Marriage Claws

by Paige Cuccaro

  Okay, that got my attention. “Is this because of Alexia?”

  He shrugged. “Yes . . . and no. I can feel her slipping away. That would change if I was the clear choice for alpha. She’d be drawn to me like . . . like she is to Jack. But it’s more than that. Jack can’t be alpha. He doesn’t know what he’s doing. He’s like a spoiled kid, desperate to get his daddy’s approval.”

  “You’re wrong there. Jack practically hates his father,” I said.

  “That’s what he tells people. And maybe on some level he does. But anyone with a brain can see he’s just like him,” Marcus said. “Frank Pensione never gave his son a second of his time. There was always someone else who needed him more. It drove Jack crazy. Still does. He thinks if he takes over the pack, his father will finally be proud of him. He’ll finally have time for him. Jack doesn’t really care about the pack—he doesn’t even care about being alpha. It’s just a means to an end. Jack will do whatever it takes, use whoever he has to, to win his father’s love.”

  “Jack has plans for the pack, a direction for the future,” I said, realizing I was defending him despite the fact that I agreed with some of what Marcus was saying. “He loves his family and wants what’s best for them.”

  “Is that what he told you?” Marcus asked. “I mean, I’m guessing he gave you some sort of convincing story so you’d agree to marry him and finally make him alpha eligible.”

  I stepped back, protective instincts surging to the surface. “I think you should go, Marcus.”

  He raised his hands in surrender again. “I’m sorry. You’re right. That was out of line. It’s just that . . . well, obviously, you’re an intelligent woman. You have this business. You’ve got your brother and friends. You have a life. You seem like your average, happy human. I’ve been wracking my brain trying to figure out how Jack managed to lure such a normal, beautiful woman into our crazy supernatural soap opera.”

  “We . . . fell in love,” I said, my tongue tripping on the lie. At least it had been a lie. Was it still a lie if only one of us had been stupid enough to actually fall?

  Marcus chuckled again. “No you didn’t.” He took a sip of coffee.

  “I’m sorry. Tell me again why you’re here.”

  His smile widened and he set his mug back on the counter. “Yeah. I’m not going about this the best way. It’s just that—no offense—I know Jack’s not in love with you. He couldn’t be. And you’re far too attractive and smart to enter into a marriage with someone who can’t ever love you . . . Unless you were going to get something out of it.”

  I swallowed hard, unable to look him in the eye. “What makes you so sure he couldn’t love me?”

  The big man shrugged. “You’re not his type. I mean, I’m sure you knew that. You’ve seen Alexia, and the other women he’s been with.”

  Wow. Really? Was there a good way to take that? He must’ve read the offense on my face because he hurried to ease some of the sting.

  “I didn’t mean . . . I said before that you’re beautiful. It’s just that Jack has always gone for more . . . um, obvious women. Y’know, like Alexia—tall, sexy, with a kind of damsel-in-distress thing going for them. The kind of woman who needs a knight in shining armor to rush in and protect them from a world that just wants to use them up. Like those actresses with all the pushy fans, and the socialites harassed by people who only want their money. Being the hero is a huge turn-on for the guy. I’m guessing that’s why he picked you.”

  “I don’t follow,” I said.

  “Well, look at you. Strong, independent, not afraid to fight her own battles—you’ve got no use for him,” Marcus said. “Combine that with the physical differences, average height, more athletic body, less curves, and kind of a, um, relaxed fashion sense . . . you’re a safe choice.”

  “Safe?”

  “Jack picked you to marry because he knew he’d never fall for you in a million years,” Marcus said, and something inside me recognized the truth when I heard it. I looked away, an invisible knife twisting my gut. Pride kept me from letting Marcus read anything in my eyes.

  “The question was, why,” he said, oblivious to the effect of his words. “Jack’s reasons were easy. He didn’t want the emotional mess that comes with love. I’ve known Jack all his life. When that boy starts to really feel something for a woman, he can’t think straight. In the fifth grade, he had a crush on Miss Newberry, our teacher.”

