“When Leonardo and I first met,” Dena said joining them eyes on Garin, “he told me that it was my smell that drew him.”
“Roses and antiseptic,” Alec uttered glancing at Brianna.
“Honey dew and oranges,” Jaime uttered.
A few others chimed in coming out of the house, and Leonardo met Whitney’s stunned look.
“Thank you, Whitney,” Garin suddenly spoke a husky note in his voice. “If you hadn’t rejected me, then maybe I wouldn’t have become the person I am. Although I distrusted and slept with many of women because of it, but if you had accepted me then I wouldn’t have never left the pack. In return, I wouldn’t have met Daya because I would have never been at the pack house the day she came to visit.” He shifted his gaze to Daya a heat in his eyes that made her shiver, but not with cold before turning back to Whitney even as he drew Daya against him. “So thank you, Whitney.”
With those words, Garin turned keeping his arms around Daya and walked over to Alec who clapped him on the back before following into step beside him as they headed back into the house.
A few minutes later, Leonardo and Trevor stood on the porch with Whitney and their visitor.
“It’s time for us to go, Whitney,” he replied heading for the stairs after bowing his head to Leonardo and Trevor. He headed down to the car a second before the front door opened followed by Paul and Jaime who was carrying Whitney’s luggage, and they placed them in the trunk.
With a brief wave, they headed back inside the house.
“He is waiting for you,” Leonardo remarked in a rueful voice. “I hope you find what you are looking for, Whitney.”
“I will.” Whitney smiled, and they could see she was dismissing everything said the last few minutes in her belief that they were wrong.
She headed down the stairs to the car where she slipped into the back while the man shook his head, but climbed in front after a brief wave of goodbye.
Leonardo and Trevor watched them drive away, and then they turned heading back inside the house.
“I wonder what Whitney would think when she arrives and realizes that her Beta met his second mate about two months ago.”
Trevor started laughing which after a few seconds, Leonardo joined him even as they entered the house where the others including Garin and Daya stood waiting.
“Alpha,” Garin shifted his gaze away from Daya to Trevor. “When are we going home?”
Laughter floated around the room, and Trevor shook his head sharing a look with Leonardo before turning back to Garin with a smirk.
“In the morning, at first light,” he confirmed watching Garin groan, but after Daya lifted up to whisper something to him, it turned into a wolfish grin which made Trevor turn away along with a few others.
“Enjoy your evening.” Leonardo was the one who called out watching Garin immediately turn for the stairs before swinging Daya into his arms which made her gasp eliciting laughter from all those present.
When Garin disappeared upstairs with a laughing Daya, Alec turned to Brianna who shook her head.
“I guess he waited long enough,” Kelsey teased while Jaime groaned at her words.
“I’m guessing so has Daya,” Brianna added her gaze going up the stairs. “After all, they’ve been forcing themselves to ignore what their hearts and bodies have been telling them from the second they met.”
“Like another couple we know,” Kala remarked in a light tone eyes shifting between Brianna and Alec.
“That’s why we understand more than anyone else,” Alec assured them his arms going around Brianna. “At least, Garin was smart enough not to wait as long as I did.”
Upstairs in his guest room, Garin lowered Daya to the bed giving her a long kiss before going over to the door to shut and lock it.
“I was going to wait until we were back home,” Garin spoke huskily turning back to the bed where Daya pushed up on her elbows. “But…”
“Wherever you are is home, Garin,” Daya interrupted her own voice husky with the emotions running through her.
Garin walked back over to the bed lowering himself down next to her, and he reached out to caress her cheek.
“Are you sure…?”
Garin stopped her words with a single shake of her head. “I’m sure that you are the woman for me just as my wolf was from his first meeting of you.”
Daya stared up at him. “Strawberries and mint?” She whispered in a light voice.
“The shampoo you use is strawberry/mint infusion,” Garin muttered leaning down to nuzzle her neck. “It attracted my wolf from the second he smelled in that classroom.”
