One True Mate 4: Shifter's Innocent

by Lisa Ladew

  Wade’s voice cut into their minds. I’m here, but I’m in the lobby with Crew. There’s something I need him to do.

  We’ll come to you, Ella sent, seeing the overwhelmed expression on Trevor’s face and knowing he was in no position to answer.

  When they got to the lobby, Crew was pacing, a wild expression on his face, Wade watching him, arms crossed. Crew stopped and faced them all. “I don’t feel good about this. I can probably do it, but it’s like spying.”

  Wade inclined his head, his expression grave. “I need to know he’s ok. I’m feeling danger heading toward him at an alarming rate, but I can’t tell where he is or what the danger is.”

  Crew set his lips, then sat on the couch, his elbows on his knees, holding his head in his hands. “Give me a minute.”

  Wade pulled Trevor and Ella to a back wall of the empty lobby. Visitor’s hours had just ended, and the nurse at the desk was gone.

  Wade nodded in Crew’s direction. “I asked him to check in with Beckett, if he could. It’s not something he’s attempted before, but I think he can do it. If I’m feeling this low-level unease I’ve felt about Beckett since he didn’t show up for work two days ago, then Crew has to be able to get more. His connection with Beckett is strong, and I know Beckett has looked up to him like the older brother he lost when he was young.”

  “Where is Beckett?” Ella asked, glancing at Trevor. His face was still white, his eyes distant. He wasn’t with them.

  “Not sure. Nebraska the last I heard. I’m almost positive he’s found his one true mate and she’s in trouble. He hasn’t told me anything.”

  “Nebraska!”

  Wade cast her a look. “I don’t have any idea what he’s doing, or why, but there’s a lot involved. The woman we think is his mate was in prison, then taken to the hospital for an injury, and he freed her, helped her escape.”

  Ella’s eyes went wide. A criminal? Was their tiny family about to get disrupted if Beckett brought her back to Serenity? So far, she loved both her new sisters, but this one sounded scary.

  Crew heaved himself out of the chair, his short dark hair sticking out in crazy tufts, his face twisted. “I got him. He’s fine. He’s… kissing a female. His one true mate. Don’t ask me to look again, because I won’t.”

  Wade stepped closer to him, visibly relieved. “Are you certain she’s his mate?”

  “I’m certain he believes so.”

  “Where are they?”

  “Colorado, in the middle of a field, about to head west.”

  Wade nodded thoughtfully, speaking to himself, his eyes on the floor. “I’ve got some work to do, looking into that incident that landed her in prison, and I want to send a team out that way to be close in case he needs help. I just wish I knew exactly where he was headed.” He looked back up at Crew. “Did you see it?”

  Crew frowned. “Vegas.”

  “Good wolf. Would you be able to tell if he were in trouble?”

  “Yeah.” Crew’s voice was sour as if he hated what he had done. “I throttled the connection so hopefully I won’t be able to tell what he’s thinking unless his emotion is high. I can’t stand this, though. It’s not right.”

  Wade clasped his shoulder. “I know. I won’t ask you to do it one minute longer than is necessary.” He turned to Ella. “Now, about your sister. She’s pregnant.”

  He stated it like a fact, making Trevor jerk.

  Ella could only nod, ready to fight them all if she had to. No one was killing that baby.

  Chapter 29

  Cerise blinked and opened her eyes, looking at the clock set in the dashboard of Beckett’s truck. Almost one in the morning. She had been able to sleep, gotten just about three hours. She probed her tender temples gingerly, and read the highway signs, trying to figure out where they were. To her right, Kaci watched YouTube endlessly. To her left, Beckett concentrated on the road.

  She studied the casual way he held the steering wheel, and the minute adjustments he made to the gas, wondering if she’d ever be that comfortable driving a car. She’d thought their lesson had gone horribly, but Beckett had insisted everyone’s first time was like that. She’d only been able to shift into second one time, the rest of the times she’d stalled out immediately. But the thrill had stayed with her a long time and Beckett had promised they would try again soon and she would be better at it by then. Muscle memory, he called it.

