Dominic, to her surprise, raised his hands in surrender and dropped his smile. “Okay, fine, but I was just going to give you a little kiss. If you don’t like it, you can always return it.”
“Dominic.”
“Watch it, blondie,” warned Nick, his voice like a whip.
“You sure like to live dangerously, don’t you?” said Tao, shaking his head at his packmate.
Dominic just grinned. “There’s no better way to live.” Noticing Nick’s evil smile, he asked, “What?”
“I’m just thinking how much fun your pack is going to have when you meet your mate. I could be wrong, but I’m guessing the males will be getting some payback.”
Nodding, Trey said, “Damn right.” At that moment, his son held out his arms to him, and Trey took him gladly.
“Hey, I’m a breath of fresh air,” maintained Dominic. “Besides, why would I want a mate yet when there is such a wide variety of females out there to sample?”
Shaya wasn’t buying that act for one minute. Oh sure, Dominic loved women, and women loved Dominic—it was impossible not to love that wicked grin, his caramel skin, and those impressive abs—but he wasn’t quite the slut he pretended to be. She had yet to figure out what his act was all about, however. Just as she had yet to figure out why he bothered with lines, given how easily he reeled in females.
As Greta came to stand beside Shaya, the old woman scowled at Nick. “You I’m not in the least bit happy with,” she told him in her usual witchy voice. Nick’s brows rose in surprise. “It doesn’t matter that you had your reasons—you hurt our Shaya, and I don’t like it. You should be thankful that you have a mate as wonderful as Shaya and not a hussy like her!” She tipped her head at Taryn, who just smiled.
“You love me really, Greta.” Taryn elbowed her gently. “Admit it, I hold a place in your heart of solid concrete.”
Trey rolled his eyes and then turned to Shaya. “Nick and Derren have told us what’s been happening around here with the humans. It’s not safe.”
“Which is why I recommended that you take your pack and leave,” Nick told him.
Sensing his understandable tension, Shaya went to Nick. Without moving his gaze from Trey, Nick looped an arm around her waist and pulled her onto his lap.
“Shaya told me a little of what’s going on too.” Taryn went to stand beside Trey and their son. “If she’s in danger, we’re not leaving without her.”
Nick went to argue, but then he considered that for a moment. The idea of Shaya around Logan didn’t sit well with Nick any more than it did for Taryn. Looking at Shaya, he said, “Maybe you should leave.” Her eyes flashed with fury.
“No.”
“Shay—”
“All you have to do is keep a low profile until the court hearing. Then you can do whatever the hell you want.”
“But keeping a low profile will be hard to do if the guy is doing his best to provoke Nick,” Tao gently pointed out, shrugging.
“We could always head off in the motor home and lead the humans away,” Derren suggested to Nick.
“No,” insisted Shaya shakily, earning Nick’s instant and undivided attention. “You said you wouldn’t leave me again.”
“And I meant it.” He nipped her lip and ran a hand up and down her arm, knowing the source of her fear and hating it.
“I’m not talking about leaving for good,” Derren assured her. “I’m talking about leading the humans on a merry chase.”
“Nick’s not leaving, and neither am I,” Shaya firmly stated with utmost authority, which seemed to amuse everyone in the room. Okay, she could admit she’d sounded every inch the Alpha female, but whatever.
“Then neither are we,” declared Taryn. “We’re sticking around until the court hearing—we need to be sure that Logan doesn’t manage to rile Nick or harm you. There’s strength in numbers.”
Familiar feminine voices outside were quickly followed by the entrance of Nick’s mother, Roni, and Amber. He had to assume that Jesse, Bracken, and Zander had let them pass. Although there was really no letting Kathy Axton do anything.
“We saw the Highlander outside and thought there might be trouble,” said Kathy, eying up the strange newcomers.
Shaya quickly introduced them. “Kathy, this is Taryn and Trey—my old Alpha pair. And these others here are members from their pack. Guys, this is Nick’s mom, Kathy; his sister, Roni; and their pack healer, Amber.” The latter word almost came out a growl.
