Wiping tears of laughter out of his eyes, he gazed down at her. He noticed she was getting anxious now, trying to understand. “He’s friends with Trev?”
“Who?”
“Trevor, the little boy who he played with at the wedding. I’m telling you now; if they’re friends, then Carter probably knew this was coming a long time ago. Has Carter been talking about me lately?”
Dee pulled back from him and rubbed her forehead. “Well, yeah, he talks about you and Trevor all the time. He talks to you both every night, so I figured he just liked you both.”
Obviously he was picking up on her discomfort because he said, “We can play it by ear. I’ll stand back and let you take the lead.”
“Mama, lookit, alpha Blake gave me some new clothes cuz’-“
Blake coughed loudly to cut off the motor mouth that Carter had become over the last hour. He just wouldn’t stop talking so Blake stuffed him full of sweets. Of course it couldn’t be that easy because for some reason the kid just got worse. To top it off, he was covered in chocolate and cream. Not knowing how else to cover up the evidence, he furiously attempted to scrub the kid and his clothes. Wrong. The kid’s clothes ended up an absolute mess, so he stripped him and let him borrow some new clothes he’d gotten for Trevor’s next visit. Trevor was a few years older so the clothes hung loosely on his smaller frame.
He still wouldn’t stop talking, ‘why this? How about that? But why? But why?’ My God, he felt like he was going to lose his mind when Delilah walked in and he dropped to his knees before her, hugging her around her hips. “Please, make him stop. Why won’t he stop?”
“You fed him?”
“Duh, he had two burgers,” he mimicked in a kid’s voice, “I don’t need no bread or nothin’ just the meat and some cheeses.”
She giggled at his impression. “Well, did you give him ice cream or something?”
“Hell yeah, I think Dee is starving him. He’s so skinny. I gave him some cupcakes and a few scoops of ice cream and that brownie that was leftover from yesterday. Then he said he needed to try some pie because he hadn’t ever tried a pie.” He clicked his tongue, “Who hasn’t tried pie, Del. I’m fixin’ to have a talk to her when she comes.”
“What kind of pie did you give him?”
“Cherry, why?”
She yelled over his shoulder, “Hey, Carter, what’s your favorite pie ever?”
He did a few jumping jacks; he was always doing some kind of activity. “I likes apple best. It has a yummy thing on the top that tastes so good.”
Blake shot to his feet, “Hey.”
He felt Delilah’s small hand on his chest, rubbing in small circles. “I grew up with the twins, they were always getting into trouble. You have to think like a kid.”
He hoped she heard his disbelief, was she just joking with him? “You’re kidding right? I’m like the world’s biggest kid. Ask my parents.”
The front door to alpha house was unlocked, so Justin strode in pulling Dee reluctantly behind him. “It’s fine. They left it unlocked for a reason. Come on.”
“Are you sure?”
He nodded to Dee, before bellowing, “Blake, where are you?”
There were heavy footfalls right before Blake came into the atrium carrying Carter. He shoved the boy at Justin before announcing, “Here ya go, I’m just gonna go now, Del needs me.”
“No way brother, where are his clothes?”
Noting the drink in Carter’s hands appeared to be a homemade slushee like they used to make when they were kids. Justin gave Blake the evil eye and Blake winced. “They got messy so we put ‘em in the washer. We’ll send them to you another day.”
Justin put the boy down and watched as Carter ran into his mother’s arms. “Mama, I had so much fun with my alpha.”
Wiping something that looked like cherry pie from his hair, she asked, “I bet you did. It’s been a long day and we should get you home to bed.”
He slurped his drink. Clearly it was on its way to being done because it made that really annoying sound that drinks make when there is only ice left, but the kid refuses to give up and keeps trying to savor the spent beverage.
“I can’t get to bed, Mama, I’m awake. Plus, I’m wearing active wear so I gotsta be active, I can’t even sits down.”
