Marked

Chapter Three

Jackson studied the sleeping female in his bed, stunned by the unfamiliar tightness in his chest. She was beautiful in sleep, the lashes fanning her cheeks long and lush. A ray of the rising sun broke through the curtains, heralding the dawn, making the strands of her blonde hair glow against the cream-colored pillow. She looked like an angel, peaceful and content in slumber.

He took a deep breath, scenting the air.

The night before he’d clearly identified Chloe’s wolf. The animal was strong in her, rising to the surface when he joined their bodies. Although he wanted to see just how powerful her wolf was by taking her again, he’d held his mate through the night as she’d slept, content to watch over her. There was a chance Chloe would be able to shift after all. He’d felt how strong her animal-half was, how the wolf wanted to take over and make her presence known. He’d have to wait until the moon was full to learn the truth but either way, it didn’t matter.

Even if his mate never shifted, she’d be a force to be reckoned with.

Despite the knowledge, he felt a flash of panic. Increased strength wouldn’t protect Chloe’s vulnerable skin from razor-sharp claws and fangs. He’d have to teach her how to defend herself. Even though he never intended to let her leave his sight, she needed to be shown how to eliminate potential threats.

She didn’t stir when he slid from the bed, her breathing even and deep. Despite the fact it made him an utter bastard, he felt a surge of satisfaction that he was the cause of her exhaustion. She carried his scent now, her shoulder bruised from the bite he’d placed there. The result of her acceptance in their mating would scar. He wanted every male she encountered to see his bite and know to stay the fuck away. No one else would ever touch her.

She was his female. There would never be another for her—ever.

A smile tugged at his mouth, a surge of pride slamming into him. Chloe might be a Halfling but she’d proven her worth. She’d accepted him without complaint, as willing and eager as any shifter female would be. Now it was time to organize, learn about her past and plan for what was to come.

He didn’t shower, wanting to carry her scent for as long as possible. He collected a pair of sweats from a drawer before leaving the bedroom. It was early, meaning he had just enough time to make important phone calls before he prepared breakfast for his female. It was the duty of a male to see to his woman after their mating. He’d feed her, pamper her and show her how important she was. He didn’t want anything interfering with the bonding that would soon occur. Now that the instincts of the wolf had taken root inside Chloe she’d need to be close to him. It was his responsibility to explain this new life to her. He alone would ease any fears she might have.

After he retrieved the phone from its cradle he quietly opened the back door and stepped onto the patio. Frost coated the grass, shimmering beads prismatic as a new day stirred to life. He dialed Declan’s number and bit back a chuckle when his Beta answered on the second ring.

“It’s about fucking time.”

“You didn’t wait up for me, did you?”

“Don’t even go there,” Declan grumbled. “You owe me.”

“How so?”

“Simone saw you leave. She started asking questions.”

His elated mood took a nosedive.

Simone.

The pushy female had been trying to talk Jackson into a mating to strengthen the pack for weeks. Her family was well-respected, their bloodlines going back hundreds of years. Although he’d told her he wasn’t interested, she hadn’t taken no for an answer.

“What did she want?”

“What do you think?” Declan released an annoyed snort. “That bitch wants you and she’s not going to let you brush her off.”

“How did you handle the situation?” If Simone suspected anything about Chloe, he’d be forced to rethink things. The female had a thirst for power that refused to be quenched.

“I managed to talk her into coloring some of her sleeve and took a break midway through to prevent an interrogation. She didn’t question me but I think she suspected something. You should probably take your female somewhere else for a few days.” Declan took a deep breath and said, “Unless you’re ready to introduce her to the pack.”

Raking his fingers through his hair, Jackson answered, “She doesn’t understand what’s happening to her. The moon heat was riding her too hard. I didn’t have time to explain.”

“Then I’d suggest talking fast. If the pack finds out about her from anyone but you they’ll feel betrayed. You can’t fuck with their trust on this. If you act like you have something to hide they’ll think your mate isn’t strong enough to guide the pack.”

Tell me something I don’t know. “I’m aware of that.”

“So what are you going to do?”

Excellent question. He’d planned on preparing Chloe’s first meal as his mate, running a bath for her to soak in and lavishing gentle affection on her all morning. That idea was crumbling to ash, taken without his consent.

Fuck, it pissed him off. Goddamn Simone pissed him off.

“Chloe doesn’t know about her lineage,” he said slowly, thinking ahead. “I need to find out what I’m dealing with. I need answers.”

“I’m listening.”

Time to balls-up. “I’m sure you noticed who she looks like.”

Declan hesitated before he replied, “I noticed.”

“I need you to find out what Gavin was up to a couple of decades ago. Everyone knows he chased pussy after he and Desiree mated. I wouldn’t be surprised if he got a human pregnant and decided to keep it secret.”

