HannasHaven

Lorna
Jean Roberts

Shadowpeak Wolves, Book 4.

After a lifetime of being ridiculed
and ignored, Hanna just wants a place to call home. But now that she has a
chance to start over with a pack that will accept her, she can’t let go of her
big, bad bodyguard. Marcus intrigues her, frustrates her and makes her hotter
than hell. How can she leave behind the only man she’s ever wanted? The only
man to stir her senses, to make her scream with pleasure.

Marcus can’t keep his hands off
Hanna, but he’s not good enough for her. Except to fuck. The things he wants to
do with her would keep her satisfied for years. But she doesn’t need a crusty,
stuck-in-his-ways, overprotective werewolf in her life. No matter how
beautifully she responds to his touch, his demands, she really needs him to
keep his distance. But Hanna is his—the other half of his soul. Now he just has
to figure out how to claim her.

A Romantica®
paranormal erotic romance
from
Ellora’s Cave

Hanna drifted into wakefulness. A low, husky voice reached
her ears. She kept her eyes shut, not quite ready to face him. Memories taunted
her, some murky and confusing, others all too crystal clear.

Part of her wished she could forget the terror she’d felt
when she was kidnapped by two masked men, the helpless horror she’d endured as
Dan was beaten in front of her for failing to do what they wanted.

Dan.
She could scarcely believe he was gone. Tears
welled in her eyes and she fought to keep her breathing even. She was all alone
now.

Another rumble filled her ears, stealing her back to the
present. Marcus was still here. He’d barely left her side since she’d awoken in
this hospital room. Marcus was a huge man with piercing eyes and a stern face.
Hanna still hadn’t managed to find the courage to speak to him.

It had fallen on him to fill in her missing blanks. To
explain that she’d been found nearly dead in a burning cabin and brought to
this hospital. That he was here to protect her until they caught whoever had
kidnapped her.

“So she’s well enough to leave?” he asked.

Leave? Where would she go? She didn’t have a home.

“Well, I’d like to keep her a bit longer,” someone else
replied. She recognized the doctor’s kind voice. “I’m worried about her
emotional state. She hasn’t spoken yet. I’m not even sure she knows what’s
going on.”

So the doctor thought she’d completely lost her mind. Maybe
she had. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t seem to get any words past
her lips. Each time she tried, fear froze her vocal cords.

“She knows,” Marcus answered. “She’ll be okay.”

Would she? Well, she was glad he sounded so certain, because
she had her doubts.

“I know you want to get her somewhere safe,” the doctor said
with a sigh. “I’ll go get her release papers. You will find the bastards who
did this to her?”

“I will,” Marcus replied. It sounded like a vow. “Don’t
worry, they’ll pay.”

Three weeks later

I am so screwed.

Marcus Chance rubbed his eyes as he realized he’d been
staring at the same page for the last fifteen minutes. He pushed the report
away with a disgusted sigh.

He couldn’t concentrate. Not with arousal pounding through
his blood and flooding his body with need. It was Hanna’s fault. She had
tormented him to the point that his every waking moment was spent fighting his
attraction to her.

He had no business lusting after her. She’d just lost her
mate. She was vulnerable. Alone. He’d be taking advantage of her. Damn it, he
was supposed to protect her.

Not fuck her.

He really had to stop thinking about having her under him,
riding him, kneeling at his feet and sucking him off…

Hell. This was not helping him control the hunger.

The scent of her filled his nostrils, stirring his cock as Hanna
sashayed past him to the kitchen. He shifted for a better view as she reached
down to open a drawer. Marcus closed his eyes, in near pain at the sight of her
luscious ass. He bit back his groan.

Hands off.

Escaping her was impossible. The two-room cabin they were
staying in sat in an isolated spot with their closest neighbors over twelve
miles away. Shadowpeak’s estate was another fifteen miles past that. Cooper had
bought this cabin and surrounding grounds when he’d first become Alpha,
claiming the pack needed a safe house.

Marcus never figured he’d have a reason to use it. How wrong
he’d been.

Hanna moved around the kitchen, far more comfortable in her
surroundings than she had been three weeks ago, when he’d first brought her
here. Then she’d been a terrified little thing. She’d sat huddled on the couch,
staring at him from wide, apprehensive eyes.

She bit her bottom lip as she poured some mixture onto a hot
griddle. Dear Lord, those lips. They were full, plump and pink. Marcus dreamed
about kissing her, about drinking his fill from her lips before moving on to
her elegant, pale neck. He’d tug her head to one side so he could nip and lick
her throat at will, until her breathing came in hard, fast pants, until she
whimpered and pressed against him… Crap! He had to stop doing this to himself.
He shifted around on his seat, trying to ease his painful erection.

Marcus didn’t know why he was so attracted to her. She
really wasn’t his type. He liked tall women with curves, with confidence, who
wouldn’t take offense at his abrupt manner. He was not attracted to tiny females
who jumped at loud noises.

A shadow crossed the table, pulling him from his musings. He
raised his head. Hanna held his gaze for a long moment before looking shyly
away. A blush crossed her face. What she was thinking? Sometimes she was a
complete mystery to him.

