“Right.” Jordan was probably shy, and he didn’t blame her. Besides, if anyone else but him saw her naked, he might have to rip their eyes out. Jordan would be all right. But there were other things he had to take care off. What a mess.
A small hand tugged at him. “Pa? What’s going to happen now?”
Jackson stared down at his son. The look he gave him made his chest tighten. He looked scared and unsure. He had nearly lost Austin today.
The responsibilities of being Alpha had been dumped on his shoulders for almost his entire life, and he’d lost sight of what was really important. He vowed that from now on, his son would be his priority.
“We should get you home,” he said. “Your Grams will be worried. What do you say we get a ride on the first truck back?”
He looked around him. “Don’t you got Alpha stuff to do?”
“I know.” He ruffled his hair. “But that can wait. Garland will take care of it.”
“All right but …” He frowned. “What about Jordan? Are you planning on leaving without her?”
“What? No?” What could he say? He and Jordan still needed to talk. He was hoping he would have some time to sort through the mess of his feelings before that. Maybe she did too. “All right. How ’bout this: you wait here for Jordan until she’s ready. I’ll just take care of one or two things, then I’ll come back.”
The boy’s face lit up. “All right!”
He gave Austin’s hair an affectionate ruffle. “I’ll be back in five minutes.”
In truth, there were so many more things that he needed to do that could take more than five minutes, but if he was going to change his ways, he would have to start now. So, he went off to do what should probably be at the top of his priority list, anyway.
Jackson found Samuel not far from the camp, right by the unpaved path they used to bring the trucks in. He was sitting on the dirt, hands bound together, and surrounded by three ranch hands. “Samuel,” he called.
The man looked up at him, a somber expression on his face. “You should have killed me. It was your right.”
Samuel was correct. As Alpha of this territory, he had every right to kill any Lycan—especially a feral one—who dared harm one of them. They had been matched in every way, and Jackson knew he would have to kill him or be killed himself. But he’d listened to his gut. “I know. But I also know you didn’t want to hurt Austin. You were controlling your shift.”
“He’s just a boy,” Samuel said in a quiet voice.
“Am I your Alpha, Samuel?” he asked.
“Y-yes.”
“Good.” His instinct was right. Which was why he’d changed back into his human form and ordered Samuel to change back. Only an Alpha could do that to someone in his clan. That also meant the other Lycan wasn’t as far gone as he thought. There was still hope.
“What’s gonna happen to me?” he asked.
“We’ll figure it out,” Jackson answered. “Take him back to the ranch, keep him under guard for the time being.”
He chatted with the ranch hands and left some instructions for them before he walked back to the camp. Surely Jordan would be all changed by now. He couldn’t wait to hold her and kiss her, and smell that exotic scent again. So, he was surprised when he found Austin all by himself sitting next to the fire.
“She’s still not here?”
Austin shook his head. “She ain’t around. I looked all over. Not in the tents or nothing.”
“Huh.” He sat down next to Austin. “Well, maybe she’s having a hard time shifting back.” If she didn’t shift a lot that might have been the case. His wolf urged him to get up and go find her now. But he decided to ignore it and wait. Give her time.
Austin crawled into his lap and snuggled against him. When was the last time he held Austin like this? Not in a long while. He always knew that someday, there would come a time when he would pick up his son, put him down, and never pick him up again. He kissed the top of his blond head. Hopefully that wouldn’t be for a very long while.
He must have fallen asleep. When Jackson woke up, he was lying on the ground, Austin wrapped up in his arms. It was still dark so he couldn’t have been out long.
“Alpha,” came Garland’s rough voice.
He sat up gingerly, cradling his son to him, then looked around. “Where’s Jordan? Is she here? Is she okay?”
The old man put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry, Alpha. She got a ride back with Jesse. Told me over the radio.”
He relaxed. While he was confused as to why she would just leave like that, he was just glad to hear she was safe at home. Maybe it was a girl thing, and she needed to talk to Lily.
