HannasHaven (12 page)

She’d never felt that way when Marcus held her.

Marcus drew back, the glow in his eyes dimming. “I came here
to apologize for that. I should never have looked at you that way, Hanna. I
would never want you to think that I thought you were—”

“A whore? A slut?” she asked. “Because that’s how you made me
feel.” To her disgust, tears welled.

“Hanna.” He held out his hand. She stepped back, falling
against Connor, who steadied her.

Marcus turned to Connor, glaring at him. “Let go of her.”

“I’m her boyfriend; I have every right to touch her,” Connor
taunted.

Dear Lord.

“Her
pretend
boyfriend. You have no reason to touch
her in private. There’s no one around to see.”

“Do you have any idea how hard these last few days have been
on Hanna? While you’ve been here, fucking things up with this pack, she’s been
working her butt off trying to conquer her fears. We had a very short amount of
time to get her used to us. And that meant touching her constantly. Schooling
her on everything about us, our trip, our lives. You think this sort of acting
is easy when she doesn’t know us, doesn’t trust us, and the one person she does
trust is acting like a prick?”

“Connor,” Hanna said uneasily. But Connor ignored her,
stepping to her side to take her hand.

“I, for one, am really proud of how far she has come. Three
days ago, she couldn’t even look me in the eye. Now she doesn’t flinch when I
touch her. Well, not on the outside anyway. You have no fucking idea how hard
this is on her and then you go and look at her like she’s shit on your shoe. Well
done. No wonder you’re having trouble holding this pack together,” Connor scorned.

“Connor,” she reprimanded.

But to her surprise, Marcus nodded and eased back. “You’re
right. I was totally in the wrong this morning just like I’m out of order right
now.”

Hanna’s tightly coiled trepidation loosened.

“Tink, I’m so sorry. I was so out of line this morning. I
had no right to judge. I just… Shit, I didn’t know I was going to react that
way when I saw all of you together.”

“I was really looking forward to seeing you again,” she
whispered. “I missed you.”

His face softened. “I missed you too, sweetheart. Forgive me
for being an asshole?”

Her heart tripped, a feeling of peace stealing over her at
his words. She nodded. “I guess things haven’t been that easy here either?”

Marcus smiled wryly. “You could say that. I have no idea why
Cooper put me in charge. Look at how things ended tonight. Four days here and I
already have a challenge to my authority.”

“It’s a good thing.” Everyone turned to look at Cade

“What do you mean?” Marcus asked.

Cade shrugged. “It had to come eventually, right? They don’t
know you. They don’t know your strengths and weaknesses. They need to know you’re
strong enough to lead. From what I learned about Leonard, any challengers to
his leadership would have disappeared, so it’s a good thing that they feel safe
enough to challenge you.”

Marcus stared at him in amazement. “Yeah, I feel real good
about it,” he said sarcastically.

“Didn’t say it was going to be easy,” Cade said. “You need
to beat him but not kill him. You kill him and they’ll instantly hate you. But
beat him fairly and you may win some of them over. Of course it would help if
you were friendlier. Your personality probably turns a lot of people off.”

Connor snorted. “You get used to him,” he offered to Marcus.

Cade nodded. “It’s the coyote’s fault.”

* * * * *

Marcus, in wolf form, jumped toward Ryder, snapping at the
smaller wolf warningly. Why the fuck didn’t he stay down? Marcus pounced,
bowling the other wolf over then grabbing his back leg, biting down, careful
not to use his entire strength. He didn’t want to permanently harm the other
wolf, just show him who was stronger. Who was in charge.

Him.

Ryder twisted, scrambling free only because Marcus didn’t
want to tear his skin away. Limping, he turned with a snarl, eyes bright but
filled with pain. Marcus met his challenge, baring his teeth, his low growl
filling the quiet clearing. People crowded around, watching, some faces
anxious, others filled with anticipation.

Ryder attacked, springing forth. But he was slowing down and
Marcus twisted away at the last moment, letting the other wolf land heavily
before pouncing on him, this time biting down on the other wolf’s vulnerable
neck. He applied pressure as Ryder tried to move.

Time to end this.

Each time Ryder attempted to throw him off, Marcus applied
more pressure until the other wolf gave in with a whimper, his whole body going
lax.

