“Let Jesse eat,” Gwen admonished her son. “Then you should both get some rest before the pack dinner.”

  “She’s right.” Jacque rose from the table. “If there is any news to be had, Armand should have uncovered it by then. We’ll set patrols. Alain will not slip by us.”

  She pushed her empty plate away. What little she’d eaten sat like a lump in her stomach. “I can take a patrol.” It was only right she be a part of protecting the pack.

  Aaron frowned and shook his head. “You need rest. I’ll do it.”

  “Enough.” There was just enough of a bite to Jacque’s voice to silence them both. This was not the father talking, but the alpha. Hands on his hips, Jacque glared at them. “I am not so in my dotage that I cannot protect my people.”

  A few hours ago, his forbidding expression and displeasure would have sent her into a tailspin. Now Jesse saw it for what it was—great love and a deep sense of responsibility.

  Gwen kissed the top of Aaron’s head and squeezed Jesse’s shoulder. “I’ll be at your grandmother’s if you need me. We’re making more pies for tonight. Or rather, she’s making them while I keep her company.”

  “Rest while you can,” Jacque told them. “If my instincts are correct, we won’t have long to wait.” After his parents left, the hum from the fridge was the only noise. Even Bast was silent, sitting on a chair, her unblinking eyes on them.

  “Do you think he’s right?” A cold chill crept up her spine.

  “Yes. Alain is already on our trail.” He held out his hand. “We need to rest while we can.”

  She could almost feel her sire’s hot breath on the back of her neck. A killer by nature, he enjoyed hunting prey, smelling their fear before taking them down.

  The male was evil, pure and simple.

  The final showdown was almost here. There was a good chance she might not make it out alive. If the worst happened, she didn’t want to have regrets.

  Taking Aaron’s hand in hers, she led him to the bedroom. It wasn’t rest on her mind. When the door closed behind them, she shoved him against the wooden panel, went up on her toes, and kissed him.

  ****

  His back hit the door with a thud. Soft lips pressed against his. She skimmed her hands up his chest and curled her arms around his neck.

  With his mind on the logistics of keeping Jesse and the pack safe, it took him a few seconds to catch up. Body catching on faster than his brain, he plunged his tongue into her mouth, tasting the spice from apple pie she’d eaten. Her soft sounds of arousal skated over his flesh like a physical caress.

  The world around vanished beneath the sensual onslaught. He breathed and tasted Jesse. His hands roamed down her back and over her ass. He cupped the full globes in his hands and lifted. She wrapped her legs around him and rubbed her mound against him.

  Too frantic. Too desperate. Too final.

  Growling, he walked to the bed, put one knee on the edge, and lowered her. She didn’t let go, so he followed. Lying atop her, he continued to feast on her mouth. He wanted her with a madness that burned in his blood.

  He yanked his head back when his fangs dropped. The mating fever was on him. With a snarl, he shook his head. “I want you.” He grabbed the hem of her top and yanked upward. Rip! The fabric split. He folded back the edges to expose her slender torso. Her nipples stabbed at the cups of her plain white bra. His mouth watered. Lowering his head, he sucked one of the nubs through the fabric.

  Her moan was music to his ears. The scratch of her nails across his shoulders pure ecstasy.

  He gave thanks to the gods that her bra unhooked in the front. With a twist of his wrist, it was open, exposing her bare breasts. He nuzzled one of the tips, dragging his tongue over it, grazing it with the edge of one fang, careful not to cut her.

  It would be easy to flip her over and bite the curve of her neck. She would be his then. His cock pulsed to the pounding rhythm of his heart. His balls were so tight they hurt. A bead of sweat rolled down his spine.

  He kissed a path upward, over her shoulder and neck, pausing to take a tiny nip. It wasn’t hard or deep enough to break the flesh, but it would leave a bruise.

  One that would quickly fade.

  “Fuck!” He threw himself onto his back and crossed his arms over his face. When Jesse placed her hand on his arm, he shook his head. “Don’t touch me. It’s not safe.”

