Bound to the Tribe (Bound to the Pack, #2) (2 page)

“Cold is fine, I don’t mind.” Surprisingly I didn’t. Usually I couldn’t stand the thought of cold food but right now it sounded just fine. And fast.

“Are you sure you’re alright, Jen?” Kristen knew me better than anyone, better even than my parents ever had, and she knew cold leftovers was out of character.

“Yeah, just starving.” I hoped there would be enough venison to sate my hunger, or at least take the edge off. “So what’s the plan?”

“Well, now that step one ‘ensure Jen isn’t dead’ is complete, we’re going to move on to step two ‘get the fuck out of Dodge.’” Kris stopped as Liam came charging back into the room, plate in hand.

“This was all that remained.” He handed the plate to me and I had to take it with both hands. There was a mountain of meat piled onto the plate and I couldn’t help but laugh. There was enough here to feed the three of us twice over.

“Thanks, either of you want any?” I was still chuckling as they shook their heads. Kristen was grinning while Liam looked worried that he hadn’t brought enough.

“What is she supposed to eat that with, Li, her hands? Just because you’re an animal doesn’t mean she has to act like one too now that you’ve bonded her.”

Kristen’s words had Liam springing up to run back to the kitchen. “It’s fine guys,” I said, before setting the plate on my lap and grabbing a piece. Getting a fork and knife would take far too long. I paused between bites long enough to ask, “What
is
the plan? Where are we going? When are we leaving?”

“We’re going to pick up Troy, which reminds me that I need to call him. After that we’re going to head up to Montreal. I’ve got a few friends there that might be able to help us disappear long enough to come up with a real plan.” Kristen pulled her phone out as she finished. “I’ll be right back, just going to let Troy know we’ll be on our way soon.”

Great, a long trip to who knows where. I hated packing.

Sighing as I grabbed another piece, I couldn’t help but think my life had been far simpler a week or so ago before Liam stepped into it. Mere days later and here I sat, werewolf-wedded to a relative stranger and about to flee the country and everything I’d ever known. Damn the man.

“This is entirely my fault. I know my words mean nothing to you right now, but I apologize for everything that I’ve caused.”

Not for the first time, I wondered if he could read my mind. “Hey, I was there too, remember? I stopped you the first time and I could have stopped you the second time as well if I had wanted to. But I didn’t and, judging from the look on your face this morning, you hadn’t known what you were getting us into either. We’re both equally at fault.”

My words held some comfort that he clearly needed to hear, worry melted from him and was replaced by a warm smile before he leaned in to kiss me softly.

“Ahem.” Kris’s voice broke the moment, how long had we been lip locked? “When you guys are um, done, we should go.”

“I still need to pack.” Mentally running through a list of what I’d need was exhausting enough, actually doing it would be an exercise in frustration.

“No worries, I already packed for you and Liam while you were passed out.” And this was why she was my best friend.

“Ok, just let me shovel down a few more bites and I’ll be good to go.” Reaching down I realized there were only a few small pieces left. That wasn’t possible, there had been enough to kill me on that plate. I couldn’t have eaten it all. I shouldn’t have been able to eat
half
of it.

I was still hungry.

“Holy shit, Jen! Are you sure you’re ok? That was a
lot
, even for you.” Kristen was staring at the empty plate, the last piece of venison making its way to my mouth as she watched.

“Hey! Are you calling me fat?” I faked offense, intentionally talking through a mouthful of food.

“You aren’t fat, Jen.” Kris’s flat stare had me grinning. “And seriously, I know maybe two bears that could have eaten what you just did. One would have regretted it. Are you ok? How do you feel?”

Liam moved closer to me, his eyes searching mine with concern as I answered. “Believe it or not, I’m actually still hungry.” I didn’t really believe it myself but honesty was likely the best option in this insane situation. I felt as if I had only eaten a few bites of the meat, not an entire Hungry Man challenge worth.

“I believe it, even if I don’t understand it.” Kristen shook her head again. “I’ve brought your things out to the car already. Until we’re sure you’re all right, I’ll keep driving. We can stop and grab some burgers or something at a drive thru on the way, but we’ve got to leave. Now.”