He modeled his new pants that were indeed little workout pants. Holy crap, Blake was about to get in trouble. Justin’s smile was malevolent, waiting for Dee to blow her top.
Before she got a chance to say anything Carter continued, “Did you know that helicopters gots their name because they have hella coppers.” Another question must have popped into his mind. “But, mama, how do they fit the cops on there and how do they get down when someone does something bad to take ‘em to jail?”
Justin pulled Carter into his arms quickly as Dee’s jaw dropped. “On that note we should go. See ya later, bro.”
He snagged Dee’s arm on the way out and felt like someone smacked him upside the head when Carter asked, “Yer coming to live with us now? I’m so happy.” His little voice got low and he asked, “Can I call you paw paw?”
Refusing to even look at Dee he said, “Uh…let’s just play it by ear, little man.”
Slurp, slurp. “Why do you play with your ear?”
Dee growled, “Bloody hell.”
Slurp, “Mama, you says the bad word. I’m gonna tell alpha Blake on you.”
Justin knew it was going to be bad, but he understood her frustration so he took a step back and allowed her a moment. He tried to take the drink from Carter but he said, “Hey, I’m not done.”
Watching her attempt to gain composure, Justin had to turn his head and chuckle to himself. Only hours with Blake and Carter would be a nightmare to deal with all night. He’d have to remember to ask someone else to watch Carter when they needed it.
Taking a deep breath Dee began, “I appreciate all your help, Alpha, unfortunately Justin and I have some unfinished business, so I’m going to have to ask you to keep him overnight.” She turned to Carter, “Won’t that be fun Carter, a sleepover with your alpha?”
Slurp, slurp, slurp, “Cool, Mama.”
Dee watched Blake flounder, “Now, wait a minute-“
“Now, it’s only fair. We have some very important things to discuss, as you so appropriately informed me a short while ago. I thank you for offering to keep him for us.”
“But that was only-“
This time Blake was interrupted by his mate, Delilah. “Cool, a sleepover. Let’s go pick a book to read before bed, Carter.”
Slurp, slurp, slurp. “I can’t go to bed, Missus Alpha, I’m wearing active wear.” He popped out of Justin’s arms and modeled his new shorts while doing some jumping jacks, his drink still in his hand.
Delilah narrowed her eyes at her mate, “Well, you’ll have to thank your alpha for that. He can put on his active wear with you tonight and you can both workout together,” she looked at her watch, “My bedtime is in an hour.”
“But-“
Slurp, slurp, slurp. “Woo hoo! Alpha, let’s go!”
Not being able to look away from the devilish grin Dee was sporting, Justin was surprised when she looked over and winked, prompting their departure. “Alright, we’ll pick him up in the morning. Have a great night.” She placed a loud smacking kiss on Carter’s cheek causing him to blush and wipe it away.
Carter continued to slurp away as he followed Blake and Delilah down the corridor to the bedrooms. Justin smiled as he heard his brother say. “Why is he trying to suck the universe through the end of his straw? It’s gone kid, move on.” Justin’s grin grew as he heard Delilah smack her mate and reply, “You did this to yourself, Mister. Your punishment is to live with the consequences.”
Grabbing her arm lightly, Justin steered Dee out of pack house and into one of the cars he used when he visited. “Well played, I can’t believe Blake agreed to keep him overnight.”
Feeling a light hand on his thigh he tensed, turning toward
Dee. She wore a mysterious expression; part fear and the other part was desire. It was unfamiliar, yet intriguing. He asked, “Is everything okay, Dee?”
“We should have a nice long talk tonight. I understand you think we’re mates and I can’t disagree at this point. I don’t think you’ll like some of the things I have to say, but before we continue with anything, I’d like to clear the air.”
He took her hand in his after securing his seatbelt and hers. “I’m ready to talk if you are.”
Dee could feel herself shaking. She maintained contact with Justin, holding onto his thigh like it was a lifeline. Her past was an embarrassing part of her life, but he needed to know what he was getting into before they took this relationship to the next step. She could read the longing in his expression. In fact, she could remember him scouring the city and pack looking for the scent he’d picked up on Carter. His voice interrupted her inner musings.
