Finding Chrissten: Legacy, Book 5 (18 page)

“I don’t like it,” Quinn rumbled.

“It’s not up to you,” Chrissten shot back. She stepped around Hank and went to her brother. He trotted alongside her, not willing to leave her undefended, not for a second. It didn’t matter to him that Quinn was her brother.

“Quinn.” She put her hand on his chest. “I had to see if I could still do it, if I could reach my wolf. I haven’t been able to for such a long time now.”

Shit
. Hank hadn’t known that. And from the looks of Quinn’s face he hadn’t either. He couldn’t imagine not being able to access his wolf. It would be like losing one of your senses. Or worse.

Quinn raked his fingers through his hair. “I didn’t know.” His eyes reflected the horror he felt. “What happened?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe it was because I was so weak. Maybe a part of me was rejecting that part of myself because of all the pain and suffering it brought into my life. I don’t know. All I know is I reached for her one day and couldn’t connect with her.” She lowered her head and sighed. Hank could hear a world of pain in that soft sound. “It was like a part of me was gone.”

Quinn dragged his sister into his arms. Hank felt out of place, like the third wheel. He slowly backed away from the pair. Chrissten’s back was to him as he shifted into his human form and quickly dressed. Quinn glared at him over his sister’s shoulder. Hank ignored him. He didn’t care what Quinn thought. He’d done what was best for Chrissten.

Chrissten pulled away from her brother, turned her head and smiled at him. “Thank you, Hank.”

He didn’t want her thanks. He especially didn’t like the tone of her voice. It was almost dismissive. Like she didn’t want to admit just how intimate things had gotten between them. She was setting up barriers again.

That was okay. He was good at getting around obstacles. Most men would make the mistake of trying to knock down her defenses. Hank was smart enough to know that would only make her reinforce them even more. No, he’d bide his time and sneak around her defenses when the time was right.

“My pleasure.” Those two words said so much. Chrissten blushed and Quinn frowned at him.

Quinn took his sister by the shoulders. “You need to get dressed and come downstairs. Donovan wants to talk to you.”

Hank noted neither sibling called Donovan Brody father. Not that he blamed them. They’d spent their entire lives without him. Yet he was an ally, a strong one, and one they couldn’t turn away. Not with a group of purebloods searching for Chrissten and other females to claim.

Hank could understand their longing for a mate. But he could not, would not tolerate their violence and lack of respect toward females. They were more than simply brood mates. They had rights and feelings that needed to be respected. Any male who hurt a female was the lowest form of scum as far as Hank was concerned, and in need of killing.

“I’ll wait downstairs.” As much as he wanted to stay with Chrissten while she dressed and walk her down, he knew Quinn wouldn’t allow it. He could fight with the other male but it would get him nowhere with Chrissten.

There was a time and a place to fight, and this wasn’t it. Suppressing his urges to remain with Chrissten, he nodded at her and headed toward the door. She put her hand on his arm, stopping him.

She started to say something but stopped. Having Quinn there was seriously putting a damper on things between them. Hank offered her a smile. “It’s okay. I understand.” And he did. Probably better than anyone else.

He knew Chrissten well enough to know she wanted to go after Brian. Maybe her brother knew it, too, but he didn’t think Quinn really believed she would. Hank did. Chrissten was not the same woman she was when she was captured. Her experience had changed her. She was tougher in some ways and extremely fragile in others.

But she was all heart and courage. He knew she didn’t want her family anywhere near Brian and the other purebloods. That’s why he had to find them first. No matter what happened to him, he wanted Chrissten safe and happy in the arms of her family.

He patted her hand, nodded at Quinn and left the apartment.

Chapter Twelve

“What the hell was that?”

Chrissten watched Hank leave, missing his calm and steadying presence already. “Don’t start with me, Quinn.” She turned her back on him and went to the chair where she’d stacked her clothing. She needed to get dressed and go downstairs and deal with her father. Just saying the word felt wrong. Father. He’d never been that to either of them. But that’s exactly who he was.

