The Old-Fashioned Alpha

By

K.S. Martin

Books by K.S.Martin

Opportunity Knocked

Her Alpha

Wild Kat

Not That Kind of Love

The New Alpha

The Reluctant Alpha

My Boss the Alpha

Once Mated Twice Shy

Summer’s Alpha

The Alpha’s She-Wolf

Turned Alpha

Snow Wolf

Her Billionaire Werewolf Stepbrother

New Alpha – New Rules

Lesser of Two Evils

Desperate Wolf

Wolf in Progress

Always Mine

The Old-Fashioned Alpha

All Rights Reserved

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

Any trademarks mentioned herein are not authorized by the trademark owners and do not in any way mean the work is sponsored by or associated with the trademark owners. Any trademarks used are specifically in a descriptive capacity.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

Copyright © August 2017, First Edition, by

K.S. Martin

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Epilogue

Prologue

“You won’t see her again,” the Alpha said too calmly. “She is mine.” Most of them were still getting used to the fact that James was their Alpha now. They’d run wild for a while without one, and deep down each one knew that he was what they needed to feel whole. He’d been in the position for over a year, but to a werewolf, that isn’t long. They were all still feeling him out.

“You don’t know her, sir,” David said with his eyes averted and gazing respectfully at his shoes. “She accepted my invitation and that means I get her. Those are the rules. Sir,” he finished softly.

“I said, she is mine. You will not see her again.” James stepped into David’s personal space and David took a step back. His back was against the refrigerator now and the Alpha was glaring deep blue ice into his eyes.

David swallowed loudly.

“She is not your mate. Do you understand?” James asked, his voice taking on a different tone. One that was strong, persuasive, deep, and husky.

David nodded.

“Tell me.,” James commanded in the same tone. Power rolled off him, intimidating all of them.

“I understand that she is not my destined mate because she is yours. I will not ask her out again. I will not go out with her again. Sir.”

James smiled and took a step back. “Good man.” He patted David’s shoulder. “Gentlemen.” He turned to face them all. Their edginess was thick in the air. “We now have one mission.” He looked across the kitchen at the table surrounded by large, stern-looking wolves. “Our mission is recon on the female Jessica in accounting. I believe her to be my destined mate.” James was tense. Strength and power still radiated off him.

“You said that about Margaret,” Freddy offered, not meeting his gaze. “She was…” Freddy was the largest but the friendliest of the pack. James liked him almost immediately but showed no favor amongst them. He was still relatively new to the pack. They’d had no Alpha when he arrived and they’d asked that he lead them. A pack without an Alpha was a disaster waiting to happen. An Alpha without a pack was the worst kind of tortured soul. They were all equally glad to have each other but still getting used to things and him being in charge. James looked each of them in the eye.

“I know what she was, she was a horrendous witch. I don’t know why I thought she was mine, but I’m sure now that she is not. She works in accounting. Perhaps she picked up Jessica’s scent somehow. Maybe she borrowed an article of clothing. I don’t know why she scented untrue. I know that I’m right this time though.” James sauntered nearer to the table, power coming off him in waves. They all felt it and they all respected it.

“Gather information, gentlemen. I want someone tracking her movements as closely as possible. Most of you work at the complex. Most of you are police officers. We should have this wrapped up in a few days. She will mate with me, and we will be a stronger pack for it.” James took a breath. “Your actions will be appreciated.”

Growls sounded around the table. They all wanted to win the favor of the Alpha. He had not chosen a beta yet. They all hoped that he would soon.

“Keep all other males away from her. She sees no one.”

They nodded in unison.

“She belongs only to me.” James acknowledged each of them by making eye contact, then left the kitchen.

David let the breath he’d been holding go.

Freddy smacked him on the back and gave him a grin. “Cheer up, man, you’ll find one.”

David knew that Jessica was a prize, but he also knew that he would follow the Alpha’s orders. This Alpha was not like his old one. This one didn’t try to make friends. He was old-fashioned. He was in charge, no ifs, ands, or buts. He was good for the pack, much better than Charlie had been. If Charlie had followed more of the old rules he wouldn’t have been mauled to death by those cat shifters. An Alpha should never run alone. He was too big of a target.

Chapter 1

Jessica worked in the accounting section of a government building. It was a huge gray stonework building complex where the state government convened all of its departments after a history of separation. Now all of the transportation, police, and emergency services worked together.

The employees networked, spoke, relayed, and took care of the local area as a team. It saved the government money because the accounting section did the bills, payroll and ordering for all of the branches, and the maintenance department worked on vehicles for all sections.

The mechanics could work on a police officer’s car today and a snowplow tomorrow. The dispatchers in the call center took calls for roadwork, and at the same time emergency operators, less than ten feet away, took 911 calls.

Jessica’s official title was procurement officer, which meant buyer. Not a buyer in New York for a department store like she wanted, but a buyer of equipment for snowplows, state troopers, ambulances, the jail, the offices, and the IT department.

What she ended up being was accounting’s catchall. She could end up with invoices, payroll, or balancing a spreadsheet. It was uninspiring. She needed excitement, passion, a life. But when you are a timid and shy girl, those things are hard to come by.

Jess liked to think of herself as a work in progress and tried to assert herself, but usually wimped out. She sighed for the third time that morning and stared at the screen. Your boss dumped on you when you were a timid and shy girl, too. The payroll clerk called out sick again. Since Jess was cross-trained for “these emergencies,” the payroll was dumped in her lap. When Debbie spent her previous evening at happy hour—as Debbie frequently did the day before payroll was due—Jess was the back-up. Jess could’ve refused, after spontaneously sprouting a backbone, but it was easier to do it than try to fight the wicked witch.

Jess could hear the cackle in the back of her mind, and her lips twitched slightly. She held it in because the witch liked to lurk about. Jess also didn’t want anyone to think that she was insane. People didn’t sit in rooms alone and laugh unless something was off.

She added the columns, checked the formulas in the rows, reconciled the dollar amount, and pushed send. The witch would have to check Jess’s work before it was committed to the system for processing since Jess wasn’t a payroll clerk.

She needed coffee, maybe with a shot of mocha creamer, she thought, stifling a yawn. Yes, coffee, double mocha shot. That got her moving. Lolly was coming down the hall in her usual rainbow-colored maxi-dress and cloud of perfume. Jess liked Lolly and she was as near to a best friend as Jess had.

“Hey, Jessie girl! Is it mocha time already?” Lolly smiled that overly large-toothed smile at her that had just a little too much gum to it. Jess nodded. They called her Lolly because she’d had a lollipop in her mouth nearly twenty-four seven since she’d quit smoking. The nickname stuck. Right now, it was a grape Tootsie Pop. Jess was afraid that soon her name would be Toothy, because all of that sugar and sucking had to be bad for your teeth. Lolly looped her elbow through Jess’s. “Are we going for a workout in the morning? I feel the need for some endorphins.”

“Um, sure, I could use some of those, too.” Jess smiled up at her friend. She was jealous of Lolly. She was so gorgeous with her caramel-colored skin, her long braids, and her toffee-colored eyes. Lolly’s mom was a small white Jewish woman from New York who liked to send cakes and cookies to work with Lolly. She’d sent gingerbread today, not Jess’s favorite. Her dad was a Jamaican whom Lolly had never met. He must’ve been tall, because Lolly was tall, and he must’ve had that smile, because her mother didn’t. Nellie raised Lolly in New York’s Upper East Side, but right after college Lolly followed a man to Northern Virginia.

Her mother retired and moved in with her when the man left. Nellie now took care of Lolly’s two children. He never came home from work one night, then texted her with his plans to move on and divorce her.

Lolly was strong and smart. She took everything—the house, the car, and custody of the kids. He’d begged to come home shortly after the divorce was final, but Lolly stood firm. Jess respected that kind of strength. Lolly had a backbone. She could’ve caved and let him come back, let him help her support the family and take care of the house. It would’ve been easier. But she didn’t. Lolly stood tall with her back straight and stuck to her principles. Jess often had trouble fighting back and standing up for herself. She really needed to work on that. She kept telling herself and she kept trying to practice what she preached to herself in her head.

“I’m on my way to an interview, sweets, but I will meet you in the morning at Henry’s. Six o’clock okay?”

Jess nodded.

“Are you sure?” Lolly cocked an espresso-colored eyebrow at her, and Jess nodded again, looking her in the eye. “See you then.” Lolly was the human resources manager and spent a lot of time in meetings and interviews. Jess hated meetings and interviews. She much preferred her quiet office with her plants and computer.

The complex had an employee coffee and lunchroom area. There was a machine where you could fill your cup with several different kinds of coffees or teas, and there were vending machines full of chocolate and salty temptations. Jessica refused to look at them. No soda, no popcorn, and no chocolate bars. Don’t look. Don’t look. Don’t look. A minute of satisfaction takes forever to work off on the treadmill, she repeated in her head.

The room was empty now because lunch was over. Jess got a new paper cup from the cabinet and put it on the dispenser tray. She pushed the coffee button and slid the packet into the slot on the front, then got her mocha creamers out of the bin. Usually the machine would make noises at this time and liquid heaven would shoot into her cup, but nothing happened. Jess pushed the coffee button again and slid a new packet inside the slot. Again, nothing. She bit her bottom lip and put her cup back inside the cabinet then sighed. When she turned to leave, she noticed that a police officer was standing behind her, waiting and checking her out. Jess startled and stumbled out of his way.

“You aren’t going to let it win, are you?” Jess’s brows knitted at the sight of the gun at his hip, and her teeth sunk into her quivering bottom lip. His nametag said Lt. J. Crenshaw. She didn’t meet his eyes, only nodded, and quickly walked away.

A growl rumbled through his chest. He was so damn big and intimidating compared to her. Jess swallowed the fist-sized knot in her throat and almost ran down the hall. She didn’t see officers at this end of the building very often because they spent their time out on the roads, but sometimes one would pop up, and that one had growled at her. They left her alone if she didn’t meet their eyes, which she never did. The gun he wore on his hip was huge, too, and Jess hated guns. A gun and a tragic accident was the reason she spent her childhood without her siblings.

Damn it. She really wanted a coffee. Lolly was great at fixing the damned thing when it acted up, but she was busy so there was no hope. When she got back to her desk, Jess opened the program on her computer that she would spend the afternoon with. Now that Debbie’s work was completed, she could work on her own. If that witch said one word about her project being late she might just…oh, who was she kidding? She would keep her mouth shut and take it like a man. God, she needed to get a set.

Jess started keying the numbers into the computer and clicking on cells in the spreadsheet. She glanced at the clock. If she hurried, she may finish this on time. “Here you are. You aren’t easy to find, are you?” The big cop, oh God. He was even bigger now since she was sitting down. “I got it to work and I think I got it right, coffee with mocha, right?” Jess nodded without meeting his eyes and took the small hot cup from his huge but graceful hand. She noticed his neatly clipped nails and his smooth tanned skin. It was quite the contrast to her pale trembling hand with its chewed cuticles.

“Thank you,” she said softly, and glanced at the gun like it might attack on its own.

“I was wondering if you’d like to go to dinner later. We can go over to Dan Dan’s across the plaza. Do you like Chinese?”

She nodded.

“Great, should I pick you up here, or would you rather meet up over there?”

Crap. That’s what happened when you nodded instead of speaking. Yes, she liked Chinese but no, she didn’t want to have dinner with the big killing machine on his hip. She glanced at it again.

“Don’t like guns?”

She shook her head and finally met his eyes. They were navy blue, sharp, so dark and deep, the kind you could fall into like a warm pool. There were crinkles at the corners as if he either smiled a lot or squinted often. She inhaled sharply, and the corner of his mouth lifted. His thick black hair had a wave to it, but just barely since it was so short. There was a dimple playing at the corner of his mouth, and she could see straight, white teeth when he spoke.

“Then I will lock it up at the office before dinner.” He smiled then, and her breath caught. It was a nice dimple, deep, and made him seem less serious than his uniform suggested. “Is four o’clock okay?”

“I don’t get off until four thirty,” she murmured, watching the muscles ripple up his forearm as he lifted his coffee to that beautiful mouth to sip. Her midsection clenched. He was the definition of male beauty, and she couldn’t help that she’d only given him her full attention a few seconds ago but she wanted him. Her very soul cried out to have him.

“Okay then, four thirty. I’ll pick you up here. I don’t want you to get away.” He winked, and she swallowed again. “My name is James, by the way, and you’re Jessica, right?”

She nodded, and he turned to leave.

“See you at four thirty, Jessica.” And he was gone.

Crap. Had his eyes changed color? She might be getting sick. Was she really going out with a cop? They scared her, but then most men did. That was something else that she was trying to get over. She really wanted a family—a husband, kids, a dog, and a house. She knew that she couldn’t have her idea of a family without a man, so she was doing her best to be brave. A male student was aggressive with her in college, so it was difficult to trust men, but she was trying. He didn’t rape her because she screamed and was rescued by a crowd of girls, but the possibility of what could have happened always lingered at the back of her mind.

Was she really going out with that cop? He was gorgeous. Jess bit her lip and grinned to herself. It was frightening and exhilarating at the same time. She wondered what his lips would feel like when he kissed her goodnight. She also wondered what those elegant hands would feel like on her skin. Jess shivered. She stared at her computer screen, but it was nothing but a big blur. When Lolly stopped in with a cup of soup in her hand, it was an hour later.

“What’s put you off in dreamy land?” Lolly snapped her fingers in Jess’ face.

Jess smiled up at her.

“What gives? You are usually focused and this is definitely out of focus.” Lolly grinned while twirling her long finger around Jessica’s face.

“I went to get coffee and the machine was nasty to me. There was a big gorgeous police officer in there, and of course, I ran away.” Jess worried her lip.

“Of course you did.” Lolly sipped her soup, with her brows raised expectantly.

“Well, he got it to work, made my coffee, and brought it to me.”

A smile slowly spread across Lolly’s pretty face, but she remained silent.

“He’s taking me to Dan Dan’s after work.”

Lolly bounced in place. Her soup sloshed over the side and she put it down on Jessica’s desk so she could continue bouncing while she wiped her fingers with a tissue. Her rainbow-striped maxi dress flared out around her.

“Which one is he? There are bunches of them that are cute. Oh! I am so happy for you.”

Jessica frowned.

“Oh, no you don’t, Jess. He brought you coffee, he asked you out and you accepted. You are going. Cop or not.”

“I didn’t, though. He asked if I liked Chinese and I nodded. I never said that I would go.” She crossed her arms over her ample chest.

Lolly grinned at her show of spirit. There was no way that she would let her get away with backing out of the date. Jess spent too many evenings alone. She was young and should have fun with boys, many boys, Lolly always said.

“It seems to me that you did, whether you meant to or not. You accepted and you are going. I wish you’d worn something more low cut. Boys love boobs, and you have a nice set.”

Jessica’s face scrunched up.

“Oh stop it. You have a great body, it’s curvy and luscious, every man’s dream. You have a great face, pretty eyes and shampoo commercial hair. Accept it. If I were a guy, I would be all over you.” Lolly laughed at Jess’s expression.

“Yeah, that’s why they’re lined up around the block. Get out of here. I need to get back to work.” Jess made a shooing motion with her hands. “Really, or I won’t be able to go because I’ll be stuck here, and I’m not dating you, you’re too aggressive.”

Lolly cackled at that. “But you are going.”

Jessica nodded.

Lolly bounced again and clapped. “See you in the morning at the gym, and I want to hear all of the juicy details.”

Jess rolled her eyes.

Lolly walked out, humming and carefully balancing her soup. The cloud of perfume that she left behind wasn’t unpleasant, but was overwhelming, and Jess had to clear her throat. She tried to focus on the spreadsheet and not think about Lolly or James.

“Back to work, Jess. Get back to work and don’t think about the big hunky police officer.” She scowled at the screen.

Chapter 2

“Hi.”

She didn’t hear him come in and jumped in her seat.

“It’s four thirty.”

Jess gasped and looked at the clock on her desktop. He was right, it was, and she wasn’t finished. She should cancel and finish her work because she didn’t want any trouble with the witch.

Lolly peeped around the doorframe with an eyebrow quirked. Lolly was going to make sure that she went on this date.

Jess nibbled her lip.

“You aren’t going to bail on me, are you?”

She glanced at Lolly again, who had her arms crossed over her chest now and her eyes narrowed.

Jess shook her head and closed the program she’d been using.

“Good.”

Lolly grinned and disappeared down the hall.

Jess grabbed her sweater off the back of the chair and clicked the shut down button on the desktop. James placed his fingertips lightly on the small of her back and steered her out. He switched off the lights and closed her door without missing a step.

***

James

“How long have you worked here, Jessica?” He needed to get her talking so they could move things along. His recon and planning had taken a lot of time, and now he wanted to hurry, to claim her, but properly. He really wanted this to work, and he definitely didn’t want to lose her. James believed that she was his intended mate. He believed it enough that he’d put a stop to the rest of the pack making a play for her. They’d been angry, too. It had nearly come to blows, but in the end, the Alpha in him backed them all down.

She was incredibly lovely. Jess was curvy with porcelain skin, strawberry-blonde hair, and deep hazel eyes. The emerald and copper flecks in her irises entranced him as much as the gray streaks, not to mention the way they widened at him. It took every bit of control and patience not to jump her right there. He would not screw this up. He couldn’t, because she was his future. His soul knew that. This human was his mate, his life mate, the answer to his prayers and the mother of his children. He would have her; she would be his, no doubt about it. Mine. The word thundered through his mind.

“Um, five years.” She glanced self-consciously at people she passed in the hallway and was glad that he wasn’t in uniform anymore. They would think that he was arresting her. She liked how he dressed. He wore dark blue dress pants that stretched across his backside nicely, and a gray dress shirt that fit like it was tailored.

She felt the heat of each of his fingertips on the skin at the small of her back. She felt them through her sweater, through her blouse and into her skin, making it tingle. She neared the bank of glass doors at the front of the building that led out into the plaza that surrounded the complex. He pushed the door open and held it for her.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

"Anytime,” he said close to her ear, and her body trembled. “Do you still want Chinese?”

Jess nodded and walked with purpose. Dan Dan’s was just across the plaza, and she could see it… If only the rubber in her knees would solidify. The thought of Dan Dan’s dumplings already made her mouth water. So did the way James’s fingers pressed into the small of her back just above her bottom. If he would just drop his hand a few inches and cup her— Stop thinking about that! she scolded herself.

“Good. I called ahead, he knows we’re coming.”

Jess’s brows furrowed. “Who does?” Her eyes widened.

He gave her an appreciative glance.

She liked the way he looked at her.

“Dan, of course.” He smiled at her and held open the door to the restaurant when they arrived. He waved at a small Asian man behind the bar, who hurried over. He was the man who usually gave her the takeout she ordered. He was wearing his starched white shirt, black pants and vest with his usual scarlet bow tie.

“James, good to see you. Bring your lovely lady this way.” The man slipped through a pair of crimson silk curtains that had golden dragons painted on each of them.

Jess stopped. What was back there? Why weren’t they eating at a table? She’d seen things like this on TV—lonely girl gets picked up by cute guy, gets herself in over her head and ends up in a bathtub full of ice and missing a kidney. No, no, no. Jess backed away.

“Hey…” James murmured, taking hold of her arms and rubbing up and down gently with his big warm hands. Gazing into her eyes, he said. “It’s okay. It’s a private dining room for special guests only, I promise. I asked for the VIP treatment. You’re safe with me, sweetheart. Safer than anywhere else in the world.”

Jess stared around his shoulder at the dragons.

“It’s okay, really. If you’d rather eat out here with the regular crowd, I will tell him we prefer that.”

Jess nibbled her lip and stared at the dragons for another moment until Dan popped his head back through. She wondered if the symbols down each side of those curtains said kidneys for sale in Chinese. She nibbled her bottom lip. Her face grew warm with the flush of embarrassment. She could see in his eyes that he liked it when she nibbled her lip, and he seemed to like it when she looked up at him, too.

“Young lady, come. There is dim sum and my special sauce. I made you some tea, too, just how you like it. Come.” He beckoned her and smiled.

Jess took a deep breath and braced herself. She would be brave, and if there was a bathtub full of ice waiting for her she would scream her head off to the restaurant full of people. She swallowed hard.

“I won’t let anything hurt you,” James murmured in her ear, and her fingers curled into tight fists. He smiled and placed his hand against her back again. It was as if he could sense her fear. He encouraged her without being pushy, and she liked that about him. She steeled herself, took a step, then two, and went through the curtain.

“It’s lovely.” She smiled. There was a small half-moon booth with a round table. More of the silk with the golden dragons painted on them surrounded it, except these were much larger. The booth could only hold two. Jess slid into her seat. Dan put a red linen napkin in her lap and one in James’s lap. Jess studied the dragons that were closer now, until dishes clattered not far away and she jumped.

James chuckled and gave her hand a squeeze. She realized now that they were in the kitchen, ringside actually, where they could watch. A group of curious chefs watched them, and some smiled, nodding.

“Dan is our host for the evening. He’s the one who seated us, the owner.”

Jess nodded.

Dan brought two bowls of soup, wonton. Jess loved the soup here. It wasn’t your typical soup with just dumplings, meat slivers, and spring onions. This had water chestnuts, shrimp, and mushrooms. This was heaven. She sipped the delicate broth.

“How long have you been a police officer?” Jess asked.

He looked surprised at the question.

“Sorry, maybe that’s not my business,” she hedged.

“No, no, it’s fine. You’re so quiet that it surprised me that you asked, but really, it’s fine. You may ask me anything. I went to the academy right out of college, so five years now.” He finished his soup. “Did you go to college?”

“Yes, I went to Mason.”

He nodded. “Hmm, local girl, huh? Are you from here?”

She nodded. “I came here from Nevada a while ago. I’d had enough of the desert and the dry heat. I wanted to feel grass under my feet.”

Dan brought a platter of dumplings. “Shrimp, vegetable, and pork.” He winked at Jess. “My special sauce for you, young lady, and my hot sauce for you, Lieutenant.” He put the small bowls down on the table beside their plates.

Jess stabbed a pork dumpling and dipped it in the soy and sesame sauce. She closed her eyes and relished the flavor. There was something intoxicating about his sauce. It was only soy and sesame, but it was delightful on her palate. She felt James watching her enjoy it and heard him shift around in his seat. Plates clattered nearby, and her eyes snapped open. Two of the chefs were watching her, and James cleared his throat. It got them back to work.

“You like the dumplings,” James said. It wasn’t a question, and she blushed with embarrassment. The dumplings always made her nearly orgasmic. She swore to Lolly once that they put an aphrodisiac in them. Lolly thought that was hilarious because they had no effect on her. Her kryptonite was chocolate cake. That was probably more normal than Dan Dan’s dumplings, but Jess couldn’t help it. They were superb and her eyes always slid closed when she ate them.

“I’ll do just about anything for these.” Jess dipped a shrimp dumpling and stuck it in her mouth. Her eyes slid closed again.

“Good to know,” James said huskily. “That’s very good to know.” His voice went dark and smooth like good caramel. Her eyes went wide as the tremor rushed through her. The dimple flashed at the corner of his mouth, and his eyes changed colors again.

Her eyes narrowed. Was she getting sick? People could not change their eye color.

“You’re very beautiful.”

Jess blushed and stared at the dumplings.

“You don’t take compliments well, do you?”

She shook her head.

“I’ll have to teach you that.”

Her luminous hazel eyes rose up to meet his once-again dark blue ones.

“Don’t worry, it’s an easy lesson.”

“Next we have Mongolian beef for the lady and beef with broccoli for the gentleman. I brought pork-fried rice, too. Enjoy.” Dan smiled and gave them a half bow.

“How is that? I’ve never had it,” James asked.

“Oh, please taste it. Dan’s is the best.” Jess speared some of the beef and held it up to him. When he took it in his mouth, she smiled. “See? It’s good, right?”

He nodded. “The best.”

When she lifted a piece to her own mouth, his eyes flashed. They finished their meals, and Jess sipped the tea that tasted like apricots and jasmine.

Dan filled a large insulated cup with it and put a lid on it for her.

James led her out with his hand in the small of her back again. When they neared the parking structure, he slowed.

“I’m parked on the third floor. Where are you?” He smiled at her.

“Over there.” She pointed to the small Honda Civic that she drove. It wasn’t new or old. It was clean, though, and not dented. But it was nothing special, just like its driver, she thought. She wished she could point to a flashy red sports car, but nope, just the Civic. Its safety record was admirable, as was its carbon footprint. “What do you drive?” she asked, hoping to keep him hanging around for a few more minutes. He was nice and she was hoping that maybe he would kiss her goodnight. The date had gone well, she thought, and she wanted to spend more time with him. He had a fascinating smile and nice eyes. He seemed to have a reassuring air about him, and she felt safe with him the way he said she would. She wondered briefly what his lips would feel like on hers.

“I have a big SUV.” He grinned. “Boys like their trucks, but I like a little comfort in mine.” He put his hands in his pockets. “Are you free for dinner tomorrow night?” His dimple flashed and his eyes crinkled at the corners. She liked that.

“Uh no.” She looked down at the oil-stained cement.

“No?”

She shook her head.

“Oh. Well, okay, maybe I’ll see you around, then.”

Her brows knitted tightly together.

“Good night, Jessica.” He strode to the stairwell and went through the door.

“Wait,” she said softly as the door closed. Okay? This was no different from her last date. David the mechanic from Transportation. He was shy, almost as shy as she was, but very nice-looking. He’d taken her out once, didn’t kiss her, and never called again. She doubted she’d ever hear from James again either. Why did they ask her out in the first place if she was too hideous to kiss goodnight? This was a bad idea. Damn that Lolly, she should’ve backed out the way she wanted to in the first place. Jess went to her car, started it, and left the garage.

***

“Shit, that was harsh. She wasn’t interested at all and was afraid of being there with me.” James slapped the steering wheel with the flat part of his hand. She’d shut him down without a blink. Uh no. She may as well have said “Hell no!”

“Shit.” He slapped the wheel again. Why the hell not? Was dinner that bad? Was his company terrible? Maybe that comment about her not talking much had set her off. What was she afraid of? He’d put her at ease at the restaurant, hadn’t he? Maybe he was losing his scenting ability. Shit. He wanted her, bad. She belonged to him. He felt it in his soul. Shit, shit, shit.

He’d eased her anxiety at the restaurant when they first arrived. Something had freaked her out, but he calmed her. He’d felt her fear subside once he’d put his hands on her and comforted her. Sure, he’d nearly come when she fed him then ate off of the same fork, but she didn’t know that. His wolf noticed, though. As far as the beast was concerned, she’d accepted him. It was just a small matter of a bite to him now. But in the garage when he asked for dinner tomorrow, she’d said no and he sensed anxiety again. Why? They’d had a good time.

He needed to find a way around whatever bothered his beautiful girl. He’d spent countless hours bird-dogging her, doing research on her, filling in all of the pieces of her existence. He’d left no stone unturned when he’d gathered every personal detail of her life. It wasn’t typical behavior for a wolf, but it was for a cop. The need to know every detail of every minute of her life. That was the cop in him, and the wolf didn’t mind either. He was patient and would continue to be patient for her. Neither he nor the wolf wanted to mess this up. She was his mate and she was human. He would be diligent, patient, and treat her like the delicate flower that was Jessica.

“Fuck!” he screamed at the windshield and slapped the steering wheel again, fighting his shift. He was going to lose control right here in the garage if he didn’t calm down.

“You okay, Lieutenant?” Freddy, his sergeant and pack mate, was calling through the glass of his driver’s side window. Freddy was tall, wide, and filling the window with his bulk. Most male wolves were large, but Freddy was huge and powerful. James proudly called him friend since he was also calm, sympathetic, and funny as hell.

James pushed the button to lower the window. “Yeah, just having a pity party.” He grinned. “Remember the girl that I told you about.”

Freddy nodded. Of course Freddy knew who Jess was. The whole pack knew who Jess was, because the whole Jess episode nearly brought the pack to its knees. He waited for James to continue. “I took her to dinner and I thought that we had a good time, but when I asked for dinner tomorrow she kicked me to the curb.”

“I thought you said she was submissive. That doesn’t sound submissive to me. Usually they have a hard time with confrontation. You should ask her again, press your suit.”

James shrugged and blew out a breath.

“I came to ask a favor. Can you cover me tomorrow second shift? Seeing how you aren’t busy.” Freddy grinned and James nodded.

“Great, thanks. I owe you. My girl wants to go to the movies.”

James nodded and smiled softly.

“Give her another shot, Cap. Maybe you misunderstood her.”

“You and Charlie have a great time.”

Freddy winked and gave him a knowing glance. He deserved some R and R. They all worked hard as officers and on the whole Jessica thing. He owed them all.

“Thanks. See you later.”

James raised the window and watched Freddy walk away. Lucky SOB. James drove slowly down the three floors, hoping that she was gone already because he couldn’t face her rejection again. He needed time to sort this out in his head. She would be his, one way or another. He was the Alpha, damn it.

Chapter 3

Lolly pushed the buttons on the treadmill beside the stair climber that Jess was abusing. “Tell me, Jessie girl, did you get some?” Lolly asked, but Jess was sure she already knew the answer.

Jess shook her head. “And I won’t be getting some either. He didn’t kiss me goodnight, he didn’t ask for my number, and he didn’t ask me out again.” That wasn’t exactly true, she chided herself, because he did ask, but she was busy. He didn’t ask for another day, though, so that counts, right? she reasoned with herself.

“I’m going to be an old maid, Lolly, so get used to it. Don’t bother matchmaking either anymore, and don’t try to convince me that I’m a hot, gorgeous babe because he would’ve kissed me goodnight if I were. We both know that I am a hideous freak,” Jess spat, staring at the TV overhead.

