After that, he put her under house arrest until she agreed to accept the next mate he wanted to toss at her. He sent ten more. They either left limping or were carried out of her cabin, never getting as far as the first and raping her. Magnum had gotten his rocks off on it, for sure, having her escorted to his office after each incident, not to explain, but humiliate the wolf he’d tried to match to her with.
It had been a long four years, and she gained her freedom only because Magnum died. Her current alpha was a hell of a lot more compassionate and had even encouraged her to meet with Doctor Dunn.
And that required more than one visit.
A year later, she could finally sleep at night, not worried another male might come into her house to take what wasn’t his, while forcing her to fight like a pit bull in an illegal dogfight. However, she still spent her night curled up on the floor by the front.
Old habits died hard.
Later, she’d learned Magnum and a group of his posse had betted on who would survive, how long it would take for the wolf to flee, and the extent of the injuries the male would suffer. And they’d even put money on if they could get inside her. She wouldn’t have survived any of it if it hadn’t been for Tad, or, at least, would’ve been raped by multiple males instead of just the first one.
Tad knew Aikido, which he picked up from Xan Davis when he was young. He’d taught it to her after another wolf got a little too aggressive with her at her sixteenth birthday party and ripped her dress. Granted, Tad had handed that wolf his ass three ways to Sunday, saving her the job and also causing her to crush on him even more than she had before.
The one-on-one defense sessions didn’t help her Tad obsession either. By the time her seventeenth birthday came around, she’d fallen so deeply in love with Tad, no other wolf would do. Her heart knew he was her fated mate and refused to take no for an answer. Tad either didn’t feel the connection, or had the best poker face she’d ever seen. Couldn’t he see it? He’d meant so much more to her than he could imagine. He’d saved her. If not for Tad, she wouldn’t have been able to defend herself from an opponent two to three times her weight and size. She would more than likely be dead.
She glanced up at the sky. Sun seemed awful high. Pulling her cell from her pocket, she looked at the time.
Shit! The fitting. Meg hopped off the platform and ran for her house where Miss Claire waited, ready to do her alterations. The wedding would be in two weeks, and her maid of honor’s dress hadn’t been fitted yet. The matron told her not to be late. Of course, Megan wouldn’t be bothered with the wedding if she didn’t like Tierney so much. Over the last few months, they’d become the best of friends, so of course she couldn’t say no when Tierney asked.
Even if true love didn’t exist.
And men were jerks.
The Dawsons were bad news, too, and lord knows she’d tried to talk Tierney out of “until death do us part,” but she’d hear nothing of it. Tierney told her when she met the right man, she’d understand. Problem was, she had, and he was an ass she’d never consider sleeping with, let alone mating.
He’d had his chance and thrown it in her face so he could whore himself across the lower forty-eight. Of course Felix wasn’t as bad as his brother, and her friend seemed deliriously happy, but, honestly, she’d written that family off five years ago when Tad forgot she existed.
She ran for five minutes until she approached a solid-glass house that to most would seem like a strange abode; for Megan, it couldn’t be more perfect. Nobody could approach without her seeing them, no matter what direction they decided to come from. She’d installed high-tech windows with a special polymer layer between the glass panes that, when electrically charged, became opaque, giving her all the privacy she ever needed, when she needed it, even if most of the time she preferred the fishbowl look.
When she told her alpha she basically wanted to live in a greenhouse, he just shook his head and granted her permission to build her somewhat-unconventional home, and then encouraged her to visit Dr. Liv Dunn. Most of the pack thought Meg a little off her proverbial rocker because she wanted to live in a glass house, but, once they came inside and still felt like they were outside in the forest, they understood, at least some of it.
She wouldn’t admit to them she couldn’t stand feeling trapped or cornered, unable to see if danger approached. Or, more importantly, if the wolf she loved decided to come home. In this house, it had never been an issue. Other than he’d never come home, not for five long years.
Her glass abode had more amenities than most of the homes in Los Lobos. Polished quartz countertops with lighting underneath. A clear glass skylight roof on one side and, on the other, she’d installed shingles that served as mini-solar panels, collecting the power of the sun during the day. All the walls were sliding glass panels, allowing her to change the layout of her home on a whim.
The house ran solely on solar, had a well, septic, and electricity. The floors were recovered barn wood, refinished to show off the rich grain and years of wear. An old oak grew in the middle, up through the roof she had specially molded to fit around its trunk. A rubber gasket protected the bark and kept the rain out. A watering system under the house kept the tree alive.
When she’d been given her building site by the alpha, the ancient tree sat in the middle of it, and it seemed like a pity to cut it down to build. Not wanting to kill the red oak, well over four hundred years old, she’d elected to build around it. It became a centerpiece for her unusual home and a place to hold holiday parties and events.
She ran to the front door, punching in a code so the panel slid open, allowing her access. She still changed her code once a week, even though the danger of unmated males attacking her had gone away with Magnum’s death. She’d have to do it again after the wedding, as she’d given the codes to the matrons and her friends. They needed access to her place to prepare for the wedding, since it was the closest location to where Felix and Tierney wanted to get married.
