Three Hours (Seven Series Book 5) (33 page)

“And you’re a pussy. That’s what this is really about, isn’t it? The only way you can feel less inferior is to cage us like animals and rule us with your money. Fuck your money. I don’t have superpowers, so I’m offering you a chance to fight me as a man. I don’t need my wolf to win my battles, in case you haven’t already noticed. You have the advantage, being that I’m wounded and staining your floor with blood. So here’s your chance to really feel like a man and beat the hell out of one of the best. If you knock me out, then you win your money and get immortality. If I win? Well, I just win.”

Wheeler was tickling a sensitive nerve all weak men like Delgado had: ego. Beneath all the layers of power, money, and intelligence, was a small boy on a playground who wanted to be the toughest kid. None of his possessions would ever truly make him feel superior the way a man feels when he uses his fists to settle an argument.

“How do I know you won’t shift?”

“Jesus Christ,” Wheeler grunted. He flipped a coffee table over and broke off one of the legs. “Here, I’ll give you another advantage, unless you’d rather use one of those fireplace pokers.” He tossed the wooden stick and Delgado caught it.

A second passed before Delgado cautiously set the gun down on a table. He gripped the wooden stake in his hand and twirled it a little to get a feel for it.

Wheeler relaxed and widened his stance. The two men approached each other, and Wheeler instinctively held his left arm in front of him to block any attempts Delgado made to strike. Because Delgado was right-handed, his swings would hit the left side of Wheeler’s body. That meant he had to block
and
punch with his left hand since the bullet had gone into his right shoulder, weakening the limb.

Delgado crossed his right arm over his left shoulder and suddenly swung at Wheeler, striking him with the stick on the right arm. When he raised his hand again, Wheeler ducked, taking the blow on his back. Wheeler charged forward and tackled him like a football player.

Wheeler roared, shoving Delgado across the room until he stumbled and fell backward. The two men crashed to the floor and Delgado struck him on his left temple.

“You son of a bitch,” Wheeler growled, gripping Delgado’s arm and slamming it against the hard marble. The wood clanked against the surface and tumbled out of reach.

Delgado threw his fist and Wheeler couldn’t raise his right arm to block, so he head-butted him instead. He heard the crunch of bone before he ever saw the first drop of blood. The second time, Wheeler hit him right between the eyes.

Wheeler lifted his head, dazed for a moment. That’s when he saw his butterfly knife displayed on the wall—as if it were a souvenir of a hunt. It had been in his back pocket when they took him. Wheeler liked using that knife for tricks, and when others asked him if he’d ever used it, he always said he was saving it for a special occasion.

It didn’t get more special than this.

Wheeler stood up and jerked it from the mount, pulling free the hooks that held it in place. There were other curious items displayed around it, which had become a trophy wall and metaphorical graveyard.

Wheeler straddled Delgado, pressing the blade to his throat. “You will
not
destroy my pack. You will
not
tear apart my family. And you will
never
have my woman!”

Wheeler’s wolf remained caged, and the only thing unleashed upon Delgado was retribution and blood.

“Wake up, kitty cat.”

I gazed into Wheeler’s eyes and realized he was holding me on his lap. My left cheek was pressed against his shoulder, and we were in the backseat of a car.

Driving.

At night.

The radio playing “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas.

Austin peered over his shoulder from the driver’s seat and smiled.

God help me, I wept right on Wheeler’s shoulder. He cradled my head and kept smiling down at me. “You knew we were going to make it out of there, right?”

“No,” I said with a laugh of disbelief.

“Yeah, well, I did.”

“Where’s Delgado?”

“I took care of him,” he said, allowing his words to settle. “Put him in the ground on that property where no one will find him.”

“Bastard got off easy,” Austin growled from the front. Lexi’s hand appeared, stroking the back of his neck.

I tried to sit up, but Wheeler lightly shook his head. “Just let me hold on to you.”

“You couldn’t wait to get me in the backseat of a car again, could you?” I teased. “What about the others? We have to go back for them.”

“They’re free. When you didn’t answer your phone, the pack came for you. Austin called the Council and they agreed not to bring in the higher authority. This was Shifter business, and we took care of it.”

“But you killed a human.”

“Doesn’t matter. One of the representatives drove in and witnessed the release of the prisoners. That’s all he needed to see. Fifteen in all.”

