Forbidden Hunger (Lee County Wolves Book 1) (2 page)

CHAPTER 2

Janna’s heart pumped rapidly as the activity around them intensified. People were coming out of houses to gape openly at them, some even walking alongside them staring. She felt Garrett’s presence behind her, and in a strange sense, she felt comforted by that fact, even though she didn’t know him any better than any of the rest of the people around her. Staring straight ahead, she focused on the wolf who stood in front of a small house, which had seen better days. Leda and Sam slowed and walked beside her.

“Is that him?” Sam asked before grabbing her hand.

Janna saw the man sitting on the porch steps. As soon as their eyes met, he stood and the look of shock on his face told her that he knew exactly who she was. Well, maybe not exactly, but Jonah McCall certainly knew her mother, because Janna was the splitting image of her. Her long blonde hair and teardrop eyes mimicked her mother’s looks to the point that people thought they were sisters. Janna didn’t answer Sam, but squeezed his small hand.

Jonah didn’t take a step toward them, just stood staring. “Virginia?” His voice cracked as his bloodshot eyes took her in.

Stopping a few feet away, Janna shook her head. “I’m Janna Lawson.” She glanced around her, seeing the interested faces staring back at her. “Virginia’s daughter.”

Jonah McCall was a big man, his graying black hair hung past his shoulders. He was handsome and she could see how her mom could have loved this man, but there was a haunted sadness that fogged his eyes. “How is she?” His eyes brightened slightly.

Again, Janna looked around at the watching crowd, her eyes coming to rest on the man named Garrett. His stare seemed to penetrate her soul. “Is there somewhere we can talk….alone?”

A frown marred his face. “Why isn’t Virginia here with you?” His voice didn’t crack this time. It lowered to a dangerous level.

“Could we please do this in private?” Janna asked, again feeling the stares.

Before she knew what was happening, Jonah was in her face, his strong hands grasping her arms painfully as he shook her. The smell of booze overwhelmed her senses. “Where’s Virginia?” he snarled, his golden eyes growing brighter as he stared down at her.

“Dead.” Janna found the strength to push away from him. “Murdered, protecting you.” Her voice cracked this time. Saying the words made it all the more true. Her mother was gone. She was alone and standing in front the man her mother died protecting.

It was as if time stood still for a brief second. No one said a word until Jonah McCall’s head fell back and an ungodly howl escaped from his mouth. His body shook, his clothes ripping as his wolf fought to break free. Janna was pushed aside as Garrett grabbed Jonah, throwing him to the ground. Jonah struggled against him, but as Garrett talked him down, Jonah began to still, his wolf calming, but the man was ravaged with grief.

Another man had rushed over to help Garrett who shrugged him off. “Get everyone out of here, now!” Garrett ordered, his hold still on Jonah. Once everyone had scattered back to their own business, Garrett looked down at Jonah. “Do you have control?”

Jonah didn’t say anything; he just lay on his back, staring at the sky above Garrett’s head. When Garrett shook him, Jonah’s eyes met his and then Janna’s. “Yes,” he answered. His tone was level as he pushed Garrett away to stand. Turning, he walked up the three steps to the small house and disappeared inside leaving the door open.

As Janna watched the scene, feelings of anger built inside her. She was so not done with this conversation and if Jonah McCall thought otherwise, then he was in for a rude awakening. “Leda, take Sam on the porch and don’t step foot off it,” she ordered as she headed toward the house. When Garrett made a move toward her, she pointed at him. “Don’t even try to stop me. I’m not finished with Jonah McCall.”

Garrett didn’t say a word as he followed her to the porch, but he did pat Sam on the head as he passed. The poor kid looked scared to death. “Is she always this bossy?” Garrett teased, winking at Sam and ignoring the nasty look Janna threw his way.

Sam nodded but he didn’t smile. “Don’t let that man hurt Janna.”

“No one is going to hurt her, son.” Garrett’s voice promised what he said.