Tierney had fallen in love with the forest glade and waterfall at first sight, and she couldn’t blame her. It was one of the prettier locations on pack land.
“In here,” Miss Claire called out, even though she could clearly see her waiting for her in the bedroom.
Megan went down the hall, to the back and her room, a place she never slept. She always ended up curled on the floor by the front door, but kept the bedroom for appearances, so she wouldn’t have to field questions she didn’t want to.
Miss Claire lifted a lovely red dress from a box, shaking it out. “What do you think?”
“It’s beautiful, but not to hurt your feelings, a bit big.”
“We knew it would be when we ordered it, but figured I could cut it down. However.” She eyed her. “You’ve lost more weight.” The older lady sighed. “You need to start eating.”
“I eat.” She did. When she wasn’t busy.
“Really? What did you have for breakfast? Lunch?”
What did she have? Megan frowned. “An apple, but I plan to eat a big dinner.”
“Megan Silver, if you don’t start eating right, I’m going to start spoon-feeding you until you do.”
“Yes, ma’am.” No sense in arguing with her. She had a good argument, one Megan couldn’t win. She just hadn’t had much of an appetite since she’d learned Felix had invited Tad to his wedding.
And since she was the maid of honor, it meant she’d eventually have to be near him. No way did she want to walk arm in arm down the aisle with that man. Yet, she had to play nice, for Tierney and Felix. So she convinced the bitch inside her they could make it for the half hour or so the ceremony would take, and then she could ignore the bastard. Nobody said she had to dance with him or talk to him or kiss his sexy mouth.
Quit putting thoughts in my head. His mouth is not sexy.
Right. You’ve wanted a taste of him for years, her wolf growled.
Who asked you? I’m not kissing him. Ever. That�
�� mouth is a venereal disease, waiting to happen.
Wolves can’t get venereal diseases. Her inner beast snapped her teeth and went to the back of her mind to pout.
Megan shook her head.
“What’s the matter, dear?”
“Nothing. Just anxious to get this over with.”
“Could it have something to do with some handsome wolf who’s come home for the wedding?”
Megan snorted and crossed her arms. “I know you’re not talking about Tad.”
“I am. Why don’t you give him another chance?”
“Because he blew that a long time ago, when he didn’t so much as call me or write. I’m obviously the last person he thought about.”
“You sure about that?”
“He was off screwing anything with a skirt. So, yeah, I am.”
“Maybe he was trying to get you out of his mind?”
“Sick way of doing it.” Megan took the dress from Miss Claire and held it up to her body, looking in the mirror. “He’s going to swallow his tongue when he sees me in this, and I’m not letting him touch.”
Miss Claire chuckled. “Be careful the games you play. You might find you lose control and can’t rein it in.”
“I’m not playing games. I want him to know what he lost.”
The matron took the dress. A frown turned down the corners of her mouth and furrowed her brow. “Strip. Let’s get this fitted so I can start sewing. We’ve only a couple of weeks before the wedding.”
Megan nodded and undressed, slipping the gown on after.
“Honey, when I’m done with this gown, he’ll do more than swallow his tongue.”
“Good. He deserves it.”
Chapter Three
A week and four days later….
“So, who’s in the wedding party?”
“Did you mean what women are in the party you can bang?” Felix glared. “I won’t have you turning my wedding into an orgy.”
Tad smiled. “I’d never do that. What kind of guy do you think I am?”
“The women in the wedding party are off-limits.”
Tad cocked his head. “Why so adamant? Now you’ve got me curious. Who exactly is in the party you don’t want me to touch?” He flopped down on the couch and threw his feet up on the coffee table.
Felix leaned forward and swatted his boots off, glaring. “I thought I made it clear. All of them.”
“Wow, baby brother, what’s got your underwear in a bunch?”
“Look, I want this day to be special for Tierney, and I don’t need you making a spectacle of it. It’s important to me.”
“Got it. I won’t embarrass you by slutting around with the bridal party. You know, I do have some self-control. I’m not a total whore.” Tad leaned back and crossed his arms. “I can’t believe you think I would ruin your wedding. I didn’t come here for that.” A sinking feeling settled into his gut. If his brother thought so little of him, what did Megan think?
“So, why did you really come here?”
“I thought you invited me.” Tad furrowed his brow. “You don’t want me here?”
“I wouldn’t have sent you an invitation if I didn’t. And I wouldn’t be asking you to be the best man, too.”
Tad jumped up and shoved his hand in his hair, pacing. Not that he minded being on display—it was what he did for a living—but this was different, more intimate. Everyone who attended would know him, and they’d also remember the Tad who left five years before. He wasn’t that same guy, but they didn’t know that—just as his brother hadn’t. “You’re not changing your mind about me being the best man, are you?”
“No.” Felix blew out a breath and nodded. “Please don’t make me regret it.” He pointed. “Behave.”
“I promise not to start an orgy. I’ll be a saint.” Now if he could survive the wedding and the couple dozen of jilted females sure to be in attendance with their papas and mamas. Damn, why did he agree to this?