“Two teenagers at Reno and Denver’s location,” Austin added.

I twisted to sit up and noticed a thin blanket draped over me. Without looking, I could feel that Wheeler had on pants, thank the Lord. I touched his bare chest and noticed a scar I hadn’t seen before on his shoulder.

“Did you get hurt? What happened?”

“Shot,” he confirmed. “I shifted once, so it’s fine.”

“You were shot? Austin, pull over. He needs to shift again.”

Wheeler smirked. “It’s all right. It’s not the first time. The other one’s beneath my hairline, but this is a scar I’m not going to heal all the way.”

I traced my finger over the wound—the skin slightly puckered and pink—and I curled against him. “Now what happens?”

“We go home.”

Home. That meant an end to this drama, but it also meant ending my time spent with Wheeler. Maybe that’s what made Wheeler holding me in the backseat of Austin’s Challenger so bittersweet. I lifted my hand from beneath the blanket and found his, lacing our fingers together. In the darkness, his tattoos were nothing but shadows, occasionally highlighted by fast-moving streetlamps as we traveled. I listened to the hum of the tires against the road and allowed myself to feel swept away, if even for a moment. I enjoyed him with each passing minute—the feel of his strong arms, the heat of his body, and the way his eyes would twinkle when they looked down at me.

Not once in that cage had I feared Wheeler. When his wolf had approached me with a savage look in his eyes, I’d somehow known everything would be all right. Even now in his arms, feeling his chest rise and fall with each breath, seeing his eyes settle on mine whenever I looked up, I still had that feeling.

And it made me tear up again. Naya James was not a crier, and yet here I was, wrapped up in a blanket in a man’s arms and weeping like a babe. And how could I have ever imagined a man I’d been so rude to—whom I’d spent years bickering with—could be one of the most compassionate souls I’d ever met?

“We’re here,” Austin said. “I have to go back and run some errands, Wheeler. Do you want me to drop you off here, or are you coming with me?”

“I’ll go with.”

My heart sank.

The car slowed to a stop and the engine cut off. Lexi got out and pushed her seat forward so I could climb through the door. When my feet touched the ground, I wrapped the blanket around me and tucked it in like I would a towel.

I glanced up at my apartment, but I didn’t see it. All I saw were trees. Disoriented, I turned around and faced the Weston house, lit up inside as if it had been expecting our return.

“Wait a minute. I thought you said you were taking me home?”

Wheeler hopped out of the car and stood next to me, ruffling his tangled hair. “And that’s exactly where you are, Naya. Home.” He cupped his hands around my neck and looked at me with love shining in his eyes. “I’m not a romantic. I’m scarred, inked, and maybe a little ruined. I regret every shitty thing I’ve ever said to you, because you didn’t deserve it. I’m not a perfect man, but if you’ll have me, I’ll be
your
man. Whatever that means, I’m yours.”

I glanced at Lexi in surprise. “I can’t, Wheeler. I feel the same, but I can’t live here.”

“Why not?”

“I’m a panther. You live in a pack.”

Austin patted the hood of his car. “Naya, I’m the Packmaster. What I say goes, and if you want to mate with this bastard, then I’m not going to stand in your way. You’ve stretched your neck out for us more times than I can count, and you’ve shown more loyalty than most wolves have with their pack. I don’t know how this is all going to work out when I introduce your animal to the wolves in this pack, but we’ll figure something out. It’s unconventional, but hell,” he said with a loud chuckle, “we’ve already acquired a reputation for being a pack of misfits. Besides, having a panther as an ally is a mighty powerful thing.” Austin winked and slid back inside the car.

“Well?” Wheeler asked, his hands resting on my shoulders.

“Are you asking me to be your mate?”

“Naya, I’m begging. I love you too goddamn much to let you go.”

I smirked and pinched his chin. “Only an uncouth man such as yourself would propose using foul language. I accept.”

“One second, before you go in. I got something for you.”

Wheeler tapped on the trunk and it popped open. He reached inside and pulled out a carrier. I heard a frantic meow and my feet propelled me forward.

“Misha?” I bent down and peered inside. “My princess, oh baby! Mama’s here,” I cried, pushing my finger inside the cage and letting her smell me.

