Make Him Mine

by Lia Bevans

  “You don’t have to be sorry. I know my life sucks. I had cancer. My parents were always angry at each other. But now I’m not sick anymore and I don’t have to live with my parents. If I really do have a future, I want to spend it on myself and be happy.”

  “I can’t say I fully understand,” Blaez said. “I’ve never been sick a day in my life, but I do know what it’s like to feel responsible for your family breaking apart. When I was a kid, not much older than you, my dad left me.”

  “Your dad left?” Connor’s eyes widened. “What about your mom?”

  “She died when I was a baby. For a long time, I was really angry with my dad. I had to grow up quickly and fend for myself without anyone to help me. I thought there was something wrong with me and I didn’t want to care about anybody but myself.”

  “Then what happened?”

  “Well, my dad came back.”

  “Really? Was he sorry? Did he want to be a family again?”

  “No.” Blaez sighed. “He told me that I had a little brother. That I should take care of him. I realized I couldn’t think about myself anymore because I had someone depending on me. I had someone who would be worried if I was hurt or dead. I had a pack.”

  “Where’s your brother now?”

  He cleared his throat. “That’s not the point. Your parents are your family. Even if you want to have a happy future, they’ll have a sad future if you’re not in it. Can you see that?”

  “But what about what they said?”

  “Well, sometimes grownups say things they don’t mean when they’re frustrated. But if you want, I can suggest that your parents talk to someone who can help them understand their feelings and how to deal with them.”

  “Okay.” Connor nodded. “Blaez?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Don’t you need more than one person following you to call it a pack?” The kid grinned. “Ms. Chantal gave me a book about wolves a long time ago. I know all about them.”

  Blaez cleared his throat. “Well...”

  “Is Ms. Chantal in your pack? You look at her like she is.”

  “How do I look at her?” he asked, curious to hear it from the kid’s perspective.

  Connor tapped his chin. “Like she’s your whole world. Like if something happens to her, something happens to you.”

  He grunted. “No, Ms. Chantal isn’t in my pack. Yet. I’m working on it.”

  Ha... Chantal would be submissive to him. When pigs flew.

  “Can I be in your pack?”

  “I don’t see why not.”

  “So you’ll do anything for me and protect me and watch over me?”

  “That’s generally what it means to be in a wolf pack.”

  “Cool.” Connor nodded thoughtfully and said, “Then can I get another ice cream cone?”

  CHANTAL ROSE WHEN SHE spotted Blaez and Connor reentering the ice cream shop. She’d been this close to going out after them. At least Connor seemed to be in a better mood. Blaez handed the kid some money and they watched him scamper off.

  “What did you two talk about?” she asked.

  “This and that.” He took the stool across from her and leaned his elbows on the table. “You must have been stunned when he showed up.”

  She narrowed her eyes, steeling herself against his charm. “Not as stunned as you since you were gearing up to kill him just a few days ago.”

  “That’s why I’m making it up to him.” Blaez turned and watched as Connor pointed to his flavor of choice. “I’ve decided to let the boy into my pack.”

  Her jaw dropped. “What?”

  “Why? You jealous?” He grinned.

  “Don’t be ridiculous.” She coughed and turned towards Connor again. “He sure is taking long to get back here.”

  “Chantal, about yesterday...”

  “Right.” She stopped him. “I wanted to thank you for carrying me to my bedroom.” Her heart pounded at the thought of him setting her in bed and her wolf howled in approval. She moved on quickly. “Evie explained what happened when I was asleep. I’m sorry if they weirded you out.”

  “I get it. You falling asleep is a big deal. I’m glad I could help. But that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about.”

  Her face heated as she thought of the way she’d thrown her arms around him at the nursing home. Their dance was a topic she wanted to avoid at all costs. Where was Connor when she needed him? Thankfully, her phone rang, saving her from the conversation.

  “It’s Terry, I should take this. Hello?” she said.

  “Chantal, get out of there!”

  She pulled the phone away from her ear and stared at it. Blaez cast her a confused glance. “What?” he mouthed.