  Ignoring him, she climbed on top of him, grabbed his arms, and pulled them away from his face. She’d removed the remnants of her top and bra, leaving her bare from the waist up. Her breasts swayed, the tip of one damp from where he’d licked it.

  “You’d never hurt me.”

  Trust reflected in her eyes, but he owed her the truth. “I want to mate you.”

  “I know.” Her acceptance calmed the beast inside him. “But you stopped.”

  Swallowing hard, he ran his hands up her thighs, over her stomach, and cupped her breasts. “I almost didn’t. I want the world to know you’re mine. I want to mark you.” The demand was raw and ragged, a relentless need.

  “I want it, too.”

  He threw back his head, ready to howl his happiness.

  “But not yet.”

  His jaw snapped shut, his head lowered, and he growled.

  Frowning, she slapped a hand on the center of his chest. “Not until this is over.”

  “If something happens to you, I’ll never get over it.” He sat up, keeping her on his lap facing him. He caught her chin in his hand, forcing her to look at him, to see the truth. “We’re not human. You’re my mate. Maybe your sire doesn’t know the true meaning of that, but I do.” He ran his thumb over her bottom lip. Her breath hitched. “So do you. You’re what I’ve been looking for my entire life. You smooth the jagged parts inside me, give me purpose. I want to build a life with you. Raise children, if we’re blessed enough to have them. I was happy with my life before we met, but always there was a sense of something missing. It vanished when I laid eyes on you. Whether you believe in love at first sight or not, it’s real and true. Waiting won’t change a thing.”

  He paused and took a deep breath, his future hanging in the balance. Her eyes were huge, the blue even deeper than usual. Her chest rose and fell quickly. Her throat rippled when she swallowed.

  “Aaron.”

  “Do you want me?” His future hung on this one answer.

  “Yes, but—”

  He shook his head. “No buts. You want me. I want you. What are we waiting for? If I die, will you hurt less if we’re not mated?”

  “Don’t say that. Don’t even think it.” Grabbing him by the shoulders, she shook him. “I’m trying to protect you.”

  “You can’t,” he said with brutal honesty. “Live or die, what I want is to be your mate. Take a chance on me. On us. If you put your life on hold, make decisions based on what Alain may or may not do, he wins. Is that what you want?”

  ****

  Was he right?

  Hands fisted on her legs, trembling with the force of her need, she faced her deepest fears. “What if you change your mind?”

  Brows lowered, lips pressed together, and expression fierce, he speared his fingers through her hair, his big hands wrapping around her head. “Never.”

  “You say that now, but what happens when the danger passes and we have to settle into everyday life. You’re a lawyer. I was homeschooled and got my diploma online. My skill set is limited.”

  “Don’t say that. Don’t even think it. You’re smart and resilient and courageous.”

  She wanted to believe him so badly. When his fangs had scraped over her skin, she’d prayed that he’d take the decision away from her. That was not only cowardly, but if she allowed their mating to happen that way, it would haunt him, and their relationship, for the rest of their lives.

  “My mother died because she had me. I brought nothing but trouble into Lottie’s life. Hell, my own father wants me dead.” It shamed her that her own flesh and blood didn’t want her.

  Strong arms banded around her. Giving in to the need for comfort, she laid her head on his shoulder. He smelled male and warm, his woodsy scent surrounding her.

  “You’re looking at it all wrong.” His big hand smoothed up and down her spine, the heat from his body warming her as much as his words. “Your mother loved you enough to have you. She stayed alive long enough to protect you. Lottie lived longer than she likely would have. All because she wanted to keep you safe.”

  Aaron ran his fingers over the tattoos circling her biceps. “She gave you these so you’d never forget her. You’re not to blame that your sire is the scum of the earth. That’s on him. And on your mom, since she chose him.”

  She’d had similar thoughts before, but they’d always felt disloyal. “Lottie told me my mother wanted a child more than anything, but there was no one she wanted to mate. Her family wouldn’t allow her to seek out other packs.”

  “In the end, they abandoned her. Better for her if she’d said the hell with them and made her own way in the world. You would have.”

