“Okay,” he said. “I’ll see about getting some food.”
“Hey,” she called after him. “Your brother is married to my cousin. Doesn’t that make us sort of family? If so, aren’t we being creepy?”
He laughed, poking his head back in through her bedroom door. “Doesn’t being creepy make it a little hotter?”
She snorted and grabbed a pillow, chucking it at him as he dodged and headed for the kitchen.
Things were back to normal, and he was going to see Thor for the first time in a while. And if he just played his cards right, he felt confident he could win over Tasha.
After everything they’d done, he was certain. He wanted to be her family for real.
The drive was pleasant, and Lock didn’t seem to mind Tasha putting on one of her audiobooks, a cheesy romance that took her mind off everything that was bothering her.
She was still embarrassed by what had happened between them, but she was beginning to accept their chemistry as inevitable.
Plus, it had been so mind-blowingly pleasurable that she was already thinking about when they could do it again. When she could get her hands on that luscious body, her mouth on his—
“Not sure you can control it, but you’re being awfully distracting over there,” Lock said playfully, the slight tension in his voice giving away that he was actually serious.
“Ah,” she said, trying to calm down and focus on something unsexy. Like the road. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine,” he said, stroking a hand through his hair warily. “I know it’s strong. God, I feel it too. It’s never been like this. Growing up, I heard stories of fated mates. I wonder if that’s what we are.”
“Fated mates?”
Lock sighed, resting his hand lazily on the steering wheel. They’d decided to take his rented Volvo instead of her car since it would be harder to track. “Before most matings were arranged, our kind used to believe in destiny, two people who were perfectly made for each other, who would fit together and continue the wolf line.” He shrugged. “I thought it was a myth.”
She peered at him. “And you think we could be?”
He bit his lower lip softly. “I don’t know.”
Her heart sank slightly at that. “Oh.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I would want us to be. That would work well for me. You’re a fun girl, I’m crazy attracted to you, and you have all the connections I want.”
She frowned. There was the douchebag again. Except, the more she got to know him, she knew that was only a small part of who he was. “Right. Connections.”
“But we’ll be using my connections right now,” he said. “So no worries about the rest. I told you I wouldn’t mate you until you were ready. And you want your brother to confirm our mating, so it’s in my best interest to help you find him.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her. “If we both enjoy some incredible sexiness along the way, what’s the harm in it?”
She swallowed as she turned away from him to look out the window. The harm in it was that she probably couldn’t keep things merely physical. As hot as he was, she was pretty sure that if things kept up, she would develop feelings.
He was protective, strong, smart. And she was crazy attracted to him.
If he kept letting down the douchebag façade, she had a few worries about the safety of her heart.
“What are you thinking over there? I can smell the stress from here.”
She looked at the beautiful wildflowers lining the road, the tall pines stretching up the mountains on either side of her, and sighed. “Nothing much. Nothing I could share with you.”
“Huh,” he said, sounding nonplussed. “I guess I’ll just listen to this awesome book. Oh look, that guy is about to fight again.”
Tasha glanced over at Lock, fighting back a smile. “Oh?”
Lock cocked his head thoughtfully. “It seems like he fights a lot. I mean, more than most wolves. Do normal women like that?”
Tasha flushed as she looked back out the window, feeling embarrassed. She’d liked it when Lock came to her rescue, but she didn’t really want anyone to get hurt. “I don’t know. It’s just a book.”
Lock laughed, putting an arm out and flexing it before pulling his hand into a fist. “Because if it turns you on, I’ll beat wholesale ass for you.” He laughed heartily at his own joke.
Tasha snorted. “Like I need to be any more turned on. Being turned on isn’t the problem.”
Lock went quiet and straightened up awkwardly against the seat. “Uh. Yeah. Maybe you’re right. Maybe being turned on is the problem. Still, if you want me to get in some needless fights, let me know. I never thought of beating people’s faces in as an aphrodisiac, but—”
“Just stop,” she said, laughing as she buried her face in her hands. “Let’s just listen to the story. Be quiet.”
He put up his hands with a shrug. “Okay. I was just saying—”
“I know.” She put a hand on his thigh, just to calm him, and felt the tension between them jump. She quickly pulled her hand back. “Um. Well. We…”
“Yeah,” he said nervously, using one hand to push the button to roll down the window. “We’ll just listen to the story. Enjoy some of this fresh mountain air. I really don’t need to pull up to my brother’s with a huge boner.”
She laughed at that, and the tension was broken. As the smell of fresh mountain pine and wet wildflowers enveloped her, she felt everything inside her calm down.
Soon, she would meet his brother and her cousin and be just a little bit closer to understanding this mysterious world that she was supposedly from.
Chapter 11
When they exited the canyon and pulled into the clearing in front of Thor’s cabin, Lock felt his stomach tighten with nervousness.
It had been a while since he’d seen his brother, and he wasn’t sure how Thor would react to him coming now.
He and Lacey had been gracious, but it was hard to gauge tone over the phone.
Lock hadn’t even shown up to meet his nephew.
Though a part of Lock had longed to be in his family’s life, he’d also known he had no business doing it when he was involved in something dangerous.