***

Jess stuck her earbuds in her ears and worked the stair climber harder than anyone ever had, Lolly was sure of that. She walked slowly, contemplating her friend. She was not hideous. She was gorgeous. What was wrong with these men? Lolly checked out Jess’s rear. It was not flat or slim, it was curved and lovely, it was not too big but proportionate to the rest of her. Her breasts were bigger than average but not gargantuan, and she had a waist. Jess was an hourglass, and who wouldn’t want that? Lolly would kill to be an hourglass instead of a tree trunk. She walked faster at that thought. Jess had a sweaty V down the front and back of her gray shirt by the time she finished. Lolly was on a bench reading a magazine, already showered and dressed.

“Did you finish early?” Jess asked.

“No, Jessie girl, you finished late, but I thought I would let you take out that anger on the machine instead of me. Don’t worry, you’ll feel better tonight. You know that it always cheers you up.” Lolly winked and shifted her red lollipop around in her mouth. “I’m going to head over to Joe’s and grab us some coffee. I will meet you out front in fifteen.”

***

Jess nodded and hurried to the shower room. She had twenty minutes to get to work or face the wrath of the wicked witch. She showered and scrubbed her hair. She toweled off and rubbed her hair dry as well as she could. She braided the long strawberry mass and twisted it up into her usual bun. She hurried into a jade-green blouse and a pair of black dress pants with low-slung heels. If he saw her, at least she looked good. Damn him. She’d barely slept because of him. Why ask her out in the first place? Why hadn’t he just left her alone? Jess sniffled. She could’ve liked him. She could’ve had passion for him. He could’ve given her tingles in some places besides the small of her back. She nearly tripped over the loose carpet when she left the locker room, and cursed. Someone had duct taped it but it still caught her heel. She hurried across the floor to the front door and went outside with two minutes to spare.

***

James watched her from across the gym. Jess hadn’t noticed him and he stayed out of sight so he could watch her. She focused her laser beam concentration on the wall straight ahead of her. He’d never seen anyone push a stair climber that hard, and James would bet that she could crack walnuts with those thighs. Jeez, he wanted between them. She was incredible. He loved to see her sweaty with her skin dewy and her hair curled in wet tendrils around her face.

She was so damned beautiful and she was his, James resolved. She was his and he was not giving up on her. He watched her as he did a rep of arm curls. Lolly came out of the women’s locker room but didn’t see him. They hadn’t been introduced, but he knew who she was and her relationship to Jess. He also knew that she was standing in the doorway when he picked Jess up yesterday. He could smell that perfume a half-mile away. She went and sat on a bench behind Jess and pulled a magazine out of her bag. Jess was still at it, still whipping the machine into shape. The corner of his mouth lifted and he switched arms. She pushed the stop button and said a few words to her friend then hurried into the locker room.

God, he’d love to follow her in there and help her wash her workout off then massage her aching muscles. James adjusted his shorts and kept his eye on the door that she would exit from. When she came out of the locker room, she looked in his direction. Had she seen him? She hissed “Shit!” He was almost sure that she’d seen him on the free weights. He was going to try to ask her out again but wow! Shut down twice in less than twenty-four hours.

He shook his head and dropped the weights. She’d never noticed him before in here, but he’d watched her across this gym a hundred times. He preferred to observe her without her knowledge while he gathered his intel. He’d studied her patterns and finally gotten the coffee habit down pat. What she liked and what times during the day she would visit the coffee bar. It wasn’t easy while he was working, but he had it down to an art.

He knew she ate at Dan Dan’s twice a week, because he’d seen her go in a couple of times and then took up residence in the corner booth where he could watch her. It was easy to watch undetected because she rarely faced the world head on. He felt she was easily frightened, and all he wanted was to protect her and keep her safe from the world. She came in and picked up a takeout bag usually, but once she’d sat and eaten wonton soup, dim sum, and Mongolian beef. He was going to have to unlearn all of that if she truly did not want him. Her habits and haunts had become his. Now he would have to find new ones because she found something about him repulsive. He took a deep breath.

He didn’t understand it and had been certain that she was the one, his mate. Usually women fell at his feet, especially human women and definitely submissive women. Not this one though. “Uh no.” Wow. That was real jab to his ego. He picked up his towel, wiped the equipment, and watched the tall black woman hand his beautiful girl a tall mocha with two shots upside down. He knew what was in that cup. What he wouldn’t give to be the one to hand her the first cup of coffee every morning. He stalked to the locker room and punched a locker on his way through. There were other men in various stages of undress, but all of them gave him distance. He was big, he was a cop, and he was in a foul mood. Bad combo.

***

“Here’s your coffee. Now hurry up before you get into trouble and I will meet you in the garage after work to head over, okay?” Lolly gave her the cup. Jess hurried away, calling “Okay” over her shoulder. The witch was a real stickler for being on time.

At her desk with thirty seconds to spare, Jess sipped her coffee while her computer powered up.

“I didn’t get your project yesterday evening, Jessica.” The witch stuck her head in Jess’s doorway. She was really a perfectly charming woman, Jess supposed. She was in her early forties, had short black spiked hair and wasn’t awful to look at. She always looked as though she stepped off the cover of a magazine, and at least her previous five husbands must’ve liked her at some point. She had four children, all with different fathers, and Jess heard someone call her “the hooker” once. Yikes!

“I didn’t finish, but I will get to it this morning,” Jess said brightly.

“I told you that I needed it yesterday. You should’ve stayed late.” She scowled in that way that she had. It was a look that men never saw and was usually reserved only for Jess. Jess just didn’t understand why this woman never cut her any slack. She worked hard, took on extra projects, and always helped.

“I had something that I needed to do and I couldn’t stay late, but like I said, I will finish it this morning.” Jess could almost feel her backbone and steeled herself for what would certainly come. A workout usually made her more confident, and she was also still determined to grow a spine.

“If you can’t handle this job, Jessica, maybe we should find someone who can.”

Jess drew a deep breath. She was sick of people stepping all over her when she’d bent over backward to accommodate them. There would be no more crossing oceans for people who wouldn’t step over a puddle for her. Jess had had enough. She steeled herself and stiffened the backbone that she was trying to develop. Jess was in a fighting mood today and she let it fly.

“Ms. Lansing, I am sorry that I didn’t get it finished. I could’ve finished it with time to spare, but since I had to do payroll for three hundred employees, I ran out of time. If you want to reprimand someone, you should go to payroll. I don’t mean to throw her under the bus, but I spent five hours doing her job. I skipped lunch, but as I said, I had an appointment and could not stay late. If that’s not good enough, then maybe you should find someone else that you can dump other people’s work on and abuse.” Jess stood up and started to gather her things. She had definitely had enough. Enough of this witch, enough of this job, and enough of men. Damn them all! Hello, backbone.

“Sit down and finish your project. I want it before lunch. I’m glad to see you finally stick up for yourself.” Ms. Lansing winked and left.

Jess flopped back down in her chair suddenly deflated and exhausted. Her new backbone disintegrated into jelly as she collapsed. Her heart was hammering and her hands were shaking with unspent adrenaline, but she’d stood up to the witch. That was close. She’d nearly quit. Oh my God!

“Well.” She sighed and smiled. “Take that,” she murmured and went to work. She would finish this project before lunch with no problem. There were only a couple of hours of work left to do and later tonight, payoff for a week well done.

Jess went for her three o’clock coffee ten minutes earlier than usual, hoping that she wouldn’t bump into James again like yesterday. A police officer was at the machine, and she started to back out of the room when she saw the uniform, but he was smaller and blond. He smiled at her and nodded as he left. Jess nodded back at him without looking at him. She made her coffee and went back to her office, slowly sipping the brew. At least the monster worked correctly today. Her project was complete, but she had a few things that she needed to order for different departments.

Her heart stopped when she came across the requisition for ammunition and practice targets. It had his name across the bottom. He’d touched this page. He’d signed it. Jess ran her finger over the signature. She sighed. He wasn’t as interested as she’d thought, and it was time to face that fact. If he were, he would’ve asked for another date when she wasn’t busy, and he certainly would’ve kissed her goodnight. Right?

Jessica researched his products, found three vendors, got three quotes, and ordered his supplies. “Moving on,” Jess sighed. She placed his paperwork in the done pile. When she finished ordering, she would stamp them all “complete” and send them back to their owners. Jessica finished sealing the last envelope when Lolly walked in, bringing her cloud of perfume with her. Jess gathered the envelopes so she could drop them into the central mailbox for distribution on Monday. She was glad that this week was over and behind her.

“Are you ready, Jessie girl?” Lolly gave her a gummy smile when Jess smiled and nodded. “Good, I’m ready to get my charity on. Let’s go.” Lolly had changed into her dark green sweats and hooded sweatshirt that said St. Francis in bright yellow over the left breast. Jess had her uniform in a tote bag and slipped into the restroom near the mail office.

Lolly waited in the foyer and leaned against the wall, sucking on her lollipop. Jess came out a few minutes later looking like Lolly’s shorter, paler twin. Her hair hung down her back in a long braid.

“Ready?” Lolly asked, and Jess nodded. “Your turn to drive.”

“I know. I know.” Jess hated to drive, but since it was her turn, she wouldn’t fight Lolly on it, and besides, if she drove them there, Lolly had to drive the van.

“Guess what I did today,” Jess said once they were inside of the Civic. Lolly looked at her curiously after buckling her seatbelt. “Ms. Lansing came in this morning to chew me out. She said that I should’ve stayed late to finish my project. I tried to explain that I had an appointment and she didn’t care, of course.”

“Of course she didn’t.” Lolly twirled her lollipop then crunched into it hatefully. Lolly didn’t like Ms. Lansing either.

Jessica pulled out of the garage and went left to head to St. Francis’s. “She said that maybe she should find someone else to do my job.”

Lolly gasped.

“I apologized and explained that I skipped lunch and tried to finish but I couldn’t stay. I think she should reprimand Carol, since she can never come to work on payroll day. Then I told her that maybe she should find someone else and I was going to leave. I really was. I am so tired of her chewing me out for sport.”

Jess turned down the street that would take them to the church. They were in a seedier part of town now. The bums sat right out on the sidewalk with their bottles wrapped in brown paper bags. Prostitutes congregated on corners, and there was a general malaise to the area. It always seemed darker here than in the rest of the city, and it didn’t matter if it was high noon.

Jess pulled into the parking lot behind the shelter. St. Francis’s was the huge Catholic church next door. Volunteers, priests, and nuns ran the shelter.

Lolly got out and tucked her purse under the front seat but kept her wallet with her. Jess did the same.

“She told me to finish the project, then said that she was proud of me for sticking up for myself, and then she winked at me. Can you believe that?”

Lolly grinned. “I’m proud of you, too.” Lolly held open the dark green fire door behind the little brick building. Jess looked up at the towering gray stone church next door. She’d always found the gargoyles that sat on watch around the top charming and frightening at the same time. The turrets and spires made it seem more like a castle than a church. She’d been inside of it once and it was truly beautiful. The pews gleamed from long hours of tired hands waxing them, the statues were perfect, and the stained-glass windows that day shone in jewel tones from the sunshine. The vaulted ceilings left her in awe. Jessica didn’t attend church since she did not practice a religion, but if she were to pick one, she would come here.

Jess went inside the squat brick building beside the church to find Father Mike, who ran the shelter. He gave them a wave and pointed to the trays already piled up on the cart against the wall of the industrial kitchen. She noticed he looked haggard today, but as usual he was managing the kitchen, staff, and volunteers. The man was tireless. She admired him for that. She looked around at the kitchen. Spotless as usual. Father Mike demanded it. Gleaming chrome appliances, plain white dishes, and plastic cups sat on brushed aluminum work surfaces that a local restaurant donated when they remodeled recently.

Father Mike was busy counseling a teenager who looked homeless. Jess’s heart clenched. The people who came here for help broke her heart. Jess and Lolly started loading the meal trays into the van that he had set aside for the disabled and older members of the church. These people did not get out. They had no one to look after them, and the people delivering the meals were the only humans they saw.

Jess grabbed two cups of coffee to go and took the keys to the van from the hook on the pegboard. It was Lolly’s turn to drive the van since Jess drove them to the shelter.

Lolly tried the ignition and it sprang to life. “Who’s first?” Lolly asked.

“Double trouble,” Jess said, looking at the route sheet.

Lolly grinned and stuck a fresh lollipop in her mouth.

Jess cracked the window and sipped her coffee. “Why isn’t Mrs. Jacobson on this list? I’ve been serving that sweet old girl for six years now. Hang on, I’ll be right back.”

Jess hopped out and jogged back inside the shelter. When she came out Lolly cringed. Jess was wiping tears from her cheeks. She climbed into her seat.

“She passed on Tuesday,” Jess said quietly and sniffled. That’s why Father Mike looked the way he did. Mrs. Jacobson was his favorite aunt and she was Jess’s favorite person to visit. New tears ran down her cheeks, and Lolly passed her a tissue from the box in the console. “No one called me. Father Mike said that they are cremating her tomorrow, but there won’t be a ceremony. It’s what she wanted. He said that nobody came to see her in her old age, so nobody needed to come see her dead except him. I went to see her every Friday night for the last…” Jess broke down in sobs, and Lolly patted her back then hugged her. Jess wiped her nose and stared out of the passenger window.

The van lumbered quietly to Eighth Street to the small run-down apartment complex where Mr. Thompson and Mr. Fitzpatrick lived.

“Which do you want?” Jess asked when the van stopped. She stuffed her tissue in her jacket pocket. “I’ll take Jerry and you can have the horny leprechaun,” she giggled.

“It’s not funny.” Lolly scowled. “He’s quicker than you think, and I am not his damn Nubian princess.”

Jess laughed again and got the tray that she would deliver to Mr. Fitzpatrick. Jess ran the tray up the three flights of stairs to apartment C. He immediately looked past her for Lolly and was clearly disappointed to find only Jess. Jess carried the tray into the small, depressing apartment. A low couch that was once gold but now brown cowered against one wall. A long Formica coffee table covered in old newspaper stood sentry before it. The parquet floor needed scrubbing, the area rugs needed to meet a vacuum, and the TV was a console straight out of the seventies. The apartment smelled like cherry pipe tobacco, but she’d never seen him smoke one.

“How are you, sir?” Jess smiled brightly.

“All right, I guess. I was hoping to see Lolly today. I look forward to that, you know.”

Jess nodded and retrieved yesterday’s tray from the counter.

“What did you bring me?” Mr. Fitzpatrick did look like a leprechaun, Lolly was right. He was diminutive, redheaded, and bearded. He even smoked a pipe. All he needed was a green hat, suit, and pointed shoes and he could be the Notre Dame mascot.

“I brought you the Salisbury steak today, sir—mashed potatoes, green beans, and some vanilla pudding, all of your favorites.” Jess smiled. “Is there anything I can do for you, sir?” She looked around hoping he would let her straighten up, but no.

“Nah, I’m good, Jess. Next time, will you send Lolly up? I like to see her face.” He really looked disappointed, and Jess felt bad for him. She should make Lolly come up here and say hello. Mrs. Jacobson was still weighing heavily on her mind.

“Will do, sir.” Jess headed for the door with the empty tray. “If you do need anything, please call, sir.”

He nodded and lifted the cover from the tray. “Smells okay.”

Jess winked and let herself out. She hoped that when she got old that someone looked out for her. Being left behind in a shitty little apartment by your family and forgotten about sucked. Jess jogged down the first flight, coming to a stop at a dirty teenage girl smoking a crack pipe on the second-floor landing. Jess handed her Father Mike’s card and told her that when she wanted it, there was help. The girl looked up at her with unfocused eyes but took the card and put it in her jeans pocket.

“Who’s next?” Jess asked when she climbed into the van beside Lolly. “You need to go up and see Mr. Fitzpatrick. I think that you are the reason he lives.”

Lolly’s face scrunched up, and she nodded.

“Next time I get Mr. Thompson.” Jess picked up the route sheet and told Lolly where to go. They pulled out onto the street and headed north. Before they got to the next intersection, a police car siren went off behind them. Lolly pulled over.

“What did you do?”

Lolly shrugged and got her wallet from under the seat. Jess handed her the registration from the glove box. Lolly rolled the window down when the officer approached.

“Shit,” Jess muttered, and turned her head away when she recognized him in the side mirror.

“You have a tail light out, ma’am. Do you have a license and registration?”

Lolly handed them over.

He looked at them and handed them back. “Tell Father Mike to get them fixed, would you?”

“Of course, I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was out,” Lolly apologized.

“It’s okay.” He studied the back of Jessica’s head. “Jessica?”

She bit her lip and turned around to face him.

“How are you?”

“I’m okay.” She dropped her eyes to Lolly’s lap.

“This is why you kicked me to the curb?”

She nodded.

“You kicked him to the curb? I thought you said he ditched you,” Lolly demanded, whirling around in her seat.

Jess’s eyes snapped up to her friend’s face.

“She said that you ditched her. That you weren’t interested,” Lolly said, facing him again now.

“Not interested?!” he scoffed. “I asked her if she wanted to go out for dinner tonight and she said, and I quote, ‘uh no.’ She may as well have said ‘hell no,’” he finished quietly.

“Oh, for Christ’s sake, Jessie girl!” Lolly shoved at her arm and turned back to him. “She likes you, a lot. Do you want to take her out again?”

James smiled.

“Good, because she wants to go. This time kiss her goodnight. Now.” Lolly turned back to Jess. “If someone asks you if you’re free and you aren’t, you say ‘no, I’m busy that night, but I’m not busy Saturday. We can go to a movie.’”

She turned back to James. “And you need to be aware of some things. Jess is painfully shy. I mean, in the deepest sense of the word. You have to prod her into an answer, and make sure you get clarification. If she only nods, you’ll want to ask your question again and say, ‘are you sure?’ Get eye contact. In addition, she won’t want to be within fifty feet of that piece you wear. She lost a brother and a sister to a gun, so you keep that thing out of sight. Okay?”

He nodded, smiling.

“We should be done in about three hours, so you should show up at her door with a pizza if you aren’t still working. She likes pepperoni and mushroom. Bayside Apartments, 2C. Now, we have to go because people need to eat.”

“Thanks Anne-Louise.”

Jess’s brows knitted. Anne-Louise? She never knew Lolly’s whole name before. It suited her, but less so than Lolly.

“You can call me Lolly, Officer Cutie Pie. Everyone does.” She pulled a grape Blow Pop from her jacket pocket, pulled the paper off, and stuck it in her mouth.

“And you can call me James.” He banged his hand on the side of the van as she restarted it. “I’ll see you soon Jessica,” he said across the van.

Her cheeks flushed, and she nodded.

“Is that okay?” He stared pointedly at her.

“Yes. Soon,” Jess said.

He smiled, flashing his dimple at her, and walked back to his squad car, pumping his fist.

Jess grinned so wide she thought her face might split in two as she watched him walk away. “We have to hurry. I want to be there if he shows up.”

Lolly laughed and put the van into gear, but watched his rear end until he got into the police car.

“Jess, you are the luckiest girl in the world. What a gorgeous man, and what a gorgeous backside!” Lolly sighed. “Who’s next?”

“Left here, two blocks to Mr. Lee’s house.”

Lolly nodded. This would be easy. Mr. Lee didn’t like to talk. He would open the door, hand out an empty tray, and take the full one. Then he would say, “Thank you very much,” and shut the door.

Jess ran the tray up when they got there and everything went exactly as she thought it would. She respected his wish for no chitchat and turned to go back to the van. The door closed quietly behind her. She suspected that Mr. Lee didn’t speak much English and that he didn’t hear well. It was expected of a man who was at least ninety.

They made ten more stops before going back to the shelter. Lolly told Father Mike about the tail light while Jess put the dirty trays in the dishwashing room, then waited for her in the Civic. Lolly jogged out and got in beside her. Jess tried not to speed across town to the complex to get to Lolly’s car, but it was hard because she was so excited about her possible date. Maybe she should speed, then he could catch her, put her in cuffs. Her lips curled up at the corners, and Lolly chuckled while watching her.

“I want to hear all about Officer Cutie Pie on Monday,” Lolly said, getting out when Jess stopped behind her Toyota. “I mean it.”

Jess smiled.

“Shower before he gets there. You smell like Salisbury steak.

Jess grinned and shifted into reverse to turn around. Lolly shut the door and waved at her. Jess waved back and sped off.

Chapter 4

Jess tidied her apartment and vacuumed just in case he dropped by. She was in the middle of arranging throw pillows on the sectional couch when someone knocked on her door.

“Shoot. I didn’t shower yet.”

He knocked again.

Jess looked through the peephole at James on the other side and opened the door. “I didn’t expect you so soon.”

“Really? It’s been three hours and eleven minutes since I pulled you over.” He grinned as he set the pizza and bottle of wine down on the table. “Plates? Glasses?”

Jess pointed to the cabinet beside the refrigerator.

“Cheese?” He opened the fridge, and she nodded.

“I hoped to shower and change before you came, I mean if you came. I smell like Salisbury steak.”

James crossed the room, setting the cheese on the table as he passed it. God, he moved like a predator, and she inhaled. It wasn’t fear that made her tremble. She stepped back, but he caught her easily with his strong hands.

“Mmm. I think you smell nice,” he said, burying his nose in her neck.

Jess tittered nervously. An involuntary shiver raced through her. She felt so small but so safe in his arms.

“I owe you something.”

Her brows furrowed and she watched him curiously.

“I wanted to kiss you goodnight before we had our misunderstanding.”

She inhaled sharply again.

“May I?”

Jess nodded and nibbled her bottom lip.

Butterflies filled her stomach and chest. Her core clenched when James bent toward her and brushed her lips softly with his. His fingers tunneled into her braid and cupped her head while his other hand pressed into the small of her back, pulling her flush against him. Heat filled her middle and flushed her skin everywhere their bodies met. His lips became more demanding, and his tongue traced the seam of her mouth, begging entrance. Jess opened for him and let him taste her. Oh God, he was a miracle. No man really kissed like this, did they? It felt so good, her whole being quaked with need. She wanted him. Now. A barely audible moan escaped her. Her skin flushed and moistened while her heart started to beat a quick staccato against her ribs. His teeth dragged over her bottom lip before he ended the kiss. When she opened her eyes, his forehead was against hers and his eyes weren’t open yet.

“When I saw you at the gym this morning, I wanted to kiss you hello, but I didn’t think that you wanted to see me.”

“You were at Henry’s this morning?” she said softly, her lips so near his that she felt him inhale her words. She waited for his eyes to open.

He nodded. His mouth was on hers again, tempting and teasing.

She was panting by the time he stopped, and her heart was trying to jackhammer its way out of her chest. This gorgeous man wanted her! Finally, a man was interested in her.

“When I got here tonight…” Jess wove her arms around his neck and buried her fingers in his short, soft hair while pressing her lips to his. She controlled this kiss. It was more demanding than his, and he seemed to like it, at least she assumed so when he growled softly. He pushed her body back against the door so that she was trapped. His body melded to hers and she relished his warmth. He felt incredible pressed against her, his hardness molding against her softness. When she finally opened her eyes again, she found a gorgeous pair of navy blues watching her.

“I love those sounds that you make when I kiss you.

She gasped. “I don’t make any sounds, do I?”

A slow smile crept over his face and the crinkles at the corners of his eyes appeared for a second.

“Just listen.” James lowered his mouth to hers again and his lips brushed over hers. He sucked her lower lip into his mouth, and she moaned again. It was so soft, but she heard herself, and a flush covered her face. “We should eat before this gets out of hand,” he murmured against her neck, and Jess nodded. “I brought pepperoni and mushroom, as directed by your friend, from Joe’s down the street.”

He let her go after seeing that she was steady on her feet and went to the pizza box. “I don’t know if they’re any good, but we’ll find out together,” he said when she shrugged, and pulled her by the hand to the dining room table, then helped her to sit.

How was she supposed to eat in this condition? He’d just set her soul on fire and she was supposed to sit here across from that gorgeous mouth and eat pizza. She wanted to drag him into the bedroom and make more of those noises that he liked.

“You’re looking at me like I’m the first steak you’ve been served after a year of salads, sweetheart.”

Jess looked away.

James filled their glasses with red wine. “I didn’t say that I didn’t like it.” He grinned at her when she looked up. He put a slice of pizza on her plate, still smiling at her.

“Where’s your gun? I noticed that you don’t have it with you,” Jess asked.

“I locked it up at the station before I left. I wish that I’d brought extra clothes to work with me, but I didn’t count on running into you and my every wish being granted.” He took a sip of the red wine.

“Your every wish?” Jess tasted her wine. She wasn’t a drinker by nature and usually she hated wine, but it wasn’t awful, so she took another sip.

“I thought that I’d blown it last night. When Lolly said that you liked me, well…I was very happy to hear it. I’ve noticed you around and I wanted to ask you out for a while, but I could never seem to bump into you or meet you.”

Jess nibbled her pizza. “How long did you wait?” she asked, not believing her ears. This gorgeous man wanted to take her out for a while? He was trying to bump into her for a while? She needed to leave her desk more often.

“A long time. Too long. I should’ve found a way sooner,” he admitted. “I think you’re great.”

Jess dropped her gaze.

“Don’t do that,” he commanded. She looked back up into his eyes. “When you look away after I’ve complimented you, it feels like you’re calling me a liar.”

She was horrified. Is that what people thought? No wonder she had such a hard time.

“When I tell you that you’re beautiful or that I like the way you smell, you should say ‘thank you’ and smile. Okay?” His eyes flashed, and she couldn’t stand it anymore. She had to know why and how he did that. He’d just reprimanded her like an errant child and while strangely it turned her on, it also got her back up. He was about to meet her new backbone.

“Your eyes change color, did you know that? They turn, like, a golden brown, but it’s only for a second. I thought that I was crazy at first, but they change. I’ve seen them do it several times now. How do you do that?” Jess put her pizza down and squinted at his eyes. They twinkled but didn’t change, and she studied him as she would one of Dan Dan’s dumplings, with extreme interest and high expectations.

“I know. They do that when I feel emotionally charged,” he continued at her confused glance. “When I feel protective, angry, or something, they change.” He spoke as if it was no big deal and like everyone could do that. She knew that they couldn’t, so she pressed on.

“Why? Mine don’t do that. I’ve never known anyone’s eyes to do that.”

“You’re the first person to ever notice,” he murmured.

“I heard you growl, too,” she challenged him, sitting up straighter, may as well go for it with gusto. Jess was enjoying her new backbone. Usually she would not say anything at all, but ever since her run-in with the witch this morning, she was feeling so much more powerful. He quirked his eyebrow at her and grinned, flashing amber eyes at her.

Jess gasped.

“Well, what can I say, sweetness? You make me wild.”

Jess narrowed her eyes again.

He went on. “Look, there are some things about me that I’d love to share with you, but not yet. Okay? I will share them with you when I’m ready, but until then, I can’t. Not yet.” He watched her face for a flicker of anger. When he didn’t see any, he smiled. “I’d love to kiss you again. May I?”

She nodded. “You don’t have to ask permission.” She smiled just before his lips met hers again across the small round table. He tasted like pizza, wine, and passion. God, she wanted him. His mouth felt so good on hers, and she wondered if it would feel any less wonderful on the rest of her. His lips were soft and warm, masterful.

“I should go,” he murmured against her mouth. “Before this gets out of hand.” Jess shook her head slightly, and he studied her, then nodded. “Okay.”

“You like control, don’t you?” she asked quietly.

He fingered his badge, and she giggled.

“Okay that was a dumb question.” She closed the pizza box lid on the three remaining pieces. “What happens if it gets out of hand?” Jess glanced up at him and his eyes flashed. “They do it when you’re aroused too,” she whispered.

“What makes you think that I am?” His voice was stern but didn’t scare her off.

“Your pulse is rapid, your eyes are dilated, and you shifted in your seat.”

His eyes flashed again, and she wet her lips. He inhaled deeply while he studied her.

“You’re very observant. You should’ve been a cop.” He smiled, taking her hand across the table. He turned it over to study her palm. “I like your hands. They’re small and delicate. I like you, a lot.” He placed a gentle kiss in the center of her palm.

She gasped at the contact.

“I’d like to see this down.” He fingered the thick reddish-blonde braid that hung over her shoulder.

“I only undo it for showers and bedtime.” She nibbled her lip when he pulled the elastic free from the end and began unraveling it.

“It’s a good thing that it’s close to bedtime, then.” His fingers worked quickly and had her hair loose around her shoulders in no time. “That is the loveliest thing I’ve ever seen.” His gaze met hers intensely.

She swallowed hard but didn’t drop her eyes. She imagined it brushing over his naked chest while they were making love.

He inhaled deeply, watching her face.

“Thank you,” she whispered, and a smile spread slowly across his face.

“Thank you,” he said and kissed her again. “Do you watch television before you go to bed?”

She nodded.

“What’s on tonight? I’m usually working.”

She wanted him to stay with her, spend time with her, and get to know her better. “Um, I don’t know. We would have to look.” She was glad that he wasn’t going to bolt as soon as they finished dinner after all. That kiss still lingered on her mind and still tingled on her lips.

“Then let’s look, shall we?” James picked up the pizza box and slid it into the fridge, then grabbed the wine, his glass, and her hand. “Come with me.” He led her around the sofa that she’d inherited from her mother before she’d moved with husband number four or five across the country. Jess wasn’t sure how many it was now, and she was sure she didn’t remember all of their names.

It was sectional with an ottoman at each end to stretch out on. She wouldn’t have chosen the color, but her mother liked pink. The houses that Jess grew up in looked like someone dunked everything in the pink tummy cure-all. “Where did you get this couch?” Was he going to make fun of her? Seriously? They weren’t quite on solid ground yet. “It’s great. I mean, the color is kind of…” He scrunched his face up in distaste. “But other than that, it looks comfortable.” He sat down in a corner and put his feet up on the ottoman. “Oh yeah, it is, come here, you.” James put his wine on the table and pulled her down next to him, then pulled her close. “Very comfortable.” His arm wrapped around her shoulders.