Reluctantly I put the empty plate down and let Liam help me up. I didn’t really need the help but he obviously felt the need, so I let him. Any excuse to be against that muscle bound body of his.

Liam leaned in and nuzzled my neck as his hands traced their way down my curves to wrap around my lower back and pull me against himself. I could feel his hardness pressing against me and hear his desire in the low rumble of his throat.

“Easy boy, you’ll tear your pants apart if you don’t keep that thing in check,” I breathed the words into his ear.

“Hey! No!” Kristen came stalking over to us and swatted Liam on the nose as he looked up from me. “Bad dog!”

“Sister.” His voice was low and gravelly as he looked angrily at Kris.

“Save it. We don’t have the time. Oh, and before you get any ideas, there isn’t room in the car for it either. So keep it in your pants. And you.” Kris caught my gaze. “Stop teasing him.” Kris turned and I stuck my tongue out at her back.

Liam stepped back from me and whimpered. Whimpered! Apparently I
was
teasing him and he was having trouble waiting. Hell, he probably never had to wait for release his entire life, who knew what shifters thought was ‘proper?’ Teasing would drive him crazy.

Looks like I knew what I’d be doing for my entertainment on this road trip.

Jen

F
inishing the last taco I crumpled the wrapper and tossed it into the bag at my feet in the passenger seat. It felt strange to be on this side of my own car, but at least I could eat while we made our way to Troy’s place.

Thankfully, I wasn’t hungry any more. Terrifyingly I had eaten a half dozen burgers and had made Kris stop so I could pick up a full family value meal at the local Mexican place. All of which was now resting contently in my stomach.

I didn’t even want to think about how that was possible. The sheer poundage of food was impossible for one person to have eaten in one sitting. It was a sign of how ridiculous it was that Kristen had stopped making jokes about it going straight to my hips. Whatever was happening to me wasn’t normal for human
or
shifter, apparently.

It was starting to scare the hell out of me.

“Are you finally full then? Need me to stop somewhere else?” Kris asked, no humor in her voice at all.

“Full? No.” My words had Kris looking at me worriedly and she nodded before looking around for another fast food joint. “Kris, it’s ok. I’m not hungry any more, either, let’s just get to Troy’s.”

“Are you sure? It’s not a problem to stop again. Terrifying, but not a problem.” Kris was definitely worried and I couldn’t blame her. I was too.

“It’s fine. If whatever it is comes back I’ll let you know and we can find some place then, ok?” I felt Liam shifting around in the back seat. He clearly wanted to go get or, more likely, kill me something to eat. I had to admit to myself that the idea of more meat was appealing, but I was already scared about how much I had just eaten.

“How much further before we arrive at Troy’s?” Liam’s voice rumbled from behind me.

“His house is just a few streets over from here.” Kris seemed to be on auto pilot as she drove through a quiet area of town. Now that my hunger was, hopefully, sated, I looked around at where we were.

I had only ever been to this end of town when I was trying to cut around the traffic on the main road. Beautiful homes sat on perfectly manicured lawns. All clear of leaves even though the trees were well on their way into shedding them. The people that owned these houses didn’t take care of their yards themselves, they could clearly afford to have others do it for them.

“Troy lives
here?!
” It had to just be the fastest way to his place, though I didn’t know of any parts of town past this.

“Hmm? Yeah, one more turn and we’ll be at his place.” Kris was focused on the road, not wanting to miss the right street. Sure enough, a moment later we turned onto a hidden drive and drove down a wooded lane. Troy’s fucking driveway.

The lane led to a monstrously large house, all windows and columns, with a full wrap around porch. We drove to the back, passing the obligatory pool and tennis court, before finally reaching a four car garage.

“Kris, you never told me Troy was loaded.” Some part of Kris’s attraction to the feminine man became obvious.

“You never asked. It’s not really important anyway.” Kris shrugged as she parked in front of the garage. She turned the engine off and got out, Liam and I following suit as Kris walked towards a door on the side of the building. She pulled a key out of her purse and unlocked it, letting us all in.