  I forced a tense smile. “Sweet.”

  Marcus laughed, taking another sip of coffee. “Not really. The guy almost failed the year. Luckily, she got married over winter break and Jack pulled his ass out of the fire. But I can see how he’d take one look at Alexia, and one look at you, and figure if he wanted any hope of keeping his head on straight and proving himself to his father as an alpha and a CEO, you were the safer choice.”

  “Interesting,” I said. It wasn’t like I hadn’t heard it before, or at least a version of it. I wasn’t Jack’s type. Everyone could see it. So why was I so surprised, so hurt, to hear that he didn’t—couldn’t—love me? I didn’t want to admit what I knew in my heart.

  Jack was a smart man. It made sense. If he wanted to keep things strictly business like he’d said, no risk of romance, he’d choose the last woman on earth he’d fall for. I put a hand on my belly, dinner threatening to make an encore appearance.

  “You are what I couldn’t figure out,” Marcus said. “Why would you agree? What was the plan? And then it hit me. You’re just like him.”

  “What?” I sneered. “No. I’m not.”

  “You are,” Marcus insisted. “You have this place, and those people in there who count on you. You’re a fighter. You are the knight in shining armor in your life. You’re the one who protects people and fights for them. That’s how he got you. He offered you a way to protect what you love.”

  I stepped back, my brain racing, following his chain of logic. Good lord, it made sense. He was right.

  Marcus shifted forward again as if he could close the space between us despite the counter being in the way. “I did some checking. I know the Pensione Company owns this building. I know they filed an eviction notice for your diner.”

  I nodded. “But Jack . . .” I swallowed the tight squeeze at the back of my throat. “Jack’s going to reverse it once he’s alpha. He’s giving me the space as a wedding present.”

  “I knew it.” Marcus smacked the counter, pleased with himself. “Listen to me, Kate. You don’t have to do this. You don’t have to shackle yourself in a loveless marriage just to save your diner. I can help.”

  “What are you talking about?” I blinked at him, my mind skipping over the details of my agreement with Jack. My marriage to him might be devoid of any hope of love, but it was only temporary. In a few months, once the divorce was final, I’d be free to marry whomever I wanted . . . provided that someone wasn’t Jack.

  “I’ll give you the money to buy the space from the Pensione Company,” he said. “You’ll own it free and clear and no one will ever be able to try to take it from you again. All you have to do is call off the marriage this weekend. Don’t marry Jack, Kate.”

  I shook my head, taking another step back. “No. I . . . I can’t take your money.”

  “Then call it a loan,” he said pushing to his feet, trying to stay close. “We’ll set up a payment plan, like a bank. Just call off the wedding.”

  My head was shaking no, but my mind was reeling. If I called off the wedding, Jack would never be alpha. He’d already presented me as his once-in-a-lifetime mate. But if that was so important to him, what was he doing with Alexia? Did he really ask her to marry him? What if she said yes? He wouldn’t need a pretend wife if he had Alexia. If he didn’t need me to hold up my end of our agreement, how could I trust that he’d hold up his?

  Where would that leave me, the restaurant, and everyone who was counting on me to save it?

  “C’mon, Kate. You don’t have to forfeit any chance at love to save your diner,” Marcu
s said. “We can both win if we work together. You can trust me.”

  “I . . . I have to think about it,” I said, mind racing, staring at nothing.

  “Kate.”

  My head snapped up at the sound of the familiar voice. “Jack.”

  He stood just inside the door to the diner, hands in the front pockets of his suit slacks, brows creased. His green eyes flicked to Marcus, and the other man smirked, picking up his paper napkin and slowly wiping his mouth—unconcerned.

  “Hello, Jack,” Marcus said. “Can’t believe you kept this charming little eatery to yourself. I’ll definitely come back, have a slice of that delicious-looking pie.”

  Guilt slinked through my veins, pooling in the pit of my stomach. I looked at the small pie stand with its clear glass cover at the center of the counter. Blinking at it, my brain struggled to figure out if I’d done something wrong—and if I did, what.

