Undeniable Craving

by Marisa Chenery

  “Did you know before you came to the hospital?” Lynne asked.

  “Yes. You had her scent on your clothes. It set me off, if you know what I mean?”

  “Well, I don’t,” Jaimie said. Gage hadn’t told her yet how he’d known she was his mate.

  Lynne smiled. “I think I’ll let Gage tell you that one.” She grew serious. “I’m going to assume one of the perks of being a wolf shifter’s mate is fast healing and being long-lived.”

  Gage answered. “We know for sure our mates can heal, and obviously it works with something as serious as cancer. We don’t know about the long-lived part yet, but we think that’s the case as well.”

  “Did the doctor order blood tests?” Lynne directed her question at Jaimie.

  She nodded. “Yes. He should be returning with the results soon. That’s why we wanted you here since you have the power of attorney. We have to get me out of here before they push for more. I seem to be recovering at a fast rate. I’m no longer in pain. It feels as if I never had cancer. I’m weak, but I think that’s because I lost so much weight. I am getting stronger a little bit at a time.”

  “You’re right. We have to get you discharged before they start asking too many questions about how fast you’ve recovered. Legally, I’m pretty sure I have the right to take you home. I had the option of having you…die…at home. I don’t think they can stop us from taking you out of the hospital now.”

  That was soon put to the test when the doctor arrived a few minutes later.

  “I have the results from your blood work,” he said as he opened the file folder he held. He silently scanned what was inside before he spoke again. “It’s good news. Your cancer is gone. I don’t mean you’re in remission. I mean it’s completely disappeared. As if you never had it. I’ve never had a patient who was days away from being deceased make such a miraculous recovery. We need to do more extensive tests to make sure it stays that way. Plus, there were a couple strange results as well.”

  Jaimie shook her head. “No more tests. I’m done with them. I just want to go home.”

  “Sorry, but they need to be done.”

  Lynne broke into the conversation before Jaimie could say anything more. “If Jaimie says she’s done with the tests then she’s done. She’s not in any danger. You said so yourself. We’d all feel better having her home.”

  The doctor scowled. “She may be out of the woods now, but there’s always a chance the cancer will return. It’s happened once already. If you take her out of the hospital before I feel she should leave, I have the right to refuse care for her should she return to the hospital.”

  Her sister glared at him. “Then so be it. Please sign the discharge papers so we can go.”

  “I can see you’re adamant about it, and that there is no point in arguing about it since you won’t listen to reason. I can have them signed for her to leave tomorrow.”

  “No.” Lynne shook her head. “Jaimie leaves today. Right now.”

  The doctor sighed. “All right. I’ll say this one more time. This is against my wishes as her physician. I’ll go now and get the discharge papers ready. The nurse will bring them to you to sign once I’m finished. It should only take twenty minutes. I have one other patient to look in on first.”

  After the doctor walked out of the room, Jaimie felt as if she could finally take a deep breath. For a bit there, she’d thought they’d have a fight on their hands. At least it hadn’t come to that. Now all she wanted to do was get out of the hospital and never come back.

  Chapter Four

  Gage silently stood by the window and watched the two sisters interact. Lynne fussed over Jaimie, who in turn took it in stride. The heartbroken Lynne he’d seen yesterday at the fur buyer was long gone. The one he’d known for years had returned, which made him happy. He could also see that she did take on the mother role with Jaimie. And the love she had for her shone through with every smile and touch.

  Now that they’d arranged for Jaimie to be discharged from the hospital, Gage set his mind to the steps needed to get his mate and son moved to Canyon Creek. It wasn’t going to happen today, and maybe not within the next couple days. It was going to be a big decision for her. He’d claimed her, but there wasn’t anything that would keep her physically at his side if she didn’t want him. For him, on the other hand, there would never be anyone else. She was his mate, end of story. No matter how much he’d hate to lose her, he’d let her go if that was what she truly wished. He’d just be happy with the fact he’d saved them both.

