by Zoey Marcel
Bane was compact with muscle and a nice height, but the sight of the bulging giant made him want to go and hit the gym even harder than normal and down a mass gainer fast afterward.
“Hello, Jade Flowers,” the manly brute greeted her.
Jade froze and her eyes widened as she hugged her body to shield her nudity from his intimidating gaze. She looked genuinely scared. “You. What are you doing here? How did you find me?”
“I followed you,” the stranger replied coldly.
Bane didn’t recognize the man, but he figured it must be Jade’s ex. She never talked about him, and Bane never asked. He didn’t want to know, and now that he took in the size of the muscular freak, he didn’t even want to begin to think of all the things the man had done in bed with her. Strength like that could ensure unlimited stamina and an interesting array of positions that only a superhuman would be capable of.
The man stepped closer, and Jade stepped backward. “Stay away!”
“Look, Jade ended it with you. Just move on. If you come any closer, I’ll have to kick your ass,” Bane threatened.
The man didn’t even acknowledge the threat as he stared at Jade with bone-chilling hostility. “You did not really think I would just let you walk away, did you?”
Chapter Ten
Bane tasted the gritty crunch of dirt in his mouth, and he sneezed the spot of dust out of his nose. The bright rays of sunlight bathed his eyelids and dulled the darkness therein before he ever even opened his eyes. It was morning. He had survived the night, but had Jade?
He sat up, groaning in misery at the bastard inside his head who continuously beat his brains around with a sledgehammer this morning. Undoubtedly the worst headache of his life. He looked out across the earth-toned stretch of scenery, but he didn’t see anyone.
“Jade! Ow!” He grabbed his head, cringing at the splitting pain his shouting triggered. The ornery little fucker in his head was taking a baseball bat to the inside of his skull now.
Bane saw the gunshot wounds on his torso. The evil motherfucker just had to shoot him twice, didn’t he? The ammunition obviously wasn’t made of silver, or he would be dead by now.
He found his briefs and stuffed them into his mouth, taking a deep breath. This was really going to suck like hell. He jabbed two of his fingers into the open wound, biting down hard on the cotton in his mouth that muffled his scream of suffering. He fished around until he found both bullets and pulled them out of him. They were ordinary bullets, not silver. He would live.
Bane pressed his shirt firmly over the wounds that were within very close proximity to each other and fell over on his back. He yanked his underwear out of his mouth, panting hard and furious as the brutal wave of agony washed over him, strong and relentless.
The muscled bastard was going to die. Bane would make damned sure of that.
He sat up, feeling woozy and nauseated. His mind ran back over last night’s events as he tried desperately to get his bearings as quickly as possible so he could get up and go look for Jade.
Her irritatingly strong ex had beaten the crap out of both of them. Bane had done his best to fend the monster off and protect Jade, but the son of a bitch got in a few good hits. At one point the nameless asshole had hit her so hard she fell to the ground and didn’t get back up. The fiend disappeared, and Bane had crawled over to Jade and checked her pulse. She was still alive, but for how long?
Fearing the man would return and finish what he started, Bane did the only thing he could think of to save Jade. He bit her. He claimed his mate, praying to God that it would save her.
Bane turned and saw the stranger as two shots rang out into the night like fucking cannons. He was the unlucky recipient of them. He tried to will his eyes to stay open so he could get up and kill the psycho before he put his hands on Jade, but a foggy haze swept over him, as did blinding pain, and Bane blacked out.
Now he sat on his bare ass in the desert with blood soaking through the shirt he had pressed over his bleeding injury. His lycan genes would heal him eventually. Hopefully sooner rather than later, but he had to find Jade. Was she still alive? Did the motherfucker hurt her? Had he killed her?
Insane worry and fear drove Bane to his feet, despite the staggering pain he felt and the intense spell of dizziness that seized him when he did so. Curse the obstacles. He wouldn’t let it stop him. He must find Jade.
