by Lisa Kessler
“Nice surprise. I didn’t expect to see you here.” He glanced at his son. “You told me to meet you for dinner. Has the plan changed?”
Jason shook his head. “No, I was just checking Nadya’s vitals.”
Wyatt took a slow breath, frowning. “You and who else?”
He must’ve caught Granger’s scent. Jason met my eyes. No one in the Pack could know about the researcher from Nero. I piped up. “There was a pharmaceutical vendor restocking late so we had to wait for him to leave.”
Jason nodded, his relief brushing over my skin. Hopefully his dad would be more likely to accept a lie from me than his son. “He left just before you got here.”
Wyatt sat down. He looked between us and raised a brow. Maybe I wasn’t such a good liar after all.
“So Dr. Granger is selling pharmaceuticals now?”
I tried to keep my jaw off the floor. Thankfully Jason spoke up.
“You know Dr. Granger?”
Wyatt nodded. “That bastard was fresh out of college last time I saw him, but I’d never forget that smug face.” His gaze grew distant as he focused on the exam table. “We were young and thought we were invincible. Malcolm convinced all of us we could serve our country, and then the military loaned our unit to a company named Nero. You know this story.” He sat back in his chair, shifting his attention to Jason. “We’re not people to that man. You can’t trust him, son.”
“I don’t trust him, but he’s our only chance to help Nadya.”
“And what’s in it for him?”
“Nadya is the first person bitten by one of their mutated squad that lived.” Jason crossed his arms over his chest. “They’re hungry for the data and blood samples. She’s no good to them dead.”
Wyatt pressed his lips together and looked up at his son from under his strong brow. “You sure about that? Willing to bet her life on it?”
“I made the decision, Wyatt.” I sighed. “This isn’t Jason’s fault.”
He shifted his gaze toward me. “But my son should know better. Bringing Nero into Reno is too risky.”
“It’s one researcher, Dad. He knows we could kill him before he heard us coming. I’m keeping the Pack out of this. Adam doesn’t know, and I intend to keep it that way. Once Dr. Granger has a serum that works, we’ll get him out of Reno for good. He can take all his research data back with him and Nadya avoids Fonthill’s fate. It’s a win-win.”
“Only if her life is as valuable to him as it is to you, and I can tell you from experience Nero doesn’t value our lives like they should.”
“Please Wyatt. Don’t say anything to Adam.” I tried not to wring my hands. “Jason’s keeping a close eye on Granger. This is my only chance.”
I held his gaze, staring him down. His concern and trepidation made my stomach cramp up. What had Nero done to him while he was there? I waited him out and finally he bowed his head, shaking it slowly. “I don’t like this.”
“I don’t, either, but we don’t have many options.” Jason gripped his shoulder.
Wyatt sighed and stood up. “I’ll keep quiet for now, but I see anything that might hurt the Pack and I’ll step in. No discussion.”
Jason nodded. “Fair enough.”
“Thanks, Wyatt.”
“Don’t thank me.” His bright hazel eyes met mine. “If something happens to you because of that little prick, I’ll never forgive myself.”
Without another word, he walked out, slamming the door behind him.
Chapter Ten
Gareth
I rolled into Durango as the sun was setting. My cousin, Brendan, was from my Mom’s side of the family. They weren’t werewolves and had no idea the Pack existed. I’d be on my own in Colorado, but being a lone wolf was part of the allure of making the move.
Or at least it used to be.
I couldn’t get Nadya out of my head. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her smile or the tears on her cheeks as I walked out the door. Both hurt in different ways. With all of my precautions to keep from caring about anyone, she’d gotten past every barrier.
I’d done the right thing when I left. Mate or not, I didn’t have anything to offer her. She deserved so much more than I could ever give her. I was dead inside.
Or I had been. I wasn’t sure what I was anymore, except sick as shit of fate and her habit of inviting death into my life and then leaving me behind.
