SEALed Embrace (9 page)

“I’ll
give you an hour to pack and get out of this house,” the alpha called over his
shoulder. “After that, I’ll have my pack escort you out.”

Garren
snorted. He’d like to see some lame-ass wolves try to budge him and his men.
They weren’t going anywhere until they were damn good and ready. Now they had
another problem to face. Where were they going to stay? He didn’t kid himself
and think it would be easy to rent a place in the village. The alpha was
probably on the phone even now telling everyone to turn them away. Well, Garren
would just have to give them an offer they couldn’t refuse. A decent sum of
money, and their life. Because if anyone stood between him and his goal of
protecting his mate, he’d rip out their throats without a second thought.

The
front door slammed and Isi placed her hand on his arm.

“You’re
going to have to leave. There’s no way you’ll find a place in the village,
especially not one big enough for all of us.”

Lee
cleared his throat. “When Parker and I went to get our bags, we saw a big place
up on a hill, nearly hidden in the trees. Blue Victorian looking thing with a
white porch wrapped around it.”

“That’s
the McKutchen place.”

“What’s
the story with it? Is it for rent?” Parker asked.

“It’s
been empty for years. The McKutchens died and left it to their only child, a
son who decided pack life wasn’t for him. He joined the Army and no one’s seen
him since.”

“What’s
his name?” Garren asked.

“Joseph
McKutchen.”

Garren
nodded at Dagan. “See what you can dig up on Mr. McKutchen and a way to contact
him. If we play this right, we might have a place to stay.”

“If
it’s been vacant for years, I doubt it’s livable,” Lee said.

“Someone
cleans it every week,” Isi said. “His parents had it set up in their will so
that if Joseph ever returned the place would be in decent shape.”

“I’m
on it,” Dagan said, as he powered up the laptop sitting in front of him.

Parker
moved around the table to look over his shoulder. “Dude, I’ve never seen
someone with so much SPAM before. When’s the last time you cleaned out your
email?”

“A
while ago,” Dagan muttered. “Could you give me some room?”

Parker
eased back a little. He pointed at the screen and threw back his head and
laughed. “Seriously? How many of those do you get?”

Isi
looked intrigued. “Those what?”

“
Local sluts want to sleep over—Free dating
for life!
” Parker snickered. “Maybe you should take them up on their offer,
Dagan. I can’t remember the last time you had a date.”

“Shut
it.” Dagan cast him a dirty look. “Just because I don’t whore around like you
do, doesn’t mean I don’t date. I’m just a little pickier about where I stick my
dick.”

Garren
coughed. “Language. There’s a lady present.”

Isi’s
eyes widened and she looked around. “Where?”

Parker
laughed so hard Garren worried he’d bust a gut.

“Cute,”
Garren muttered.

Dagan
tapped away on the laptop and then he smiled broadly. “I think I have him.”

“Already?”
Isi asked. “Isn’t that kind of fast?”

“Well,
there’s only one Joseph McKutchen currently in the Army. He’s stationed in
Colorado. Give me another minute and I’ll have his phone number.”

Isi
frowned. “How did you do that so fast?”

“Dagan
has a backdoor into all military personnel files. We’ve had to use it a few times
in the past, so he’s memorized the way in.” Lee smiled. “He may not act it all
the time, but he’s pretty damn smart.”

Garren
tugged on her hand. “Come on, sweetness. Let’s go watch TV and relax until we
hear something. Let’s let Dagan do his thing without such a large audience.”

Isi
melted against his side and nodded her head. If anyone noticed her sudden
compliance, they kept their mouth shut. With that super-sensitive shifter
hearing they all had, he had no doubt that they knew exactly what had taken
place upstairs. He wasn’t sure how he felt about that. The last thing he wanted
was for anyone to be picturing Isi without her clothes.

They
settled on the sofa and Isi curled into his side. Garren figured she was still
feeling the effects of her orgasm if she was being so agreeable. He didn’t
doubt there would be a blow up in his future, once she truly realized what
happened. It hadn’t had time to really sink in yet that they were connected
forever.