Everyone froze as Taryn and Amber suddenly walked toward each other, looking like two cowgirls about to have a showdown. Great—a standoff between two healers. It was kind of like “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the most powerful of them all?” Both females considered themselves to be quite powerful healers and had reputations that backed that up. But there was an ongoing debate about which of the two females was the most gifted among wolf shifters.
“Taryn Warner, I presume,” drawled Amber.
The Alpha female studied the other healer from head to toe. “I’m guessing you’re Amber Lyons.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Amber’s smile couldn’t have been more false.
Taryn’s smile was even more unpleasant. “No, the honor’s all mine.”
Shaya exchanged an amused look with Nick.
“Shaya didn’t introduce us all properly, did she?” Greta said to Kathy, coming forward to shake her hand. She was the picture of courtesy. “I’m Trey’s grandmother, Greta.” She said it like it made her the president or something. Kathy shook her hand gladly, totally falling for the gracious act. “And these are two of my other boys here, Tao and Dominic.”
“Oh, so they’re all your grandsons?” asked Kathy, giving both males a sweet smile.
“In my heart they are.” Greta placed a hand over her chest, wearing a proud smile. “I’ve always looked out for them, always been there for them. They think the world of me.” She sighed wistfully. “Of course, I wish Trey and Dante, our Beta, had chosen better mates, but you’ve got to let them make their own mistakes, haven’t you?” Kathy’s smile said, “I know what you mean.”
Taryn rolled her eyes. “If you’re done with the dramatics, Mother Goose, we’ll—”
“Nick,” called Jesse from outside, “there’s someone here to see you.”
“Who is it this time?” Nick growled.
“The Nazi and some of his wolves.”
Nick groaned. “Great.” All he wanted was to be alone with Shaya. Instead of people leaving, more and more kept appearing.
Dominic cocked his head. “Who?”
“The Alpha of the local pack,” replied Nick.
Dominic’s forehead creased. “Why is his nickname the Nazi?”
“Because he’s a Nazi.” Was it really that confusing?
Standing, Shaya took Nick’s hand in hers. “Come on, let’s go deal with this.” She waited for him to tell her to remain inside, to let him speak to the Alpha alone and be extremely overprotective due to her submissive status…but he didn’t. Instead, he walked with her to the door, willing to present a united front despite that his overprotective streak would be screaming at him to do otherwise. That delighted both Shaya and her wolf.
Conscious that everyone other than Kathy and Greta had followed him and Shaya to the front door, Nick shook his head. Nosy bastards. “If you don’t want what you say to be heard by the humans in the van across the road, you might want to talk quietly,” he told Hadley.
The Alpha ran his eyes along Nick, Shaya, and the crowd behind them. “My wolves informed me that you’ve been gathering some of your alliances together. I had nothing to do with the destruction of the salon, if it’s me you’re intending to war with.”
“I have no issues with you. I’m aware that the human extremists are responsible for what happened to the salon, but I can’t do shit about that right now.”
“But you will do something at some point,” Hadley surmised. “There are many more to their group than what you’ve seen.
Although a certain number of them actively support their argument, there are still many more. If it came to a confrontation, their number will well exceed the number you have here.”
“I suspected as much.”
“Have your contacts uncovered any information about the game preserve?”
“Game preserve?” repeated Shaya.
Nick cursed silently. Now his mate was going to be extremely pissed at him for not telling her about it. Worse, he’d have to worry her with this shit. He really wanted to hit someone right now…preferably Dominic. “Not yet. You?”
“I think we’re close to locating it,” said Hadley, “but I can’t be sure. If we don’t find it before the court hearing, we could be in deep shit. Even if the extremists’ argument is ignored, this won’t end well. The extremists—particularly the ones around here—would most likely confront us.”
Nick could agree with that. “If it comes to a confrontation with the humans, I’ll be at your side.”
“As will I,” announced Derren. The rebels nodded.