No, Nadya was better off without me, regardless of what my wolf thought. With every mile taking me farther from her side, my chest got tighter until I wanted to howl to release the ache. My wolf didn’t understand.
I gave the Harley one last sip of gas, the rumble vibrating through my body before I turned off the engine. Brendan came out of his house with a grin. I saw my mother in his smile, but for once it didn’t trigger a wave of bitterness.
“Gareth.” I reached for his forearms, the traditional greeting within our Pack, but Brendan pulled me into a tight hug. “It’s been too long, cousin.”
I clapped his shoulder and stepped back, uncomfortable with the affection. “Yeah, good to see you too, Dan.” His youngest sister couldn’t say his full name and shortened it to Dan. The rest of the family followed. He’d been Dan ever since. I looked up at his cabin-style house. “Where’s the family?”
“The boys had a Little League game. Marina should be home with them any minute.” He turned for the house. “Come on, I was just firing up the grill.”
I sat on a rock in Dan’s backyard near the grill. The smell of the steak awakened my lost appetite. When was the last time I ate? I had no clue.
“Can I get you a beer?”
I nodded. “Sounds good.”
He lifted the lid of the cooler next to the sliding glass door and held up a bottle. “Heineken okay?”
“As long as it’s wet, I’m good.”
He grinned and opened the bottle before handing it over. “You look beat, man.”
I shrugged. “It was a long ride.”
“So you’re really leaving Reno for good? That’s a big move.”
Gabe’s death sat between us like a gigantic elephant neither of us wanted to see. I sighed and shook my head. “Too many memories there. I’m ready for a new chapter.”
“Well I’m glad you headed my way.” He took a swig from his bottle. “The boys are already asking if they can ride on your motorcycle.”
I smirked. “Marina would kick my ass if she found them on my bike.”
“That doesn’t stop an eight and ten-year-old from dreaming.” He chuckled. “You’re the cool cousin with a tattoo and a Harley.”
The sliding glass door opened and Dustin and Noah raced out in their full baseball uniforms. I stood up just as they wrapped themselves around my legs. They were so much bigger than I remembered. Kids had never been on my radar, but the wolf inside me mellowed out a notch as I mussed their hair.
Marina came out and hugged Dan at the grill, kissing his cheek. “Need anything?”
“Just you, baby.” He grinned.
Marina laughed and rolled her eyes. “Well you’ve got me.”
Watching them turned the beer in my stomach to vinegar. Nadya telling me I should smile more often echoed through my head. And that damned dimple in her cheek. Did I seriously miss her? We hardly knew each other. It had to be the wolf instincts. They’d wear off eventually.
I hoped.
Marina headed my way. My cousin was dark skinned with black hair like me, but his wife was the opposite. Blond and fair with a contagious smile and eyes that hinted at a warm heart.
“Good to see you, Gareth.” She gave me a quick hug and frowned. “You look like you could use a bed.”
“I’m okay. Just a long ride.”
“You shouldn’t push yourself so hard.” She smiled. “You’re not on the run or something, are you?”
Oh I was on the run all right, but not in the sense she meant.
“I’ll be fine. Thanks for letting me crash in your guest room tonight.”
; She waved her hand as she opened the sliding glass door. “You’re family, even if we never get to see you.” With a wink she disappeared inside the house.
I sat on the rock again, watching Dan at the grill and the boys wrestling in the grass. Did any of them have any idea how lucky they were? Probably not. That was the kicker. You never really understood what a gift someone was until they were gone.
…
After two days in Durango, I still ached to hear her voice. Twice today I almost picked up my phone to call Aren and be sure Nadya got in touch with Jason, to be certain she was safe. But I didn’t dial his number. It was better this way. This was the fresh start I needed. Wanted.
Too bad I was still miserable. I had signed the escrow papers and paid Office Depot to overnight the docs back to Russ. Takoda Motorcycle Restoration would belong to someone else in thirty days. That gave me some time to look for a new garage here in Durango. When I’d plotted this move, the thought of finding a new garage seemed exciting, but now…
Everything felt wrong.