Jess reached for the remote on the center cushion and handed it to him.

“Ladies’ choice tonight, sweetheart.” James pulled her closer and kissed her temple.

Jess found an action movie, and he grimaced. “Is that what you think I want to see? Or is it what you really want to watch?” He looked down at her with dancing blue eyes. “Come on, be honest.”

She changed channels until she happened on a cooking show. There were four competitors with baskets.

“Cool, I love this one. They get a bunch of weird stuff and have to turn it into a meal. I saw one last week where Jew’s mallow was in the basket. It was green and slimy. I’d never heard of it before, and I don’t think I want to taste it either, but that’s the great thing about this show. There is a world of interesting stuff out there that is perfectly acceptable to many people, but we just haven’t heard of it before. We as a society have a world of fascinating things to discover. Do you know what I mean?”

Jess nodded. Half of a sheep’s head just came out of the basket. It was split down the middle separating the left side from the right. Eww. She turned her head. “Are they going to eat that?” She looked up at him.

“Yup, you haven’t had that before? Oh, it’s great for breakfast. It stays crunchy in milk.” He laughed at the face that she made, then she laughed with him. “Oh look, and there are blueberries to go with it.”

She giggled. “There are not… Oh my God. That’s just nasty.”

James gave her a squeeze and leaned his head against hers, where she was resting on his shoulder. The hand hanging over her shoulder was playing with her hair.

“Your hair is so soft, like silk.” He wrapped some of it around his fingers.

“Thank you.”

He kissed the top of her head, still playing with her hair and rubbing her scalp. Before long, he’d relaxed her into a deep sleep.

Chapter 5

James turned the TV off when he woke hours later. They were showing an infomercial about a blender. Jess was still curled into his side, and she looked so right next to him. His intention was to leave quietly when the show ended earlier, but he’d passed out as well. He checked his watch, and seeing it was nearly four, he eased his body out from under hers. He covered her with the navy-blue throw from the back of the couch. James surrounded her with the throw pillows, then went to use her bathroom. He checked on her once more, then left her a note on one of the napkins from the restaurant.

I’d love to see you again tonight. I didn’t have the heart to wake you. Dinner and a movie? My shift ends at seven. If you have other plans or don’t want to go out, call me. –James

He jotted his cell number under his name. He checked on her again and kissed her cheek, then slipped out, locking her front door on the way. He headed home to shower.

***

Jess heard the door click shut and sat straight up. She looked around and, not seeing James, she got up to look out her kitchen window. His car was making a left onto the parkway. “Damn,” she hissed. “I fell asleep.” She glanced at the clock and was surprised by the time. Then she saw his note and smiled. He wanted to see her again! This time she wouldn’t smell like Salisbury steak or like work. This time she planned to be powdered and pretty. Jess went to her closet to choose her outfit, then climbed into her bed because it was an ungodly hour to be awake. She couldn’t sleep, though. A smile kept working its way across her face when she thought of him. She pulled her journal from her bedside table and wrote everything that had happened over the past few days. Jess was thrilled that she finally had something to say that was important and thrilling. She fell asleep with the pen in her hand after filling twenty pages with the excitement of the past few days. She also noted that the lovely Mrs. Jacobson passed away and how much she would miss her girlish giggle and twinkling brown eyes.

***

“Hey, Cap!” Leland called across the floor full of desks and busy officers. Leland was James’s partner.

“Not yet.” James grinned at him and sat down at his desk. He laced his fingers behind his head and leaned back in his tilting desk chair. He couldn’t keep the smile off his face.

“What’s up? Did you bang her?” Leland asked, grinning back at his partner and Alpha.

James’s eyes flashed and he snarled.

“Sorry. I didn’t think that it was that serious yet. My apologies, I meant no disrespect, really.” Leland dropped his head. “I’m just jealous. Sorry,” he mumbled once more for good measure.

“Forgiven. I took a pizza and a bottle of wine over. We ate, talked, kissed, and then fell asleep on the couch. I’m feeling that destined mate thing stronger than ever. I never believed in that crap that my dad went on and on about, but I think he had it exactly right.” James leaned back again and resumed his relaxed posture. “This girl is amazing. She’s so perfect, so well mannered, demure, and has just enough fire in her to keep it interesting. She surprises me every time I turn around. It’s unexpected to find a girl like her now. Women are independent and strong, but this one seems like she may let me take care of her. It’s what I need.”

“I know, Cap,” Leland agreed.

“Not yet.” James grinned again and studied the ceiling.

“I thought she dumped you, though.” Leland sipped his coffee and made a face. The stuff was probably already cold.

“Misunderstanding, and it’s all cleared up. She saw my eyes and she heard me growl.” James smirked at him.

“For real? How do you know? Did she say?”

James nodded and leveled his gaze at Leland. “She asked about it, but she wasn’t afraid.”

“Tread lightly, man. She may not seem afraid, but when you use the ‘W’ word, I don’t know, it freaks humans out. I won’t ever date a human again.”

“Yeah, I feel you. Stick with she-wolves. I have to know, though. This girl is my other half. I feel it. I’m thinking in terms of forever.”

Leland chuckled. “Well, that’s another story then. Congratulations. What’s her name?” he teased.

“You know her name is Jessica, and I’m going to see her again tonight. We’re going to a movie. I left her sleeping on the couch, but I left a note, and unless she calls to cancel, this day will last too long.”

Leland chuckled again and answered his radio when the dispatcher called his unit number. “We’re up. We have an all call on Eustace Street. Some idiot is robbing the bank.” Leland was checking his weapon then pulling on his vest. James was mirroring his movements. They ran out of the office with twenty other officers, leaving the squad room empty.

The screaming police car screeched to a stop with a dozen others. Rubber was thick in the air when James got out of the passenger side. It assaulted his wolf’s nose with its thick, heavy, pungent scent. Leland always did the driving so James could work the computer. The only time that James drove was when Leland was off shift like the day before. Thank God Leland was off shift or he would’ve missed the best traffic stop of all time and James would still be smarting from the misunderstanding with Jess. He smiled thinking of her, so lovely while she slept on the couch. One day very soon, they would wake up in a bed.

“Eye on the ball, sir,” Leland called across the roof of the car, refocusing James.

“Where do we stand?” James asked the sergeant already handling the scene.

“Two gunmen inside are holding a dozen more hostage. What do you want to do, Cap?” The sergeant gave the signal to wait.

“Not yet. I want two on the roof and I want to get a conversation going.”

The sergeant nodded his graying head and spoke into his radio.

James moved around the car, trying to get closer to see inside the huge windows that curtains weren’t covering yet. As soon as the perpetrators figured out it was advantageous to hide, the curtains would close. They weren’t professionals, or the curtains would already be closed. Leland worked his way closer to the building, and James tried to call him back. Leland either didn’t hear or was ignoring orders, most likely the second. James saw the rifle muzzle flash inside of the bank and knew its sight was on Leland. The bullet would hit him in the head or neck. Even with their quick healing abilities, Leland would not survive that injury. James jumped over the car and threw himself between Leland and the bullet. It caught him in the shoulder, out of reach of the vest. James hit the side of another squad car with a sharp thud and rendered himself unconscious.

***

Jess flat-ironed her curly hair into a beautiful, straight, and glowing masterpiece, then smiled at her reflection. Her make-up was perfect, her hair was shampoo-commercial lovely, and her outfit was an absolute complement to her figure. Her eyes were bright and happy as she checked just once more because he should be here any second. She hurried around the apartment, straightening and wiping. Everything was ready, and she did not smell like Salisbury steak. No matter what he’d said, she did not think that she’d smelled good. He was only being nice.

Jess checked the clock and decided that he should be here by now. She checked her cell phone and there were no messages or texts. Jess went back to the bathroom and checked her reflection again. Where was he anyway? His note said that he would be here right after his shift, and it ended over an hour ago. Even if he wanted to shower and change, he was still late. Maybe he’d changed his mind because she’d fallen asleep like a child. No, that wasn’t the problem, she decided, because she was asleep when he wrote the note. She re-read the note for the hundredth time today.

Jess began to pace from the window to the TV and back, looking out the window at the parking lot at every turn. She made a cup of instant coffee and paced some more. After two hours of non-productive pacing, Jess went to the bedroom and kicked her black heels into the closet with two loud violent clunks. She slam-dunked her blouse into the laundry basket, and her pants followed.

Jess pulled her sweats out of the dresser drawer and shoved her feet and arms into them. She went to the kitchen and poured a bowl of cereal for dinner. “Men suck,” she hissed into the bowl. Her cell rang then, and his number flashed across the screen. “No,” she said to the phone. It immediately rang again when she let it go to voicemail. Jess picked it up and bit her lip before saying, “What?” There would be no politeness for him tonight.

“Is this Jessica?” It wasn’t James, but it was his phone number. Jessica programmed it into her phone as soon as she’d read his note. Was he having a friend call for him? Dog. “Hello?”

“Yes, this is Jessica.” She stared out the kitchen window at the dark parking lot. An elderly man was walking a little white dog that lifted its leg on a light pole.

“My name is Corporal Leland Farkas. I am James Crenshaw’s partner. I wanted to let you know that he is in stable condition. They removed the bullet without any problems, but they still have him sedated. The nurse said that you could visit tomorrow morning and that visiting hours are from eight to ten.”

“I don’t understand,” Jessica whispered as she sat down hard on the kitchen chair that he’d occupied the night before.

“James was shot today in a bank robbery, ma’am. He saved my life. You should be proud of him. I thought someone called to let you know.”

“No, they didn’t, but thank you for calling. I’m glad that you’re okay.” Jessica’s voice was not her own. A small part of her brain was on autopilot, moving her mouth, while the rest of it was screaming in terror. She pushed end and dropped the phone to the table. James was shot in a robbery. She was going to lose him just like Teddy and Lisa. A gun would take him away from her and she would end up alone. Again. Jess went to bed, leaving the cereal and milk on the table. She tried not to think about it, but her dreams haunted her. He kept getting shot over and over again. Each time it was a bigger hole in his chest, until the dreams woke her up with a scream.

***

“Did you call my girl? Did you let her know why I stood her up?” James asked as soon as his eyes opened. His throat was cotton dry and raspy.

“Yeah, Cap, I told her. I told her that she could come see you in the morning.” Leland looked doubtful.

“Not yet.” James struggled to talk. The drugs they’d used were strong. Usually he would’ve bounced right out of bed, but the doc was wolf and understood their unique abilities. “She won’t come. Go get her.”

“She’ll come, Cap. I think that she really likes you.”

James knew he was trying to sound positive, but he failed miserably.

“Nah, I think she hates guns more than she likes me. She doesn’t love me yet, so go get her. Haul her down here and let me explain it to her.” James cringed at the heaviness in his body. Nothing wanted to work.

“You need to rest. I’ll bring her back first thing if you’ll go to sleep.”

James nodded.

“Goodnight, Cap.”

“Not yet.” James mumbled before drifting off. Leland pulled the curtain around the bed and turned the lights off before leaving.

***

Leland nodded to the officer stationed outside of the door. This was a very long day. James was right this morning. During the robbery, a second lieutenant, James, and three other officers were injured. It was sloppy and took too long. The gunmen were in jail, all of the hostages were safe, and everyone was alive. Leland was tired, but there was still paperwork to do, so the day was only getting longer. He scrubbed a hand down the stubble that covered his face and got into the elevator.

Who was he kidding, he was about to drop. That’s why James was getting Captain and Leland would stay right where he was. That was also why James was the Alpha. It was because he was a stronger wolf. It was why he had the option of choosing the female Jessica for his own. Originally, there were five wolves hunting and tracking her, four of them cops and one a mechanic.

The mechanic David took her out, but James blocked him from ever calling her again. It was his right as Alpha to claim a female. David bowed out gracefully, unlike Alex, who James had to force into submission. At least there was no bloodshed. James was new in the area, and Alex didn’t trust him yet. Now the pack, small as it was, had one order—to watch over the Alpha’s mate, protect her, and discourage any male attention that didn’t come from James.

Leland drove home and collapsed on the couch. He set his watch to wake him at six. That would give him time to shower, eat, pick her up, and convince her to see James.

***

James woke to a dim hospital room with a nurse sticking a needle in his arm. “Sorry to wake you. I hoped to sneak in and steal just a tube.” She smiled.

“Why are you drawing blood? Did the doctor order this?” James scented deception on her. “Get out of here.” He pulled the syringe from his forearm before she had a chance to “steal” a single drop. The nurse hurried out, frightened by the snarl on his lips. He didn’t know what her game was, maybe she knew what they were and wanted to prove it. All he knew was that he scented deception and she wasn’t getting his blood.

“Sir, is everything okay?” the officer standing guard outside his room asked when he came in. He was a rookie named Pete and was not wolf.

“Just fine, Pete, I’m just not feeling like getting poked right now,” James grunted.

“Yes, sir.” Pete stepped back out of the room and closed the door behind him. James sat up and huffed out a breath. It was nearly nine and she wasn’t here yet. He picked up his phone and called Leland.

“Yeah, boss,” came the reply when Leland answered.

“Where are you? Where is my girl?”

Leland sighed. “She’s right here and quite contrary.”

James’s hackles went up. Jess was not contrary and didn’t make trouble, but if Leland was having problems, then something was wrong.

“Put her on.” James stood up beside the bed and began looking for his clothes. He’d had enough of this room, and he missed her.

“My pleasure. Maybe you will have more luck than I have had so far.”

“Hello,” Jessica murmured. She sounded exasperated and tired. He needed to soothe her, and if he couldn’t do it over the phone, he would go there.

“Ask Leland to step outside.” He heard her tell Leland to step outside and then heard her door close. “I thought you would come and see me, Jess.” James located his clothes in a closet across the room. The bed next to him was empty, so walking around in is hospital gown wasn’t as embarrassing as it could’ve been. Not that he minded, but not everyone enjoyed a naked backside. The linoleum was chilly under his bare feet, but he ignored it. Nothing was more important than this call.

“I…I didn’t want to say to you what I have to say while you were in there.”

James growled.

“But since your thug is insisting, I guess I have to say it. I don’t want to see you anymore James. I…I’m breaking up with you. I wanted to wish you the best and thank you for the time that we had together. I did enjoy myself, but I can’t date someone who is going to end up on the wrong end of a gun. I can’t lose anyone else,” she finished on a whisper.

“Jessica, I could be an accountant and be shot buying my morning coffee.”

“You could be, but as a police officer your chances of getting shot are certainly higher than if you were an accountant. I can’t do it, James. You know how I feel about them. I am going to give Leland his phone back and send him on his way now. Goodbye, James.” She sniffled just before she hit end. She didn’t want to do this, he thought. She’d fallen for him, but she was frightened. He would fix it. He would fix anything to be with her.

Jess held the phone out through the small opening that she’d made in the doorway. “I don’t need a ride, but thank you for the offer Leland. You can go.” Jess drew on her recently acquired backbone and shut the door. She leaned against it and slid down to the floor. She listened to his feet on the stairs down the hall waiting until he was gone before she cried. Jess buried her face in her hands and wept. She could’ve loved him, could’ve spent her life with him, and could’ve made babies with him. And she could’ve raised those babies alone because he was shot chasing a bad guy. No. She and her babies would not be left alone, but she’d hoped those babies would have his dimples and big dark blue eyes. Was it selfish to leave him this way, to desert him while he was hurt and in the hospital? Maybe. Was it selfish of him to desert her and the children because of a job? Maybe more than what she’d done. She could’ve asked him to quit, but she was sure that would be the most selfish. She could never ask that. He seemed to love his job.

Chapter 6

James pulled the IV out of his arm and gave the puncture a lick. It healed almost instantly. His only thought was to get to her and change her mind. She was his mate, he was sure of that, and he would not let her go without a fight. James nodded to Freddy, who was now standing outside his door. “Sir?”

“Get out on patrol; your services are no longer needed in here,” James all but growled at him.

“You haven’t been released yet. I just asked the nurse and she said tomorrow at the earliest. You need to get back into bed, James,” Freddy cautioned him.

“My mate just broke it off, so this is not important anymore. I need to get across town. Now either you can go out on patrol or you can give me a ride. Either way, I am not staying in this hospital while she is hurting. Make a choice, Freddy.”

Freddy nodded and walked with him to the elevator.

James was beginning to shake the drugs off now that the IV was out of his arm, but he was still unsteady on his feet.

Freddy gripped his upper arm and set him right.

“Thanks.”

“Anytime, Cap.”

“Not yet.”

Freddy grinned and looked up at the ceiling.

“What do you know?”

“Your promotion came through yesterday while you were in surgery. You’re getting a commendation, too. You know, it’s rare for captains to go out in the field,” Freddy mused. “They also are not required to wear a piece, and since your girl hates guns, you can use that bit of information to get her back. Think about it. You get to stay a cop, but nobody will be shooting at you and you won’t be shooting at anyone else.” Freddy’s eyes flashed at James.

A slow smile crept over James’s face as they got onto the elevator. A nurse was hurrying down the hall, calling after him, as the doors closed, and James waved goodbye to her. He flexed his shoulder, which was losing stiffness by the minute. It wouldn’t be very long before he would be totally healed. By morning, the scar wouldn’t be visible. That thought calmed and made him anxious at the same time. Would he wake up with her? No. Not yet. It wasn’t time.

James sat quietly in the passenger seat while Freddy drove like a bat out of hell across town with his lights flashing. It was forbidden to run the lights when there was no emergency, but the siren was off. If anyone asked, he forgot he’d turned the lights on. Besides, this was a mating emergency.

Freddy pulled right up to the front door of her building and let James out. “I’ll park over there for a half-hour and call Charlie. If you need me, give me a buzz. After that I will assume that she’s keeping you.”

James nodded and shut the door, then hurried up the stairs.

When he got to her door, he could hear her inside, sniffling. She was crying. For him. Good. James tried the door and found it unlocked. As a cop, he found that infuriating, unsafe, and unacceptable. How many crime scenes had he worked where the unsuspecting person left the damned door unlocked and ended up robbed or killed? Too. Damn. Many. She would never leave a door unlocked after today because he would make sure of it. But not right now. Right now, his girl needed comfort and understanding. He found Jess curled up in the corner of the couch where they’d slept the other night. She looked up at him with red watery eyes, and he grimaced.

“I’m fine, see? You have nothing to be afraid of, sweetheart.”

Jess sniffled loudly, and James came around the couch. She scrambled into his arms.

“Everything is going to be fine, my love.” James held her tightly and closed his eyes as he kissed her temple.

“It’s not. You’re a cop, and cops get shot, James.” Jess buried her face in his neck, and he sat down with her.

“No, not anymore. I mean, I’m still a cop, but my promotion came through yesterday, and so I will be riding a desk. It’s an administrative position, so no guns, okay?”

She looked up at him.

“Promise. Okay?”

She gave him a watery smile and nodded.

“Now, your door was unlocked. I don’t ever want to find it that way again. If something were to happen to you…well, that would kill me faster than any bullet. Tell me that from now on, as soon as you pass through your door, you will lock it so I know that you are safe.”

She sniffled and nodded.

“Jess…”

“I promise. Where were you shot? They didn’t tell me what part of your body was hit. And what are you doing here? You are supposed to be in the hospital.” She leaned back with knitted eyebrows and studied him.

He grinned. “Right here.” He pointed to his shoulder. “If I wore a bigger vest they would’ve missed me.”

“I want to see.”

James unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it back to reveal his gauze bandage.

Jess peeled the tape back gently and looked at the swollen red pucker. Her mouth scrunched up. “Is that it?”

James looked down at it. Originally it looked nasty, but when you’re a werewolf, you heal faster than a human does. “Big deal. I thought that half of your shoulder was going to be blown away. When that policeman Leland called, he sounded so serious, like you were near death.”

James chuckled and made a mental note to kick Leland’s ass. “Yep, no big deal. Now, when I got here, I didn’t get my kiss.”

Jess wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

“Is that all I get? I was in the hospital. I need more cheering up than that.”

Jess rolled her eyes and shifted herself around so she was straddling him and kissed him thoroughly.

“Love those noises, sweetheart,” he murmured, making Jess’s cheeks flush. “Don’t be embarrassed. I like them, and I wouldn’t change a thing.” James shifted her around so that her back was on the couch and he hovered over her.

Jess giggled as he nuzzled her neck then took control of another kiss. He sucked her tongue into his mouth, and she trembled. His growl was soft, but her eyes widened, and he smiled then nipped at her neck again.

“I thought this was going to be the worst day of my life, I’m glad you’re okay.”

James studied her.

“What’s wrong?”

He shook his head. “Not yet.” He pressed his lips to hers once more, then sat back on the couch.

“Not yet what?” Jess sat up next to him. “Tell me.”

“You aren’t ready. Come over here next to me and we’ll watch TV together. I missed you.”

“I don’t want to watch. I want to know what I’m not ready for yet.” Jess folded her arms over her chest and all but pouted. “Tell me, James. I’m a big girl.” She exhaled sharply.

He closed his eyes for a moment and took a long breath.

“Well?”

“I have a feeling you aren’t as painfully shy as your friend Lolly thinks. I see a little fire in you.” He grinned.

“Stop deflecting and answer my question.” Jess waited with narrowed eyes fixed on him.

“Jess…” His mouth was a hard line and his eyes flashed.

“Tell me or get out.” She was getting angry, but he wasn’t ready to share. “James. I mean it.” Jess stood up.

“Shit,” he breathed. “You aren’t ready to hear it, Jess. Not today. I don’t want to ruin today any more than it has already been ruined.” His cell beeped, and he pulled it out then texted someone.

“Who is that? Are you married?” Jess straightened her spine. “Girlfriend, then?” she spat when he shook his head.

“No. Sit down please.”

“No, I don’t think so. I can’t show you out if I am sitting down.” Her chest was heaving, and she looked pissed, but he wasn’t having it. They may not be mated yet, but he was the Alpha. Period.

“Sit down,” James commanded, and her knees buckled of their own volition. That was better. “That was Freddy. He’s another cop, and he is waiting in the parking lot for me. He asked if I needed a ride or not. I told him to wait since you’ve decided to throw a tantrum.”

Jess’s eyes widened and she recoiled.

“Yes, a tantrum. I’m sore and I’m tired. I told Freddy that I was on my way down.” James stood up slowly. “You’ve had an emotional day, and I am going to leave you alone so you can compose yourself.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Call me later when you’re on a more even keel.” He closed the door behind him after locking it. It clicked shut.

***

Jess sat and stared at it. A tantrum? Seriously?

She blew out a breath, making her bangs dance. Jess punched the red button on her remote. The television came to life, showing another episode of the cooking show that they’d watched together. Why had she acted that way? It wasn’t in her nature to be that demanding. Or that bitchy, another word for tantrum. She smirked. Now he was gone and all she had to keep her company was her new backbone. Crap.

He left the hospital to see her and she’d treated him like shit, hadn’t she? She’d been domineering and demanding when she should’ve been sweet and comforting. She had to be honest with this man, though, or it was never going to work out, and she wanted it to work out. So much. She wanted more of him, but it felt like he was hiding something. He said it was something that she wasn’t ready to hear, but how did he know if she was ready? And what was it? If he wasn’t married and he didn’t have a girlfriend, then what was so scary that she couldn’t hear it? The not knowing was worse than whatever he had to say. She’d bet on it. Besides, she was an adult! She should decide when she was ready to hear what he had to say.

He was a police officer, so he wasn’t an international spy, and hopefully he wasn’t a criminal, so what was left? Jess bit her bottom lip hard and tasted blood. “Damn it,” she spat. She hated not being able to figure things out, and she hated secrets.

***

James let himself in the front door of his house. The fellas usually kept it neat, but it looked neglected. The living room had newspapers, food wrappers, and empty cans thrown around. The kitchen sink was full of dishes and the fridge was empty. He’d been gone one day. What happened here? It looked like they’d had a party.

“Oh, hi, Cap,” Mark said, coming into the kitchen from the small fitness room in the back. “Let me get that. I worked late and went straight to bed, but it was my turn to straighten the house. Go sit down and relax. I’ll do the living room first so you can kick back and get better.” Mark was a good male and one of the few wolves not vying for Jess’s attention. He had his eye on his own human female.

“Thanks, Mark. I think I will. Who is doing the shopping?”

“Leland and I are doing that after his shift today. Do you need anything?” Mark asked, wiping dishes quickly and loading them into the dishwasher.

“Food.” He grinned at Mark’s chuckle. “Get a roast. I feel like a big Sunday dinner, and since I’m off duty for a week or so, I will cook.”

“Wow, Cap. Are you having your girl over for that?”

James shook his head. “I don’t think so. She’s pretty mad at me right now. I think I misspoke earlier and gave her a little more Alpha than she deserved.”

Mark’s brows rose.

“Not like that. I dressed her down like a child right after I accused her of acting like one, but really, I was the child. She was scared and I did nothing to comfort her. She was upset and I yelled at her. I should’ve stayed in the hospital, but I was so insecure that she was going to bolt that I busted out and went after her.” James shook his head. “Then I told her to call me when she’d cooled off.”

Mark sucked in a sharp breath through his teeth with his face scrunched up.

“I know. I suck. I wasn’t ready to tell her about the wolf. I said that she wasn’t ready to hear it, and I don’t think that’s quite true.” He blew out a breath. “I think maybe it’s me who isn’t ready.”

“You should send her flowers and beg her forgiveness. I’ve seen Jess. She’s gorgeous, and I know there are a bunch of guys…” He stopped at James’s look. “Sorry. It’s just that I know how much time you put into the recon on her and how much you like her. You should do anything and everything to salvage this before she slips through your fingers.” James nodded. “I mean, she’s human and they are funny creatures, fickle.”

“You’re right, of course. I will, but right now, I just need to sit for a while. The doc had me on some strong shit and I’m feeling it. Maybe it explains my lack of patience.”

Mark smirked. “Yeah that must be it. First thing, tomorrow morning is soon enough, I reckon. She’ll do well to sit and think about it for an evening. Absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that.” Mark closed the dishwasher and went to the living room. He picked up all of the papers so James could sit, then found the remote control to the entertainment center that took up an entire wall. Mark finished in less than five minutes and started to leave.

“How’s your hunting going?” James was referring to his interest in his female human. Her name was Bobbi, Robbie, or something. James couldn’t remember right now. His head was still fuzzy.

“Oh, it’s good hunting. I’d like for you to meet her sometime, once she’s marked, of course.”

James nodded.

“You probably wouldn’t be attracted anyway. She is full of piss, vinegar, and fire. She is obstinate, opinionated, and doesn’t like me in the slightest.”

James’s eyebrows furrowed.

“Don’t worry, I’ll convince her. It just makes it that much more interesting than when they swoon and fall at my feet. There is just no sport at all in that. I like them with fire. She’s bossy, too, and damn, is that sexy.”

James didn’t think so and made a face, but to each his own.

“I got no problem saying ‘yes, ma’am.’” He waggled his eyebrows. “I have to go downtown in a few minutes. Her shift will be starting at the coffee house, and she is going to screw up my order at least four times today.” Mark smiled broadly and James laughed.

Mark left and James lay down on the couch. He was asleep within seconds. Wolves came and went all afternoon. Occasionally, James heard them but kept his eyes closed. Someone covered him with a blanket at one point and someone turned the television off at another. He woke up later than his usual time to the smell of coffee and breakfast cooking. James scented the air. He also smelled springtime. Throwing the blanket off, James got up and followed his nose. She was in his kitchen and she was making him breakfast. James crossed the kitchen silently and wrapped his arms around her. Jess sank back into him.

“We have to be careful. My boyfriend is asleep on the couch,” she giggled. James nuzzled her neck and nibbled her ear.

“He said it was okay. I already asked.”

Jess turned in his arms and pressed her lips to his. “I’m sorry for being a brat. Can you forgive me?”

James grunted and kissed her again, pressing her back into the counter. His body pressed into hers, melded with hers, and rubbed against hers. “Oh God… James,” she moaned.

“Shhh, baby.” James eased off her. “There are other people in the house.”

“Who was the guy who let me in?”

James shrugged and turned the bacon over in the pan behind her. “What did he look like?” Who had contact with his female, and how much contact had they had? He hoped it wasn’t Alex.

“Tall, dark hair, and intense blue eyes. He was kind of grouchy.” Another one of the wolves that had pursued her, but he was also one of the first to submit to the Alpha’s demands.

“Duane.” James kissed her temple.

“He just grunted at me and walked away. Then someone named Mark found me and sent me in here to make you breakfast. He said that you would appreciate it since you’d been asleep almost eighteen hours.” Jess watched him expertly flip the bacon.

“I passed out as soon as I got home.” He stirred the scrambled eggs that she was cooking on low. “Do you want toast?”

Jess nodded.

“It’s over there.” He pointed at the bread and the toaster.

Jess loaded the machine and pushed the lever down. She opened cabinet doors until she found the mugs and poured two cups of coffee. “Make it look like mud, sweetheart, and no sugar, I am sweet enough.”

Jess grinned and poured the milk into his cup.

James spooned the eggs onto plates and added the bacon. When the toast popped up, he spun over to the fridge and grabbed the butter.

“I really am sorry about yesterday,” she said when they were seated side by side. His thigh pressed warmly to hers from knee to hip on the bench.

“I am, too. We had a bad day and we’ll have those, but the trick is for us to recognize them and forgive each other for them.” He leaned over and kissed her temple again. “Now eat,” he demanded.

Jess dipped her fork into the eggs.

“I like over easy best,” he murmured in her ear.

She shivered, and he smiled then went back to his breakfast.

“Morning, Cap,” Freddy said, coming through the kitchen in a pair of low-riding sweatpants. A dark trail of hair that began between his massive pectorals created a path down the center of his six-pack and ended in thick hair below his belly button.

Jess flushed when James growled.