If Gavin had gotten a human pregnant, Desiree would have had her competition destroyed. She wouldn’t take the risk of another bitch carrying a pup of her Alpha’s. It was too dangerous. In fact, if the baby was a boy there would have been a good chance Gavin would renounce Desiree and claim the female who’d given him a son as his mate. Regardless of the problems it would have caused.

“Makes sense,” Declan mused. “If he cared for the woman he wouldn’t want to see her or his child harmed.”

“Either way, if he’s my mate’s father he has a lot to answer for.”

“This could change things.” There was tension in Declan’s voice, the words were strained. “Not necessarily for the better.”

Something else Jackson already knew. If Gavin was Chloe’s father, the elder Alpha had a right to meet his offspring. Jackson could protect her as a mate but he couldn’t prevent their introduction. Not to mention he’d have to take down any potential suitors Gavin felt were worthy for his daughter. Without an official announcement of his claim before the packs, Chloe didn’t completely belong to him. Gavin could try to use pack law to his advantage. Matings had been destroyed before to strengthen the bloodlines, even if it meant tearing a mated pair apart in the process.

Rage at the thought had him seeing red. “If anyone is stupid enough to challenge me, let them come,” Jackson snarled. “Chloe is an asset to any Alpha who takes her as a mate. She’s mine.”

“Even if she doesn’t shift?” Declan asked quietly.

Damn him.

Jackson understood why his Beta asked the question, even if the inquiry stoked his temper. By showing concern, Declan reminded Jackson he was as the Alpha of the pack. Big decisions impacted everyone who trusted him to keep them safe. He couldn’t make selfish choices. The lives of others hung in the balance. Doubt surfaced, creating a dead weight in his chest. He couldn’t tell Declan he thought Chloe would be a rarity—a half-human who would be able to accept the change. Not until he knew for certain what she was capable of.

“It doesn’t matter that she’ll never shift,” he answered cautiously. “If a pack knows about her parentage, they’ll want her. Her father’s bloodline is pure. Her children will be Alphas and Lupas.”

Our children, his wolf snarled.

He gripped the porch railing, feeling the wood bite into his palm. No one would take Chloe from him. They were bonded as mates. Any male foolish enough to challenge his claim would die. He’d find a way to sway the local pack Alphas if they tried to force the issue.

“I have to drop by the parlor this morning but I’ll see what I can do,” Declan said. “In the meantime you need to clear out. Don’t stick around. Does your female have any family you can talk to? They might be able to answer some of your questions.”

He rubbed a hand over his face, noting the thick bristles on his cheeks. His anger ebbed, replaced by the concern of a newly mated male. If he wanted to greet Chloe properly this morning he’d have to make time to shave. She needed softness against her tender skin, not prickly stubble.

“I’ll see what I can find out when I take her to collect her things.”

“The evening went well?” For the first time there was humor in Declan’s voice. “Did you manage to calm the hellcat down?”

“It’s rude to kiss and tell.”

“When has that ever stopped you?”

“Mating changes things,” Jackson muttered, unexpectedly ashamed of his numerous sexual exploits. Before Chloe, he hadn’t cared how many women he had no-strings sex with. Now? It made him feel like an ass.

“So I’ve heard.” Declan paused. “It’ll take time to ask questions. Since it’s early I’ll swing by the diner for breakfast. Depending on what I learn, I’ll work my way through the bars.”

“Be careful.” The hair on Jackson’s nape rose, alarm making him wary. “If Gavin finds out you’re sniffing around he’ll want to know why.”

“I think I can handle it. Check in tonight. Say around seven?”

“Sounds good. I’ll keep my phone handy.”

“Do that.”

Declan hung up without saying goodbye. The Beta didn’t mince words but he was one hell of wolf to have at your back. Jackson shut off the phone and walked back inside. He returned the phone to the receiver and looked around, trying to decide if he wanted to cook breakfast for his mate or prepare her bath. He decided on the latter, making his way to the bathroom.

Once inside he walked from cabinet to cabinet, flipping open doors. He was frustrated by what he didn’t find on the shelves. He couldn’t give her the bubble bath he’d planned. He couldn’t even sprinkle the sweet things females enjoyed into the water to relax her. All he had on hand was Dial soap and a bottle of shampoo he’d snagged the last time he’d visited the store.

Fuck it.

He walked to the clawed tub, plopped the cover over the drain and started the water. After he tested the temperature, he flicked his fingers dry and went to retrieve a washcloth and towel. Chloe smelled like heaven. He wanted to enjoy her just the way she was, absorbing her scent, putting it to memory. Heavy fragrances would only get in the way.

After he’d collected the items from the closet in the hallway, he froze. Chloe’s whispered words were spoken too quickly to understand but it was his mate’s voice he heard.

