The Beast in Him

  She sat on her bed, untying and toeing off her boots. She briefly debated changing into night clothes, but she simply lacked the energy or desire. So she flipped off the light and stretched out on the bed.

  After a few minutes, she caught his scent. She hadn’t noticed it before since she’d been unable to get the essence of it out of her head in the first place.

  She sighed. “What do you want, Smitty?”

  He stepped out of the shadows. At least he looked as miserable as she felt.

  “I know you don’t want to see me right now.”

  “You’re right.”

  “But I don’t want to sleep alone again tonight. I miss you, Jessie Ann.”

  “The same way I miss my dogs after I dropped them off at the kennel yesterday?”

  He went from miserable to angry in about two seconds. “What the hell does that mean?”

  Too tired to argue, she turned on her side. “Forget it. It doesn’t mean anything.”

  She heard him take a deep breath, trying to calm that temper he insisted on hiding from her. “Do you mind if I stay?” he asked.

  “Whatever.”

  She heard his coat drop to the floor, followed by his boots. Then, fully dressed, he crawled into bed with her. He spooned her from behind, one arm tight around her waist, the other curving over her head on the pillow. She reached down and pulled the comforter over them before she settled back in.

  He snuggled in closer, burying his face in the back of her neck. She placed her hand over the one on her waist, her fingers sliding between his. He closed his hand, locking his fingers around hers.

  Like that they fell asleep and Jess realized nothing in her life had ever felt so right before.

  In the morning, when she woke up to the pups banging on her door, he was gone.

  Chapter 25

  It had taken her second in command getting between them to separate Brendon Shaw from Bobby Ray.

  It had started off like any other morning hunt. The Smith Pack wolves tracking down a deer and taking it down. And just like every other hunt now that lions had become a constant part of their lives, the cats happened on by to steal their meal. If there was only one, Mace or Brendon, they usually put up a fight. But with Mace, Brendon, and Mitch, Sissy thought they’d just let them have the damn thing and go after another one. But Bobby Ray had fought back with a vengeance. Mace backed off immediately, understanding Bobby Ray better than any of them did. She had no doubts you learned a lot about a man when you were stationed with him in a war zone. Mitch enjoyed his job, and Sissy even had the sense he was seriously considering not going back to his police job in Philly, so he’d backed off pretty quick too.

  But Brendon seemed more than happy to give Smitty the fight he’d been looking for, the two of them going after each other like the deer at their feet couldn’t simply be replaced by a drive-through run to McDonald’s.

  Of course, this had nothing to do with the damn deer. Or the fact that the lions always stole their meals. It was all about that damn She-dog.

  It still boggled Sissy’s mind that the little heifer had the nerve to turn down her brother. The best of the batch, in her estimation. Maybe if it had been one of the other four, Sissy could understand Jessie Ann pushing him away. But Bobby Ray wasn’t like her other brothers. And her other brothers probably wouldn’t have given Jessie Ann the option. They would have taken her down like they had that deer.

  But Smitty wouldn’t tell Sissy more than, “She don’t want me. That’s all you need to know.”

  Sissy doubted that. Actually, she knew that to be wrong. That little geek had wanted her brother since the first time she’d set eyes on him. And it hadn’t changed. Really, in Sissy’s opinion, it would never change. Jessie Ann Ward would always love Bobby Ray Smith. And now that she’d seen him so miserable, Sissy knew that Bobby Ray would always love Jessie Ann.

  Yet, for some unknown reason, the two of them insisted on fighting it. So the question for her was how to fix this. She was Alpha Female. She needed to fix this.

  By her third fight with Bobby Ray—this time over potatoes—Ronnie Lee dragged her off to the town bar. Lots of cute local talent, but she couldn’t even enjoy flirting since she had Bobby Ray’s drama on her mind. So she and Ronnie sat at the bar, nursing their beers, and occasionally muttering to each other.

  Near four o’clock she heard a soft voice with a thick Southern accent say, “Two glasses of champagne, please, Charlie.”

  Sissy raised her head and stared at the two females lounging at the end of the bar. She recognized them both from the night at the club when she’d had that run-in with the Magnus Pack Alphas. One of them pulled out a box of high-end chocolate from a glossy shopping bag and placed it on the bar. Their drinks arrived and they sat down on stools and opened the box.

  “Let it go,” Ronnie Lee muttered before Sissy had done anything.