“Oops, sorry, Cap. I didn’t know you had company.” Freddy spun around and went back the way he came. Freddy returned a minute later with a sweatshirt covering his chest.

“Good morning, Freddy. There might be enough left for you.” James hiked a thumb at the stove.

“Thanks. I don’t mind if I do.” Freddy grabbed a plate and started filling it.

“Freddy never turns down food, so if you want something, either eat it or hide it.”

Jess nodded.

“Are you done? I want to show you our room.” James said.

Jess’s cheeks heated again. “When you’re ready to share it with me.” Jess put her fork down, and James grabbed the last small piece of bacon that she hadn’t finished.

He gazed into her eyes as he slid it into his mouth, and her cheeks grew pinker and hotter. James carried their plates to the sink then came back and took her hand. “Bring your coffee.”

Jess picked up her mug and let him lead her down the hall into the belly of the house. “All of these are bedrooms, and all of them are occupied by someone. Mine is at the end of the hall. There is a bathroom there.” He pointed. “But I have my own, too.”

He opened the door to his room and closed it behind them then locked it. His bed was low and modern. The furniture was sleek and light colored. It looked like it came from the Swedish furniture store at the mall. “This is not what I would’ve picked, but it was already here and it was free.”

Jess nodded. That explained the less-than-masculine furniture. He would’ve picked dark and heavy.

“Come.” He pulled a cord, and the vertical blinds opened to a private deck. He opened the French doors and led her outside.

Jess went to the large wrought-iron chair and sat. She kept her coffee in her hands to keep them warm. It was chilly outside, and she left her jacket in the kitchen.

“Hold this.” He held his coffee out to her and went back inside. He came out with a quilt and wrapped it around her shoulders. “That’s better, huh?” James sat beside her in the other chair.

“I think we both can fit, this chair is so big,” she said, then smiled. James patted his lap for her to join him, and she moved over to his chair. She eased down beside him, and he tucked her into his side, then put his arm around her. Jess laid her head against the hollow of his good shoulder. “I missed you last night. I feel so stupid.” She sipped her coffee.

“No, don’t. Forget it, sweetheart. I think you are ready to hear what I wanted to tell you. I was afraid you couldn’t handle it, but I think that you are stronger than I give you credit for, and I know that I can trust you with this. I also think it was me who wasn’t ready.” He smirked.

“You don’t have to. I know it’s personal, and if you aren’t ready, it’s okay. I can wait as long as you need me to wait.” Jess leaned up and kissed his throat.

A growl rumbled through his chest.

“That’s so sexy when you do that.” She smiled up at him.

“You’re ready and I’m ready. I owe you that much. I’m different from most men. My eyes change colors when there’s an emotional charge, I growl and I snarl.”

Jess nodded.

“Human men can’t do that.”

Jess’s eyebrows lowered over her eyes and knitted.

“If you aren’t human, then what are you?” she whispered, looking up at him with huge eyes.

***

“I’m a shifter, a wolf shifter, or werewolf if you like.”

Jess gasped because suddenly it all made sense and no sense at all. She nibbled her lip.

“Do you understand?”

She nodded, but her only thought was to run.

“Are you okay?”

Jess nodded again. Wolf shifter, werewolf, whatever, and hell no, she wasn’t okay.

“Jess, I’m scenting fear, and you have nothing to be afraid of, especially not me.”

She nodded again, but her heart was beating a staccato like the snare drum rolling before a high school football game.

“Jess?”

Her knuckles showed white as she gripped the coffee mug.

“Jess, look at me.”

She raised her gaze slowly to his face, and he smiled at her. “It’s still me. James. The same guy who brought you coffee and took you to Dan Dan’s.”

“I know.” She looked down into her cup. “It’s a lot to take in, though.” She swallowed the huge knot lodged in her throat.

“It’s okay if you need to think about it. It’s a lot to process.”

She nodded and sipped the coffee, not tasting it. He squeezed her shoulders, and she stiffened. She watched James’s mouth turn into a hard, thin line, but he let her mull it over for a moment.

“You do believe me, don’t you?”

She nodded because she didn’t know what else to do. Whether she believed him or not didn’t matter. He believed it. Whether he was insane or could really turn himself into one of those huge, scary, snarling monsters didn’t matter either. What mattered was that she needed to get away from him, and quick, because either insane or snarling, both scared the crap out of her.

“I’m supposed to meet Lolly in an hour, so I need to go, but I’m glad you’re better.” She started to get up, and he pulled her back down.

“You’re lying.”

Jess’s head snapped up and her eyes widened. “That was one of the things that I loved about you most. I never scented deception on you, but it is a vile smell, Jess, and you reek of it now. If you need to go home and think things through then just say so. I know it’s a lot to handle, but don’t lie to me. Never. Lie. To. Me.” His eyes went amber. Jess’s chin wobbled and her eyes grew moist. She swallowed again and took a breath. He watched her, his gaze intense. His fingers gently lifted her chin and he pressed his lips to hers chastely.

“Okay,” she said quietly and gathered all the nerve she had. “I need to get away from you because I am terrified right now. I need to sort out my thoughts and process all of this. I need to be alone to do that.”

He gave her a sharp nod and helped her to stand.

“Thank you for your honesty. I understand and I will wait to hear from you, but if I don’t in the next few days, I’ll stop by so we can discuss it.”

Her brows knitted tightly over her nose making her squint at him.

“I want to be with you, Jess. You are mine,” he growled.

She swallowed again, unable to pass the knot this time, and hurried through the house. When she got to her car, she realized that she didn’t have her jacket but she still had his coffee mug. Luckily, her keys were in her pants pocket and she’d left her purse on the passenger seat. He could keep the jacket. It was old anyway. Jess turned the key to the Civic and tried to drive calmly, but it was difficult since her heart was still pounding and she couldn’t draw a deep breath. A werewolf! Not possible.

Chapter 7

Jess logged in quickly to the airline’s website and booked her ticket to Florida. She would go see her mother. Yes, that was perfect. She was in Florida, and that was a long way from here and far from him. Her mother was on husband number six or so—surely she would know what to do about this mess.

Jess called Ms. Lansing’s phone at work and left her a voicemail. She hoped that Ms. Lansing could not scent a lie. Oh, for crying out loud! He guessed that; nobody could smell a lie. He was insane. He had to be, because if he weren’t, she would be soon. Jess sat down on the kitchen chair and put her head in her hands. James. A werewolf? Why not a vampire? How about a mummy? What about that pin-faced monster man in the movies that gave her nightmares when the commercials kept playing? Shoot. Those things were not real!

Jess stomped into her bedroom and finished packing. A week with Mom should do the trick. She could lie low, cool off, and figure out a way to disappear for good, because she was not his. She did not belong to anyone especially someone who thought he was a werewolf. What a disaster. If they had kids, would they be children or puppies? Oh God, stop thinking about it, it’s not happening. Jess went back to the computer and printed her boarding pass. Her flight left in two hours. Time to leave. She grabbed her laptop bag after closing it, shoved her boarding pass into her pocket, and grabbed her suitcase. She locked the door up tight and hurried to the Civic. Unbelievable. Absolutely. Unbelievable.

She finally found a man, a beautiful, thoughtful, gorgeous man, and she was hopping a plane to get away from him. She had to, though, didn’t she? He was going to turn into one of those monstrous, huge, snarling, vicious beasts on the late-night horror flicks. Sweet Jesus. She shifted the Civic into drive and drove at breakneck speed to the airport.

As she walked through the terminal and checked her bags, she began to calm down. Jess settled on one of the chairs at her gate and texted Lolly.

 Family emergency, don’t know when I will be back. At the airport now, about to hop a plane, see you when I get back. Tell Father Mike sorry I can’t help Friday.

Jess turned the phone off and shoved it into her pocket then took a deep, cleansing breath. This was best. She could get her head straight and she could do it without him putting any more weirdness into her universe. Wow.

Jess followed the crowd onto the plane and took her seat. She buckled in and leaned her head back then blew out a breath. Closing her eyes, she tried to quiet her thoughts.

“I know just how you feel. I hate planes, too.” A man sat down next to her.

He was young and good-looking, but he did nothing to her insides. He definitely didn’t set her soul on fire like someone else. Stop it! Jess stared out her window at the wing after giving him a small smile.

In two hours and forty-two minutes, she would land in Orlando. Run home to Mommy. It was not home, not really, but she supposed that home was wherever her mother was this week. Jess napped during the flight. The man next to her tried to talk to her at first, but he gave up when she kept staring out the window. Men. Did you really need one? Some women led very fulfilling lives without one, but Jess knew she wouldn’t. She wanted a family, a husband, kids, a picket fence, and a dog. If she married James, she would have a dog. She scoffed.

It was all she’d wanted since she was a preteen. It was about the time her mom married husband number three, or was it four? He’d wanted that, and he gave it to them. For the first time in her life, Jess felt stable, safe, and secure. They lived in the same house for more than a minute. It had grass and was in a nice neighborhood. Her mother stayed home and made cookies. Jess had her first slumber party in that house. She was beginning to come out of her shell and she’d made friends. Then a car ran a red light downtown, killing Gary as he crossed the street, and they’d started moving around again. Jess crawled back into her shell and didn’t come out again until recently when she stuck her head out to look around. Look where that got her. Into a horror story, that’s where. Wasn’t it? Isn’t that what one would call this? The man of your dreams is a big scary monster, or crazy, or both. Maybe it was called a nightmare, or a punishment. If he was a big scary monster, though, how could she…how could she love him? Did she? Did she love James? There was definitely a spark. She felt safe around him, as if she may have a backbone after all. At least, she did until the werewolf thing.

Jess deplaned and went to wait for her bag then rented an economy car. Her mother would take it as a personal offense if Jess asked for a ride after giving her a four-hour notice that she would arrive. She did not want her mother pissed off during the whole stay. Jess would already have to tread lightly because her mother was nothing if not moody.

Jess followed the GPS since she’d never been to her mom’s latest house. Of course, she hadn’t been to the last four houses either. Her mother was restless a lot. This husband may keep her in one spot since he’d never been out of Florida except while he was in the Army. His name was Tim. Jess wouldn’t meet him this trip unless he came home early from his fishing trip to Miami. Her mom told her that Tim would be gone for a month. Jess thought that was strange. Her mother and Tim were only married for a couple of years, but he was taking a month-long fishing trip. Her mom said that he did it every year and always had; it was just him and his friends. Mom didn’t mind. It gave her time to hit the casinos in Baton Rouge. She took frequent bus trips but luckily didn’t have one scheduled for this week when Jess called for help.

“Well, well,” her mother said from the top of the three steps leading to the front door of the small Spanish-style house. “Look what the cat dragged in! Come on, bring your stuff. It’s as hot as hell out here.”

She had that right. Jess blew out a breath. It was muggy and in the high eighties at least. She looked the same as the last time that Jess saw her mother.

She was still the same size, still wearing jeans and T-shirts, but her red hair was a little grayer. Her mother was as outspoken as Jess was quiet. They got along well enough, but they were truly opposites personality wise. Jess pulled her suitcase out of the back seat and dragged it on its wheels behind her. Her mother held the door open and let her pass by after a quick hug. The house was a lot bigger inside than it appeared outside.

“Go all the way through. You get the guesthouse. Tim converted the garage into half guestroom and half office. Go straight through and out the doors in the kitchen.” Her mother was right behind her now. “You’ve put on weight,” she said from behind Jess.

“I guess so, Mom. You haven’t seen me since I graduated high school,” Jess hurled back.

“Did you come all the way to Florida to rehash my missing your big college graduation?” her mother complained.

“No, Mom, I didn’t. I wasn’t saying that. I was simply pointing out that it’s been almost eight years is all. Are these the doors?”

“Yes. Out there. It’s unlocked. I will wait here and make us some tea, put your bags down and come right back.”

Jess nodded and did as her mother said. They’d resumed the same close relationship they’d had when Jess was younger. A lot of the time it was only them, and her mom had always acted more like a big sister than a parent. They didn’t talk often, but when they did it was always about their relationships or the lack of them. Jess and her mom were comfortable with each other and they picked up right where they left off with the jabs that sisters sometimes throw at each other.

The guesthouse was about fifty feet back, and it did look like a garage from the outside. Jess went in the side door and was pleasantly surprised. The first half was an office. There was a drafting table with blueprints and architecture tools. Jess remembered her mother said that he was some kind of engineer or something. Through the second door, there was a sunny yellow bedroom-living room combo with emerald-green carpeting. There was a couch with end tables and a television, but there was also a queen-sized bed and bedroom furniture. There was a small bathroom behind one door and a closet behind the other. Jess put her suitcase at the foot of the bed then hurried back to the house.

Her mother was sitting at the kitchen table drinking her iced tea and smoking a cigarette. Jess didn’t miss those. She closed the door quietly behind her.

“This is a nice house, Mom.”

“Yeah, it’s not bad. He won’t put my name on it, though. He says that it’s been in his family forever and that when I start looking for husband number seven, he’s keeping it.”

So, Tim was smart and thinking with the right head, Jess thought. Good for him, because if her mother was good at anything, it was divorce.

“He built that guestroom by himself. He spends a lot of time out there working.” She put her fingers in the air to put quotes around “working.”

Jess was beginning to like Tim, because her mother had not seemed to mature any in the past eight years.

“What’s your man ordeal? I’ll bet I can solve it in a cigarette or less.” She winked at Jess.

“Well, I’m not sure how to put it really.” Jess sipped her tea, and her mother lit a new cigarette off the first one. “He’s different than me. He’s a cop.”

“Dump him. Cops carry guns, Jessie, and you know how they freak you out.” Her mother looked angry about it.

“You say that like they shouldn’t freak me out.”

Her mother shook her head. “Not at all, honey. They freak me out too since… I avoid them at all costs. I made Tim get rid of his. I don’t blame you for being afraid of them. You should be afraid. A gun took our family away,” she finished quietly.

Jess nodded. “What if I love him?”

Her mother made a noise that sounded like a snort. “Love,” she spat, and took a swig of her tea. “Love is a chemical reaction. What you need to know is this, are your feelings for him bigger than whatever it is about him that you object to, and is there anything that, if you could, you would change?”

Jess swallowed.

“Well?”

“I don’t know.” Jess cracked her knuckles. “There is one thing that I would change, but nobody could change it. Not even him.”

Her mother glanced at Jess’s cracking fingers. “Don’t do that, dear, you’ll get arthritis, and so it’s a moot point if nobody can change it.”

Jess nodded.

“Can you accept it?”

“He’s a cop, but he just got promoted to captain and he says that he won’t be shooting at anyone or getting shot at and that he doesn’t have to carry a weapon.”

Her mother brightened.

“The other thing is personal for him and I can’t tell you about it, but I don’t know if I can…”

“Is he really small? You know…down there?” Her mother squinted at her and wiggled her pinky finger.

“Mom! I don’t know…we haven’t…” Jess blushed furiously.

“Oh for Christ’s sake, Jessie, you haven’t slept with him? This isn’t serious at all, then. Why are you here? Why did you run away like a child?”

Jess cringed and knotted her hands together in her lap.

“You aren’t in this ankle deep yet. Walk away if he has you this freaked out already.”

“He told me the something, then he told me to think about it, and then he said, ‘You are mine.’”

Her mother’s mouth twitched, but she said nothing, so Jess continued. “That was the final straw. I mean, he gives me this incredible story that freaks me out, then he says, ‘You are mine.’ That scared the crap out of me, almost as much as the something, so I ran away. I just need time alone to think about all of this and process it.”

“Like Tim. He’s processing on a fishing boat. Sometimes people just need time alone to get out of their heads. The solution will come to you, Jessie, but you always were in your head too much. You need to get outside of it more often.” Her mom winked. “It also probably wouldn’t hurt if you found out what he’s sporting downtown, too.”

Jess gasped, and her mother crowed with laughter. “Now, it’s almost time for bingo at the senior center. If you want to come, you are welcome. If not, I will be home around eleven. Okay?”

Jess nodded.

“Don’t worry, it’ll come to you.”

Jess’s brows furrowed.

“Your heart and head will make it very clear to you how you feel and what you should do. Come play bingo. Maybe it’s your lucky day.” Her mother stubbed her cigarette out in the ashtray.

“I think I’ll pass, Mom. I’d like to stare at four walls and mull stuff over.”

“See you later, then. Help yourself to the fridge. There’s leftover lasagna if you want it.” Her mom got up and put her tea glass in the sink, then went down a hall that Jess had not explored yet. She assumed it went to the bedrooms.

Jess got up and carried her glass to the guesthouse with her. She turned the TV on but kept the sound low and opened her suitcase to find her pajamas. She pulled out the four outfits that she brought and found her nightshirt at the bottom. She hung up her clothes, then crawled into bed with the remote. She changed channels until she found something mind-numbing to watch.

***

“What do you mean ‘she had a family emergency and she’s gone’?” James asked Lolly. It had been four days since they’d spoken. She wouldn’t answer her cell phone, she wasn’t answering email, she wouldn’t open the door at the apartment, and she wasn’t at work. He’d run into Margaret Lansing. God, what a disaster! He had no idea that she was Jess’s boss. He should’ve scented her. That woman was an absolute nightmare. He’d taken her out once when he’d first started with the department here, and she stalked him for months. She stalked him. He was supposed to stalk his prey, not the other way around. He’d been harsh and cruel when he finally couldn’t take it anymore. She eventually moved on to Duane. He kicked her to the curb and quick. When he went to find Jess, Margaret was in Jess’s office looking for something. When he’d appeared at the door, she thought he was there to see her. When he explained he was looking for Jess, he knew it would be a bad idea to tell her Jess was his girlfriend. Margaret would retaliate against Jess. He protected his mate and said that she’d witnessed a crime, then ducked out and made a quick escape.

James had a feeling when she wouldn’t answer the cell for the first few days that she’d run, but he gave her the benefit of the doubt. Lolly just confirmed it. There was no family emergency, but Lolly wasn’t knowingly lying to him either, so that was what Jess had told her. He’d slept with her jacket for the past four days. Her scent was driving him wild. The mating urge was getting stronger by the minute. His body knew that his mate was found, and it didn’t care about family emergencies, fear of wolves or that she was a human. All it knew was that it wanted its mate.

“I’m sorry. That was the only text I got. I’ve texted her back and I’ve not gotten a response. I think she turned her phone off.”

James nodded.

“If I hear anything, though, I will be sure to let you know if you will do the same?”

“I will, Lolly. Thanks.” He took his coffee and left the coffee bar. He could feel Lolly’s eyes on his backside, and that made him grin a little. Lolly had a thing for backsides. She’d watched his in the rearview mirror when he’d stopped her. He knew because he reviewed the video from the camera mounted on the dash trying to see Jess’s beautiful face. Then at the gym, while Jess stared at the wall, Lolly watched the men running, bending over and stretching. He should set her up, she was nice, but she would have to ditch that damned perfume. He needed to get away from that sickening cloud, and fast. His nose was going nuts.

James hurried back to his desk across the complex and texted his pack. Their one objective was to track her down and bring her back. Within five minutes, he had a text from Austin.

Found her. Orlando, Florida, residence belonging to one Tim Bearpaw, age sixty-two, and one Loretta Bearpaw, age fifty-three. Loretta Bearpaw aka Loretta Peters, Loretta Bankhead, Loretta Jones, Loretta Browne, and Loretta Madison. She’s Jess’s mother. Driving a rental, red Corolla, parked at the following address and has been for four days, according to the tracking chip in the engine. The address followed.

James immediately booked a ticket to Orlando, sent an email to his superior that he had a family emergency, and shut his computer down. Technically, he was on administrative leave. He’d been to the office every day, but if this took longer than the weekend when he was officially due back, they should know. He would be standing in front of her within five hours. James exhaled sharply and hurried out of the complex. He had to get this straight. She was his mate and she belonged with him. It would be so much easier with a she-wolf. He would simply say, ‘You are my destined mate,’ she would say, ‘Yes I am,’ and that would be it. How boring. He grinned.

Jess was a challenge. He hadn’t expected that from her, but he was finding that it piqued his interest. His wolf wanted to chase her. The prospect of that turned his blood to lava. Wolves loved to track and hunt. She didn’t know it, but she was doing exactly what the beast needed her to do.

There was an inner strength in her, one that he hadn’t expected but was beginning to respect. She was stronger than he’d first thought, but not she-wolf strong, Jess would still need protection. To most it looked like she’d run, bailed, bolted. She had. She’d run from the biggest predator on the planet, a man staking his claim. That took balls. To stay alone, go alone without a protector or a safety net. To walk away without help when you are a submissive human female, she had nerves of steel. She was better off with him, though. He could offer her safety. She had the scent of loneliness about her, and he could offer companionship. Her home was two rooms, a living room-kitchen combo, and a bedroom-bathroom combo. He could offer her better shelter with grass and a garden, not concrete and brick. Now he only had to convince her that she was better off with him than without him. Once he did, she would never want to run again.

Chapter 8

Jess dreamt of James, of him turning into wolf and woke up shaking. A wolf! She blew her bangs up and lay back on the pillows. The same dream woke her every night, sometimes twice. It wasn’t as bad as it had been. Her mind was beginning to wrap around it, but still she thought it would help if she saw it. If she could watch the change and meet the wolf, maybe she wouldn’t be such a chicken.

“Oh, not a chicken!” Jess giggled. The wolf would eat that. Why did he have to say mine? That was still freaking her out. She stared up at the yellow ceiling. She watched a tiny spider crawl across it until he was far enough away that dropping on her wasn’t a possibility. Her eyes slid closed and she thought about how good it felt when he kissed her. How incredible his body felt pressed against hers, and she thought about how much more she wanted. She pressed her lips together and shivered. James. She sighed. All of the muscles south of her waistline clenched. Wolf or not, she wanted him, craved him. Her very soul cried out for him, quaked for him. “Face it. You are his,” she whispered in the darkness. The past days with her mother only confirmed her feelings. If her mom said it once, she’d said it countless times—if your feelings are deeper than your fear, then go to him. It was almost creepy, like her mother knew something that she wasn’t saying. Her mother was never one to keep secrets, though. She had no filter and said exactly what she meant. She was by definition the picture of honesty, whether it hurt or not. Her mother did not sugarcoat things, so it made Jess wonder what she wasn’t saying. What was behind those words?

***

Orlando was a busy city filled with tourists. Everyone was wearing mouse ears and had at least one cranky child with them. The kids were pissed, either because they weren’t there yet or because they had to leave. James grinned. He couldn’t wait to drag three or four tired and cranky pups through here on the way to see the Magic Kingdom. He’d been to Disney in Cali once, but he’d heard the park in Florida was better. He may as well make the rounds, because James loved to ride. He had the theme parks lined up in his head for his family. As the pups got bigger, the coasters would get bigger. He wondered if Jess liked them and decided she was probably a bench warmer. That made him chuckle. He’d break her of that. He found his way to the rental car counter and secured a compact with GPS. Once he and his luggage were inside the little blue go-kart, he punched his destination into the GPS on the dash.

Only breaking a few land speed records, James pulled the car to a stop behind the Corolla that was exactly where Austin said it would be. James got out and sniffed the air. The neighborhood was quiet at this late hour. Most of the residents were already asleep. That was how the cop inside him liked it, quiet. He sniffed again. Nothing—well, of course, there was something. He scented car exhaust, several dogs, and people, but not Jess. He went up to the house and looked through the windows. Nothing but darkness. Maybe they went out for dinner or something. Then he checked his watch and decided against that thought. He started to text Austin but decided to check around the back first.

He saw a garage that seemed to have been converted, because no one hung curtains in a garage. It had the tell-tale flickering signs of a TV on inside. He edged toward it, shifting as he went. James’s big black wolf crept closer to the building, scenting the air. He smelled a koi pond, but not in this yard; it was next door. He scented a man that must be Bearpaw, and even though it was faint, there was something else. Something he had not scented since he was a child, and the memory escaped him now. What was that? There was the scent of a woman—that must be Mom. Then there it was as he neared the door. The most exciting and entrancing scent in the world. Jessica.

His ears twitched and every cell in his body was suddenly awake and jumpy. The news was on and she was silent, but she was inside. The door was unlocked, and with one flick of his paw, he was through it. He was in an office. He snorted at the scent of graphite and ink but moved toward the flickering lights. He heard her labored breathing as if she’d been crying. He didn’t scent tears yet, though. James loped through the room, across the carpet, to the side of the bed where her hand hung over the side.

He sniffed it then nudged it. Running his head under her hand just to feel her, he rejoiced at having found his mate. The wolf yipped at her, but she slept. He nudged her hand again, and her fingers twitched, then scratched his head. She came awake slowly. He gave her palm a lick, then put his head back under her hand. “Hi there. Who are you? And where did you come from? Mom didn’t say anything about having a dog, and I haven’t seen you since I got here.”

Jess leaned over and scratched his ears. “You’re a big fellow. You must belong to Tim, because Mom is definitely the little-fluffy-dog-in-the-purse type if she was going to have one at all. Where were you earlier? I could’ve used someone to cuddle.” She sniffled.

He whined and laid his big head on the side of the mattress so he could look up into her face in a non-threatening way. The last thing that James wanted was to scare her. He wanted her content and happy, not scared. “It’s okay, just man trouble.”

He turned and sauntered around the bed.

“Where are you going? I wasn’t finished petting you yet.” Jess started to sit up when he jumped up onto the bed and lay down immediately.

His bulk and height would frighten her if his beast stood over her while she was in a prone position. He kept his head down and crawled up beside her. “What a good boy. Now I know you don’t belong to Mom. She’d freak if she saw you on the bed. No dogs on the furniture, Jessica.” Jess did her best impression of her mother. He snorted then panted, raising his head up off his paws to watch her. “What is your name anyway?” Jess felt along his neck for a collar. She made a face but kept digging in his thick fur for some kind of collar. Every dog had a collar, didn’t they?

He rolled away from her and shifted into his human.

Jess covered her mouth with both hands as she gasped, with saucer-like eyes.

“My name is James.” He grinned. “Don’t be afraid.”

She shook her head. He’d told her the truth. He turned into a wolf.

“Are you afraid?”

She shook her head again.

“Come here, sweetness.” He held his arms open, and she hurried into them. “You’ve been crying.”

Her chin wobbled.

“It’s okay, I’m here now. I won’t hurt you. Do you think you can trust me?” His thumb brushed her cheek tenderly.

“Yes.”

He smiled softly and kissed her.

“James? How did you do that?”

His warm hand stroked her spine, putting her at ease.

She melted into him.

“Do what? Shift?”

She nodded.

“You can’t do it unless you are a shifter. I couldn’t teach you to do it.” He kissed her forehead. “I missed you. Why didn’t you tell me that you were leaving?”

Jess shook her head.

“You ran scared huh?”

She nodded. He was still stroking her, over her hair, cupping the back of her head, down her spine and back up. If he kept it up she would go back to sleep.

“Understandable. It’s frightening to have all of your beliefs blown out of the water, but Jess, you have nothing to fear. I love you. I won’t ever let anything hurt you, and I will take very good care of you. I promise. You couldn’t be safer than you will be with me.” His voice was soft and husky, entrancing her. It smoothed her nerves and calmed her. It was the same voice he would use on a pack member that was on the edge or upset.

“How can you love me? You say that, but you don’t even know me. You said that I am yours, as if you owned me, James. That scared me more than the wolf thing.” Jess looked up at him.

“I didn’t mean it that way, sweetheart. Not like that. Not as if you are a possession. I am as much yours, and you may do with me as you please. You see, my wolf has recognized you as its mate.”

“What does that mean exactly?” Jess murmured.

“That means that you are priority number one. Your needs, desires, wants, and whimsies are all more important than the next breath I take. I am your humble servant. I live and die for you.”

Her brows rocketed up. “That’s a lot to take in.” She scrutinized him.

“Overwhelmed?”

She nodded.

“Don’t be, it’s just how we are built. The mate is your other half, the missing half of your soul. The mate completes you, keeps you sane and happy. Wolves search their entire lives for their mates. Mates are our forever.”

“Really?”

He grinned at her wonder. “So when I tell you that I love you, I mean that in the deepest sense of the word. I never believed in all of that stuff that the old she-wolves and my dad went on about until I scented you.”

“Scented me?” Jess recoiled. “Do I stink?”

James laughed. “Just the opposite—your scent is incredible. At work, in the coffee bar, one day I was in there, and I guess you had just been there. I scented you. I suddenly felt more alive than I ever had before. I had to find you. It nearly drove me crazy.” He touched her hand gently. “I followed your trail but lost you in the building.”

“I don’t understand. When was that?” She watched his finger trace her veins.

“Six months ago.” His eyes twinkled with mischief.

“But I’ve worked there for almost five years, and you’ve been working there three years, right? It took three years for you to scent me? Why? Your wolf nose must not work very well.” Jess looked confused and was upset at the waste of time.

“I think because you are always with Lolly. You don’t leave your desk very often, and when you do, you are with her and her perfume haze. Also, because I used to stop on the way in with Freddy for coffee, I never went to the coffee bar. Thank God they put him on a different shift, we may never have found one another.” He kissed the top of her head.

“She does wear a lot.” Jess grinned. She’d been hiding in Lolly’s perfume cloud. It was better than a force field.

“The day I scented you, you were alone, no perfume. By then you’d gone out with David.” A growl rumbled through his chest.

“You know David? He never called me back. I guess he didn’t like me.” She shrugged.

“Oh, he liked you. He didn’t call you back because I put a stop to it. In fact, I put a stop to all of the wolves stalking you.”

Jess swallowed hard.

“Five of them besides David, and not all of them as gentle as I am. I was protecting you even then.” He turned her hand over and traced the lines of her palm.

“You told David not to call me?”

He nodded, and Jess slapped his arm.

“All this time I thought that I was some hideous freak and it was because you were running interference on my dates?” She slapped him again.

