Jaguar’s Mate

by Katie Reus, Savannah Stuart

  The other wolf blinked once.

  “You might want to check your property lines a little more carefully. I’ve got it pulled up on my GPS if you need.” Smugness rolled off Eli. That smugness wouldn’t stop these wolves from searching the camper if they were determined though.

  “Look,” Sapphire said, stepping forward. “What do you want? This is ridiculous. If my friends are hurt, I want to know about it.”

  The wolf opened his mouth to answer, but Eli cut him off sharply. “You’re on camera right now.” He motioned behind him to the small device hooked up to the dashboard. It was basically a cop cam. “And this feed is being dumped to a server run by her pack. So you really want to tread carefully…unless your alpha wants to go to war over something?”

  For the first time, the wolf looked slightly off-balance. He cleared his throat and looked at the other wolf next to him. “We just want to search your camper.”

  “Why?”

  “We can’t find Luna and Leslie.”

  Sapphire blinked, feigning confusion again. “What does that have to do with us?”

  “They’re hiding in your camper.”

  “No, they’re not.” She said it with pure conviction, no scent of a lie rolling off her. No doubt this wolf scented the truth on her too.

  He frowned again. “Fine. Let us look inside.”

  “It’s unlocked. Go for it,” Eli said.

  The wolf, clearly in charge, nodded at the two males standing by the camper. They finally opened the camper door and headed inside. It wasn’t large and there was nowhere to hide. Less than two minutes later they stepped outside and shook their heads at the shifter in charge.

  He looked frustrated but focused his attention on Sapphire and Eli. “Where the hell are Leslie and Luna?”

  “Why the hell would you ask me that? I’m not either of their keepers. In fact, last time I checked, slavery was outlawed.” she snapped.

  Oh, he did not like that response. But he also had no reason to hold her and Eli as they weren’t in his alpha’s territory anymore. She wondered how far these wolves would go to get their answers. Because if they attacked first, they would be starting a war.

  She pulled out her cell phone and glanced at the incoming text. Inwardly she smiled, though she kept her expression neutral. Leslie and Luna had made it to the meeting spot.

  “We’re leaving now,” Eli said, cutting through the growing silence. “You have no reason to hold us and we’ve been accommodating for whatever bullshit this is.”

  Even though he looked pissed, the wolf nodded after a long moment and motioned for the other two wolves to head back to their own truck.

  Sapphire was silent as she and Eli got back into the truck. Once they pulled away and had made it about a mile down the road, he said, “Looks as if they’ve headed back the way they came.”

  “You think they put a tracker on the camper?” she asked.

  “I think it’s a very real possibility.” She didn’t question him when he pulled off of an exit and found the nearest gas station. After doing a thorough scan, he found a small tracker tucked underneath the bed. He grinned when he found it. “We’re going to have some fun.”

  She grinned back, having an idea where he was going with this. “I’m game.”

  As soon as they dumped the tracker somewhere that would lead the wolves on a wild chase, they’d meet up with her friends and get them to safety.

  Chapter Eight

  “I don’t know how to thank you for this,” Luna said for the tenth time as they settled on a bench where the Kendrick pack was having a casual get-together.

  Sapphire’s pack was close with the Kendrick pack after one of their own mated with the second-in-command the year before.

  They’d arrived two hours ago and had gotten settled in fairly quickly with the friendly Montana wolf pack. Right now Leslie was surrounded by a bunch of she-wolves and was being nurtured and smothered with love. As it should be.

  “You better stop with that,” Sapphire murmured to Luna a she watched the wolves talk, eat, and even some dance out in the open clearing where tables of food and drinks had been set up. Pretty much your standard wolf pack life. They liked to eat, drink and be merry.

  “I’m serious.” Luna reached over and squeezed her forearm once before taking a sip of her wine. “I didn’t know he’d been threatening me,” she continued. “Leslie only told me after you arrived. I think…she was afraid if something happened and you couldn’t make it, that I’d grab her and run anyway.”