He took his time, walking slowly toward the bedroom and stopping in the doorway. The bed was empty, the sheets tossed aside. Bowing at the waist, he glanced beneath the bed and grinned. Chloe was hidden on the opposite side, trying to work the zipper of her jeans.

“Yes!” she hissed. “I can’t talk right now. No, there’s no time to explain. Look, I’m in deep shit, okay?”

Deep shit? That’s how she looks at this? He cracked a smile. Interesting.

“Who’re you talking to?” he asked innocently and stepped into the room.

“Uh…” A beep indicated she’d shut off her phone. The blonde curls around her face appeared first, followed by her bright green eyes as she rose to her knees and peered over the bed. “Wrong number.”

“Funny,” he said, striding toward the bed. “I could have sworn you were talking to someone.”

She flushed a bright shade of red. Even if he couldn’t scent her nervousness, he could see it clearly on her face. He forced his laughter aside, wanting to put the delectable female at ease. With her anxious and uncertain, the best way to accomplish that was to take control of the situation.

“I’m running a bath for you.” He strode around the bed in her direction. “We don’t want the water to get cold.”

“That’s okay.” She avoided eye contact, her gaze darting around the room as she rose to her feet and edged away from him. “I need to go. Gram and Gramps must be worried sick.”

He reached out and wrapped his fingers around her arm. “Then I suggest you hurry. We don’t want to keep them waiting.”

“We?” She tripped over her feet but followed as he pulled her along. “What do you mean, we?”

“We,” he repeated as he led her out of the room and down the hall. “You and me.”

“Are you nuts?” She tried to pull free, struggling when he yanked her into the bathroom. “You have no idea who protective Gramps is. He’ll—” Words were silenced when he tossed the towels into the sink and started removing her clothes. He pulled her sweater over her head, sending her curls scattering.

“He’ll what?”

“S-shoot you,” she whispered, quaking when he ran a finger along her collarbone.

He popped the button her jeans and pulled the zipper down. “Does that worry you?”

His question snapped her out of her growing sexual stupor. “Don’t be stupid. Of course it does.”

“I’m not so easy to kill, Chloe girl.” He reached over to stop the flow of water but remained in front of her, ready to shred the denim hiding her from view. “Your grandfather and I will come to an understanding.”

“I think you’re missing a few marbles. Did you hit your head when you climbed out of bed?”

He chuckled. “Not that I recall.”

He tugged her pants off despite her protests, stripping her until she was covered only by her skimpy panties. His cock saluted the visual. There would never be a time he didn’t want and crave this woman. She did things to him he couldn’t control, bringing out instincts he’d never thought to experience. He resisted the urge to bend her over the sink, removed her panties and urged her toward the steaming bath. Her fear overrode the demands of his body, putting her first.

“In you go.”

In an instant Chloe seemed to become aware of her nudity. She quickly tried to cover herself and hurried to the water. He thought the temperature was too much for her at first, concerned when she hissed and gritted her teeth. Then she slid into the clear depths—vanishing as she ducked her head below the surface—and he released a sigh of relief.

He crouched beside the tub and waited for her to reappear. She came up for air with a greedy gasp, using her hands to clear the water from her eyes. The liquid caressed her breasts, lifting them high. After she finished swiping at her face and gazed at him, something inside him changed.

With her like this—wet, confused and vulnerable—it was hard to do the right thing.

Instead of protecting her, he had other things on his mind. Things she might not appreciate this early on. He had to battle his wolf for dominance, determined to behave as a mate should.

“I’m going to make breakfast,” he said hoarsely and handed her a washcloth, forcing his hand away from the temptation of her silken skin. “Come into the kitchen when you’re finished.”

He hurried from the room, trying to focus on feeding his mate instead of fucking her like the animal he was. She was young and inexperienced. He had to prove his worth and soothe her rattled nerves. This was the most important meal he’d ever prepare in his life. He had to focus.

Storming away from the bathroom, he forced himself not to look back.

One more glance at his female—one more caress of the combined scent of her pussy and his seed flowing to his nostrils—and he’d lose all control.

Chloe stared at Jackson’s back as he walked away. Her heart was racing, her pussy throbbing for attention. One simple look from the man she’d shared the night with and she’d turned into a puddle of goo. She couldn’t think clearly, her thoughts turning on themselves. He’d told her that her father was a werewolf and her birthmark was far more than she’d ever bargained for.

In the light of day what he said seemed plausible and scary as hell.

She ducked her head beneath the water again, letting bubbles of air seep from her lips. The pictures and scents that had invaded her senses when she opened her eyes—of her and Jackson, doing all kinds of naughty things to each other—slowly bled away. What they’d shared was more than she’d bargained for. She’d thought they’d share a night together and her need for him would go away. But she was wrong—so very wrong—and now she wanted him more than ever. In a way that terrified her.

