Reluctantly Lycan (3 page)

His spine crack
ed and his mouth arched open as he fell to all fours and ran as fast as he could into the woods. Foreign scents assaulted his senses and disoriented him in the strange forest, but he didn’t stop. Thick, black fur hid him against the dark backdrop of the night. Even his pitch eyes aided with stealth. He could have ripped out the throat of anything that crossed his path, but stealth made it easier.

Cool water chilled his large paws when he bolted through a creek. It helped a little, better than a cold shower. He burst into a clearing, stopped, and shook his entire body to shed the excess water. Then, he lifted his head and howled over and over again.

Several hours later, he awoke face down on the damp ground. He’d fallen asleep with his muzzle resting on his paws, but at some point shifted back into human form. Mud covered his body along with the occasional leaf stuck to him. He was buck naked in the middle of nowhere, in a place he didn’t live.

“What did she do to me?” He groaned, rising to his feet. The walk back would be a long one and he didn’t think another shift so soon was a good idea. Besides, it would give him time to think.

For a long time, he’d been furious with her. Mara had left for no reason that he could discern and without telling him she was pregnant. As much as he had denied it, the girl had broken his heart. The pain and anger kept him from tracking her down. He couldn’t bear the insult of begging.

He sighed. Seeing her stirred something old and primitive. All these years and she was as beautiful with that mane of hair as she always had been.
Her scent though, now
that
had become more intense. If that boy, his son, hadn’t walked in Kaden would have taken Marala on the ugly linoleum floor whether she gave consent or not. And it scared him.

The kid looked like him. He couldn’t deny
it. Would probably never be an alpha, though. But whose fault was that? Kaden had let Jak be raised by a woman. Not even an alpha female. Mara’s decisions had left her a plain old bitch.

An urge to shift made his spine tingle, but this time he kept his emotion
s in check. Brooding, he trudged through the unfamiliar forest until he reached the edge where he’d stashed his car. He glanced around before grabbing a gym bag out of the back of the Jeep and dressing in his spare clothing and shoes. It was a wolf necessity. Clothing often went missing or was destroyed during the change.

I made the effort. If they don’t want my help, then so be it.
He began the long drive back home to Tennessee where everything smelled like it was supposed to and there wasn’t a woman making him lose his mind.

“What flowers are good for a first date?” Taylor asked the florist. He’d stopped by after closing up his photography studio for the day. “Wait, give me one of those.” He pointed at a single yellow rose. “It’ll go great with her eyes.”

“That’s sweet. Are you nervous?” The woman asked as she picked the best flower out for Taylor.

He smirked as he swiped his credit card. “Do I look like the type of man that gets nervous?”

The florist, in her fifties at least, blushed. “I suppose not. Good luck.”

“Thanks, but I won’t need it.” He gave her wink before slipping on his sunglasses and heading outside. Confidently, he walked to the small market down the street and purchased the items needed for the dinner he would be preparing. Mara may have been reluctant to accept, but he had no doubts when it came to his charm.

During both her jobs, Mara only went through the motions. Her mind was elsewhere. As if the night hadn’t been stressful enough with Kaden’s surprise visit and Jak calling her a liar, she now had to deal with dinner with Taylor.

As soon as she arrived home, she
would call and cancel the date. The last thing she wanted to do was plaster on a smile for the rest of the evening. What she needed was a bubble bath and time alone to read her library book before it was overdue.

She climbed the stairs slowly, forcing one tired foot in front of the other until she reached her floor. The elevator had been broken for months. When she reached the top, a splash of yellow caught her attention. Forgetting her exhaustion, she picked up her pace until she was in front of the door to her apartment. After a glance around, she bent down and picked up the single yellow rose leaning against the door. Her eyes closed and she inhaled a deep breath. Not once in her life had she been bought a flower. Of course,
she would have to date something other than a Silver Bullet to get gifts.

Taking a deep breath,
she pushed her key into the knob, only to find the door already unlocked. She twisted it and stepped inside to be greeted with a godly blend of spices and Taylor standing at her oven wearing an apron over his silky blue button up and slacks. Coming home to a handsome man and prepared dinner nearly sent Mara keeling over. She
loved
it.

“Hi, Mara.
Dinner is almost ready.” He said.

“Where’s
Jak?” She asked immediately.

“In his room.
Not very sociable, is he? At least he let me in.”

Marala
headed down the hallway. Music came from the room, but she opened the door and checked to make sure her son was fine anyway. She returned to the kitchen. “You’re early.”

“Actually, you’re late.
Rough day?”

“Uh,
kinda.” No one ever asked her that except Jak.

Taylor gave a tiny, crooked smile. “Go ahead and clean up or whatever you do when you get home from work.”

Dumbfounded, she walked toward her bedroom without saying another word. No wonder Jak wasn’t sociable. Her skills were terrible, too. She rummaged through her closet with a frown. Mostly jeans and t-shirts, dark colors. Nothing screamed date clothing. Although, she was the one who said it wasn’t a date in the first place. Everyday clothing would have to do.

She left her room and slipped into the bathroom. After tugging out the hair tie, a
quick ruffle of her long locks had them falling softly over her shoulders. Her head ached a little from where she’d worn the ponytail so severe and tight. Mara washed her face and applied a little make-up. It was hard to remember when the last time she’d used it had been. Deciding her appearance was presentable, she returned to the kitchen.

Taylor was staring at her. “I’ve never seen you with your hair down.”

“It’s more comfortable, but I wear it up so it’s out of the way at work.” She didn’t want him to think she’d done it just for him. “The food smells great.”

