by Ruby Brooks
“And us,” I added. “Don’t worry about any of the other stuff though. We will take care of it.” I met Cole’s eyes and he nodded.
“What about your pack?” she asked, still clutching the mug in a death-grip. “I would be in the way.”
“The pack won’t know about your past,” Cole said, stroking his short beard. “In fact, as far as they are concerned, you are our friend, and they need to protect you as their own.”
“Will they be happy with that?”
“Who cares?” I said. “Cole and I are in charge, and what we say goes. Yes, they will be suspicious, but when they realise you aren’t a threat it’ll be fine.”
“But I hurt their alphas,” Mo was growing pale, but I detected the hope in her voice.
“They won’t know.” When I felt our pack’s presence, I put my finger to my lips signalling that this conversation was over. Mo nodded in agreement and I took Cole’s hand so he could lead me outside. My stomach was filled with butterflies and I had to remind myself who I was before I faced them.
I’m Hayley fucking Morton. I’m a badass alpha-woman and I don’t take shit from anybody.
I laughed to myself at the memory and Cole gave me a puzzled look.
“Care to share?” he asked, amusement playing at his lips.
“Nah. It’s private,” I said, smiling over at him.
“Hmm. If you say so.” He slid his fingers through mine and I squeezed. I felt his strength – his confidence – which was always there under the surface of whatever his emotions were at the time. This is what he was born to do and I knew we would both succeed in helping this pack.
“Thank you, Cole,” I breathed, taking in the view. It was exactly like I had once described it: the hills, the forest. All the empty space we could run in. “You picked this place because of me.”
“Of course I did.”
“I’m beginning to think all of your decisions have been because of me.”
“I’m not going to dispute that.”
“Cole…”
“Hayley…” His eyes were still sparkling with amusement.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.” He slid his free hand through my hair, kissing me deeply. I felt people arrive around the pack house and flushed with embarrassment when they caught us.
“Ah, there is nothing like a freshly mated couple,” a voice drawled. “I’m Eli.” Eli nodded to Cole in understanding. He was only wearing shorts, showing off his muscular chest, which was covered in scars. The smell of a recent shift hung in the air and I wondered how in control he was with his wolf side. Currently, he was packless.
“How do you two know each other?” I asked.
“He’s the man responsible for getting the pack together and rescuing us,” Cole held out a hand and they shook hands.
“I guess you’re our second then,” I said, assessing him differently. Yeah, he could definitely lead a group when we were unavailable.
“It’d be my honour,” he tipped his head and I noticed he didn’t make eye contact with us during the exchange. My wolf preened, enjoying the fact that every single man around here would bow to me. To us.
I shared another smile with Cole as we began to meet all the members of the pack.
“Our pack,” my wolf corrected.
When Eli joined, we all cheered. Some of the pack members cracked out boxes of beer and started a fire. We spent the evening getting to know everyone, reassuring them that we were nothing like their previous alpha.
When it became too much, Cole found me, and offered me his arms.
“Shall we run?” he whispered in my ear, his arms tightening around me. “I have the perfect place set up for us where the pack won’t disturb us.”
“I can’t wait.”
We slipped into the trees out of the line of the sight, the sounds of the party bringing me some comfort.
We did that.
I took off my clothes, shoving them into a bag to tie around my ankle. This was the first time I was shifting in the open without anyone threatening me, and Cole stood to watch. I grew hot under his gaze and, when I shifted, he ruffled my head.
Letting out a growl, I poked him with my snout signalling him to join me.
Chapter 25
Cole
I nipped at Hayley’s heels as she ran in her wolf form, making her tackle me to the ground. As a human, her fighting skills were excellent. As a wolf, she was still struggling with basic leaps. I was concerned, but I tried to not let it show. It was understandable that she was weak after being suppressed for so long.
We rolled around on the ground playfully before she lay on her back in surrender. I loved the fact she was so quick to submit to me, my alpha side thriving in the dominance. Though Hayley still had her demands from time to time, and I was proud of her for it.
After meeting the pack, I wasn’t surprised she was exhausted, and needed the mental relief of running around in our wolf forms. Hayley didn’t want to go inside for a while and I didn’t blame her, so I led her to the campsite I set up when we first arrived. I predicted she would want a safe space, where it was just the two of us, and there were no walls surrounding us here.
Shifting back into human form, we both slipped on our clothes to keep off the chill from the evening.
“I want to redo the claiming,” Hayley announced, settling down on the ground next to me. Her scent wafted over to me and I detected some faint nerves lingering.
“Um, we can’t. Unless you want me to bite you again, because I’m into that,” I grinned at the sight of her blush. I’d never get over how adorable she looks when she does.
“I can claim you.”
“Females don’t claim mates,” I said, leaning back on my elbows. The stars were so clear here, much clearer than in Weymouth. It was peaceful. “You know that though, so why are you bringing it up?”
“Who said that females can’t initiate the claim?” she snapped before sighing. “Look, all I’m saying is that we are going to change the rules tomorrow. Why not start now, with us?”