Marcus stepped back, panting heavily. Somehow, victory
wasn’t as sweet as he’d hoped it would be.

* * * * *

Marcus barely bit back a groan of pain as he sat on the sofa
in his living area. He looked around at his opulent surroundings and made a
mental note to have someone come in and clear the place out. Leonard had
enjoyed surrounding himself in expensive things. But the guy had zero taste.

The effect was an overload of eclectic items that didn’t go
together. A rug made from bear skin lay in front of an ornate marble fireplace.
Rich red drapes with gold tassels covered the windows. On the walls there was a
mix of art. At least all the sculptures followed a theme. They were all nudes,
many in sexual poses.

“Nice place, isn’t it?” Josiah commented, sitting across
from him. “I’ve always liked this piece, personally.” He nodded at a sculpture
on the table next to him. A male nude sat on a bench while a female knelt
between his legs, obviously sucking him off.

Marcus grimaced, wincing as his lip throbbed. Seemed there
wasn’t one inch of him that didn’t ache. His only comfort was that Ryder had to
be feeling worse.

Well, physically anyway.

“What the hell am I doing?” he sighed. “I’m no leader. Look
at how I’ve already fucked things up. Why the hell didn’t Cooper put Rye in
charge?”

Josiah snorted. “Rye’s a good strategist and fighter, but
there’s no way he could deal with all levels of a pack. The man has no softness
in him, little empathy.”

“And I do?”

“You’re feeling like crap right now, aren’t you? And I’m not
talking about your injuries.”

“Of course I’m feeling like crap. I just injured a man I
barely know.”

“He challenged you.”

“He was sticking up for his pack. I’ve probably managed to
alienate the whole fucking lot of them now.”

“You didn’t kill him. Others would have.”

Marcus rubbed his hand over his eyes.

Josiah stood and patted his shoulder. “You did the right
thing. You couldn’t let the challenge go unanswered. We’re wolves, we respect
strength and leadership. You showed both today. Don’t beat yourself up. You’ve
already got enough bruises.”

“Ha ha,” Marcus replied.

“Go get some ice for that face,” Josiah said as he left.

Marcus sat there for a while longer before he gathered up
enough energy to move. His face throbbed, telling him he’d better take Josiah’s
advice if he wanted to see out of his eye tomorrow. Werewolves healed fast if
they changed. But he didn’t trust himself to let the wolf free right now. He
was feeling territorial and aggressive, especially knowing Hanna was in the
house.

Damn, I have to get a better hold of myself.

Stiffly he walked down the stairs toward the kitchen. The
scent of chocolate and cinnamon wafted through the air.

“Alpha, there you are.”

Marcus came to an abrupt stop as a tall, thin female stepped
in front of him. Olivia. He only remembered because she’d made a point of
introducing herself on the first day. And had made it very clear that he was
welcome in her bed anytime.

He barely repressed a shudder as she stepped too close,
running her finger down his chest.

“I’m not the Alpha.” Marcus grabbed her hand, pulling it
away from his body.

Temper flashed through her eyes then was quickly snuffed as
she pressed closer. He had to fight the urge to scamper backwards. Instead he
stood his ground, staring down at Olivia sternly.

“Oh, but you soon will be. You’re so strong, so masterful.
You certainly showed that idiot Ryder who is in charge. I really do appreciate
an Alpha male.” She licked her lips.

Marcus frowned. “Excuse me. I was on my way to the kitchen.”

Olivia glanced up at him. “Oh, there’s nothing worthy of
your attention in the kitchen. If you’re hungry, send one of the others to get
you food. I was thinking about taking a walk in the woods. Won’t you join me?”

“No thanks.” He stepped around her, ignoring her surprised
squeal and muffled curses. He had tried to be polite, but it wasn’t him.

And she was keeping away from the one person he really
wanted to see. He stepped into the kitchen as Hanna placed some chocolate
brownies on a plate.

“Who are those for?” he asked.

Turning, she gaped at him in surprise. “Ahh, hi, I didn’t
think anyone else would be down here.” Her eyes widened as she took him all in.
“Oh no, look at your poor eye. Do you want some ice?”

Marcus knew he should try to keep some distance between
them, instead he found himself sitting at the table, relishing the attention as
she bustled around, fussing over him.

