Coveted

by Stacey Brutger

  “What happened?”

  “They disappeared close to two centuries ago, simply vanished from the face of the earth. A hundred-plus years of loneliness can eat away at a person’s soul. Wolves lost hope. Our species is slowly dying. After a certain age, the older men need a mate to help keep their wolf at bay. Desperation led some to look for mates among humans. It was a death sentence for the female. We’ve eliminated the most dangerous of the wolves, the ones who force the binding on a woman, but every day our wolf grows stronger. Soon, there won’t be anyone left to police the pack.”

  Shayla could barely digest everything. But one thing nettled her…did he still carried a torch for his wife after a hundred years? He sounded so bitter when he spoke of mates that she couldn’t be certain. There was no way she could compete for the love of a man who mourned for that long. She had to know. “And your wife? She died in childbirth?”

  Aiden snorted, derision curling his lips. “To survive alone here is a struggle. It’s even harder for humans. We made a pact with the villagers. We would protect them from war and marauders, and they would send us volunteers. Most worked as servants, while a few desired the wealth and standing they’d gain by marrying into the pack.

  “My wife fell into the second category. She wanted the prestige that went with being a wife to the laird.” When he fell silent, Shayla didn’t think he would continue. When he turned and stared out over the rough waves of the sea, she had to strain to hear him.

  “Too bad she couldn’t stand being near us beasts. We disgusted her. Life at the castle with only a few humans to lord it over wasn’t enough, so she decided to take what she could and return home. A storm was brewing, it would’ve been suicide to leave, but she refused to spend another day under our roof. She left in the middle of the night without telling anyone.

  “She wasn’t an outdoor type of girl. She had no idea how to survive a storm out on the moors. The horse she stole was high-strung and must have thrown her. Instead of hunkering down, she stubbornly continued on her way. She was discovered the next day at the bottom of the cliff, almost every bone in her body broken. Tension increased between us and the villagers. Some believed that we had murdered and disposed of her. Fewer and fewer people volunteered at the castle, until the last few just died out.”

  “Yet you still protect the people here, don’t you, despite the promises they broke?”

  Aiden shrugged, turned and led her back toward the docks. “When it’s needed.” He gave a half smile. “Honor won’t allow me to turn away from people in trouble. We gave our pledge. The fact that we live a few hundred years longer doesn’t change anything.”

  Shayla shook her head, barely able to comprehend his total the commitment or the time span.

  “You would never use me for your own gain.” Shayla had been stupid to believe otherwise, allowing her insecurities to be manipulated.

  Aiden grunted as if she’d struck him. “Is that what he told you?”

  It was Shayla’s turn to shrug, not wanting to admit that she’d been so easily fooled.

  Then Aiden inhaled deeply. “If you were any other human, I might have considered it.”

  She’d been judging him by human standards and failings when he was so much more. The care he took to ensure her safety when they were on the run spoke volumes. She’d forgotten. Now the big lug had finally allowed her into his life, Shayla had no idea what came next.

  She’d go as far as to admit that she wanted more.

  But did he?

  She couldn’t envision what his people had to go through when they finally found love, only to watch them eventually die. She wasn’t sure she would be brave enough to risk it in his shoes.

  “I never took a mate.” He blurted out the words, refusing to look at her. The next words were quieter. “No one at the castle has ever taken a mate.”

  Relief flooded her. “You were never tempted?”

  His eyes found hers, the intensity in them stealing her breath. “Not until now.”

  Shayla dropped her gaze to her feet and a painful hope flared to life from the embers she’d thought died. She had to tread carefully, she couldn’t screw this up. Aiden had fallen silent. It made her nervous. When she glanced up, it was to find him watching her almost curiously. “So you know all our secrets.”

  Shayla snorted. “Not by a long shot, I’d bet.”

  Aiden shrugged, seeming almost relieved when he smiled. “You’ll have to stick around if you want to learn more.”

