The Pack

by Donna Flynn

  “What’s wrong, afraid if I’m around everyday you’ll fall in love with me?” he teased reaching out to tuck a stray hair behind her ear before laying his hand upon her shoulder.

  He had done so many times before and she had thought nothing of it, but something in his eyes made her second guess his playful tone. There was a seriousness there she had never seen before that gave her a moment’s hesitation but then she reminded herself how he loved to flirt. “As if, I couldn’t keep up with all the other girls who will be vying for your attention,” she teased pulling away from his hand and the heat his touch stirred inside of her.

  “No one can hold a candle to you,” he answered sincerely.

  The intensity of his stare flustered her and she turned to Lucan, wanting to get away before she made a fool of herself. “I am staying at Gina’s tonight after the game, so I need to pack. You don’t mind, do you?”

  “Of course not,” he answered quickly relived she would be out of the house and away from Alec for the night.

  None of Lucan’s usual questions or rules followed which made Mercy suspicious. He trusted Gina’s mom and had let her spend the night at their house before, but always had a million questions and stipulations before agreeing. His easy response was so out of character, it sent up red flags and she realized they must have been worried about her and Alec being in the same house together.

  Her mind began to race with questions. Had they noted her appraisal of him? Where they aware how her heart was racing? How she longed for Alec to kiss her? Her cheeks heated with embarrassment and she stared down at the toes of her shoes to avoid meeting anyone’s eyes.

  Alec too realized they were worried and rushed to reassure them. “The movers should arrive first thing in the morning, so I won’t be bothering you for long.”

  “No problem,” Cade said, but it was easy to read the relief on his and Lucan’s face.

  Relieved he wasn’t going to be a permanent fixture Mercy was able to take a deep breath. “Oh good, you have your own place.”

  He tried not be hurt, but found it hard to shake off her relief that he was going to be moving out so soon. “You want me gone already? Don’t you love me anymore?” he said teasingly, but the hard edge of his voice was anything, but playful and the tightening of his hands at his sides said more than his words.

  “Of course…I,” she mumbled mortified by her reaction.

  “Why don’t you get your things together,” Lucan said hurrying to get her out of the house. “Gina’s mother will be here to pick you up soon I’m sure.” He placed his arm around her shoulders and turned her towards the steps giving her a little push. “Don’t forget your toothbrush,” he reminded as she lifted her foot to the first step.

  “I am not two Luc, and Gina’s mom keeps one at the house for me.” She blew out an exasperated breathe and walked up the stairs hating that he had made her look like a child in front of Alec.

  Alec couldn’t stop staring after her as she moved up the stairs. Every part of him wanted to claim her, his wolf demanded it, but she wasn't ready. She didn’t understand what they were and he wanted to give her time to come to terms with her own destiny before pushing her to commit to his.

  “Yeah, you need to fix that or this is never going to work out,” Cade said watching him with a frown.

  Alec knew he was right, keeping his flirting light had been hard when wanted nothing more than to tell her everything and pray she would understand. Her rush of desire when she first saw him had been heartwarming, but he cautioned himself that her reaction was instinctive, part of the bonding process between them. She felt every emotion as strongly as he did, but she didn’t understand it like he did, hadn’t had time to adjust to the idea as he had and he wanted to give her that time.

  For years, he tried to ignore his feelings, dating other females, trying to forget what she was to him, but it had been fruitless. No other created the sensation of home he experienced when she was near, or understood him the way she did, and no other would ever take her place in his heart. Fate designed them to complement each other, to complete one another’s lives and he wasn’t going to rush her.

  “That is what Cade is talking about,” Lucan said watching Alec’s eyes as they changed from brown to amber, an indication his control was slipping. “She’s not going to understand your possessiveness after years of being parted.”

  “Are you sure you can handle this?” Cade asked worriedly.