“Good, you can begin your ‘best man’ duties by taking these silk flowers to Megan’s.”
Tad frowned. “What?”
“Megan, she’s the maid of honor. All the girls are changing at her house before the ceremony. Do you have a problem with delivering the flowers?”
“Since the maid of honor threatened to castrate me, yeah…I do.”
“That’s my line.”
“Right.” Tad snickered. “You won’t ever hear me say that again.”
“So you’ll take the flowers over?”
Tad gave his brother a nod. “Fine, but you owe me big time.” Likely he made more out of this than he should. Megan’d had plenty of time to cool down. Certainly she wouldn’t have a fit if he ran an errand for the bride and groom. Would she? “Fine, where’s she staying these days?”
***
Whack! A rock bounced off his shoulder.
What the…fuck? Where did that come from? Tad scanned the front porch of a glass house, not finding the cranky she-wolf. He caught a distinct lavender scent and looked to the left. “Megan, babe, have you completely lost it?”
“If I have, it’s because of you. What are you doing here, Tad?” Megan stood in a stand of trees, another large rock in her hand, ready to hurl it his way.
“Haven’t you heard the saying, ‘people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones’?”
She raised the rock, readying it for launch.
“Easy. I come in peace.” Tad ducked behind the box and lifted it, showing her the flowers. “I have a special delivery. Where should I put these?”
“I know where I’d like to tell you to put them, but Tierney needs those for her wedding. So, set them down right there and leave.”
“What, you’re not going to invite me in for coffee?”
“No.”
“Well, then I’ll have to take them in without you. My mother taught me manners, and I’m not just setting them down here.” He started up the walk.
Megan bolted in front of him, blocking the path. Her chest rose and fell heavily, her eyes were narrowed, and her nostrils flared. “Is that how you got in their pants, acting all gentlemanly, which we both know you’re not?”
Don’t even think about it. She’s baiting you. His wolf growled, knowing exactly the words on his tongue.
I’m not thinking about it. I’m doing it. “Among other ways. Would you like to know? I’m more than happy to demonstrate, now that you’re all grown up.” He let his gaze glide down to her chest and back up to a pair of gold glowing eyes, before returning to her cleavage. “My, how you’ve blossomed, Meggie. Finally out of the training bra, I see, and, I have to say, you wear those double D cups nicely.”
“Eyes up here, jerk!”
He smiled and looked up.
She smiled back.
That’s your cue to back off.
She doesn’t want me to back off.
Yes she does.
He waited several seconds. “Can I come in, or are we going to eye-fuck each other on the sidewalk all day?” He lifted a brow.
A sharp knee to the nuts sent him to the ground, kneeling before her. Meg retrieved the box from his hands. “I wasn’t eye-fucking you. I was measuring you for a coffin.” She turned around, carrying the flowers into the house as Tad did a face plant into the pea stone walk.
“Damn it, Meg.” He reached up and plucked a small stone from his nostril, flicking it away. “That wasn’t nice.”
“Bite me.” Her door slid shut, and the lock engaged.
Told you not to antagonize her.
I was complimenting her.
Keep doing that, and she’ll geld you.
Right. Plan B, it is.
What’s plan B?
Tink.
Tink.
Tink.
Megan marched to the front of the house and looked out. Tad stood on her walk, tossing pebbles from the path at her windows. She clenched her teeth and flicked the switch, maki
ng the windows turn hazy. “Go away.”
Tink. “Not until we have a chat, my delicate rose.”
“Don’t talk to me that way, Tad, and stop throwing rocks at my house.”
“You started it, and, might I add, they are much smaller than what you were lobbing at me. Come out and we’ll discuss why you sent my nuts into orbit ten minutes ago.”
“I have nothing to say to you.”
Tink. “Sure you do.”
“Nope. I’m pretty sure I don’t.”
Tink.
Tink.
Tink.
Megan growled under her breath and spun on her heel, marching to the back of the house. She turned her stereo all the way up and threw herself on the bed. Grabbing the remote to the sound system, she found the angriest music she could. She would not give in. Tad would not get what he wanted. She wasn’t some trashy woman he could pick up, use, and toss away like a dirty tissue. Even if he was her mate. “Go away, jackass!”
“I’m camping out on your doorstep until you talk to me!”
Damn super-hearing. “Well, when you see demons with down coats and snow boots, let me know. Then, I’ll come out and say I’m sorry.”
Growl. “Damn it, Meg. I only want to talk. I don’t expect an apology. If anything, I owe you one.”
“Damn right you do. Five years. You could’ve talked to me anytime in the last five years, or picked up a phone. Written me a letter. It’s not like you couldn’t afford a stamp.” Was she not even worth that? Megan choked on the last word and reached up, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye.
“Please, Meg. Let me in.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Sorry, Romeo. Go find some floozy to entertain you because it sure as hell won’t be me.”
“Meg…I told you I don’t think of you that way.”
“Good-bye, Tad.” She rolled over and buried her face in her pillow. Why did he have to sound so damn sincere and then blurt out he wasn’t attracted to her? He could think about other females, but when it came to her, he thought of her as a damn kid.
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