He should probably think about getting some clothes on first, though. After using one hand to pull his underwear and jeans on while the other pressed like an anvil to his injury, he fell over with a painful thud on his ass and groaned.
* * * *
Bane drove with the window down, trying in vain to catch his mate’s scent. He eventually turned to trusting his instincts and simply let the bond they shared lead him back to Jade. It seemed to be leading him south into Arizona.
He eventually stopped in a little Western town called Winchester. Talk about small. The place only had a population of just over one thousand people. It was apparently a tourist spot and had the look of a mining town in the bygone days of the Wild West.
He stopped for gas and bought a water bottle from the general store.
“You’re new in town,” the store owner said, extending his hand. “I’m Ike.”
“Uh, Bane.” Bane shook his hand, wondering what the old guy’s problem was when he flipped Bane’s hand over and studied his palm.
“Shifter, huh?”
Bane blinked in surprise. “How the fuck did you know that?”
Ike tightened his grip when Bane tried to pull away. He would have used more strength, but he didn’t want to hurt the old human man.
“You’ll find the gem,” Ike informed him.
“Excuse me?”
“The gem you seek. You’ll find her.”
“Jade? Do you know where she is?” Bane felt a glimmer of hope.
Ike looked at him blankly. “Jade, is it? No, I don’t.”
“What’s so funny?” Bane asked when the man got a stupid grin on his face.
“You’re going to share her with them. That will be fun for you.”
Bane pulled his hand away. “What the hell are you talking about? I’m not sharing Jade with anybody.”
Ike smirked and rang him up for the water bottle.
Crazy old man.
A young man who looked to be somewhere around Bane’s age kept sneaking glances at him. He was attractive, but Bane hoped the guy wasn’t gay. That would be awkward. He just wanted to get some stuff and then get back on the road.
Once he stepped outside, the young man followed him. “Hi.”
“Hi.”
“I’m Orlando Dark.”
Bane shook Orlando’s extended hand. “Bane…Kennedy.”
Being from Los Angeles and Detroit before that, he wasn’t used to just throwing his full name out there like some trusting goon, but Orlando had been friendly enough to share both of his names, so Bane felt obligated to do the same.
“I hope I didn’t weird you out or anything in there,” said Orlando. “I just couldn’t help but notice you were some kind of shape-shifter. I have a nose for that kind of thing.”
“You overheard the old guy say that?”
“I knew you were a shifter even before he said anything.”
Bane stiffened. “It that a problem?”
Orlando smiled. “Not at all. I think it’s great. It’s always nice to meet other shape-shifters. I’m a jaguar. What kind are you?”
“Werewolf.”
“Nice. Most of the humans don’t realize it, but there’s actually more than a few shifters in town. Not surprising, though, when you think about it, considering the town was founded by demons back in the 1800s.”
This startled Bane. “What?”
Orlando turned. “Hey, Pa! Come here a minute!”
Bane followed Orlando’s gaze to a man who looked close to sixty talking with someone outside a feed store. The man held up a finger so he could continue his conversation
with the store owner.
“So what brings you here to Winchester?” Orlando asked.
“I’m just passing through. I’m actually looking for someone.”
“Hey, Pa, get over here!” Orlando waved him over and then got a sheepish smile on his face when his father glared at him. “Ha ha! Whenever you’re ready, Pa! So who are you looking for? Oh, good. Here he comes.”
Mr. Dark came over, looking annoyed. “Orlando, how many times have I told you not to interrupt me when I’m doing business with someone?”
“Sorry. I just wanted you to check out the shape-shifter.” Orlando looked excited. “He’s a werewolf.”
Mr. Dark shook his head. “You’ll have to excuse him. He gets a little overexcited whenever he encounters them. You’re new in town, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, I’m just passing through,” said Bane, feeling antsy. He didn’t want to be rude, but he really needed to get out of there and find Jade. He didn’t sense that she was in any kind of danger, but he was still worried sick. “Listen, I don’t mean to be rude, but—”
“His name’s Bane Kennedy, and he’s looking for someone,” Orlando filled his dad in.