“We should get both of you home,” Garland said. “The Lupa will be glad to see you both.”
“Did you take care of things?”
He nodded. “Yep. We’re good here.”
Jackson accepted the hand the old man offered. “Thank you, Garland. I really couldn’t do anything without you.” In times like these, he was glad to have Garland around.
“Last truck’s here,” Garland said. “Let’s get you home.”
The ride home didn’t take long, but he must have dozed off longer than he thought because by the time they pulled up to the house, the sky was streaked with light.
Austin was still fast asleep in his arms, so he crept inside and put him to bed. As he pulled the covers over his son, he heard the attic door open.
He darted out of Austin’s room and headed straight toward Jordan who stood in the hallway. He stopped short when he saw the backpack slung over her shoulder. “Jordan?”
She looked up at him, her face lit up in surprise. “Alpha.” Her voice was scratchy and rough, and he noticed her skin was blotchy and her nose was red.
“Jordan, what’s the matter? Are you hurt?” He wanted to draw her into his arms, but he was still confused as to why she was all dressed up and ready to go.
“I’m fine,” she said. “Thank you for your hospitality and for letting me stay in your territory.”
“Jordan.” He gripped her shoulders. “Where are you going?”
“I have to go back to New York.”
“Is it an emergency? Is someone in your family hurt?” His questions were met with silence. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“Nothing,” she said. “I just have to go.”
“Go? Go?” Surely she was joking. “But why? I told you, we’re going to talk.”
“I don’t want to talk!” she hissed, wrenching herself away from him. “I don’t want to be here. I just want to leave, okay?”
Shock at her words gripped him. As the ache began to creep into his chest, he shut down his emotions, allowing cold nothingness to creep in. “Fine. Just go.”
She sidestepped away from him and took a step forward before stopping. “T-tell Austin I said goodbye.”
“Tell him yourself.”
“My flight’s leaving soon. I can’t.”
Can’t or won’t? But he bit his lip to keep from saying it out loud. “Then you best move along.”
She nodded and then continued down the hall and descended the stairs. For a moment, he didn’t think this was real, not even when the door slammed closed and he heard the truck pull away.
“Pa?”
His head whipped back toward Austin’s room. He stood in the doorway, rubbing his eyes. “I heard Jordan’s voice. Is she here?”
“No,” he said, trying to keep his voice from cracking. “She left.”
“Left?” He suddenly looked awake, his eyes growing twice their size. “Is she coming back? Why did she go?”
God, he wished he knew. He thought that they meant something to her; that he meant something to her. He had read Jordan completely wrong.
15
“Hold the door!” Jordan shouted as she rushed to the private elevator at the Fenrir Corporation’s headquarters in Manhattan. “Thanks,” she said gratefully to the woman waiting inside who held the button keeping the d
oor open. “Thirty-three, please.”
“Running a little late this morning?” the woman asked, not in a malicious way, but more of a friendly, small talk manner.
“Yeah.” She caught her breath, then took a sip of her grande, extra-whipped cream, extra syrup caramel mocha. She needed this today. Well, apparently, she’d needed it every day for the last two weeks, plus three chocolate chip cookies for her after-breakfast snack. It took a while to get her drinks and food together as it was always busy at the independent cafe she liked to patronize. Checking her watch, she realized she was about ten minutes late. Damn.
The elevator dinged, indicating they had reached her floor. She nodded her thanks at the woman and then headed to the entrance to the lab. Security was tight there, and after going through the formalities, she breezed inside.
The area that had been destroyed during the accident was sectioned off, and Jordan tried not to look there as she set her things on the table where she had set up her new workstation. Seeing it would only remind her of the event that had led to this point in her life.
She bit her lip as she sat down. When was this going to end? When would every little thing stop reminding her of Jackson? When was she going to stop thinking of him every time she had a free moment? And when would that pain in her chest go away?
Her wolf moaned woefully. She didn’t even know it was possible for inner wolves to get depressed, but that’s what it felt like.