“Pancakes,” she announced, placing a plate on the table in
front of him before turning away.

Marcus swept his arm out, grabbing her wrist. “Sit.”

Hanna turned, her arm trembling beneath his light touch. But
she didn’t resist his hold. Nor did she sit.

“Excuse me?” she asked.

“Sit, Hanna.”

“I’m not a dog,” she reprimanded.

He barely managed to keep his face impassive. “You’re
fluttering around like a damn butterfly. How can I relax and eat with you
flitting here and there?”

She smiled and his breath caught in his throat. Shit, she
was beautiful.

“A butterfly?” she asked.

“Sit, Hanna, please.”

She sat. “See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?”

Marcus rose and got another plate, knife and fork.

“What wasn’t so bad?” he growled, sitting down and placing
the cutlery in front of her. She immediately arranged them to her satisfaction.

“Using your manners. I assumed you had some. You’d simply forgotten
how they worked.”

Marcus bit his lip, suppressing his amusement. “Don’t bait
me, brat. I bite.”

He shifted some pancakes over to her plate.

She smiled again, this time a full grin that had his heart
stilling. “You may growl and glare, but you don’t bite.”

“Want to bet?” he snarled. He was no trained pup.

“You won’t bite me. You like me.”

“Really?” He sat back, surprised by her playfulness.

“Uh-huh.” She nodded enthusiastically.

“And what makes you think I like you?”

“You share your food with me.”

Marcus tried to puzzle that through but he couldn’t figure
out the connection. “How does that mean I like you?”

“Well, in a pack, the strongest always gets the best, don’t
they? The nicest living space, the best cuts of meat and then whatever is left
drips down to the weakest.”

Dear Lord, what kind of medieval pack had she lived in? He’d
thought life under his old Alpha Zachary was bad, but he’d never made them live
like that. No pack he knew of had such archaic rules. Well, maybe Silverton.
From all accounts, Leonard Paterson had been an abusive dictator who’d loved to
torment those weaker than him.

“Where did you fit into the hierarchy?” he asked, fearing he
already knew the answer.

“Oh, right at the bottom,” she said matter-of-factly.
“Sometimes there wasn’t anything left by the time the lowest ranks got to eat.
Dan’s family was ranked higher and he’d often share his food with me.”

He growled and Hanna flinched, staring at him warily.

Marcus shook with anger. Years of starvation, of abuse, and
she now thought being given food was a sign she was liked. She should have been
protected, cherished and coddled by her pack. Assholes.

“Your eyes are glowing. I made you angry,” she whispered.
“I’m sorry.”

“I’m not mad at you,” he told her, trying to bring the wolf
under control, hating the apprehension in her voice. As the Shadowpeak pack’s
tracker, Marcus was used to others being wary of him. If a wolf went feral,
he’d be charged with tracking him or her down. His ability to put his emotions
aside and concentrate on the job made him an excellent tracker. But he hated
seeing Hanna’s fear, didn’t want her ever to be scared of him. The scent of her
fear was repugnant to him, angering his wolf and shortening his temper.

“Do you want more syrup?” she asked, jumping up.

“Hanna, sit.”

She sat without argument.

“I want you to listen to me carefully,” he spoke intently.
“You are never to deny yourself any food, do you hear me? If you’re hungry,
eat. The way your pack worked, it’s barbaric and it’s not how most packs operate.
Those who are stronger should look after those who are weaker, protect them,
make sure that they have everything they need. Understand?”

Eyes wide, she nodded.

“Good. Eat, you’re too skinny.” He inwardly winced at the
hard words, realizing it wasn’t polite to comment on a woman’s weight. But she
was skin and bone, with sunken cheeks and delicate, pale skin. Now that he knew
why, he was even more determined to fatten her up.

She picked up her cutlery and ate daintily. Marcus dug in
with gusto, relishing the fluffy, light pancakes.

“I think these are the best pancakes I’ve ever tasted.”

Hanna smiled. “Pancakes were my grandpa’s favorite food. He
taught me how to make them.”

“Did you spend a lot of time with your grandfather growing
up?” He eagerly leapt on that little tidbit. Hanna didn’t like to talk about
herself, often avoiding any personal questions and he found he really wanted to
learn more about her past.

“I lived with Grandpa until I was ten. When he died, I had
to go live with
him
,” she said with loathing.

“Who?” he asked.

She stared at him, her face blank. “My father.”

Before Marcus could question her further his watch beeped.
Hanna stiffened.

“Someone’s at the gate?” Her gaze darted to the door.

“Yep.” He moved over to the security panel beside the back
door, activating the screen so he could view the footage coming from the camera
at the gate.

“It’s Cooper, Laney and Rye. Remember they’re coming to talk
to you today,” he reminded her calmly, noticing the way she focused in on the
panel, then the door.

For the first three days they’d been here, she hadn’t moved
from the couch except to use the bathroom and routinely check the doors and
windows in the house. Finally, not knowing what else to do, he’d forced her off
the couch and outside, kicking and screaming.