“One thing that’s not negotiable.”
Her voice cracked, “Yeah?”
His nose wrinkled and he stopped at a red light, turning to look directly into her eyes. “You have to get rid of that awful perfume. Promise me.”
Allowing a small smile to cross her face she responded, “We’ll discuss it when we get home. I use it as a defense mechanism to keep people away.”
He growled in her direction causing her to shiver in response. “It’s quite effective. If you hadn’t worn it, I would’ve known you were my mate sooner.”
Chapter 7
Pulling into her driveway, Justin put the car in park and felt her hand tighten on his thigh. It wasn’t painful, but he’d been steadily growing more aroused the more her scent filled the car, and with every bump of the car her hand had tightened a fraction. His hands remained gripping the steering wheel and he took a few breaths to calm his nerves. Instead of calming him, her scent called to him and it caused his lust to shoot through the roof. She’d be able to scent it and it caused him a bit of shame because he didn’t want to pressure her into a mating.
As he prepared to take control of the situation and lead them both into her house, her voice whispered across the car.
“We should talk here. That way if you don’t want to complete the mating it won’t be awkward. You can just drive away and we’ll forget all about this…hormonal imbalance.”
He couldn’t help but laugh outright. “I’m pretty sure being fated has something to do with hormones, but I wouldn’t call it an imbalance. I firmly believe that we’re meant to be together and nothing you can say will change that.”
Without skipping a beat she announced in a monotone. “Tidus is Carter’s father. Well, he was until he died.”
The car was silent after her announcement. What could he say? Carter had to be someone’s child, it obviously wasn’t his. Add that upon the fact that Carter displayed alpha tendencies and he should have put it together sooner. He honestly didn’t care. Well…he cared but not enough to shun her as his fated. He was silent, caught in his own thoughts, not realizing that with every second that passed she became more uncomfortable.
“Huh, I guess I don’t have to worry about whether you still have a relationship with the father. He’s dead. What’s the problem?”
She sputtered and he caught the distinct smell of irritation coming off of her. “What do you mean, what’s the problem? You know he was a bastard and evil. Not to mention, that he ruined so many lives trying to create his empire.”
“Okay, but he’s dead now.”
“Yes, he’s dead, but I have his child. I was stupid enough to think he was an honest man and he convinced me we were mates. I lived as his stupid ‘mate’ for a year before I realized who and what he was.”
“I don’t want you to think that I’m a jerk or anything, but he’s dead. He fooled a great many people before he betrayed this pack and took over as alpha. You’re right about him being pure evil; however, he can’t hurt anyone ever again. I hate to keep beating a dead horse, but did I point out he’s dead. As in, never coming back, buried in a hole so deep no one will ever be able to find him-dead. Not to mention he didn’t mark you. You were never true mates.”
He watched as her jaw dropped and she stared at him. “You don’t hate me?”
Reaching over to stroke a finger down her cheek he responded, hoping she could scent his honesty, “I’ll never hate you. Like I said, people make mistakes. He’s the one to blame for being dishonest and fooling you. I admire you for toughening up and taking care of your son. It couldn’t have been easy, knowing you carried his child as he destroyed a pack. A pack you belonged to and would raise your child in.”
“But I sent him away. I never told Tidus about him. I’m a horrible person.”
Smiling gently at her, he stated, “I think I just fell a little more in love with you. You knew Tidus wasn’t great father material and you protected your child. I admire you. Normally, I think a man has a right to know he has a child, but I don’t think Tidus should have known because he would have tortured you and Carter for the rest of your lives. He was just that kind of sick.”
Dee hadn’t heard anything he’d said after he told her he was falling in love with her. With her? No, that wasn’t possible. She was a stupid naive twit who allowed someone like Tidus to manipulate her. She’d had very limited contact with him after she found out she was with child.