This is for the best, she told it. We just have to suck it up, buttercup.
Then she remembered that Jackson once told her those words, and she felt the sadness looming over her again.
She slapped her palms on the tabletop and took a deep, resigned breath. This really was for the best. I can’t be selfish, she reasoned. Austin would now have a father and a mother. A complete family. And that was all that mattered.
She did her best to put those thoughts aside and concentrate on her job. After all, that was what she was here for. Besides, being here in the lab helped distract her and pass the time. The hours breezed by when she was working, and soon it was nearly lunchtime.
“Jordan, can I talk to you?”
She startled, nearly leaping out of her seat. “Dr. Creed.” She spun her chair around. “Good morning.”
“You came in late this morning,” the pretty Lycan scientist said. “You’ve been coming in late for the last few days.”
“I know. I mean, I’m sorry.” She looked at her feet.
“It’s not just that.” Dr. Creed tapped a finger on her chin. “I just noticed … I mean …”
“Has my performance been unsatisfactory?” Jordan asked quizzically.
“Not at all. It’s good. Better than ever, actually.”
Jordan’s huffed. “Then what’s the problem?”
“I just noticed, you seem … different. Is everything all right?”
She bit the inside of her cheek to keep the emotions from bursting out of her. Sobbing all over her boss while she was work was not professional at all. “I’m fine,” she lied. “Just dandy.”
“Jade! Jade, where the heck are you?” came a cheerful voice from behind Dr. Creed.
“Finally,” Dr. Creed said, her voice impatient. “Glad you decided to show up.”
The tall, gorgeous blonde Lycan approaching them was holding two baby carriers, one in each hand. “Sorry, got held up in traffic.”
Jordan recognized her as Meredith Jonasson, one of the members of the Alpha’s security force and Dr. Creed’s best friend. She came by regularly, and the two women often had lunch together.
“Hey, baby,” Dr. Creed took one of the carriers from her and cooed at the baby inside. “How’s my lovey today?”
“She’s been well-behaved all morning, of course.” Meredith raised the other carrier in her hand. “It’s this little pooper that’s been the problem.”
“What’s the matter with Cross?”
Meredith shrugged. “I don’t know, he’s been acting weird and finicky. You know he’s always been a calm baby, but this morning …” She shrugged. “Just baby moods, I guess.” She looked at Jordan. “Hey, J! What’s shaking?”
“Hello, Meredith,” she greeted.
“How’ve you been?” Meredith leaned over and narrowed her gaze at her. “Say … you look different. Are you wearing new makeup or something? Your skin looks fabulous.”
“Huh?” She touched her cheek. “No. I mean, I’ve just been doing the same thing.”
“Really? I mean, except for those bags under your eyes, you look positively glowing.”
“Maybe it’s the fresh Shenandoah Valley air,” Dr. Creed said with a laugh.
“Shenandoah?” Meredith’s brow raised.
“Yeah,” Dr. Creed began.
Jordan’s heart sank. She didn’t want to talk about Shenandoah. It would just bring back the memories.
“Does it have anything to do with the Lone Wolves?”
“Sort of. It’s this new program Sebastian and the Alpha started. I’ll fill you in at lunch,” Dr. Creed continued, which made Jordan praise the heavens in relief.
“Oh, poop,” Meredith said. “I almost forgot to tell you. Daric called me on the way here. He’s stuck doing that errand for Grant. He says it’ll be at least another hour before he gets back.”
“Another hour?” Dr. Creed said. “But we only have an hour and a half for lunch. And we made this appointment weeks ago. Who are we supposed to leave the kids with? You know they don’t allow children at the spa.”
“I know, Jade.” She blew a tendril of hair away from her face. “He says he’ll make it up to us. How about we just head up to the cafeteria? You can have those lemon curd muffins you love.”
“I suppose.”
“I’ll watch them,” Jordan piped in.
“You will?” Meredith asked.