  Chantal shrugged and hissed into the phone. “Terry, slow down. What’s going on?”

  “Hazel just called. She’s heading over there right this minute to talk to you.”

  “You’re kidding!” Her eyes zipped to Connor. “Thanks for the heads-up.” She pressed the END button and frowned at Blaez.

  “I heard everything,” he said. Walking with purpose toward the child, he picked Connor up in one strong arm. “What do you think about eating this at the park across town, buddy?”

  Connor nodded excitedly and Blaez whisked him toward the door, Chantal close on his heels. He opened the door for her and she stepped through, nearly tripping on her sandals in her haste to flee. Blaez’s free hand darted around her waist to keep her up.

  “You good?” he asked, staring deeply into her eyes.

  Chantal nodded and swallowed, getting caught up in his gaze.

  “Well, isn’t this a pretty picture.” A voice shattered the moment. Chantal jumped and Blaez hauled her closer to his body—a protective move but one that was not helping their cause.

  “Hazel!” she squealed.

  “It looks like you were trying to run away from me.” Her sister tilted her head. Platinum blonde hair brushed her shoulder. She wore a grey jacket over a filmy white blouse, grey cigarette pants and white heels. “That hurts my feelings.” Hazel’s eyes dipped to where Blaez held her tightly.

  Chantal pried his hand off and shuffled away. “What are you doing here?”

  “I heard you got a full night’s sleep and wanted to come see for myself.” She moved closer to the step and Blaez turned slightly away, trying to hide Connor from sight.

  “Why didn’t you call me?” Chantal launched down the stairs and pulled her arm through Hazel’s bent elbow. “Let’s go somewhere nice and talk. How about that restaurant you like so much? The one that sells the Ramen spaghetti...”

  “Wait a minute.” Hazel froze and sniffed the air. “What’s that smell?” She pinned sharp eyes on Blaez.

  “Oh that?” Blaez caught her eye. Chantal gestured for him to say something. He grinned smoothly. “I’ve been trying this new cologne.”

  “Mm-hm.”

  Connor poked his head from behind Blaez’s shoulder. “Who’s she?”

  Everyone froze. Hazel’s eyes widened. Chantal smacked a hand to her forehead. The jig was up.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  BLAEZ HELD CONNOR TIGHTLY and rushed down the stairs. The little boy flopped in his arms, but he wasn’t interested in keeping things comfortable. Behind Hazel’s sharp eyes, her brain was working double-time. The faster they got Connor out of sight, the better.

  “Hold it!” Hazel said when they passed her.

  Blaez froze in the middle of the sidewalk. His eyes zipped to the parking lot. The sun glinted off the shiny trunk of his convertible. He could make a run for it, but that would only hammer in Hazel’s suspicions.

  “It sounds like you and Chantal have plans,” he said. “I’ll be on my way.”

  Hazel stepped closer and narrowed her eyes at the kid. “Who is he?”

  “Nobody.” Chantal slid in front of him and Connor, arms outstretched. “He’s nobody.”

  Blaez resisted the urge to groan. Chantal was a horrible liar and Hazel would see right through her. “He�
��s a friend’s son. We’re taking care of him for the day.” Blaez bounced the kid. “Connor, say hello to the lady.”

  “Hi.” Connor gazed at Hazel’s face. “You’re pretty.”

  Blaez arched an eyebrow and followed the direction of Connor’s gaze. Hazel was alright. In fact, now that he was looking closely, she boasted the same delicate facial structure and plump lips that Chantal did. She was pretty. But something about Chantal captured him more.

  Hazel snatched Connor’s arm, pulled it to her nose, and sniffed. The kid stared at her as if she were crazy and then started to laugh. Chantal darted over and slapped her sister’s hand away. There was fire in her eyes and Blaez felt the strongest stirring of attraction in the history of his life.

  “What is wrong with you? You can’t touch people without permission. The kid isn’t your property.” She took her sister’s arm and tried to drag her away. “Let’s go. We can talk about your lack of manners somewhere private.”

  Hazel shook her off. “What’s your name, boy?”

