A thought struck him, one he didn’t like, yanking him from his erotic musings. He studied his mate—really looked at her—starting at her head and working his way to her toes.
Gavin Worthington—the Alpha of the Worthington pack—had similar coloring and features. Everyone knew he didn’t have children since Gavin and his mate despised each other. It was running joke in the area and a reminder why wolves didn’t usually mate unless they found the person intended for them.
Jackson growled as instinct told him his intuition was spot-on.
Gavin had mated Desiree Benson decades ago despite the lack of a mating bond, bringing two of the most prominent packs in the bordering states together. If Gavin had sex with a human and had left her pregnant, he wouldn’t have been able to say a word to his pack. He might even have left the female and his child to fend for themselves. Desiree would have challenged and killed a human female if her position as Lupa was threatened.
A knock at the door had Jackson spinning around, his lips pulling back as his canines lengthened. He put himself between the door and his mate, the hair on his nape rising, the wolf within snarling to protect what was his. If Chloe was Gavin’s offspring, she had a claim to the bastard Alpha’s pack. Even if she couldn’t shift, she had a God-given birthright.
That put her in danger.
The door opened, revealing the identity of their guest. Jackson’s business partner and pack Beta didn’t move, standing in the open doorway. It didn’t take long for Declan to put two and two together. Jackson’s rage was easy to scent, and the fragrance of Chloe’s desire hung heavy in the room.
“Oh shit.” Declan glanced at Chloe, his nostrils expanding as he took a deep breath and growled, “Oh fuck.”
Jackson relaxed but remained where he was, partially shielding his female from view. He’d told the Beta about the female in his dreams, warning Declan life in the pack was about to change. Since he’d never gotten violent over a woman before, he was certain Declan knew the score.
“Oh fuck is right.”
“You’ve got to get her out of here. She’s almost in season.” Declan’s eyes shifted from brown to amber. “Her mating scent is all over the place.”
“Tell me something I don’t know,” he muttered and shook his head.
It was hard enough keeping his hands to himself. Until he mated Chloe and marked her with his own scent she’d be like a drug to other males. Even if he stated she was his he’d have to fight any would-be suitor who wanted to take his place.
“Actually, I think I’m going to go,” Chloe said and started to inch around him, the sharp smell of her fear spreading through the room. “Coming here was a bad idea.”
I don’t think so.
Jackson reached out, snagging her by the wrist.
The contact did exactly what he knew it would.
She whimpered and cried out, sagging as he tugged her toward him. The days preceding the full moon were difficult on a female in season. She had to be feeling the changes, drawn by the desire to mate, beginning the transformation to her other form if she was able to change. Until a male—preferably the female’s mate—spent his seed inside of her, the ache would only worsen.
That’s why he’d held himself back, trying to give her space. The first touch had muddled her thoughts. A second would throw her completely off balance, until all she could think about was the sexual frustration she was sure to be experiencing.
And the poor thing didn’t have a clue what she was dealing with.
She didn’t fight or struggle, resting against his chest as he urged her closer. She felt perfect against him—exactly right. A growl of contentment carried up his throat, his wolf eager for her touch.
“What’s the matter with me? This has to be a dream. I just have to wake up.”
She sounded confused but aroused. He knew how she felt. At the moment—despite the uncertainty of their future together—he could have pounded nails with his dick.
He brought her close, snaking his free arm around her waist and meeting Declan’s gaze. “She has no idea what’s going on.”
“I kinda figured that,” Declan retorted, a smile on his face. “You didn’t tell me she’s human.”
“Half-human,” Jackson corrected and narrowed his eyes, lowering his voice. “And keep that information to yourself. I’ll address the pack when I’m ready.”
“You can’t hide her forever.” There was a warning in Declan’s tone, one that Jackson didn’t appreciate.
“I don’t plan to,” Jackson reprimanded the Beta with a snarl. He put the male in his place by looking him in the eye, forcing Declan to lower his gaze. “I need some time to sort things out before I present my mate to the pack.”
“Then I suggest you hurry. I have an appointment in fifteen minutes.” Declan took another step back, retreating into the hallway. “I’ll deal with the pack until the full moon.”
There was a reason he trusted Declan. Despite his annoying tendency to run off at the mouth, the Beta was always reliable. “I’m taking the car. Put my bike in the garage and cancel my appointments. If there’s an emergency call my cell. I’ll be in touch.”
Bending at the waist, he slid his arms beneath Chloe’s legs and back and lifted her to his chest. “Come on, sweetness.”
“Whoa, wait.” She squirmed against him, slapping at his chest. “I can’t leave with you!” When he tightened his grip, she screamed, “What do you think you’re doing? Put me down! Right now!”
“Oh man.” Declan laughed and moved to the side, giving Jackson room to pass. “You’re going to have your hands full with that one.”
“Laugh it up,” he grumbled, wrestling with the female who was struggling to break free. If he’d had more time he would have been patient with her. Unfortunately he didn’t have that luxury. “One day this’ll be you.”
“Let go!” Chloe shrieked. “Get your hands off me!”
She landed an elbow to his gut but he didn’t stop, striding for the door. He had to get her out of here while he could. If word got out that he’d found his mate—that his mate was human, for fuck’s sake—he’d have to deal with the pack, the current discord with Gavin Worthington and his mate’s moon heat.
Don’t get ahead of yourself. Focus on one thing at a time.
They made it to his car without incident but the instant her feet touched the ground she tried to run. He caught her with ease, forcing her against the side of the vehicle. There was no time like the present to establish who was boss. He wedged his thighs between hers so she could feel the hard ridge of his cock. Her eyes went wide, her full lips parting in surprise.
“I understand this is confusing but what you’re feeling isn’t going to go away. You need this.” He shoved his hips forward, pushing his pulsating length against her belly, grinding his teeth at the contact. “Over and over again. And you need it from me.”
“This is crazy,” she whispered, fingers shaking as she rested her hands on his chest. The sweet smell of her pussy drifted to his nose. She might be shaken but she was also hotter than the asphalt in summer. “We don’t even know each other.”
“Yes, we do.” He lowered his head and nuzzled her nose. “In fact, you and I have spent a lot of time together. I distinctly remember you sucking my cock a couple of nights ago.” She gasped and her whispered seductively, “Remember what I said? Do you remember what I promised?”