“Jordan, I couldn’t possibly ask you to look after two infants,” Dr. Creed said. “That’s not your job.”
“It’s lunchtime,” she said. “I’ll order some food from the cafeteria and stay here with the children. No trouble at all.”
“Oh my God, you’re a lifesaver, Jordan.” Meredith clapped her hands with glee. “I could kiss you.”
Dr. Creed looked hesitant. “Well, if you don’t mind …”
“Not at all.” She glanced at the two babies, both fast asleep.
“They just went down for their nap, so they probably won’t wake up for another hour or so.” Meredith handed her the two diaper bags slung over her shoulder. “And you’ll have everything you need here.”
“Call my cell, for anything,” Dr Creed said. “I’ll leave it on the whole time.”
“She’ll be fine, Jade,” Meredith assured her friend. “She’s a Lycan. Her wolf will have all those good mothering instincts.”
Jordan gave her a tight smile. “Right.”
“I’ve been looking forward to this all week,” Dr. Creed said with a sigh.
“Me too.” Meredith put her hands on her hips. “Good luck, Jordan. We’ll be back before you know it.”
“Have fun.” Jordan waved to the two women as they left before turning to the two baby carriers sitting on top of her desk. She wasn’t sure why she’d volunteered to watch over the children, but it didn’t hurt to score extra points with the boss now and then.
Deedee, she’d already seen a couple of times. The little girl was adorable, and looked just like Dr. Creed, except for her eyes. Although Meredith had spoken of her son before, this was the first time she’d actually seen the boy. After glancing over to check that Dee was asleep, she turned her attention to the boy.
Cross Jonasson looked to be about Dee’s age, maybe a little younger. He had wisps of fine blond hair across his forehead, and the cutest and chubbiest cheeks Jordan had ever seen. She couldn’t help herself as she reached over to feel the boy’s soft, smooth skin.
His eyes flew open, and she gasped in surprise. Cross gave her a toothless grin and giggled.
“Aww, you’re s
o adorable.”
Cross also had the most beautiful blue-green eyes. Meredith had brown eyes, so he probably got it from his father. Jordan was pretty sure she’d heard about him, though she couldn’t quite recall who he was.
“Are you hungry, baby?” she asked. “Do you want to play?” She searched around in the diaper bag for a toy of some sort and found an old wooden horse that looked to be handmade. “Here you go.” Cross laughed when she shook it in front of him, then stretched his arm to reach for it.
A loud rattling sound made her whip her head around. There was something vibrating behind her. Her brows knitted together as she watched the fifty-liter steel tank in the far corner wobbling back and forth unnaturally. “What the—” She sucked in a breath. Dr. Cross was doing some experiment with gases compressed in that tank. “Fuck!” The vibrations grew stronger and stronger. She knew what would happen next.
There was no way she would be able to take both children and herself to safety in time, even with her Lycan speed. So, she did the only thing she could—cover both children with her body as the room exploded around her.
Not again.
Jordan groaned as she opened her eyes. She was feeling a little woozy, but she was able to put the bits and pieces of what she remembered together in her head. Deedee and Cross. The explosion. Was she dead? Couldn’t be. There was no white light or clouds or angels around her. Just the smell of antiseptic and sterile white walls. She was in the infirmary again.
“Finally,” a deep male voice said. “I was wondering when you’d awaken.”
Something about the voice made her bolt up. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the stranger beside her.
He was tall and broad-shouldered, with long blond hair tied back in a ponytail. She thought he looked like a handsome Viking. He was even wearing a loose white shirt. Maybe she was dead and this was heaven, and God had sent her this handsome Viking angel to greet her at the pearly gates. Sweet baby Jesus!
“You’re probably wondering who I am.” Blue-green eyes stared at her. “My name is Daric.”
She knew that name. And those eyes. “You’re … the warlock.”
A Mate for Jackson: Bad Alpha Dads: A True Mates Standalone Novel Page 13