“But the bond is already between us. I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what you are getting at.”
“I don’t want the females at this pack to sit around, waiting for their mate to make the first move. I did that with you and watched you all over other girls at school. Yeah, don’t think I have forgiven you for that.” I cringed, hoping she had forgotten about that part of my poor judgement. “Why can’t women claim their men?”
“It’s not traditional,” I muttered, but I was slowly following her logic.
“You wanted to know what I was laughing at, before Eli appeared.”
“Yeah?” I tried to keep up with the change of conversation.
“It was something Mo said to me, after Andrew and his group attacked me. She made me repeat it at least a dozen times and it’s stuck as my motto: ‘I’m Hayley fucking Morton. I’m a badass alpha-woman and I don’t take shit from anybody.’”
“I like it,” I said, nodding. I thought it over and laughed. “No, really. I do.”
“Right now, I’m not taking your shit,” she said, looking at me. Her eyes were fierce, but I detected the faint amusement there. It was such a turn on for me to see her assertive side. “I’m going to claim you, Cole. We are going to set an example to your pack that I am your equal.”
“You are my equal in my eyes, but okay,” I pulled her in my lap, loving the way she fit in my hands. I held my breath as she kissed my neck, desperate to bury myself inside her.
When her teeth sank into my neck, I groaned. Holy. Shit. I didn’t think I double-claiming would work. We were always taught that it was the man who claimed the woman and it wasn’t possible for it to be done the other way, never mind twice.
Trust my Hayley to flip the rules on their head.
It was different this time. I was hyper-aware of every feeling, scent, and noise coming from her. My wolf was going crazy and when she withdrew her teeth from my neck, I crashed her
lips onto mine. I possessed her, every inch of her lips, and she responded with the same eagerness.
“Remind me to thank Mo for giving you that line.”
“You like me like this?” I felt the hint of her insecurities again, but I was going to nip that straight in the bud.
“I like you in every way. I love you, rather. Stop it with these doubts, okay? I fucking love it when you are dominant. Ignore those little voices that are trying to tear you down,” I tugged her closer and held her tight as I rolled her underneath me. “Promise me, Hales.”
“I promise.”
“You’re my badass alpha-woman. You don’t have time for self-doubt.”
“Show me how much I’m yours.” Her hazels eyes lit up as I slid my hands under her top. What was the point of us dressing again?
“With pleasure.”
I made love to her in every way under the stars. Hayley was mine and I was never going to let her go again. The double-claiming made everything more intense, to the point where I felt I couldn’t breathe due to the overwhelming urge from my wolf to destroy all those people who wronged her in the past. But Hales was right there with me, pulling me back from the edge.
Stopping the monster within me from taking control.
I let Hayley believe I had saved her, but the truth was, she had saved me.
✽✽✽
Anderson Pack Rules (still a work in progress, mostly):
Do not hurt any humans, regardless of who is in the wrong.
Unless it’s a hunter, but then check with the alphas or betas first.
Claim your mate – no, seriously. It can be the male or the female to initiate.
Challenge anyone who crosses into our land and alert the betas if you have any doubts about your ability to do this.
Shift between your human and wolf form daily.
“Shift daily?” Hayley tapped her chin with a pen. “Is that not overkill? We should probably remove the work in progress part, too. It’s pretty obvious we are still working on it.”
“No,” I said. “We can’t afford for anyone to get stuck in one form. Everyone needs to be comfortable to shift into either at the click of a finger, and not ours, either. Add fighting onto the list, too.”
Learn how to fight effectively, in both human and wolf form.
Eli nodded. He was part of the discussion, too, as was another shifter, Jack. Jack was the previous beta and he was glad to share the role with someone who had the same integrity as he did. They also both cared about the progression of our pack’s young.
As soon as Hayley and I got back from our tryst a few nights ago, I dragged Jack into a room, and terrorised him. My wolf was nowhere near as aggressive and I actively had to tap into that spot. It felt great to be in control again and not running solely on animal instinct like before.
He explained the ways he had tried to protect the pack from the previous alpha and explained exactly how bad things had gotten over the years. It made me furious and I wished I had drawn out the kill for longer.
I almost felt sorry for being hard on Jack in my questioning.
Almost.
“Shouldn’t we note something about the packless?” he asked.
“Yeah, put that down,” I nodded to Hayley who was already writing. I didn’t even have to tell what to write as we were both on the same wavelength.
Neutralise any packless. If you believe they still have a human element, alert an alpha or beta immediately.
“Why would they need to alert us if there is any humanity left?” Jack asked, bracing his elbows on his knees. He was dressed in combat gear, which reminded me of the hunters, but I didn’t want to micro-manage the pack in a way that controlled the way they dressed. It was something I was going to have to get over myself. “Shouldn’t we take them out immediately?”
“So we can save them,” Eli answered. The room fell silent at his words and we all thought about how I had struck up a deal with him that meant I could save him.
“Right. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean any disrespect.”
“It’s alright,” Eli shrugged. I needed to find out his story, but I hadn’t had a chance yet.