  He noticed she was awake. “Mornin’, darlin’,” he drawled, grinning at her. She smiled back and pushed her hair out of her face, anticipation pulling at her. Soon they’d be in a hotel room together. Answering questions. Would he still like her when he heard the answers? The danger they’d gone through twelve hours before now seemed far away, and like an accident or an afterthought, something that would not happen again. But he didn’t feel that way. He’d wanted her to sleep during the drive if she could so she could stay awake and on guard while he slept at the hotel, saying he only needed three hours to be at his best the next day.

  Beckett took an exit. “You woke up just in time. We’re here.”

  Cerise watched the road slip by as Beckett found the parking lot to the hotel, then drove through it, noting all the exits and entrances, and the first floor rooms with their patios. Finally, he parked the truck near the lobby and facing the street. “You two wait here. I don’t want them to see us all together. If you see anyone who looks even a bit suspicious, you lay on this horn, you hear me?”

  Cerise nodded, but she could tell he thought it unlikely that she’d need to. She watched him go inside, denying that she was watching his body move in his clothes, then giving up and going with it. He looked good.

  Her thoughts turned to the night ahead of them, and she wondered if he were going to try to have sex with her, and if he did, would she let him? If TV were to be believed, men wanted sex constantly, while women were the gatekeepers of sex, handing it out for multiple reasons, like currency. Men used it for pleasure, while women usually used it to get something they wanted. Maybe safety, money, marriage, babies, presents, or promises. She frowned. It was lopsided and didn’t make sense to her. Didn’t women ever have sex just for pleasure? The movies had made it seem like the women liked it, but then later, a different motive always was revealed. She couldn’t think of a single instance where-The hotel doors slid open and Beckett came out. Cerise took a deep breath and put a hand on Kaci’s arm. “Time to go in,” she whispered, never taking her eyes from Beckett. The weight of his returning stare settled on her heavily, seeping into her bones. She licked her lips, wondering if she was throbbing again, or if she had never stopped. He looked exhausted, though, his face white, his expression pinched, and she had a moment’s worry about the wound on his shoulder.

  Beckett helped them out of the truck and grabbed their bags. Within a few moments, they were inside, Kaci heading straight to the bed in the main room with a satisfied squeal, the TV coming on at once. Beckett triple-locked the door, then grabbed a heavy glass table to set in front of it, then cracked the windows in both rooms, moving quickly. Cerise set about finding Kaci something to eat, as they’d skipped dinner.

  Beckett interrupted her and pulled her into the other room, sliding open a drawer, showing her what he’d put there. A gun.

  He picked it up. “If I sleep three hours tonight, we can drive all day tomorrow and get to Vegas in the early evening.” Cerise swallowed hard. She had been the liar after all. “While I’m asleep, you stay alert. Check the windows and the door often. I’m certain I’ll wake up if those men show up, but still, if you hear anyone trying to get in, you grab this gun and point it at them.” He showed her the safety features. “Will you be able to shoot if you have to?”

  She nodded. If Kaci could do it, she could do it. If she had to.

  Beckett nodded like he knew she would agree. “Don’t let Kaci in here. Don’t let her see it.”

  Cerise bit her lip, a confession leaking from her lips before she could stop it. “I won’t. I’m afraid she’s sca
rred from what she already had to do with one.”

  Beckett grasped her upper arms and stared into her eyes. “Don’t you worry about Kaci. She’s small, but she’s got a warrior’s spirit. She’ll be fine. We’ll be there to help her through anything that comes up, but I know she’s going to make it past the hell she’s been through with nothing but strength to show for it.”

  Cerise nodded silently. She could see that. But how could Beckett?

  He let go of her and continued on with his room checking and setting everything exactly as he wanted it, then retreated into the bathroom. She gazed at the deadly looking gun one last time before she pushed the drawer closed, then headed into the other room to sit next to Kaci. She heard the bathroom lock engage and her forehead creased.

