“What did he look like?” Jay demanded.
She described him.
“What makes you think he’s your brother?”
“He told me so. Weird huh?”
“What makes you think he’s not human?”
“He’s always just appearing and well, disappearing. And the way he moves, it doesn’t look right. It’s like he doesn’t walk, he glides. He was beside me one moment then two yards away the next and I never saw him move. And he knew that you and Ryan are werewolves, in fact he seemed to know quite a bit about werewolves.”
“Really?” Jay’s voice was serious. “If he was a werewolf I would have caught his scent on you.”
“Yeah, I don’t think he’s a werewolf either. His touch is really cold, I’m pretty sure if I was that cold I’d be dead. If anything, you guys tend to run hot not cold.”
“Can you think of anything else?”
She shook her head. “Not really, but sometimes I’ve had this feeling of being watched.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about him earlier?” he scolded.
“There was a lot going on,” she replied defensively.
He reached for his phone. Cassie sat up beside him, listening as he had a curt conversation with his brother.
“Rye doesn’t have any idea who or what he is,” Jay explained as he closed his phone. “But he said he’ll be on his guard.” He ran his hands through his hair, sending it into disarray. “We have to leave soon and we’ll need to be careful he doesn’t follow us.”
“I don’t think he’s a threat to me. Why would he help me if he meant me any harm? And why would he claim to be my brother and then try to hurt me?”
“I don’t know. But I don’t like the fact that he’s been watching you. I can’t take any chances with your safety. Is there anyone who would remember your father? Is he listed on your birth certificate?”
She shook her head. “I’m not sure my mother knew his name, she’d never answer any questions about him. Someone else in Landon might remember him. Mom lived there her whole life. It’s not exactly a large place. Everyone knows everyone else’s business.”
“Wouldn’t someone have told you about him, then? Spoke about him?”
She frowned. “You’re right, they would have. Still, I’ll ask around anyway. It’ll give the gossipers something to talk about, me trying to find my dad.” She sighed.
“How come you never left Landon? Moved somewhere bigger, where no one knew you?”
She shrugged. “I always wanted to. But then mom got sick in my last year of high school. I’d always worked in the school library, it seemed logical to move into a job at the public library. The money wasn’t great but it was enough to take care of mom and myself. Then when she died, well, I guess I was too scared. I had nobody, at least in Landon I knew everyone. There are nice people who live there too.”
She tugged him down until he lay next to her, then wiped the frown lines from his forehead.
“Let’s worry about figuring this all out later, okay?” She dragged his hand to her breast, her nipple stiffening instantly.
His gaze was immediately drawn to her naked body.
“You’ll tell me straightaway if you feel as though you’re being watched, or if you see him again.” It was more an order than a question, but she replied anyway.
“Uh-huh.” She thrust her chest up, pushing her breast against his hand.
“Insatiable little thing, aren’t you?” he murmured, his voice thick.
She reached down and lightly stroked his half-erect cock. “Is that a complaint?”
“Hell, no,” he gasped as she ran her thumb over the head of his cock, dipping slightly into his slit. She started to slide down his body but he halted her, his hands holding her shoulders.
“Don’t you want me to?” She licked her lips.
“Oh yeah, I want. Roll onto your back, though.”
She rolled over and he knelt over her, his cock above her mouth.
She leaned up and licked his balls. He moved back with a shout.
“Don’t move.” He stared at her sternly. She giggled unrepentantly.
“You let me do the moving, Cass, you just—”
“Lie here with my mouth and legs open? I think I can manage that.”
He grumbled and she laughed again.
He guided his shaft down to her mouth, running the head over her lips until she opened them. He slid into her mouth.
She let him set the pace. Her hands cupped his balls, squeezing. Her thighs rubbed against one another, trying to alleviate some of her own arousal.
“Shit, shit, shit. That feels so good, Cassie, you wouldn’t believe.”
She used both hands to grab his ass, cupping, massaging.