“Here you go.” She wrapped some ice in a clean towel and
held it up to his face. “Shouldn’t you change?”

“No, can’t risk it.”

Frowning, she stood back and looked at him.

“You didn’t come to watch,” he said suddenly, surprising
himself.

Hanna busied herself with the brownies. “No. I didn’t. I
decided to do some baking instead. I heard that you won though.”

“I did.”

“You don’t sound too happy about it.” She placed the last of
the brownies on the plate. Then, almost as an afterthought, she got another
plate and placed one brownie on it, putting it on the table before him.

“Yeah, well, I’m not sure it was the right move.” How the
hell did other Alphas do this?

“And that’s exactly why you’re the right person for this job.”
She placed a soft hand on his shoulder. Immediately a surge of arousal overcame
him. “Because you think of others. You think their old Alpha ever worried about
how his actions affected others? No. Because he didn’t care. You care and they
will see that. Now, I have to go deliver these brownies.”

Marcus frowned, jealous over whoever she’d been baking for
while he’d been out defending himself.

“Who are they for? Connor and Cade? Surely they can wait.”

“Umm, no, they’re for Ryder.”

Shock was swiftly chased by anger. “Ryder? Why the hell are
you baking for him?”

Hanna stared at him, biting her lip, a look he hadn’t seen
from her in a long while. It instantly made him feel like shit and he reeled
back his temper, knowing he was mostly angry at himself.

“Don’t you think it’s a bit late to go visiting?” he asked
abruptly.

Ryder and Blair lived in a cabin on the grounds, along with
a few of the others. Only Leonard’s favorites had been allowed to live in the
mansion with him, while everyone else lived in badly built cabins in the woods.

“I want to see him before he leaves,” she explained.

“Leaves? He’s not going anywhere.”

Hanna looked dumbfounded. “But he has to. You defeated him.”

“Tink, I know they did things differently in your pack. But
just because I defeated him doesn’t mean he’s kicked out of the pack.”

She stared at him with those amazing violet eyes that seemed
to see so much. “I know my pack did things differently, but from what I’ve
heard, the way this pack operated was pretty similar to my own, right?”

Her words hit him in the gut.
Shit, I’m an idiot.

“I’ll escort you,” he told her.

Nibbling at her lip, she stared at his chest.

“Hanna, look at me.”

“No.”

“I know I was an asshole earlier, but please, don’t be
afraid of me. Look at me.”

She raised her gaze and looked at him with some trepidation.

“Just say it,” he urged.

“Do you think it’s a good idea? I mean, you are the reason
he’s leaving.”

Marcus sighed and moved to the door. “Come on.”

He had to refrain from touching her as they walked toward the
small cluster of cabins where Ryder lived.

“Maybe I should go first,” she suggested as they got closer
to Ryder’s cabin. It went against his protective nature, but he nodded and
Hanna walked up the steps to knock on the door.

Blair opened it. Her face was mottled, her eyes bloodshot
from crying.

“Anna! What are you doing here?” she asked in a friendly
voice. Then she glanced over Hanna’s shoulder, spied him and froze.

“Umm, I baked some brownies for Ryder. Marcus met me on the
way here. May we come in?”

“Sure,” she said somewhat reluctantly. But, reaching out,
she grabbed Hanna’s hand. Marcus expected Hanna to flinch, knowing she didn’t
like anyone touching her. Well, except him and those asshole twins.

He bit back the growl forming on his lips.

But Hanna didn’t flinch. Instead she smiled at the other
woman and handed over the plate of goodies.

“You baked these?” Blair asked with surprise.

“Yes, is Ryder around?”

“He’s packing.” Blair glared at Marcus. “I need to do the
same.”

Hanna bit her lip in worry. “You’re both leaving.”

“Yes.” They carried on their conversation as though he weren’t
there and for the moment he let them, surprised by how much he could learn.
They chatted away as though they’d known each other for years. Funny, he’d
figured he’d have to help Hanna adjust. Yeah, she didn’t need any help at all. Meanwhile,
he was floundering.

And the damn woman had been here only two seconds.

“I have to. He’s my brother, my only family. I think Rafe
and Honey will come with us. We’ll find another pack. We’ll be fine.”