  “It makes sense now that he was threatening you. I…I don’t know what happened to your pack.”

  “Me neither. In the last decade these weak male wolves seem to have infiltrated our pack. It’s disgusting. I should have listened to my instinct and left before but I was comfortable and things weren’t terrible. Hell, Leslie’s mate seemed normal. When I say there were no red flags…there weren’t. He blindsided my girl. Me too.” Her jaw clenched tight even as her claws started to extend. “I kept begging her to leave with me. I thought she was brainwashed or… Hell, I don’t know. I just couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t leave.”

  Sapphire wrapped her arm around Luna’s shoulders. “You guys are safe now. No one is going to infiltrate Kendrick territory. They’ve secured their borders even tighter since Erica and Hudson had twins.” Erica was a former packmate of Sapphire’s who now had adorable twin boys who would soon be one year old.

  “I know. I think I just need to talk things out a bit… But now that we can breathe some and I can see Leslie is okay, tell me more about this jaguar whose scent you’re drowning in.” Luna’s voice was pitched low, but it did nothing to hide her amusement.

  “We don’t have to talk about him.” Sapphire’s gaze strayed to where Eli was talking with some of the wolves, including Hudson and the alpha, Malcolm. Of all of them, Eli was definitely the sexiest, hands down.

  “Come on. He’s really into you, if the possessive way he’s been watching you all night is any indication. And it’s clear you’re into him.”

  “He’s…fine. We’re fine. We’re just…I don’t know. Things between us are…nice.”

  Luna glanced at her and lifted a dark eyebrow. “Fine and nice? Want me to get you a thesaurus?”

  Sapphire gently nudged her best friend. “Shut up. Ugh. I don’t know. He wants a commitment, I think. He doesn’t want casual, at any rate.”

  Luna snorted. “And let me guess, you got all stupid—”

  “Hey!”

  “I’m your best friend, I get to use that word. Like I was saying, I know exactly what happened. And I swear if you bring up that curse, I’ll lose it.”

  Sapphire shot her a frown. “I am cur—”

  “Don’t say it. Do not say the word. You are not cursed.”

  Before she could respond, Erica strode up, smiling widely at them. “I’m so glad you’ve joined our pack,” she said to Luna, pulling her into a hug.

  Sapphire stood as well and hugged Erica. She’d been one of the younger members of the Kincaid pack when she’d lived in Gulf Shores. Now she was a mother and Sapphire could tell how much she’d grown into herself. Her friend had a confidence that hadn’t been there a couple years ago.

  “Where are the boys?” Sapphire asked, hoping to get to play with the pups tonight.

  “Getting into trouble.” Erica’s voice was dry as she shook her head. “They’ve been running around all night shifting from human to wolf. I’ve completely lost track of them and their clothes. I don’t even know why I bother dressing them.”

  “When they turn about four they’ll start keeping up with their own clothes,” Luna said. “My Leslie was the worst about running around naked, I swear. All the pups in our pack were.”

  “They definitely keep me busy. So how long are you going to be in town?” she asked Sapphire.

  “Ah…a day or so. I want to make sure they get settled in.”

  “Thank you.” Luna smiled softly.

  “Good
,” Erica said. “It’s good to see you even if the situation isn’t the best. Plus I want all the Kincaid pack gossip, including everything about that sexy jaguar you’re hooking up with.”

  “Yeah, we’re not talking about my love life, nosy wolf.”

  “I beg to differ. I’ll get it out of you. Why don’t you and Luna come to the salon tomorrow and I’ll take care of you. You can fill me in on everything then.”

  “Ah…” Luna glanced over at Leslie, who was still talking to some of the younger she-wolves, two of whom were pregnant.

  “I’ve already made her promise to come in too. You can make a girls’ day of it. After everything you’ve been through, take this break and pamper yourself. You guys deserve it.”

  “We’re in,” Sapphire said before Luna could respond.