I still hadn’t hired movers. For the time being, I was living out of my duffle in a fully furnished efficiency apartment. Instead of enjoying the peace of a new place, I couldn’t seem to stop looking back at what I’d left behind.
Reclining on the king-sized bed, I clicked on the television. I flipped channels until someone knocked on my door. I got up and leaned in close to the doorframe, taking a slow breath to check for a scent. Aren?
I opened the door to find my Alpha’s brother in the hall with a garment bag tossed over his shoulder. He didn’t smile.
“Are you going to invite me in?”
I hated to admit how good it was to see him. Opening the door, we clasped forearms and I stepped back to let him inside. He laid the garment bag over the tiny table and sat in the chair.
“How did you find me?”
He crossed his legs and leaned back. “Nadya said you were going to Colorado. I helped your cousin, Dan, find investors to open his new restaurant, remember?”
“Dan told you.”
Aren nodded. “You left so fast, you forgot your tux for my wedding this weekend.”
I shook my head. “Sorry, but I can’t make it.”
“Unacceptable.” He leaned forward in his chair. “The situation with Nadya aside, this is my wedding, Gareth. We’ve been friends our whole lives. You’ve got to be there.”
I rubbed my hands down my face. “It’ll just ruin the day for Sasha and Nadya if I’m there. It’s better this way.”
“Better how? For who, exactly?”
“Does Nadya know you’re here?”
“Nope.” Aren shook his head, straightening in the chair. “I didn’t come all this way to tell you how fucked up it is that you found your mate and you ran. I also didn’t come to tell you that having Nadya crying in my arms ripped my heart out. And I’m not here to knock sense into you, although I’d love to.” He sighed, his piercing green eyes locked on mine. “I came here because you’ve been my friend for as long as I can remember, and I can’t imagine getting married and not having you there with me. That’s all. It’s up to you, but I hope when I’m about to make my vows, I’ll have you at my side.”
“Sorry you had to waste a trip.”
His entire body tensed, ready to strike, and I wished he would. I was pretty sure I could take him, and a fight would feel good right about now. A welcome distraction from the mental anguish I’d been living with.
“Me, too. You’re skipping out on my wedding. I never would have believed it.” He got up shaking his head. “I would’ve laid down my life for you.”
“But not for Gabe.” Guilt festered inside me, but rage was close behind. I clung to it with both hands. “He died protecting our Pack from a jaguar and how do you honor his memory? By marrying one.” I took a step closer to him, invading his personal space. “Forgive me, brother, but I don’t owe you anything.”
“Sasha had nothing to do with Gabe’s death,” he growled.
“So why not hunt for his killer? The Pack has already forgotten him. No one even says Gabe’s name anymore.” I wanted him to attack me, but he didn’t take my bait.
Aren sighed and shook his head. “I wish I could bring Gabe back. There are lots of things from the past few months I’d change if I could, but I can’t. I don’t want you to leave the Pack, either, but I can’t force you to come back.”
“The Pack is better off without me. Nadya will be, too. I’m too fucked up for someone as amazing as she is. My wolf was greedy or something. Jason will take good care of her.”
“Jason will, but he’s not her mate.” He reached for the door and stopped. “In case you care, Nadya’s a fighter. You should be, too.”
Chapter Eleven
Nadya
I opened my eyes, disoriented and wincing at the late afternoon sun on my face. Sometimes I wondered if I would ever get used to my heightened werewolf senses. Glancing at the clock, I smiled. Four hours. I’d slept four hours in a row. Last night, Dr. Granger met with us to show Jason his treatment plan for me. He concocted a serum he believed would help slow the adrenaline creation in my system. The side effect would be sleep.
While Sasha was at work, Jason came by the condo with Dr. Granger to administer the first injection. Less than an hour later, my body finally relaxed. I must’ve fallen asleep.
“Hey, sleepyhead.”
I sat up on the couch and stretched. “Hey, Sash. Did Jason take off?”