  “Connor.” He offered his arm. “It’s okay. You can sniff me. That’s what wolves do when they meet each other.”

  Blaez stiffened and watched Hazel’s face carefully. He could practically hear the grinds gearing behind her thoughtful expression. “Are you a wolf, little one?”

  “I’m a part of Blaez’s pack.” Connor tapped his tiny chest like a gorilla. “He’s going to protect me from now on. And I’ll protect him.”

  Horrified, Hazel glanced at him. “Is he yours?”

  “Yes,” Chantal said.

  “No,” Connor said. “I have a mom and dad who want me in their lives.”

  Blaez groaned. His talk with Connor had gone a little too well. Who knew that he was so good with kids? Chantal’s eyes narrowed. She was blaming him again. He widened his eyes and arched both eyebrows, a silent declaration of his innocence.

  Look at how quickly she turned on him. Annoyance zipped through his chest. How could one woman exasperate and excite him in one breath?

  “What I meant was,” Chantal cleared her throat, “he’s a helper at the center.”

  With his ice cream in hand, Connor was the king of the world and he had no problems telling Hazel his life story. “I used to have cancer, but I don’t anymore.”

  “What?” Hazel’s eyes dipped to Chantal. “When did you get better?”

  “That’s not important...”

  Hazel swiped a palm in the air to cut off her sister. “Go ahead, Connor.”

  He tilted his chin and stared at the sky in thought. “It was after the night Ms. Chantal found me on her farm. I thought I was going to die, but she saved me.”

  “She did, did she?” Hazel slanted a look at Blaez before smiling at Connor. “What do you think about going to the park to play for a bit? I need to talk to Blaez and Chantal.”

  Connor jerked his chin and before he knew it, Hazel was whisking them to the parking lot, into a black SUV and shuttling them across town to a park. Blaez had never met a female alpha, but he could see why Hazel earned the title. She demanded respect, but it was not in a way that threatened his wolf.

  Ten minutes later, they were seated around a green bench while Connor played on the monkey bars in the distance. Blaez kept one eye on the boy and the other on the tense sisters. Chantal needed him now more than ever. Unless Connor was in grave danger, he wasn’t going anywhere.

  “Talk,” Hazel said, her blue eyes focused on Chantal.

  They did, going into the details and leaving nothing out. When they were done, Hazel stared at Connor. The kid had moved to the swings and pumped his legs to fly as hard as he could go—which wasn’t very far.

  “Ms. Chantal!” Connor waved his arm. “Ms. Chantal, come push me!”

  “Go ahead.” Hazel shooed Chantal away. “I have something to say to Blaez.”

  He swallowed. Chantal eyed him worriedly before slipping off to stand behind Connor and help him soar. Blaez watched them, allowing the sight of Chantal to calm his raging thoughts. Hazel was the woman with all the power here. One word from her and all his efforts to protect Caldon would crumble.

  Hazel stared at her sister and spoke in a thoughtful voice. “She’s such a sucker for a sob story. And kids with sob stories? They’re her kryptonite. I’m not surprised she revived him. I’m disappointed, but what can I do?” Hazel tossed her hair over her shoulder. “I’m going to assign you to another center.”

  Blaez twisted around. “What?”

  “There’s something simmering between you two and I don’t like it. I warned you already, Blaez.”

  “There’s nothing going on between me and Chantal. She hates me.”

  “And do you?” She slipped closer. Her eyes taking in every inch of his face. “Do you hate her?”

  “No.” He spoke the truth because there was no use in lying. “But no matter what, my brother is my first priority. I won’t do anything to jeopardize our deal.”

  “Draw the line and keep it. If I see you sticking a toe over, I’m going to hunt your brother down and deliver the justice he deserves.”

  Blaez nodded, face dark. He heard her. Loud and clear.

  CHANTAL’S PHONE BUZZED. It was a text from Talia. She read it and then grabbed Connor’s swing to slow him down. “Your mom just texted, Connor. She says you were supposed to be at your babysitter’s and she had no idea you’d run off.”