  “Good, then. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to find my boys before they set something on fire.”

  “One rambunctious pup was hard enough,” Luna murmured as Erica walked away.

  “No kidding.” Sapphire had always wanted kids, but she’d never let herself think too much about them. She’d always assumed they weren’t for her. Because of the thing that she wasn’t going to think of.

  After spending more time with Eli and getting to know him—and falling hard for him—she was starting to wonder if maybe… Nope. Not going down that road. Not tonight anyway.

  She was going to do the wolf thing and eat, drink and be merry. For her sanity.

  * * *

  Sapphire reached for the last piece of triple chocolate cake at the same time that Malcolm, the alpha did.

  “I’m just messing with you,” he said and scooted the dessert plate over to her.

  “Thanks. You almost lost a hand.” She kept her expression neutral as she dug a fork into the layers of heavenly goodness.

  He blinked once and then grinned. “Noted. It’s really brave what you guys did to get your friends here.”

  She lifted a shoulder. “That’s what friends do for each other. And Eli had my back.”

  Nodding, Malcolm glanced around, looking over the clusters of his packmates scattered everywhere. “Yeah, I like him. Not sure where he went off to though.”

  Sapphire scanned the crowd of wolves, also wondering where he’d gone. An irrational, jealous side she hadn’t realized she possessed was annoyed that she didn’t see him. She wanted to know exactly where he was because a few females had disappeared earlier too. Not that she thought he’d run off and hooked up with someone tonight but that weirdly possessive part of her brain was flaring to life.

  She did not like this feeling.

  “How long are you guys staying?” Malcolm asked.

  She’d just started to respond when Eli appeared out of nowhere, like a ghost from the shadows of the trees, and slid an arm around her waist. Holding her tightly, he kissed the top of her head. “We’ll be here for a couple days,” he answered politely enough. There was a strange edge to his voice.

  She glanced up at him, wondering what was going on with him. It wasn’t as if Malcolm had been flirting with her or anything, even if he was single. Not even close. He was doing his duty as the alpha, and being friendly to the newcomers. Newcomers that he’d allowed onto his property when he hadn’t had to.

  Malcolm actually grinned though, and stepped back. “You’re welcome to stay as long as you want. We’ve got a cabin available for you two if you decide not to stay in your camper. Hudson can show you where it is.” Then he was gone, being hailed down by one of his pack.

  “What was that? I thought you liked him,” she said, turning into Eli’s embrace.

  “I do like him. But I don’t like him talking to you.”

  She blinked. “Wait…you don’t like him specifically talking to me, or is this a general thing where you don’t like any males talking to me?” Because she recognized that predatory look in his gaze now. He was definitely jealous. When he simply lifted a shoulder, she laughed and laid her cheek against his chest, inhaling the wild scent of him. “Is it weird that I like that?”

  His body stiffened slightly so she pulled back to look up at him.

  “Do you want to get away from the party?” he asked, heat sparking in his eyes. “Or do you need to be here for your friends?”

  “They’re fine without me. They’re assimilating very quickly into this pack.”

  “Good. We need to be naked, like now.”

  Warmth spread through her like wildfire at his words. Being naked with him sounded perfect. “Are you finally going to give up the goods for me?” she asked, not joking at all.

  He let out a loud laugh that wrapped around her, warming her from the inside out. He looked years younger when he laughed and the sound itself was absolutely intoxicating.

  “That’s not exactly an answer,” she murmured.

  He tugged on her hand. “Then come with me and find out.”

  They got directions to the cabin, though she barely remembered the walk there. All she could focus on was Eli’s intoxicating, wild scent as she fantasized about finally getting naked with him again. As soon as they opened the door and stepped inside, Eli had her back flat against the front door as it shut behind them. She wasn’t sure if he locked it or not and didn’t really care. If someone decided to come in, they were in for a show.

  “You’re not cursed,” he rasped out as he bit her bottom lip, nipping gently.