Garren
wrapped his arm around her and toyed with her hair. He’d never felt so content
before and he knew he owed it all to the woman at his side. He hadn’t believed
his luck when they’d found her out in the desert. Thankfully, their leads had
panned out, otherwise they wouldn’t have gotten there in time. Just the thought
of losing her before he really had her sent a shiver down his spine. A shifter
spends his entire life looking for his other half, his destined mate. What
would have happened to him if he’d never found her?

He
wasn’t sure how much time passed, but the next time he glanced at the doorway,
Dagan was standing there. His friend looked a little worried.

“What’s
up, Dagan? Did you reach Joseph?”

Dagan
nodded. “Yeah, I reached Joe, and he didn’t have good things to say about this
village. He remembers Isi though. Said she was always a sweet girl and he was
sorry she was having such a rough time of it.”

“What
else? I can tell you’re holding back.”

“He
suggested that we might be looking for more than one person. He said if we had
back-up, we might want to call them.”

Garren
cursed. “Where the hell would we put them? Even if Eli’s team was willing to
come out, there isn’t enough room.”

“Supposedly,
Joe’s house has six bedrooms and a small guest house with another two bedrooms.
Some of us would have to double up, maybe even fit three to a room, but it’s
doable. And with extra men, we could have someone awake at all hours
patrolling.” Dagan shrugged. “It’s something to look into.”

“Who’s
on Eli’s team? Do we even know? I don’t want just anyone out here.”

“Dylan
Weathersby, Colton Ford and Dallas Strickland. I’m not familiar with Dallas,
but I know Dylan and Colton. They’re both good guys. I think Dallas just
mustered out about two months ago, but Dylan and Colton were on a team
together. Colton was scouted by the CIA for their Special Activities Division
when he got out, but he turned them down.”

Garren
tapped his leg with his fingers. “Go ahead and make the call. I’m assuming from
the way you’re talking that Joe gave us permission to use the house.”

Dagan
nodded. “Yeah, he said we could stay there as long as we needed.”

“Then
make the call. Let’s get our stuff rounded up and we’ll get out of here.”

Isi
cleared her throat. “We’re going to need transportation. We can’t exactly walk
that far.”

“What
did you have in mind? Something tells me there isn’t a car rental place around
here.” Garren lifted a brow.

“No,
but we could use my car. I mean, it’s tiny, but it’s better than nothing,
right?”

“You
think four big men, and you, are going to fit in a tiny car?” Garren grinned.
“I think we’re going to need something a little bigger.”

Isi
bit her lip. “Grace.”

Garren’s
brow furrowed. “You think we need to say Grace?”

She
laughed. “No, my friend, Grace. Her brother has a Hummer. He took a six-month
job overseas and won’t be back home for another four months. Maybe we can
borrow it.”

Dagan
tossed her his cell phone. “Call and ask. We’re running out of time to get out
of this joint before your alpha returns.”

Isi
quickly dialed the number and put the phone to her ear. She smiled. “Grace, this
is Isi. And before you ask, I’m fine.”

She
glanced at Garren. “Grace, I have a favor to ask. You know Jeremy’s Hummer? Is
anyone using it right now?”

Garren
decided the conversation needed to be handled over the speaker so everyone
could hear what was being said. He took the phone from Isi and pushed the
speaker button.

“—Jeremy
left me the keys and said I could do what I wanted with it while he was gone,”
Isi’s friend said. “Why? Do you need to use it for something? You aren’t moving
are you? I saw your place was up for rent.”

“Slow
down, Grace! No, I’m not moving. Not exactly.”

“What’s
that supposed to mean?” Grace asked.

“It
means she’s under our protection until we figure out who’s behind her
kidnapping,” Garren answered.

“Who
is this?” Grace demanded. “What are you doing with Isi?”

Garren
smiled. It was nice that Isi had someone so protective of her. “My name is
Garren Douglas and I’m one of four who found Isi and brought her home. She’s
staying with us, for safety reasons.” He paused. “And because she’s my mate.”