“That’s enough.” He grabbed her hand and kissed her palm. “Yes, I ran interference and did reconnaissance on you. I know all of your habits and haunts, I know what you like and what you don’t. I have to admit, though, your mother escaped my research.” He grinned.

Jess still had not decided if she was mad at him or not. “So you stalked me. And how did you find me here anyway? Did you sniff the ground from Virginia to Florida?”

James laughed at that. “No, my computer tech hacked your Visa card and tracked you down.”

“That’s illegal, Mr. Policeman.” Jess pushed away from him, but his hands gripped her waist like steel bands.

“All is fair in love and war, sweetheart.”

Jess loosened her body and chuckled. James kissed her again, and she melted into him. “I want you, Jess. I had to come after you. I didn’t really have a choice. If you need more time…but the urge is riding me hard. The wolf in me needs to claim you, and it will only get worse.”

“It sounds a little like I’m being stalked.” Jess’s brows drew together. What did “worse” mean? Would he turn into one of those things on the late night horror shows?

“In a way. My wolf knows that its mate is here, and he wants you, bad. He has for a long time, and he’s getting harder to control. I almost have him convinced that we need to go slow and do this right, but sometimes he’s just a beast. He understands that you’re different, but his instinct is to claim.” James kissed her forehead again, and she was getting tired of it. She wanted him to kiss her lips.

“The big black one with the wicked yellow eyes?”

James grinned. “That’s the one. You liked him, right? He likes you, too.”

Jess nodded. “He’s pretty.”

He smiled down at her. “You’re pretty.”

She smiled softly, and he pressed his lips to hers chastely. That was better.

“Are you going to turn into him during the full moon?”

“Yes. We like to run and hunt during the full moon. Think of it as boys’ night out, but I will be back in plenty of time for you.”

She looked terrified.

“I’ll be me, don’t worry. From this night forward, I don’t want us to spend a night apart. I want you to move in with me. I could move in with you, but we’ll have more room at my place.”

“But don’t you live with a lot of…”

“Yes, I live with the pack right now, but there is another wing to the house that we don’t use. I’ve been working on it. It needs some rewiring and painting, but it is solid. We can fix it up so we can be alone and raise our pups. The pack will be in the same house, but you would have a house inside of a house. Your own kitchen and space; the boys won’t bother you.

“P…pups?”

“Children. Don’t worry.” He smoothed the line over her nose with his thumb. “They will be children until they are ready to change.”

“When is that?”

The line deepened between her eyebrows, and he smoothed it again grinning. “I’ve seen them go as early as ten, as late as eighteen. I was thirteen and one day old. It’s painful the first time. No matter what anyone tells you, you can’t be prepared or know what to do. After that, it’s second nature.”

Jess yawned.

“Boring you?”

She shook her head.

“When is your flight back?” James asked.

“Tomorrow…today at noon.”

“Do you have your laptop?”

She pointed and he went to get it. “I want to be on the same flight.” He sat down beside her and asked for her details. She grabbed her ticket from the night table and handed it over.

“You aren’t going to get on this late. All the seats are probably gone.”

She was right. James pulled out his phone and texted Austin. A few minutes later, he got an email with his ticket and a new one for her in first class together. James grinned down at her.

“I can’t afford that,” Jess whispered, horrified.

“It’s paid for, don’t worry. It’s on me. My gift to my new bride.”

“Bride?” She gulped.

“Yes, my mate. You agree, don’t you? That we are mates?”

Jess sat up and drew her knees up to her chest.

“Jess? You aren’t going to run again, are you?”

She shook her head.

“Mates. I’m yours and you’re mine.”

“Okay.”

He watched her.

“Mates. I’m yours. That’s like married, right?”

“Yes. When I mark you, we will be married.” He started tapping keys and moving his finger over the touch pad.

“Mark me? What’s ‘mark me’ mean?” Jess worried her lip.

“I’m going to bite you right there.” He touched the muscle that ran from her neck to her shoulder, and she shivered. “It won’t hurt, and it will let all other shifters know that you belong to me. It is invisible to humans, but to shifters, it means ‘hands off.’”

“Bite me?” Her teeth sank into her bottom lip, turning it white around her teeth.

“Is that all you heard, sweetness? I said I won’t hurt you. I will do it when you are so otherwise occupied that you won’t notice.” He grinned and winked.

“I think I will notice if you bite me.” Jess tightened her arms around her knees and scoffed.

“We’ll see.” James’s eyes flashed, as did his dimple. She pressed her finger to it and grinned. He turned his head quickly and caught her finger in his mouth, and she gasped then laughed. “When we get home tomorrow, do you want to go to your apartment or to my place?”

Jess thought about it.

“I want you with me. I meant that.”

“I need to pick up some of my things, I suppose. Then I will need to clear it out if I’m not living there anymore. That sounds weird. I’ve lived there since I graduated. What will we do with my stuff?”

“Well, I want to keep the pink couch because that is the most comfortable couch I’ve ever sat on, but I might want to get it recovered because that color is…”

She laughed at the face he made, as if he’d just smelled something rotten.

“I’m not sure what to do with your bed. Does it have any meaning?”

“No, I bought it at a thrift store. I’ll ask Lolly if she needs it first, then I’ll donate it, because it’s in great shape. I almost hate to see it go. It’s old, but it’s pretty. I like the wood.”

James nodded. He’d seen it in her bedroom. It was a queen four-post. He decided to put it in their new bedroom. It was a nice bed. Maybe they could furniture shop and find pieces to match it, because he hated the ultra-modern light-colored stuff in his room. He preferred dark, heavy, masculine furniture, and apparently she did, too. He put the laptop on the floor and lay down with her. James pulled her close and rested his chin on her head while they slept. In a few hours, they would be on their way home and on their way to their future.

Chapter 9

“Well, well. Lookie here,” Jess’s mom said from the bedroom doorway.

He must’ve been in a deep sleep not to hear her come in, James thought.

“You must be James.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He sat up and reached his hand out for her to shake. She shifted the tray she held to one hand and shook his with the other.

“Good morning, Mom. Yes, this is James.” Jess stretched.

“He’s tracked you down all the way from Virginia. I’d say that’s worth thinking about, young lady. Not many men would bother.” That was her mother’s way of giving approval. She thought that a man should bend over backward to please her, as Jess’s father had. Coming all the way to Florida was bending over backward, as far as her mother was concerned. Her mom smiled and put her breakfast tray on the dresser. “I guess I will need another tray. Sit tight.”

“No, Mom, it’s okay. We’ll share.” Jess threw the covers back.

“Jess, if he hasn’t told you, that boy is a werewolf. He’s going to need a lot more to eat.”

James and Jess gasped at once.

“Oh sorry, was that the big secret? Here’s another, Tim is a bear shifter.”

That’s what I scented, bear, James thought.

“He has several friends that are werewolves and one that is a jaguar. I’ve learned to tell them apart by their smells, and you smell like Cooley. Any relation?”

James shook his head.

“I wish I could introduce you, but they are all on a fishing boat in the Gulf of Mexico.” She winked at James and turned to go. “And Jess, your father was a werewolf, so it’s no big shock that you went for one or that one came after you either,” she called as she went out the side door.

James and Jess looked at each other with shocked faces.

“Your dad? That’s why your scent drives me wild. You’re part she-wolf.”

“I’m no such thing. I don’t even have hairy legs.”

James laughed at that as she jogged out after her mother. He grabbed the breakfast tray and snagged a piece of bacon, then followed her to the house.

***

“Mom!” Jess called across the yard as her mother smiled over her shoulder, going into the kitchen. “Mother.” Jess hurried. “What did you mean that my father was a werewolf? Don’t you think that you should’ve mentioned that sooner? You don’t drop a bomb like that and run off,” Jess huffed with her hands on her hips, staring her mother down across the kitchen.

James grinned at her bare legs and breasts that heaved nicely under the T-shirt. He couldn’t wait to get her out of her clothes and into their mated bed.

“You never transitioned,” she said at Jess’s look. “If you had, I would’ve told you. Your father was a handsome devil but not the brightest of the lot. He told me that since you children were only Halflings that it would never happen. Tim says it could happen, that a child with mixed parents could shift. He’s seen it. It would depend on how dominant the genes of the parents are. He also said that some don’t shift until their mates mark them. It’s as if their biology is waiting to see which world they want to live in, human or not human. The truth is, Jess, I don’t know what will happen, but if you love this man, it won’t matter.” She dropped a slice of ham into the frying pan. “How hungry are you?” She asked James. “More?”

He grinned and nodded then took a bite of the toast.

“Hey, that was mine.” Jess looked down at the plate and grabbed the last piece of bacon.

“It’s cold now, sweetheart, and I want the best for you. You will have first choice of the next plate, promise.” He winked at her.

Jess pursed her lips, picked up the orange juice, then sat down next to him. She felt like her whole life had been a secret kept from her. Like it was all a lie.

He fed her by hand when her mother finally sat down with her own plate and two new ones for them. It was a feast. James could get used to it. She smiled at them. “It’s good. This thing between you it’s good.” She nibbled on the toast triangle that she’d just dunked in the runny yolk on her plate. Jess hated that; it had always turned her stomach. Her eggs were scrambled hard, always.

“Is that yolk grossing you out?”

Jess nodded.

“Here. You have permission to always scramble my eggs, sweetheart.” He smiled softly and gave her some toast, then rubbed her thigh while she ate. “Jess and I are headed back today. I am going to claim her once we get home and get set up.”

Her mother smiled and nodded.

“I’m asking your permission.”

Jess chewed her lip.

“Jess? Do you want this wolf? You may turn or you may not, but I think he will make you happy. I know I haven’t set a great marriage example, but you aren’t me, hon. I think that for you, it will be forever and it will be once, like your dad. Do you want to spend the rest of your life with him? Have pups with him? And I think he’s an Alpha. Am I right?” She looked at James, who nodded. “You lead a pack, then? A pack master?”

He nodded again.

She drew a deep breath. “It’ll be hard, Jess. If you’re his female, you’ll need to be strong. You’ll need to be a leader. I know you don’t have a lot of grit, but you’re going to have to find some in you. Do you think you can do that? For him?”

Jess gazed into the deep blue pools of his eyes. A growl rumbled through him, and she nodded. Slowly and gently at first, but then she smiled, nodding as if she meant it.

“Good. You have my permission,” her mother said to James.

He leaned over and kissed Jessica’s cheek, then dropped to one knee. Jess gasped, but her mother only grinned as if she suspected this would happen when he asked permission. James took both of her hands in his and gazed up into her eyes.

“I know our traditions are different, and I don’t want you to feel like you missed out on anything by being with me. Will you be my bride, Jess? Will you let me claim you and keep you safe and happy for the rest of our lives?”

Jess nibbled her lip and looked down at his hands. “Will you explain everything to me? I mean, if I’m going to be with you and you’re a…there’s going to be a lot I don’t understand. Sometimes I feel like you’re not telling me everything, and I don’t like to feel as though I’m in the dark.”

James squeezed her hands. “The word you were looking for is ‘werewolf,’ Jess, you can say it. I will explain and tell you everything and anything that you want to know. I couldn’t before because of our differences, but if we are mates, there are no secrets.”

“Okay,” she murmured.

“Okay?”

“Yes, I’ll be your bride, or mate, or whatever you call it.” Jess leaned over and kissed him softly. “Does this mean we’ll have a wedding or that you’ll just bite me?”

Jess’s mother laughed at that. “There are no rules, honey. If you want a wedding, you can have one, if you just want to be bitten you can have that, too, or both. I think, though, if you want to change your name, you’ll have to see the preacher or at least a judge.” Her mother decided.

James slid a diamond onto her left hand and kissed her knuckles.

“You guys need to get a move on if you’re going to make your plane. You know how airport security is these days. Leave at least a three-hour window.” Her mother stood.

“She’s right.” James stood and pulled Jess up with him. “I’ll get your luggage.”

“Wait, I can’t go home in my pajamas.” Jess followed James to the guestroom. He straightened the bed while she dressed in the bathroom. The thought of her naked on the other side of that tiny flimsy door had his wolf trying to break free. James had it planned, though. He would not just jump her. It would be romantic and perfect. It would be something she would recall as one of the best moments of her life.

Jess hugged her mother at the front door while James carried the luggage to the car. He came back up the porch steps and hugged his soon-to-be mother-in-law, then kissed her cheek. “I’ll take excellent care of her, and you are welcome to visit anytime.”

“I know you will, and I may come up to surprise you sometime.” She chuckled. “Be safe.”

James waved as he walked Jess to the car. Jess started hers and then waved to her mom as they pulled away with her following James. He kept checking the rearview mirror to look back at her, and she smiled for him every time.

They waited in their first-class seats once they returned their rental cars and checked their bags. James held her hand and traced circles with his thumb. Soon the plane would take off, and within a few hours, they could begin their new life together.

“We’ll stay at your apartment the first few days that we’re home because I think you will be more comfortable there. Also, we can get your things packed while I get our bedroom ready in the old wing. We can work on the rest from there. We’ll have to share the kitchen until ours is finished, but the rest is useable. What do you think?”

“Okay.”

“Jess?”

She looked up from where her head rested on his shoulder.

“Your thoughts? More than okay, okay?”

“Well, that sounds good.” Her eyes met his.

“Are you nervous?”

She nodded.

“About us or the new house?”

“The plane. I don’t like takeoff.”

He put his arm around her shoulders and squeezed.

“I wish they’d get it over with already.”

James kissed her temple.

“Can we paint the bedroom a color?”

“What color would you like?”

She shrugged. “Hmm, how about dusky rose with wood trim? Then we won’t have to recover the couch.”

“You’re going to put a couch in our bedroom?”

Jess lifted her head to look at him. “Sure, the room is huge, and there’s a fireplace. It’ll be great, you’ll see.” Jess tensed when the engines revved.

“How did you get here in the first place if this makes you so tense?” James asked.

“I cuddled with the guy next to me.”

James growled.

“I’m kidding, calm down.” She rubbed his chest with her hand. “I stared out the window and thought about you, but this is better.”

Chapter 10

“Hi, sweetheart.” James glanced down at her from his place on the ladder. He was wearing overalls and had a roller in his hand, painting their bedroom ceiling. The top was hanging from his waist, and she bet that if he wiggled a little they would fall off. How convenient that would be! God, he was gorgeous up there all stretched out and glistening with sweat. They still had not made love, and Jess wanted to, badly. He insisted, though, that he wanted to wait to mark her until they could do it properly in their bed and in their new house. Jess picked up a roller and rolled it through the dusky-pink paint. It was lighter than the couch, but she decided that it would look nice. Her mother would be pleased with James’s color choice. The sooner this room was finished, the sooner she would get what she wanted. Jess started on a wall that was almost done. She didn’t see the point in waiting. The way Jess figured, they could be having sex right now. She didn’t care if the paint was on all of the walls.

***

James scented her arousal and rolled the paint faster. They needed to finish, and it would have to be soon, because the other wolves were getting more difficult to hold off, and now that he’d met her mother, he knew why. Jess was part wolf. He’d told her that he also didn’t want to take the chance of her suddenly changing in an apartment. His wolf was a nut case, though. Wolves are biologically engineered to mate as soon as a mate is found, but she was human.

Humans are sentimental and they don’t follow the same rules. He wanted everything to be perfect and he would never give her a reason to leave. Humans also left their mates sometimes, a lot of the time. Wolves were more inclined not to. Not that it never happened, but rejection was less common in his world. Jess would have everything a human woman could want, hearts and flowers. If that meant controlling himself, so be it. His wolf was going to have to be patient. “Soon, sweetheart.”

“Huh?” Jess turned around from the pink wall she’d just finished.

“I can smell your arousal. Soon.” He smiled at her flushed cheeks.

She loved those dimples. He was so flipping sexy.

“Soon.”

Jess grinned.

“Open the windows wider for me?”

She nodded and began raising them. The last thing that he needed was her arousal attracting the others.

“Sorry, I can’t help it.”

He smiled and went back to painting the ceiling.

“Hey, Cap, you need help?” Freddy asked from the doorway. Freddy was unmated, but as soon as he could get permission from her father, he and Charlie would mate. He was also smitten, so James felt that Jess was pretty safe with Freddy.

“Sure, grab a brush,” James said without looking down. Freddy whistled suddenly and four more men came into the room in work clothes.

Jess recognized Mark, David, and Duane. Mark and Duane were there when she came by the day after James got out of the hospital. She nodded at David, who nodded respectfully back at her.

James watched the interaction. He knew that David was attracted to her, but he was sure he was safe from any problems there. Jess didn’t seem interested in him. Good.

“That’s Austin. Austin, this is Jess.” James watched them all carefully. Of course they scented what he did, but they remained politely distanced and kept their eyes on their work.

“Ma’am.” Austin nodded and picked up a roller.

“Can you cook?” Freddy asked Jess.

She teeter-tottered her hand at him.

“What can you make?”

“I, um, can make a decent pot roast.”

Freddy’s eyes lit up, and she grinned. “Meatloaf, lasagna…”

He took the roller from her hand and rolled it in the pink paint.

“Um, I grill okay. I can roast a chicken, but I’m not really good at the fancy stuff like French food or anything. I do better at comfort food, I think.”

“Good, ’cause I like to eat, and I like to be comfortable. How are you at mac and cheese? Oh, and fried chicken?”

Jess grinned.

“I love me some fried chicken.”

“My favorites, and I’m awesome at them.” Jess was happy that they seemed to like her and she would be happy to feed them. It wasn’t often that she had the opportunity to cook since it was just her, but she knew how. She liked to watch cooking shows and she liked to experiment, but she never had anyone to try recipes on. Now she would.

“Good, let’s get this end of the house done so my new chef can move in and get cooking,” Freddy called to the rest of them.

Jess wandered out of the bedroom since there wasn’t a brush or roller to be had now. She found a man she hadn’t seen before squatted at an outlet. He was rewiring and replacing the old one.

“Hi,” Jess said.

“Hi.”

She nodded.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Alex. I work with the cap.” He screwed the tiny screws into the wall.

“Oh, you’re a policeman?” Jess stepped out of his way when he moved to the next outlet.

“Most of us are, except Dave. He’s a mechanic.”

She nodded.

“You went out with him once huh?”

She nodded again. No sense denying it. He probably knew more about her than she did. Number one, they were cops, number two, James had stalked her for six months, and she was sure that he had his pack helping him.

He was the Alpha of this bunch, and the captain, so he was in charge here and at work. That turned her on more than a little. She didn’t so much like the fact that James was a police officer, but she did like that he was an in-charge kind of guy. It meant she wouldn’t have to make all of the decisions. One of her boyfriends years ago could never make a decision. They spent most of their time together saying, “What do you want to do?” or, “What do you want to eat?” and, “Where do you want to go?” Gah! She broke up with him because he never had a plan or an original idea. She didn’t have to worry about that with James. He had a plan, a backup plan, and a bunch of ideas to go with them, not to mention a million meticulous details. The nicest part of it was that he was always considerate of what she wanted and felt. It seemed like he was always thinking of her, and she really liked that.

Alex finished another outlet.

“You’re good at that. You should’ve been an electrician.” Jess watched his hands move expertly over the wires and tools.

“Nah. All of the power is off in here. If I were an electrician, I would have to deal with live power sometimes, and that’s some scary shi…uh, stuff.”

Jess laughed at his flushed cheeks. “I’ve heard that word before, it’s okay, and I’m not offended. You guys don’t need to be on your toes around me. We are all going to have to live together and we should all be comfortable.” Jess smiled. “And while that doesn’t mean that anyone should run around in the buff, I have no objections to language of any kind.”

“Cool.” Alex smiled at her.

***

“What’s going on in here?” James came over and wrapped his arms around Jess, then kissed her cheek.

“Alex is updating all of our outlets and learning how to cuss.”

James grinned.

“Is the bedroom done?”

“Just about. They’re doing this room next so we can move in tomorrow.”

“Why not tonight?” Jess tried not to whine. She really wanted to get on with it already.

“Because I don’t want us breathing paint fumes. Soon, sweetheart.” He murmured the last part against her ear softly.

She trembled, and James kissed the hollow beneath her ear. “Why don’t you go wash your hands and we’ll go out to dinner, okay?” he suggested, not liking the scent or the vibe he was getting from Alex.

Jess nodded and let him kiss her cheek once more before leaving.

“Why isn’t she marked?” Alex was up and in James’s face as soon as Jess was out of sight. “You know how we all feel about her, but you have her here in our faces.”

James calmly removed Alex’s finger from his face. “Mine,” James said evenly, and stepped forward, showing no fear to his larger subordinate.

Alex backed up a step. The rest of the pack was watching from the bedroom door. James growled low in his throat. Alex backed up another step.

“She will be marked when I am ready to mark her, and if that takes ten years, she is still mine.” James took another step forward and Alex another one back until he was against the wall.

“It is at my discretion, like all things in this pack. Are we clear?” James’s voice never rose, his eyes never blinked, and he never wavered. “Alex?”

Alex tipped his head back to show James his throat, then hung his head in submission. James wrapped his arms around him in a bear hug, then patted his back like a brother. “It will be done tomorrow. I promise. I do not wish to cause any of you any pain or anxiety, but it will be on my terms. Understand?”

They all nodded and disappeared back inside the room they were painting.

“The living room is white,” he called over his shoulder, going the same way Jess had gone. She was on her way back, and she nearly ran into him.

“Hi sweetheart.” He turned her around and marched her back toward the kitchen. “I feel like steak, what do you think?”

Jess’s eyes lit up.

“Yes?”

“Please, I’m starved,” she said.

“I told you we shouldn’t skip lunch,” he growled, and she giggled.

She was beginning to love that sound. It sent shivers through her in a very good way. “I was hoping we would finish the bedroom in time to use it tonight,” she pouted, and James grinned. “Aren’t you anxious?” Her eyes traveled the length of his body.

“Of course, but I only get one opportunity to get it right on the first try and I want to get it right. It will set the stage for the rest of our lives.”

“We have plenty of time to practice and to make up for the first time if it’s not perfect.”

James sighed.

“Oh fine, but I think it’s bothering the rest of your pack. I heard you and Alex. Was he one of the wolves that wanted to…”

“Yes, and he still does. You aren’t marked, so technically you are up for grabs. The only thing holding them back is the fact that I am the Alpha. If you were Alex’s girlfriend, he would’ve marked you before bringing you here. The last thing he would want would be competition from the rest of us. It’s why Mark doesn’t bring Robbi or Bobbi or whatever her name is here. He’s been after her for months, but we’ve never met her.”

They were in James’s bedroom now, and he was pulling out fresh clothes. “And we don’t have the rest of our lives to get it right, Jess. I will only mark you once.”

She nibbled her lip. He was right. Of course. He shucked his overalls, and Jess gasped.

“What?” James looked around the room quickly for what had frightened her.

“That scar.” She pointed to the back of his leg. “Did a wolf do that?” she whispered, horrified.

James turned to look at it in the mirror and grinned. “Nope, that was a shark. I was snorkeling off the coast of Texas in the Gulf and the hungry little bastard came up and tried to eat my thigh like a chicken. He couldn’t have been more than four feet long. He was just a young little sucker, but man, did he have some sharp teeth.” James chuckled. “I knew I would live, but damn did it hurt at the time, and the salt water set the scar. I don’t even think about it anymore. If I weren’t wolf, this would be a really nasty scar; I may have even lost my leg.”

Jess grimaced, and James chuckled.

“What? Would a one-legged man not stand a chance with you?” He raised an eyebrow.

Jess walked to him and wrapped her arms around him. He was so gorgeous. Wide, strong shoulders set above a heavily muscled chest that tapered into a trim waist. His legs were long and powerful, nicely dusted with crisp dark hair. She sighed. She wanted him.

“It’s not your leg that I’m really interested in.” She kissed him softly. “Well, I am but it’s not all that I’m interested in.”

“Oh yeah?” His voice grew husky.

She shook her head. Jess let her hand trail down his strong shoulder and over his chest and belly, still dropping lower. James caught it and brought it to his mouth then kissed her palm tenderly while gazing into her eyes.

“Tomorrow, sweetheart.”

Jess pouted, and he kissed her lips then went back to dressing. Jess did her best not to sulk, but she was so frustrated that it was proving difficult not to lose it completely.

Chapter 11

James got an all-hands call alarm on his phone and rolled out of his temporary bed in the corner. He stood up as a man from his wolf form. He’d slept as wolf so neither of them would be tempted. Jess was snuggled under the covers. His wolf pushed to mate, but she was special. Their mating would be special. Tonight would be a night she would never forget. He and his boys had it planned down to the minute. The flowers, the candles, and the dinner were going to be spectacular like Jess. He dressed in his uniform in the dark and tried to be quiet, but when he looked over at her, she was watching him. He smiled at her.

“Can I make you breakfast?” Jess asked. “Or at least coffee?”

“No, I’ll grab it on the way. Something big is going on, and I’m not sure what yet. I got an all-hands call. Go back to sleep, baby.”

Jess was already rolling over and pulling her covers up. He came around the bed and kissed her chastely on the forehead. “I love you, sweetness.”

“Mmmhmm. No guns, right?” Jess murmured, and he smiled.

He didn’t answer because she was already asleep again. One more day and she was his. This goddess would be his in less than twelve hours. Sleeping near her and not touching her was the hardest thing he’d ever done, and the most painful. If he didn’t get inside of her soon his nuts would shrivel up and fall off. Best to be on the safe side, though. If he started he wouldn’t be able to stop himself. He smirked and crept out of the room, then let himself out of the apartment, locking the door behind him. He pushed the keyless remote on the SUV and climbed in, then headed for downtown. They’d been sleeping at her place, but most of her things were at the house waiting. She had a few clothes left in the apartment, just the essentials, and her toiletries. Everything would be moved later when he took her to dinner.

***

Jess tried to open her eyes, but they were so heavy. She felt as if she was floating, but her limbs wouldn’t move and her belly felt weird, a little sick. She drifted in and out and began to wonder how long it was since James left. She hoped he returned soon because something was very wrong with her.

Hours passed, maybe days for all she knew, but she could finally open her eyes—just slits—but where was she? This wasn’t her room, this wasn’t the new house, and she wasn’t in the hospital. This room was small and old. The paint was peeling in the corner over the door. It was mint green with beige behind it. The door looked like it was real wood and not one of the hollow ones that her apartment had. Jess tried to lift her hands and found they were tied down. Her feet as well. She started to panic, tried to get up and couldn’t. The door opened then, and Alex came in.

“Alex? What’s going on? I can’t move.”

“I know. I have you secured. It’s okay, don’t be afraid.” He ran a hand through his dark hair. “I left my piece out there so it wouldn’t scare you.” He reached for a table out of her eyeline and brought her a glass of orange juice with a straw. “Are you thirsty?”

Jess nodded.

Alex scooped an arm under her shoulders and helped her upright so she wouldn’t choke. He brought the straw to her lips and let her drink. She finished half of it. “I’m still deciding what to do with you. You don’t have to worry, though. I’ll take care of you.”

Jess looked around the room and down at herself. Her clothes were different.

“Did you dress me?” she whispered.

He nodded.

“Oh my God, you changed my clothes?”

Alex nodded again. “I had to. I gave you too much and you vomited on the clothes you were wearing. I tried not to look, I promise. My intentions are honorable.”

“Where is James? I want James.” Jess struggled to free herself.

“He isn’t here, and he doesn’t know where you are. He’s probably looking for you. Don’t hurt yourself. You can’t get free.” He shifted around and put the juice glass down, then settled her back into the pillows.

Her eyes were getting heavy. “What did you give me?” Her eyes slid closed.

“It won’t hurt you, and I still need to figure this out.”

Jess didn’t hear anything after that because the world went black.

***

James was frantic. Jess was missing, and it looked like she’d been taken. None of her clothing was gone, and the bed was left unmade. That was very un-Jess. She was neat and tidy always. It didn’t look as though she had breakfast either. His officers had done the forensic analyses of the apartment and found nothing. It was all off the books, of course, since she couldn’t be reported officially as missing for forty-eight hours. He was beginning to understand the panic he saw in people’s eyes when they came into the station to report a missing person. They, like him, knew something was very wrong, they couldn’t prove it, but they knew. How did you use your gut as evidence?

“Cap? I found something on the stairwell outside. Has Alex visited you here?”

“No.” James’s wolf fought to get out. “Why?” he snarled.

“I’ve got his prints on the railing outside. I just ran them through the computer and it came right back as his. Has he visited her, maybe when you weren’t around?” Freddy finished the last part on a whisper. He could see the internal struggle James was having. His eyes were amber and his breaths heavy, forced. James was trying to calm down. Alex had presented the biggest problem all along where Jess was concerned. He’d made it no secret that he wanted her. Jess showed him no interest, though, so why take her? James closed his eyes and blew out a breath.

“Where would he go?”

Freddy shrugged.

“If he hurts her…if he marks her…”

Freddy dropped a huge heavy hand on James’s shoulder. “I know, Cap, and we’re all with you. You have our full support and we’ve already voted that if you want him out of the pack, he’s out. If he lives, that is.” Freddy gave him half of a weary grin then turned to go. “I’m gonna follow up on something, then I’m back on it ASAP.”

James nodded. “Give Charlie my best.”

Freddy nodded and left him alone. James went to the bedroom and picked up her pillow then inhaled deeply. A silent sob shook him. To have her run from him was the hardest thing he’d ever faced up until now. He sat on the edge of the bed and drew deep breaths. If Alex took her, he would have had to touch the bed. They did cop work in here earlier. They’d looked for hairs, DNA evidence and fibers, but none of them had wolfed out.

James shifted into his wolf and put his nose to the ground. He sniffed the bed and caught Alex’s scent. He’d been here. He’d been in her bedroom, had touched her bed, and had touched her. Son of a bitch. Alex was a dead man. James would rip his throat out, then he would chew off his small parts. There was no use in following the obvious trail. He’d lifted her from the bed and carried her out, probably after he’d drugged her. God help them all. James hoped it wasn’t something addictive and that she was safe. He had to find her. He shifted back to his human form and pulled at his collar. His cell chirped, and he answered it.