  “Marcus,” Jack said in greeting, his tone even.

  The bigger man snorted under his breath, pulling a fifty from the billfold in his breast pocket and dropping it next to his coffee mug. “Thanks for the coffee, Kate. I’ll be in touch. Soon.”

  He strolled toward the door, giving Jack a friendly pat on the shoulder as he passed. When the door drifted closed behind him Jack’s gaze swung to mine.

  “Anything you’d like to tell me?” he asked.

  It hit me then. I hadn’t done anything wrong. Why was I feeling guilty? Jack was the one who’d tried to find a way out of our agreement. “Yeah. Alexia called. On your phone. Seems you left it at her place.”

  “We weren’t at her place.”

  “Wherever,” I said. “Did you ask her to marry you?”

  “Yes,” he said and my breath froze. “I withdrew the offer when I realized we weren’t . . . compatible. I told you this.”

  Was he really going to make me ask again, specify dates and times? It didn’t really matter. “Whatever. Alexia has your phone. You might want to remember next time you two . . . get together.”

  I turned and headed for the kitchen.

  “Kate,” Jack said stopping me at the kitchen door. I looked back. “Marcus can’t be trusted. I don’t want you to be alone with him. Not for any reason. Do you understand?”

  I huffed. “I don’t really care what you want. And I don’t care who you want either.”

  His brows creased. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  I turned to face him, folding my arms across my chest. “If you’re going to back out of our agreement, I’d like to know now, so I can make other arrangements.”

  “With Marcus?” he asked.

  “I don’t see how that’s any of your concern.”

  “No?” he asked, brows high. He exhaled, looked away. “We’re to be married in less than a week. You’ll be my wife.”

  “In name only,” I said. “I don’t belong to you, Jack. And our agreement won’t change that. Don’t forget that this was your idea. I was doing just fine before you came along. I can fight my own battles and protect the people I love without your help.”

  “You can save your diner?”

  “I have options,” I said.

  “Marcus.” He said the name like a verb.

  I didn’t answer. “You asked Alexia to marry you before me. I bet the pack would believe you had it right the first time. That she’s really your destined mate,” I said.

  “They might.”

  “Then it sounds like we both have options,” I said.

  “It does.”

  I turned and went into the kitchen. Jack didn’t follow.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  I’d totally screwed up.

  “What did Jack say?” my little brother whined.

  “I don’t know—nothing. I haven’t spoken to him.” Jack had just walked out of the restaurant without a word last night. I’d gone home with George, slept in my own apartment . . . on the couch. Apparently, I’d lost dibs on my bed to the boys.

  Jack hadn’t called. So I hadn’t called him either.

  Yeah. I’d screwed up big . . . and it had likely cost me everything.

  “Then how do you know he wants out of the deal?”

  “I don’t. I mean, not for sure.” I shook my head. “Jack had a backup plan. Last time I heard he was arranging things with her. If he has her, he doesn’t need me. If he doesn’t need me, he’s got no reason to help save the diner. We have to face it, guys. We’re on our own. We need to be ready for the inevitable.”

  “How?” Brittney asked. “What are you going to do? I mean, is there someone else you can marry?”

  I’d spilled the beans to my staff. They knew about my business agreement with Jack—not the werewolf part. Not that they would’ve believed me. I had to tell them the plan, so I could explain that I’d basically sabotaged it and ruined everything.

  I opened my mouth to answer, tell them about Marcus’ offer. Instead I exhaled and said, “No. But at least we have time to prepare.”

  “So the diner is closing,” Brittney said.

  “I don’t know. Maybe. Probably,” I said, trying hard to smile. It wasn’t working well. “But I want to start helping everyone look for a place to go, just in case.”

  I blinked back the sting of tears. I couldn’t break down in front of them. I had to be strong, optimistic—even though my heart was crumbling. This was it. I might really lose my little pastry shop turned diner, my dream. I’d thought about Marcus’ offer. I’d been thinking about it every other minute since he’d made it. But I couldn’t take his money.