He let out a guttural groan. “I’m gonna come.” She pulled him in closer as he came with a shout. She smiled and as he withdrew, she grabbed the base of his shaft, holding him still so she could have a last, lingering lick of his half-erect cock.
He rolled back onto the bed, breathing heavily, a light sheen of sweat covering his body. She rolled over and played her fingers over his nipples. He laid his large hand over hers, stilling her movements.
“Ahh, babe, I could die a happy man.” Leaning up, he took her mouth in a sweeping kiss.
“You’ve worn me out.” He closed his eyes and lay back. “I think I need a nap to recover.”
She whacked his shoulder. “Tease.”
His face remained expressionless, eyes still shut as he spoke. “You know how to take care of yourself, don’t you?”
She let out a startled bark of laughter. “Jerk.”
He rolled onto his side, moving her onto her back. “In fact,” he teased, grinning. “Why don’t you give me a little show?” He lifted her hips and placed two pillows beneath them, spreading her thighs. Then he lay on his side across the bottom of the bed, his head positioned for prime viewing between her legs.
“Don’t you want to come?” he asked her innocently when she didn’t move.
Jay lay there gazing at his gorgeous mate. Her skin gleamed. He ran his hand over her leg, loving the smooth feel of her against his calloused palm. In his world, he was frequently surrounded by danger, darkness and intrigue. As an enforcer he often saw the worst in others. But Cassie was sweet and good. She had fast become his shelter. When he was with her, he could relax and be himself.
She didn’t see herself as he did, didn’t see herself as attractive. He was determined to work on that, though. Bit by bit he’d build up her self-esteem until she had no choice but to realize how much she meant to him.
He knew she thought herself lucky to have him, but he was the lucky one. She brought light, laughter, happiness. He simply could not live without her.
She was hesitating, and he thought she wasn’t going to comply. But she moved her hand slowly down to her slit and slipped two fingers inside her passage, coating the two digits before she held them up to him.
“Oh baby,” he murmured huskily, leaning in to lick her fingers clean of every drop of dew. He then dragged her fingers into his mouth and sucked them. He let them go reluctantly, riveted as she returned those same fingers to flick at her clit.
He could barely decide what he desired more, to watch her bring herself to orgasm or to replace her hand with his tongue, to lick up more of that delicious dew, to suck on that sensitive little nub.
He decided to hold back…this time.
“So beautiful. Keep going, that’s right, make yourself come.” He kept up his praise, letting her know how much he appreciated what she was doing, that she was letting him watch her reach fulfillment.
Her fingers sped up, her thighs quivered and she let out a sharp cry as she came. He immediately moved, pushing her hand aside to suck hard on her clit, prolonging her orgasm. He couldn’t resist one long, sweet lick of her slick lips before he rose, pulling her into his arms to kiss her deep and long.
* * * * *
The next morning, they lazed in bed.
She sat between his legs, her back resting against his chest. He was leaning back against the headboard, his magical hands massaging her shoulders. She felt lazy and content.
“Can I see you change?” she asked.
His hands stilled on her shoulders. “You sure?”
“Yes,” she replied firmly, knowing the reason behind his hesitation. “I’m not like Lia. Trust me.”
He moved, slipping out from behind her. He stood beside the bed, staring down at her until she thought he was going to change his mind. But then he sighed, running his thumb across her lips. Slipping her tongue out, she licked him.
“Don’t be afraid.”
“I won’t be,” she replied. She knew Lia’s reaction, her betrayal, had hurt him. She was determined to show him how amazing he was, wolf and all.
The change happened quicker than she’d imagined—a smooth movement of muscle and skin under a shimmering glow that disguised most of the transformation.
Then he stood before her, a magnificent creature. He was long, taller than she’d thought he would be, with beautiful light-brown fur thickly covering his body. He shook his head and snuffled, making her smile. When she looked into his eyes she saw Jay staring back at her. Walking over to the bed, he laid his massive head on the mattress and watched her, waiting for her to move to him.