“All known safe houses are clean, Cap.” It was Leland. “We’re still looking. Keep the faith.”

James muttered his thanks and locked the apartment door.

***

Jess tried to move and still couldn’t. Her muscles were so stiff that if she had an opportunity to get away, she wouldn’t be able to run. If he didn’t let her up she was going to wet herself. How long had she been here now? It seemed like the sun was high in the sky the last time she was awake, and now it seemed to be rising. Jess pulled at her restraints.

“Good, you’re up.”

“I need to pee.”

Alex nodded.

“Really bad.”

“Okay. Okay.” He unlocked the cuffs around her ankles then her wrists. “No funny business. You know I’m wolf, you won’t get far, and I will hurt you if I have to, clear?”

Jess nodded and rolled out of bed, nearly falling to her knees.

“Let me help you.” Alex lifted her easily and guided her to the bathroom. No window. Damn, she thought. Jess realized she was not wearing underwear, and gasped. She relieved herself for what seemed like hours.

“Can I brush my teeth?” she called through the door.

“Do whatever you like in there. You may shower, brush your teeth, and take care of your needs. I will wait out here. There is a new toothbrush and toiletries in the cabinet, and the towels are clean. It’s not like you’re going anywhere.”

Jess turned the shower on and locked the bathroom door. She knew the flimsy door wouldn’t keep a wolf out, but it made her feel better. Jess showered slowly, trying to get the circulation back into her muscles. She wondered how many days she’d lain there, drugged. James must be losing his mind. She needed to talk Alex out of whatever his plan was, whatever he meant to do her. She had to get him to take her home. She scrubbed her hair and rinsed, then washed herself. There were no weapons in here, no razor, not even a pair of tweezers. Jess finished up and got out, then dried herself.

“Alex?” she called. She heard him cross the room and come to try the locked door. “Are there fresh clothes, maybe some underwear, if you don’t mind?” Jess would remain civil, nice, even. If she was pleasant maybe, he would be nice, too.

“Wait there.” She heard his steps hurry from the room. Jess brushed her wet hair away from her face and brushed her teeth. She found deodorant and used it.

A soft knock sounded at the door, and she opened it a crack. He shoved clothes at her. A T-shirt, sweatpants, a bra, and panties—these were not her clothes. He hadn’t stopped to pack her a suitcase. He’d bought these. James would realize this, that none of her clothes were missing, and would know she hadn’t left on her own. She took the clothes and closed the door. She heard him cross to the bed and the mattress creaked. Jess dressed quickly and opened the door.

He stood.

“Can I not lie down for a while? I’m sore and I need to stretch my muscles. Please?” She gave him a wide-eyed look.

He nodded.

“I’m hungry, too. Do you have food?”

“Of course. Through the door to the right. Remember, I’m right behind you, and all of the doors are padlocked.”

Jess went out of the door and followed his directions. “I won’t try to escape, I promise,” she said over her shoulder. Finding the kitchen was easy since it was less than ten feet down a hall. This house was tiny and ancient. She guessed it was built at least fifty years ago and no one paid any mind to it since then. The fridge was stocked, and Jess looked her options over. The easiest thing would be a sandwich. She pulled the mustard and the ham out and put it on the counter. “Bread?”

He pointed.

“Do you want one?”

He smiled softly and nodded.

“Plates? Oh.” She saw the paper plates stacked in the corner and grabbed two. Jess laid out the bread and squirted the mustard on both pieces on each plate, then piled the ham on and topped it with the other piece of bread. “I guess it’s too much to ask to cut it in half, huh?”

He smirked.

Jess opened a top cabinet looking for a cup.

“On the counter beside the fridge.”

Jess turned and went to get a cup for herself then filled it with milk.

“Same for me.”

“I guess that answers my question of whether or not this will knock me out like the O.J.” She pushed his cup across the counter and sipped hers. It was the best glass of milk she’d ever had. Perfectly creamy and ice cold. She downed half of it. “How long to you plan to keep me here, Alex? I mean, what are your intentions?”

“I want to claim you as mine.” His eyes flashed, but she didn’t flinch or acknowledge it.

“I don’t want you, Alex,” she murmured gently. “I know that all of you guys are crazy about my scent or whatever, but let’s face it, there’s only one of you I want. James is the only man I’ll ever want.”

“You could learn to love another. He shouldn’t have done things the way he did.”

Jess chewed thoughtfully. “What do you mean?” She took another bite and watched him.

“Well, he claimed you as his and made us all back off. He has that right as an Alpha. Not where humans are concerned, however. That only applies where she-wolves are concerned. I checked the old laws and he can’t do that. We should’ve all had a shot and you should have had to choose.” He sipped his milk.

“Alex,” she said softly, and reached across the counter for his hand. She squeezed it gently. “I am a she-wolf, half anyway. My father was a wolf. I’ve never shifted, and my dad told my mom that I wouldn’t, but her newest husband says it can happen. He’s a bear-shifter and he told her that sometimes Halflings don’t shift until they mate. Once James claims me, then I may or may not shift. So you see, James had that right.”

“No, he didn’t. You are technically human until you shift, so not right.”

“You said the choice should be mine?”

He nodded.

“I choose James. I will always choose James. Even if you bite me right now, my heart belongs to James. I love him, Alex.”

Alex nodded and chewed.

“I’d like for you to take me home before things get out of hand. You know James will be angry, but he may not kill you if you return me safely, unharmed and unmarked. I’m not angry with you, Alex. I understand why you did this, but you must understand it will always be James.”

Alex put the rest of his uneaten sandwich down and exhaled loudly. “I know you’re right. I’m so sorry, Jessica. I don’t know why I do things sometimes. I go off half-cocked, and at the time it makes perfect sense, until it doesn’t.”

Jess took another bite, hoping that he was convinced and taking her home. Either way, she was hungry, and this was the best ham sandwich on the planet right now. “When we finish breakfast, I’ll take you back. Hopefully Cap will have some sympathy for a stupid wolf.”

Jess smiled and took another big bite.

All of the glass in the kitchen suddenly exploded at once, and huge wolves jumped in through the holes that were windows a minute ago. Jessica screamed and covered her face. Alex was at her side in a flash, shielding her from it. Neither of them knew what was going on because it happened so fast. Alex was tackled, and a giant brown wolf snarled down at him. “Come on, Freddy, get off.” Alex shoved at him, but Freddy didn’t move.

“Sweetheart.” James had her wrapped in his arms, but she struggled. “Jess, it’s me. Are you okay?”

“Don’t hurt him!” Jess cried.

“Don’t hurt him?!” James cupped her face gently with both hands. “Jessica, why are you defending him?” He was looking at both sides of her neck, she assumed, to check for a mark.

“James, he was kind to me. He didn’t hurt me. Don’t hurt him.”

James was dumbfounded.

“I know he kidnapped me and everything, but he didn’t hurt me.”

“Freddy, off,” James commanded the huge snarling wolf. The rest of them paced. “All of you, back off. Get out.”

The rest of the pack shifted into men as Jess watched. It fascinated her that they could do this amazing thing. It wasn’t anything like in the movies. It was more magical. They almost wavered or shimmered, she wasn’t sure of the word for it. Freddy and David jerked Alex to his feet. “You know he will be punished, right?”

Jess nodded. “And we discussed that. He understands that what he did was wrong, but I would like to vouch for him to stay in the pack. I don’t want him to be hurt physically or kicked out on my account. All of you wanted to chase me, and he knows that he went about it all wrong, but he didn’t hurt me and he didn’t mark me.” James growled low in his throat. “Oh stop that. I know you’re upset, but if you had made me yours sooner, this wouldn’t have happened. Also, he said that he researched old laws and that you were supposed to let me choose, James. If you’ll recall, I wasn’t very happy about you blocking my dates.”

James smirked and exhaled.

“He said that since I’m human you can’t pull that Alpha stuff on me.”

“What happened to my perfectly submissive mate?” James pulled her tight and kissed the top of her head.

“She found her backbone and she’s hanging on to it, so watch out, buddy.” Snickers sounded around the room. Jess went up on her toes and kissed him. James motioned to the pack to clear out. He pushed her into the counter and trapped her with his hands. “There’s a bed in the other room,” Jess said between kisses. “There’s…never mind.”

“There’s what?” James trailed kisses down her cheek and throat.

“Nothing, never mind. Let’s go home.”

James looked into her eyes for a moment and stalked off down the hall. He needed to see, had to know what had happened here.

Jess waited nervously knowing he would be livid and hoped he didn’t blow a gasket. She heard him before she saw him. “James?” She saw his wolf then, the big one with the wicked yellow eyes. He was angry. Jess went to her knees as he approached, trying to stay out of the broken glass. She didn’t know why she should get down to his level, just that it would be better if she did. She held out her arms to him, and he came close to sniff her. “I’m okay, I swear. He didn’t hurt me. Please.” Her chin wobbled, and James shifted back into himself. “I promise that I’m okay. Don’t hurt him, and try not to be angry. I’m all yours, okay?”

James pulled her tightly to him and lifted her into his arms as he stood.

“I love you.” He looked down at her, and she smiled. “It will kill me if anything happens to you.”

She nodded.

“I’m going to take you home and give you a long bubble bath. I don’t want a trace of this place on you.” He looked around sourly before stepping through the shattered patio door, his feet crunching as he went.

***

James paced the length of her apartment while she relaxed in the tub. He’d heated the water to the perfect temperature for her and added bubbles that were scented with jasmine. She’d insisted that she had just showered, but James could still scent that place and Alex on her. He’d insisted just as much that she soak. He couldn’t take her tonight. This night was tarnished by the kidnapping. He still wanted to give her the perfect mating.

She’d insisted a thousand times that she was fine, but he wasn’t. There was still Alex’s punishment to consider. Freddy had put him in cuffs and booked him before James or Jess knew about it. Freddy said that it was to protect him and the pack. His thought was that the punishment must be considered at length by the Alpha.

Jess didn’t want him kicked out or hurt, but there must be punishment, to set not only an example for the pack but for Alex. He couldn’t get off scot-free or he would continue to disobey. He may decide later to take her anyway, and James couldn’t have that.

What if at some point he grabbed another’s mate, or pup, for that matter? James wanted to be considerate of Jess’s feelings, wishes, desires, but James was the Alpha of this pack, and it fell to him to make the decision. Right or wrong, it was on his shoulders. James answered the knock at the door and paid the deliveryman from Joe’s down the street. He would sit Jess in his lap and feed her fettuccine alfredo with chicken and mushrooms by hand, and then there was a piece of tiramisu for dessert.

Jess was gone for four days and all she remembered eating was half of that damned ham sandwich he saw on the floor after they’d broken in. She said he’d given her some drugged orange juice, too. That son of a bitch. James snarled. Jess’s wishes may be ignored. James fought the shift, breathing hard and pacing heavily across the apartment.

“James?” Jess stood in the bedroom door in a long T-shirt. “Are you okay?” She came to him and wrapped her arms around his middle. “Please calm down, you’re shimmering.”

James closed his eyes and breathed her scent in deeply.

“I’m starved, what did you order? It smells like heaven.” Jess sniffed loudly.

He took her hand, grabbed the bag, and went to sit on the pink couch. She plopped down beside him and watched him unload the bag. The round tin with the plastic lid didn’t interest her nearly as much as the Styrofoam box. James saw her eyeing it, saw her trying to decide if she could get to it before him, and he smirked, then winked.

“After dinner, sweetness.”

She stuck her bottom lip out, then laughed when he smiled.

“Come here.” James pulled her into his lap and fed her by hand. She didn’t object. She had to know that he needed to take care of her. It was calming him, and calm was definitely better for both of them. Once she’d had her fill of the alfredo and would not accept another bite, he opened the dessert box. James groaned at the sounds she made for the mousse and swore that he would coax her body make more of those noises tomorrow night.

“Are we going to the new house after dinner?” Jess’s cheeks flushed a pretty pink.

He shook his head grimly.

“Okay,” she murmured.

He wasn’t in the right place emotionally to mark her, and she had to understand, but he was sure that she was disappointed. Tomorrow. Tomorrow was a new day, and tomorrow night he would claim her.

Chapter 12

“Come.” James led her through the house in the dark. “Step up.”

Jess did as she was told. “This isn’t fair. I can’t see in the dark like you.”

His fingers pressed into the small of her back.

“Turn the lights on, James. Didn’t they finish the wiring yet?”

“Wait and see.” James stopped. Golden light suddenly filled the room with a soft glow.

Jess gasped. The living room was finished and full of furniture. A vase of fresh flowers was placed in the center of the coffee table before a long traditional sofa. Jess covered her mouth with her hands.

“Not bad for a bunch of guys huh?” James pulled her toward the bedroom. Her bed was flanked by two cherry nightstands that closely resembled her bed. A dresser stood sentry on one wall, and a chest of drawers on the other. The fireplace glowed softly with the pink couch facing it.

“It’s beautiful. All of it.” She turned and threw herself into his arms. “I love it. When did you do all of this?”

“It’s not all finished yet. We have a few bedrooms, a couple of bathrooms upstairs, and the kitchen to fix up. These two rooms are done, so we can comfortably spend our evenings and nights with each other, alone.”

Jess nibbled her bottom lip. Her fingers traced the buttons of his shirt. “Ah. Is that how it is then?” She raised her eyes to meet his, and the corner of her mouth lifted.

James lifted the hem of her T-shirt over her head, blinding her to what he was about to do. Her face was hidden and her hands trapped.

“I love you,” he murmured against the soft pale skin of her breast. His tongue traced the swell of it, and she shivered. He tugged the T-shirt off and tossed it.

Jess buried her hands in his short dark hair and lifted his face to hers so she could kiss him. She sucked on his tongue when it dipped into her mouth for a taste. He groaned, and her heart soared.

He lifted her and carried her to the side of the bed. She reached back to remove her bra, but he stilled her hands. “I want to unwrap my present.”

Jess trembled. “And I want to unwrap mine.” She pulled at the hem of his shirt, tugging it from the waist of his pants.

James smiled down at her and let her have her way. She’d waited so impatiently up until now. Her fingers deftly unfastened the buttons up the front of him and slid it over his shoulders. They’d just finished a romantic dinner with wine and a dessert that she didn’t want because it kept her from this. She suspected he’d ordered it to tease her but used the excuse that Alex had nearly starved her to death.

His T-shirt was next. Jess trapped his hands the way he had hers and he chuckled. She kissed him then rubbed herself against his now-bare chest. He slipped his hands from the shirt and pulled her closer with his fingers locked in her belt loops. Her agile fingers found his belt and tugged it loose, dropping it to the floor. She was nudging him closer to the bed, but he didn’t mind. He was her willing captive.

James leaned down and kissed her neck. Jess shivered, and a growl rumbled through his chest.

“James,” she moaned.

He lifted her easily and placed her on the bed that the pack moved in and put together while they were at dinner. He knew that Jess thought that he was trying to prolong her agony, but he was actually trying to give them time to set this up. The room danced with soft light from candles scattered throughout the room and low-lit lamps. The fireplace crackled romantically, and the corner of his mouth lifted at how much care they put into this. James unfastened her jeans and slid them from her legs. She sat up to unfasten her bra, and he pushed her hands away. James worked the clasp easily and slid it from her trembling flesh.

“My present.” He grinned, then kissed her sweetly. “My future.” She smiled at his play on words. His mouth trailed soft warm kisses down her throat, over her collarbone and over the mound of her breast. “Such a wonderful gift,” he murmured against her skin. James pushed her back onto the pillows and worshipped her body. Him sucking her rosy nipples into his mouth had her back arching. Her fingers worked into his thick dark hair, holding his head in place. He blew a warm breath over her nipples and watched them clench into taut peaks. They strained toward him, and James’s eyes flashed. “I love you, sweetheart.”

His tongue traced the line of her sternum, then warm kisses trailed over her belly until he found her navel. He nipped at it, and Jess giggled then moaned when he kissed her mound through her pink lacy panties. The heat of his breath through them was maddening. He nibbled at her through the lace, and Jess wiggled her hips, unable to stand the erotic sensations. No man ever made her feel this giddy or on edge. She was ready to come out of her skin and it felt as though all of the blood in her body was pooling between her legs. She was throbbing, hot and wet. Her pulse pounded in her clit, and he was not giving any relief.

“Please, James…”

He smiled up at her over the length of her body. She was watching him tease her flesh with wide, curious eyes. James traced his tongue over her cleft through the pink lace, and she bucked. He chuckled and sent warm damp breaths over her already-searing skin. Her fingers hooked in the sides of the offending underwear, but James removed them gently and placed them at her sides.

“My present.”

“Your present is about to explode.”

He laughed and peeled the delicate lace off. “We don’t want that.” James pushed her thighs apart and sank his tongue into her core. Jess cried out and crushed the crisp white sheets in her fists. His hot wet tongue worked through her folds slowly until it found the small bundle of nerves. He kissed her there and then suckled the pink pearl gently.

Jess’s body bowed off the bed. Her heart tried to jackhammer itself out of her ribcage, and lightning raced fire and arousal through her veins. Her body seized then, and went rigid with the earth-shattering orgasm that ripped through her with the strength of a thousand giants. Jess thought she might have blacked out then after the shower of rainbow-colored sparks behind her eyes. She woke with James beside her, leaving soft kisses on her shoulder a few minutes later.

“Hi, sweetness,” he murmured against her skin.

“What happened?” she whispered.

“Something that will happen over and over again, I hope.” James’s mouth crushed hers then. He eased onto her, and she wrapped her legs around him. “I love, you Jessica.”

“I love you, too.” She smiled and reached between them to find his flesh. “I want you.”

He nodded and let her place his cock inside her.

“I want you now.”

James pushed into her slowly, letting her get accustomed to his girth. He pulled back and eased forward, gently repeating the action until he buried himself in her to the hilt. She loved this feeling, loved feeling him fill her up, and loved how he stretched her. Fire worked its way through her muscles, and her toes curled. She hadn’t completely recovered yet from the last orgasm, and it felt as though it was only taking a rest but now began spinning her again. Lighting her up and coursing through her veins, preparing to send her spiraling over the edge of something more powerful.

“Easy, baby,” James murmured against her neck. He moved against her, and Jess’s body clung to him, inside and out. “You feel incredible fisting me like that, sweetheart.” His slick skin slid erotically over hers. His lower abdomen bumped her clit with every thrust, sending wave after wave of pleasure through her.

Jess’s nails raked his back as the orgasm rocketed over her nerves and controlled her body. Wet heat filled her center and throbbed its way through her veins. Her back bowed again, and his name was a declaration on her lips. She felt his bite and came again just as violently. He’d been right, it didn’t hurt, it had sent thrills through her, and lights danced behind her eyes.

James’s body quaked above her then stilled. “Are you okay?” he finally asked, kissing her lips tenderly and gazing into her eyes.

She smiled and nodded.

“Good…wife, mate.”

Jess nibbled her bottom lip and grinned. “Husband…mate.” She tried the word out and decided that she liked it. Her eyes slid closed as he gathered her close and curled his body protectively around hers.

“Mine,” he said, resting his chin on top of her head, and they slept.

***

Jess woke to the most amazing sensations. Her legs trembled and wet heat pooled between them. Her eyes cracked open, then looked around at the lovely room he’d made for them, and smiled. Sunshine filtered into the room through the blinds, and the sheers lifted in the fragrant warm breeze. He was right. About all of it.Everything had been perfect. Everything he’d done and said. Every sensation, tremor, and thrill he’d brought to her body was perfect. She was glad that he’d made her wait. Jess looked down at him now and found navy-blue eyes studying her. She gave him a small shy smile.

His tongue dipped into her cleft then wrapped around her still-sensitive clitoris.

“Ah!” she cried out.

He chuckled against her tender flesh, and she felt it echo through her body as every cell reacted to it. He nibbled at her softness and nuzzled the line between her thigh and that sensitive flesh.

Jess wiggled, and his hands stilled her, holding her hips. Light pressure from his fingertips warmed her skin there. His lips found the tiny pink pearl and sucked at it, his teeth grazing it lightly, and Jess nearly rocketed from the bed. Her body was suddenly a mass of hot, writhing, exploding sensation. Her fingers and toes curled at once, and her heart pounded with the climax. The orgasm pounded its way through her veins, filling her with extreme, intense pleasure. She felt lighter and like her bones had melted into jelly.

“Good morning, love.” He smiled then kissed her mound. His humid breath warmed her sensitive flesh then cooled it. She reached for him, and James eagerly crawled up her body, watching her. “How are you feeling this morning?”

“Empty.”

He kissed her smile. “I can fix that.” He sank into her. Her eyes slid closed, and she sighed.

“Look at me, Jess. I want to watch you when you fall apart.” He thrust into her tight, still-pulsing channel. His eyes never left hers. She watched them flash to amber, and she stretched up to kiss him as her body quaked with the second delicious orgasm he gave her. James pulled out of her and turned her over, then entered her in the way of the wolves.

Jess cried out. “So deep,” she murmured, and pushed back against him, letting him fill her completely. “James…” she murmured. His tongue traced her backbone, and he left smoldering kisses across her shoulders. Jess guided his hand to her center and turned her head to watch him.

James smiled wolfishly and traced circles around the sensitive bundle of nerves that matched the rhythm of his hips.

Jess’s body shook. The sensation of standing at the edge of a mountaintop filled her once more, as if she were about to step out into the clouds. Her heart pounded, and her breaths were heavy. Her body had never done this before. She’d always been finished after one climax, but he’d brought them out of her multiple times, something no one had ever done for her. He was about to coax another from her. Her body ached for him to satisfy it once again. She felt so greedy and wanton, but it didn’t matter because the pleasure was indescribable.

***

James felt her anticipation and held out as long as he could. He wanted her body sated. When he could not wait another second, he brushed his tongue over his mark on her neck.

Jess shook violently with the climax. “James!” she cried, and collapsed onto the bed. He chuckled and kissed her temple then her cheek. He climbed out of the bed, not wanting to leave, but his mate needed sustenance to keep her strength up. James had plans to occupy her body and soul all day.

“Stay here and rest. I’ll bring you breakfast in a little while. Okay?” he murmured in her ear, kissing her cheek again.

She gave him a “mmm hmm” and drifted on her post-orgasmic haze.

After pulling a pair of shorts on, James walked down the hall to the kitchen. His wasn’t ready to use yet since it had no stove or plumbing. Soon, he thought. Soon he and Jess would get started on that family that he so desperately craved. His mate was perfect. He sighed and opened the fridge. He got eggs, ham, bacon, butter, and instant hash browns out and laid them on the counter. He turned the stove on and got several pans out, smiling to himself.

His mate was well satisfied and waiting for him to provide for her. These times were different than in his father’s day. James’s father was an older wolf when James was born, nearly two hundred. His mother wasn’t much younger. James had older siblings. Hell, he had nieces and nephews that were older than he was. James was a surprise. His mother didn’t think pregnancy was possible at her age. Well, surprise! James grinned. His father taught him that it was his responsibility to take care of his mate, to see to her every need, to ensure her satisfaction and to give life to her every desire.

Wolves now carried on much like humans, but not James. He was an old-fashioned wolf and went about things in an old-fashioned way. His father adored his mother and catered to her every whim. In turn, he was a very happy and satisfied wolf. He told James that the old adage was true: happy wife, happy life. He also said that a satisfied mate would bend over backward to give him anything and everything that a wolf could want. James knew this to be true by how happy his parents were and how unhappy many wolves were today.

His father told him that there was one out there, the other half of his soul. He said to wait for her. That it would be worth it. He was right. James was ecstatic that he’d waited. Jess was perfect. The bacon and ham sizzled, the potatoes were browning, and scrambled eggs were waiting their turn.

The hair on the back of James’s neck stood up and he felt the energy in the house shift. Someone was scared out of their wits. Someone was on the verge of something awful. James sniffed the air and tuned his senses in. The pack was coming toward the kitchen. He sensed them and knew they would be wolves by the time they got to the room. They had sensed it, too.

James turned and saw Freddy in front. He was anxious, and then James knew what happened. Jess! his mind screamed. “Watch the stove!” James shifted into the big wolf with the wicked yellow eyes and headed back to his wing.

She ambled toward him, and she was frightened. She didn’t have control of her gait, and she stumbled into a doorjamb then whimpered.

James approached her cautiously. He didn’t want to frighten her. Jess was a good-sized wolf, and not at all what he expected. He’d imagined that if it happened, she would be dainty and timid.

She snarled at him, lowered her head and ears aggressively. Her tail was down but twitching anxiously, and she stalked forward. James sat. He was the Alpha here. Let her come. He kept his head up proudly, then heard the pack behind him. She stopped and glared at them. Her snarl and growl grew more vicious and loud coming from the open back of her throat. Wow. She was going to be fun.

James never considered this temperament in a mate, but he had to admit, it was exciting. This she-wolf was an Alpha. Never in a million years would he have guessed that his Jess, his timid Jess, would be an Alpha. James panted and watched her. The pack snarled behind him, and he growled over his shoulder. They sat and they watched obediently, except Freddy. He, in his human form, tended the stove but kept looking over his shoulder at the new Alpha she-wolf. James sensed that big bad Freddy was a little scared of her. He should be. This new Alpha was out for the first time. At Jess’s age, this had to be quite the surprise for her.

She was less than two feet away and unaccustomed to her new body. She could still deliver a vicious bite. James could launch himself at her and make her submit, but he wanted to see what she would do. Jess scented the air around him and lowered her head again. At least the growling had stopped. Jess looked over his shoulder, past him, and snarled at the pack. They stayed silent and submissive. James looked back, and they’d lowered their heads in respect. She may be female, but she was still an Alpha and would not back down from a fight, at least James didn’t think so.

She circled James, sniffing. He waited. She neared his face and stared into his eyes. She was beautiful. The most beautiful she wolf he’d ever seen. She rubbed her muzzle along his jaw and licked his nose. James stood up on all fours, and she switched her tail in his face then backed into him. Holy hell! That was an invitation, but not here and not in full view of the pack. He headed her back toward the bedroom. He yipped at the pack, giving them a command to stay, then he followed her. This was her first shift, and he should’ve been there to help her through it. He’d failed her, but how could he have known that it was going to happen and that it would be that fast?

Her lope was much steadier, and she headed into the bedroom. She was gaining control. He admired her ability to adapt to her new skin.

James shifted into his human form and closed the door. “Jess?”

Her eyes snapped up to meet his.

“Good. I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I should’ve been with you. I know this is all very confusing and you were probably in a lot of pain. I want you to shift back.” He waited, and she looked up at him, confused. “You have to try, sweetheart. You have to learn to control your form and your wolf.”

He waited, and she sat, staring at him. Her pink tongue came out and licked her muzzle. James put his hand on her shoulder and used the tone of voice that only Alphas know. “Shift!”

She shimmered, bones and tendons cracked, popped, and then she slowly came back to herself.

James cringed. He knew that probably hurt, not so much because it was painful, but the unfamiliarity of it. He knew what to stretch and bend because he’d done it a million times, but she hadn’t. Her natural reaction would be to fight it, tighten up, and that made it hurt. “Okay, next time I want you to remember to keep your clothes on. I know we were just in bed here, but try to remember to dress when you are going to shift. If you’d shifted back in front of the pack, they’d be seeing this, and I don’t think my heart could take that just yet.” He winked at her.

Jess looked down at herself, confused.

“Are you okay?” James pulled her into his arms.

She nodded.

“You are something to be reckoned with in your wolf form. I had no idea you could be so…scary.”

“What? What do you mean ‘scary’? And what do you mean ‘wolf’?” Jess trembled.

“Oh, she’s been trapped in there a long time hoping to get out and she has a real attitude. I liked it, curiously.” He grinned at her.

Jess nibbled her lip.

“How about that breakfast that I promised, and then we will call your mom to let her know it’s a bouncing baby she-wolf? After that, we’ll practice your shift until you can do it alone and with control.”

Jess’s stomach growled loudly.

“Oh, and you have to eat a lot since your metabolism is going to change now, but the best part is that you probably won’t have to work out nearly as much. Come on, let’s eat.” James pulled her up and kissed her. “Jess, are you okay? You aren’t saying much.”

“I’m not sure what to say. I’m kind of freaked out right now.”

James hugged her.

“What do I look like?”

He smiled.

“And why don’t I remember anything?”

“Heaven.” She flushed crimson and smacked him. “You are a large red wolf with green eyes. Which is unusual, because reds are usually small wolves. You, though, are tall, heavily muscled, and fearsome. You’re almost as big as me, which means that we are going to have some ferocious pups.”

Jess gasped.

“No, don’t panic, it will be fine. I promise. I don’t know why you don’t remember, unless it’s because she completely took over. We’ll work on it, sweetheart.” He wrapped her robe around her and led her back to the kitchen, where breakfast was in full swing. Freddy operated the stove and Austin operated the toaster. Every pan on the stove was full of something.

Jess looked at the buffet worriedly.

“This is what breakfast looks like around here, and since you just had your first shift they know you are starved.”

“Have a seat, Jess.” Freddy flipped pancakes. “My first shift, I was hungry enough to eat a bear. So I’m making you my special first shift plate. Pancakes, toast, eggs, ham, bacon, sausage with a side of hash browns and a bowl of grits. I’m having the same to help you celebrate.” He winked, and Jess laughed.

“I’ll never eat all of that.”

Freddy gave her a knowing look.

“I won’t, I can’t.”

“Tell you what, eat what you like, and the Cap will clean your plate. By the way, that is one spectacular wolf you got hiding in there.” Freddy handed her and James their plates and went back to the stove. The rest of the pack lounged around the massive table, sipping coffee and waiting for breakfast. Each of them gave her a nod of respect when she sat.

“I don’t remember anything, I hope I didn’t hurt anyone.”