  Jesse raised her head, her heart thundering. “You don’t know that for sure.”

  “Yes, I do. Hell, Jesse, from the second we met, you’ve been in control of your own destiny, making your own choices. You amaze me.”

  “I did what I had to.” She wasn’t amazing or special. “It was a matter of survival.”

  “Some wolves would have given up, but not you. That’s what makes you special. You have the biggest heart. You have so much love inside you. Will you give it to me?”

  Was it cowardly to mate before she’d dealt with her past or was it cowardly not to? Jesse was no longer sure.

  ****

  Alain stared at the document in his hand. He’d read it twice already, but still couldn’t quite believe it. “You’re sure about this?”

  David nodded. “Double-checked the records. He hasn’t owned it long, but it’s his.” The other two men watched Alain, their eyes gleaming with the thrill of the upcoming hunt.

  “Aaron LaForge. What the hell are the odds?” Fate was a strange thing. He’d always used the force of his will and his body to get what he wanted, taking matters into his own hands. A chill snaked down his spine. A warning? He shook it off. “What do we know about LaForge’s pack?”

  David scratched his beard. “Not a lot. After the old man died and Jean Paul became alpha, LaForge and his pack were never spoken of again.”

  One of the other males spat on the ground. “Your brother went with Jacque LaForge when he broke away from the pack, non?”

  Alain grabbed Marcel by the throat and lifted him off the ground. “What of it?”

  “Nothing,” he managed to gasp.

  “It’s a fact,” David reminded him.

  Alain released his friend, ignoring the coughing as he gasped for breath. “I disowned him. He disgraced the family.” A man’s past couldn’t be outrun. Seemed to him that the universe was giving him the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. “They settled in North Carolina.” He’d made it his business to know where to find his brother if the need arose.

  David nodded. “I called my uncle. He had no love for the LaForge family, but he keeps track of the pack history. I figured if anyone knew anything, it would be him. He said they settled in a place called Salvation. Jacque mated and had two sons—Nicholas and Aaron.”

  Fury lashed through his veins. It was an affront that someone like Jacque LaForge had two sons while he had nothing but useless daughters. If luck was on his side, maybe he could rid himself of one mistake and take revenge on his brother or LaForge. Something to think about.

  “Good work,” Alain told him. Then he slapped Marcel on the back, as if he hadn’t been choking him seconds before. “Come, my friends. We’re going to Salvation.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  There were parts of Jesse’s life Aaron would never understand—the sheer isolation, the loneliness, the desperation, and feelings of inadequacy. How could she not see that the fires of her harsh beginnings had forged her into solid steel? Or maybe it was more akin to heat and pressure on coal turning it into a diamond. For she was rare and precious.

  His entire body vibrated with the need to take action. Forcing himself to remain still was taxing his resolve. But this had to be her decision.

  When she licked her lips, he followed the path of her tongue. His cock was trying to punch a hole in his jeans. He gripped her hips, fearing she might slip away if he didn’t hold on tight. The tattoos on her arms, the purple streak in her hair, hell, even the Harley she rode, were all signs of the wildness that lived within her. She’d been contained her entire life. It was time for her to really live.

  If only she trusted enough to take the next step.

  “Talk to me.” The longer she was silent, the more his hopes faded. He’d pushed too hard, too fast. It wasn’t fair to expect her to throw off a lifetime of caution and take a leap of faith. Alain was the monster in the closet and under the bed. She’d never rest until he was vanquished.

  Shoving aside his own wants and needs, he rested his forehead against hers and sighed. “It’s okay, chère.”

  She jerked back as if he’d struck her. “No, it’s not. Fuck Alain Rollins. Fuck the Louisiana Pack.” Anger vibrated through her entire body and into him. “You’re right. If I let him determine my decisions, then he wins. Stay or go, you’re no longer safe. You haven’t been from the second our paths crossed.”

  “No regrets.” He wouldn’t allow it. “I have none. Neither should you.”

  “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.” Grabbing his shirt, she yanked the material up and over his head. “You’re mine. I’m claiming you.” She tossed it aside.

