here a while.”

  She glanced at Dirk and when their eyes met, the connection was so strong his heart nearly burst. He gave her a reassuring smile. “I’d like you to.”

  She had no place of her own. They’d spoken with her neighbors who said as soon as she returned from her visit with her family, she’d be looking for a new rental. She’d stored all of her furniture at a local facility.

  “I guess I could for a little while.”

  Relief filled him.

  Elena edged toward him. “Could you do me a favor?”

  “Anything, sweetheart.”

  “Could you look for Cheryl Johnson?” She told them about her cage-mate. “A third girl who was rather nasty to us was there for a short while, too, and I don’t want to see any harm done to anyone. Her name was Barbie Lassitor.”

  Dirk lifted her hand. “We’ll try.”

  He and Clay cleaned up while Elena leaned against the center island. They discussed what they knew about Couch’s organization, but Elena wasn’t able to add much. She yawned and her eyelids looked heavy.

  Dirk didn’t want her exhausted. Tomorrow would be a long day. “Are you ready for bed?” She stilled. Damn. Why couldn’t he think before he spoke? “Alone. We won’t bother you.”

  He figured she would be happy, but she sucked in her cheeks. “Do you think I could stay in your room? I don’t want to be alone.”

  Help me, Clay.

  #

  Dirk’s eyes turned a pretty shade of amber. Okay, so she probably shouldn’t have asked to stay with him, but after what happened, Elena feared she’d have nightmares if she slept by herself. She never would have asked had they not proclaimed she was their mate. She might not be ready to address the concept of being with two men at once, but Dirk intrigued her. His gentleness spoke to who she was on the inside. Maybe she was lying to herself, but she had this sense that God was urging her to explore his creation.

  After she entered her room, she looked for some pajamas but found nothing that would work other than a pair of yoga pants and a T-shirt. That would have to do. Since both men said they’d head to bed later, she had no idea which bedroom was Dirk’s. She decided to stay in her room and hope he came to her. She’d offered, but he hadn’t responded. That should tell her something.

  The little voice in her head, that seconds ago had urged her forward, now said it was wrong to be with a man before marriage. The little voice apparently had forgotten about those weeks in the cage.

  I only want to snuggle and be held.

  Liar.

  She lived in the twenty-first century. Sex was everywhere. She’d been tempted before but never like this. Being near them made her skin sensitive to their touch. When Dirk ran his gaze over her body, her pulse rose and moisture seeped between her legs. Ever since she turned eighteen, she’d wanted to explore her sexuality but her mother and the church harped on it being wrong in the eyes of God. In her mind, it was just a matter of timing. Sooner or later she would be married. If she was to spend the rest of her life with a man, wouldn’t it be wise to see if they were compatible in bed before the final marriage decree? Whether they had sex right before the ceremony or shortly thereafter, did it matter?

  The church would say yes. She wanted the answer to be no.

  Her friends were right. She was the queen of rationalizing.

  After she brushed her teeth and washed up, she crawled into bed. She turned off the light and the bars of the cage materialized. Instinctively, she curled into a fetal position. A whimper sounded. Had she cried out? Enough.

  She sat up and turned on the bedside lamp. “Better.” She exhaled and lay back down. This time when she closed her eyes, she could picture the men escorting her out of that terrible room and into this fine house.

  She smiled thinking about Dirk’s lips on her hand and how tenderly he’d kissed her palm. As much as she wanted to stay awake in case he came in, she couldn’t keep her eyelids open.

  A hand rubbing her shoulder woke her. Her pulse raced at the thought it was that terrible guard, but once the lamp on the table registered, her muscles relaxed.

  She rolled over to face Dirk. His penetrating gaze turned her mouth dry. Her fogged brain told her she wanted him.

  It’s wrong.

  She refused to listen. Lying in bed made her realize that this nightmare could return. Those men could steal her once more, and she could really be sold to bad people.

  One of Mahatma Gandhi’s quotes flashed in her brain. He said to live as if you were to die tomorrow. That rang so true.

  Dirk said nothing as he stroked her arm, his gentle touch soothing. She expected her heart to race being this close to a virile man, but his hooded eyes brought her inner peace. When he ran a knuckle down her cheek and looked deep into her eyes, a powerful urge to kiss him took over.

  While she’d made out with quite a few men, and yes, even sucked on their penises, her guilt never allowed her to be intimate. Her last boyfriend had been patient up to a point. Eventually, he told her he couldn’t handle being so close to her and not have sex. Now she understood their frustration.

  Something about these men triggered a need deep inside her. It was as if they truly were destined to be together.

  She cupped his face. “Thank you.”

  His brows furrowed. “For what?”

  “For being honest with me about who you really are and for saving me.” She glanced to the bed. “I could go on.” But that wasn’t her nature.

  His face took on a whole new dimension—his jaw sagged and his eyes turned a swirling shade of amber and brown. He looked lost or perhaps a man who longed for something.

  “I wanted you to know all about us.”

  Dirk pulled her close and the hard planes of his chest pressed against her breasts. Her nipples hardened and her vagina dampened as streaks of pleasure rippled through her. Her priest’s stern face appeared, but she shoved it away. Dirk and Clay both said they were destined to be with her and she believed them. Dirk was gentle and good. Never before had her body reacted in such a car
nal way. She tried to push the yearning aside but failed.

  Freedom wasn’t a guarantee. She’d waited for the right man, and Dirk was the one. Yes, he saved her from something terrible, but she refused to think of her desires exploding because she thought of him as her savior. Perhaps she was telling herself things she wanted to hear, but she believed she deserved a night of guilt free pleasure.

  You want a lifetime worth. Admit it.

  Elena was the one to lean forward and kiss Dirk. When he didn’t deepen the kiss or press his hips against hers, she broke the connection believing she’d done something wrong. Shifting her gaze away from his face, she leaned back.

  “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

  She shrugged. “I guess I’m not very good at this.”

  “At what?”

  “Kissing.”

  “Now there you’re wrong.”

  He took her hand and lowered it between them. When he placed her fingers on his hard shaft, her breath caught. Yes, he was wearing soft flannel pajamas, but even through the fabric, his erection filled his pants out well. “Oh.”

  “Does this feel like the kiss didn’t affect me?” he asked, his voice low and husky.

  “I guess not. I’m not very experienced.”

  The right side of his mouth tilted upward. “Most virgins aren’t, but if you’ll let me love you, you might learn to enjoy it.”

  She was torn. His words were so contradictory to what she’d been taught. Then again, she’d been told werewolves didn’t exist, so maybe it was time to examine more of her core beliefs.

  Desire won, but she’d stop if anything seemed wrong. “What do you want me to do?” Her stomach fluttered in anticipation.

  Dirk dragged a knuckle down her cheek. “It’s not a step-by-step procedure. It’s about feeling and moving and doing. Nothing is wrong and everything is right.”

  “I want to, but—”

  He covered her eyes then removed his hand. “Don’t think. Just do. Keep your eyes closed and let your body respond. Focus on what my hands and mouth are doing to you. Let go. Be free.”

  Those words were a balm to her, but would she regret this in the morning? Most likely, but her mom’s generation was into waiting. She’d lasted long enough. Once she turned twenty-one, she should have had complete say so about what she wanted to do.