“It’s the Were law, Ava.” He looked away, grief etched into the corners of his eyes.
“Fuck the Were law.” She turned and headed for the door. Damon grabbed her arm before she reached it.
Spinning around, she braced herself for an argument.
Her heart caught in her throat at the tender expression on Damon’s face.
His fingertips grazed her cheek. “If you don’t accept Barrett as your mate, you will be put to death.”
Blood raced from her face down to her toes.
“That’s murder.”
“That’s the law.”
She narrowed her eyes. “As Queen, what am I expected to do?”
“Rule with your mate. Make decisions regarding the Pack.”
“What about the bedroom, Damon? Am I expected to spread my legs for Barrett as well?” She wanted to needle him, wanted him to feel as bad as she did. Damn it, she wanted him to fight for her.
He stepped close, pulling her hips against his, all stoic expression gone. He opened his mouth, his white teeth looked a little larger than she remembered, but still she wasn’t scared. Excited and aroused, but not scared.
“How would that make you feel, knowing I’m with another man?”
He growled. His entire body trembled against her. She traced his handsome face with her fingertips.
“I don’t think you would like that at all.” She licked his jawline.
He pressed his hips into hers, and she could feel herself getting wet. She wished he would pull her jeans off and unzip his own, and pound himself into her until they were both worn out.
“Do you know why I know you wouldn’t like it, Damon?” She nipped the corner of his jaw. His breathing increased, ragged and fast.
He said nothing. She didn’t need him to.
Licking her lips, she pulled back just enough to make sure he could see her eyes. “You wouldn’t like it for the same reason I wouldn’t like to see you with another female. If I ever saw you touching another female the way you’ve touched me, I would rip out her throat.”
He rested his forehead against hers. “There will never be another female for me.”
She smiled, but it quickly vanished as he pulled away from her. “After I get you back home safe, I’m leaving the Pack.”
She stared longingly after Damon’s retreating back. He was leaving the Pack. Worse, he was leaving her. He wasn’t going to fight for her.
The reality of it hit her in the chest and she reached her hand to the area just above her breast, making sure there wasn’t a hole.
It sure as hell felt like someone had ripped out her heart.
***
Damon strode to the front of the building. He knew for the rest of the mission, he was going to have to stay away from Ava. And that was going to be mission impossible.
Damn, he must be fucked up in the head to be making with the corny ironies.
He threw a hasty glance over his shoulder, making sure Ava wasn’t following.
She wasn’t.
His heart sank.
He leaned against the wall, the scratchy cinder blocks digging into his back as he closed his eyes.
Barrett. Ava was to be Barrett’s mate.
The one male that he respected was to be bonded to the only woman he’d ever loved. Wasn’t fate a fucking bitch?
His gut twisted painfully and his heart reacted the same. He palmed his left pec, trying to erase the pain. He knew better. He wasn’t sure the pain would ever go away.
“Damon!”
He pushed off the wall in time to see Jeff rushing out the front door. He wanted to tell him to fuck off and leave him alone.
“It’s Jayden.”
“He called?” The hair on the back of his neck stood up as his senses went on high alert.
Jeff shook his head, his expression somber. “No. Someone else called using Jayden’s cell phone. The caller sounded a lot like that bastard, Jenkins.”
“What did he want?” He narrowed his eyes.
“They want to exchange Jayden for Ava.”
Rage boiled in his gut and he clenched his hands. Every animalistic instinct came alive at that moment, wanting him to shift into wolf and kill.
“Damon, stay in control,” Jeff warned.
It was no use. A growl started building until it came out of his mouth.
“Damon, you’re in broad daylight. You can’t shift. Not now.”
He looked down at his fists clenched so tightly that his nails were biting into skin, leaving blood-shaped crescents on his palms.
“What’s happening?” Ava came to a stop beside Jeff.
“It’s Jayden.” Jeff finally spoke, his tone tense, drawing Ava’s attention away from him. It gave him the seconds he needed to force his body back under control. “Someone called from his phone.”