  Who was he kidding? To let Jaimie go would hurt like hell. It’d take a very long time before he reached the stage where he’d be able to say he could live without her. With them mated, he was absolutely and thoroughly head over heels in love with her. Nothing would change that. That was the way male wolf shifters were wired. They claimed their mates and they handed over their hearts to them with no questions asked, even if they hardly knew the female.

  Once the sisters grew silent, Gage went and joined them. “Where is Jaimie going to go after she leaves the hospital?”

  “Can you wait at least a week before you take her home?” Lynne asked.

  Gage blew out a breath. “I don’t know if I can last that long in a city.”

  “Really? Sam has never had any problem with it.”

  “That’s because he’s from the Helena pack. Over the years, they’ve become more human than wolf. I don’t live that way. My pack just consists of my parents, myself, my five brothers and two of their mates. We live in log cabins on a huge amount of forested land. We need to be in a wolf form quite a bit. We’re wolf shifters, not werewolves. The animal is closer to the surface.”

  Jaimie broke into the conversation. “Where do you live, Gage?”

  “Canyon Creek.”

  “That’s a couple hours from here, right?”

  “Correct.”

  She looked at Lynne. “We’ll stay two days, just long enough to get all the things Derrick and I will need to take with us for the move organized.”

  “Okay. Just promise I can visit as often as I can.”

  Gage smiled. “Lynne, you and your husband are more than welcome to visit. You already know my family so it isn’t as if we’re a bunch of strangers to you. My mom will be as protective of Jaimie as if she were her own daughter. Same with Derrick, though she’ll spoil him rotten since he’ll be the first grandchild.”

  He was happily surprised Jaimie hadn’t balked at the idea of moving her and her son in with him. Maybe the invisible link that joined them had her feeling as strong for him as his were for her. Even though Kiel’s and Cyrus’ mates said they’d fallen for their mates the instant it formed, Gage hadn’t been too sure if Jaimie would have experienced it since she hadn’t been awake when he’d bitten her. Plus, there hadn’t been any intimacy between them yet.

  A nurse arrived with the discharge papers. Lynne quickly signed them and then gave them back. The nurse then removed his mate’s IV line and unhooked her from the machines. It was a done deal. Jaimie was free to leave. Gage couldn’t wait to get out of the hospital. The harsh disinfectant smells had been steadily getting to his nose. It was no place for a wolf shifter. He longed for the clean, fresh air of the forest around his cabin.

  “I only need to get dressed, then we can go,” Jaimie said.

  “I’ll help you,” Lynne said as she headed for a tall cupboard in the corner of the room.

  Gage nodded. “I’ll wait outside in the hall.”

  Jaimie gave him a thankful smile. He returned it before he left the room. It wasn’t very many minutes before his mate and her sister joined him. Gage ran his gaze over Jaimie. Her jeans and t-shirt hung loosely on her frame. She definitely was too skinny, but she’d gain some weight once she had regular meals. Seeing her standing, she really was a small thing compared to his much taller height.

  Once Jaimie was in front of him, she said, “We’re going to Lynne’s house. That’s where Derrick, my son is. You’ll come with u
s, right?”

  “Of course. You need to be with Derrick. I’m sure he’s missing you.”

  Lynne nodded. “He is. He’s only eight. Jaimie being in the hospital has been really hard on him. He’ll be overjoyed to see she’s home.”

  “I bet,” Gage said. “I guess I’ll follow you two.”

  Jaimie met his gaze. “I’m going with you in your car.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. Let’s go. I don’t want to be here another minute.”

  The three of them walked down the hallway to the bank of elevators at the pace Jaimie set. After a short ride down, they headed out of the hospital. Outside, as they turned in the direction of the parking garage, Gage made sure he stayed close to his mate’s side in case she started to feel weak. The cancer was gone, but her body would still be recovering.

  Lynne left them once they were inside the garage since her car was in a different section from Gage’s. He and Jaimie continued on to his SUV. He could tell she was tiring. Her steps had become slower.

