by Bryce Evans
“I can’t believe you were spying on me.”
Bane arched his eyebrows high and pointed at himself. “Big brother here. I won’t apologize for watching out for you, Jade. Never will I apologize for that. I love you and I will protect you forever. No matter who your mate is. And I think you understand that.”
She did understand. She would always forgive Bane for anything he did. She stopped rocking and leaned toward her brother. “You said that you saw something inside me. What exactly do you see?”
“Simone said something to me last night, and when you both pulled up, I can’t explain it, but your aura has changed. My wolf sees it, but I don’t know what it is. I think you’re finally coming into your own. Maybe you suppressed who you are. Since the bear attack, you have been so introverted, I was afraid you wouldn’t talk again, but slowly you did. You never wanted to train. I let it go because I felt you had been through enough.”
Jade held her brother’s hand and they sat for a few minutes in silence. “So, what’s the crazy beta teaching you?”
Jade smiled. “Everything.”
“Good, but you know, I can help train you.”
“I know, but it’s different with Cosmo. He doesn’t treat me like you or any of the pack do. He doesn’t look at me the same way.”
“How does he look at you?” Bane asked, narrowing his eyes.
Jade swallowed hard and faced her brother. “He doesn’t have pity in his eyes when he looks at me. He doesn’t have any mercy on me because of what happened to me when I was a child. He looks at me like you look at everyone else you train.”
Grabbing her hands, Bane pulled her into his lap holding her close. “I’m so sorry, Jade. I don’t…”
“It’s okay, Bane. Really, I guess in a way, I wanted to be petted and treated like a child. It was hard enough to look in the mirror and I think I even felt sorry for myself for such a long time that I allowed people to feel pity for me. It was easier that way. I didn’t have to talk to them or deal with them. I brought all of it on myself. You didn’t, I did. So, stop feeling like you let me down. I let myself down, but now I want to change that and the way everyone looks at me. Do you think I can do that?”
Nuzzling her face, Bane whispered, “You already have.”
Lennox watched as Cosmo came out of the bathroom. He had taken another shower. He already had one before he left this morning. “Why are you showering so much?”
“What are you, the shower police?”
Narrowing his eyes, Lennox knew something was up with his best friend. He wasn’t telling him something. Maybe he was with a girl.
“I’m glad that you shifted back. We need to fix the wall you busted through last night,” Cosmo said, pushing his feet up on his desk.
“I already did while you were out.” Lennox was still angry and he hoped Cosmo treaded lightly or he would take it out on him.
“Good. Saw your mate this morning going into work. I made sure she made it and, yes, her brother was parked waiting on her. She looked fine.”
Sitting up in his seat, he asked, “Did she wave at you? Say anything?”
“Uh, no, didn’t even look my way,” Cosmo said, grinning.
Lennox tried to read the report lying on his desk, but all he could think about was Jade. He hated her being mad. He couldn’t stand it.
“Maybe you need to go into town and talk with her. I bet she has calmed down by now.” What could he do to make this right?
“Lennox?” Cosmo stood in front of his desk waving his hands in front of his face.
“What?”
“Did you hear what I said?”
“No, what? And why are you waving your hands around like an idiot?”
“Because you are in la la land. I said I bet she has calmed down by now and maybe you need to go into town and talk to her.”
“You think?”
“Yes, I think. Look, girls want to be chased. Especially, the ones with four legs. You get it, four legs?” Lennox watched as Cosmo started laughing.
“You’re so stupid. I’m going into town.” Walking to the door, he glanced back as Cosmo bent over laughing at his own stupid joke. “You coming or what?”
Holding up his finger, Cosmo was about to fall over he was laughing so hard. Dumb idiot.
Chapter Fourteen
Jade could see the girls whispering to each other and then looking back at her. It was a slow day, so she decided to go out front and work on the bracelet she promised Lennox. She did say she was going to make him one and she always kept her promise.