Get clean and go home.

She splashed to the surface and scrubbed at her skin, dismayed as the alluring scent that was all Jackson faded. For a moment she stopped to study her wrist. Oddly, the mark didn’t hurt at all. She couldn’t detect an uncomfortable twinge. She couldn’t be a werewolf. It wasn’t possible. She’d feel it. On some level she’d have to know.

Wouldn’t she?

Getting back on task, she shifted back and let her hand drift to the tender tissue between her legs. She used gentle strokes of the cloth, swiping at the folds, remembering how they’d gotten so swollen and sore in the first place.

Panic made her heart drum in her ears, adrenaline and fear raging through her system. She’d thought about protection but by the time Jackson had started making love to her it was too late. At that moment she’d been lost, thinking only of him.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Hadn’t her mother’s loss taught her anything? If she was lucky she’d be able to walk away with a broken heart, not a bun in the oven.

After a cursory glance at the shampoo bottle nestled at the foot of the tub she decided she didn’t have time to worry with her hair. Gram and Gramps had to be frantic. She always made it home on time, determined to prove she was worthy of their trust. They had probably called the police and reported her as missing.

You told Rachel to call them. Calm down.

She quickly toweled off and jerked on her clothes. Her best friend had never failed her. That was why Chloe had called Rachel as soon as she’d realized where she was and what she’d done. Rachel was disappointed she hadn’t been told all the details but she wouldn’t judge. It was the primary reason Chloe trusted her and was able to share things with the young woman she’d never told anyone else.

Like details about her dreams of a man who didn’t exist.

Correction, she reminded herself. A man who does exist. A man you apparently dreamshared with.

Gram and Gramps would kill her when they saw Jackson and realized what she’d been up to. They’d always been protective. If she brought a werewolf home there was no telling what they’d do.

The mouthwatering aroma of cinnamon and butter drifting to her nose caused her stomach to growl. She slapped her hands over her abdomen, hoping like hell that Jackson couldn’t hear the obnoxious sound. Breakfast was the most important meal of the day. Since Grams was an early riser, Chloe had always greeted each morning with a healthy appetite.

Knowing she had no other choice, she exited the bathroom, tiptoed down the hallway and stepped into the living area. Her stomach knotted as the smells intensified, so vibrant and rich. She could almost taste what she couldn’t see. Jackson appeared, clothed in sweatpants that left nothing to the imagination. He looked as good as the food smelled, mouthwatering in his own way.

He stopped in front of her, his chest blocking the kitchen from view. “Feel better?”

To lie or not to lie? Decisions, decisions.

“Yes,” she answered as honestly as possible.

If he knew she wasn’t being truthful, he didn’t let on. Instead he snaked his arms around her and urged her close. The warmth of his skin caressed her cheek, his scent coming at her hard and fast. She wanted to melt, her muscles relaxing at his nearness. To her surprise she realized she’d never felt so comfortable around another person, as though she’d finally found the one place she was intended to be.

She jolted when Jackson lowered an arm, rested it against her ass and lifted her into the air. Scrambling to maintain her balance, she clung to him, burying her nails in his arms. The deep rumble of approval coming from his chest hummed against her breasts.

“Relax,” he crooned, pressing a kiss to her forehead and stopping at a nearby barstool. He lowered her to the seat and waited for her to let go before he pulled away. “Let’s get some food in you.”

There was no sense in arguing. She was hungry and he’d gone through all the trouble to cook for her. She watched him in the kitchen, awed by his movements.

For a big man he moved silently, prowling through the space. He retrieved a stack of French toast from the counter and brought it to her. Then he turned and retrieved syrup. He piled her plate high, poured the syrup over the scrumptious pieces and retrieved a knife and fork. She reached for them but he stopped her, sawing into the stack. Before she could question him he brought a morsel to her lips.

Watching her mouth, he instructed, “Open up.”

She did, nearly coming apart as the tastes burst in her mouth. She chewed slowly, savoring the flavors. The cinnamon tasted better than it smelled, the toast crumbling in her mouth.

“It’s delicious,” she whispered, licking her lips.

“I’m glad you approve.” He brought another forkful to her mouth, studying her closely. She took the offering and he lifted his eyes, their gazes locking across the counter. “Everything is as it should be. You’ll see. You just have to trust me. I’ll make you happy, Chloe girl.”

The endearment shouldn’t have made her as happy as it did. She should have been fearful or anxious at the sentiment. Instead she felt at peace. She decided not to explore the feelings too deeply, taking the food he offered to her. Soon enough she’d face the demons that plagued her. She’d confront her grandparents and demand an explanation.

Right now she’d accept the pampering he offered.

It was always best to enjoy the small things in life.

Especially if there was a chance something might come along and pull the rug out from beneath you.