“Harrison Dark.”
Bane shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“So who are you looking for?” Orlando asked.
“I doubt you’d know her. She’s not from around here,” Bane replied. “I should really—”
“Ah, looking for a woman. Very nice.” Orlando smiled. “Is she your mate?”
“Yeah, her name’s Jade Flowers.”
Harrison thought for a moment. “I ran into Stetson Brooks the other day, and he mentioned that a woman named Jade was staying with him and his brothers. I don’t know if that’s who you’re looking for or not.”
Bane’s ears perked. “It might be. I have a feeling she headed this way. Where can I find this Stetson Brooks?”
“The Brookses’ ranch is about several miles that way.” Orlando pointed west with a naughty grin. “You might want to hurry. The Brooks brothers are nice-looking men, and some of them share women.”
Bane didn’t like the sound of that. “Thanks. I’ll just be—”
“How would you know?” Harrison raised an eyebrow at his son. “Did they sit down and discuss their sex lives with you?”
Orlando blushed. “Well, you know how it is. You see things in Swifty’s Britches.”
“What the hell were you doing at the club?” Harrison folded his arms. “You’re too young to go to a BDSM club.”
“Ah, Pa, give me a break. I’m twenty-six.”
Harrison rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Your mother would turn in her grave if she knew you were getting into trouble at a sex club.”
Orlando winked at him. “Or maybe she’d be happy her youngest boy is handy with the ladies.”
Harrison started to walk away. “I should have locked you up in a barrel when I had the chance. Good luck, Bane.”
“Thank you, sir.” Bane headed back to his car, smiling at the way Orlando followed his father and tried to butter him up.
Jade was alive. He didn’t like the idea of her staying with a bunch of men, but at least she was safe. The assholes had better have behaved gentlemanly toward her.
* * * *
Jade was in shock when Bane Kennedy showed up on the Brooks brothers’ doorstep, claiming to be her fiancé and her mate. She had no memory of this. The other morning she woke up naked and injured next to him, and he’d been lying naked, bleeding and presumably lifeless on the ground.
Now here he was. She wished she didn’t have amnesia. Then she would know whether or not he was telling the truth. He looked sincere, but then again, he could just be a damned good liar.
“What do you mean she’s your mate?” Kellan asked. “I’m her fucking mate, and I’ve got the bite mark on my shoulder to prove it.”
Bane’s lips parted in astonishment, and he spun around to face her, looking pissed. “You claimed another man?”
Jade swallowed. “I couldn’t help it. He smelled so good.”
“You’re my mate, Jade, not his.” Bane dragged his palm down his face, seeming exasperated with her and himself. “Shit, I should have claimed you sooner. I should have told you what I was.”
“What the hell are you?” Sawyer asked.
“I’m a werewolf,” Bane answered.
Jade gaped at him. “You’re the one who bit me?”
She suspected as much, but the news was still rather shocking.
“Yeah, I claimed you to save your life after your ex attacked you the other night.”
Doc looked concerned. “Her ex attacked her?”
“Whoa, slow down there, Blondie.” Sawyer held a hand up. “What do you mean you’re a fucking werewolf? They don’t exist.”
“I can shift for you if you like,” Bane offered.
Doc smiled. “I’d like to see that.”
Bane shifted into a dark gray wolf that was much larger than any normal wolf Jade had seen. The brothers backed off in shock.
“Son of a bitch!” Sawyer jumped back.
Jade’s mouth fell open. Bane must be telling the truth. His story made sense, and she hoped it was true. What if he was really the ex who had beaten her up and left her for dead? That didn’t make sense, though, since Bane had been injured and left for dead as well.
Stetson was the only one who remained calm. “Shift back.”
Bane shifted back into a man. “Satisfied?”
Stetson grabbed Jade by the arm, looking pissed. “You’re a werewolf, and you bit my brother?”
“I couldn’t help it. Kellan smelled so good.” Her lips trembled, and she wanted to run from the situation.