  “Would you like me to carry you the rest of the way?” he asked.

  Jaimie shook her head. “No. I’m doing this. I’ve been lying in a bed for the last few months. I need to get used to moving under my own steam again.”

  “All right. Let me know if it gets to be too much. We have a little bit of a walk.”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  In the end, Jaimie walked the entire distance on her own. By the time they reached the passenger side of his SUV she was shaky and there were beads of sweat on her upper lip and forehead, but the look of accomplishment she wore said she didn’t care.

  Gage unlocked the door and held it open as Jaimie slid inside the vehicle. He closed her in once she was all the way inside, then walked around the back end to climb into the driver’s side.

  Once they were clear of the garage, she gave him directions to Lynne’s house. Jaimie rolled down her window and took a deep breath. “God, the air smells good. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to get out in the spring sunshine.”

  “You’ll like it at my cabin. The air is always fresh and clean. My section of property is surrounded on three sides by forest. And it’s really private, except for when my family comes to visit. My unmated brothers like to show up whenever they feel like it.”

  “That sounds exactly what I need.”

  Gage glanced at Jaimie. “I have to say I’m surprised you’re more than willing to come live with me. You’ll have to uproot your son and everything.”

  She shrugged. “I guess I’m ready for the change. Living in Great Falls will be a constant reminder of what I went through with the cancer. I don’t want that. You can give me a fresh start so I can put all that awfulness behind me.”

  “And you have no problem accepting the fact I’m a wolf shifter and that you’re my mate?”

  “No.”

  “My brothers’ mates freaked when they found out.”

  “You saved my life, Gage. If not for you being what you are and claiming me, I could have been dead already.”

  “So, because I saved you, that’s the reason you want to move in with me?”

  “No. I do think you’re gorgeous and sexy as anything. It has been a long time since I’ve had a man interested in me.”

  Gage shot a glance over at Jaimie to find her smiling. “You’re interested in my body, huh? I think I can be persuaded to let you have your way with me.”

  Jaimie chuckled. “Good to know. And I’ll be taking you up on that.”

  “I look forward to it.”

  He turned on to Lynne’s street and slowed down as Jaimie pointed out which house belonged to her sister. Lynne had arrived before them and stood on the boulevard, waiting for them. Gage parked at the curb in front of the house.

  After they got out of the SUV and joined Lynne. Gage didn’t miss the concerned expression she wore. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  Lynne turned toward her sister. “I thought Rob and I had taken care of this, but it would seem we didn’t. Derrick’s father is back in the city.”

  Jaimie scowled. “Okay. What does Neil being back have to do with anything?”

  “He heard you were close to dying, and that Derrick is staying with us. He showed up on our doorstep the other day, demanding we give him his son.”

  “Like hell,” Jaimie said. “The bastard left Great Falls after I told him I was pregnant. He gave up his rights to Derrick. Neil has never even seen him, and hasn’t paid me a cent in child support. I’ve had to do it all on my own since I was seventeen.”

  “I know. Rob told Neil that you made us legal guardians of Derrick. Neil said since he was the father he had the right to take him. Rob told him to get a lawyer, and that seemed to be the end of it.” Lynne glanced toward the house. “Neil came back. He pushed his way into the house, trying to get Derrick. Rob has managed to keep him in the entranceway.”

  “No way is he taking Derrick. I’m not dead, and no longer sick, so he can get lost again.”

  Gage fell into step beside Jaimie as she headed toward the house. Lynne followed. The sound of raised voices could be easily heard the closer they came to the front door. Jaimie quickened her pace and then yanked it open. Two men stood just inside, angrily yelling at each other.

  “Neil!” Jaimie shouted the name as she came to stand next to a man who appeared to be close to her in age. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

  Neil’s expression of anger turned to one of shock. “Jaimie? I thought you were in the hospital and that you didn’t have much time left.”