“It’s a chicken with secret spices.” He lowered his voice.
“Red pepper and garlic.”

“I don’t think those are secret.”
She whispered back, smiling a little.

“Do not insult the chef, Miss.” He joked and then gave her the same wink he had the florist. It was his kill shot.
Right to the heart.

Even Mara, in all her anxiety and seriousness, wasn’t completely immune to it. That was the thing about guys with natural charisma like Taylor. No one was safe.

“Let me help with something.” She said.

“No.” He placed some tossed salad in three bowls. Then prepared the plates with their chicken and
veges. “Why don’t you take this one to Jak? He would probably be more comfortable in his room.”

“You wouldn’t find that rude?”

“He’s a teenager. They don’t want to eat with their mom’s date.” His grin told her he’d let the word
date
slip on purpose. “I mean, friend.”

She wanted to smile
again, but instead took the food and headed for Jak’s room. This time, she knocked. He glared at her when he opened it. “Taylor made dinner. I know you’re hungry.”

Jak
looked defiant, but the lure of the meal won in the end and he took the items. “Tell him thank you.” He then shut the door in her face.

Her feelings must have been worn on her sleeve because Taylor’s perpetual flirtatious smirk faded. “Whatever happened, he’ll get over it. Kids
get mad at their parents sometimes.” He placed her plate on the table and pulled out her chair. “I can’t believe you’re old enough to be his mom, though. When you said you had a son, I pictured a five year old.”

“Thank you.” She sat down and picked up her fork. “I had him
at a young age.”

Taylor seated himself across from her. “Still, you look like you’re still twenty or something.” He studied her as he shoved a forkful of salad into his mouth.

Wolves aged slowly, even those who never fully transitioned. Her youthful appearance had been easy to explain when she was twenty-five, even thirty, but now in her mid-thirties it had become more difficult. “Do you have children?”

“Me?” He laughed, continuing to eat as they spoke. Mara did the same, though at a slower pace. “I’m a little too self-absorbed for that. Right now, at least. I’ve been focusing on my business.”

“I’ve seen your camera. I thought you were a reporter or something.”

“Photographer.
I have a studio on Main.”

She blinked. “Main Street? That’s all the way across town from the diner.”

“Yeah, I like the pie.” He gave her a smirk while he chewed.

Pie, right
. She quirked a brow. “You know the pie comes out of a box?”

“Mara, you break my heart. I
thought you made it by hand each morning for me.”

A laugh caught her off guard and she coughed. “You’re ri
diculous. Gonna make me choke the chicken.” Her eyes went wide. “
ON
the chicken. Wow. That sounded bad. Back up and erase that from your memory.”

Taylor
busted up, as well, making her face deepen to another shade of red. His laugh, though. She liked it. The slightly rough sound of it, the way his face lit up. The way he looked at her.
Oh no
. Those thoughts had to stop.

“Quit laughing at me.” She
pointed her fork at him.

“I’m laughing with you. It wasn’t even so much what you said as the look on your face.
Priceless.” He shook his head.

After a few minutes when the joking had subsided, she grew serious. “Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

“Why did you insist on all this? You’re an attractive guy. I’m sure the girls are breaking down your door for a date.”

“So you think I’m attractive, eh?” He teased.

“Come on, answer me.” She rolled her eyes, but smiled.

“Okay, so I was doing an odd job for an acquaintance the day I came into the diner and saw you. You were drop dead gorgeous in a natural kind of way. I mean, you weren’t all fake and stuff. Plus, I have a thing for redheads. Then, you were friendly and you never let my glass run completely empty. I hate when the waitress never refills my drink. Loved the hint of southern accent, too.”

Mara, flattered by his compliments
, glanced down. “I guess never running out of soda is a good thing.”

“
You better believe it.” He hesitated, before speaking again. “Do you believe in love at first sight?”

His question caught her completely off guard and her
happy expression faded slowly until it was gone. “No.”

“Me either.
Unless it’s pie.”

She groaned, relieved and strangely disappointed by his comment at the same time. “You’re
a weird man.” The last bite of her meal was taken as she studied him.

“I like to keep you guessing a little bit.”

“Well, that meal was amazing. Most nights it’s too late to cook when I get home. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I’m glad to do it.
Ready for dessert?” He asked.

“There’s des
sert? Let me guess. Pie.”

He gave a small scoff. “I am a man of many tastes. It’s chocolate cheesecake.”

Mara gathered up their dishes and placed them in the sink while Taylor cut the cake. “We can eat in the living room.” She said.

He handed her a plate and nodded. She flicked on the floor lamp while Taylor looked through her CD collection. “Garbage, No Doubt,
Poe, Smashing Pumpkins… you’re stuck in the 90’s, aren’t you?”

“
Sort of. That’s my collection from when I was a teenager. Haven’t bought music for myself in years.”

Jak
came through the house before Taylor could respond. “I’m going to spend the night with Eric.”

“It’s a school night.” Mara said.

“We have a project due tomorrow.”

She sighed, but nodded. “Be careful, okay? You have your pepper spray?”

“Yes. Though you may need it if Dad shows up again.” He lifted his head to Taylor. “Thanks for the food.” Then, he was gone without another word.

Mara found Taylor staring at her when she faced him again. She leaned into the couch and indulge
d in the ultra-rich dessert. “What are you thinking? Go ahead and say it.”

“I’m concerned
as to why you would need to use pepper spray on your son’s father.” He sat down beside her.