Healed: True Mates Book 3 (Wolf Shifter) (A Craggstone Paranormal Romance) (2 page)

“And I’m her Beta. So, if any of you have any problems, you’ll be going through me,” Tarq drawled easily from over my shoulder, then moved to stand by my side.

All eyes flicked to my right, and most widened, taking in his large stature. Though I noticed a few that narrowed, their accompanying feminine gasps not needing any interpretation.

Narrowing my own, I cleared my throat, bringing their attention back to me. “Pack meeting in two hours. Send out the message and make sure everyone attends.” Zeroing in on the woman with the shaking hands, I beckoned her forward, indicating that everyone else could continue doing whatever they had been doing. “What’s your name?” I asked when she reached me. Her eyes were downcast, her posture submissive.

“Kate,” she whispered, her gaze flicking up for a second, then returning to the floor.

What the hell had Eric done to this pack? I looked at the woman and willed her to stand up for herself, to meet my eyes. Nobody in the Colstone pack groveled to James. One, he would hate it, and, two, he didn’t need people groveling to lead the pack. He led fairly, treating everyone as equals, as family. Even though I hadn’t fit in, I had felt it, the pull of a well-functioning, healthy pack. I didn’t feel that here. This smelled more like a dictatorship.

“Nice to meet you, Kate,” I replied, and I noted the flare of surprise. “Would you mind showing my Beta and myself to our rooms?”

“Tarq,” the aforementioned Beta interjected, adding, “Nice to meet you.”

“Sure,” Kate replied, flashing a small smile at Tarq, who grinned back. She turned, leading us back out into the entrance hall, and started up the stairs.

I bit back a snide comment and waited for the expected flirting to begin. But Tarq hung back, walking behind me, his eyes darting around, taking everything in.

When he caught me staring, he shrugged, pulling a comical face. “Sure would be easy to get lost in here.”

But I could tell he had been searching for danger, watching my back, and despite myself, I felt a small bit of tension dissolve.

Coming to the top of the stairs, Kate hesitated, turning to us. “Is it two rooms, or…?” She let the question hang in the air, darting quick, appreciative glances at Tarq.

“Two.” I tried not to snap, but my wolf was baring her teeth at the younger woman for reasons I wasn’t going to explore. Refused to explore. I needed Tarq focused on the task at hand, not off flirting and bedding. That was it.

“Next to each other. In case Amanda needs me during the night…?” This time it was Tarq’s turn to leave a question hanging in the air, his face a picture of innocence.

Kate nodded, her face falling, and turned left, leading us down a narrow hallway, halting outside a wooden door. “These two are free and should be big enough. They are always kept ready for guests of the Alpha.” She blushed, realizing what she had just said. “But you’re the Alpha, and not guests, of course. But the Alpha’s rooms aren’t ready. They need cleaning and clearing out…”

I laid a hand on her arm, halting her stumbling apology. “These are fine. Thank you. Is there someone who deals with the kitchen, a pack cook maybe?”

She nodded, her eyes wide and riveted on where I still touched her arm. “Monica.”

“Would you tell Monica to prepare a meal for the pack, to be eaten in two and a half hours? And that I will come down to the kitchen to meet her when I have a free moment?”

Kate nodded again and retreated up the hallway. She was starting to remind me of one of those bobble head toys, the kind that when you flicked the over-sized head, they kept on nodding.

I pushed open the first door, happy to see a large, comfortable looking bed, neatly made up with large, fluffy pillows and a bright white comforter. What I would give to collapse in a heap, pull the covers over my head, and not face the crowd downstairs.

“You want this one?” Tarq came up behind me, peering over my shoulder. Not that he struggled to see over me, since I only came up to the top of his chest. He ducked past me, moving lightly on his feet, and threw himself on the bed, the frame shuddering and creaking under his weight. Kicking his shoes off, he rested his head in his hands, linking them like a cushion, before letting out a low, rumbling sound of satisfaction.

I just stared at him in disbelief. What was he playing at?

He rolled onto his side, resting his head on his hand, elbow crooked. His t-shirt had ridden up slightly, exposing a thin line of tanned flesh, the hint of washboard abs.

I licked my lips, an involuntary action I immediately regretted when I saw the answering flare of heat in his eyes. The slowly rising eyebrows. The smirk tugging at his lips.

“You want to share?” He patted the bed next to him invitingly, his biceps bunching with the move, t-shirt sliding up a little more.

I wanted to bolt, but I had to stand my ground. I was an Alpha now, dammit! “Rooms next to each other was unnecessary,” I ground out, locking my legs. They didn’t know which way they wanted to bolt, out of the door, or toward the bed—and the delicious looking man adorning it.

I mentally reminded myself of what I was looking for in a mate, driving home the fact that Tarq wasn’t it. He didn’t have half of the qualities that I required, and a lot that I certainly didn’t want. But then again, maybe he wasn’t looking for a mate, which actually fit my criteria. He certainly didn’t seem to want to settle down and have pups, didn’t seem the type. Too easygoing and carefree.

Tarq
might
be able to relieve some of my stress…and he didn’t seem to be looking for forever. Neither was I, whether I found a mate or not.

I tilted my head, eyeing him thoughtfully. Maybe I
should
consider him. After all, I didn’t want a true mate—just a father for my pups.

I had sworn to that, and I intended to keep my promise.

CHAPTER TWO

Tarq

What the hell was going on in that beautiful blond head of hers? One minute, she was looking at me with barely disguised fury in her eyes, her wolf peeping out to play, the next, she was staring at me, and I could
see
the cogs turning. Her amazing mind weighing up and dismissing possibilities, considering.

But what was she considering? And why the hell was it taking her so damn long?