Anyway, she wanted to start a men’s line. Starting with the bracelet and then use the new leather she just got in. She liked how durable it was. Every bead and ink she had chosen reminded her of him.
She glanced up when Finley walked out of the bakery and made his way to her. Finley was a gem and she really liked him. His mate Alex was in the store doing the books, she was now keeping the books for her company too. She liked how Alex explained everything in terms she could understand.
“Hey, Fin.”
“We haven’t had time to talk lately. How you been?” Fin sat in the rocking chair beside her.
“Good, how’s it going for you and Alex?”
“Excellent, if everyone felt like this, they would find their mate sooner. If they could. I know some may never find them.”
“That’s good, Fin.” He was never silent but today he sat beside her without saying one word. She could see he was watching her. “You have something to ask me?”
“What makes you think that?”
Laughing, Jade leaned back and rocked. She knew he wouldn’t be able to stand it much longer. She figured she was the talk of the pack. Every busy body would be headed to each other’s houses and she would be the ripe juicy gossip.
“You going to tell me?” Fin said, looking at her.
“Tell you what, Fin?”
“Come on, Jade, you’ve met your mate. This is exciting news. I would have thought you would have told at least me.” Fin was smiling, rocking her chair back and forth. “This isn’t exciting news, is it?”
Jade took a deep breath and shook her head. “Not really. I’ve already made a mess of everything.”
“Jade, you couldn’t make a mess of anything.”
“He built me a building and I told him I didn’t want it.”
“A building?”
“A new building to make my products. He purchased all new equipment.”
“Wow, that’s convenient and kinda nice.”
“See, I made a mess of it. I should have said something, but instead I crawled off shutting down like I always do. I…just don’t want to be controlled, Fin. And you know what else?”
“What, hun?”
“I’m fucking tired of feeling like that and…I’m tired of being the one people stare at all the time and feel pity for me. I’m sick of taking shit from everyone. I’m…well I’m not going to take it anymore. You hear me? If that alpha wants me, he better get ready to fight for my heart. It’s not free. I don’t care if we’re mates. I want to be treated with respect by my brother and…and everyone. You hear me?”
Fin looked around and Simone, Quinn, and Alex came out of the store. Some pack members were even crossing the street and heard her. “Yeah, sweetheart, I hear ya. I think everyone did.”
Jade blinked hard then looked behind her and the girls watching her. Simone and Quinn gave her thumbs up and Alex just looked like she was shocked. Of course, she was. Jade had never raised her voice at anyone. Especially, not her mate. All six foot four, two hundred sixty pounds of him.
“I’m proud of you.”
Jade glanced back at Fin. “You’re so weird.”
“Now keep it up. I don’t know where this is coming from, but I like the new Jade Cross.” Fin stood and kissed her on top of her head and moved to where his mate stood and planted a kiss that would knock any other woman to her knees, but not Alex. She gave it right back. They were so cute together.
Jade went back in the store. She was going to leave early today. Her wolf needed out. She was becoming more and more aggressive. That’s all she needed, a wolf with an attitude.
“What are they doing?” Lennox asked Cosmo. They watched as the guard Fin took a rifle from the police chief.
“I think that’s his dad,” Cosmo answered. He knew something was up when Fin took off toward Southern Treasures. That was all Lennox needed to see. He jumped out of the truck and ran toward the store. All he knew was that the guard carried a rifle and he was going into the store where his mate was at.
When he opened the door, Fin was at Jade’s counter. He could see the smile fall from her face. He didn’t care if she was mad at him. Something was wrong, and it had to do with her.
“What’s wrong?” Lennox asked.
Fin and Jade both looked up. “My dad said there is a white bear on the loose scaring hikers. They said it didn’t try to hurt anyone but was running this way and I remember that the bear that attacked Jade was—”
“White.” Lennox finished the sentence for him.
“I’m going and don’t you try to stop me.” Jade announced narrowing her eyes at him daring him to say she couldn’t go.