  Shayla nearly stumbled over her own feet at his prediction. Or was it an invitation? Aiden cupped her arm to steady her, his thumb brushing lightly over the sensitive curve of her elbow. Even the smallest touch left her shaken and wanting more. She studied every nuance of his face, seeking the truth, but the sneaky bastard gave nothing away.

  “You’re a Seeker.” It wasn’t a question.

  Shayla watched the tide tumble toward shore, every muscle tensing as she scrambled to think of something to say that wouldn’t make him run. Aiden’s hold dropped away from her arm, and she immediately missed the warmth.

  She didn’t want to tell him. Didn’t want him to look at her differently, as if she was broken. Or worse…crazy. But Shayla couldn’t throw away the chance that there could be something more between them. “I’ve always been able to find things. As I grew older, I learned to control the gift and discovered I could make a pretty decent living doing something no one else could.”

  “Is that how you found me?”

  That question again. Exasperated, Shayla shook her head. “I didn’t even know you were there.”

  Aiden raised a brow as if amused by her denial. “No one else could have found me. My pack had tried and failed. You might say they have the nose for it. So how?”

  Shayla felt badgered. “My gift doesn’t work on me. I’m immune.”

  A gleam of interest sparked in his eyes. “You mentioned you weren’t searching for anything, but you suspect something?”

  Shayla bit it lip, wishing to be anywhere else but having this conversation.

  Instead of taking the hint, Aiden persisted. “It could be important to locating the others.”

  “I was thinking about settling down and getting married.” There. That was the closest she would come to admitting that she’d wished for love. Surprise lit his face, and she waved a hand as if to sweep away her statement. “It doesn’t matter. Like I said, my gift doesn’t work on me.”

  “Where you thinking about anyone specific?” His question sounded casual if you didn’t notice his voice deepen or his brogue thicken.

  Shayla glared at him for digging into the sore subject. For making her admit to wanting something that she could never have. She turned back toward town and called over her shoulder, unable to bear his pity. “I was debating whether to give up my job so I could find someone to love me.”

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Aiden was shocked still, watching the hypnotic sway of Shayla’s hips as she marched away. He clenched his fists to keep from following. If he touched her now, nothing would stop him from claiming her. Thank gods she hadn’t figured out how perfect she was or she would’ve been snatched up long ago.

  He’d been careful not to get too close since she’d seen them as wolves, wanting to allow her time to adjust. The last thing he wanted was to freak her out any more than necessary.

  He was freaked out enough for both of them.

  He was making progress seducing her. She’d sought out his touch, almost seemed to crave it. He noticed her fascination with his kilt, and found it sexy as hell that she couldn’t seem to look away from his chest.

  The novelty of being wanted…pursued by a woman like her…rocked him to his core.

  It was obvious that she didn’t believe her magic brought her to him, but Aiden couldn’t think of anything else.

  They were meant to be together.

  He wanted more. Maybe it was time to show her. With that in mind, Aiden followed Shayla back to the inn. He knew
better than to try to coax any further information out of her, like she cared for him. She’d just clam up, but she failed to account for one thing.

  The tenacity of a wolf.

  She was his.

  By sundown she’d know it, too.

  * * *

  Shayla paced the confines of her room. She’d tried sleeping, but every time she closed her eyes, all she saw was Aiden. She couldn’t calm her nerves. Or maybe it was the fact that she hadn’t seen Aiden since their talk.

  He was up to something.

  Shayla refused to call what she felt anticipation. A knock on her door nearly startled a scream from her. The stillness of the inn finally registered. An insidious fear crept over her, invaded every cell. It didn’t matter that they’d caught her stalker. He’d been following her for so long, she no longer knew what it was like to not be afraid.

  Liar.

  She hadn’t been afraid with Aiden.

  It was time to take control of her life, starting now. Shayla marched to the door and yanked it open.

  Only to find Lassie waiting for her.

  Silent.

  Solemn.

