Last night without Samantha had been horrible. He’d tossed and turned and finally crawled out of bed at six AM and gone to the gym in the hotel. He’d put his body through a brutal workout trying to wear out the restlessness inside him. He’d gotten used to having Samantha curl against his side at night, inhaling her scent with each breath he took in sleep. It had soothed his wolf into a tranquil comfort unlike anything ever had. Now he had to face the possibility Samantha might rather be with her own kind than with him.
He didn’t realize he was growling aloud until Laurie snapped at him, “What is wrong with you?”
“Just get me to her,” Jason spit out as they entered fox territory. There were less full humans in this town. The foxes tended to keep to themselves and other shifters. Jason never understood it, personally. Being a wolf didn’t make him less of a man. It added a facet to his personality but it didn’t take away who he was.
A few foxes waved at them as they drove through the main strip of town. The two communities were close enough they often coordinated together on shifter matters. Jason focused on counting down the moments until they got to the Premier’s house, until they got to Samantha.
Jason threw open his car door before Laurie came to a complete stop and stormed up the porch steps. He was about to pound on the door when Samantha threw it open and came barreling into his arms. Her hands snaked around him and she pressed her face against his chest.
Instantaneously, his anger and fear were replaced with protectiveness and love. The wave of relief almost drowned him and made him stagger as he clutched her tightly, burying his face in her hair. Her scent was stronger, probably due to the recent shifts, and Jason took a gulping breath. Something was off.
Jason pulled back and held Samantha at arms’ length. “What the hell are you wearing?” he all but growled. She smelled like the damn alpha fox. Rationally, he knew nothing had happened. Despite his history with Samantha, she wasn’t the type to jump into bed with someone immediately after meeting them. Even if he had doubts, his nose could tell the difference between intimate encounters and the subtle wisps coming off of Samantha. Still, he couldn’t escape the overpowering jealousy swamping him as he gazed at Samantha in another man’s clothes. His scent should be the only one marking her.
Samantha looked surprised until she glanced down at her clothing. Blushing lightly, she looked at him sheepishly. “I didn’t exactly wear a dress when I went out hunting this morning. And I couldn’t very well ask for help as a fox.”
Red-hot rage burned in his gut. “He saw you naked.” He was going to kill him. Friendly or not, no one looked at his mate naked but him.
“No! God, no. He lent me the clothes and left the room while I shifted.” Samantha stepped closer and ran her hands up his chest. She seemed to sense his inner struggle with his wolf and knew exactly how to pacify both man and beast.
Jason gazed into Samantha’s eyes and let his anger drift away. He was so happy to have her back safe and sound. That was all that mattered. She was all that mattered and he had her back. Jason buried his face once again in her hair.
“Those clothes are coming off the moment I get you home,” he rumbled against her neck.
A clearing of a throat behind him reminded him where they were and that they weren’t alone. Gently easing away from the embrace, Jason pulled Samantha against his side with a gruff grunt.
“Yes, Captain Caveman. Woman back, man happy,” Laurie teased. “Hey, Cody. Thanks for picking up our runaway.”
“It’s not like I ran away on purpose,” Samantha grumbled.
“It was no problem. Samantha, can I have a quick word with you before you leave?”
Jason didn’t like the calculated look Cody gave Samantha.
“Sure, you can, we’re in no rush,” Jason stated as he pulled Samantha tighter against his side, refusing to let her leave. If Cody was going to cause trouble, he could do it out in the open with all three of them listening.
“In private.”
Samantha looked up and gave him a reassuring smile. “I’ll be right back.” As she pulled out of his arms, Jason tamped down the urge to grab her back. He clutched his arms to his sides and looked on helplessly as Samantha talked to Cody. After he got her home, he’d strip her bare and find out exactly what the fox was telling his future mate.
“I want you to consider it. You belong here with us, not there.”
Samantha glanced over to where Jason was waiting less than patiently. She didn’t know what had brought him back to town early, but she was incredibly grateful. All the anxiety and worry of the day melted as he held her securely in his arms, and her whole soul lifted and sighed to have her wolf back. Her brain cautioned her not to believe he was hers, to remember the facts.
“He is mine.” It was true, she realized. Whatever her future brought, Jason was her wolf. He might not be hers to keep, but he was hers right now. She didn’t realize she had spoken out loud until she looked at Cody and saw him gazing at her with sympathy and pity.
“He’s not yours, Samantha. And he won’t ever be. But I can’t make this decision for you. I want you to know my offer to join the skulk is open-ended. You’ll always be welcome here. You know how to reach me if you need me.”
Samantha thanked Cody and walked back to Jason feeling beat down. She wondered how much time she had left with him. Would Jason allow her to stay in Alpine Woods after he was finished with her? She hoped so. Even without Jason, the town felt like home. And who knew, maybe one of the lesser Beta wolves would want a small arctic fox mate. How odd. She’d had to travel thousands of miles away from her birthplace to find her home.
Jason latched onto her again as soon as she reached his side. She giggled in surprised pleasure when he followed her into the backseat of the car and pulled her into his arms.
“Sure, make me feel like a chauffeur, sitting up here all by myself,” Laurie joked as she slid behind the wheel.
Samantha blushed at the reminder of why they were here. Not only had she missed the entire morning of work, but Laurie probably had to close the store to come pick her up.
“I’m sorry, Laurie. You can dock my pay for the hours lost coming to pick me up. I don’t know what happened, I just got turned around. Stupid mouse.” Although Samantha grumbled under her breath, Laurie and Jason both pounced on it.
“Mouse?”
Blushing, Samantha told them the whole story of how she got turned around while chasing a mouse. Both Jason and Laurie burst out laughing.
“Oh, man–” Laurie wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “I hope you know you’re never going to live this one down. It’s going to be a long running joke at family gatherings, I’m sure. I hope you’re prepared for that.”
Warm pleasure rushed through Samantha at the words “family gatherings”. Samantha knew Laurie didn’t intend to include her in the comment, but it still gave her a happy feeling. She allowed herself to pretend, if only for a moment, she was a part of Jason’s family.
“I’m glad you’re safe.” Jason snuggled closer to her in the backseat and bit her shoulder hard enough for a small yelp to escape.
“Hey, no hanky-panky in the backseat of my car unless it involves me and a hunky blond!” Laurie cautioned from the front seat.
“Laurie, I don’t want to hear this,” Jason groaned, causing Samantha to giggle again. It felt nice to be sheltered in Jason’s arms in the company of friends. Snuggling more securely in Jason’s embrace, Samantha let his scent surround her and her worries drifted away.
Jason looked at the sleeping woman in his arms. She appeared to have slept no better than him last night. As selfish as it seemed, Jason felt a surge of joy thinking she had fared no better being away from him than he had. Laurie pulled into Jason’s driveway and glanced back.