“I wouldn’t dare, but you’re riding with me.”
“Fine.”
“Where is everyone going?” Quinn asked. “Why?” She narrowed her eyes at Fin when she saw him with the gun.
“There has been a white bear sighting on the trails,” Fin answered. “My dad said he has never seen a white bear. It has to be the one.”
“Let’s go,” Jade said, walking toward the door.
“I’ll call Arden and Bane,” Quinn answered, running to her office.
Lennox ran after his mate. Outside, they found Cosmo talking with the chief. “I’ll drive,” Lennox said, catching the keys that his beta flung into the air.
Jade didn’t wait for him to open the door. She jumped in the front seat and slammed the door. Cosmo climbed into the cargo bed of the truck.
“Jade, it’s probably not the same bear. It’s been fifteen years.”
“The chief said the bear was bigger than most and the tourist reported that it had markings on its back and neck. Just like the bear that attacked me,” Jade said.
Cosmo pulled the rear window to the side and leaned in. “The chief said the bear was running toward town and that doesn’t sound like a bear. He’s afraid it will attack someone and he will have to put it down.”
Jade and Lennox didn’t say anything so Cosmo pulled his head back out. They rode in silence until he couldn’t take it anymore. “I’m sorry.”
When Jade glanced at him, he wasn’t looking at her. He kept his eyes glued to the road.
“About what?” Man, this was going to be tough. She was going to make him grovel, but it didn’t matter. He would.
“About the building. Since it’s such a big place, we can turn it into a pack house. Maybe it’s best with all the hunters under one roof, but they all get their own room. You should have seen them today when I told them. And believe it or not, Leo wants to put up wallpaper, said it was going to be an accent wall or something.”
Jade snorted. Covering her mouth, she glanced at Lennox.
“Yeah, we all got some good laughs about that one. He said you would understand what he was doing. Don’t ever cover your face when you laugh. I love to hear you. It’s the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard,” Lennox said, smiling at her.
His nostrils flared as she gave him the first sign of hope. He affected her. Her pheromones surrounded him.
Pounding on the top of the truck made her jump and look toward the roadway. Lennox stopped the truck in the middle of the road. Nobody got out. This wasn’t any ordinary bear.
This was the one that hurt Jade. The bear stared at her. Even when the chief got out with his rifle, she didn’t move a muscle. The bear continued to watch Jade. Why didn’t the stupid bear run?
Then she felt a sharp pain piercing her body. She screamed, grabbing at her chest. The pain was so powerful, she almost lost conscience. She couldn’t breathe. Jade panicked pushing the door handle, falling out of the truck. “I can’t…breathe—”
“Jade, Jade.” Lennox was kneeling beside her in a blink. He turned her over but all she could do was stare at the bear who was watching as she gasped for air. Just like before, the pain crippled her mind and soul.
“Kill the fucking bear,” Lennox yelled out.
“No, no, no.” Her throat felt like sandpaper. She knew this had something to do with the bear. They couldn’t kill it. Jade pulled Lennox by the neck to stare into his eyes. “Don’t let him kill the bear, promise me.”
“Okay, baby. Okay. Just breathe,” Lennox pleaded.
When she glanced toward the bear, it was wobbling just like her own vision and then everything went black.
Chapter Fifteen
“Are you telling me a fucking shifter did this to my sister? A fucking bear shifter. Kill the fucking bitch. She deserves to die for what she did to Jade. If you won’t, then I will.” Jade heard her brother yelling and she knew he meant it.
“No…” Jade tried to scream out, but she couldn’t. Her voice was so low she doubted anyone could hear her.
“Thank God,” Lennox said. Her head was in his lap. She glanced around and they were in her bedroom at the pack house.
“Yes, thank God. That would please me,” Jade whispered.
“Jade, what were you thinking?” Bane grabbed her hand and held it to his face. Tears pooled in his eyes as he tried to talk. “I won’t lose you too. Do you understand me? Don’t ever do anything like that again. You could have been killed.”