  Despite everything, I couldn’t commit that final act of betrayal against Jack. Something inside me roiled at the thought. I’d given my word. Marcus was Jack’s greatest rival, his nemesis, and so he was mine too. Taking anything from him, especially his help, just wasn’t possible.

  Besides, there was something about the guy I didn’t trust. Maybe it was the wolf in me sensing his disloyalty to Frank and Jack, his jockeying for a way up the pack ranks. If I had a wolf inside me. I just didn’t know.

  I’d never actually shifted all the way, and since that night at Jack’s parent’s house I hadn’t even shifted a little. There were times when I thought I could feel the wolf stirring inside me, feel the brush of fur under my skin. But not for a while now. Maybe Jack was right the first time, when he’d thought I’d just imagined it.

  “I think you’re wrong, Kate,” George said. “No matter what happened between you two, Jack’s a man of his word.”

  God, I hoped he was right, but he hadn’t seen the anger in Jack’s eyes. The pain. I was sure finding Marcus here at the diner had been a deal breaker for Jack. He had options. Why wouldn’t he explore them rather than stick with someone he believed was cavorting with the enemy?

  “Why don’t you just call him, honey?” Marbella asked. “Whatever tiff you two had, I can see on your face that you regret it. Call the boy, say you’re sorry.”

  If only it were that easy. “I doubt he’d take my call.”

  I was such a coward. I couldn’t call Jack. I’d waited too long, let things stew, allowed him to think I might actually side with Marcus. He’d never believe that I’d ruled it out almost the moment he’d made the offer. Time had made the idle threat real. Even if I told him now that I wouldn’t take Marcus’ offer, he’d never forgive me for considering it this long.

  The implication had become a solid wall between us. It was too late for apologies—but Jack’s angry grudge wasn’t what scared me most. I couldn’t bear the thought of risking that Alexia might answer his phone. Stupid? Yes. But there it was. I just couldn’t sit through another conversation with her telling me how eager he was to marry her—how much he wanted her. Which meant he didn’t want me.

  Like I said, stupid.

  Jack knew how we’d left things. If he’d made a decision to honor our agreement, or take advantage of his other options he’d have to let me know. Until then, I could only prepare for the worst.

  “A good review in the T
imes should help,” I said, desperate for a silver lining. “George, they’ll be lining up to hire such a talented chef and once you’re in, maybe you could put in a good word for Lucas and Diego. And Brittney, you’re going to have to take time off soon anyway, once the baby comes.”

  “Don’t worry about me,” Madam Opal said. “Got a job offer last night at the Queen of Hearts. Just have to tell them when I can start.”

  “Queen of Hearts?” Marbella said, nose wrinkled in judgment. “Isn’t that a drag queen club?”

  Opal nodded, unfazed.

  Marbella’s dark brows went up. “Think you could put a word in for me?”

  “Honey, just say the word and you’re in,” the tall blonde said. “The owner loves me.”

  “Perfect,” I said, missing my Sweet Spot family already. “I’ve, um . . . got some stuff to do. I’ll be back in a few hours.”

  I couldn’t look at any of them. Tears filled my eyes. Little more than stubborn willpower had kept them from spilling down my cheeks. I wouldn’t be able to hold them back much longer. I needed to be alone.

  “You need a ride?” George asked, but I pretended I didn’t hear and kept moving.

  I caught the subway across the street from the diner. Didn’t even check where it would stop. The doors were opening when I stepped onto the platform and I got on.

  Two stops later I realized I couldn’t sit still. I had to move, keep my body in motion to help clear my mind. At the top of the steps I made a left. The surge of New York pedestrian traffic carried me across the street and back again. I didn’t fight it. I just let the current take me, like floating adrift on the ocean,. Before I knew it, I’d washed ashore at the entrance to the Central Park Zoo. So I bought a ticket and went in.

  Animals all over the park squealed and whistled and growled, and in the distance the sounds of the city echoed in contrast. My feet took me along the same path I’d walked with Jack, the animals giving me lazy stares, and sleepy blinks as I passed.