“I don’t give a fuck how good he smelled. You don’t turn my youngest brother into a goddamned animal,” Stetson reviled her.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Bane appeared irritated. “Let her go. Come on, Jade. We’re leaving.”
“She doesn’t remember you,” Kellan objected. “She’s not going anywhere with you.”
Stetson released Jade’s arm, and she swallowed nervously at the hard, reproving stare he gave her before she turned her attention back to Bane. “How did you find me?”
“Through the link we forged after I claimed you,” he explained. “That and someone told me you were here.”
“Why were we naked when I woke up the other morning?” she asked coyly.
Bane gave her a “what, are you stupid” kind of look, but his green eyes had a wicked twinkle in them. “Why do you think?”
Kellan gasped. “You fucked him?”
Bane threw him a look before he sent a glare at Jade. “You fucked him?”
Jade gulped. “I’m sorry, but I didn’t know I was engaged. I still don’t remember you.”
“If she’s engaged, then where’s her ring?” Doc asked.
“She didn’t want one,” Bane answered, still glowering down at her.
Stetson shook his head. “Every woman wants an engagement ring.”
“Jade didn’t. She didn’t want her ex to run into her and find out she was engaged,” Bane explained.
“So I was right,” said Kellan. “Your ex was abusive, and you were running from him.”
Bane shook his head. “She already broke up with him. We were driving to Las Vegas to get married. He followed us into the desert and beat the shit out of us.”
Sawyer folded his arms. “If it had been me, I’d have killed the son of a bitch to protect her.”
Bane looked like he wanted to kill Sawyer for saying that. “I did the best I could, asshole. The dickhead had a gun and superhuman strength. He was anything but normal.”
“Thank you for keeping me alive,” Jade said quietly.
Bane smiled at her. “You’re welcome. I’m sorry I couldn’t do better.”
“Wait a minute. I want proof that they’re really engaged,” Kellan demanded. “Tell me some shit about her.”
Sawyer
shook his head. “How in the hell is she supposed to confirm or deny the information when she can’t even remember who the hell she is?”
“Well…crap,” Kellan grumbled.
Bane pulled out his wallet and held up a picture. “Does this answer your question?”
They drew closer, and Jade stared down at the picture of her and Bane. He had his arms around her and a big smile on his face as she kissed his cheek with her eyes closed. They looked very happy and in love in the picture.
“Satisfied?” Bane sniffed.
“Well, no,” Kellan protested. “You could be a hit man, and they gave you a picture of her.”
Stetson rolled his eyes. “He’s in the picture with her, Kellan. Just give it up.”
Doc nodded toward the kitchen with his head. “You’re welcome to stay for breakfast before you leave.”
“No!” Kellan argued. “Jade wanted to go to Riverside to get answers about her past, and I’m the one who’s going with her.”
“I only know so much about her past, but I can drive her to California to help her remember,” Bane offered.
“Over my dead body,” Kellan snapped. “I’m taking her.”
Jade grimaced. “Please don’t fight. You can both take me if you want.”
“If you’re her fiancé then how come you don’t know beans about her?” Sawyer challenged.
Bane looked at Jade sadly. “I know her parents live in California, but she didn’t talk much about her past. She said she wasn’t proud of it.”
Kellan snorted. “A likely story. I’m not letting you take her anywhere. For all I know you’re the guy who hurt her and you’ll just finish what you started once you get her alone.”
Doc smirked. “I doubt that’s what he intends to do with her when he gets her alone.”
Kellan freaked. “Don’t say that! That’s even worse.”
Jade snickered. “So you’d rather I was dead than sleeping with someone else?”
“Yes—no! I didn’t mean it like that at all,” Kellan insisted. “I’m going with you.”
Stetson shook his head and headed toward the hall. “It’s not your place to get involved, Kellan.”
“I don’t care what this clown says. I’m the one who found Jade alone and beaten up in the desert, and I’m responsible for her now,” Kellan insisted.