  A sensation rippled through her, dim at first, then growing stronger, and she stretched out her neck, her fingers curling involuntarily into her palms. Something… something good was happening. She stood and drifted toward the bathroom, the sounds from the TV blurring and muting until she could no longer hear them. She reached the bathroom door and pressed against it, almost writhing, unable to stop herself. Something amazing was happening in there. Beckett was… doing something. Changing somehow. She could feel it behind her breastbone, in her muscles and joints and desires and wants. Animalistic instinct to hunt and run and rut with her mate filled her, making her muscles twitch-The feeling waned, then stopped like a car hitting a brick wall. She almost collapsed to the floor, but caught herself, then backed away from the door. What had she been doing? And that word again? Mate.

  She ran to the bed and sat on it, trying to look nonchalant, taking deep breaths, getting herself under control again bit by bit.

  The bathroom door opened and Beckett came out in a new shirt. He grinned at her and held out his hand. She reached to take it, but Kaci interrupted her thoughts.

  “Cerise, can I talk to you?”

  Cerise let her hand fall away from Beckett’s. “Of course, Lemon.” She moved to sit next to Kaci. Beckett tapped the brim of his cap and moved into the other room. She watched him until she couldn’t see him anymore, then turned her attention to Kaci.

  She screwed up her tiny face, then muted the TV. “You scared me today, in the field.”

  Cerise sighed. “I’m sorry, Lemon. I was angry. I let my emotions get the better of me. It won’t happen again.”

  Kaci’s eyes brightened. “I saw you kiss him. Are you going to marry him? If you do, can I live with you instead of going to California?”

  Cerise smiled and ran her hand down Kaci’s cheek. She was so innocent, her only education of the world what she could glean from the TV. “No, I’m not going to marry him.” Her heart seized at the statement and her throat thickened, like she’d told a lie. “Your parents miss you, Kaci, they have to be looking for you. It won’t be fair for me to try to keep you.”

  Kaci gave her a skeptical look and Cerise bore it. She knew Kaci didn’t believe her parents would want her. Sandra and Myles had never seemed to. Only Cerise had cleaved to her, been kind to her, encouraged her to grow and be herself.

  But Kaci just shrugged. “What was it like to kiss him?”

  Cerise licked her lips, not sure what to say. But there was only the truth. “Wonderful.”

  Kaci watched her for a long moment and Cerise wondered what she was seeing in her face.

  Kaci nodded once, sharply, like she’d found what she was looking for, then unmuted the TV and returned her attention to it.

  Cerise touched her arm. “You good? I need to go talk to Beckett.”

  Kaci didn’t even look at her. “Kiss him, you mean.”

  Cerise stood. Maybe. Hopefully. “Just talk, Lemon. We have some stuff to work out.

  But when she entered the other room, Beckett was laid flat out on the bed on his belly, face pressed into the pillow, boots still on, cap next to him, snoring softly.

  Chapter 30

  Cerise prowled through the two rooms, past Kaci sleeping in one, the TV still on to provide light but the sound muted, then past Beckett sleeping in the other. Exhaustion pulled at her. She’d let Beckett sleep for five hours, figuring he needed it, but she couldn’t give him anymore. She would fall asleep standing up soon.

  She crossed next to him on the bed and gazed down at him. He’d barely moved, only turned his head to the side. Her hand reached out to touch him, but she stopped, went to the door between the two rooms and pushed it closed until there was only an inch-wide crack left, then went back to Beckett. She’d been eyeing his big body the entire night, wanting to touch it so badly, but loath to disturb him. Now she had her chance.

  She knelt beside the bed, stretching her hand to reach the bare heel of his foot. She had taken his boots and socks off when he’d first fallen asleep. She touched him there, just below the ankle, then grazed her fingers up his skin, to his calf, which was covered by his pants. No matter, she squeezed it lightly, feeling the hard muscle there, then continued up his thigh, hoping he wouldn’t take offense at her exploration. She didn’t think he would, thought in fact he would savor being woken up to her touches. Her fingers followed the line of his thigh to the curve of his ass and she cupped him there, loving the firmness of his flesh. He was perfect, every inch of him. She wondered what he would look like naked and blushed, dipping her head, her core swelling as she contemplated it. The tanned skin, the muscles, the curls of downy hair she’d seen on his belly, that had dipped below the sheet to his-Oh, she couldn’t think about that. It made her breathe too heavily, her body giving her away. She grazed her fingers up his back, lightly pressing to get a feel of his muscles under his shirt, then reached his neck. His eyes were open and on her, she could feel it, but she didn’t look. She ran her fingers up the back of his head, loving the rasp of his short hair, following the curve down to his forehead, then slipping one finger down his cheek before she met his eyes.