  She nailed him with a hard gaze. “As you can see, I’m no longer sick. I’ve made a miraculous recovery. How dare you come here and try to take my son?”

  The shock left Neil’s face to be replaced with annoyance. “He’s my son too.”

  “You gave up the right to be a father long ago. Out of Derrick’s eight years of life, not once have you bothered to see him. Why now?”

  “If you died, I was Derrick’s remaining parent. I should have custody of him, not your sister and her husband.”

  “I gave them guardianship. It was my choice to make, not yours.”

  Gage stepped in as Jaimie shook and her face grew pale. “I think it’s time you left, Neil.”

  The other man turned his gaze on Gage. “Who the hell are you?”

  “I’m Gage, Jaimie’s fiancé. As I said, you need to go now.”

  “I don’t have to do a damn thing you say. I have the right to at least see my son.”

  “He’s my son now. Will you leave nicely or do I have to walk you out?”

  Neil looked at all of them, then settled his gaze back on Gage. “I’ll go, but I’ll return.” He spoke to Jaimie next. “I’m back in Great Falls to stay. And I will be a part of my son’s life.”

  Jaimie shook her head. “No, you won’t. Derrick doesn’t need you around.”

  “Then I’ll take you to court and fight for shared custody.”

  “Fine. Don’t be surprised if a judge makes you pay child support for all the years you’ve missed. Eight of them. I doubt you’ll get shared custody, anyway. You haven’t done anything to prove you’d be a good father.”

  Neil flashed them all an angry look before he stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him. Gage had a feeling this wasn’t over yet. Jaimie’s ex-boyfriend didn’t give the impression he was willing to step aside.

  “Mom!”

  The name was shouted as a young boy who looked a lot like Jaimie came racing down the stairs from the floor above. Once he reached the bottom, he ran to his mother and threw his arms around her waist with his face pressed to her belly. His small shoulders shook as he cried.

  Jaimie held him close and rubbed his back. “It’s okay, Derrick. He’s gone.”

  Derrick pulled his tear-stained face away from his mother’s stomach. “It’s not because of him. I thought you were going to die. Aunt Lynne wouldn’t let me see you in the hospital.”

  “
You don’t have to worry about losing me, kiddo. The cancer is all gone.”

  Derrick hugged his mom again, then turned his head to the side to look at Gage. “Who is he?”

  “This is Gage. He’s the one who made me better.”

  Gage smiled at Derrick. “Hi. I’m really looking forward to getting to know you a lot better.”

  Rob cleared his throat. “I’d like to know what’s going on. Why did Gage call himself Jaimie’s fiancé? I know for a fact she didn’t know him before she went into the hospital.”

  Jaimie turned her gaze on Lynne. “You didn’t tell Rob?”

  Her sister shook her head. “I figured we could tell him once you were home.”

  “Tell me what?” Rob asked.

  “I guess it’s best just to show you,” Jaimie said.

  She pulled her collar away from the left side of her neck where it met her shoulder to reveal the mate brand. Gage did the same as Rob’s gaze swung his way.

  “You’re a wolf shifter,” Lynne’s husband said with shock in his voice. “And you claimed Jaimie as your mate? I didn’t think it was possible with humans. Didn’t you have to…you know…to do that? You couldn’t have done that in the hospital.”

  Gage smiled. “I am a wolf shifter. Lynne told us about your friend, Sam. Jaimie is the third human to be claimed by one of my kind that I know of. As for how that happened, I only bit her. It was the only thing I could think of that would save my mate’s life.”

  “Holy crap, you cured her cancer.”

  “What’s a wolf shifter?” Derrick asked.

  Gage focused on Jaimie’s son. “Wolf shifters are actually wolves who can take on human form. Plus, they can retain human thought while in their animal one.”

  Derrick let go of Jaimie and turned to face Gage. “So, you can turn in to a wolf?”

  “Yes. You have to keep that a secret, though. Your mom, aunt and uncle can know, but no one else.”