Grace
squealed on the other end. “Isi, you found your mate? That’s fantastic! I can’t
wait to meet him. We
must
do lunch
soon.”

Garren
chuckled. “We’re moving into the McKutchen house tonight. Why don’t you stop by
tomorrow? You can bring Hailey with you, and any other friends Isi has. I’m
sure she’d be happy to see everyone.”

“We’ll
be there,” Grace promised. “Now, about the Hummer, I don’t have a way to get it
to you and get back home, but if someone could come pick it up, you can use it
for as long as you need.”

Dagan
indicated the door with a nod of his head.

“Dagan
O’Neal will come pick it up. I’m assuming Isi knows how to get to your house
from here?” Garren asked.

“Oh
yes. Isi’s been over here several times.”

“Dagan
will see you shortly, Grace. And thank you.”

“Welcome,”
she chirped before disconnecting the call.

Isi
gave Dagan directions. Thankfully, Grace only lived six blocks away so it would
be an easy walk.

Chapter Four

It
didn’t take long to get set up at the McKutchen house, everyone claiming a
room. Somehow, Isi and Garren ended up with the master suite, not that she was
going to complain too much. After seeing that whirlpool tub, she was more than
happy to make the sacrifice and accept such posh lodgings. Neither Garren nor
she had spoken of their mating since it had happened, and now that the haze of
excellent sex had worn off, she was more than a little pissed at him for losing
control. Not that she’d been much better, but hell if she would admit it to the
lion.

Isi
had overheard bits and pieces of conversation since arriving at the large home
and knew reinforcements were scheduled to arrive by nightfall, if not sooner.
Just what she needed. More men. Not that Dagan and the others were horrible,
but she had her hands full with Garren. And really, there was such a thing as
too much testosterone. There was only so much a woman could take.

As
they drove through town, she’d seen the curious looks from the townspeople, and
had no doubt if it weren’t for her presence, the men would have been hounded by
the single females in the pack. When you grew up in the same place you were
born, and knew the people around you for your entire life, it was a safe bet
that your mate was not from the area if you were still single by the time you
hit your early to mid-twenties. Isi hadn’t known her mate didn’t live within
the pack, but she’d just assumed that he hadn’t wanted to claim her since she
was defective.

Oh,
how wrong she’d been!

From
the corner of her eye, movement caught her attention and she turned. Lee was
lounging at the end of the porch, propped against the side of the house. He
gave her a nod of acknowledgment and then went back to scanning the area.

“For
the love of God!” She huffed. Four men in the house, well three now, and she
couldn’t even sit on the porch without a male present? Did they think someone
was going to snatch her in broad daylight, right from under their noses? Once
they saw the four hulking men following her around, they would have to be
stupid to try anything. Isi was convinced that she’d never been safer than she
was now that she was surrounded by Garren and his team.

She
rose from the porch swing and stepped down into the yard. Behind her, she heard
Lee walk across the porch and felt his presence behind her a moment later.
Grinding her teeth in frustration, she balled her hands at her sides and fought
the urge to spin around and blacken his eye. She reeled herself in, knowing
that it wasn’t Lee she was upset with so much as the situation and Garren’s
overprotectiveness. He was going to smother her, but she’d be damned if she’d
let him.

“I’m
not helpless,” she ground out, not bothering to turn around.

“I
know that,” Lee said. “But orders are orders, and I was told to keep an eye on
you.”

“Is
your eyesight so poor that you can’t see me from a few yards away on the porch?
Must you shadow my every step like I’m some errant child who will run off the
moment you look away?”

“Damn,
Isi!”

She
sighed. “It’s not you. It’s Garren that has me so pissed off. I don’t mean to
take it out on you, but you’re… convenient.”

“If
you’re going to get into it with Garren, let me know now and I’ll make myself
scarce later. All that damn roaring he does gives me a headache.”

She
smirked, knowing exactly how he felt. Garren definitely had a mighty roar and
he wasn’t afraid to use it, but Isi had learned long ago that it didn’t take a
big voice to make your point. If you grabbed a man by his balls, chances were
he was going to listen to you, especially if you tightened your grip for emphasis
on the important words.