“I think we should call it a day,” Hayley said, taking away any awkwardness. “Cole, you need to take Mo to the animal shelter. Guys, look after the pack.”
“Are you okay?” I asked Hayley, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. The guys quietly left and, as soon as the door closed, she sagged in my arms, the façade she wore earlier slipping away. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m not sure,” she mumbled. “I feel tired and groggy.”
“I’m proud of you for not showing it,” I said, kissing her temple. “But let’s get you to bed.”
“No, I’ll be fine. We both have things to do,” Hayley pulled away and I instantly missed her soft body. All I seemed to want to do after claiming her was drag her into bed and never let her leave. My pants were becoming uncomfortable and I shifted in my chair so she wouldn’t notice.
“Alright,” I relented.
“Cole… what happened to the guys at the base?”
“Who exactly? Nathan?” There was no way I was going to tell her what I did to him. I’d take his murder to the grave with me. My wolf scoffed.
It was you who did it, not me, I snapped to him.
“No, I mean Andrew. Carl. Andrew’s friends… where are they?”
I took her hands in mine and tried to give her some of my strength if I could. We were still figuring out the bond and how to use, but I still tried my hardest anyway.
“I know Andrew and his friends are gone. I never found Carl. Would you like me to hunt him down?” I’d gladly do it for her.
“No,” she said, and I believed her. “I can handle him, I just wondered.”
“He won’t harm you again.”
“It’s not me I’m afraid of. What if he comes across a girl like Ella? She’d easily be a victim.”
“That’s not your fault, Hayley. I’ll tell you what, we can give the police an accurate description of him, if you are okay going to court, if it gets to that point?”
“Yeah. I’ve had enough of death in my life.”
“Me too.” I let her settle in my lap, enjoying the fact she came to me for comfort. “The fighting is over now, Hales. We can live our lives the way we want to and I’d love for you to stop worrying. Our pack needs us.”
“Hmm. You’re right,” her words were garbled as she struggled to keep her eyes open.
“You really are sick. Come on, I’m taking you to bed.”
“I thought you said the pack needs us.”
“There is a difference between worrying over things you can’t control and being physically sick. You are going to bed and I’m not letting you out until you recover.”
She didn’t argue with that and fell asleep before she hit the pillow. I pressed a kiss to her clammy forehead, but my wolf wasn’t concerned about her. Given how he seemed to know more about it than me, I tried to let the worry go.
“I need a medic up with Hayley,” I announced, stepping into the living room. I loved how my pack gathered in the house and were warming up to each other. It reminded me of my years growing up in the Steelman home.
I’m never going to see Tristan again.
I shoved that thought out my mind. I had something else I wanted to do first, something positive.
“You ready?” I asked Mo. She was dressed in a business suit and I raised my eyebrows. “We are going for the formal look?”
“Well, yes. I want to impress these people. Is it too much?”
“I honestly don’t know,” I admitted. “I just had you down as a more casual woman.”
“I don’t know who I am.”
I stopped walking as we approached one of the cars. Jack had loaned me his and I made a mental note to get my own over the weekend.
“We’ll find out, Mo, don’t worry. Come on,” I opened her door for her, and she smiled as she got in.
“Hayley is a lucky
woman,” she commented as I started the car.
“Oh, no. I’m the lucky one,” I chuckled. “There is something I need your help with first.”
“Oh?”
“How good are you at picking out jewellery?”
Mo smiled broadly. “What kind of jewellery?”
“Women,” I muttered under my breath. “A ring?”
“Is it for an engagement?” her smile got even broader.
“That’s for me to know and you to find out,” I couldn’t help but smile back.
My wolf growled softly at me at the thought of Hayley.
“Mine.”
Yes, wolf. She’s ours.
“Why do we need a ring?”
Hayley’s motto kept ringing in my head since she told me it. I wanted her to be thinking Hayley Anderson, not Morton.
To make sure all the humans know she is off-limits too. Trust me, she’ll like it.
I hoped. My plans had a tendency to backfire these days.
“I’m glad we are alone,” I commented, drumming my fingers against the steering wheel. “I have to speak to you.”
“I had a feeling you would.”
“There was a transportation for guns the same night we broke out. Where were they going?”
“I have no idea. There is a main base in Glasgow, where most items come from, and then the facility in Penrith where we usually distribute them across England. It was probably just coincidence that it happened on the same night.”
“Okay,” I chose to believe her. “You told Hayley once she could trust Nathan. Why?”
“I didn’t realise Nathan was so bad,” Mo was playing with the seatbelt in her lap. I could practically smell her fear in the car and I cracked open the window so I could breathe easier. “He was always good to me, even when the others weren’t. I knew he wasn’t an angel, but he was in love with Hayley’s mother, and I assumed he would protect Hayley.”
“You thought wrong. Now, I don’t mind you staying in our home while you get back on your feet, but don’t think for one second I am not watching you.” I pulled up outside the jewellers and pinned Mo in her seat with a look. “Do not find out what I will do to you if you even think of harming her.”
