“It depends on whose perspective it’s coming from.”
Not going there again.
“Your world is hard to wrap my mind around. So were you born a shifter?”
“Yes.” She nodded.
“Oh,” she replied glumly.
“Why are you frowning again?”
“I wish I could’ve been like him when we met. Then it would have been easier for the both of us.”
“Oh Jenny, make no mistake, he wants you, so much that it causes him physical pain to be near you, especially when he has to fight against the instincts inside him to claim you.”
“What about what I want? Don’t I get a say?” It was all what he wanted and she was along for the ride, and he got to choose for the both of them.
“Do you truly understand what you’re giving up?”
“Sort of. I don’t know. But I don’t like having my decisions made for me. It’s not fair that he gets to decide and that’s the way it is.”
“He’s male and from a different era than you. He may have grown accustomed to the changes in history but some of his old traits still remain.”
“I can’t believe I’m having this conversation with you. It’s not like me to open up like this. But I’m so confused, I couldn’t keep it inside.”
“Sometimes it’s good to talk about your misgivings, even when it’s with a stranger.”
“I wish he could control his urge to bite me.” She was trying to understand.
“His connection to you is too strong. Intimacy brings out our primal instincts. That side of him wants to stake ownership on you. It makes him aggressive. He can’t let that side out, which is hard to control when he’s physical with you,” Ivanna explained.
“He’s learned to live without hurting anyone. I’m sure I could do the same if I chose this life.”
“Are you telling me you’re willing to leave your human life behind, knowing what he is? What you will become and what you most certainly have to give up?”
“I haven’t processed it all yet. I’m working on that part. It’s hard for me. I want to get to know him better but we’re both dancing around this flame, afraid of getting too close for fear we’ll get burned.”
“You have to reach out to him. At the same time, you need to let him in.”
“I know.” Ivanna was right. But that wasn’t easy after all Jenny’d gone through in her past, trust being a major obstacle in most of her relationships. The only one she’d ever truly let in was Marley. But she was a friend. Men had done nothing but cause her emotional pain.
“Dane is a very complicated male. He is also extremely stubborn.”
“Tell me about it.” Jenny rolled her eyes, but so was she.
“He’s worth those minor flaws, though, because Dane is a good male.”
“I agree. He’s seems like a very good guy.”
“You need to be sure before giving up your human life.”
“I’ve never fit into my human life anyway so it’s not much of a loss, to be perfectly honest.” It was weird how true that statement was. She cared about Dane a lot.
“You don’t like your life?” Ivanna cocked her head, waiting for Jenny to answer.
“It’s been difficult. I’m not going to lie. I had an abusive childhood and not many friends growing up. There are very few people I trust in my life. I’m a hard worker, driven, and I’ve overcome a lot. But nothing’s changed. Not in the new life I’ve created in New York or in the old one I left behind.”
“I sense it was a sad journey.”
“I’m beginning to believe my path in life was leading me to Dane. That perhaps we are meant to be.”
“I heard Dane swear once to Dmitri that he would never take a human life. He also told him that if by some chance his fated mate was human, he’d get as far away from her as possible and never look back.”
“He’s going to leave me, isn’t he?” It was just the way it was with her and men. She was never good enough for one reason or another. Hot tears ran down her cheeks. That’s why it was so hard to let her heart trust anyone, because there was always the disappointment when her prince turned out to be a frog.
“Now wait a minute, let me finish. Dane said those things to Dmitri, yet here he is.”
“He could still leave though.” Jenny’s emotions were in a flurry like the fallen snow on the ground outside.
“I don’t believe he’ll leave you. If that were his plan, he would have gone by now. Let me tell you something about Dane—he has never deviated from his path until you came along. And it’s my opinion it’s because he’s fallen hard for you.” Ivanna winked.
“You sure it isn’t because I’m his mate and it’s some biological, chemical thing?”
“You’re missing my point, Jenny. Dane values your life over his own happiness and stays with you even though he doesn’t believe he can have you. That’s love. If it were only a biological reason, as you say, he would’ve given in to his instincts by now.”
“What are you saying, that he’s in love with me?” That threw her. They hadn’t known each other long enough. Love at first sight could happen but in Jenny’s mind, it was highly unlikely.
“Call it what you will. He cares deeply for you, Jenny. I couldn’t get him to leave this morning; he kept making me swear I would keep you safe. He’s very possessive over you.”
“He got pretty upset when one of your males chased me. At the time, I thought he was a wolf and didn’t know there was a man underneath all that fur.”
“Who chased you?” Ivanna snapped.
“I don’t remember his name. He’s a big black wolf.”
“Vitali—that pup needs a lashing. I’ll talk to Dmitri.” Ivanna scowled.
“He didn’t hurt me. It’s cool.” She didn’t want him to get into trouble.
“Hurting you wouldn’t be his intent. But sex would.”
“What do you mean?” That got her attention. Dane had mentioned mounting. But she’d assumed he was reacting out of jealousy.
“You’re a very desirable female, not to mention the fact that you’re still in your cycle.”
“Are you serious? He’s attracted to that?”
Gross.
“When a female is in her heat, it makes the males a little crazy, especially if you are not mated to another male.”
“Yeah, but I’m with Dane.”
“Technically you’re not with him. Dane hasn’t claimed you yet.”
“What would one of your males do to me?” She swallowed hard.
“He would try to mount you.”
“Dane said that to me earlier and I thought he was joking,” she gasped.
“It’s no joke. Your scent is strong and they’ll find it hard to resist. The older males probably have enough restraint not to act on it. But I’m not so sure about the younger ones.”