Daya groaned when he lightly nipped at her neck before soothing it with his tongue. “I remember going out to my car and seeing you with…”
She gasped when Garin nipped her a little harder his tongue coming out to soothe the area immediately before he lifted his head to stare down at her.
“Nothing happened,” he assured in a low voice. “I may have wanted Tammie, but I don’t like having my intimate moments on display for all to see.” His eyes darkened and he lowered his lips to hers whispering, “Besides, after you drove away, you were the only thing on my mind.”
Even as Garin’s lips settled on her, his hands slipped over her removing clothes with an ease that astonished Daya. Yet, her own hands came out to soothe over him helping to remove his own clothes until they were both naked entwined on the bed.
Then the only sounds that echoed around the room were gasps of excitement followed up by words of adoration and love murmured from both mouths without a second thought.
When they finally become one, Garin’s teeth sinking into her neck the same time his body claimed hers Daya arched off the bed while pleasure, and a brief hint of pain, exploded through her. In that second, Garin’s thoughts and feelings became so clear it was almost as if he was speaking aloud.
When she drifted back down to the bed and blinked open her eyes, Garin was staring down at her with a soft look his own blue gaze slightly unfocused.
“I can hear your thoughts,” she whispered in awe.
“Just like I can here yours.” He leaned down to kiss her, and Daya could feel the excitement welling up again. She grinned knowing that this was going to be a long night, and they were going to enjoy every minute of it.
“Damn right,” Garin growled eliciting giggles from her even in the recesses of his mind his wolf growled with contentment and smugness.
I know I made the right choice. His wolf’s thought flittered through his mind to Daya who gave a beautiful smile, and Garin leaned down kissing their mate mark which was already beginning to form.
“That you did,” he whispered against Daya’s skin feeling her shiver as his breath feathered across her sensitive skin. He smirked slightly at her reactions, and Daya caught the brief look her eyes narrowing before she lifted up nipping him on the shoulder eliciting a gasp from him.
She laid back down with a smirk herself, and Garin glowered down at her although humor filled his eyes.
“So you want to play, huh,” he whispered his hands going out to her sides.
Daya’s eyes widened and she started to shake her head even as her own ran across his chest lightly pulling the hair there.
“You’re asking for it,” he warned thrilled at the woman beneath him.
“Oh really,” she cooed, and he took up the challenge tickling her without mercy.
She squealed with laughter before other needs took over and as he leaned down to address them, he muttered. “We can play all night.”
“We’ll be tired in the morning,” she whispered breathlessly.
“We’ll sleep on the way home,” Garin suggested nipping at her lips. “I’m sure the others will understand.”
The passionate kiss he settled on her lips drowned out her laughter, and the last thought Daya had was she hoped Garin was right.
She didn’t want this night to end wrapping her arms around his shoulders having waited for it so long.
She just hoped that the others wouldn’t be too upset if they did fall asleep on the journey home tomorrow.
Chapter 25
Six Months Later
Daya’s hands clenched tightly in her lap knuckles white even though her face was calm making low conversation with Kelsey who sat in the backseat with Jaime.
“Honey.” Garin’s worried voice got her attention and she shifted her gaze from Kelsey to meet his blue eyes filled with concern.
She gave him a shaky smile tears coming to her eyes which she had been holding back. “I’m okay.” Her voice was husky with emotion.
Garin reached over taking one hand from the steering wheel and laid his hand over her own giving them a light squeeze leaving his hand there.
“Your uncle wouldn’t want you to be upset,” Garin assured her with a soft smile. “Especially right now.”
His hand moved to cover her belly where their child nestled comfortably although Daya wasn’t showing except for a slight pudge. She was almost three months pregnant and her brown eyes lost its sadness briefly remembering the day she learned of her pregnancy. A whimsical smile drifted across her face remembering that Garin had realized it before she had, and her shock had been strong remembering the expression on his face.