Crawling over, she lay on her stomach and rested her head beside his. This left her neck in a vulnerable position, easily in reach of those massive jaws. It was a show of trust and of love.
“You’re gorgeous,” she whispered in his ear, reaching up with one hand to scratch the fur around his neck, surprised by how soft it felt. “I love you.”
A lick on her throat was her only answer, and it was more than enough.
“You weren’t frightened.”
He shouldn’t have been amazed, but he was. He lay beside her, his head resting on her stomach, more at peace than he could remember feeling in years.
“No, I wasn’t.”
Her acceptance soothed him and he felt the wolf purr, settle within him more fully. The bond between man and wolf had mended a great deal since he’d been with Cassie.
He yawned, tired after his rapid change between human and wolf then back again.
She ran her fingers through his hair.
“You’re beautiful. Powerful and deadly, sure, but I wasn’t afraid. I felt as though I knew your wolf.”
“The wolf always knew you. I wished I’d listened to him earlier. After Lia, I spent a long time in human form. I contained the wolf as much as I could. I completely dominated him. It got to the point that I could barely feel him in human form. We were like two separate parts. But around you, he started to test me. Once I started to listen, I discovered that he’d always known you were ours.”
His mouth met hers in a sweet kiss. “Love you.”
“I love you too.”
Epilogue
Cassie was so nervous her stomach rumbled. This was it, the day of reckoning, the day her future would be voted on by a bunch of egotistical bigots. Well, okay, that wasn’t fair. Not all of them were bad. Since she’d moved to the estate she’d spent a bit of time with each enforcer. Some of them were actually really nice. Like calm, tranquil Josiah.
Then there were others, like Ryan, who seemed to hate her. But then she’d known spending time with him was going to be difficult. She understood he was simply trying to look out for his brother. She hoped, given time, he’d see they both wanted what was best for Jay.
Cooper had decreed that this vote take place after she’d lived with the pack for a fortnight, both to give the enforcers a chance to get to know her and to give Cassie an idea of what living with the pack was like.
Cooper had put out feelers to some of the other packs about Brynn. He had the whole pack on high alert, keeping watch for him. Of course, they were already on high alert. They still hadn’t found the werewolf who had bombed the shop or put the rattler in Laney’s car. There had been no other attacks or threats, but everyone was tense, on edge, waiting for what would come next.
So far, Cassie hadn’t been able to find anyone who remembered her father. She shouldn’t be surprised, really. He’d probably been a one-night stand of her mother’s. But if that was the case, she wondered how Brynn had found her. It made her wonder if he’d made it all up, if he’d been messing with her for some reason she had yet to figure out.
Most of the pack treated her civilly, but it was a distant sort of politeness. She certainly didn’t feel as if she were part of their community. Laney told her that everyone was waiting for the outcome of the vote, that things would be better once she’d won her petition to become an honorary packmate.
It was funny, she’d spent so much time being scared about moving here, but now she was here she found she didn’t want to have to leave. Because she knew this was where Jay was meant to be. As soon as he’d gotten back to the estate he’d relaxed. This was his place. Cassie prayed the vote would go in their favor.
Standing here on display while others voted on her future was a nightmare for her. Trying hard not to shake, she attempted to concentrate on Cooper, on his calm, deep voice as he spoke to those in the room. Everyone remained silent, giving him the respect he was due.
Jay pulled her close, tucking her under his arm as Cooper got to the point. “So now you will all cast a vote on whether to accept Cassidy Callington as an honorary member of the pack. Jay will abstain. When I call your name, tell me your decision.”
Cassie already knew how this would go. Jay wasn’t happy, but he’d agreed that he couldn’t vote. Each enforcer got a vote. Cooper wouldn’t vote unless there was a tie.
“Laney?” Cooper asked.
“Yes,” she spoke firmly, winking at Cassie who managed a small smile back.