And that was practically all the time.
So he’d put it off, thinking he’d go when things were finally finished, but now that he was here, he felt a sense of regret for staying away.
He parked the car and waited for the dust from the gravel road to settle, hoping he could calm down.
He felt Tasha’s hand on his leg again, unsettling and soothing at the same time.
“You okay?” She looked up at the two-story lodge Thor shared with his mate. “I mean, this place is beautiful. Wildflowers everywhere, so many trees. I can’t believe you don’t want to live here as well.”
Lock shrugged. “It’s not my home anymore. It hasn’t been for a long time.”
“If you had all this, why Club Crimson?” She still seemed entranced by everything around them.
Clean air. Wide spaces. Everything he’d taken for granted because he hadn’t been able to appreciate it when he was young.
Being beaten and starved kind of did that.
“I told you,” he said. “I have plans.” He finally felt himself harden up enough that he was ready to face everyone and opened the door to get out of the car.
He came over to help Tasha out, and as he did, he heard a creak that meant someone had opened the door to the lodge.
“Wait here for a minute,” Lock said, putting a hand out to her as he walked forward, not knowing what their welcome would be like.
When his brother appeared at the doorway, it felt as if time had stopped.
Thor looked as he always did, his face only dignified by the lines added in the few years he and Lock had been apart.
They stared at each other for a moment, Lock expecting a lecture or some yelling. But then Thor rushed forward, walking straight toward Lock with both hands in tight fists.
Lock braced himself as his br
other reached him, only to find himself engulfed in Thor’s arms. Lock hesitantly reached back, embracing his brother, as Thor held him tight.
Lock could hardly breathe until Thor released him, looking over him with hard amber eyes that were so similar yet different from his own.
Thor’s hand still rested on Lock’s shoulder. “I’ve missed you.”
Lock looked up as a woman with blond hair to her shoulders, delicate features, and fiery, pale-blue eyes came to the door. In her arms was small child with blond hair and amber eyes.
“I doubt that,” Lock said.
Thor glanced back at his family and smiled but turned back to his brother. “No one can replace you. But yes, I’ve been happy.” His eyes glittered with unshed tears, and he swiped at them awkwardly. “You should have come by.”
“I didn’t want to put you in danger,” Lock said.
“You wouldn’t,” Thor said. “I think Lacey and I could handle just about anything that came our way.”
“Maybe not some things,” Lock said quietly. “Besides, we’ve at least kept in touch.”
“We have,” Thor said tightly, folding his arms. “We tried to always keep you up to date. You don’t tell us what you’re doing.”
Lock bit his lip, looking to the side awkwardly. “Oh, you know, not much to say.”
Thor’s expression hardened. “You aren’t still trying to take down the Tribunal, are you? I’d hoped you’d finally found something to bring you peace.”
“I can’t have peace until they’re dead,” Lock said firmly. “But I have found someone who can help me with that.”
Thor’s face tightened in confusion, and he looked past Lock for the first time to see Tasha. “Is that her? You said you wanted to bring someone, but not why.”
Lock pulled Thor to the side, hoping Tasha couldn’t see them talk. “That’s Fifi’s sister. I’m almost positive.”
“What?” Thor took a step back in pure shock. He looked at Tasha, then back to Lock. His eyes narrowed. “She smells like you. Something you want to tell me?”
Lock scratched the back of his head. “Um, I might want her for my mate?” He frowned. “I mean, I do want her. I just… It’s up to her.”
Thor looked over at her, seeming confused. His hair was still short and severe, his clothing simple and appropriate for the mountain. He had a black jacket on over blue flannel with fitted jeans and work boots. “Hm.”
“Are you two going to sit there conspiring or actually introduce me to your friend?” Lacey called out, never one to sit back and watch things happen.
Lock laughed as Lacey walked forward. “Of course.” He waved to Tasha, who hesitantly approached them. “Lacey, this is Tasha. Tasha, this is Lacey.”
“A little more information would be nice,” Lacey said, narrowing her blue eyes dangerously. She softened as she turned to Tasha, putting out a hand for her to shake. “It’s nice to meet you, Tasha. What brings you two here?”
Lock looked between them. “Smell anything familiar?”
Lacey raised an eyebrow at him. “If you mean a degenerate wolf uncle who hasn’t even met his nephew, then yes, I smell that.” She cocked a hip, and for a moment, it seemed like even the toddler in her arms was glaring at him as well.
Warmth moved through Lock as he studied his nephew, marveling at the mix his brother and Lacey had made.
The boy had the pale skin and delicate features of his mother with the wide amber eyes of his father. He reached out with chubby arms to Lock, who froze, not knowing what to do.
“Well, take him,” Lacey said, handing him over.
As the small, chubby baby was put in his arms, Lock felt something unexpected that made him look over at Tasha. Longing. For something normal like this. A home in the mountains. A child of his own.
But at least for now, he had a nephew to spoil.
He lifted the kid in his arms and lightly tossed him, catching him and hoping to make him laugh. He’d seen other people do it with children this size.
Instead, the baby had the audacity to just screw up his face and bawl, making Thor step in to take his son.