Janna heard everything that was spoken behind her, but didn’t comment. Her eyes took in everything as she followed the noise in the kitchen. The house was in disrepair and the only decorations she saw so far was beer and whiskey bottles scattered everywhere. She stopped just inside the kitchen door watching Jonah. The man her mother died protecting and obviously loved deeply, tilted a bottle of whiskey to his lips. Anger so deep ravaged her soul as she watched.

Reaching, she grabbed an empty bottle from the small kitchen table and threw it. The bottle shattered inches from his head against the cabinets that lined the wall. Grabbing for another, she was stopped when strong arms wrapped around her, preventing her from continuing. “Calm down,” Garrett whispered close to her ear. “Let him have a minute.”

Elbowing him in the stomach, Janna fought to get loose from his hold, but he was too strong. The heat from his body had her wolf and human side fighting against each other. The wolf wanting to turn into him while her human instincts struggled against his touch. “Oh, I’ll give him a minute,” she hissed, her eyes narrowed on Jonah who was totally oblivious to anything other than his bottle.

Garrett picked her up, swinging her around and out of the room. “I’m sure you will, but right now, let him process what you just told him.” Setting her down, Garrett turned her to face him. “Listen to me, you little hellcat. I don’t know who you are or what you’re about, but I do know that man in there, and he needs a minute.”

Stepping away from him, Janna straightened her clothes with a huff and then it hit her, hit her hard. Her eyes shot up to the man who stood in front of her. “He isn’t alpha of this pack.” It wasn’t a question, but a fact that totally made her stomach heave in despair.

“No, he’s not.” Garrett stared down at her.

“Then who?” Janna knew she probably looked as confused and scared as she felt.

Before he could answer, someone walked in. “We found their car.” A man, who looked dead on Garrett’s twin, informed before his eyes landed on Janna. “What do you want us to do next?”

“Get it running and tell the pack to be on guard.” Garrett’s eyes never left hers as he ordered, “We may have trouble coming this way.”

Lifting her eyes, she slowly released her breath. “You? You’re the alpha of this pack?”

Garrett nodded. “Now I think it’s time for you to tell me exactly who you are and how you ended up here in my town.”

******

Janna found herself sitting at the small kitchen table surrounded by the most intimidating men she had ever seen. Sam and Leda had been taken to get some food, and a plate was brought for her, but it sat untouched in front of her. Two of the men in the room had been introduced as Garrett’s brothers, Marcus and Hunter Foster. The others, who she figured were prominent in the pack, stood staring at her. She couldn’t remember their names. Her mind was still reeling from her uncertain future.

“Eat.” Garrett pushed the plate closer to her silent form.

She shook her head, but took a drink of water. She knew without a doubt, if any food hit her stomach, it would fly right back out of her mouth. Her eyes met Jonah’s, who was watching her intently. “Why did you leave my mother?” Her voice was tight, but her face was void of emotion.

“To keep her safe,” he replied with hesitation before taking another swig from his bottle.

Janna’s eyes narrowed as she snorted. “Didn’t work.” She pushed the plate of food further away, the smell making her want to heave. “Who is Jasper Simone to you?” Everyone in the room growled, the tension so thick it smothered her.

Jonah took another long drink, slamming the bottle down. “I will kill him,” he vowed, his words slightly slurred.

“Yeah, it sure looks like you’re up to that.” Looking at him in disgust, Janna hissed, “And I get first dibs at the bastard for killing my mom and marking me.”

“Marked you how?” Garrett slammed his hand on the table, anger radiating from his body.

Janna looked at Garrett, surprised at his anger. Without hesitation, she lifted her shirt and turned. Burned into her skin was a crude small brand of a wolf’s head and the initials ES carved into her skin on her lower back. “I was knocked out when the bastard and his son carved this into my skin.” She lowered her shirt turning back toward Jonah. “My mom had the same on her lower back, but the initials JS. Did you know that?”

Jonah didn’t look human as all she had said sank in. His eyes lost focus, his breathing growing harsh. He swung the bottle to his lips again, slamming his head back and finishing the amber liquid that was left.