Jade watched as Bane lowered his head onto her stomach.
“I’m okay and you could never lose me.” Jade pushed her brother’s hair back, smoothing it out like she always did when they watched TV together. He always fell asleep as she played with his hair.
Bane took in a deep breath and exhaled. “What happened?”
“I don’t know. It was like she was inside me. The bear was inside me somehow. I know it sounds strange, but I could feel her and she kept saying over and over that they’re coming, they’re coming. I couldn’t breathe and the pain in my chest. I thought my chest was being ripped apart. What happened to her?”
Jade tried to get up but wobbled backward. Lennox picked her up, placing her in his lap. “Easy now.”
“Did you kill her?”
“No, but I plan on it,” Bane growled.
“You can’t, Bane.” Jade sounded crazy even to herself, but she wasn’t wrong about this.
“She’s a mage,” Quinn said, walking over to her. “Damn it, why didn’t I see it before?”
“A mage? There haven’t been any mages around in a long time,” Arden said to his mate.
“That’s because of the stigma they get. I told you about my grandmother, right?”
“She’s one of the Old Ones,” Arden answered.
Quinn continued. “Yes, but what you don’t know, and I just found out myself, is that the Old Ones are all mages, but the good ones. They are here to protect the shifters and magic users from the bad ones. Most mages have been killed for practicing black magic and using it on people or they scattered in fear of being found. But there are a few still around, from what my grandmother told me.
“She also told me about a girl name Greer O’Neill who came from Ireland around ninety years ago. Both her parents came from a long line of mages, and when Greer was born, she possessed certain marks on her back and chest. This girl had more powerful magic than anyone they knew, but the word got out about the marks and her magic. It became such a problem that there were several attempts to kidnap her.
“Whoever got to Greer first would steal the magic. Now, I don’t know if that is even possible, but that’s what I was told. And to protect her, they made up a story that she died, even went so far as to put another child who died in a casket and had a funeral. I know, I know this sounds c
razy, but hear me out.
“My grandmother also said that Greer had an aunt who lived in America. So, Greer was transported to America and was never heard of again. But soon after Greer arrived, a whole coven of witches came here from Ireland to hunt her down. Apparently, they found out Greer wasn’t dead and now on the run. Nobody knows what happened to them or if they found Greer.
“Grandmother said Greer was so powerful that she needed a mate to help contain her power and keep her calm or else she would go into these fits of rage. What if that woman shifter is Greer?” Quinn pointed into the other room.
“Quinn, what would she be doing here? Assuming you’re right?” Finley said. “No offense.”
Quinn smiled and said, “None taken, but I think I’m on to something.”
“We keep her under lock and key until we find out who she is and what she’s doing here. I don’t want anyone to open that door. We don’t know what we’re dealing with right now, and I’m not taking any chances on her waking up and using her power or shifting and hurting someone else. Understand?” Arden was staring at Bane who looked pissed, but he wouldn’t go against Arden.
“Are you sure she can’t get out of the room?” Cosmo asked.
Arden smiled. “Yes, not this room. We reinforced three rooms with steel from ceiling to floor. The walls are concrete and steel. No way she’s getting out of there.”
“How do you feel, Jade? Are you still in any pain?” Simone asked, sitting on the bed beside Lennox who still had her in his lap holding her close to his chest.
“I don’t feel any pain.”
Simone glanced at Lennox and snorted. “I bet not.”
“Har har,” Jade whispered, rolling her eyes.
She could feel Lennox nuzzling his face against her hair. His arms wrapped around her tighter and all she could feel was the warmth radiating off his body.
“Why don’t we let Jade rest right now,” Quinn said, motioning for everyone to leave. When Bane stood, she didn’t know what to say as Lennox continued to nuzzle her neck and hair. It was the most passionate experience she had ever had. And all of it was in front of her brother. Awkward!