I took the cage and set it by my feet so I could face Wheeler. He was grinning at me with all his teeth—something I didn’t see him do very often. So I slapped that grin off his face and then attacked him with a passionate kiss. His fingers clawed at my back and he growled, pressing my body against the car. His tongue went deep and I moaned into his mouth.

“Oh brother,” Lexi said, getting inside the car and slamming the door.

Wheeler finally broke the kiss, out of breath. “Why did you do that?”

I bent down and lifted the carrier. “I slapped you for putting my baby in the trunk of the car, and I kissed you for saving her life.”

He chuckled. “You’re serious about those punishments, aren’t you?”

“Just wait until you see what I have planned for you later tonight for slapping my panther.”

His eyes hooded and he rubbed his cheek. “I might actually like that.”

“Fabulous. Misha is in need of a good brushing.”

“Hey, now. Don’t you think that’s a little extreme? I was only trying to get your panther to kill me.”

I chuckled and ran my fingers through my hair. “I have a feeling we’re going to be at each other like cats and dogs.”

Wheeler made a sexy, deep growl and waggled his eyebrows. I made my way up the driveway toward the porch. Lynn was waiting for me in the doorway, and for the first time in my life, I felt like I belonged somewhere.

Even more, I felt like I belonged with
someone
. And that was even better.

Two days had passed since the night of Wheeler’s rescue
. We’d spent all afternoon preparing the house for the costume party, everyone buzzing around like busy bees.

The pack had accepted our arrangement, although we got a few puzzled stares. I decided to remain in the heat house until I figured out how I fit in with the pack. Austin wanted to introduce my panther to the pack, but Wheeler would have to be present since he was the only one she trusted. And I began to trust my animal, realizing that all these years I’d been stereotyping her just as much as everyone else had. Now I knew she wouldn’t harm anyone I cared for, and I felt genuine love for most of the pack. Some of them I hadn’t gotten to know very well, but I had confidence there wouldn’t be problems.

I only had concerns with Ben. He’d been absent, and it hadn’t gone unnoticed. Neither he nor Wheeler had discussed what had happened between them, but something was going on. I tried cornering Wheeler in my room to talk about it, but he changed the topic by attacking me with kisses.

He was really good at that, and I loved a man who knew how to start a new topic.

I also loved a man who brushed my cat.

“Naya, you look… I mean, is that costume legal?” Lexi asked.

“Only in three states, but we’ll find a way to make do.”

I glanced down at my costume, which was more than I’d be wearing if I were still working at the club. A red satin corset with black trim hugged my body, and a black ruffle skirt hung from my hips, short in the front with a slight tail in the back. What really set it off was the garter belt and heels. All our costumes came with masks—mine was a simple black mask over the eyes with feathers on the side.

“Austin still hasn’t seen my outfit,” she said, holding out her skirt. “What do you think he’ll say?”

“Hot tamale! The man is going to pass out cold and need mouth-to-mouth.”

Lexi had chosen a classic eighteenth-century ball gown—delicate gold the color of champagne, and a subtle petticoat beneath to give it a lift. An open neckline with a wide ruffle drew attention to her chest, whereas the rest of her body was covered. Her loose sleeves had lace at the wrists, and there was such attention to detail on every delicate texture and fold of the fabric that it was difficult to look away.

Lexi snapped out her fan and flipped her wrist, sending waves of air toward her face. She had pinned up her brown hair and wore only a hint of blush and lipstick.

“If you want to know the truth, darling, all the men will be looking at you. This?” I said, pointing down at my outfit. “They can pay to see it at any hot club. But you are going to make every Packmaster green with envy. You’re regal.”

She fanned harder. “I feel more like cookies in a hot oven. Can you tell Denver to run downstairs and crank the air lower? When this house fills up with Shifters, it’s going to be even hotter.
Dammit!
I have to pee again. This should be a fun evening. I might as well walk around with an easy-access hole in my skirt.”

I giggled and approached the door. “Good luck with that. Just don’t bend over or you’re likely to start a pack war. I’ll go take care of the air.”

Austin was looming outside the door, anxiously trying to steal a glimpse. He was dressed like a classic gangster in a pinstripe suit, fedora hat, and a black mask. I pushed him back. “Get downstairs and turn on some air. Your mate is about to expire if this house doesn’t get any cooler.”

“I’m about to expire if I don’t see what she’s wearing.”