Perhaps he’d been a bit cruel. But once he’d shown her the
security surrounding the cabin she’d calmed. Only Rye, Cooper, and Laney knew
about this place and it was as secure as they could make it.

That night she’d slept in her bedroom.

Two days after, she’d spoken.

“You’re sure it’s them?” she asked.

“Yep. Want to come and see?”

She hurried over to the monitor. After a moment she nodded
and Marcus pressed the button, letting them in. The gate closed behind them.

“I’ll clean up.” She bustled around, putting their plates in
the dishwasher. By the time Cooper and the others had reached the porch, the
place was spotless once more.

Marcus let them in, hugging Laney when she threw herself at
him.

“Jeez, did you gain more weight?” His sister whacked his arm
playfully. Laney was a few months pregnant, but if anything she seemed thinner,
the stress of the last few months taking its toll. He squeezed her gently. He
still found it hard to believe that he was going to be an uncle. Christ, how
was he supposed to protect a little baby from the evils of the world? What if
it was a girl? What if she wanted to date?

He swallowed heavily, pushing that worry aside. He had years
before he had to think about that possibility.

“Hello, good to see you again,” Hanna greeted them in that
remote, polite voice Marcus detested. She fell back on it when she was unsure
of herself.

“Would all of you like coffee?” she asked. Her manner might
be stiff and formal, but it was a vast improvement on the first time his family
had visited. Then she hadn’t said a word. She’d just sat there, tapping her
fingers.

Laney sent her a smile. “Thanks, Hanna. That would be
great.”

“Let’s go into the living room.” Marcus turned and walked
away. He sat on one of the two armchairs. Laney and Cooper took the sofa while
Rye stood.

They made small talk until Hanna walked in carrying a tray
laden with brownies, large chocolate chunk cookies and rich coffee.

“Wow, Hanna, that looks great.” Laney smiled up at her.

“It does,” Rye agreed, taking the tray and setting it on the
coffee table.

Marcus expected Hanna to sit in the armchair opposite him.
Instead she stood next to him, leaning against the arm of his chair.

Rye sent him a look of reproach before sitting in the free
armchair. Marcus raised his brows and shook his head slightly. He knew what Rye
was thinking—that he was sleeping with her.

If only. Maybe then he might get some relief for his raging
hard-on.

“Oh Hanna, before I forget, I better give you these.” Laney
handed her a bag. “Marcus asked me to get them for you. I hope I got the right
kind.”

Hanna opened the bag and peered at the contents. She blinked
rapidly as she drew out a large sketching pad and pencils.

“You remembered,” she whispered, giving him a huge smile.
“Thank you. They’re perfect.”

He nodded. She placed everything on the coffee table.

“I’ll get right to the point,” Cooper said. He leaned
forward, his face firm, but sympathy filled his eyes. “Hanna, I sent you and
Marcus here to give you time to recover and keep you safe. Now with Paterson
dead the danger to you has gone.”

Marcus felt his stomach tighten. He’d been expecting this. He’d
known that he and Hanna couldn’t stay here forever. Leonard Paterson, former
Alpha of Silverton, had been pure evil. He’d been behind a number of threats to
Laney’s life, going so far as to kidnap Hanna in order to force Hanna’s mate
Dan to murder Laney.

Once they’d figured out that Leonard was behind everything,
Cooper had killed him and taken over the Silverton pack.

“Some of my enforcers are helping to stabilize the Silverton
pack, and I’ve been splitting my time between the two packs. But I can’t keep
going the way I have been,” Cooper said.

He reached over and grabbed Laney’s hand, squeezing it.
“Especially with Laney pregnant. I need Marcus’ help, which means I have to
pull him away from here, as soon as possible. I’m sorry to do this, but it’s
time we found you somewhere else to go.”

Hanna cursed her fear, fighting to keep it hidden.

She’d known this was coming but she still had no idea what
she was going to do. She couldn’t go back to her pack, there was no way. She
hadn’t escaped that place to be returned to them on a silver platter. And yet
where could she go?

Her wolf wanted to be around a pack.

Her wolf wanted to stay with Marcus… Hanna rubbed her
temples.

She’d been terrified of Marcus when she’d first met him, but
as she’d come to know him she’d realized his grouchy exterior hid a heart of
gold. And for the first time since she’d left the safety of her grandpa’s home,
she’d felt safe.

Stop relying on him and learn to fend for yourself.

She didn’t need anyone else. She could be strong…just not
right now. Not when faced with Rye and his frighteningly cold eyes. He tried to
make himself seem harmless, but her wolf knew the truth—this one was a cold
killer.

Then there was Cooper, who exuded self-confidence. She
supposed it was that whole Alpha thing, but she was pretty sure he’d been born
that way.

And lastly there was Laney—gorgeous, happy, together Laney.

Urgh.

“Hanna?” Rye queried.

Marcus was important. They needed him. She didn’t know what
that was like. No one wanted her. Being with Marcus had kept the loneliness at
bay, but wolves were pack creatures. She needed a pack, a home.