“Me too.” Shaya held Nick’s gaze, letting him see just how seriously his life depended on him not arguing with her on that. She might be submissive and therefore not as physically strong as the dominant shifters around her, but she could still defend herself—particularly against humans.
Deciding he’d argue with her in private later, Nick simply kissed her temple to relax her. Hearing Roni growl beside him, he had the feeling that his sister was offering to stand with Nick in a fight. Great.
“And me,” said Trey. Tao and Dominic nodded their support.
“If Nick’s going to be there,” began Amber, “I’ll be there.” Shaya had to grit her teeth at that response, which was much like something a loyal and very close friend would say.
“And me,” said Taryn. “And, of course, Greta.” When Trey looked at her oddly, she shrugged. “What? How else am I supposed to get rid of the old crone?”
“I heard that, hussy.”
Taryn turned and called out, “Damn, Greta, did someone leave your cage open again?”
Shaking his head and wondering why the universe would insert these crazy people into his life, Nick turned his attention back to Hadley. “I’ll have Jesse call you if my contacts uncover anything.”
The Alpha advanced down the path, nodding. “Good. Likewise, if I find out anything, I’ll let you know.”
When the Sequoia wolves had driven away, Shaya turned to Nick. “Now you can explain what he meant by ‘game preserve.’”
So Nick led everyone back inside the house and begrudgingly did just that, which led to a lot of cursing and shouting—they all found the idea as repugnant as Derren and Nick did. Then, naturally, he received a lecture from Shaya for not telling her sooner. But after some apologizing, neck kissing, and soothing touches, she eventually forgave him…though she did inform him that he should think twice before keeping something from her ever again because she knew where he slept and she had a nifty bat. “I need to go for a run,” Nick then told her, winding a curl around his finger. “Come with me.”
Shaya led him to the rear of the house and outside. Reaching the small cluster of trees at the end of the backyard, she started to remove her clothes as Nick began to remove his. “See the little gap in the fence? I made that so I could go run in the little wooded area here in my wolf form.”
“You know that I’m going to chase you, don’t you?” said Nick, smirking. “I’m going to chase you, catch your ass, and mount you.”
“Not a chance,” she chuckled, now totally naked. Then she let her wolf free, enjoying the familiar pleasure/pain that came with the shift.
Nick smiled down at the graceful red wolf and went to pet her, but she bounded off into the woods—it was a challenge. He shifted seconds later and loped after her.
For hours the wolves played: chasing, ambushing, mock fighting, and jaw wrestling, making up for the time they had lost due to the behavior of their human halves. When the sky started to darken, the large gray male wolf ushered the red she-wolf through the fence where they entered.
Once they were back in their human forms and fully dressed, Nick kissed her hard and deep, leaving no doubt in her mind that he believed she was his. Patting her ass, he said, “Come on, let’s go inside. I need food. And I have to make sure Derren doesn’t cook dinner again. The guy could burn water.”
“A little like me then,” admitted Shaya as she began pulling on her clothes.
“Then it’s a good thing I can cook.” As they were walking up the path toward the house, the door opened and a familiar figure came strolling out. Nick wasn’t surprised when Shaya tensed beside him.
“Oh, hi,” said Amber with a bright smile, “I was just about to come and hunt you both down. We’ve all decided to go out for dinner.” She cocked her head as she regarded Nick. “You look a little more relaxed now.”
“You can thank Shay for that.”
Catching movement in her peripheral vision, Shaya spotted Roni sprawled on the grass by the small shed.
“Sometimes she likes to go off and be alone,” explained Amber before turning and heading back into the house.
Shaya looked up at Nick. “I’d like to talk to Roni alone for a minute.”
“She’s not being bitchy by not shifting to talk to you, Shay—”
“Hey, I know that,” she assured him. “I’d just like a minute alone with her. I know her wolf won’t understand the words, but she will.”
Shrugging, Nick said, “Sure, if that’s what you want. I’ll be inside.”