  “What other choice is there? I can’t live without her. I tried for the last year. Do you have any idea the hell I have been through?” He closed his eyes and called upon his power to bring his body back under control. A lot of effort went into keeping a powerful wolf like his at bay, but as the son of a formidable Alpha, he had better discipline than most. That was why his reaction to Mercy being gone had stunned his father. Never before had Alec been so edgy and unable to keep his focus, as he had been after claiming her. He had worried day and night about her welfare, so much so he started losing sleep, which made him irritable and hard to deal with. After he had smashed his laptop because it would not open this daily email from Lucan regarding Mercy’s welfare, his father had confronted him. It was decided the best course of action was to send him to North Carolina so he could be near Mercy.

  “I’m sorry,” Lucan, said blaming himself for the incident that created the bond between them.

  “It’s not your fault.” He hated that Lucan felt so guilty for something that would have happened eventually and he wanted to ease his mind. “I should have told you a long time ago I knew she was my Bond Mate. From the first time I met her I sensed a connection between us,” he admitted. “I didn’t understand then, but once I did, I worried you might not let me near her, so I was afraid to say anything.”

  “I wish you would have told us sooner.” Lucan said obviously irritated he had kept such an important thing from him.

  “When I arrived last year I was going to tell you, but everything got thrown into chaos and you had to leave so quickly I never got the time.”

  “Does it really matter? What’s done is done,” Cade said watching Lucan warily. As far as he was concerned, Alec being his little sisters Bond Mate was a good thing. They knew he would treat her well, and he was destined to be an even greater Alpha than his father was one day, which would ensure a good future for their sister. The way he saw it she could have done a lot worse.

  “I’m happy you are her Bond Mate,” Lucan said although he worried him now Alec might push her to finish the bond he started. He had no doubt Alec would treat his sister well, but Mercy still didn’t have a clue what they were, and he didn’t want to rush her into accepting her Were side. “I will not let you force her into anything though until she knows everything about us and you will wait until I think she’s old enough to complete the bonding ceremony.”

  “Of course, I would never push her,” Alec told him solemnly.

  “Let’s get you settled then,” Cade said grabbing the duffle bag Alec brought with him and escorting him up the stairs to the guest room.

  Chapter Four

  “Okay spill who is the smoking hot guy on the porch when we picked you up?”Gina asked later that night, as they got ready for the game. Her mother, thinking they were getting a ride with another cheerleader, left for her date, which gave them freedom to talk openly.

  Hope glanced nervously around the eclectic green and blue bedroom trying to think of a response that wouldn’t make her seem like a stupid schoolgirl with her first crush, which was how she had been acting since Alec’s arrival.

  The hour she had waited for Gina’s mother to pick her up had been difficult. Alec had asked her a million questions, always close to her, touching her shoulder, or twisting her hair in his fingers, making it hard for her to think or even breathe. She had always thought him attractive and reveled in his harmless flirting, but now his actions took on a different tone. Uncertainty whether he was serious or not, kept her on guard, but the newfound emotions he was
stirring inside of her created a problem she didn’t want to deal with.

  “Earth to Mercy, you can’t keep a guy like him to yourself, besides he’s not your type he’s a bad boy, my kind of guy,” she teased.

  “He’s a friend of the family,” Mercy mumbled snapping the brush she held in her hand in two. Her irrational anger was totally out of place and scared the hell out of her. Gina was her best friend, she shouldn't want to hurt her for thinking Alec was cute. It wasn’t as if he was hers to be jealous about in the first place. He was a flirt and had dated more girls than she could count on one hand, he certainly wasn’t the kind of guy she wanted to fall for. She wanted a calm, easygoing, faithful guy, someone like Kirk, but when she saw Alec again, all of that changed.

  “Kirk is pulling in,” Gina said grabbing her bag and looking Mercy over one more time with a canny eye. “You look great.”

  “I’m nervous,” Mercy told her honestly. Taking a deep breath, reminded herself, she was doing the right thing.