  “But look at ’em. Sittin’ over there like nothing’s wrong.”

  “Sissy, let it go.”

  She should. But she couldn’t. She banged her fist on the bar and both She-dogs looked up at her.

  “Think you can explain to me what the hell is wrong with your Alpha Female?”

  They both stared at her, but neither said a word.

  “Does she really think she’s too good for my brother? Because she’s damn wrong.”

  Again, the blank stare and the silence.

  “What? Something wrong with your mouth? Can’t ya speak?”

  The Asian one leaned forward a bit, her hands flat on the bar, her head tilting to the side. After a long moment, she said, “Woof.”

  Sissy leaned back a bit, her gaze sliding over to Ronnie’s. As soon as they looked at each other, though, they lost it. Bursting into surprised laughter.

  The two She-dogs walked down to their side of the bar, bringing their drinks and chocolates with them.

  “Another two glasses of champagne, Charlie.” The Asian one held her hand out and Sissy shook it. “I’m Maylin. Y’all can call me May. This is Sabina.”

  “Nice to meet ya.”

  “So,” she said, plunking herself down on the bar stool, “what are we gonna do about these two idiots?”

  Yup. Sissy liked this one already.

  Lord, could he get more pathetic? Sitting in the snow, in the woods, watching Jessie’s house. He couldn’t help it. She spent most of her time out on that back porch watching the pups play in the snow. Sometimes jumping in with a well-placed snowball.

  Of course, it wasn’t like Smitty had anywhere else to go. He’d alienated nearly everyone else at Shaw’s house except Dez, who knew how to get a cranky male to back up off her with only a look.

  To avoid losing his friends and Pack forever, Smitty had shifted and taken off into the woods. Sometimes he focused on problems much better as wolf. He’d chased a couple of rabbits and a couple of crows. Although that had been a bad idea after they dive-bombed him and tried to shit on his head. Then he’d ended up back here, trying to figure out what the hell Jessie Ann wanted from him.

  Okay, so the barn had been a bad idea, but he’d merely been trying to expedite the situation. Once he knew what he wanted, no need to fight it anymore. But when he offered her a soft bed and a romantic marking in the city, she’d acted like he’d offered to take her to an execution in the town square.

  Why wouldn’t she just tell him what she wanted? Jessie had never seemed like “other girls” who wanted you to guess everything. When you asked how they were, they’d respond, “Fine.” If Jessie was mad, she sure as shit let you know it in no uncertain terms. But she always told him the reason. Now she wouldn’t and he didn’t know what to do to fix this. And he had to fix it.

  He loved her. Maybe he’d loved her forever. But he knew it for sure when he’d wrapped himself around her last night. She’d felt so good in his arms, so perfect. Like she’d been made to order just for him.

  Lord, he couldn’t lose her now. But, for once, he was at a loss on how to handle thi
s and her. Years of training to handle nearly any and all situations, but the United States Navy never saw Jessie Ann Ward coming.

  Smitty laid his head down on his paws and watched Jessie lob snowballs at Johnny. It must be his birthday since she insisted on his wearing a crown, and Smitty could see through the glass doors and windows the other wild dogs decorating the house and fixing a huge meal.

  Jessie squealed and he watched Danny toss her over his shoulder, spinning around until Phil took her and hung her upside down by her ankles. Smitty’s lips pulled back over his fangs and he thought about tearing the little bastards into several pieces.

  Snow crunched near him and he glanced over his shoulder to see Mace walking toward him. The big cat lay down beside him. As lion, Mace beat him in weight and size by more than double. But they were friends more than they were predators. Nothing had ever come between them and nothing ever would.

  Mace didn’t do anything. He didn’t shift and try to talk to him or drag him out to get drunk and find another girl. He didn’t do anything because he didn’t have to.

  They’d had to lie to Jess to explain why they were leaving the house in the middle of the afternoon and just before Johnny’s party. But watching her pretend not to be miserable was hard on them all. May, having grown up around Smiths, had a pretty good idea where she could track down the Smith Pack Alpha Female. And although her idea sounded improbable—why would a couple of afternoon-boozing She-wolves help them or Jess?—Sabina was desperate enough to try anything.

  Now, after talking to these females for over an hour, it seemed like there was only one option at this point. An option Ronnie Lee Reed kept trying to talk her friend out of.

  Most things people stressed over Sabina didn’t understand. But this, this she understood. It was something she’d never do. Not for all the dark chocolate in the world.