“I take that as a yes, you knew,” Janna spat. “I lost my mother because of you, and honestly, I hate you with every fiber of my being right now. You are nothing but a drunk, yet my mother loved you. Left this world and me, for you. You owe me answers.”

“I owe you nothing!” Jonah threw the empty bottle before stepping toward Janna, his finger pointing angrily at her. “I told her to forget me. I warned her…”

Garrett stepped between them, which stopped Jonah. “What does the marking mean, Jonah?”

Jonah’s haunted eyes focused on Garrett. He finally looked away to hunt for another bottle. Garrett leaped across the table, grabbing Jonah, and slamming him into a chair. “Marcus, get some coffee going.” Garrett kept his large hand on Jonah’s shoulder, keeping him from standing. “Listen to me and listen good. You are going to sober up and then you are going to answer questions. If this pack is in danger because of something from your past then you are going to answer any and all questions. Is that understood?”

The older man stopped struggling, but kept his mouth closed. Finally, his eyes lifted from the table to look at Janna. “I loved her.”

Even in his drunken state, his words were spoken with a truth that had tears threatening to break free. “You have a piss poor way of showing it,” Janna replied, and then turned, walking out of the room.

CHAPTER 3

Janna sat on the front steps waiting. Even at night, the place was full of activity. Her eyes found Sam, who was talking with some other kids, laughing in his carefree way. She actually smiled when a game of tag broke out and Sam ran laughing with the other kids. Leda was sitting on a stump talking with a boy about her age. She really couldn’t hear what they were saying, but she could tell Leda was enjoying the attention. A sudden wave of jealously washed over her, but she pushed it back. It wasn’t Leda’s fault that Janna had never experienced the carefree feelings of talking to cute guys. Leda glanced her way with a silly grin on her face when the boy turned to talk to someone who had walked up. Janna tossed her a thumbs up. Leda was a beautiful girl with long dark hair like Sam, but not as curly. They were cute kids with a past she knew nothing about. Kind of like her, alone with secrets.

“Seem like good kids.” Garrett walked past her down the steps, looking over the area before turning toward her.

Janna’s smile disappeared quickly, nervous energy zinging through her body. “Yeah.” She cleared her throat, her eyes still on Sam, yet not really seeing him. “They are.”

“Who put those bruises on your ribs?” Garrett walked into her line of vision, but she didn’t look up.

“It’s nothing.” Janna wished her voice would stop cracking whenever she talked to him. She cleared her throat again.

“The hell it is. Look at me,” he ordered, his voice deep and stern.

Janna did and wished she hadn’t. Her eyes shifted away nervously. This man set her on edge. She felt it when she first spotted him on the road. He caused a restlessness in her that she had never felt before. Her beast was closer to the surface than ever and it scared her;
he
scared her.

“I know it wasn’t the bastard who carved on you because you would have been healed by now.” Garrett’s eyes narrowed. “How recent is that injury?”

She thought about lying, but decided against it. She really needed this man to like her enough to at least keep Sam and Leda so they could belong to a pack. It was the only way they could survive. “Three days ago.”

“You need to shift so you can heal,” he ordered again, his alpha coming to the surface.

“What makes you think I’m a shifter?” Janna looked up at him in surprise.

“Because your wolf has been calling to mine ever since you set foot in Beattyville.” He growled before kneeling down in front of her, his face inches from hers. “I’m tired of asking questions. I want your story and I want it now.”

Janna wanted so badly to tell him to go to hell, but she heard Sam’s laughter. This wasn’t just about her anymore and she needed to remember that. Once she was sure Sam and Leda would be taken care of, she would tell the arrogant ass to go to hell. “How do I know I can trust you?”

“You don’t,” he responded bluntly. “But it doesn’t look like you have much of a choice.”

He was absolutely right. She didn’t have a choice and that made her stomach pitch painfully. “My mother was human.” She blurted it out so quickly she wondered if she had even said it aloud, but the look on his face told her that she had indeed said it for him to hear.

Garrett’s face went from shocked to expressionless in a heartbeat. “That explains the green eyes,” he said, more to himself, before nodding to her to continue.