  “Why? Kirk really likes you and you have been flirting with him for the last six months, now’s the time to make the next move,” she admonished as they walked down the stairs.

  “Gina I haven’t ever ….” Mercy bit her lip in embarrassment, but forced herself to admit the truth. “Well… you know… been kissed.”

  “Whoa!” Gina stopped dead her astonishment easy to see. “Why did you not tell me this before.”

  “You never asked.” Her cheeks heated as her friend continued to stare at her in disbelief. “You have met Lucan right? He doesn’t allow me any freedom, so I have never actually had time alone with guys except for Alec.” She didn’t add she often imagined what kissing him would be like.

  “Follow Kirks lead and for god’s sake, don’t let him suspect you never kissed a guy before. He might think you’re a leper or something,” she teased as they walked out the front door.

  Mercy followed her outside her gaze immediately going to Kirk who leaned against his car waiting for them. His eyes locked on her from the moment the front door opened until she reached his side and she felt her hands shake with apprehension.

  “Hi,” he said taking her bag and tossing it into the trunk before placing his hand on the small of her back and leading her to the passenger side.

  She was flustered and her face must have reflected her emotions because Gina, as always covered for her momentary lapse of sanity.

  “Hey Kirk,” Gina said throwing her own bag into the trunk before climbing in the back seat. “Let’s go or we’re going to be late.”

  As he walked to his side of he car, Gina took the opportunity to reach forward and prod her arm. “Get yourself together, he’s in to you, stop acting like a scared rabbit.”

  “I’m not,” Mercy replied hoping her unease wasn’t apparent to Kirk.

  “You ready?” he asked as he got into the driver’s seat and started the car.

  “More than ever,” she answered with a smile despite a sudden case of regret. Never before had she lied to her brothers and Alec’s sudden presence only made her more uneasy about the evening, but she had already committed to the plan so she had to go through with it.

  “Good.” He reached across the seat and took her hand in his squeezing it lightly.

  She looked worriedly to Gina who sat grinning in the back seat, but found no comfort there. Butterflies swam in her stomach and with every sideways glance he gave her, she felt more uneasy, but somehow she managed to keep herself from throwing up.

  *****

  The game that night ended on a high note. Their team won and everyone seemed in good spirits as they gathered at the lake to celebrate their victory. A massive bonfire blazed towards the sky and a large group of people had already gathered by the time they arrived. Kirk was greeted with cheers by his teammates and hailed as hero by everyone and Mercy could see he was embarrassed by their attention.

  “I see someone I need to talk too,” Gina told them bouncing off to chase the football player she had been flirting with earlier in the day, leaving them alone for the first time of the evening.

  “Do you want a drink?” Kirk asked, his hand on the small of her back, his fingers rubbing against her t-shirt as they walked closer to the fire.

  “No I’m good.” Her hands were shaking and she knew she would spill anything she held in them.

  “Let’s find a place to sit then.” He led her to a quiet spot at the edge of the group, close to the woods and placed a blanket down on the ground before helping her sit. Silence reigned between them until she pulled her jacket closer around her to ward off the chilly night air.

  “You cold?” he asked with concern.

  “A little.” She tried not to jump when he moved behind her and pulled her back between his legs wrapping his arms around her. His body was hot despite the cool night air and she felt instantly warmer in his embrace.

  “Better?” he asked, the heat of his lips so close to her chilled ear making her shiver.

  “Better,” she murmured leaning back, allowing herself to relax in his arms.

  “Mercy you like me right?” he asked.

  “Of course I do.”

  “I was wondering if maybe we could go out,” he said nervously.

  His fingers brushed hers and she took a deep breath trying to calm herself. “I thought that’s what we are doing tonight.”

  “I meant in a more permanent way, like you would date only me and be my girl friend.”

  Mercy sat in silence unsure how to respond. Kirk was everything she wanted in a guy and the answer should have been easy, but still she hesitated.

  “Mercy?” he prodded, a little put out by her lack of response.