“Don’t walk away from me when I’m talking to you.” Her brother grabbed her arm and she whirled around, her teeth bared. A low growl came from deep within her and Quinn took a step back, his eyes showing a world of hurt.

Chrissten sighed and rubbed her face. “I’m sorry. But you have no idea what I’ve been though.”

“No, I don’t,” he replied softly. “Because you won’t tell me.”

Guilt threatened to crush her. She didn’t want to hurt her brother, but there were some things she simply couldn’t talk about. She opened her mouth to speak, but her throat closed over. She shook her head instead.

He touched her face. “I know it’s hard.”

She nodded. “It is.” She cleared her throat and tried again. “Be happy for me. I thought my wolf might be lost from me forever.”

“I’m sorry for that.”

“Me too. But it wasn’t your fault.” She willed him to understand. “I had to see if I could reach her. And after that, I needed to see if I could truly accept others of my kind. So when Hank offered to show me his wolf I couldn’t resist.” There was so much more to it than that, but nothing her brother needed to know. What had happened between her and Hank was special and very personal.

“Chrissten.” The pity-laced compassion in his voice threatened to drive her to tears.

“No.” She waved off whatever it was he wanted to say. “I can’t talk about this right now. Not if I have to deal with Donovan Brody.”

“You don’t have to see him if you don’t want to.”

She recognized the signs and knew Quinn was digging his heels in. He could be very stubborn at times. “Yes, I do. I’m not stupid, Quinn. He’s a pureblooded werewolf, plus he’s a friend of Isaiah’s. We can’t insult him, and we may need him if it comes down to a fight.”

“I know.” She could tell he didn’t like that fact any more than she did. The Lawton clan was used to taking care of themselves. It wasn’t easy for any of them to depend on others, to trust them to be there when they were needed.

“I’ll get dressed and then we can go downstairs and meet with Donovan.”

“I’ll wait.” Quinn walked to the window and gazed out over the city.

Chrissten wanted to go to him and reassure him everything was going to be all right. But she couldn’t. She wasn’t sure she believed it herself. What she did know is that she’d protect both her brothers no matter what happened. No one was as important to her as her family.

Hank popped into her head and she hurried into the bathroom and closed the door. She set her bundle of clothing onto the vanity and stared at her reflection. She looked pale but determined. She peered deeply into her eyes and saw her wolf staring back at her.

“I can do this,” she whispered to her other half. “We can do this.” Because when it came down to it, she was both wolf and woman. Complete as one.

It didn’t take her long to dress in a pair of comfortable jeans and a sweater, and in less than ten minutes she and Quinn entered the bar below. There was a good crowd even though it was dinnertime. Her stomach growled at the reminder.

“You can get something from the kitchen as soon as we talk to Donovan.” She should have known Quinn would hear her stomach. She nodded as she studied the room. Hank was in his usual position at the door, the first line of defense, protecting all of them. Because he was more than a bouncer for the club, he was the guard at the gate, the sentinel, the warrior.

His gaze swiveled around to meet hers and Hank’s eyes warmed as they ran over her body. Her skin heated and the hunger in her belly began to turn to another kind. She pulled herself away from his magnetic stare and concentrated on the task ahead.

Donovan Body was seated at a table near the back just beyond the small stage. The tables around him were empty for now, but wouldn’t stay that way for long. Chrissten had quickly realized that Haven was a very popular club in the area and would fill up before the evening was very old.

As it was, the bar was lined with people and more than half the tables were full. The waitresses were winding around the room taking orders and delivering drinks. Behind the bar, both Michael and Benjamin poured and mixed drinks for the clientele. She knew Teague would be in the kitchen and Kevin would help him as needed. Isaiah and Meredith weren’t around, but she knew they wouldn’t be far away. They were probably in the office or possibly off somewhere with Joshua and his mate. After all, they were family and hadn’t seen one another in a while.