“I’ve never shifted,” Janna went on and tossed that one out there. She even grimaced when she said it.

“Never?” he said loudly, and then cursed, standing up and running his hand through his hair. “That’s impossible. How old are you?”

Janna bit on her lip nervously. “Twenty-three.” When he didn’t say anything, but stared at her with that dark relentless stare, she swallowed hard before continuing, “It was just me and my mom. She had no one to talk to. She didn’t know any other shifters other than my….father.” The word father left a sour taste in her mouth.

“Which is?” Garrett’s head snapped down at her when she didn’t answer.

She glanced at him for a split second before looking away. The harsh cursing indicated he had put two and two together.

******

Garrett looked from the woman in front of him to the house, and then back to the woman. She was Jonah McCall’s daughter? Not a lot shocked him, but it seemed this woman had a unique way about her that did just that. Not only was she the daughter of a full-blooded shifter, she was bred by a human. That was rare, not impossible, but very rare. What the fuck had Jonah been thinking? Garrett snorted at that thought. He knew exactly what Jonah had been thinking. It was impossible for them to keep their wolves in check where women and sex were involved.

He studied Janna who was doing her best not to look at him. She was a beautiful woman. Her blonde hair was long with dark brown streaks, but it was her eyes that drew him—a deep, but bright green, shaped like teardrops. It was an odd, but erotic combination. His eyes roamed her body and he felt his wolf shift. He loved a woman who had a figure and Janna Lawson had a body that curved in all the right places. She wasn’t a big woman, but she wasn’t skinny enough he’d snap her in half with one plunge inside her.

His wolf howled inside his head at that thought, his body responding just as quick. What the fuck was he thinking? Hell, he knew what he was thinking; the same damn thing Jonah McCall had been thinking when he took her mother. The same thing any hot-blooded man would be thinking. That thought made him angry, and had his wolf clawing to break free, but he gritted his teeth, demanding his wolf to calm. He was in control, not his wolf.

“Why haven’t you phased?” Garrett asked a little harshly, but dammit, he was a very dominant alpha. He remained calm in all things, even sexy strangers who showed up out of nowhere. When she looked at him as if she didn’t know what he was talking about, he cursed again. “Shift, why haven’t you shifted?”

“I don’t know,” was her reply, but he knew that was a lie.

“I’m about two seconds from sending you out of here,” Garrett answered her lie with a lie. He knew he wouldn’t send her packing, but she needed to start coming forth with her answers honestly. He wasn’t known for his patience and right now, his patience was quickly dwindling.

“That’s fine.” She stood quickly as if she were waiting for those exact words. “Just promise me Sam and Leda have a chance here…with your pack.”

“Are you serious?” Garrett looked at her in disbelief.

“A simple
no
would have been sufficient.” Janna reached back to where she had dropped her bag. Picking it up, she headed down the steps and past him. “I’m sorry we wasted your time.”

Garrett stood frozen as he watched her call for Sam and Leda then head out the way they came. Sam was looking at him as if he betrayed him, all the while begging Janna to stay. The frightened look on Leda’s young, innocent face was what set him in motion.

“Stop!” Everyone in the vicinity of his voice stopped, except Janna. Taking long strides, he passed Sam and Leda. Reaching out, he grabbed Janna’s arm. Turning her, he faltered at the tears in her eyes. One escaped, sliding down her cheek. Fuck! He could handle almost anything, but a woman’s tears were not one of them.

Sam looked around at Janna. “Why you crying, Janna?”

Janna didn’t answer Sam, but she did angrily wipe the tear from her cheek before looking down at him. “Where’s your bag?”

Sam looked confused. “We aren’t staying?”

“No.” Janna hefted her heavy bag higher on her shoulder. “Both of you go and get your stuff.”

“But I don’t want to go,” Sam continued, not moving to get his stuff. His eyes went back and forth between Garrett and Janna.

“Neither do I,” Leda crossed her arms, trying to appear tough, but Garrett had already seen the fear on her face.

“Why don’t you wa…wa…want us?” Sam looked up at Garrett.