  Was there anything sexier than a woman who went after what she wanted? He loved this aggressive side to her nature. His wolf preened.

  Taking his face in her capable hands, she slammed her mouth down on his. One of his fangs nicked her lip, drawing blood. Instead of pulling away, she flicked the sharp point with her tongue.

  Joy burst through him. She could have any male, but she’d chosen him. Her hands mapped his chest, her nails scraping lightly over his nipples.

  Growling, he rolled so she was under him. He didn’t stop kissing her. Couldn’t. Primal urges wouldn’t allow it. He had to claim her. Mark her.

  Heart pounding, he yanked open her jeans and tried to shove them down. It was impossible without letting her go. Snarling, he reared back, tugging them over her thighs and off. With them out of the way, he tore away the thin cotton panties covering her. Her arousal perfumed the air. He dove between her legs.

  The first taste of her went straight to his head, as potent as a straight shot of moonshine. He dragged his tongue over the soft folds of her sex, exploring every crevice. She moaned and dragged him closer.

  He flicked her clit with his tongue before drawing the sensitive nub between his lips.

  “Aaron.” Her hips bucked. Her head rolled from side to side on the pillow. Her hands clutched the comforter.

  He inserted one finger. Hot, wet warmth closed around him.

  “Yes,” she hissed. “More.”

  He added a second finger, going deeper. Her entire body stiffened and began to shake. A low keening sound broke from her lips. He lifted his head and watched as she came. Her skin was flushed and damp, her eyes closed, her lips parted.

  He rolled off the bed and tore the zipper of his jeans open. His cock surged forward, eager to be released. He shoved the heavy fabric down his legs, needing to be naked.

  Her eyes fluttered open and took him in from head to toe. Lungs heaving, he waited for her final decision. Time stretched. He didn’t look away. Wanted her to see the need that lived inside him. Not just for any mate. For her.

  The skin on his body tightened. His cock throbbed, liquid seeping from the tip.

  Jesse licked her lips, rolled over onto her stomach, and came up on her knees.

  ****

  Shaking from the intensity of the orgasm she’d just had, Jesse raised herself up onto her hands and knees. Her hair was short enough to expose her neck. A fine tremble shook her, but she stayed firm. This was what she wanted.

  She was strong enough to walk away. Might have done it if it would have kept him safe. It took an even greater will to stay. Not because she doubted his commitment, but because of the fear that lingered inside her.

  It was time to put that behind her and grab life by the balls. Her choice of words almost made her laugh. What was he waiting for? Seemed as though she’d been poised here forever, instead of a handful of seconds.

  She glanced over her shoulder and froze. He stood at the end of the bed, his expression one of both pain and pleasure. His skin glistened. His shoulders bore the marks from her nails, but they were already fading. A living statue, the rising and falling of his chest his only movement. His blue eyes were locked onto hers.

  He came down onto the mattress behind her. This was it. Turning back around, she waited for him to pounce.

  Lips skated down her spine, barely grazing her skin. Tingles spread outward and she began to shake. “Aaron.”

  “Shhh. I don’t want to rush. It’s too important.” He brushed a kiss against her nape. “You’re too important.”

  Tears filled her eyes, threatening to overflow. She bit her bottom lip, using the sharp pain to keep her steady.

  “I’ve waited a long time for you.” Big hands nestled beside hers, his large body covering her. The front of his thighs brushed the back of hers, the fine hairs of his legs tickling her skin. The broad head of his erection prodded between her legs. It was like being covered in an electric blanket. The heat was enormous, making her sweat.

  He nuzzled her neck. “I never imagined I’d be lucky enough to find you.” A nip at her shoulder made her jump. Every inch of her skin was sensitized. Even the light circulation of air was almost too much to bear.

  “I never imagined anyone like you,” she managed to get out. She’d expected to be alone … if she managed to stay alive any length of time. They’d only met days ago. Many would say it was far too soon for this kind of commitment. But they weren’t human. They were wolves. They lived by their instincts. In her heart, she knew this was right.