  She had no response for that. Instead she basically shoved his pants off, surprised she didn’t rip the button on them.

  Before he’d stepped out of them, he was tugging at her shirt. He tossed it behind them as he buried his face in her neck. “And I’m not letting you walk away,” he murmured, his voice wicked and sensual as he scraped his teeth along the column of her neck.

  Pinpoints of pleasure flowed everywhere as heat flooded between her thighs. Why the hell was he talking? She wanted to feel his cock inside her right now. She’d been missing him for over a month. This was no time to talk. Not when they needed to be naked and doing stuff.

  “So whatever you think about your stupid curse, it’s not real,” he continued, taking off her bra now. “Or if it is, I’m going to break it.”

  “Shut up and get naked.” She grabbed at his own shirt and tugged it off.

  He made quick work of the rest of her clothes and had her flat against the door again. Oh yeah, it was time for the good stuff.

  She wrapped her legs around his waist as he looked deep into her eyes. “Did you hear everything I said?”

  “I heard you. I don’t know why you’re still talking. You should be fucking me.” She wasn’t going to touch on anything he’d said. Not right now. She’d just allowed herself to think that maybe things between them could be different, that she wouldn’t lose him once she let him into her heart—but she wasn’t going to say it out loud.

  He grinned and rolled his hips against her. His erection was heavy between them and she loved the feel of it. But she would love it even more if he was inside her.

  “Life with you is never going to be dull,” he murmured.

  “Eli—”

  He cut her off with a demanding kiss, his tongue invading her mouth and making her weak in the knees. Breathing hard, he pulled back. “Don’t say anything right now. Just be with me. And accept what I’m offering you. I don’t want to walk away from you, from us. I feel it on a bone-deep level that you’re my mate.” He looked shockingly vulnerable in that moment and she understood why. That was a huge declaration to make.

  He thought she was his mate.

  It was everything she’d wanted to hear. Hell, needed to hear. Because she’d felt the tug too, but she’d been ignoring it because of her own fears. What if she admitted that she thought the same thing and turned out to be wrong? What if she put the thought out into the universe and then he found someone else? His true mate, like all the others had?

  But he was nothing like all the others… Oh God, she needed to say something.

  “I can see you getting lo
st in your head right now,” he murmured. “You don’t need to respond. But now you know how I feel.”

  “I care about you, Eli. A lot.” She tried to force more words out, but her throat seized up. She felt like a coward for not being able to put herself out there like he had, but he covered her mouth once again, taking control.

  “Don’t think right now. Just feel.” This time his kisses were long and slow, his tongue teasing against hers. There were things she wanted to tell him, but right now she just wanted to enjoy the sensation of his body against hers, of the skin-to-skin contact she’d been craving from him.

  Reaching between their bodies, she started stroking him even as he ran his hands all over her, teasing and caressing her everywhere.

  Her breasts rubbed against his chest, her already sensitized nipples rubbing against him, sending little waves of pleasure to the pulse between her thighs. She’d been without his touch for far too long and felt raw and needy.

  When he cupped her mound, testing her slickness, she just about combusted. And when he thrust inside her, she clenched around him, moaning out his name.

  In that moment, everything boiled down to just the two of them as he thrust inside her over and over, his thickness filling her. She’d missed him, but she wasn’t sure she’d realized how much until that very moment. Being with him like this was almost surreal, like she was coming home in a way she’d never known she needed. She loved her life and her pack, but being with him filled something different inside her. A deeper need, hunger.

  She clutched onto his ass, digging her fingers in tight as he drove inside her.

  It didn’t take long for both of them to climax. Once he reached between their bodies and started teasing her clit, she surged into orgasm at the same time he did.

  Pleasure punched through her in sharp, intense waves until they both collapsed against the door. Her arms and legs were loose as she laid her head against his shoulder.

  “Now that round one’s over, let’s start round two in the shower,” she murmured. Then maybe for round three they’d make it to the bed. She didn’t care where though.