“I think it sucks that our mates are able to discover it before we do,” Kelsey muttered from the backseat her own hand resting on top of her own belly which was twice the size of Daya’s.
Daya shifted her a quick look of gratitude. “Thank you for coming,” she murmured eyes going to her belly. “I just hope that…”
Kelsey shook her head patting her belly. “Honestly, I think our little one is enjoying the journey.”
Jaime chuckled laying a hand over hers and Daya turned back to the front a soft smile lingering on her lips not wanting to intrude on their private moment.
“I’ll be right by your side,” Garin promised sensing the feelings going through her.
Daya turned to him her smile widening eyes going soft going over him thinking about the last six months and how she enjoyed every moment of it knowing that Garin loved her without hesitation showing her every day.
“I know,” Daya whispered lifting his hand to kiss the top of his hand before nestling them on her stomach feeling the warmth of his hand seethe through the thin blouse she wore. “I love you, Garin.”
Garin gave her a slow wink a heat in his eyes that made an answering heat flow through Daya with anticipation.
The closer they got to her uncle’s pack house, though, the heat Garin ignited started to fizzle while worry began to take over.
“Daya, baby, your uncle loved knowing that you were happy and we were going to have our first cub,” Garin teased in a light voice although his concern was evident in the eyes that constantly drifted to her before going back to the road.
When they took the turn on a gravel path that led to the pack house, Garin’s hand tightened briefly and Daya was grateful for his concern clasping his hand against her protruding stomach feeling him gently caress it.
“He did,” Daya agreed with a smile. “He was excited and even though he was so sick, I think the information brightened his day.”
“I think knowing you were happy is what brightened his day,” Garin assured her negotiating the gravel with an ease that Daya envied although he was only doing it one hand. “But it saddened him, too.”
“That he would never get the chance to meet our child,” Daya finished eyes on the house that came into view after the last curve Garin negotiated.
The slight pat of Garin’s hand was his agreement before he removed his hand to pull up in front of the wide porch and Daya’s eyes widened in shock when she got a good look at the place.
“I’m surprised,” Garin commented putting the car in park and switching off the ignition.
Daya’s mouth trembled with emotion. “I’m guessing with Uncle Jordan sick, Jared decided to officially take over as Alpha.”
“Not a very good Alpha,” Kelsey muttered reaching for the door handle along with the others.
Daya climbed out of the car her brown eyes sweeping over the house dismay clearly etched on her face, and Garin joined her wrapping an arm around her thickening waist.
“If my uncle was here, this house wouldn’t be like this,” Daya whispered with a slow shake of her head. “He believed in maintaining the pack house in good condition since it was home.”
Before anyone could comment, the front door opened and an elder man stepped out his eyes dark with emotion although a smile drifted across his face when he saw Daya.
“Uncle Bryan,” Daya greeted with a shaky smile the dismay still etched on her face.
Bryan came down off the porch with a sigh shifting his eyes around the yard and to the house seeing what Daya and her companions saw.
“Jordan let Jared fully take over the running of the pack house for the last few months,” Bryan told them with a scowl. “He hoped to show something, but it didn’t work the way he wanted.” He gave Daya a hug which was difficult with Garin hovering over her.
Bryan gave the younger man a smile which Garin returned, but there was still a guarded look on his face.
“Jared doesn’t know yet that Daya is Jordan’s niece,” Bryan assured him after releasing Daya who immediately settled back against Garin. “He won’t find out until the meeting with the pack lawyer.”
There was look of confusion on everyone’s face, and Bryan gave a grim smile. “Your uncle changed his will two months ago before his illness really took over. Jared is aware of it, but he doesn’t think that anything in it could go against him.”
“But Uncle Jordan had the Will written years ago even before I left,” Daya protested with a frown sharing an uneasy look with Garin who merely gave a shake of his head.