It had been the same day she’d found out who he really was. She had hidden out in his office to surprise him, the office he never allowed anyone in. She found out why. Hiding in the closet, she heard him talk about his forced takeover of this pack and how he’d killed the previous alpha outside of a fair challenge. He spoke about mating a female of every shifter species so he’d have an army of shifter children to mentor.
As she listened, her blood ran cold. Even as he spoke about her and his fake courting of her and how easy she’d been duped, Dee hadn’t moved. She’d been frozen in place by shock and quite a bit of loathing; add in a healthy dose of shame for believing someone so insane and unstable. Instead of popping out of his closet to share in the joy of what they created, she waited. When he finally left that night she went to her flower shop immediately and masked her scent. She never went anywhere without her trusty overbearing perfume.
For months she wore that perfume, keeping her secret from Tidus. He hated the scent and couldn’t bring himself to touch her while she wore it. That benefit almost made up for the beatings he gave her for her refusal to stop wearing it.
Every day she grew a little stronger and far more bitter at her stupidity. One morning, Tidus came to her door before she put on her perfume and kicked it down in anger. Her scent permeated the house, but she hoped it was covered up enough by the lingering perfume so that he wouldn’t notice her underlying pregnancy. Tired of dealing with him, she attempted to take his life and was only successful at angering him more. She smiled, thinking of how she stabbed him in the shoulder with a kitchen knife: she had been aiming for his neck. After that, he tended to keep clear of her. He liked a woman to fight but knew enough to stay away from alpha bitches.
She delivered her son alone and immediately sent him to live with her parents. It was the only thing she could think of. If she’d fled with him, Tidus would have sent someone after her. Her parents were none too happy about raising an alpha wolf, especially since they were both lynx. They belonged to a small pack of cats and poor Carter was banned from shifting because he’d been so much stronger than the cats and they feared him. Carter would have been at risk wherever he was, if he was associated with her, so she had to keep her distance. She went to visit him only once during those years and it turned out to be a disaster.
It was a blessing when alpha Blake came to take over. He’d known as soon as she’d completed the blood bond with him, about her situation. He made it known that he’d bring her son back to her so he could ‘be properly raised with his mama and a pack of wolves.’
Justin watched her as a wealth of emotions crossed her face and her scent ch
anged a million times over; fear, hatred, happiness, doubt, love. He knew she was thinking back to the past and all of these feelings were old. He’d let her have her time because very shortly he’d want her to focus only on him and the possibility of their future.
After a few minutes, Dee shook herself from the past and peered over at him with longing. The walls around her heart began to erode, leaving him space to enter and leave his mark. “Do you believe me?”
She nodded once.
“I want you to know deep down to your very core that I don’t blame you or think badly of you. You’ve protected yourself and your son for years. In fact, I’m proud of you and I’d be honored if you chose me as your mate.”
There was a definite glistening in her eyes followed by a salty scent in the car. He never wanted to see her cry or smell her tears. Dee was a fighter, a mother, a survivor, and his mate. He wiped away a lone tear that spilled over onto her cheek. Then he turned, shot out of the car, and had her up and in his arms in seconds. “Where are your keys? I want to be clear on something before we cross the threshold of your house. If we go in there, we’re mating. I won’t hold back my wolf any longer.”
Jumping out of his arms, she pushed him away before going to her hands and knees in the dirt by her front door. She seemed to be digging for something. He couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off her exposed backside. As she knelt on the ground, the shirt she wore rode up, exposing the backs of her thighs. If he crouched down he was sure he’d be able to see her exposed sex.
“Ah ha! Here it is.”
Taking his arm in a death grip, she led him to the door and fumbled with the key in the lock. He took her hands gently, removing the key from her dirty fingers and inserting it into the lock with steady hands. “Dee, are you sure you understand?”
“It’s been a while, but judging by the arousal I smell coming from you mixing with the arousal coming from me, I’d say we want the same thing.”
Pack Secrets Page 6