“David Jenkins?” Ava’s brow creased as she narrowed her green eyes.
“We think so.” Jeff kept his gaze on the ground.
“Jenkins has Jayden.” Ava’s voice cracked as she looked at Damon.
He nodded.
“What are his demands?” She started at him, eyes wide, face pale.
He stayed silent, unable to force the words to come to the surface.
She nodded slowly in understanding. “He wants me, doesn’t he?”
He didn’t break her gaze. “I won’t let him have you.” He’d protect her with his life; he’d known this from the moment he set eyes on her.
“He’s not going to let Jayden go without me.”
“She’s right, Damon.” Everyone turned to look at Granny. “The second you walk into that bar without Ava, he won’t hesitate to kill Jayden.”
His expression changed from anger to sympathy. He had to choose between his friend and the woman he loved.
“Granny, I’m going to get Jayden out, okay? But, I can’t risk Ava’s life to do it.”
“Why not?” Ava asked.
He gave her a stunned look.
“I said, why not?” Ava lifted her defiant chin, waiting for an answer.
“Ava.” The breath left his chest as his lungs tightened. She wanted something from him, something he could no longer offer.
“You are under my protection until I can ensure your safety.”
“Then what?” Ava kept her gaze glued on his.
“Then I will deliver you to Barrett.” His stomach pitched as his heart dropped.
“Well then, I guess it’s a good thing I’m here.”
***
Ava’s heart dropped as everyone turned at the sound of the male voice.
“Barrett?” Granny’s eyes widened.
Leaning up against the corner of the building was a large guy. He was taller than Damon, but just as broad. His sandy blond hair hung down his back, and his eyes were hidden under dark sunglasses. He looked like a sex god.
So this was Barrett, the one they expected her to mate.
While Ava appreciated the package, he didn’t make her body hum, not like Damon did.
Barrett pushed off the building and walked toward them in an unhurried swagger.
Ava felt her heart plunge like an out-of-control elevator. She reached out to steady herself against the wall just as everything started to tilt.
Just as her vision began to narrow, Damon’s strong arms wrapped around her. Clutching his shirt between trembling fingers, she hid her face, refusing the reality of everything around her.
“Ava, are you okay?” Damon’s tender voice made her heart break all over again.
“Get her inside.” Jeff’s barked out orders. Damon swung her up into his arms. She forced herself to release Damon’s shirt when he set her down on the couch in the office.
Granny pressed a cold bottle of water into her hand. She took a long drink, letting the cold liquid slide down her throat.
“Are you feeling better?” Barrett knelt and whipped his Oakleys off. His green eyes searched her face. Damon sat beside her on the couch, holding his fingers on the puls
e point in her neck.
“Your pulse is racing.” Damon pained gaze made her heart catch.
She blinked at him, trying to slow her breathing. Of course it’s racing. It does that every time you’re near, you idiot.
“Maybe you should give her some room,” Barrett commanded.
Damon let out a growl. Barrett stood, rising to his intimidating height and glared.
Her breath caught in her throat as Damon stood, meeting his Pack Master’s unflinching gaze. Tension rose in the room as the two males looked ready to do battle.
She looked between the two men. Both were huge males and she didn’t doubt if they actually got into a fight it would end in a death.
“Watch it, Damon. You seem to have forgotten your rank.” Barrett’s lips curled upward, revealing a set of blinding white teeth.
Damon didn’t move, but held his ground. She could actually smell the musky scent of testosterone filling the room and from the corner of her eye she saw Jeff and Granny both take a cautious step back.
She scrambled to her feet. “Jayden’s been taken.”
Barrett spoke, but kept his narrowed eyes trained on Damon. “I know.”
“The kidnapper wants to exchange me for Jayden.”
Both males looked at her at the same time. She cleared her throat. “And since we know that David Jenkins—”
Barrett narrowed his eyes. “You know for sure it’s David Jenkins?”