Isi
wound her way through the garden, which was surprisingly lush with flowers and
topiaries. She’d known someone was keeping the house in order, but she hadn’t
realized they were gardening too. And doing an excellent job by the looks of
things. When she tired of having a shadow trail her around the property, she
went back inside and flopped down on the couch.

Lee
disappeared, leaving her alone for the first time since arriving at the
McKutchen home. She half expected Dagan or Parker to pop up at any moment, just
to make sure she was where Lee had left her, like a good little girl. She had
news for them, though. She hadn’t been a good girl in a long time. Oh, she
followed the pack rules, to a point, but she’d never been a perfect daughter,
certainly not the daughter her parents wanted. Truth be told, their love for
her had waned even before the non-shift. It just had been the catalyst they
needed to avoid her completely. They’d still given her a roof over her head and
a pantry full of food, but there had been no more family meals, no more
conversations… no more attempts at being a real family, something she’d always
craved.

Isi
had seen how Tomi was with her parents before they passed and she’d always
wanted to be a part of it. Her friend had included her as much as possible, but
there was only so much she could do. It wasn’t fair to intrude on their family
gatherings, and truth be told, their togetherness always kicked her right in
the chest. Isi knew she had problems, like the big gaping wound her parents had
left in her life, but everyone had issues of some sort. Granted, not everyone
had an entire town that hated them, but not everyone could be special like Isi.

She
snorted. “Yeah, real friggin’ special. They avoid you like the plague, except
for when they remember how much fun it is to pick on you.”

“Did
you say something?”

She
jolted and looked at the man intruding on her space. “Who the hell are you?”

He
gave her an easy smile and held out his hand as he approached. “Dylan Weathersby.
And you must be Garren’s mate, Isi.”

“Not
by choice,” she snarled.

His
eyebrows rose into his hairline and he rocked back on his heels as he withdrew
his proffered hand. “Alrighty then. I see you’re a touch upset about the whole
mate thing.” He nodded. “Understandable.”

“You’re
the only one who thinks so. The others think I should fall at Garren’s feet and
be grateful he took me as his mate.”

He
cleared his throat. “I hope they didn’t phrase it quite like that.”

“Maybe
not in so many words,” she mumbled. “But the intentions were the same!”

“Or
maybe they’re just happy the two of you found each other. It isn’t every day a
man finds his mate. I always thought women looked forward to it too.”

She
shrugged. “Maybe once upon a time I did. I outgrew fairy tales a long time ago
though. I don’t understand how he can decide he wants me forever just because
of the way I smell. Just because my scent appeals to him, it doesn’t mean we
should spend eternity together.”

“First
off, it’s more than you smelling nice. Don’t you understand how the whole mate
thing works? I mean, you are a shifter, right?” He leaned forward and sniffed
at her. “Cat?”

“Ocelot.
How did you know? I’ve never been able to tell what types of shifters are
around me, and as far as I know, no one in this pack can either.”

He
frowned. “That’s most unusual. You don’t have a heightened sense of smell?”

“I
thought I did.”

“Hmm.
We’ll have to figure it out later. Right now, I need to go claim a room before
my teammates beat me to it. I’m sure this is the start of a beautiful
friendship, Isi.” He flashed her a smile. “It helps if you like the person
you’re guarding and I can tell I’m going to like you just fine.”

She
wasn’t certain what to make of his words and watched him walk out of the room.

Everyone
seemed to think that finding Garren was something of a miracle. She’d grown up
hearing tales of what happened when you found your mate, but she’d always
thought it would be a little more romantic than a few sniffs, some licks, and
then bam! He fucks you and claims you, forever tying the two of you together.
She supposed she should be content she at least got a few orgasms out of the
deal, but deep in her heart, she was a little disappointed.

Perhaps
she was being ungrateful, but she’d always thought she’d have time to get to
know her mate better before being claimed. She’d wanted flowers and chocolates,
long walks hand in hand, evenings spent with their parents while they bonded as
a family. Instead, she ended up with a rumbly lion who liked to dictate what
she should and shouldn’t do, fucked her to within an inch of her life, then
left her to her own devices while he talked shop with his team.

