by Dana Archer
Yes. Waiting was best.
His predators snarled, not approving of his reasoning, but he knew of one thing guaranteed to ease their anger. Lena. He drank in her profile, the slope of her nose, the freckles on her cheeks, and the plump lips he’d just kissed. His lion calmed and lay down, resting its big head on its paws. The others followed suit.
He grinned. What would Lena say if she knew she could tame his wild, unstable cats? He usually spent most of his waking hours reminding them they couldn’t rip the throats out of the people who annoyed them. Which was just about everyone besides his family.
He inhaled, needing to feel the tingle skip down his spine that her scent caused. His amusement faded, replaced by an ache only Lena spurred. He stood, instead of giving in to the lust. He’d messed up enough for one day.
Besides, he wanted to call Kade. Lena’s fear of involving Shifter Affairs left him unsettled. The small group of humans and shifters had one goal—to protect shifters. Why wouldn’t they do the same for Molly?
But…they hadn’t, not completely. Although their contact at the department had reached out to them, he’d never followed through with his promise of sending agents out to protect her. Devin couldn’t help but wonder why.
He retreated to the hallway, then dialed Kade.
“Any word from Gwen?” Kade asked the moment the call connected.
“No text yet.”
“Is everything okay there?”
Devin rolled his shoulders. The mistake he’d made with Lena wasn’t something he wanted to share with his alpha. “Yeah. Lena’s sleeping. Her body is still recovering.”
“Understandable. A human often requires days to fully recover from a mating. It’s impressive that Lena’s even moving around already.”
Devin grinned. “She’s tough.”
“To be your mate she’ll have to be.”
“True.” He glanced at the door separating him from her. “She’s also protective.”
“We already know that. That crazy stunt she pulled in order to protect her sisters proves that.”
“But I think her fear stems from more than just an untrustworthy shifter getting his hands on Molly.”
“Explain.”
“She doesn’t want Shifter Affairs to know anything about Molly. She wouldn’t talk about why, and I didn’t push her for the reason. I’m still finding my way with her.”
“You think she was betrayed by them.”
“Yes. Lena said Molly’s private teacher, Janet, was talking to someone about Molly’s special skills and how important it was to study them.”
Kade grunted.
“What?” Devin prompted.
“That’s the second time I’ve heard about Molly’s special skills today. It makes me wonder what they are.”
“Who else was talking about her?”
“Colonel Malory. He called me to follow up on my complaint about the lack of help the Virginia office was offering me.”
“Colonel Malory called you. Not his assistant?” Devin propped his shoulder against the wall, facing the window at the end of the hall.
“Yes. Shocked me too, but he explained that Molly’s situation was delicate. Although he didn’t come right out and say it, he implied that Molly wouldn’t be allowed to live in a normal civilian household, including ours.”
“Why not?” Devin glanced over his shoulder at Lena’s bedroom door, then lowered his voice. “He had to have given you a reason.”
“Apparently Molly was kidnapped after she and Megan were handed over to their human guardians. Molly was then transferred to another facility before being rescued by Shifter Affairs.”
“And we weren’t notified?”
“The experimental center was out of our jurisdiction. Colonel Malory said the Shifter Council was notified, though. After evaluating Molly, they decided reintroduction into shifter life wasn’t in her best interest.”
“Because of Molly’s special skills?”
“Yes.”
“Did Colonel Malory say what they are?”
“No. He said the information was confidential, and we were to hand Molly over the minute we found her so she could be evaluated.”
“Studied, you mean.”
“Same difference.”
“Colonel Malory ordered us to hand her over.” Devin wasn’t sure if he were more shocked over the assumption they’d simply obey the command or angry that the humans would treat the little girl as if she was a test subject. “He’s always been the firm voice in shifter-related issues, working tirelessly on our behalf.”
“True.”
“He vouched for me, Kade. That’s an obligation that’s difficult to ignore.”
“It’s a tiny rectangle of paper that’s been laminated. It doesn’t mean anything. You’re a member of the Alexander pride. As long as I’m a liaison, you will be involved in every rescue mission we go on.”
“It does mean something. He stuck his neck out for me. Believed in me.”
“And what? Does that mean you trust him where Molly is concerned?”
“Yes, I’m sure he has a reason for wanting us to hand Molly over.”
“We’re not handing her over.”
“Of course not, but I will meet him. We need to find out how far her condition has progressed, and depending on what I learn once I see her, we might have to take additional action.”
“Keep her secluded until she adjusts, you mean?”
The stress from being around strangers might send her over the edge, turning her feral. He’d seen other kids suffer that fate, and it had broken his heart. If he could prevent Molly from slipping into that state of no return, he would. Her age would help in her rehabilitation, especially if she was surrounded by a supportive pride. Devin knew he would’ve benefitted from one.
“Yes. It might be dangerous if we don’t.”
“Okay, then, but are you sure it’s wise for you to go? Maybe Rafe or I should talk to him. If his reason for getting his hands on Molly aren’t in her best interest, your cats might have a problem.”
And urge Devin to kill Colonel Malory.