She shrugged. “He didn’t say his name, but yes, I think it’s the same guy who kidnapped Haley.”
“Barrett, what are you doing here?” Damon hissed.
“Heard there had been some commotion at the bar last night.” He shrugged his massive shoulders, his muscles cording at the motion. “Figured since the rest of the Guardians are busy trying to protect the state of Arkansas, I thought I’d come down myself and give you a hand.”
“I don’t need a hand.” Damon growled.
“Sounds like you do, since Jayden’s been captured.”
“Does Jayden know you?” Ava cocked her head at Barrett.
“Jayden and I keep in touch.” He winked. If she weren’t head over heels in love with Damon it would have made her melt.
Damon shot a glare at Barrett. “Who told you there was trouble?”
“Word travels. Things seem to have gotten more complicated with the disappearance of Jayden.” Barrett frowned and looked off into the distance.
“What are we going to do to get Jayden back?” She glanced between Damon and Barrett.
“We?” Barrett shot her a look so intense it should have scared her. All it did was piss her off.
Taking a step forward, she stuck her finger in Barrett’s face. “Let’s get something straight. I don’t play this Alpha male bullshit you two got going on, so you might want to reconsider and start talking to me in a friendlier tone.”
Damon snorted. She tossed him a glare over her shoulder, letting him know he wasn’t off the hook.
Barrett’s eyes grew round and she could tell by his scent he was equally pissed off. Her heightened sense of smell was something she’d noticed over the past few days.
Barrett’s lips curved upward. “You didn’t tell me she had a mouth on her, Damon.” He chortled. “I like her.”
“Well, that’s good, dear.” Granny patted Barrett’s massive arm.
“Why is that, Granny?” Barrett gave the woman a puzzled look.
“Because, Ava is your mate.”
“My what?”
“Ava is your mate. Didn’t you know about Ava’s bloodline?” Granny handed Barrett a bottle of water from the mini fridge.
Barrett’s gaze zeroed in on her, first on her face then slipping downward over her figure, like she was some kind of juicy steak.
When Barrett’s eyes finally drifted upward to meet hers, she smiled sweetly and flipped him the bird.
Barrett’s eyes flashed in anger and she knew she’d gone too far.
“When did you figure this out?” Barrett looked at the others.
“Today.” Damon’s deep voice vibrated across her skin, making her shiver.
“How did you all come to the conclusion that the General’s daughter is my mate?”
“She’s not the General’s daughter. The General adopted her after her father was killed.”
Barrett slowly turned to look at her, surprise crossing his features. “Your last name isn’t Renfro?”
“No, it’s Romanelli.”
Barrett sucked in a deep breath and turned away.
“You’re right. Romanelli is the name of a royal bloodline.” Barrett opened his mouth then quickly shut it. Nodding his head slightly, Barrett turned toward Damon. “I’m touched that you are so concerned about my future happiness, but right now we need to be planning how to get Jayden free instead trying to get me mated.”
“I’m helping.” Ava lifted her chin, daring him to stop her. “Don’t try to talk me out of it.”
Barrett scored her with a warning glare before turning to Jeff. “I need to talk to the Pack Master of Louisiana. You wouldn’t happen to have his number in your phone? Mine is dead.”
“I have it on speed dial.” Jeff pulled his cell phone out of his jeans pocket, hit a few buttons and handed it to Barrett.
Barrett took the phone and strode into the bar for privacy. Jeff and Granny headed into the kitchen to round up something for everyone to eat.
She didn’t want to stay there, not in the same room with Damon after he practically served her up to Barrett on a silver platter. Too bad her feet didn’t get the message.
“Ava.” She looked up into those blue eyes she loved so much.
“I refuse to put you in danger.”
Ava opened her mouth, suddenly finding the air too hot to inhale deeply. She licked her dry lips before looking at him.
“I’m not yours to command, remember?” She held her breath, her heart aching so bad she thought it would stop beating.