There were several snorts around the table.

“What?”

“Chances of you hurting a full-grown male are pretty slim, sweetness, unless he’s hurt or small. Don’t worry about that. We are all very capable of handling ourselves. They will defer to you, though, because you are not only the Alpha’s mate, but an Alpha. The pack will respect its Alpha, it’s ingrained in their DNA.”

“What if this happens at work, James?” Jess was terrified.

“Don’t worry, we will work on it. Eat now. I can hear the pounds dropping from you.”

“I wish,” she muttered.

“I’m serious. Super metabolism now. Eat. A lot.”

Jess forked egg into her mouth and moaned, realizing then how hungry she was.

Eyes snapped up around the table, and James growled. “Jess.”

She looked at him.

“I love those sounds you make, sweetness, but I want to be the only one who hears them,” he murmured and kissed her temple.

Jess went back to her breakfast, her face hot. She was starving, so embarrassed or not, she was eating!

Chapter 13

“Again.”

Jess huffed out a breath and shifted into the wolf. They’d been practicing for days. She was hot and exhausted, but she had to go back to work tomorrow. Jess didn’t feel that she could do that without feeling as if she had total control.

“Again,” he commanded.

Jess shifted back into herself and stood before him nude. They were in the bedroom so no one would see.

Jess waggled her eyebrows at him and smiled.

“Oh,” he said quietly. “Drink a bottle of water first, then we’ll head into the shower.”

Jess pursed her lips.

“We can accomplish two things at once, sweetness.” He waggled his eyebrows back at her, and Jess giggled.

She guzzled the water while he stripped his clothes off then went into the bathroom, with her trailing behind.

“Come here.” James reached for her from under the shower spray, and she stepped inside the glass enclosure with him. He pushed her under the water gently then poured shampoo into her hair. Her muscles were aching, and his fingers massaging her scalp felt more delicious than anything had today. Except for when he woke her up with his face buried between her thighs. Jess had to admit it was her favorite way to wake. It was certainly better than coffee. She smiled.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Waking up this morning.”

James rinsed her hair and sank to his knees.

“What are you… Oh my…” Jess leaned her back against the wall for support. The man had a way of making her knees give out.

James’s tongue left a long warm path from her core to the bundle of throbbing nerves that were keeping time with her rapid erratic pulse. He placed strategic kisses on her mound, smiling at her gasps. James kissed the skin between her womanhood and belly button. His tongue followed the rivulet of water headed south from between her breasts. James sucked a nipple into his mouth, and Jess’s eyes slid closed. “Please…”

“Anything for you, my love. What do you need?”

“You,” she panted. “I need you inside me.”

He moaned against her other breast.

“James…now! I need that now.”

He chuckled, and Jess’s eyes snapped open. His hands were sliding up her thighs over her hips, leaving tingles in their wake, and Jess was a trembling gooey mass of need. She shivered involuntarily.

“Oh baby, I will take care of you, I promise. I won’t let you hunger for long, but remember, the longer we wait the more explosive it will be.”

“Yeah, you said that this morning, but I think I’d rather not wait. OK? So get on with it.” Jess reached for what she wanted, and he easily trapped her hands with one of his above her head. She grumbled, and James smiled against her skin. His teeth caressed her shoulder, the sensitive column of her throat, and the fleshy side of her breast. Jess had had enough of this “waiting for more explosive” crap. She wrapped her leg around his hip and pulled him toward her.

“Oh naughty girl.” James disentangled himself and spun her around to face the wall. The warm water cascaded over her back and felt good but not nearly as good as James’ teeth grazing the top of her hip. He bit lightly and she nearly came.

Jess cried out, and he chuckled against the side of her waist. It tickled and she jumped. He chuckled again and bit the fleshy bottom of her buttock lightly. Wave after wave of pleasure glided over her nerves. Heat worked its way through her middle, and her muscles clenched then convulsed. Her orgasm washed over her, and Jess moaned with her cheek pressed against the cool tile of the shower. James turned her around again and lapped at her juices. After kissing a trail up the middle of her, James nibbled at her lips and sought entrance into the sweet recesses of her mouth.

His tongue sank inside as his arousal sank into her core. Jess was consumed with sensation and emotion. She loved everything about this man. The ways he tasted her mouth and filled her core were delicious. The way he smiled at her every time he looked at her and the way he tasted her skin. He was everything that she could ever want. James sank into her fully and Jess wrapped her legs around his waist urging him to take her.

“OK, sweetheart.” James slammed into her, and Jess moaned.

Finally! she thought. This was what she needed, what she wanted, what her body demanded.

His thrusts echoed through her soul, melting it, soothing it, and bringing the knowledge that she was his. Her core tightened, fisted him, and James groaned. “Yes baby, yes!” he called against her neck. His tongue tasted his mark, and she detonated around him. Her core milked him in waves. James followed her over the abyss into unadulterated pleasure. Jess clung to him tightly as he carried her to their bed. She didn’t remember falling asleep.

Chapter 14

Jess dressed with care for work. She wound her hair into a knot and pulled her suit jacket on. She may or may not have a job. Texting your boss that you have a family emergency, then disappearing for two weeks without an explanation was not usually acceptable. Lolly said on the phone earlier, though, that she only had to say that it was an emergency and that it was personal. Beyond that, the witch could not legally force answers out of her. Jess blew out a breath and smoothed her hands over her skirt. James left just after her clock sounded. His was an early shift today, but he promised to stop by for lunch if he could.

***

Jess checked her face in the rearview mirror again then hurried inside. She should be at her desk in less than 10 minutes, and she did not want to be late. Ms. Lansing could be a real pain in the ass about tardiness. Jess hurried down the hall and into her office. It looked the same. Pressing the on button on the computer, she arranged her suit jacket on the back of the chair while she waited for it to come on. Suddenly, Ms. Lansing stood at her desk, glowering down at her. Even her hair was particularly spiked and sharp-looking today, but not as much as her gaze.

“So you decided to grace us with your presence, I see. Where have you been, and let me warn you, the excuse had better be fantastic or you are fired,” Ms. Lansing nearly screamed.

Jess felt the wolf get restless and try to rise up. She took a deep cleansing breath to back the scary beast down. James had practiced this with her until she felt comfortable, but that was at home, and now it wasn’t as easy.

“I had a family crisis and had to fly to Florida. It’s personal, but it’s over now, and I am ready to return to work.”

“Not good enough. Get out.”

Jess raised an eyebrow. “No.”

Ms. Lansing gasped.

James strolled into the office then, and Ms. Lansing whirled on him.

“What do you want, James? I am disciplining an employee.”

“Is that what you’re calling it now, Margaret? It still looks like bullying to me.”

James rounded the desk and kissed Jess chastely. “I just wanted to see that you arrived safely, sweetheart. Are we still on for lunch?”

She nodded and smiled softly.

“She won’t be here for lunch. She’s fired.”

Lolly cleared her throat from the doorway. “Margaret, may I see you in my office?” Lolly smiled at James and Jess, then nodded hello.

“In a moment, and we can discuss Jessica’s replacement,” Ms. Lansing hissed.

“Jessica has discussed her absence with HR, and the matter is considered closed. Your behavior, though, well, we should discuss that privately. Come along.” Jess had never loved Lolly more than in that instant.

“Looks like Margaret is in trouble.” James smirked. He sounded like he was taunting someone on the playground, and she giggled.

“It seemed like you knew her.”

He nodded.

“Did you date her, James?”

“I did, yes, for a moment. We went out twice, and it took me six months to get rid of her. She’s your boss, huh?”

Jess made a face and nodded.

“That sucks. Can you do anything else? Margaret is going to be extra tough on you now.”

Jess rolled her eyes. “When isn’t she? It’s okay. I’ve been working on my backbone, and if she gets too nasty, I’ll let my furry friend handle the witch.”

James chuckled. “Dan Dan’s for lunch? It’s been a slow morning so far and hopefully it will stay that way, so keep your furry friend under wraps, okay? I don’t want any rabid animal BOLOs going out.”

“You aren’t going out anywhere with a gun, are you? I mean, I don’t have to worry, do I?” Jess bounced her knee nervously.

“No, sweetheart. No worries. I’m supervising, filling out paperwork, and learning my new duties. I will be in the office all day. If you have time, come over and see my new digs. I should go.” He leaned down and kissed her softly. “Behave, and I’ll see you at lunch.”

“Okay.” She watched him walk out of her office and saw Ms. Lansing pass by a moment later. She didn’t stop or even glance into Jess’s office. “Curious,” Jess thought out loud. She picked up her phone and texted Lolly.

Are u busy?

Mocha time? Lolly quickly texted back.

Please, Jess answered.

Lolly popped her head in the door seconds later and grinned at her. “Come, girlfriend. I want the 411 on Officer Cutie Pie.”

Jess giggled and hurried after her. They chatted quickly while they walked slowly to the coffee bar. Jess caught Lolly up on James, and Lolly caught her up on Ms. Lansing. “She will not be harassing you, Jessie girl. I made it very clear that any contact had better be professional or I would file for disciplinary action on her bullying butt. I get more complaints about her than everyone else in the building combined, and I told her it stopped now. You are a good worker and an excellent employee, so she has no business giving you bullshit.”

“Thanks, Lolly, but she will find a way. I just found out that she dated James for a little while, and I think she still wants him. He thinks that she is going to make it hard for me.” Jess selected her coffee and creamers, then pushed the buttons on the machine. It worked perfectly for once.

“I’ll keep my eye on her, and don’t worry. On the record and officially, if she does anything that you think is out of line or harassing, you let me know and I will open an investigation. Off the record, I would love to get rid of her. She was never management material, but she was sleeping with my boss at the time.” Lolly made a gagging gesture, and Jess chuckled. “He’s retired now, so she is on her own.”

Jess sipped her coffee while Lolly filled her cup with tea.

“I was wondering, Jess, if you would be interested in her position.”

Jess stared at her with her mouth hanging open.

“If it were to become vacant, I mean. I think you would be a good candidate.”

“I don’t know what to say, Lolly. I never thought about managing.”

“Well, she’s set you up nicely. You know how to do everyone’s job, and you’re a nicer person than she is. Margaret isn’t a manager. She’s a boss, and she behaves in a bossy, bullying way. A manager inspires and directs their employees, helps them grow professionally. I think that more than a few people in your department would flourish under your direction. Think about it. It won’t be this week, unfortunately, but hopefully it will be soon.” Lolly winked at her.

They went back down the hall in comfortable silence. Jess was considering what Lolly had told her, which was basically that she was going to get rid of Margaret Lansing. Good riddance to bad rubbish, Jess thought.

She met James for lunch a few hours later and filled him in on the development.

“That’s great. I think with that new backbone of yours and the skills that you already have, you are a great idea. Kudos to Lolly!” He clinked his teacup to hers and smiled at her.

Jess thought about it. She still wasn’t sure if that was what she wanted. All she knew was that she wanted him right now.

His smile turned predatory. “I don’t know where we can go, sweetheart, where we won’t be on surveillance.”

Jess pouted.

“As soon as we get home, though?”

Jess nodded and he grinned.

“Maybe after, Big Red can come out to play. You need to run.”

Jess blushed.

“I love it when your cheeks blush like that. You are so beautiful, Jess, and when they do that, you glow.”

She scoffed, and he chuckled.

“I’ll make you blush more later.”

“You’d better.”

Chapter 15

The rest of her day was uneventful, except for the sideways glances she got from Ms. Lansing. James was right. She was going to be a problem. He was at her desk promptly at quitting time.

“Hey, I like your desk job. You have regular hours and you get to drive me home.” He winked. Jess grabbed her jacket and put it over her arm. She wasn’t as cold-natured as before her change, but having a sweater or jacket was a habit for her.

“Lucky for you I can drive you home and back in the morning, so your car can stay here. We can carpool every day when I don’t have meetings like this morning.” They climbed into James’s SUV, then he leaned across and buckled her seatbelt when she didn’t do it immediately. “I want you safe, sweetheart.”

“I’m with an Alpha policeman. How much safer could I possibly be?” She batted her eyelashes at him, and he grinned. She loved that smile. It was so perfect and sincere.

“If on the way home, a drunk in a speeding pickup truck T-bones us, my being Alpha and a cop are not going to help you. At that point, the only things that will help you are seatbelts and airbags. It’s like locking the door, sweetheart. I’m sure you’ve heard that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

She was beginning to feel like an errant child.

“And I am fully aware that you are wolf now and that you will heal quickly, but I do not like to take chances with my best girl. Besides, we are not immortal. We can die.”

“Okay, okay.” She threw her hands up. “Lock the door, wear the seatbelt. Fine. I know you’re right.”

He leaned over and kissed her. His lips were warm against her skin. She loved that feeling. All of her insecurities fled with that feeling.

“That’s my girl.” He started the motor and shifted into drive.

Suddenly, Freddie was at his window, frantically banging.

“Cap, I got double duty today.”

James rolled the window down.

“I have double duty. Hi, Jess.” He smiled broadly and waved.

She smiled back and lifted her hand.

“Point?” James asked.

“It’s my turn to grocery shop. There is no food in the house. I can do it when my shift ends, but if you guys want to eat…”

“Gotcha,” James said. “Be careful tonight, Freddie. I’ll see you in the morning. Make sure you stop for those groceries or get someone to cover you.”

“Yes, sir.” Freddie waved at Jess again and turned when someone called his name from the next aisle of the parking structure. He jogged away.

Jess saw Ms. Lansing a few rows over in her car, watching them. She was definitely going to be a problem. Jess silently hoped that Lolly got rid of her soon.

James started the truck and pulled out of the garage, then blended into traffic smoothly.

Jess loved sunset almost as much as sunrise. The sky at sunset got all fiery and gold. The golden beams of light filtered between the thick clouds in sharp rays and gave the clouds so much color. It was beautiful. She was excited about running with James later under that same beautiful sky.

They’d not run often, but when she had, she liked it. She liked tearing through the woods at breakneck speed, chasing him, and she liked their games. He was a beautiful and cocky wolf. She loved his wolf, whether she was herself or Big Red. She grinned at her new nickname. She marveled at how far she’d come since he’d shown up in her life. A year ago she would’ve cowered at Ms. Lansing’s demands, but today she’d said no. She sighed. No. It was a power-giving word. No, I will not cave to your demands. No, you are not more important than I am. No, I am not your damn whipping post. Hello, backbone, glad to finally meet you.

“Hey.” James touched her hand. “Are you okay?”

She turned to him and smiled. “I was just thinking about how I never would’ve told her no a year ago. You did that for me.”

“How?” His brow furrowed.

“You made me believe that I’m worth something and that my needs are important, too. That I am not weak and that I am in control of my little universe.”

“Good. Because, sweetheart, you are worth a lot more than something—you are worth everything.”

She laughed. “Sweet talk like that will get you laid, Captain.”

He growled lightly, and she laughed again.

They grabbed burgers on the way home, and Jess was glad for her new metabolism. Her burger, which was loaded with cheese and mayo, had to contain enough calories for an entire day, but it was so good that she ate every bite, plus fries.

Later, James drove her to a state park. He usually brought the pack, but tonight he said he wanted to be alone with his female.

Jess shifted as soon as the SUV stopped and she’d climbed out. She raced ahead and ducked into the thicket. She loved for him to search for her. They had their own game of hide and seek. She’d hide, then he’d find her and fuck her. Jess loved this game, because he was at his most Alpha right after he’d shifted. He howled off in the distance, and she stayed silent until he howled again. It was a different sound. This one was wrenched with pain. Jess tore out of her hiding place and bolted in the direction of his call. She was nearly sick with that sound. James was hurt.

Jess heard them before she saw them. Cats, big damned cats. Cats like that were not indigenous to this area. She wasn’t sure what she was dealing with. This was not a scent that she was familiar with, but she knew it was dangerous. They had James flanked, and there were five of them. Five big black cats with huge fangs and sharp claws were trying to tear him apart. He saw her then and yipped in warning to stay away. Jess was suddenly faced with one of the cats. A female was swaggering toward her. It hissed and growled then snarled through its nose. Jess stayed still and studied its movement.

Something was familiar about this big cat, something that she scented triggered a memory. Jess knew this cat. This cat was a shifter, no doubt about it, and was someone that she knew, but who? Its massive paw took a swipe at her, and she heard James give her a yap to run. She didn’t. Weren’t cats afraid of dogs, well, wolves?

Jess stood her ground and snarled at the female. She saw James in her peripheral vision, and he was holding his own against the other four, but she still wished that they’d brought the pack. If they had, this would’ve been over already. The female in front of her hissed again and took another swipe at her. Jess moved out of the way gracefully. Big Red was ferocious and would not put up with this for long. Jess had learned in the last few weeks how to stay conscious inside her head, and usually that was handy, but not now.

Right now she needed Big Red to use her instincts and fight this bitch. Jess let her take over. She stepped back in her mind and out of the way. The wolf was smarter in this situation. The wolf was more vicious, too. Jess watched from behind her eyes. She watched the cat try to swipe at her with its claws then lung at her with its sharp fangs. Jess felt the claws connect with her shoulder, but the wolf ignored the pain and whipped around on her. Big Red sank her fangs into the cat’s neck and tore her throat out without a second thought. Eww, Jess thought, feeling the warm blood in its mouth, and suddenly she knew who the cat was. Margaret Lansing.

Jess stared down into the cat’s eyes as the life fled her and the fur disappeared. Her muzzle shrank back into her face and left the face of her boss. James yipped then. He needed help. She gave Ms. Lansing one more glance, then threw herself into the fray with James.

Within seconds, she took down two of the big cats, and James killed another. The last ran away. Her two were out cold but not dead. She wanted to see who they were, so she waited, but Big Red wasn’t interested. She’d come out here to play, run, and fuck. She nudged James’s muzzle, then nipped at his ear. He gave her a look that made her wolf submit. She lay down and rested her head on her paws.

First, one of them shifted into Debbie from payroll. The other, Jess did not know. Maybe he was her brother, because he resembled Debbie. The third, she’d never seen before and she didn’t know who he was. James yipped at her and trotted off in the direction of the SUV. He shifted when he got there and held the door open for her. Jess shifted into her human self and climbed in.

“I’m proud of you. You did well in your first fight.”

“Did you see who that was back there? Did you see who I just killed?”

James nodded.

“Did you know that she was a panther?”

He shook his head. “And shame on me for not knowing. I don’t know why I didn’t scent her… why none of us did. She and the girl from payroll must wear something to mask it. Even when I got out of the truck, they were close, but I didn’t scent them.”

“She was here for me,” Jess said quietly. “She meant to kill me. What happens when she doesn’t show up tomorrow?”

“Probably nothing until someone finds the body.”

“She has kids.”

“She has teenagers, and only one of them lives with her. The oldest, I think he’s eighteen now. Don’t worry about it. She didn’t.” He gave her hand a squeeze.

Jess stared out the window. She heard his phone then. He was dialing.

“Freddy,” he said quietly. “Are you alone?” He put his turn signal on and got into the left lane to head home. “We were at the state park. Things went bad with some cats. You’re going to get an anonymous tip that there are two bodies up there in about three hours, okay?” James pulled into their driveway a few minutes later. “Yeah, that’s the place. See you tomorrow.” He turned the vehicle off and climbed out. Jess sat there, still in shock. He came around and opened her door. “Come on, sweetness. It’s over. We’ll play indoors tonight.” Jess slid out of the truck and let him wrap her in his arms.

“I don’t want to ever do that again.”

He nodded and guided her inside.

“I can’t believe that I…”

“You didn’t, she did. She had to. It was kill or be killed, babe. Your wolf did exactly what she should have done. She protected you. It was smart to let her have control. You did the right thing. Only instincts would’ve prevailed in that situation. I have the feeling that Margaret chose to stay in control, they all did. Too much ego. Big cats are vicious and very hard to kill if they are in control.” James led her inside and straight into the bedroom from their entrance.

There were other cars outside, and she knew the pack was home—well, mostly. Some were still at work. It didn’t matter if they were in the house, this end of it was private. They only shared kitchen space, and that was only for now. Soon the rest of their part would be completely renovated.

James pulled his clothes off and tossed them into the baskets Jess had lined up. The clothes were separated into the basket by colors. It saved her time when doing the laundry. She went into the bathroom to brush her teeth. James came in shortly afterward and stood behind her. His eyes flared. Hers flared back, and he smiled. Still watching her, he bent to kiss her shoulder, his hands resting on her hips.

A little thrill raced through her as it always did when he did these things. When she bent to spit, her bottom snuggled against him, and she felt the delicious hardness of him. Jess rinsed her mouth, then turned to face him. Her arms snaked around his neck, and he pushed her back against the counter.

“Here or there?” James nuzzled her neck.

She sighed.

“I know, sweetheart, but that wasn’t an option tonight. Tonight we only have here or there.” She felt him smile against her skin, and a small shiver raced through her. “I think there,” he said, and lifted her. Her legs wrapped around his waist, and he carried her to the bed and rested her on the side. “I want to take my time.”

She sighed again.

“Jess?” He glanced up at her, and she knew that he saw disappointment there. It was how she felt. She couldn’t hide it. She’d wanted wild and free, outdoors. He was always a little rougher outdoors. “Tell me.”

She gave him a little shake of her head.

His left eyebrow rose, and he gave her that look that always shook her to her core. He was the Alpha and she would submit.

“I wanted outside.” She pouted. “I know, it’s not an option tonight.”

“Tell me why. What is it about outdoors that is so much better for you?”

She didn’t answer him. How could she? It was so naughty. She felt her cheeks pink.

“Jess. Tell me. You can tell me anything. I won’t judge you, and I only want to satisfy you, sweetheart.”

Jess was looking at his sternum because he was in the way of her looking at the floor.

His knuckles brushed her cheek. “We can sit like this all night,” he murmured.

“It’s better.”

“Why is it better?” He kissed her forehead.

“Because you’re not so gentle or understanding out there.”

“Ah,” he said, and she looked up into his eyes. “You want the untamed Alpha that chases you.”

She nodded so slightly he could have missed it if he hadn’t been watching like the predator that she wanted. James suddenly yanked her shirt off and ripped her bra away from her breasts. Jess’s heart went into overdrive and her breath heaved in and out of her. He pushed her down roughly and took her pants and panties at once. She’d already removed her shoes. James threw her up toward the head of the bed and climbed up behind her. Her bra was lying on the pillow beside her head. He grabbed it and tied her hands together with it, then tied them to the headboard.

“James,” she protested, not sure what he was up to and not sure if she liked it. He flipped her over suddenly and hauled her to her knees, then slapped her ass. Hard.

“James!” she cried.

He slapped her backside again.

“James!”

His eyes flared at her again, and this time, he was Alpha. Her heart tried to jackhammer its way out of her chest.

An electric current raced over her skin, radiating from the spot where his hand met her bottom. She felt his face against the warm spot there, then felt his tongue. It slid from her tailbone down to her wetness.

“Oh James,” she panted, her arms nearly crumpled beneath her. He thrust into her then, balls deep, and she cried out. James pounded into her, and Jess loved it. She loved the way she was so full of him, the way he controlled her body and its sensations. This was what she needed. She needed him to dominate her, to make her submit, for him to take her. He reached around to pull and roll her nipple. She nearly crashed. His deft fingers found her clit next and tugged.

Gentle and patient was nice sometimes, but not on the nights when the wolf was out. When she came out to play, it made Jess wild for a while, and she needed the release. The wolf needed to submit; it calmed her. James pushed her face down and angled her hips back more sharply.

The climax started low and tingling, then worked its way violently through her. It crashed through her womb. The clenching and squeezing of it was too much, and Jess moaned loudly until it turned into something near a howl. She felt his climax begin and heard him roar behind her. Yes! That was what she needed.

Jess collapsed on the bed beneath him, but he stayed inside her until there were no more tremors or shudders left in either of them.

“Better?” he asked, kissing the back of her neck and unfastening the bra from her wrists at the same time.

“Much better,” she murmured.

“Anything you want, sweetheart, and it’s yours. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want or need. Ever. I’m more than happy to oblige.”

“Okay,” she mumbled incoherently, and she felt him smile against her skin again just as sleep claimed her.

Chapter 16

Jess heard a jay squawking outside and opened her eyes slowly. She stretched her limbs as far as she could, then closed her eyes again. The bedroom door opened and closed, then she looked up at James. He had coffee and a croissant. He’s the best mate a girl could ever want, she thought, when the scent of the mocha coffee hit her. James perched on the side of the bed after setting the plate and mug on the side table.

“Time to get up, sweetheart.” Jess moaned. “No time for that. Come on. Sit up and eat your breakfast while I shower. Remember you are riding with me today.” He kissed her warmly, then slapped her thigh lightly. “Come on. Up.” Jess wiggled into a sitting position and accepted the cup from him. He put the pastry on her lap. It was stuffed with ham, eggs, and cheese. “If you need more, there’s bacon and eggs in the kitchen. The boys are up and cooking Freddy’s groceries.” James winked and went to the bathroom, shedding his boxers along the way.

He had a magnificent ass. She watched it disappear into the bathroom and heard the water come on. Jess sipped her coffee, and the huge vicious cat from last night popped into her mind’s eye. Then what her wolf had done to it and who it became after that.

What would happen now? She’d never killed anyone before. Would they put her in jail? No. James wouldn’t let them. He’d sent Freddy out there last night and he said that Freddy was home. Jess put her dishes on the side table and got up.

Quickly donning her robe, she flew down the hall to the kitchen. The pack was eating, all in various states of undress.

“Hey, Jess,” Duane said around a forkful of egg.

David nodded respectfully as he usually did. Austin glanced up from the paper and nodded.

“Good morning, everyone,” Jess said, and sat beside Freddy, who looked exhausted.

“Freddy, did you take care of that matter last night?” she asked softly so everyone couldn’t hear. He nodded and sipped his coffee.

“They all know. There are no secrets here,” Freddy said loudly, grinning into his cup.

“Good job, Jess,” Mark said, giving her a lopsided grin. “I feel safer and scared at the same time.” There were chuckles around the table. Jess gave him a confused look. “All I mean is that your wolf is definitely a killer Alpha, no doubt about it now, because she took down a very nasty cat. Which means that you might be able to kick some of our butts.”

Jess giggled.

“Definitely Duane’s, definitely.”

A donut hit Mark in the forehead, and they all laughed.

“It seems that a Margaret Lansing was in the park at night and was attacked by animals. She didn’t make it.” Freddy sipped more coffee. “That’s the official story, anyway. I would’ve liked to have watched. That woman was one nasty piece of work. We’re still trying to ID the other guy.” Several of them grunted.

“What’s up?” James came into the kitchen, carrying Jess’s coffee and croissant. He set them in front of her and waited for the explanation. Jess got the feeling that even though he’d said there was breakfast, he didn’t approve of her being out here in her robe.

“I wanted to know what happened last night after we left, so I came out here to find Freddy.”

“Did you really take on a pack of cats, Cap?”

James nodded at David. “I had help.” He gave Jess a wink.

“Since when do cats hang out in a pack unless they’re lion shifters?” Alex asked, and James shrugged.

“A few work in accounting with Jess, though, which means that job is suddenly dangerous.” The heat of James hand on her shoulder comforted Jess.

“The job is no more dangerous than a week ago,” Jess said, tearing off a piece of pastry and sticking it in her mouth.

“Yes, more than a week ago. Now they all know what you are. How often do you come in close contact with them? It’s taken them a minute to figure it out. I’m sure those that didn’t know have been informed by Margaret.”

“It explains why they get away with murder and all their work is dumped on me, too.”

James nodded.

“Is Lolly one of them?”

“I don’t think so, sweetheart, but I can’t tell because she wears so much perfume. Who knows what’s hiding under there.”

“How could I tell? I mean, we go to the gym together and she showers. Before she puts the perfume on, what would I smell?”

James considered it. “Tell you what, I have a few guys at work that are different species. Come over for lunch and I will introduce you. You can scent them and I will tell you what they are, then when you get a chance to scent Lolly without the perfume, you’ll know. Now go get dressed before you make us late.” Jess hopped up and crammed the rest of her croissant in her mouth and let him kiss her stuffed cheek as she passed him.

“I’ll hurry.” She jogged toward their apartment.

***

Jess went to James’ office at lunch time. She had to wander around a bit because she’d never been to this side of the complex, but she found him with a little help from a young officer. She walked into James’s office, where he sat watching her approach.

He was leaned back in the tilting black leather chair that she had more than likely purchased, with his arms crossed behind his head. He was smiling when she entered, that broad, open, beautiful smile that she loved.

“Hi,” she said, closing the door quietly behind her. “Why do you look like that?” she asked nervously since his smile hadn’t faded in the least bit.

“Dirty thoughts.”

Jess felt her face heat as a sudden image of her kneeling in the space beneath his desk and sucking him filled her head.

“Hmm? I see you are having some of your own. Tell me.” He gestured to the edge of his desk in front of him. She went around and perched there. “What did you think about right then?”

Jess shook her head.

“I thought about pushing that skirt up around your waist and bending you over this desk,” he murmured. “Maybe a quick repeat of last night.”

“Okay, Captain. I thought about crawling under your desk and sucking on you until you came.”

The air left him in a whoosh, and Jess laughed.

“You win. Claim your prize.”

Jess giggled and slapped his hand that was resting on her thigh.

“Come on, it’s all yours.” He gave her a squeeze.

“I believe you promised to teach me to scent shifters, sir,” Jess said coyly.

“I’d rather play the other game.” He ran a hand up her thigh under her skirt.

“Me too, but not at work. Besides, this office is a fish bowl.” She looked around at the glass that made up three walls. There were mini blinds on all of them and on the door, but still, people could see them. As she looked around, she noticed that people were looking. “Why are they watching you?”

“They’re watching you.” He grinned. “You are in the captain’s office and perched on his desk in an overly familiar fashion. They’re wondering who you are and why you are sitting so close to me.”

