Blood of Eden: A wolf shifter romantic suspense (The Guardians Book 1)

by JJ King

  It was slightly ridiculous that within the course of a single week she had met and found herself seriously attracted to two men, both of whom she could see herself being with in the long term. She didn’t know enough about Quinn to really feel confident in his intentions with her, but her gut feeling was that he was as impacted by their attraction as she was. It was a force unto itself and a very big part of her wanted to follow it to see where it all led.

  Keme didn’t seem to be the player type either and his reactions to her were strong. He was intelligent and gorgeous, so gorgeous. She could easily see them together, having amazing sex everywhere, and talking for hours about everything under the sun afterward. His future and hers were already intertwined with the joining of their father’s Alphaships. It would make sense for them to come together, to unite the two packs, and make Canada into an even stronger allegiance than it would be.

  Politics aside, she liked Keme a lot. Felt drawn to his laughter and smile, and his body. There would be no agenda behind her choice if she decided to pursue her feelings for him.

  She wondered if there would be any difference in her feelings about each man if the order of their meetings had been reversed. If she’d met Keme first and Quinn second. If she’d never experienced the deep pull of Quinn’s soul. If she’d just known attraction before she’d experienced connection.

  There was no way to know and the point was moot anyway. She had rivaling emotions for two men and there would be no easy answer. It would be better if some kind of sign pointed her towards the man she was supposed to be with. Not that she’d follow that sign, technically. She hated being told what to do.

  She gave up and closed her eyes, listening to the gurgle of the stream and the tune of the birds in the forest around her.

  ♀♀♀

  A small bird flitted down and rested on her shoulder, scaring the shit out of Katherine.

  She sat up with a start and looked around, relaxing when she realized where she was. Yawning and cracking her neck, she allowed her eyes to adjust to the diminished light. It was probably around 7:00 pm from the look of the remaining sun, which means she’d been gone for more than two hours. With the rogue wolf still on everyone’s minds, there was a chance her absence would have caused an alarm.

  She strained her ears to hear if anyone was calling for her, and heard nothing but the faint sounds of laughter.

  They probably thought she was still in her room.

  Gaining her feet, she pushed aside a piece of brush and started back on the path to join the group. Maybe to brush her hair and teeth before joining the group.

  A buzzing emanated from her pants from the cell phone she’d completely forgotten about. In Vancouver, the thing was practically glued to her hand and yet she hadn’t even been aware of having it with her just now.

  “Hello, Quinn.” She smiled into the forest shadows.

  “Hi. I’m here.”

  She spun around, peering into the darkness, confused. “What? Here, here? Where?”

  A deep chuckle came through the phone speaker. “At the hotel you told me about. I drove all day.” His chuckle faded and Katherine could hear the earnestness in his voice when he spoke, his voice a deep rumble, “I don’t want to play games. I just want to be with you.”

  Katherine’s heart felt like it expanded in her chest, making it hard to catch her breath. His utter sincerity laid her low and made her feelings for Keme feel overshadowed. She stumbled on a branch in the path and caught herself on a young pine, using its strength to bolster her own. All day she’d been confused about the two men she had feelings for, but when Quinn spoke truthfully and simply, her mind and body felt the rightness.

  She couldn’t deny it. There was some kind of visceral connection between herself and Quinn that was just missing in her attraction to Keme. If this were the sign she’d hoped for, she wasn’t going to be stubborn and ignore it. This time, and this time only, she’d let the fates tell her what to do.

  Guilt over her earlier encounter with Keme flooded her. A knot formed in her stomach when she wondered if she should tell Quinn about the dalliance, which meant that she probably should if they had any chance of having a future together.

  “Do you really mean that Quinn?” Her chest contracted at the thought that her actions, her indecision about him or Keme, could make him walk away from her. “Do you really want to be with me no matter what?”

  “Yes, Katherine.” His answer was so simple and easy. “I feel things for you that I’ve never felt before and I don’t want to take the chance of you finding anyone else before you and I can figure this out.”

  Katherine exhaled slowly and bit the inside of her cheek, a bad habit she’d long ago sworn off. She forced the words out of her mouth. “Quinn, I’ve been confused since I met you, about how intense this connection is between us. I wanted to slow it down and think about things so coming out here for a few days was perfect. I’d have the distraction of the summit and my family around to let my mind find its own answers.” She tasted copper inside of her mouth and forced herself to stop the nervous habit.

  “I know it’s crazy but I met someone out here, a member of the summit, and I won’t lie to you about it. I felt an attraction to him.”