“Don’t let it worry you, honey,” he told her leaning down to give her a light kiss. “I’m sure your uncle had his reasons.”
“He did,” Bryan confirmed a muscle tensing in his jaw although he turned to escort them up the porch. “The ceremony will be this afternoon and the pack lawyer will be meeting us afterward in Jordan’s study.”
Daya nodded his head following her uncle who entered the house, and Daya frowned at the mess they walked into glancing back in concern at Kelsey.
“I’m sorry,” she muttered seeing Jaime frown at it himself.
“It’s all right, Daya,” Jaime told her although Daya saw the way he protectively pulled Kelsey closer to his side.
“It wasn’t like this before,” Daya muttered in shock, and Garin tightened his own arm around her. Daya could feel the anger flowing through her mate and the agitation of his wolf which she knew was because of the chaos of her own emotions.
“Where is Tobias and Bethea?” Daya asked trying to calm her emotions while stroking Garin’s arm which nestled around her waist.
Bryan’s stopped eyes flashing to Daya who frowned at the look.
“Uncle Bryan…”
“Jared has Tobias on patrol duty while Bethea is in the kitchen,” Bryan revealed, and Daya frowned at the information.
“But Tobias is the new Beta,” she murmured stunned into silence when Bryan shook his head.
“Jared decided that Tobias wasn’t right for the position,” Bryan conveyed in a dry tone while his body vibrated with fury.
“I thought Alpha Jordan wanted Tobias to challenge Jared for the Alpha position,” Garin commented getting a searching look from Bryan.
“He did,” Bryan admitted with wry twist of his lips. “But he got sick too fast.”
All eyes went to Daya who immediately lost her frown although anguish settled on her features in place of it. “In place of Uncle Jordan, I would have to be the one to give permission.”
Bryan shook his head giving her a brief smile although there was look in his eyes that made Daya suddenly suspicious.
“What are you and Tobias thinking of doing, Uncle Bryan?” Daya’s look was intent searching his expression.
�
��You will find out, Daya, but don’t get mad when we tell you,” Bryan replied his face filled with guilt.
Entering the kitchen, Daya was shocked to see Bethea rushing around the room while her baby sat in playpen crying.
“I’m coming, sweetie,” Bethea called out pouring drinks on a tray her face haggard.
“Kelsey,” Daya said softly, and her friend nodded her head waddling over to offer Bethea help while Bryan went to get his grandchild from the playpen.
Bethea glanced over in surprise and eyes brightened when they settled on Daya that she started to cry.
“Daya, I’m so glad you are here.”
Daya gave a shake of her head, and Garin leaned down to kiss her on the neck before meeting Jaime’s eyes tilting his head to the backyard.
Bryan led the way knowing that they were leaving their women alone with Bethea so she could break down in the comfort of their presence.
“How long has it been going on like this?” Garin asked when they closed the door behind them blue eyes going over the yard seeing no one out there.
“Since Jordan got too sick to give orders anymore,” Bryan uttered shifting the baby in his arms who merely gurgled up at him in contentment. “Tobias and I tried to bring some organization, but Jared overrode us every time. He selected his Beta from a group of his followers who tends to bed any female, mated or not, and even tried to hit on Bethea which finally pushed Tobias over the edge.”
“I would’ve torn him limb from limb,” Jaime muttered eyes drifting to the windows and the women inside.
“He almost did,” Bryan confirmed. “If it wasn’t because he is my son, Jared would’ve banned him from the pack.”
Garin shook his head a muscle twitching in his jaw. “He better not go near Daya, Alpha or not. I won’t have my mate harassed.”
Bryan stared at the man in front of him seeing the controlled fury on his face and he gave a chuckle. “Jordan was right,” Bryan consisted watching the two men look at him questioningly. “When he returned from his trip to Leonardo’s pack, he was filled with exhilaration saying that his wish came true.”
His Wolf's Choice Page 31