“That sounds rather unpleasant.” She grimaced.
“You wouldn’t find it unpleasant, Jenny. The males in my pack are good men and would be careful not to hurt you in the process. But a forced mating is not what you want. Besides, Dane would become enraged if that happened.”
“But wouldn’t they respect the fact that I’m with Dane because of his ties to the pack?”
“In most situations, yes. However, you’re not mated to him and instincts can sometimes override their sense of control, especially with you being in heat.”
“I guess I better stay away from them then.” She wasn’t about to take a chance of that happening.
“It’s best. Dmitri would be caught in the middle between his friendship with Dane and one of his male’s claims on you.”
“I’d fight back. No one is going to claim me against my will. If I’m going to be with anyone it’s going to be Dane.”
“You don’t understand, if one of our males were to mate with you, he would see you as his property and would fight Dane to the death to keep you. He also wouldn’t let you go no matter how much you fought against it.” Her expression was troubled.
“Dane said he’d kill anyone who touched me and I’m not going to let anyone keep me against my will.” She was starting to get defensive. How barbaric.
“I can see how this may not sit well with you. And that’s not something any of us wants to happen anyway.”
“I’m more than fine with hanging out here with you then.” She shuddered. No fucking way was that going to happen.
“Good, because it will only be us for the next few days.”
“What about Dane? He’s coming back, isn’t he?” Jenny didn’t like the idea of not seeing Dane for a few days. She already missed him and it had only been a few hours. Shit, this sucked.
“I believe it’s best if he stays away too. He’s having a hard enough time being around you as it is. Let’s not push him, okay?”
“Did he say he wasn’t going to stay here?”
“No, but I will suggest to him that he stay elsewhere until your fertile cycle passes.”
“Wow, trying to process it all isn’t easy.” Her heart clenched. The idea of him staying away made her sad.
“It’s best, trust me.”
“All right.” She sighed, closing her eyes. Suddenly weary from all the stress.
Jenny was relieved Ivanna was so easy to talk to and that she had made a new friend. They hung out most of the morning and got to know one another. A few hours later, two more women arrived and the four of them ate lunch together and continued to talk. It was nice, hanging out in a group of females. She hadn’t really done that in the past. These women had welcomed her. She liked it here.
She was going to have to figure out a way to convince Dane somehow that this could work.
* * * * *
“Have you located the human yet?” Caiaphas tapped his long fingernails on top of his desk, his attention focused on the Hunter named Harris, who had betrayed his calling by switching sides. Why more Hunters hadn’t given in to bloodlust was beyond him.
Caiaphas wanted more recruits like Harris who were highly skilled with lethal attributes he needed in order to take down the Order. Most of the Rogues he had organized were not. They were unruly, controlled by their bloodlust. Harris was going to be a great asset in this war because he knew his enemy well.
“Not yet. Dane has traced with her somewhere outside of my range,” Harris replied.
Caiaphas frowned. If Harris didn’t know how to find Dane then what was he good for? He stood up and came around the large mahogany desk that separated them. Harris didn’t flinch, which he supposed wasn’t surprising. He was a trained fighter. Not like the Rogues Caiaphas was so used to dealing with. No, cowering wasn’t something Hunters did. But he would remind Harris who was in control of this party.
“I put you in charge because you used to be one of them. You also told me you’d be able to locate him and supposedly knew where most of his hangouts are.” Caiaphas raised his brow. “I’m beginning to fear I made a mistake about you.” He stabbed his finger into Harris’ chest.
“Don’t touch me,” Harris growled. “How I see it, I’m your best hope of finding him.”
“There are other ways.” Caiaphas knew Harris was right. He still needed this asshole. But he wasn’t going to let him believe he was indispensable.
“Give me more time. I’ll uncover his tracks. He’ll have to come back sometime. He’s got a business to run and when he does, I’ll be waiting,” Harris replied.
“That’s not good enough. I’d like you to do some digging on the girl. See if she has family or friends close to her that she keeps in contact with. Check her residence again. If you find something useful, let me know. Maybe we can use it to flush her out.”
“What about your original plan? You said we needed to plant Rogues inside his organization. Isn’t that why you had them hunting near his headquarters for employees who work for him?” Harris raised an eyebrow.
“That was the plan at first but it’s hard to control an unschooled Rogue’s behavior. It takes time for them to settle down. I think Dane’s mate makes a better target. We’ll gain more ground this way, and besides, I have a score to settle with that son of a bitch.”
“What if he changes her before you get your hands on her, then what?”
“Didn’t you say Dane’s steadfast in his resolve to keep his vows? I’m counting on your intel to be correct.” This male was useless.
“Sources close to him have said he’s unwavering in his principles. He won’t turn her. But sometimes things change, is all I’m getting at.” Harris shrugged.
“I’m still going to take her from him either way. Their bond will be stronger if he mates with her. He’ll go out of his mind and will do my bidding to protect her. It’s a win-win situation either way. I have an old score to settle with Mr. Voss. He finally has something he doesn’t want to lose and I’m going to take it from him.” Caiaphas got up and gazed out the window. He’d been waiting for centuries for an opportunity to exact his revenge against the Hunter who’d taken his mate’s life back in London almost three centuries ago. Dane would finally know the pain of loss in a very profound way.
She’d
be the perfect pawn in his game of chess. There was also his brother Christian to deal with as well. Once Caiaphas had complete control of Dane’s shares in Voss International, he’d kill them both. One thing at a time and time was something he had plenty of.
“I’ll trace to her apartment to see what I can find,” Harris said.
“Be careful. Hunters are watching the building, you know.”