Donovan stood as they approached and, once again, she was struck by how alike he and her twin looked. The same build, the same tilt of their head when they were thinking hard about something, the same stubborn jaw and the same blue eyes. Their hair color was different and Donovan was a bit taller than Quinn, but the similarities were uncanny. There was no disguising the fact they were related. Although, thanks to his werewolf genetics, Donovan looked young enough to be Quinn’s brother instead of his father.

“How are you?” Chrissten could hear the genuine concern in Donovan’s voice and it loosened the tightening in her belly.

“Good. Better.” She slipped into the chair Quinn held for her. Her twin waited until Donovan had retaken his seat before finding his own.

Donovan nodded. He hadn’t taken his eyes off her since he’d first seen her walking across the room. It was starting to unnerve her.

He sensed her discomfort and apologized. “I’m sorry. It’s just so amazing to see both of you sitting here.”

She couldn’t begin to imagine what this felt like for him. It was bizarre for her to be at the same table as her father. She glanced at Quinn. He was staring at the man. Brooding.

Bethany was working the floor as a waitress and swung by and put three drinks on the table, beer for both men and a juice for her. The other woman smiled. “Hank thought you might like something.”

Her eyes were once again drawn to the door where Hank stood. He was leaning back against the wall, arms crossed over his wide chest. He looked strong and powerful and determined. He was also watching her.

She picked up her glass and raised it too him. He inclined his head in acknowledgment.

“What’s going on between you and Hank?” Her father’s question was sharp and direct.

Chrissten took a sip of her drink before placing the glass back on the table. Beside her, Quinn stiffened. Bethany gave Quinn’s shoulder a squeeze and then wisely left them alone, working her way back into the crowd.

“That’s not any of your business.”

“It is if he’s sniffing around you. You’re mated to another. I can scent him on you.”

Chrissten laughed, the sound bitter even to her ears. “You don’t get a say in who sniffs around me and who doesn’t. I’m not your responsibility.”

Frustration rolled off Donovan in waves, battering her already frayed nerves. Why was everything a battle with the men in her life? All of them wanted to control her, with maybe the exception of Craig and Hank, although even Hank wanted his own way. She knew he didn’t want her anywhere near Brian. His protective nature wouldn’t condone such a thing.

“I’m your father,” Donovan insisted. He sat forward, his large body radiating power. She jerked back in her seat, wanting to put as much distance between them as possible. Angry as he was, he reminded her way too much of Brian.

Her fear made her stomach churn. Sweat broke out on her brow, followed quickly by anger. Who the hell was he to walk into her life and dictate to her? She placed both her palms on the table. “You’re a sperm donor. And that’s all you’ll ever be if you don’t back the hell off. I’ve had enough domineering males in my life. I have a mate to kill and a life to get back. Until that’s done you’ll have to simply wait your turn.”

She almost laughed at the incredulous look in his eyes. Obviously Donovan wasn’t used to anyone telling him what to do.

He dragged his hands over his face. “I’m sorry. I promised myself I wouldn’t do this.”

Chrissten was slightly shocked by the apology. She didn’t think it was something he did on a regular basis. She inclined her head, silently accepting it.

Donovan shook his head. “You’re too much like me.” He glanced at Quinn and then back at her. “You both are. I wish to hell I’d known about you years ago.”

“It’s no one’s fault. Not really.” And it wasn’t. He’d walked away from her mother not knowing she was pregnant. Her mother hadn’t known how to find him, had been afraid to approach the few other werewolves she recognized for fear of how they’d react to her children. The result was they’d grown up without a father. It happened to children all over the world. It wasn’t a complete tragedy. They’d had a loving mother and they’d had one another and Craig.

“Still. If I’d known about you, your kidnapping would never have happened.”

“You don’t know that,” she pointed out. “From what I’ve learned your pack has had problems too. It seems that nowhere is safe.”