“Marcus?”
“No.”
Laney turned to glare at her middle brother, but Cassie had expected nothing else. She knew the bald, grouchy enforcer didn’t like her. It was the first thing he’d said to her when she’d moved onto the estate.
“Tina?” Cooper asked the tall, dark-haired enforcer.
“I vote no.” No surprises there either.
“Jesse?”
“I vote no.” His green eyes couldn’t meet hers and she knew who was really casting the vote. His bitchy wife, Samantha.
“Josiah?”
“I vote yes.”
Cassie stared at him, startled, and he smiled at her.
“That’s three nos, two yes. Cain?”
The quiet enforcer turned to look at her.
“I vote yes.”
Well that was a shock. She didn’t think he’d said more than three words to her.
“Even votes. Rye?”
“I vote no.”
“Dusty?”
Cassie held herself still. Don’t cry, don’t cry, she told herself. She had no idea how Dusty would vote.
Dusty’s grin was full of trouble. Very slowly she spoke. “I vote…” There was a dramatic pause. “Yes.”
“Oh dear God,” Cassie whispered, her knees weakening to the point of collapse. Luckily, she was held upright by Jay’s possessive arm.
“A tie. Well, it looks like I have the deciding vote,” Cooper spoke calmly.
Cassie didn’t dare look up.
“Welcome to the pack, Cassie.”
* * * * *
“That went well, didn’t it?”
Cassie jumped as Dusty drove her wheelchair out onto the small deck of the cabin. Cassie had wandered out here, needing some fresh air and space from the celebration—commiseration for some—going on inside.
“How on earth do you manage to be so quiet in that contraption?” she snapped.
Dusty grinned. “You owe me.”
“What?” Cassie narrowed her eyes down at the other woman suspiciously.
“I voted for you, now you have to do something for me. I need to know what the ‘B’ stands for.”
“Man, you’re persistent, aren’t you? Why d
o you have to know?”
“Because it’s my job to know.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means just that. It’s my job. I’m the pack interrogator. I ferret out the truth.”
Interrogator? Cassie guessed it made sense. People probably told her things to get her to leave them alone.
“Does Jay have a job?”
The werewolf grinned, showing off pristine white canines. “How badly do you want to know?”
Cassie folded her arms. “I could just ask him.”
“You could.” Dusty held out an arm to prevent her from leaving the deck. “But you don’t want to go back in there. Stay here until Jay comes out.”
“What? Why?” Cassie asked, alarmed.
“Nothing major, Cooper’s giving a lecture about treating you well, as one of us but gentler. You know, because you’re such a fragile, breakable little thing and all.”
“Bet that’s going down well,” Cassie grumbled.
“Like a cat choking on a fur ball,” Dusty replied cheerfully.
“Why aren’t you in there?”
Dusty’s grin wiped clean off her face. “Well, I’m not an enforcer at the moment, am I?”
“Yes you are. You got a vote.”
Dusty shrugged. “Jay’s now third in command.”
“Really? Wow. Who used to be third?”
“Justin,” Dusty snarled.
“Cassie!”
Cassie looked over as Laney appeared on the porch, Cooper close behind her.
“I can’t believe you’re going to live here. I’m so happy.” Laney threw her arms around Cassie, squeezing tight. Cassie felt her insides melt a little. The rejection from some of the enforcers had hurt, even though she’d known it was coming. But Laney’s pure joy soothed some of that wound.
Cooper came forward and Laney moved aside so he could take Cassie’s hands in his. He squeezed lightly as she held her breath. “Cassie, let me offer you a more personal welcome to the Shadowpeak pack. There will be a ceremony in a week, welcoming you more formally into the fold. It’s a good excuse to invite the other packs here, and I hope that bastard who bombed your shop is arrogant enough to come. But for now,” he leaned down and kissed her on each cheek, “please know that my mate and I are pleased you are part of our pack and our family.” He let her go.
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