All
right, so in all fairness, he was trying to protect her, and that made him
something of a white knight. She had to give him points for that, even if she did
think he was going overboard. But with all of the patrols he was setting up,
all of the men with guns wandering around, when would there be time for
romance? Didn’t she deserve soft words and fragrant blossoms? Didn’t she
deserve some sort of affection and not just a stamp that declared she belonged
to him?

“I’m
not property,” she grumbled.

“No
one said you were,” Garren said, entering the room. “Why do you think you’re
property?”

Her
cheeks flushed and she looked away. Garren reached out, gently taking her chin,
and turned her face toward him. “Why do you feel like property?” he asked
again.

“We
don’t have a traditional relationship, not even by shifter standards. You just
decided you wanted me so you marked me. Can you honestly tell me you feel
something for me? Other than lust, that is. I think it’s quite evident you feel
that
. But what of love? Will you ever
come to love me?”

He
frowned. “I don’t believe in love. What we have is stronger than that human
emotion. You were destined for me, Isi. There is no other woman in the world I
will ever want as much as I want you. I’ll never stray from you and you’ll
always be the most important person in my life.”

“I
want more. Maybe that makes me selfish, but I had dreams, just like all the
other little girls. I dreamed some strong, handsome man would sweep me off my
feet, shower me with affection, and declare his undying love for me.”

His
frown deepened.

“Don’t
you understand, Garren? I want the one thing that has always been missing in my
life. Most people have parents who love them, siblings who have some affection
for them, but growing up I had no one. My parents tried to be good to me before
they found out I couldn’t shift, but there was always something lacking. I’m tired
of living a cold existence. I want warmth in my life, and in order to have
that, I need love.”

A
growl rumbled in his throat. “You’re mine, Isi. Nothing is going to change
that. I’m sorry I can’t give you what you want, but there are plenty of women who
would kill to be in your shoes right now.”

Her
face tightened. “I don’t need to hear how desirable you are to other women. You
should be more concerned with whether or not you’re desirable to me.”

“I
thought we’d already established that you desire me just as much as I desire
you.” He stalked closer, wrapping an arm around her waist. “Perhaps you need a
reminder.”

She
opened her mouth to protest and he swooped down to silence her, his mouth
sealing against hers, his tongue thrusting between her lips. The taste of him
exploded on her tongue and she found herself pushing at his shoulders. As he
explored her mouth, bending her to his will, she fought to keep control of
herself. His arm tightened at her waist, her breasts pressing against his
chest. His lips slowed, sipping at her, and she heard the faint rumble of a
purr.

Isi
slackened in his embrace, unable to fight him. Not this side of him at any
rate. The alpha, domineering male was one thing, but this softer, gentler side?
The almost sweet kisses were her undoing and she melted against him, her arms
winding around his neck. When he pulled back, she looked up at him through
heavy-lidded eyes. Why couldn’t he be like that all the time?

“I
don’t think desire is an issue, do you?” he asked.

“I
never claimed I didn’t desire you. I just said I wanted more than lust.”

“I
would give my life for you. Love isn’t something I’ve ever offered a woman, and
I’m not sure I know how, but I can promise that I will protect you at all
costs, that I will always put you above others.”

She
supposed that would have to do—for now. One of these days she
would
get him to love her, no matter
what it took.

“I
came in here to tell you that you have company. Do you want me to show them in
or would you prefer to entertain them out on the porch?” he asked. “You seem to
like the sunshine and fresh air.”

“Outside
will be fine. Just send them around the corner.”

His
lips tipped up on one corner. “Too late. They’re in the kitchen with the guys,
but I’ll send them out directly.”

She
nodded and stepped back, letting her arms drop to her sides. Isi watched as he
strode out of the room, then she turned and went out to wait for her friends.
She only had three, and knowing them, all three had shown up the moment word
had traveled that she was mated and staying with four hunky men. Well, seven
men now.