  “Of course I will be your girlfriend,” she answered pushing aside her uncertainly.

  “You have made me so happy,” he murmured turning her in his arms and lowering his head to hers.

  She was nervous, dizzy with excitement and very unprepared. The moment his lips brushed hers she tensed, stiffening in his arms and she knew he felt her uneasy response.

  “Are you okay?” he asked looking confused.

  “I’m good, just a little nervous.”

  “Oh,” he said sounding defeated.

  “Kirk, I’ve never been kissed before, I’m not really sure what I’m doing.”

  He let out a sigh of relief and pulled her against him. “It doesn’t’ matter, I like that I am the first guy to kiss you.” His head lowered to hers and he kissed her again, gently prodding until she was following his lead.

  Mercy felt her body relax and gave herself over to the moment savoring her first kiss. Just as Gina advised, she let him take control and followed his patient coaxing until they were comfortable and in sync with one another. Carefully, he lowered her to the blanket, lying next to her one hand on her hip the other tangled in her hair as the kiss deepened. She wondered what it would be like to have Alec kiss her in such a way, but chastised herself immediately. Kirk was the one she should be focusing on, he was the one who held her in his arms and kissed her so tenderly.

  As if sensing her inner struggle he pulled back and stared down on her his eyes filled with question and desire. “You’re so beautiful,” he said nipping her bottom lip. “I can’t believe you are not claimed already.”

  Mercy smiled excited by the idea of having her first real boyfriend, but it faltered as a familiar figure moved to the edge of the blanket staring down on them with barely concealed rage.

  “Get up now!” Lucan demanded as he stood over the couple.

  They scrambled apart to stand before him, Kirk moving in front of Mercy offering protection.

  Lucan’s face twisted with anger and he snarled. “Get away from her.”

  “Lucan don’t do this,” Mercy pleaded stepping out from behind Kirk to walk to his side. “Do not embarrass me like this.”

  “You lied to me.” His voice like steel, his eyes refusing to meet hers he stared at Kirk with contempt.

  “I am going to Gina’s, w
e stopped her first.” She laid her hand on his trembling arm hoping he would not make matters worse, but the murderous glare he was giving Kirk made her anxious.

  “You are coming home now,” he growled grabbing her arm harder than he intended, fighting the shift that was threatening to overtake him. If he changed before Mercy, she would be terrified and would never forgive him for his duplicity, a fact he thought Kirk knew and was depending upon. The boy in front of him was not what he seemed. The aroma of pack lingered around him and every fiber of his being told him he could sense Mercy was one of them.

  “Luc please,” she cried out in alarm her arm hurting where he held her so roughly.

  “We meant no harm, I will bring her home right now I swear,” Kirk, told him trying to deflect his rage onto himself.

  “Go to hell!” Lucan sneered through clenched teeth ignoring his sister’s gasp next to him. “Stay away from her or else.”

  “Knock it off Luc, Kirk has always been nice to me, you are the one acting like a jerk.” She did not know where she found the strength, but she jerked her arm away from his grasp and went to Kirks side. “I am so sorry for all of this.”

  “Don’t worry about it, he’s trying to keep you safe, I can’t blame him for protecting you.” He placed his hand on her chin and lifted her face. “I will call you later.” He brushed her lips with his own ignoring the growl emanating from her brother.

  Another growl, one much fiercer in nature, which couldn’t be ignored, made him pull back and glance toward the wood line. There a large wolf stood watching them, its massive golden furred body hard to distinguish amidst the fall foliage. The power flowing around him goaded Kirks own wolf to react, but he held his ground aware he could not endanger Mercy or the others who partied on unaware of the angry exchange with Mercy’s brother.

  The new wolf complicated things. He could tell by the territorial way the wolf acted he thought Mercy was his. He had no idea Mercy had another male after her, but now he had a taste of her sweetness, he was not willing to relinquish her. “Go now with your brother, I will see you on Monday at school.”