  “Hi,” he said, then moved onto his side and pulled her into the bed before she could respond. He tucked her body alongside his and nuzzled her collarbone. Her breath came in pants, dismaying her, although she’d known this would happen, had wanted it, but what bothered her was how much she wanted it. Like she would die without it. Without him.

  It wasn’t a safe or comfortable way to feel for her and she fought it, but knew she was doomed. If, for some reason, he didn’t want her back, or only wanted her to use her body for sex, she would be crushed. Destroyed, under the freight train of her fledgling and inexperienced desire and need to be loved.

  ***

  Beckett captured Cerise’s lips with his own, dismayed to scent her arousal disappear. Was she scared? He pulled back and looked into her eyes, trying to understand what had caused the shift. He’d woken up the second she put her fingers on his ankle, wanting to stretch under her touch, to arch into it, but holding himself completely still, willing her to continue in any way she would. His cock had gone arrow-straight and board-stiff, but he was used to that happening when she quirked a brow or cocked a hip or even just sat quietly.

  Now she was tense in his arms, and her expression seemed pained, saddened. “What’s wrong, darlin’?” he asked, keeping his voice soft, like he was charming a wild animal.

  She didn’t answer, only looked at him with those big eyes, her strawberry blonde hair falling over her forehead and curling around her shoulders. He ran his fingers through it, smoothing it back from her face.

  “I tell you what,” he drawled, thickening his accent the same way he’d done for Kaci, but keeping his voice low and soft. “You ask me a question, any question you want, and I swear on my life to answer it honestly.” He watched her face, hoping to see the tension there ease a bit, but it didn’t.

  She didn’t even hesitate, almost whispering, “The big picture on your living room wall, where did it go?”

  He had to stop and think for a second. That seemed like a lifetime ago. “I gave it to my best friend, Crew, as a housewarming gift. He just moved in with his new wife, Dahlia. That w
as always his favorite picture and I wanted him to have it.”

  Now her tension eased and he was glad to see it go. He traced the worry lines on her face with his finger. “Can I ask you one?”

  She nodded, the lines deepening again.

  “That man Kaci shot when he was pounding your head against the wall, you lived with him, right? What did he do to you?”

  Her voice hitched and caught, but she forced out the words. “Myles. My father. I know you said he isn’t, but I always thought he was. He hit me, yelled at me. But mostly ignored me.”

  “Anything more?” Beckett forced his fingers to stay relaxed and his voice calm.

  She shook her head. “Nothing sexual.”

  His own tension uncoiled somewhat. “And Kaci?”

  “He hit her, too, but not often. Mostly we stayed out of his way. He tried to… do more, that morning that she shot him, but I stopped him.”

  Beckett could see it in his mind, exactly how they’d each protected the other. Exactly how Myles had invited his own death. Begged for it, really. Compassion for these two girls who’d done the best they could with a bad situation flooded him.

  He nodded. “Your turn.”

  Again, she didn’t hesitate, didn’t have to think. “What were you going to say in the field after you kissed me?”

  Beckett watched her face as he spoke, worried she wouldn’t like it. “You’re mine,” he said.

  But her expression went hopeful and some tension left her. “Am I?”

  “I want you to be.” He traced her lips with his fingers. She pursed them and kissed him, her eyes locked on him.

  He moved slowly, not wanting to startle her, tucking his hand at the nape of her neck, pulling her in. This time she kissed him back, hard, clutching at him with her hands, exploring his mouth and tongue the way she’d walked her fingers up his body, her breaths coming faster and harder as his cock went ramrod straight again, pushing against her soft middle. She met it, did not seem scared of it.