  She heard Quinn’s breath hitch and rushed on, “Please, don’t hang up. Let me explain. Quinn, this other man, he’s perfect for me on paper, and Old Ones, I’m sorry, even in real life. But he’s not you and I just can’t get my head to wrap around that fact. If I was confused about you when I left Montreal you can believe I’ve been torn apart since meeting him. But it’s clear to me now. I want to be with you and I’m terrified right now that you’re going to change your mind and walk away from me. Please, Quinn, please talk to me.”

  Katherine pressed her phone to her ear and prayed that the man she was drawn to, the man she didn’t want to be without anymore, wouldn’t walk away.

  “You need to know one thing Katherine,” his voice came through gravelly and low, “I would never just walk away from you if there were any chance that you wanted me. I would fight for you every time.”

  A sob broke free from her throat.

  “I trust you.”

  She was speechless at the intensity of her emotions. She hadn’t had a clue that she was so infatuated with Quinn until the mere thought of losing him had become a possibility.

  The sound of a branch snapping drew her attention from the intense conversation. She turned, sharply, and saw Keme standing twenty feet from her, his face unreadable. Her stomach heaved but the dread she felt wasn’t comparable to what she’d felt just moments before. She knew her truth but it would still suck to tell Keme. Although, he had clearly been there long enough to have heard her discussion. She kept her eyes on his and spoke softly into the phone. “Quinn, I have to go. Thank you. I’ll see you soon.”

  She put the phone in her pocket. “Keme, please let me apologize.”

  His face remained hard around the edges as he spoke but his voice held no anger. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop Katherine, but these woods carry sound and I couldn’t help myself once I heard you. I was coming to find you for the bonfire. Your mother said you would probably be out here.”

  “You heard everything?” She tried to remember what she’d said.

  He nodded and smiled gently, the planes of his face softening. “I heard you call me perfect on paper and in real life. That helped soften the blow.”

  Katherine’s cheeks flushed but all she felt was a relief. They had shared an extremely intimate encounter just hours before and now here he was graciously backing away. The thought crossed her mind that maybe he’d been playing around after all.

  He took a step closer to her and looked her straight in the eye. “Katherine, I’m not the kind of man to bully my way into a woman’s life. I’m glad to know that you were as interested in me as I still am in you. I hope you find all the happiness you deserve, but, if he isn’t the one for you,” he grinned then, “give me a call. Maybe I can convince you.
”

  Her smile reflected the relief she felt inside. “Keme, if he isn’t the one for me, you have my word, that I will give you a call. I might even show up at your door.”

  The walk back to the estate was, surprisingly, devoid of awkwardness. They chatted easily, and Katherine felt sure that she could count Keme among her friends from now on.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The last day of the summit took an eternity.

  Katherine tried hard to keep her attention on the topics being discussed, and succeeded, most of the time. Every once in a while, though, she’d glance at a clock or see the passage of the sun and realize that, once 5:00 pm hit, it was only a matter of time before she would see Quinn.

  She had to construct a mental block to keep herself from thinking about touching him, kissing him, doing all sorts of inventive things to him. Now that she was on board 100%, she was desperate to have him.

  Lunch had just finished and they were about to go back into the conference room for the final few hours when Sylvie sidled up to Katherine and leaned close to speak. “I must say, ma chere, I am disappointed the romance between you and our guest’s first born did not go where I thought it was going. Did something happen?”

  Katherine spoke as they walked, keeping her voice low to match Sylvie’s. “Mama, he is perfect for me in just about every way. We would make a formidable couple.”

  Sylvie nodded, “You would. Plus, the heat you were both pumping off these last two days certainly indicated that you would be a well-satiated couple as well.”

  She sighed. “That is truer than you know, my darling mother.”

  “Then what?”

  “Not what. Who. Quinn. It’s like the universe is pulling a joke on me and sending me two of the most perfect wolves in the span of a week. I wasn’t sure about Quinn when I got here, so I let myself follow the attraction Keme and I have. I think that he would have been the one for me if I hadn’t met Quinn.” She shook her head. “But I did meet Quinn and now he has some kind of crazy hold over my thoughts and my heart and…”

  “Your soul?” Sylvie guessed.

  “My soul,” Katherine agreed.

  “Well,” Sylvie stopped and turned to face her, “there’s only one thing to do now.”

  “What’s that?”

  “We need to meet the man that has become such an important part of your life. Why don’t you give him a call and tell him to be here for just after 5:00 pm”

  Katherine drew her brows together and cocked her head at her mother. “And just where do you think he is that he could be here on such short notice?” She had her suspicions.

  Sylvie just smiled. “I’ll tell your father we’re having a guest.” She patted Katherine’s cheek and walked into the conference room.

  Katherine chuckled.

  ♀♀♀

  Quinn held onto her hand tightly as they walked up to the front door. She paused to give him a moment to prepare.