“I’m sure.” He wanted the benefit of his cats’ assessment. The last time he’d met the human, they hadn’t alerted Devin to any questionable behavior. He wanted to figure out where the colonel’s request came from. “Will you contact him and find out where he wants to meet?”
“I’ll call him, but if Colonel Malory wants to talk about Molly, he can do so on our lands.”
“That’ll work.”
“If Molly needs more help than we can give her, I’m calling in that human doctor to come and work with her.”
Kade’s tone left no room for discussion.
“The doctor in New York?” The human mate to a bear Royal who’d proven himself loyal to the Alexander pride was one of the few people Devin tolerated outside their family, but her treatment program for abused shifters was nothing short of a miracle. The only problem? She rarely accepted new patients.
“Yes.”
“I think that’s a good idea. I’ll call her in a few minutes and see if she can see Molly.”
The sound of cracking knuckles jerked Devin’s attention to Lena’s bedroom. The door stood half open, but he didn’t see Lena.
“I’ve got to go. I’ll call as soon as I have Molly’s location.”
“Good. We’ll meet you then.”
Devin ended the call and made his way to the bedroom.
Lena sat on the bed wearing a tank top and shorts. She followed his approach with her gaze but didn’t say anything. She didn’t have to speak. Her thinned lips and the hardened glint to her eyes told him everything he needed to know. She was still upset about what had happened between them.
“Do you want to talk about”—he motioned to her shoulder—“what I did?”
“No.”
“You believe me when I say I got carried away, right? It won’t happen again.” At least not until she was ready to become his soul-bonded mate.
> “Okay.”
He hated those single-word answers that had double meanings.
Devin knelt on the bed next to her and curled his hand around the back of her neck. She stiffened but didn’t pull away. He leaned in and kissed her. She remained passive for a moment before she twined her tongue with his. Her sigh settled over him, easing the wariness her posture had elicited.
He brushed his lips over hers, breaking their kiss, then sat back. “Why don’t you get a shower so you’ll be ready to leave when your sister texts?”
“Okay.”
She didn’t climb off the bed, though. She pushed to her knees and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, then kissed him. The raw kiss instantly excited him. He settled his hands on her hips and debated whether they had time to indulge in each other, but he didn’t get the chance to take the kiss any further. She shoved away from him, knocking him backward, and strode for the bathroom.
The door slammed behind her.
Groaning, he dropped onto the bed wondering what had happened. The woman confused him. She also excited him on every level and kept his mind occupied. He grinned. Life with Lena would be nothing short of heaven.
* * *
After ten minutes, Devin gave up waiting for Lena to get out of the bathroom and headed downstairs.
His stomach growled. He’d been too concerned about Lena these past two nights to eat much. The lack of food had finally caught up to him.
He wandered into the kitchen. The sunny yellow walls were covered in artwork. He grinned at the collection beautifully displayed in frames as if the creator was a world-renowned artist. Maybe Molly would be one day and these early pieces would be as prized by the world as they obviously were to Lena.
He stepped closer to examine them. The first few were sloppily colored, random strokes that didn’t come close to filling in the lines of the coloring page. Going by the dates written on them, Molly’s skills had increased significantly over the six-month period. So had her handwriting. Molly had signed her name, Molly Elizabeth Burnett, to each picture, first in uneven print then in a swooping cursive many adults would struggle to achieve.
He studied each, pride welling, but stopped dead at the last frame. His heart skipped a beat.
Two lion cubs were drawn in pencil, one on each side of a jagged line. The detail was superb. Yeah, he hadn’t expected to see that coming from a five-year-old, but it was the image sketched above each that caught his attention and jerked his inner animals’ focus from their surroundings to the drawing.
One side showed an infinity symbol, the other a string with an open pair of scissors poised to cut it.
It was downright beautiful and chilled him to the bone.
Devin traced Molly’s name and the unending line then glanced at the question mark over the second little lion.
He didn’t understand why Molly hadn’t used Megan’s name but filed the information away to contemplate later. One thing he did get from the display though, Molly was lucky she’d found her way into Lena’s family.
Turning away from the wall, his gaze zeroed in on the fridge and the promise of food. He opened it and frowned. His woman didn’t eat. Four yogurts, enough green stuff to feed an army, a gallon of watered-down milk, and a carton of egg whites. He ate three of the little yogurt cups—he had to leave something for Lena—and drank the milk.
With his hunger quenched for the moment, he explored his mate’s small home. It was clean, neat, and comfy. Other than the few framed photos and the display in the kitchen, there wasn’t much to give him a clue about who Lena was or what she liked to do.
The house could’ve belonged to anyone. There were no books, magazines, or movies anywhere. Since she didn’t have a television, he wasn’t too surprised about the last, but still…she had to have some interests. Not seeing any bothered him, but he found his first clue to her hobbies as soon as he walked into the library and discovered a mini museum.
Pieces of pottery and statues sat proudly displayed behind glass. Framed yellowed documents hung on the walls and row upon row of books filled a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf. He looked at the dual diplomas—one for anthropology, one for the study of ancient religions—and grinned. Lena was smart and beautiful.