She looked around again and saw Mark. He nodded. She waved at him, but he’d moved on. “Come on. Let’s go see what you can scent, Big Red.”

Jess giggled and took his offered elbow.

James led her through the squad room and down a hall. A man approaching them had a uniform on with more stripes than James’s had. “Commander,” James said. “Please allow me to introduce my fiancée, Jessica. She works in our accounting section.”

“Very nice to meet you, Jessica.” He shook her hand, and his eyes flashed for a microsecond, but she saw it. He recoiled slightly when her wolf perked up at him, and her eyes flashed back.

“It’s nice to meet you, sir,” Jess answered and smiled.

He moved away quickly.

“Deer.”

Jess looked at him with raised eyebrows.

“Well, stag, not like a doe or anything weak and small, but still, deer. He moved up through the ranks before the wolves invaded. Now he just steers clear. We’d never hurt one of our own, but he’s a deer, so naturally he’s afraid of wolves. You just scared the crap out of him.”

Jess grimaced. Apparently Big Red was a fan of venison.

James walked on and into an office. “Sir, did you get the paperwork on the Ellis case?” James asked the man behind the desk.

“I did, James. Good work,” he said without looking up. “Your mate?” he asked, raising his eyes from the computer to look at Jess. He had bars on his collar and seemed to be in command.

“Yes, sir. Jessica. She works over in accounting. I’m teaching her about different scents, she is a recent convert to our kind.”

“I’d love to hear that story sometime. Welcome, Jessica. You’ve just met a tiger.”

Jess smiled. “Are there more of you here?” Jess whispered.

“Tigers? Uh, I think there is one in the mail room. He’s very old. We are solitary creatures, if you know what I mean?”

She nodded. No pack, she got it.

“See you at one, sir?” James asked.

He nodded, and they left him on his own.

“A tiger? Wow. What has been going on around me all these years? Are there shifters everywhere?”

James shrugged and led her outside toward where they worked on the vehicles. She saw David under a car that was lifted in the air. He had a tool and was doing something to its parts. Jess knew nothing about cars except where to put the gas.

“David, where is your buddy, the bear?” James asked quietly.

David nodded toward a police car on the far wall. Jess could see a huge pair of boots on the other side.

“Hey, Espo,” James called, grinning, and went over to shake his hand. “How are ya?” The man that came out from behind the car was a mountain. He was bigger than Freddy, who was just about the biggest man she knew. He had wicked green eyes and a chest like a barrel. His complexion was dark like Lolly’s, and she wondered if his parents were mixed like hers. “This is Jess. She’s mine, before you try to steal her.”

The man’s face actually reddened.

“Ma’am.” Espo stuck his hand out, and Jess shook it. His baseball mitt-sized hand swallowed hers. He could crush all of the small bones if he wanted and fling her around like a rag doll, but she got the feeling that this giant was as gentle as a teddy bear.

“Nice to meet you. You have a good man here.” Espo smiled sweetly.

“Thank you. It’s nice to meet you, too.”

“See you later, Espo,” James said, leading her away. She heard the man grunt.

“Bear,” James murmured in her ear.

She nodded. “I probably could’ve guessed that without sniffing him,” Jess giggled, and James put his arm around her shoulder as they walked.

“I think that’s all of them that are on duty today. We have an owl in parts, but he’s off today and is no threat to you anyway. Did you memorize the scents?”

“I think so. I will ask Lolly to meet me at the gym in the morning.”

James nodded. “Have you eaten?”

She shook her head, and his mouth flattened to a thin white line. James pulled out his cell phone and dialed. “Dan? James. I’ll need a wonton soup, beef and broccoli…no, add a Mongolian beef to it. We’ll eat there, but we’re in a hurry. Short lunch today. Thanks, Dan.”

“You can do that? Order and sit down?”

“Sure. Dan knows that sometimes lunch is short for one reason or another. He’ll bring it all out at once so we don’t have to wait for anything.” James led her through the compound, down halls that she’d never been in, and past offices that she didn’t know were there. They went out a side door and were almost directly in front of Dan Dan’s.

“I need a map of this place. You really know your way around,” Jess said, pushing through the restaurant’s door.

“Hazard of the job. We have to know every nook and cranny in case something happens.”

Dan met them and seated them immediately at a table where hot tea and cups were waiting.

“One minute,” Dan said and hurried away. He was back in seconds with their order. “Enjoy,” he said and gave them a little bow with his signature smile.

“No time for pot stickers, sweetheart,” James said when he caught her looking around. “Next time, I promise.”

Jess sipped her soup and nibbled a shrimp. God, she loved Dan’s soup. Broth of the gods.

“That’s okay, but you owe me.”

“I’m forever in your debt anyway, so what’s one more thing?”

Jess gave him a curious look, forking beef into her mouth.

“You saved me from a horrible lonely life, sweetheart.”

She smirked. “I hardly think a man like you would spend his life horribly alone.”

He tipped his head slightly.

“Look at you, James. I’m sure that women would fall at your feet. And I better not catch any of them.”

“It wouldn’t matter if they weren’t the right one. I’ve always only wanted my destined mate, and that is you.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Eat, before we are late.”

She scoffed.

“What?”

“You’re the captain, and I am without supervision right now, so nobody will notice.” She finished her beef then sipped her tea while James paid for their meal.

***

“Don’t forget to ask Lolly to go to the gym tomorrow so you can scent her,” James murmured in her ear at her office door.

“I won’t. See you later.” She leaned into him and pecked his cheek. She noticed Debbie give her a curious look as she went into her office a few feet away.

“What’s wrong?”

Jess shook her head.

“Tell me.”

“I just saw Debbie go into her office and she gave me a funny look is all.” She watched James’s nose twitch, then he gave her a slight nod. “You scented her?”

He nodded again. “Whatever they were using before, she isn’t using it now. Be careful, sweetheart.”

Jess nodded then went into her office. She was deep in thought comparing warrantees on an item someone ordered when Debbie came into her office and closed the door. Jess’s wolf pushed, but she pushed her back down for now.

“I think I should apologize for a few things.” Debbie worried her lip as she leaned against the door. She was five feet away, but that was close enough to shift and pounce. Jess’s muscles coiled. “I won’t, don’t worry. I didn’t come to hurt you.” Debbie glanced out the large window of the door, then looked back at Jess. “She made us do it. She was, well, awful. You know how she treated you, just imagine her being in charge of you all the time.” Debbie rolled her eyes, and Jess softened. “We didn’t want to, and thanks for not doing to me and John what you did to her.”

Jess raised her eyebrows.

“I saw,” Debbie whispered. “You’re a lot tougher than you look.”

Jess smiled.

“Um, I’ll be here on payroll days from now on. I know you probably think I’m some kind of drunk, but I’m not. She made me take those days off so she could give you shit.”

“Really?” Jess said quietly.

“Yes, she liked to punish you for some reason. I don’t think she knew until recently what you were, but she didn’t like you.”

“I got that,” Jess laughed.

“I know we’ll never run in the same circles.” Debbie grinned. “But we don’t have to be enemies either, especially since she’s not calling the shots anymore. Thanks for that, by the way. We’re all thankful.”

“How many of you are there here?”

“Cats?”

Jess nodded.

“I, uh, well there’s six in the building, a tiger in the PD and one in the mail room, three panthers, and a jaguar in operations over here. I won’t say who, it’s not my place.”

Jess nodded.

“There’s a rumor that you will be taking her place soon.”

Jess gave her a wide-eyed look and wondered how that had gotten around so quickly. “You’re a shoo-in. Since she gave you such a hard time, she set you up, too. You know how to do all of it, so you’re a natural replacement. I hope you won’t hold anything that she made me do against me.”

Jess got up and came around the desk. Debbie’s hand went to the doorknob.

“I won’t. Friends?” Jess held out her hand. Debbie smiled, then came over and shook it.

“Thanks, I’ll see you around.

Jess nodded and watched Debbie leave.

Chapter 17

“You’ll never believe who came to see me,” Jess said softly into the phone a few hours later. She’d waited until she was sure he would be done meeting with the tiger.

“Debbie,” James said. “We’ll discuss it later. Don’t forget to make your appointment with your friend in the morning. It’s become more important than ever.”

The line went dead, and Jess stared at it. Her cell phone rang suddenly.

“Hi? What’s going on?” Jess asked.

“They’re listening in on the phones. I mean it, be careful. It was mentioned in my meeting.”

“Can they do that? I mean, isn’t that illegal? It’s an invasion of my privacy. Isn’t it?”

“No, you are not entitled to your privacy on their phone, and you signed a waiver to be under surveillance when you were hired.”

“I thought that meant on camera,” Jess whispered.

“It means both. So stay off it except for business.”

“Will do, Cap.” Jess grinned at his soft chuckle. “So I should keep my dirty thoughts off their phone, too. Huh?”

He made a low humming noise in his throat and she shivered.

“Because I’m still thinking about crawling under the desk.” She heard him let out a breath. “See you later, Captain.” Jess giggled and pushed end. Someone was listening to the phones. Why? She would ask James later.

“Jessie girl, is it mocha time? I’m headed for some peppermint tea.”

Jess nodded and got up from her desk.

Lolly hooked her elbow through Jess’s and led her up the hall. “Tell me, how is Officer Cutie Pie?” Lolly gave her a big toothy smile.

Jess couldn’t help the way her face lit up.

“He was very worried while you were away.”

“I know. He told me. We’re okay now, everything is wonderful.”

Lolly gave her a knowing look. “See? I told you that you were hot. The only way you would get a good-looking fellow like him was if you were hot.” Lolly laughed at Jess’s outraged expression and let go of her to make her tea when they arrived at the machine. “Have you heard from Margaret today, Jess?”

Jess shook her head.

“She didn’t show up this morning, and no phone call either. That’s grounds for termination.” Lolly winked at her. “Do you have your résumé ready?”

Jess furrowed her brow.

“Work on it. You have about six weeks. In the meantime, I would like you to fulfill her duties. If she doesn’t call today, I am suspending her and pursuing the termination. I will get you full access to all programs and get you a list of duties. Okay?”

Jess nodded.

“I need a confirmation, Jess. Do you understand what I’m asking?”

“You want me to do her job until you fill the position. I understand. I’d be happy to help, Lolly.”

Lolly smiled at her. “That’s my girl.”

“Hey, I was wondering if you’d like to work out in the morning.”

“Sure thing. I think it’s useless though. I am never going find my waist no matter how many stairs I climb.”

Jess suddenly thought of Espo and wondered if Lolly was a bear like him. She wondered if he was single.

“You’ll get there, Lolly. Maybe you should try the elliptical machine.”

“Maybe.”

They were headed back to Jess’s office now and passed Debbie in the hall. She smiled at Jess then moved on.

“What was that all about? Did you make a new friend, Jessica?”

Jess shrugged. There was no way to explain that without gory details.

“Get your résumé ready. I will send you paperwork in a few minutes. You fill it out and send it back so I can get you access to everything.”

“Thank you, Lolly.”

“See you later.” Lolly floated down the hall in her cloud of perfume.

“Is Espo single?” Jess asked later while sliding her sleep shirt over her head.

James growled and his eyes flashed.

“Not for me! James! I can’t believe you just thought that.” She put her work clothes into their color appropriate laundry baskets.

“Sorry. Chalk that up to newly mated.” He winked and hung his belt up inside the closet. “Yeah, I think so. I’d have to check. Why do you ask, sweetheart?”

“I was thinking that he and Lolly would be a good match.”

James was shaking his head before she finished.

“Why not?”

He came around the bed and sat on the edge next to her.

“Because he’s a bear, and she wears enough perfume to overwhelm anyone. He can find his own mate.” James leaned down to kiss her. “Now, I seem to remember someone entertaining fantasies about me in your mouth.”

Jess felt her face heat.

“Were you only teasing me?”

She shook her head.

“So you really did have that dirty thought?”

“All day,” she whispered.

“Well, it’s time for your dreams to come true.” James turned the light off on her nightstand and crawled over her to get into bed beside her. She giggled and grabbed for him, but he was too quick.

“James?” He pulled her close so she was facing him in the dark. She watched him, able to see him now that she was wolf. His eyes flashed, and she smiled softly. “Do you think everything will be okay? Or do you think it really is dangerous at work?”

He exhaled softly. “I want to tell you that everything is fine and that you have nothing to worry about, but I can’t. You’re a shifter now, Jess, you have to have your guard up every second of every day. I wish I could bring you over to my department where the pack was close, but I can’t unless you’re a cop.” He shrugged, and she nodded. “You need to find out if Lolly is human or something else. She will be your biggest ally.”

Jess nodded, and James kissed her forehead. She loved it when he did that. She felt so safe and protected for some reason.

“You said that Debbie stopped by, what did she say?”

“She apologized for past behavior and said that Margaret made her call in sick on payroll days so she could punish me. She said that Margaret didn’t like me. That’s not news. She thanked me for not killing her and her brother. Oh, and she said that there are six cats in the complex. Two tigers, three panthers, and a jaguar. Who do you think the jaguar is?”

“There are no jaguars in my department.”

“She said the jaguar was in operations.”

James leaned over to his nightstand and picked up his phone. He texted someone while Jess waited. “Good work, sweetheart. We’ll know soon enough. The pack has orders to find it.” He tossed his phone back onto the table. “Now, enough business.” James buried his face in her neck, and she squealed. “She likes that,” he murmured, and followed a path down her chest to her belly. “Lose the shirt.” He looked up from her navel, and Jess yanked it off. “Give it to me.” His eyes flashed. “Hold your hands out.”

Jess trembled.

James came up on his knees and tied the shirt around her wrists. “Now keep them over your head. If you don’t obey, I’ll stop.” He was nose to nose with her now. “Okay?”

She nodded.

His hand was trailing up her thigh, making it hard to concentrate. “Say you understand.”

“I do.”

His brows rose.

“I understand.”

James flipped her over then and pulled her bottom up until she was on her knees.

“James, I can’t, my hands…”

“Rest your weight on your elbows.”

She did and found it was more comfortable. She also found that it put her bottom higher in the air. She turned to look at him just in time to see his teeth sink into her cheek.

Jess yelped and his hand slapped the other cheek.

He kissed the bite, and she shivered. “Wolves often bite during sex, sweetheart. Did you like it?”

“I’m not sure.”

James licked between her legs then, and she wiggled. He grunted and did it again then pushed her legs farther apart.

Jess felt the cool air on the wetness, and her toes curled in anticipation.

“I want to claim this.” His thumb traced the pucker of her ass. Pressing against it, James waited.

Jess worried her lip. She’d never done that before, and the pressure was pleasant. She wasn’t sure if she could handle that though. “I don’t know.”

His thumb circled. “Not tonight,” he finally decided. “But soon.”

“Will it hurt?” she whispered.

“You’ll be ready. I won’t hurt you.”

“I know you won’t mean to, but…”

“I won’t hurt you.” The Alpha in his voice washed over her, and she relaxed. “Right now, though, here’s something I know you like.” He slapped her bottom, and she squealed again. James slid into her wetness with a sigh, and Jess relaxed and tightened all at once.

This she knew, and this she loved. The feel of him filling her up, stretching her until her body sang, this was wonderful.

James moved slowly until she grew frantic. His thumb was back on the rosebud, pressing. She liked it. It made everything else more intense. Her body tightened, her senses heightening. She felt the hair stand up on her arms and felt the she-wolf push. She wanted that. She wanted him that way. His thumb slid inside her, and she detonated around him. She heard a noise very near a howl escape her, and James roared behind her. Jess collapsed with him on top of her, still inside her. Her heart pounded and her breath panted out of her. The wolf retreated to rest somewhere, and Jess relaxed in her Alpha’s arms.

A while later, James pulled out of her.

She hated that part. The loss of the connection.

“She wants that,” he murmured against her skin. “I felt her there.”

“I know. Me too. That’s the first time she’s been that close during.” She felt him nod against her back. “I want to try it, but…”

“You’re scared.”

She nodded.

“I’ll be very careful, and I promise I won’t hurt you. If it is the least bit painful, we’ll stop. Not tonight though. You’ve worn me out.”

“James?”

He sighed.

“I love you.”

She felt him smile against her skin.

“I love you more.” He kissed her shoulder then pulled her tightly against him.

She heard the soft snore and knew he was already asleep.” Jess lay awake for a few more minutes thinking about her wolf. Was she always there, or was this the first time because of what he’d done? She’d never noticed her before, but tonight she definitely felt her push. What would happen if she took over during sex? Was that even possible? Jess yawned and gave up to the sleep claiming her.

Chapter 18

“Jessie girl!” Lolly stood waiting outside of the gym. “It’s about time. Were you too wrapped up in Officer Cutie Pie this morning?” Lolly wrapped her in a hug.

Jessica’s cheeks heated. How did Lolly do that? How did she just know?

“You’re glowing.” Lolly held her away and gave her a big toothy grin. “You two should get married and stop living in sin. Come on, we need to get our muscles working.”

Jess followed her inside and put her bag on the bench behind the stair climber. She really didn’t need this. Her muscles were fine. In fact, her whole body was fine. She didn’t have little aches anymore. She didn’t have little bulges either. The wolf’s metabolism had slimmed her, toned her, and made her look hot. All of the workouts that James gave her in bed didn’t hurt either.

“Have you been working out behind my back, Jess? You look great.” Lolly turned her machine on and started moving with the elliptical. Jess tried to contain her smile.

“Not here,” Jess giggled.

“Oh my God, Jess! I have got to get a boyfriend.” Lolly laughed with her.

“And it’s so much better than this thing.” Jess pointed to the stair climber. She increased its speed and pumped her legs. It didn’t even feel like a workout anymore. She barely broke a sweat, then she noticed, neither had Lolly. Jess never paid attention to those kinds of things. Now she was a shifter, she knew why. Lolly was something else. Before, Jess would’ve been too wrapped up in wiping the sweat from herself to see it, but Lolly wasn’t even breathing hard.

She glanced at Jess, and Jess saw the flash in her eyes. She let the machine groan to a stop.

“What is it?”

Lolly furrowed her eyebrows. “What is what?” She stopped her machine also.

“What is it that you turn into?” Jess whispered.

Lolly shrugged and gave her head a little shake then wiped herself with her towel. She didn’t need to because she wasn’t sweaty.

Jess flashed her eyes back at her, and Lolly gasped.

“Jessie,” Lolly squeaked.

“What is it?” Jess persisted. “Tell me. You know that I know.”

“Black bear.” Lolly turned and went to her bag for her lollipop.

Jess sat down on the bench beside Lolly’s bag.

“Wolf,” Jess whispered. Lolly stared at her for a moment then sat down hard beside her.

“I’m having trouble understanding how I missed that for this long,” Lolly said, staring at her.

“Did you know about the cats in accounting?”

Lolly nodded.

“Did you know that Margaret was their ringleader?”

Lolly nodded again. “How did I miss that?” she asked again, still staring.

“I’m a recent conversion.”

Lolly gave her a face.

“Really. I didn’t know until recently that my father was and mother wasn’t, but when I mated, my biology switched on. That’s what my mom’s latest husband said.”

Lolly thought about it for a moment.

“My father said that it wasn’t possible, and my mother believed that, so she never told me.”

“Huh.” Lolly still stared.

“Say something.” Jess grinned stupidly.

“Just wondering how you are going to herd cats,” Jess laughed.

“What does that mean?”

“When I give you Margaret’s job you’ll have to herd cats. She still hasn’t called or emailed. I’ve left messages. Do you know anything about it?” Lolly asked seriously.

“She won’t. You won’t hear from her again.”

Lolly’s head tipped to one side.

“Margaret Lansing was in the park late at night and was attacked by an animal. She died. My boyfriend is the captain of police and that’s what I heard.”

“You heard?” Lolly’s brow lifted and her eyes sparkled with mischief.

“That’s the official story,” Jess said softly.

“What really happened?”

Jess shrugged. “My opinion?”

Lolly nodded.

“I think she tried to hunt some poor animal and it got the best of her. She was probably expecting weak and submissive but found out that sometimes things are not as they seem.” Jess put her arm through her bag’s handles. “Let’s shower and get to work. My new boss is a stickler for punctuality.” Jess gave Lolly a grin.

“Oh, for crying out loud, you aren’t turning into her already, are you?” Lolly followed her into the shower room. “I mean really, Jessie.”

“No, I’m not in charge,” Jess giggled.

“But when you are, will you be like her?”

Jess made a face, and Lolly stepped into her shower stall.

“I thought not.” She snapped the curtain closed.

When they’d finished their showers, Lolly was spraying the legendary perfume all over herself. “How can you stand that?” Jess asked, studying her.

“It protects me from predators,” Lolly said quietly.

“My nose is so overactive since…”

“I got used to it. The cats don’t know who I am. I’d prefer to keep it that way.”

Jess nodded and stood.

“You said that your biology kicked in, so Officer Cutie Pie… That explains his magnificent ass.”

“Lolly!” Jess squealed and smacked her. They were alone in the locker room, but that magnificent ass was hers and not up for discussion.

“Sorry, Jess, but it is magnificent. Does he have any single friends that would be, you know, into someone like me?”

Jess thought about it. “I don’t know them well enough, but I can fish around if you like. You’d be interested in that with, um, a wolf?” Jess whispered.

“I’m beyond having more kids, but I’d still like a…friend.”

Jess nodded. “Let’s get coffee and I’ll see what I can do. Maybe you’ll get lucky.”

Lolly laughed at that.

Jess thought about Espo and wondered if the big mechanic bear was single. She would make a beeline for the garage at lunch to speak to David.

“David?” Jess bent over to see him under the dump truck. She’d made a beeline for the garage as soon as the clock struck eleven. He clunked his head and rolled out, rubbing it.

“Jess, you shouldn’t be here without the Cap. He won’t like it. Go back.”

Jess smirked. James knew there was no reason to worry about her being faithful.

“James won’t mind. Your friend, the bear, is he single?”

David’s eyes widened and he backed away.

“It’s not for me. Jeez.” Jess’s brows dipped forward. “Is he?”

“I told you to leave. Make sure you tell him that.”

Arms were suddenly around her, and kisses trailed down her neck.

“My boyfriend is going to beat the crap out of you, but don’t stop.” Jess leaned back against him. “Lolly is a bear,” she said quietly as she turned her head to catch James’s mouth. “I want to set her up with Espo if he’s single, but David won’t help me.”

“Hey, Espo!” James let go of her and walked across the garage. “Espo!”

The big man came up from the hole under the car he was servicing.

“James, how are you? What can I do for you?” Espo wiped his hands with a gray rag and stuck one out to shake James’s clean one. James motioned for her to join them.

Jess went and looked up at the mountain of a man then gave him her sweetest smile.

“Are you single?”

He looked from her to James.

“Forgive my mate. She is on a mission.”

Espo nodded.

“You are?”

He nodded again.

“A friend of mine in HR is like you and looking for someone. You should pay her a visit. She’s a beautiful person.”

“She is, Espo, and you guys would be great together.” He pulled Jess closer into his side.

“Be in the coffee room on the south side at two. I’ll bring her.” Jess reached out and grabbed his hand. “Really, you’ll like her.”

“Okay, that’s enough.” James pulled her back, and Jess giggled.

Espo’s face lit up and he laughed. It was a deep rumbling sound that made Jess giggle harder.

“See you later, big guy,” James called, pulling her away.

“I think you’re jealous.” Jess leaned into him and whispered as they walked. “I can’t touch anyone else?” She grinned up at him.

“Not single bears. No.” He gave her a grave look. “It bothered me, yes. I’m not going to hunt him down for it, but I didn’t like it.”

“Oh James.” She leaned up and pecked his cheek. “As if there could ever be anyone else that would remotely interest me. I need to get back to work and I have to find Lolly. See you later.” She let him drag her into his arms and kiss her. His tongue slid into her mouth, claiming what was his. She moaned.

“Don’t forget that feeling. I want you to think about me all day.”

“I was going to do that anyway.” She winked and headed toward her office. She nodded and smiled at people along the way. Six months ago, she wouldn’t have been in this hall, and if she was, she wouldn’t have nodded or smiled at the people she passed. Her wolf and her man had done this for her. They made her confident and able to face the world. She saw Lolly headed down the hall to her office and jogged to catch up.

“Guess what?”

Lolly grinned down at her question. “I give up. What?”

Jess looped her elbow around Lolly’s arm. “I want you to meet someone. He will be in the coffee bar at two, and he’s like you.”

A man she’d never seen before was walking toward them, obviously listening. “He’s single, too.”

Lolly raised her eyebrows.

“He’s a mechanic here and his name is Espo.”

Lolly waited expectantly.

“He’s tall and sweet. You’ll love him.”

“Taller than me?”

Jess nodded.

“And like me?”

She nodded again.

“Coffee bar at two. I have a meeting, but I will reschedule. You’re coming with me.”

“Of course I am. I have a feeling James might show up, too. He doesn’t like me around single men.”

“Duh, Jessie girl. Don’t do that to him. You have a good man. Don’t try to make him jealous.”

“I didn’t. I won’t. I couldn’t be with anyone but him.” Jess grinned. “Come to my office just before two and we’ll walk together.” Jess let go of Lolly and went to her office.

Jess opened the program to place orders. She was still doing only her job because she wasn’t named as acting department head yet. She began the process of finding a desk chair to replace one in the mailroom. Before she knew it, Lolly was in her doorway.

“One fifty.” Jess looked up at her stupidly, then it hit her.

“Oh!” She sprang from her chair and hurried to join Lolly. “Sorry, lost in cyberspace.”

Lolly gave her a worried look.

Jess nodded. The coffee room was empty, so they made their cups while they waited. Jess glanced up when Espo filled the doorway.

“Espo!” Jess cried and waved him inside the room. His gaze was on Lolly, but he moved forward. “Espo, this is my friend Lolly. Lolly, this is Espo.” Jess saw both of their noses twitch and almost laughed. She wouldn’t have noticed that before, but now it seemed like everyone did it. The big man stuck out his hand and took Lolly’s when she offered it. He licked his lips, and Jess would’ve sworn that Lolly blushed.

“So, how are things shaping up here?” James came in and swept Jess into his side. He kissed her temple. “What’s happening?”

Jess shrugged.

Espo and Lolly were still staring at each other. Neither of them spoke. James clapped his hands to get their attention.

“Dan Dan’s after work, double date, how about it?” Lolly nodded, and Espo’s face lit with a smile. “Good. You guys can stare at each other there, too.” Jess elbowed him, and he laughed. “Sorry, but…”

“Give them a minute. I think it’s been a long time for both of them.”

She huffed out a breath, and he gave her a hug.

“I don’t know how long they are going to do that,” James chuckled, “but I need to get back to work. I’ll walk you to your office.”

He kept her under his arm until they arrived at her office. Once she was inside, James gave her a little wave when she sat down and closed the door. She blew him a kiss through the window, and he smiled then disappeared.

Epilogue

“How often do you think it happens like that?” Jess pulled her short nightie over her head.

“What? That mates meet and are mated within an hour? More often than not.” James hung his clothes up for tomorrow. “Mates usually meet then mate quickly. Not instantly, but within a few days.” When he finally turned to look at her, Jess stood there with her arms crossed and her brows raised. She did her best to look intimidating.

“What?” James came to her and put his hands on her shoulders then gave them a squeeze. “You were human. It’s different for you. If you’d been wolf at the time I would’ve had you under me before your coffee finished brewing.”

Jess gasped. She couldn’t help it. She loved it when he was dominating.

He kissed her forehead. “They missed good soup tonight, but somehow I don’t think they will care. Now go brush your teeth.” James slapped her bottom and she jumped. “Go.”

She hurried to the bathroom and flossed then brushed. Most mates meet and mate within an hour? She felt like she’d been ripped off. All of that time wasted on lonely nights when if she’d been wolf she would have been in his arms.

He was behind her then. “I see the wheels turning, sweetheart. Stop thinking like that. We have what we have. I couldn’t have pushed you into anything. You had to wrap your head around it.”

She nodded at him in the mirror.

“Consider this. As soon as I scented you, let’s say that I pushed you up against the counter. Suppose my big gun was holstered on my hip and I gave you my Alpha voice. Suppose I’d told you that you were mine and that I was going to drag you back to my lair and claim you.”

Jess chewed on her bottom lip.

“You knew nothing of us or our kind. How do you think you would’ve reacted? Do you think the outcome would’ve been favorable? Or do you think you would have run from the building screaming?”

“The second one,” she whispered.

He winked. “What happened to us, between us, took the time it should’ve taken so that it worked out.” James wrapped his arms around her and kissed her shoulder. “Okay?”

She thought about it and nodded.

“You’re right. I still regret the time we lost, but I understand and you’re right.” Jess turned in his arms and kissed his cheek.

 “The kitchen appliances arrived earlier. Once the guys have them hooked up, your private kitchen will be operable and I can make us a fabulous meal.”

“I think I want first shot at that, and I’ll do my best, Cap.” She winked and went out to the bedroom. The curtains fluttered in the breeze. She loved to sleep with the windows open. He always tried to make things perfect for her. Being a wolf was a frightening thought at first, but she knew that they would have an amazing life together. She knew that James would take care of her and would always keep her safe. He was the perfect example of what a mate should be. Things would be easier without Margaret Lansing around, and with her newfound strength, Jess knew that she was what she always wanted to be.

James lay down beside her and took her hand. He kissed her knuckles then held it to his chest. It was an old-fashioned gesture, but he was her old-fashioned Alpha.

Thank you for reading the Old-Fashioned Alpha. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing this story. If you liked it, please leave a positive review on Amazon or Goodreads! 

About the Author

K.S. Martin lives in the southeastern part of the US with her family and dog. She loves to write but doesn't always have the time to spend that she would like in the world of romance, werewolves, and Alphas. However, when she finds the time she loves to let her imagination run wild. We hope that you love reading the books as much as she enjoys writing them!

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