“Darling, suspense is the best foreplay. If you think what I’m wearing is arousing, just wait until you see Lexi.”

“Why does that worry me,” he muttered over his shoulder.

“Perhaps it should if you don’t get some cool air going. She’s already talking about cutting a hole for easy access.”

“Hmm,” he growled, jogging down the stairs ahead of me. “I might like that.”

Voices overlapped below. The party had been in swing for the past hour, but Lexi wanted to wait until all the important people were there before she made her grand entrance. She knew how important these parties were when it came to pack relations and how other Packmasters perceived Austin. But deep down, Lexi was terrified. She’d never worn anything so elegant and had spent the early part of the evening having second thoughts—afraid she’d make a fool of herself.

“William?”

A gentleman in colonial attire turned to face me. I giggled at his blue breeches and white stockings. The matching blue waistcoat had dark blue trim, and the strange part about it was how well the costume suited him. Well, except for the poufy white scarf tied around his neck.

“What is that thing on your neck?”

He touched the delicate fabric, and a grin tugged the corners of his mouth. “A cravat, m’lady.”

“I don’t know if I’d be calling me a lady in this outfit, but I’ll take it,” I purred. “Good thing you weren’t wearing one of those white wigs or I wouldn’t have recognized you.”

He gave a close-lipped smile and adjusted the white mask on his face. “I didn’t think I could pull off a wig. Shall we?” William lifted his arm for me to take and escorted me downstairs.

Earlier that day, I’d sat down with Austin for three hours, going over the music selection, stressing that not everyone attending was born in the same century as him. The whole purpose of a masked ball was to evoke a sense of history, so we compiled a playlist. The classical music was a given, but we livened it up with some soft rock, blues, and a few instrumental rock songs.

When we reached the bottom of the stairs, William drifted into the living room and out of sight. I glanced at the punch fountain in the room by the stairs. April had volunteered to refill it as needed, and what a beautiful display! Surrounding the crystal fountain were trays of chocolate-dipped strawberries, vegetables, and caviar with crackers. I’d convinced Lexi to pay for the standing tables we placed around the house, which meant moving some of their furniture into the room that connected to the heat house.

I nibbled on an olive and admired the costumes. Guests wore everything from ball gowns to capes. I adored how the women were dressed—from warriors to maidens. And here I was in a brothel costume sure to embarrass Wheeler.

A man dressed like Batman walked by me and grinned. I smiled politely but inwardly frowned as some of the younger men had chosen costumes more suitable for Halloween. I strolled to the windows and peered through the sheer curtains. Tiki torches lined the property and were affixed to the porch along the railing at a safe height.

“Auntie Naya?” I heard a small giggle behind me.

I turned around and beheld the most adorable creature. Maizy wore a vintage powder-blue dress made from delicate silk, and the front had what looked like a white apron. She clicked her black shoes together and simpered. It wasn’t customary for children to be masked at these events.

We walked toward the stairs so guests could help themselves at the snack tables. “You look absolutely darling. How are you feeling, baby?”

“Better. My mom said I could come down for a little while.” Maizy sat on the stairstep and looked through the banisters at the guests in the living room. “I think I might just sit here and watch.”

“Good idea,” I agreed. “The last time Alice in Wonderland went running off, she fell down a rabbit hole. Stay here and I’ll make you something to eat.”

I filled up a plate with fruit and cheese and handed her a punch glass.

She nibbled on a small cube of watermelon, her gaze traveling around the room. “Where’s Denny?”

“Good question,” I said. “He’s in charge of cleaning up trash and empty bottles.”

“Yeah, and having a
blast
,” Denver said peevishly from behind. “Thanks for giving me a job where I can parade around in this ridiculous costume.”

I turned around slowly and laughed so hard I had to cover my mouth. After Lexi had chosen the Alice costume for Maizy, she suggested keeping the theme and also making Denver as a character from the story. So she ordered the Mad Hatter. He had a tall, lopsided hat atop his orange hair. Rusty blades and spearheads were affixed to the hat along with a ribbon tied at the base. His long black coat and pants might have looked nice had they not been accented with garish scarves and multicolored socks.

“I’m not serving Lexi’s cupcakes,” he said. “A man’s gotta draw the line somewhere.”

“Denver, no one is going to make the connection. I doubt anyone here knows who you are.”