Garrett frowned at Janna who wouldn’t look his way. “Both of you go back to what you were doing,” he ordered, but when they stood there staring at him he became angry. “Go!”

“Don’t you dare yell at them,” Janna turned on him so fast, her face inches from his. “You can do whatever you want to me, but
do not
yell at them.”

“I am not yelling at them,” Garrett growled just below a yell.

“Yeah, you kinda did.” Sam shoved his hands in his pockets. “We just wa…wa…want a place to live. I can almost shift. I can help just as mu…mu….much as any of the other wolves here.”

That drew Garrett’s attention. “Almost?”

Leda laughed nervously. “Yeah, he tried to shift to protect Janna from the man at the restaurant, but all that shifted was his nose.”

“It’s not funny.” Sam pulled his hands out of his pockets, his small hands balling into fists.

“Yeah, it is.” Leda’s grin spread. “You freaked everyone in the restaurant out.”

Garrett did his best not to laugh, but he couldn’t help it. He could only imagine the sight of this young boy trying to shift only to have his nose turn into the snout of a wolf. He threw his head back and laughed, something he hadn’t done in a long time. Seeing that his laughter wasn’t making Sam feel any better, Garrett stopped. Putting his large hand on top of the boy’s head, he knelt down so he was eye level with the boy.

“Your first shift never goes the way you think it’s going to go,” Garrett told the boy, his tone turning serious.

“It doesn’t?” Sam asked, narrowing his eyes at Leda before his attention went back to Garrett.

“No,” Garrett replied with a grin. “My brother Marcus’s first shift produced just a tail.”

Sam snorted, then laughed. “No way.”

“Yeah, but don’t tell him I told you that.” Garrett ruffled the boy’s hair. “Now, you guys head on over to Molly’s. Take your stuff with you because that’s where you’ll be staying for now.”

“The lady who gave us the food?” Sam asked, his eyes widening with hope. “So we get to stay?”

“Yeah, that’s Molly and she already has rooms ready for you both.” Garrett nodded for them to go.

Both Leda and Sam were reluctant to go, their eyes going to Janna. “But what ab…ab…about Janna?” Sam asked, his voice torn with loyalty.

“I’m going to take care of Janna,” Garrett answered before Janna could. “Now, go on. Molly usually has homemade ice cream before her young ones go to bed.”

Sam didn’t need to hear anything else. He turned to run, but stopped quickly to look at Janna. “Promise not to leave without saying bye.”

Garrett watched Janna nod with a shaky smile. “Go on before all the ice cream is gone. You’d never forgive me.”

Sam ran up to Janna and hugged her around the waist, and then was gone. Leda also looked torn by what to do. “Thanks for everything you did for me and my brother.”

Janna smiled. “We helped each other out, Leda. You take care of your brother.” When Leda just stood there, Janna nodded toward where Sam disappeared. “You better go. We both know how much that kid loves ice cream. He’ll eat your share.”

Leda went to walk away, but stopped, hugging Janna tightly before letting go quickly and running away.

Garrett watched everything closely, and those few moments told him more than anything what kind of woman Janna Lawson was. “How long have you known them?”

“Three days.” Janna continued to watch the kids until they disappeared with an older woman into a small house.

“And you trust to leave them here?” Garrett wasn’t watching Leda or Sam; he was watching her.

Janna turned toward him in surprise. “Why? Are you going to eat them?”

A grin broke out across his face. “No, but you are a little trusting.”

Janna nodded, raising her eyebrows at that. “I don’t have a choice. Anyway, in the short time I’ve been here sitting on that porch, I’ve seen the kids here and they look happy.”

Garrett nodded, glad that she was at least that observant and not just dropping a burden off, but this woman didn’t seem like that kind. She was in trouble that much he knew. “We are a close pack.”

A sadness flashed across her eyes, but then it was gone, replaced with an expressionless façade. “Thank you for taking them in.” Janna heaved the bag on her shoulder before turning to walk away.

“You’re welcome.” Garrett grabbed the bag off her shoulder before walking in the opposite direction. “But you’re going the wrong way.”