  “You seem a bit nervous.” Leave it to a big fearless man to be afraid of meeting the parents. “We could put it off for a little while you know.”

  He just shook his head and smiled. “No, they know I’m here now. Besides, it would be incredibly rude and cowardly for me to delay meeting the Alpha - I mean, your father.”

  She pushed the door open and pulled him through.

  The entrance to the house was deserted but Katherine could hear the strains of Bach floating out from her father’s study so she walked in that direction. Quinn followed but at a slower pace, his eyes taking in the intricate architectural details of the magnificent home she so often failed to really see.

  “Katherine, it’s beautiful here. This house is fantastic.”

  She grinned with pride. “Just say that to my mother and she’ll love you for life.”

  Katherine knocked on the slightly open door. Childhood lessons in manners were never forgotten in adulthood.

  She waited for her father to turn down the music and issue a booming, “Come in” before pushing the heavy door and walking into the room to see both her mother and father waiting with distinctly anxious eyes. She flashed them a silent “be good” before turning to Quinn and introducing him.

  “Mom, Dad, I would like you to meet Quinn Deschains. Quinn, these are my parents, Sylvie and Pierre LaFlamme.”

  There was a moment of silence as the three observed each other.

  Katherine’s eyes stayed glued to her father’s face as she waited for him to make a first impression of Quinn. She wasn’t worried at all about her mother’s reaction; Sylvie was so excited that Katherine had, not only one but two, prospective husbands that she wouldn’t notice if he had a second head.

  Pierre was intently taking in every facet of Quinn’s appearance, from his haircut to his shoes.

  Of course, Quinn couldn’t look more appropriate or handsome. He was perfectly quaffed, scrubbed and attired. He wore a simple sweater and black pants with sexy yet serviceable shoes that Katherine wholeheartedly approved of. She wondered where he’s stashed his leather jacket.

  She noticed her father’s eyes darken momentarily as they took in the enormous antique ring that Quinn wore on his right hand, and she hoped that her father wouldn’t comment on it. He couldn’t be opposed to large antique rings since he wore one as well.

  Pierre was the first to snap out of the silent assessment. He seemed to draw himself up taller as he stepped forward and extended his hand to Quinn who quickly took it.

  For another long moment, the two men just stood there, hands clasped, evaluating the other based on grip or some other masculine standard. Katherine waited for the moment to end.

  “Welcome, Quinn.”

  Pierre’s voice was somehow both regal and warm as he issued his welcome. His eyes met Quinn’s straight on and Katherine was pleased to see Quinn return the direct gaze.

  Sylvie glided forward and put her arms around Quinn when Pierre released his hand. She smiled up at him and gave him a quiet welcome in French then kissed both of his cheeks.

  Katherine felt herself practically glowing.

  She stepped toward Quinn who had been ushered to a fine leather chair near the fireplace by her mother but stopped when her father put his hand on her arm.

  “I know you will hate this part ma fille, but if this Quinn is to be a part of your life then I must talk with him alone. Please understand. I am an old man with old fashion views. Will you accommodate my silly wishes?”

  The grin that erupted on her face couldn’t be contained. She knew old fashioned bullshit when she heard it. Old man indeed; but she would let her father have this because it was important to him and he was important to her.

  She turned to her mother who was now sidling towards the door and motioned that she would be along in a moment. First, she had to let Quinn know what he was in for.

  “Quinn, my mother and I have to go take care of something for a little while so why don’t you and Dad stay here and have a little chat.”

  Ok, maybe half the fun was not letting him know what he was in for.

  Quinn’s eyes flashed pure panic for a moment as he recognized what was about to happen. He breathed deep, seemed to forcibly calm himself, and smiled.

  “Alright, see you in a while. I’m sure your father and I can come up with something to talk about.”

  “You’ll have to be creative then because I’m taking our Katherine for the next few hours. Daughter-Mother time, you know.” She smiled brilliantly at Quinn to sooth any qualms.

  Quinn looked at Katherine questioningly but she had no idea what her mother had planned so she just grinned, brushed a brief kiss on the corner of his mouth, and shrugged her shoulders.

  The last thing she heard as she closed the door behind her was her father’s rumbling voice.

  “That’s an interesting ring you have, Quinn. Is it a family heirloom?”

  ♀♀♀

  Sylvie had a little surprise for her daughter.

  Since the women of the family were still in full sp
a mode, she had arranged for an extra spot to be opened for Katherine. The next few hours were to be filled with manicures, pedicures, and massages from athletically built masseurs from Sweden who had been working for her mother for years and were, therefore, free from suspicion.

  Katherine found herself lying face down on a massage table, breathing in the calming scent of lavender, with her mother on the table next to her and a thin Egyptian cotton sheet draped across her lower half.