Cautiously, Shaya made her way over to where Roni lay. Sitting beside her, she smiled. “Hi there.” The wolf didn’t react other than to briefly glance her way. “Guilt’s a funny thing, isn’t it? It lingers, even when it doesn’t make sense to feel it. I was a twin, you know. She died in the womb. I know it’s not my fault, and I know I couldn’t have helped her and that for me to survive when she didn’t isn’t an awful thing. But I hated myself for a long time. Even now, I know I shouldn’t feel guilty. Mostly, it’s gone…but a tiny bit still stays. Whenever the guilt and the sadness got too bad, I’d stay in my wolf form for days on end. Because though the guilt’s still there, it’s dimmed when you’re in that form, isn’t it? Staying as a wolf…it was my escape. And it’s yours too.” She had Roni’s full attention now.
“I know that really I have no reason at all to feel guilty. None of it was my fault…just like what happened that day in the woods wasn’t your fault. Nick doesn’t realize you shift to escape the guilt. He thinks you stay in this form a lot because you’re escaping the memories of what happened, that he traumatized you. Maybe if you guys talked…maybe you could help each other out with the unnecessary guilt you both feel.” Giving Roni one last stroke, Shaya got to her feet. “See you soon.”
Entering the house, Shaya found that Amber was doing her best to lounge over Nick, and Taryn was therefore throwing peanuts at her. Of course Amber’s attention quickly switched to Taryn, ridding Shaya of the need to march over there and make it clear that Nick was hers. Shaya observed with a frown as Nick dodged Kathy’s touch in the same way that he dodged Amber’s; his mother didn’t appear surprised or offended by how uncomfortable he seemed with her attempts at affection. It occurred to Shaya then that Nick wasn’t just like that with Amber, or even just with Kathy. He didn’t seem to like being touched in general, which was pretty odd—as odd as him disliking company, in fact.
“He’s always been like that, according to Kathy.”
Derren’s voice snatched her from her contemplations. “What?”
“He’s never been particularly affected by social touching. Kathy said that even when he was a baby, he didn’t like to be cuddled much or rocked to sleep or anything—he always liked his space, liked to sprawl on the bed like a starfish. Even now, he hugs Roni and Kathy, but that’s pretty much it. It’s only you I’ve ever seen him be truly affectionate with.”
“In other words, I don’t need to worry
about Amber. Does everyone buy her sweet friendly-friendly act? I see a lot of deviousness there.”
“Yup, a lot of people buy it.” He sighed. “She’s very cunning. A word of warning: She’ll try her hardest to become a close friend, but you can’t let her get friendly with you—not even to humor her. If you do, you’ll make it possible for the communication between you and Nick to become triangular with her as the go-between. I’m sure you know as well as I do that if that happened, she’d be passing on messages to both of you that would be twisted or false.”
“Ah, and then it would make Nick and I upset with each other, and we’d both turn to her for advice, enabling her to interfere in a big way.” Sneaky. So sneaky it was almost worthy of respect. “That won’t happen. You’re on my side, right?” She had the feeling that Derren was a good person to have on her side.
“Are you planning to hurt Nick again?”
“No.”
“Then yes, I’m on your side.” As Roni butted his leg, Derren reached down and petted her. “And you’ll have Roni on your side, too. She can see right through Amber’s act. Unfortunately, Kathy can’t, but she wants Nick to have his mate—and that’s you.”
“I guess all I can do is ignore her. If that fails, I have rat poison and a shovel.” As Nick then came over and locked his arms around her, Shaya smiled and sank into his arms. Over his shoulder, she noticed that Amber was watching her from the far side of the room. The female shot her a friendly smile, but Shaya hadn’t missed the anger that had momentarily sparkled in her eyes. Still, Shaya returned the smile while at the same time tightening her hold on Nick, conveying a clear message that he was hers. That wasn’t enough for her wolf; she wanted Shaya to bite him. So Shaya did, right on his pectoral.
Nick winced, peering down at his mate, who was grinning in self-satisfaction. “Did you just bite me, baby?”