“This seems like an odd home. The building in front of this one seemed more suitable. Does Troy’s pack live there?” Liam asked as he looked around the heated garage. Heated!

“Troy lives alone, let’s go up and see if he’s ready to leave yet.” Kristen began walking to a set of stairs at the far side of the garage, passing her car, a couple motorcycles, a pickup truck, and the covered shape of what had to be a sports car.

“He lives alone in the larger building? What is this one for then?” Liam asked, clearly confused, as he followed after Kristen. This was probably the first time he’d been inside a garage.

“This is just where he parks his cars,” I said weakly. Troy being rich was just something I hadn’t been prepared for.

“A building whose sole purpose is to house his cars? These vehicles are
all
his?” Liam looked over the assortment in the garage as we walked past and I nodded back at him, numb. “A house for his cars to live in? Wasteful.”

Kristen was waiting for us at the top of the stairs and gave us a quick look before turning to the door and pausing with her hand on the knob. “Troy doesn’t like talking about his money. Not even with me. Please don’t bring it up.”

Liam shot a confused look at me and I just shrugged. Kris walked out onto a covered walk that led to the house. Troy being touchy about his money was much easier to understand than him having so much in the first place.

Kris unlocked the side door with her spare key and stepped inside, holding it open for us. “Troy, we’re here!” she called as she gestured us down a short hallway. I gave her space enough to close the door and waited. She may be comfortable here, but I wasn’t about to just wander off.

She gave me one of her patented wry smiles as she locked the door and passed Liam and I to take the lead. “The living room is this way.”

As we walked down the hall, my shoes clacking on the marble floor, I found the first thing I could appreciate about Troy; the house was immaculate. He had to have someone doing it for him, but their work wasn’t usually as good as if you had done it yourself. Not so here. Troy obviously valued cleanliness and had clearly paid for the best.

I felt Liam’s arm wrap around my waist before he leaned in. “This house is not
that
impressive. If this is something you like I will endeavor to provide you with one more elaborate.”

Glancing at him out of the corner of my eye, I watched him looking around, taking it all in, doing a good job of not looking impressed. Something in my manner must have given off that I was enjoying being in the house and my ‘husband’ felt threatened. It was something that he couldn’t provide but Troy could.

If only he knew how much something like this cost. But Kris was right, money didn’t really matter. Liam would always do everything he could to see that I was happy, he would never leave me, and
never
cheat on me. Bonding a shifter certainly had its perks.

I could love him for that alone.

My breath caught, was I in love with Liam already? I’d only known him for over a week. I was never one for love at first sight and even though we were bonded, it had been an accident. A possible one night stand that ended in marriage like some alcohol fueled night of bad decisions in Las Vegas.

I didn’t know what I was really feeling, the past few days had been pure chaos and it didn’t look like I’d have time to sort through my emotions any time soon. One thing was for sure, I wasn’t going to let him know how I felt yet. Not when I didn’t know if I really felt that way and definitely not until I had some idea of how he really felt as well.

He had been surprised by this as much as I had.

Entering the living room we found Troy rummaging through a well-worn, army green rucksack. Kris walked over to him as he finished up and closed the ruck before standing. He gave Kris one of his false smiles and a quick hug, but his unsettling eyes found me and locked on.

For the briefest moment I felt as if I could read something behind those eyes, but whatever it was left in a flash. Liam’s arm tightened around me possessively and I could feel a low rumble from his chest.

Troy let Kristen go and spared Liam a smirk as he walked closer to me. “You look well, Jen. Far better than the last time I saw you. Are you all right now?”

The concern in his voice never touched the predatory glint in his eyes and I shifted uncomfortably. Liam’s hold on me tightened and it was him that answered Troy’s question. “My bond mate is well. She simply required food.”

“I’ve seen hungry humans before and I really doubt that needing to eat was the only problem.” Troy continued to smirk, his eyes never leaving me.

Something clicked in my mind and I suddenly realized that Troy was trying to prove himself ‘better’ than Liam for some reason. The huge house already had Liam off balance and now Troy was subtly telling him that he knew far more about his own mate than he himself did.