“What’s wrong with you?” Lacey put her hands on her hips, shaking her head.
Lock shrugged. “Not good with babies, I guess.” He took a chance to look over his brother’s mate. “You’re looking good. Healthy.” She’d been almost painfully thin last he’d seen her, a side effect of trying to look like a guy.
She narrowed her eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Lock felt a hand of warning on his arm, probably Thor, but pressed forward, oblivious. “You know, you put on weight and—”
He didn’t have a chance to even brace himself as Lacey’s fist shot forward, catching him in the nose and sending him flying back. He caught his heel on a rock and stumbled, rolling over and kicking up dust as he came to a stop.
When the world stopped spinning, Lock pushed himself up with a groan and waved to Tasha, who looked shocked.
“I deserved that,” he called out. “Sorry, Lacey. For what it’s worth, I meant it as a compliment.”
“You shouldn’t have said it,” Lacey said, walking over to hold a hand out to help him up. “I don’t need your comments on my body.”
“Yup,” Thor said, coming over to them and shifting his son to one side so he could put an arm around Lacey with the other. “I’m the only one whose comments she needs. And I think she looks—”
Lacey put up a hand, pushing away his impending face as he tried to kiss her. “Oh geez. Come on.”
Lock laughed because that had always been the dynamic between them. “Good to see things are business as usual.”
Lacey pulled away from Thor and looked over at Tasha, who was standing there, still frozen. Lacey sent Lock a glare as she scented the air, then walked over to the other woman.
Tasha looked nervous as Lacey circled, but Lock knew they had nothing to worry about. Lacey had a gruff exterior but a very kind heart.
She got right up in front of Tasha and then quickly pulled the other woman into her arms, inhaling her hair.
When Lacey pulled back, there were tears in her eyes as she looked over at Thor and Lock. “She smells like Fifi. What’s the meaning of this?”
Lock bit his lower lip and looked at his brother. “I think we’d better go inside.”
Chapter 12
As Tasha followed the group of mostly strangers into the beautiful mountain lodge, she could barely focus due to the strange things happening inside her.
Though she’d managed to hide it, when Lacey had struck Lock, no matter how well deserved, something had fought to break out of her.
Something snarling and dangerous and not like her at all.
It frightened her, to say the least.
But things were moving too quickly to think about that, so she simply took a seat next to Lock on one of the couches as they all got settled in the living room to talk.
It was odd seeing Lock with his brother. They were as different as identical twins could be, with Thor’s short, severe hair and stern demeanor.
Thor’s wife seemed to be a lovely woman. So beautiful Tasha had only been able to stare at her perfect features. Yet there was something familiar about her somehow.
When Lacey had hugged her, Tasha had felt something ache deep inside. As if something was missing, but she didn’t know what.
Even now, Lacey kept glancing over at her, troubled, and scenting the air.
Why was she upset by the fact that Tasha smelled like Fifi?
Thor left to put their son down for a nap, and when he came back, the room was still stifling despite the cool mountain breeze coming through the open windows.
The furnishings in the lodge were beautiful, carved from rough wood and polished to shine while emphasizing the natural lines. Deep-green cushions that reminded her of pine trees. Simple, updated light fixtures. Paintings of beautiful mountain vistas on the walls and a huge mural of a pack of wolves in the snow above the stone fi
replace.
Very homey.
Tasha leaned into Lock slightly as everyone in the room glared at one another.
“So you never told us your son’s name,” Tasha said awkwardly, not knowing how to break the ice.
Lacey snorted. “You’re right. We named him Lachlan, for his uncle.”
Lock went still beside her. “What?”
Thor looked over at him. “My idea. For all we knew, it was all he would have of you.”
Lock sounded slightly choked up as he spoke. “I see.”
Tasha couldn’t help putting a hand on his leg to steady him, but he pushed it gently away. She didn’t take it personally. She’d already realized that, for Lock, emotions were hard.
“That’s very sweet,” she said, looking at Lacey.
Lacey gave her an apologetic look. “I’m sorry. You’re walking into a lot of history. How do you know Lock?”
Tasha looked at him hesitantly. “He, um… discovered me at his club. I accidentally saw some shifters, and he’s supposed to be the one that erases memories and—”
Lock sent her a panicked glare, but it was too late. Lacey was scowling at him.
“Wait, what?” Lacey crossed one leg over the other, looking equal parts imperious and dangerous.
Lock stammered. “Uh, well, you know. I run a club where we get a lot of shifters and humans, and—”
Lacey let out a sigh of disappointment that Tasha felt down to her toes. “So… you’re stealing from the Tribunal again, this time memory serum.”
Lock gave her a scampy smile, but it didn’t seem to win Lacey over and she simply shook her head and looked away in disgust.
She turned her attention back to Tasha. “But he obviously didn’t erase your memory, which he shouldn’t be doing anyway. But why?”
Tasha bit her lip. “Because he thinks I’m a wolf and I don’t know it.”
Lacey raised a blond, perfectly arched eyebrow. “You don’t? I felt something from you when I punched him. Rage is easy to smell.”
Lock perked up at that. “You did? You were mad when she hit me?”
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