The soft click of shoes announced Lena’s presence. He turned, a smile on his face, took one look at the woman standing in the doorway and frowned. She had the same body and warm chocolate eyes but that was where the similarities to the female he had mated ended.
The waves of her hair were straightened and parted to one side of her face. Makeup covered up the freckles. Her plump, moist lips were coated in lipstick. The spiky lashes he’d found sexy were transformed into long, curled black swoops. And, a red, sleeveless turtleneck covered his mate bite.
Sure, she was beautiful. No matter what she did to her body or what she wore, he’d think the same, but she didn’t need any of the alterations. More importantly, though, the makeup and hair products covered up her scent, the one he needed to breathe in.
“What’s with all this?” He motioned toward her.
“Umm, I got dressed.” She swept a hand down her body as if he needed the visual.
Devin crossed his arms. Frowned some more. “And that’s what ‘getting dressed’ involves?”
Lena glanced at her outfit and brushed at the cotton as if it was dirty. Her reaction struck him as odd. He smelled the detergent she’d used. The shirt was clean.
She peeked at him through her lashes. Anxiety swirled in her warm brown eyes. He scowled harder. He didn’t enjoy seeing her upset.
“What’s wrong with this outfit?” Lena tugged at the hem. “It’s what I normally wear, but I…” She swallowed hard. “I can put something nicer on if you want.”
Ridiculous. He strode across the room.
“The clothes are fine. It’s just that…” He pressed his nose to her hair, inhaling deeply, and gagged. The scent of chemicals drowned out her rich fragrance. “It’s just that you stink.”
Lena blinked at him. Her mouth hung open. She snapped it closed. “I don’t stink! I just showered, and everything I use is natural. Top of the line.”
Not the response he wanted. He ran a hand over his head. “I’m sure that stuff is expensive, but I don’t like how it smells on you. I like the natural Lena. Not the made-up one.”
The animosity she’d worn a moment ago faded. “Really?”
He pulled her against him and buried his nose at the base of her hairline. Her unaltered scent seeped into his lungs, calming him. The effect she had on him was immediate. Intense.
She had no clue what power she held. That knowledge would come with the discussion about how he’d given her a piece of his soul to save her life. The past few hours had convinced him the talk needed to happen soon. With the way he kept screwing things up with her, he’d lose her before he could even explain their bond. While they waited for Gwen’s text wasn’t the right time for it, though. In a couple of days, once her sisters were safe, then he’d tell her. Surely, he could censor his words that long. And resist biting her again.
He considered what to say to fix the mess his comments had caused. At the moment, he regretted not spending more time with humans. Lena didn’t act the same as any of the shifter females he knew.
“I’m sorry if I was rude. I didn’t mean to be but…” He didn’t want to admit how much he needed to breathe in her scent. She’d want to know why. Nope. He’d keep his mental issues to himself for the moment. “You’re much prettier without all this stuff.”
She laughed softly and massaged his scalp. “I think you’re the first man who has ever said that to me.”
He smiled against her skin and enjoyed the little shiver of her body in response. “I keep telling you that I’m not a man. You can’t hold me to the same standards. When I have a female in my arms, I want the scent of woman to fill my head, not makeup or hair products. I want to be able to lick her skin and drink in her perfection without man-made enhancements tainting the experien
ce. I want you exactly as your god made you.”
She sighed, her body relaxing into his. “I enjoy dressing nicely. I won’t change that for you.”
“Then be warned. I might find ways to get you out of your clothes so I can get my fix.”
“Your fix?”
“You.” He nibbled on her neck. “Your scent does crazy things to me.”
Lena tipped her head to give him better access. “You confuse me.”
“I know. I apologize for that. I’m…” Crazy and should’ve been put down years ago. “I’m complicated.”
“I’m learning that.”
“What about the makeup? Is that a necessity? I wouldn’t want to consistently ruin it by kissing you.”
She grinned and glanced at the floor. “No, it’s not a necessity.”
“Then will you please wash it off?”
“I will if you answer one question.”
“What do you want to know?”
“I overheard you on the phone. Is the doctor you mentioned associated with Shifter Affairs?”
In a roundabout way. Her mate was a Shifter Affairs’ liaison too. “Yes, but—”
“You trust this doctor, then?”
“Yes, I—”
“And Colonel Malory?”
“Colonel Malory has worked tirelessly to get funding for Shifter Affairs and increase the level of protection shifters are given. Why wouldn’t I?” Plus, Colonel Malory didn’t look at him and see a shifter that should be put down.
But Devin did wonder about the top-secret mystery involving Molly and if it had anything to do with the comments made about her a few weeks prior. The shifter who’d tried to kill Rafe’s mate, Jazz, had said Molly was the only successful subject that came out of the experimental facility where she’d been born.
That comment combined with the infinity symbol Molly had drawn over the lion depicting herself suggested the scientists had succeeded in their main goal—to extend a Royal’s immortality to the mortal single shifters. Two questions remained: how did they pull it off and what would the ability do to Molly? Instinct told him the stolen gift wouldn’t come without a price.
“Molly’s best interest is my top concern.” Devin squeezed Lena’s hand. “Trust me when I say I’ll do what’s best for her.”