It had started out as a way to wind her up and throw her off balance, moving into her space and claiming what was hers. I’d been hoping to rile her up, giving me the chance to flirt and tease. The first step in my plan for seduction.

This—? I hadn’t been prepared for. She was viewing me like she was actually considering my offer. Which meant…what? I was drawing a blank. Hadn’t a clue. But if she wanted to climb onto the bed with me, I sure wasn’t going to say no!

She opened her glossy lips, and my breath caught in my throat. Just one touch, one taste, and I’d be able to convince her that we were destined to be together. But I wasn’t going to press her, no, I wanted her to come willingly. It was the only way with a woman like Amanda, one so strong and independent. She had to admit that she wanted me. It was the only way.

And I didn’t force women. Ever.

“I think I’ll pass.”

What? I had been so sure that she was considering it—me. I searched her face, freezing my own in its smirk. I thought I saw a glimmer of regret, but I could have been wrong, it was wiped away so fast.

I rolled onto my back, looping my arms under my head. “Your loss.”
Play it cool, careful steps.

“I think we need to get some things straight.” She marched further into the room, crossing over to the dresser and pulling out the chair. Sitting down, she crossed her legs primly, smoothing her hands over her jeans.

I wanted to roll off the bed, stride over to her, and drag her to her feet. I’d pull her up tight against me until I could hear her heart beating next to mine, then I’d taste those lips. The same lips that had been haunting me for weeks now, invading my dreams, causing me to wake up gripping my aching, hard cock, straining for release. Yep, I’d kiss the pout right off those luscious lips.

I grinned at her, knowing it annoyed her, and sure as anything, she scowled back at me.

“Do you always have to look so happy? Is nothing serious to you?”

She
was. But I wasn’t going to let that little fact out of the bag. “I’m a happy guy,” I drawled, shrugging.

Her frown deepened, even as her eyes flicked from my face down to my stomach, then dragged back to my face.

She eventually continued, though her words seemed a little strained. “I need to know if you are going to support me, actually be reliable, and not be messing around with some…” She trailed off, flicking her fingers in the air.

I wasn’t going to let her get off that easy. “Some…?” I raised my eyebrows in question.

“You know what I’m saying,” she replied dismissively.

“No. Actually. I don’t.” I was getting angry, and I hardly ever got angry, but what kind of guy did she think I was?
Who
did she think I was?

“What you do on your downtime is up to you—”

“Don’t you mean
who
I do?”

“Exactly. But when we’re working, which we are here, I need you one hundred percent behind me.”

“Behind you? Now
that
can be arranged…” I leered at her, but inside, I was fuming. “Anyway, aren’t you the one looking for a mate?” Everyone at Colstone knew that Amanda was on the prowl, assessing candidates—like choosing a mate was as simple as popping out to the grocery store for a jar of sauce. I’d always been amused, but now that I knew she was my mate? Not so much. At all.

“Yes, I am. But that won’t interfere with my work. My duties as Alpha.”

“But
me
getting laid would? While you taking a
mate,
for fuck’s sake, wouldn’t?”

“Any future mate that I decided on would have to understand that I have commitments, duties to attend to—”

I sprang off the bed and her lecture ground to a sudden halt, her mouth dropping open in a perfect ‘O’ as I stalked toward her. “Like a fucking
business
transaction?
That’s
what you want?” I couldn’t keep the incredulity from my voice. The woman had lost it!

She jumped to her feet, backing away from me until her ass hit the dresser. “Why not? It’s got to be better than losing my head over some guy.”

“Don’t you mean losing your heart?”

She flinched. Jackpot!

“That would never happen—”

I stalked closer, cornering her. “Why not? Maybe you just haven’t met the right guy yet.”

“Maybe he isn’t out there…”

“Maybe you just haven’t been kissed by the right guy yet?”

I didn’t wait for answer, dragging her to me and stealing the breath from her lips with my own. Her lips tasted like candy, the gloss sticky and sweet. I groaned against her lips, pressing harder, rubbing the seam with my tongue, asking her to let me in, just for a taste.

It was like she had been made for me, her body fitting snugly against mine, her softness yielding in all the right places. Her scent invaded my nose, green tea and grapefruit. Nothing sweet about my mate, she was utterly complex and full of zest. Perfect.

And I now knew for sure, was one hundred percent certain that Amanda was my
true
mate. My wolf howled inside my head, the good-natured beast overjoyed at finding his twinned soul mate.

Which meant, she would know, too.

She moaned softly, her lips parting, and I swept in, claiming her mouth, my fingers threading into her silky hair, imagining the strands drifting over my skin, teasing and tantalizing, as she rode me hard and fast.

She kissed me back, fighting for control as I had known she would, unwilling to yield—even in lust. Tugging my hair hard, she deepened the kiss even further, her teeth knocking against mine with a ferocity that nearly bowled me over.

Pressing her back against the dresser, I urged her to sit and wrapped her long legs around my waist, allowing me to press fully against the scorching heat between her legs, the moist arousal that I could smell, could almost taste on my tongue.
Soon
, I promised myself, reining in the need to rip her jeans off and tongue her pussy like I was tonguing her mouth.

My hand reached for her top, wanting to rip it off, to feast my eyes on the softness I felt pressing against me, but she startled, pulling away abruptly.

Her eyes were ringed with amber, her wolf close to the surface, lust flushing her cheeks pink.

“Babe, don’t think too hard,” I murmured, moving back toward her, but she stopped me with a hand on my chest.

“This isn’t right.”

“Of course it is! You must feel it…?” I growled, stroking her cheek gently.

She flinched back, her eyes wide with suppressed panic. “No! I don’t feel anything. Except lust, which is hardly surprising, as you’re not exactly hard on the eyes.”

I let my hand drop, blinking rapidly, trying to clear the confusion that clouded my head. What did she mean? Why was she denying it?