  Shayla swallowed against the sudden urge to sneak out the back. “Is it time?”

  She should be pissed at Lassie for putting her in danger, but it had been her choice. He wasn’t forcing her to do anything. Not really. She wanted to help. Wanted to catch the people who’d tried to kill Aiden.

  And maybe prove to him that she could contribute to his pack, be a valuable member.

  “Almost.” He glanced down at his hands then back up to her face. “I wanted to let you know that we won’t let anything happen to you. You never have to leave the inn.”

  Shayla smiled a bit fatalistically, her nerves settling a little. “I wish it were that simple. Unless they are right under our noses, I’ll need to go where I’m led.”

  Lassie looked uncertain, almost ready to protest, when she shook her head and took pity on him. “I knew what I was getting into when I agreed to your deal. I’ll get you as close to your friends as I can.”

  Lassie nodded, tension holding him bound tight. “Close is good enough. We’ll be able to catch the scent and take it from there.”

  He then pulled out a knife from behind him. The handle was metal and bare of design, the silver dulled and worn from years of use. The blade was four inches long, thin and looked wicked sharp. Shayla recoiled slightly, until she noticed he was holding it out to her handle-first. “We know that guns don’t work, but this will. It’s just a precaution. Slash anything on two or four legs that comes at you.”

  She wanted to refuse, but after the strangeness of the last few days, decided it more prudent to accept. “Thank you.”

  Her eyes were drawn to the burns marks on the pads of his fingers and along his palm. He smiled and lifted up his hand. “Silver. The myths are true to a certain extent. It’s like poison to us and slows the healing process. Get enough in our system, and it’s possible to kill us like any human.”

  Shayla’s eye were wide as her gaze dropped back to his hand. “But—”

  Lassie’s lips curled slightly, amused by her concern. “Once the silver is removed, the poison stops spreading and the healing can begin.”

  Shayla nodded, not questioning why a werewolf would carry a silver knife. The blade was heavier than expected. She debated what to do with it, then followed Lassie’s example and tucked it against her lower back.

  “We’ll start whenever you’re ready.” With that, Lassie turned and disappeared down the corridor.

  Afraid that she’d lose courage and never leave the room, she quickly followed. The inn had been cleared out after the initial incident with her stalker. Lassie and his people had purchased the remaining rooms. None of the townspeople had lingered, opting to stay out of pack business.

  Shayla wanted to call them cowards, but the wolves were more than capable of taking care of themselves. So it was a surprise to see the main room crammed with both humans and wolves.

  Aiden’s eyes were on her from the moment she appeared, as if he’d been watching for her. He didn’t smile, didn’t offer her a seat, the imposing alpha ready to go to war.

  Shayla gaped at him, well able to believe the legends about ancient warriors if they’d looked like him. Something primitive lurked in his eyes. The absolute determination to protect his men sent a shiver through her.

  Never give up.

  No surrender.

  He didn’t know the meaning.

  She licked her lips as the age-old question of what men wore under their kilts danced in her mind, but she knew if the darkening of his eyes was any indication.

  Nothing at all.

  When she continued to gawk at him, a small smile quirked his mouth. Shayla blinked, jerking her gaze away to find the rest of the room waiting for her.

  Lassie didn’t smile, but she saw humor dancing in his light brown eyes. James wasn’t so polite. “If you’re done mooning like a teenager, we’re ready to start.”

  If he had been close enough, Shayla would’ve smacked him. She opened her mouth to retort when Lassie cleared his throat.

  “I gathered an item from every man who’d disappeared, just as you requested. Will this work?”

  Shayla glanced at the items on the table, noticing the vial of blood was conspicuously absent. That was clearly James’s doing. Blood was more potent. Dangerous. It should only be used as a last resort. She couldn’t help but be grateful. Then she noticed the quantity. “So many…”

  “These four items were selected from members of our team, the rest were collected from the families with missing people.”