She nodded. “Yeah, he was here when I got home, but he needed to get back to the office.”
He didn’t want to leave me alone. A pang of guilt weighed on me. Jason was a great guy. Even though he didn’t believe in mates, I hoped he’d find his soon. Until then, he wouldn’t understand the power or depth of the connection between mates when the wolves inside of us find one another. And he deserved to experience this intensity in his life. It’d probably throw him and his analytical-doctor-brain for a loop. The thought made me smile.
“You’re up just in time to come with me for the final fitting on my dress.”
I blinked. Her wedding dress. I’d been so wrapped up in the drama of my medical treatment and the heartbreak of losing my mate that my big sister’s wedding slipped my mind. This weekend she’d be marrying Aren Sloan. I couldn’t have picked a better match for her.
Sasha was a born protector. When our parents were murdered, she didn’t have a thought for herself. Even though she’d just entered the police academy, she swooped in and raised me on her own. I never heard her complain about not dating, or not being able to hang out with her police buddies. She protected the innocent with the police force, and then protected me when I needed her most.
And for the first time since our parents passed away, she had someone to watch her back. A worthy man who respected her and her abilities, but wouldn’t hesitate to lay down his life to protect hers.
They’d had a rocky beginning, but without Aren’s wolf instincts recognizing Sasha on a primal level, my sister might be dead. Safe to say, I loved my new brother-in-law-to-be, and my happiness and joy for them lightened the gloom festering in my heart.
No one talked about it out loud, but everyone in the Pack realized the speedy nuptials were for me. Sash wanted me to be her maid of honor, and my days were numbered.
I pushed the dark thoughts away and stood up. The room spun for a second. “I wouldn’t miss it.”
…
Sasha’s dress was a soft ivory. Simple with spaghetti straps and a slit up one side. It fit her perfectly, not corseted or tight, and it caressed her curves. It looked natural on her body, allowing Sasha to take center stage instead of her dress.
She stood in front of me. “Well? How does it look?”
“You’re gorgeous.” Tears welled in my eyes as I nodded. “It’s perfect.”
The bridal consultant came around the corner with a veil. “Not yet.”
She settled the filmy veil over Sasha’s dark hair and turned her to lo
ok in the mirror. My hard-as-nails sister struggled to keep from crying. I got up and came to her side, taking her hand. “I’m so happy for you.”
“I love you, Nadya.” She hugged me tight, her voice soft against my ear. “I can’t lose you. I won’t.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” I shook my head. “You raised me to be strong and fight.”
She held me a moment longer before pulling back and swiping a tear away. “So you like the dress?”
I laughed, sniffled, and nodded. “Love it.”
Sasha changed and we carried the garment bag with her dress to the car. I held it while she opened the door. “Aren is a lucky guy.”
She grinned, taking the garment bag and sliding it across the backseat. “I’m pretty sure I’m the lucky one.”
“Maybe you both are.” We got in the car, but she didn’t turn the key. “Jason told me he’s been doing everything he can to figure out a way to slow the changes from Fonthill’s bite.”
I shifted my focus out the front windshield. How much had Jason revealed? Obviously he hadn’t mentioned getting some help from a Nero researcher, but I didn’t want to contradict whatever he’d said.
Until now, I’d never kept such a huge secret from my sister. “He thinks it’s promising.” True enough. I glanced her way. “I haven’t been able to sleep much, so the four-hour nap seems like a step in the right direction.”
I reached over for my seat belt.
“Ouch. What’s that?”
I followed her gaze. My short sleeve had risen up to reveal the injection site in my shoulder. The skin was red, swollen, and angry. I tugged the sleeve down.
“I’m okay, just got stung by a bee.”
Her eyes narrowed, but I didn’t change my story. “Did you get Jason to take a look? It could be infected.”
“It doesn’t hurt.” And it didn’t. I’d been stunned to see the skin so irritated. “I’ll show it to him if it gets any worse.”
“You better.” She started the car and we drove back to the condo in silence.