  He stared at the sand. “My babysitter is boring. There are too many kids and it’s loud. Can’t I stay with you? Not forever,” he said quickly. “Mom said I have to go to school next week. At least until then?”

  “I’ll talk to your mom,” she said. “For now, let’s go back to the babysitter. Your mom and dad are both working so they need to be able to trust that you’re safe and doing the right thing, okay? Can you do that for me.”

  He nodded.

  “Connor, Chantal.” Hazel appeared behind them. She smiled lightly, no hint of anger in her expression. “Why don’t we get going?”

  Her sister was putting on a show for Connor’s sake. Chantal knew that as soon as Blaez and the boy were gone, she’d be in for it. And she was right. After dropping off Blaez and Connor, Hazel drove them to a quiet hill and shut the engine.

  “Before you say anything, I just want to remind you that we were separated for years and if you kill me now, we’ll be separated forever.”

  “What were you thinking?” Hazel hit the middle of the steering wheel with her palm. The horn let out a squawk of protest. “Do you know how much trouble you’ll be in if you’re found out? The Council will skin you alive or worse. And the kid. Did you think about the kid?”

  “The kid was all I was thinking about.”

  “Don’t give me that BS.” Hazel growled. “You were only thinking about yourself this time. If the Council finds out that Connor exists, they’re not going to let him live. It’s too risky for all the shifters to have a human running around with our blood. What if he goes to the hospital and they find something?”

  “They’re not going to find anything in his blood until he’s fifteen”

  “So we hold our breath and hope things work out by the time he becomes a teenager?” She shook her head, cheeks reddening with irritation. “You messed up, Chan. I can’t stand by and watch it without saying something.”

  “Hazel, you can’t tell the Council!” She lunged for her sister’s hand and held it tight. “Please!”

  “How did you see this working out, huh? Say we leave him until he’s fifteen. Who knows what kind of person he’ll be then? A young boy with so much power, we may have to put him down later anyway. Isn’t it better to do it now?”

  “Connor is a good kid.”

  “No one knows the future, Chantal.”

  “I’ll take responsibility for him. Just... don’t say anything.”

  “That’s no longer a deal you can make. I’m supposed to make the hard calls to protect the werewolves. If the Council finds out I knew about this and did nothing, I could
lose everything. Are you saying you care more about this boy you just met than your older sister?”

  “That’s not a fair comparison.”

  “Then tell me what’s fair, Chantal! Is it fair to raise someone from the dead with no thought to the colossal impact it will make on the boy, your family, and your kind? Is it fair to ask me to bear the burden of that secret knowing my position in the wolf pack? Is it fair to Evie and the rest, who will all be implicated if this is found out?”

  Tears streamed down her cheeks. Her heart pounded painfully. “I didn’t think about all that...”

  “That’s right. Because you don’t think with your head. You think with your heart and the heart gets tangled up on emotions and feelings. You took a temporary situation and made a permanent decision.” She shook her head. “There’s only one way to fix this.”

  Chantal wiped her cheek. “You can’t kill him, Hazel! We’re not killers.”

  “Of course we don’t kill humans.” She slipped her hand out of Chantal’s hold and stared through the windshield. “But his wolf has to die.”

  Chantal stiffened with horror. “You can’t touch his nikile right now. He’s in a vulnerable state. The werewolf blood hasn’t properly integrated with his human blood.”

  “That’s why this is the best time to strike. Before it intertwines any further.”

  “No.” She clamped her fingers around her sister’s arm. “You may kill him.”

  “There’s always a risk in life.”

  “No, Hazel.” Chantal panicked. “You said we don’t kill humans.”

  “We don’t. But if a human dies during a medical procedure then it’s a death on the operating table.”

  “I’m begging you. As your sister, as the only family you have left, don’t do this.”

  “I love you, Chantal. You’re my sister. You’re the only family I have left, but this is bigger than you and me now. Connor’s wolf puts our very existence in danger. I can’t sacrifice us all to save one person.”

  “I’ll do anything.” She clamped her hands together and raised them. “Anything. Just don’t hurt the boy.”