  That explained why so many people had shown up, and the desperate hope she saw when they looked at her weighed heavily on her conscience. She hadn’t been aware of how dire the situation was for them. She reached out to touch the safest item, an empty vial, when Aiden cleared his throat.

  Shayla jumped and jerked her hands back. “What?”

  “Do you have the necklace?”

  Shayla hesitated to admit she hadn’t taken it off. It reminded her of him, and she wanted to keep some small bit of him close. Without speaking, she tugged the emerald from under her shirt.

  As if responding to his nearness, the stone shimmered until it glowed, the color matching his eyes.

  “What’s happening?” The stone warmed where it rested against her chest, the heat spreading through her body. Static charged the air as her magic answered the call, and everyone shifted uncomfortably.

  “The stone works to center your magic. Amplifies it.” Then he shuffled closer, sucking up all the air around them until only his scent surrounded her.

  Shayla reluctantly pulled away. She needed to think, and him standing next to her shattered her concentration. Such as why amplifying her gift was so not a good idea.

  “That’s the last thing I need. I like breathing.” She reached up to remove the necklace, reluctant to part with it, when he tangled his fingers with hers. Tingles swept up her arm at the contact, startling her into looking at him.

  His breathing came faster, his eyes a little brighter. It pleased her to see he wasn’t as unaffected as he pretended. “The stone will center you. You’ll use less power and have more control.”

  He ducked his head until a whisper of warm air touched the rim of her ear and a shiver ran down her spine. Funny how breathing could become unimportant.

  “I’m going to be your private guard while we hunt. Don’t wander from my side. Don’t engage in the fight. If someone threatens you, I’ll take care of it.” Aiden ran a finger slowly under her jaw, tipping her head up to his face. Nerve endings short-circuited as the heat of him sank into her skin. “Your promise that we do this my way or we call this off now.”

  Shayla barely heard him.

  Then his order sank in, and she wrenched away from the spell he’d woven around her. And that’s what it had been, a command. The bastard was using his touch to seduce her into doing what he wanted. What
was worse, she was susceptible. “Stop that. Don’t think I haven’t figured out what you’re trying to do.”

  All the softness faded as Aiden leaned down and bared his teeth in a sham of a smile. “I’m not going to go away.”

  It was both a threat and a plea, and her heart twisted with a thump. She wished she could blame her reaction on fear, but the pure excitement racing through her veins said otherwise. Her legs twitched to run, knowing that he would give chase. That he would catch her. Memories of his hands under her skirts, her pleasure his only focus, flashed through her mind.

  She wanted that again.

  Wanted him, any way she could get him in all his stubborn, Neanderthal glory.

  “Stay.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, but he heard. He inhaled sharply and held his breath, as if savoring the moment. Tension eased from his broad shoulders. Without seeming to move, she was surrounded by him, almost but not quite touching. The distance was too close and yet not close enough.

  “The sun will set in forty minutes. We need to move before the full moon rises.” Lassie and his wolves were tense, the four of them wound tight and waiting to spring. Everyone was dressed for battle, all sleek and deadly.

  Until she saw James.

  He raised his hands and backed away. “If anything happens to you, I need to be there.”

  Shayla smiled at his determination to help protect her. “If something happens, I can’t have you caught up in it. You need to stay safe.”

  He looked grim, and glanced over her head as if asking for permission. She looked back in time to see Aiden nod solemnly.

  A silent vow to protect her first and foremost passed between them. Infuriating men.

  “James…”

  “I’m no good to you here. You go, I go.”

  “Then it’s agreed.” Aiden crowded closer. “So how does this work?”

  It was an argument she wasn’t going to win. With a sigh, she conceded defeat. “Finding objects is a bit like playing with fire. I might get a little burned, but no harm done. Living things are different. It’s like entering another world. Opening the doors to the Frost World means inviting the dead into your life. Restless spirits linger there. As soon as I enter, my power is a beacon for them.”