“You’re not mine, Ava. You never were.” Damon turned and walked away.
***
What Ava wanted from him was impossible. Didn’t she know that?
Out of the corner of his eye, Damon caught Barrett talking on the cell phone with a determined look on his face.
The kitchen doors creaked open, drawing his attention. Granny and Jeff walked out balancing two trays of food in their hands. Without asking, he took the tray from Granny. He needed something to occupy his hands so he’d quit contemplating putting them on Ava.
As he set the tray down on a round table, Granny patted him on the arm. He didn’t look at her, he couldn’t. He was too afraid of the pity he would find lurking behind those old eyes.
Barrett handed Jeff his phone.
“Well?” Damon scowled. For the first time, he took in his leader’s features. Despite his distant nature, Barrett was handsome, with long, sandy blond hair and green eyes. If he wanted to be honest with himself, Ava and Barrett would make a stunning pair and have beautiful children.
He looked away, running his hand behind his neck. Okay, so he wasn’t ready to be honest with himself. He’d rather live in the land of denial. Denial, meet thy king.
“What’s with you? You look like you ate some rotten meat.” Barrett arched his brow.
“No, but the day is still young.” Damon walked to the other side of the table away from Barrett and parked his butt.
Barrett glanced at his bowl. “This looks good, Jeff.”
Jeff stuck out his barrel chest and smirked. “It’s my grandmother’s chili recipe.”
Damon kept his eyes on the bowl in front of him, waiting to see where Ava would sit.
“Thank you.” Ava’s voice had him looking up in time to catch Barrett pulling out a chair for her. He narrowed his eyes, mentally warning Barrett not to sit beside Ava.
Too late. Barrett slid into the chair beside her. Damon clenched both sides of his seat to keep from punching Barrett in the face. He kept his gaze on Ava as Barrett leaned over and whi
spered something that made her smile a little.
He squeezed harder and the wood creaked under his hands.
He closed his eyes, trying to force the red haze of fury under control.
“What did you find out?” Granny asked.
Barrett slowly lifted his head, dragging his gaze away from Ava. “The Louisiana Pack knew of Jayden’s disappearance from a snitch.” He dipped his spoon in the bowl. “They suspect Jenkins is the kidnapper but can’t seem to find the kidnapper or Jayden.”
“So will the Louisiana Pack help us?” Ava looked at Barrett. Damon felt the green sludge of jealousy slide around his stomach. Why the hell was Ava even looking at Barrett? She should be looking at him, asking him for the answers. Not Barrett.
Barrett’s eyes narrowed as his spoon clinked the side of the bowl. “They said they were already short-staffed since they are gearing up for Halloween.”
Ava sneered. “What does Halloween have to do with anything? Is that some kind of wolf holiday or something?”
Damon shook his head. “Not a holiday. A full moon.”
She paled.
“Does that mean I’m going to…?”
“Shift? Yes.” Damon glanced around. Barrett’s gaze was glued to Ava.
Bastard.
“Are you saying you’ve never shifted before?” Barrett cocked his head. He turned in his seat and gave Ava his full attention.
“Yes.”
Damon’s grip increased on the worn wood making the chair cry out in protest.
“You are sure you are lupine?”
“Lupine?”
“Wolf.”
She looked at Damon. “Damon thinks I am.”
“I didn’t ask what Damon thought. I want to know what you think.” Barrett touched a finger to her chin, forcing her to look at him.
Damon lost it.
A growl erupted so furious that everyone except Barrett jumped back from the table. Upturned chairs clattered to the floor. Damon sprang to his feet and slammed his hands down on the table, splitting the wood in two. Bowls of chili and utensils clattered to the floor as everyone backed out of the way.
Damon locked his eyes on Barrett. He wanted the Alpha to advance so he could sink his teeth into his throat.
Barrett stood and met Damon’s stare with deadly intent. Damon knew that if he dared touch Barrett then he would die. An overwhelming urge to protect Ava drowned out all rational thought.
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