“The fuck they don’t. How come I don’t get a mask?”

“Because you get face paint.”

He rubbed at his eye, smudging some of the white makeup. “I smell bullshit. Someone didn’t want me to get laid.”

“Could have been worse. You could be wearing what Lexi picked out for Reno.”

He snorted. “True that. I’m outta here.” Denver strolled out the front door and into the safety of darkness.

Maizy looked on sullenly. “He always leaves me alone at the parties to talk to those women. I’m his best friend.”

I touched her silky hair and gave her a serious look. “He loves you in his own way, but he’s also a grown man, and grown-ups like to spend time with people their own age.”

She gave it some consideration. “He’s closer to my age than he is with some of those women who are three hundred.”

I chuckled and lifted her chin. “Someday you’ll outgrow Denver. He won’t be your watchdog forever, so don’t be down in the mouth on a night like tonight. Sit here for as long as you like, and be sure to save a cupcake for me.”

Lexi had cleverly placed her cupcakes and other pastries throughout the house with a Sweet Treats display behind them and her new menus off to the side.

Ivy came in through the door, suppressing a laugh with her hand. The layers of fabric on her dress varied in shades of earthy green, and she tilted her body to the side so her gossamer wings wouldn’t snag in the doorway. I admired the pretty flowers affixed to her dress, and especially the crown of ivy and tiny white flowers on her head. Her mask looked like butterfly wings and only covered her eyes.

“I see someone’s feeling better,” I said with a wink.

A blush touched her cheek, and it didn’t look like she was comfortable discussing her heat spell.

Lorenzo peered inside, and all I could see of him was a black mask and long hair. “Don’t wander far, my fairy. I’ll be outside by our tree.”

A playful moment passed between them.

“Where’s Hope?” I asked, touching one of the flowers on her dress.

“This would be too much excitement for her. She’s shy, so all these strangers would frighten her.”

“Unlike that one,” I said, pointing at Izzy’s little girl, who was singing loudly and skipping around in a pink tutu with brown pants.

“I see Melody is becoming quite a handful, and now poor Izzy will have another child to chase after so close in age.”

“I thought you liked large families?”

She twirled her wand. “We do, but wolves usually space their children apart by a couple of decades—especially the boys. Having to homeschool is exhausting. The pack helps raise them, but it makes more sense to distance them by years. When they grow up, many will decide to be in the same pack, and those closer in age tend to bicker more and are not as willing to accept their rank.”

“Did you happen to see Wheeler outside?”

Her brows arched over her mask. “I heard about you two.”

When she moved closer, I could see her light brown skin had a beautiful dusting of sparkles.

Ivy lowered her voice so it wouldn’t carry. “Wheeler can appear to be as tempestuous as an angry ocean, but the further you are willing to go, the calmer the waters. I think you two will make a fine pairing. He needs someone to warm those icy waters and give him a chance to shine. Wheeler and Ben are two suns, and how can one outshine the other in the same sky? I’ve always felt bad for their situation. I’ve seen Wheeler fight for his pack, and he’s a loyal man with a heart. But something keeps him from shining. I hope you’re the one to bring that out.”

“Always a darling with words of wisdom. I need to mingle before the draft has me shivering.”

“I have a date with a few strawberries over there, so maybe I’ll see you later.”

The gold rugs and eye-catching tapestries I’d talked Lexi into renting lightened up the rooms and added a touch of elegance. I moved into the living room and my breath caught when I noticed a man in police uniform.

Purrr
. I loved a man in uniform, and those pale brown eyes watching me through the black facemask made my heart beat faster. He licked his lips and leaned against the wall, running his hand down to the handcuffs swinging from his belt. He had on a long-sleeved shirt, hat, and the shiniest black shoes I’d ever seen.

I feigned indifference and turned away, only to catch sight of Lexi cautiously walking down the stairs. When she neared the bottom, she turned around to run back up, but then Austin caught her arm.

She not only stole his breath but also his words. Austin pulled his mask over his head and gaped at the beautiful woman before him. All he could do was look upon her with reverence. I felt as if I’d been transported back in time, watching a courtship between two lovers amid the glow of a magical evening. He lightly bowed, giving her a mischievous look as he coaxed her down to the bottom of the stairs. I’d never seen a man so proud. His chest must have doubled in size when she took his arm.