  “Phone, Ronnie Lee.”

  The She-wolf dug the phone out of her small backpack, then stopped and asked again, “Are you sure you want to do this? Are you really sure, Sissy Mae?”

  “Do I have a choice? Do any of us?”

  To Sabina’s surprise, she actually didn’t despise Sissy or her pouty-lipped friend. They both cared about Smitty the way she and May cared about Jess. They were family and they were willing to do anything to make these two assholes happy even if it killed them all!

  “Give me the phone.”

  Ronnie slapped the small cell phone in her hand. “I sure hope you know what you’re doin’.”

  Sissy chuckled and dialed. “When have I ever?”

  First they sang “Happy Birthday to You,” as they were traditionalists. Then they sang, “Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want,” which made Johnny laugh out loud.

  He did seem overwhelmed by his gifts and, okay, maybe the dirt bike and new violin based on his teacher’s recommendations—and which he could return if he wanted a different one—was spoiling him a little, but she knew what it was like to be spoiled and then not to be. Johnny was a good kid. He deserved a little spoiling now and again. Although she didn’t agree with the dirt bike. Why would you give someone with hands blessed with musical talent a goddamn dirt bike? But when she argued the point, Phil shoved a piece of chocolate cake in her mouth.

  Jess knew when Johnny suddenly hugged her while she poured glasses of milk for the kids that she’d made him happy.

  Now, while her Pack danced to old seventies and eighties music in the living room, Jess wandered out to the back porch and sat on the steps. She’d brought with her a piece of May’s dark chocolate cake and a glass of milk. She wasn’t really hungry, especially not after all that food, but having it would keep everyone off her back about “sulking.”

  Really, there was nothing like having forty wild dogs asking you if you’re “okay”—constantly.

  Jess wasn’t surprised when she saw Smitty walk out of the dark woods toward her. She’d known he’d been in the woods earlier in the day, only as wolf. If she hadn’t been able to scent him or hear his breathing—she had—she would have simply known. She felt his presence like a warm blanket around her shoulders. Protecting her, soothing her.

  Now, as a fully dressed human, he sat between her legs on the lower step. She handed him the slice of cake and then the milk.

  They sat like that for a long while, not saying anything, simply enjoying the land they felt a part of.

  When Jess heard her Pack in the kitchen, putting food away and cleaning up, she took the empty plate and glass and stood. By the time she walked to the back door, Smitty had walked off. But she knew he’d be back. When she went to bed, she’d find him in her room, waiting for her.

  And, again, she’d let him snuggle up to her, snoring lightly in her ear. Why? Because she loved him and didn’t want to sleep away from him.

  Unfortunately, none of that changed a goddamn thing.

  She knew Smitty; he was still floundering. Still trying to figure out what she wanted. It would take something extreme to get him to wake up. Something he’d never see coming.

  She simply prayed it was before she gave up hope entirely. She had only so much.

  Chapter 26

  Smitty climbed down the tree that he’d been using to get in and out of Jessie’s room. Once he figured out how to make her his for good, he’d cut down this goddamn tree. Too easy for scumbags to get in and out of her room. But it definitely served its purpose this weekend.

  As he dropped to the ground, he scented a wolf and quickly turned to find Johnny leaning against the trunk of another tree, watching him.

  “Boy.”

  “Loser.”

  Smitty’s eyes narrowed. No, no. Not a good idea to kick the shit out of the kid yet. No matter how much he deserved it.

  They stared at each other, and Smitty was impressed the kid didn’t look away. But he did speak first.

  “Don’t hurt her.”

  “I’m trying not to.”

  “Well, you’re doing a shitty job.”

  “Maybe you should stay out of this, son. Until you actually have some fangs.”

  Johnny glanced at Jessie’s window. “That woman means the world to me. Fuck her life up at your own peril, hillbilly.”

  He walked off and Smitty gave a little smile. That kid would be dangerous once he grew into his paws.

  Jess sat on the front porch, her feet up on the railing and a mug of May’s hot and delicious coffee gripped between her hands. They were heading home today. Back to work. Back to her life. What she still didn’t know—whether her life included Smitty. They’d slept together again the night before. Literally. Fully clothed. Simply holding on to each other. To be honest, Jess slept like a baby, feeling safe and loved in Smitty’s arms.

  Clearly, she’d have to help this idiot out. If she waited for him, she’d be old and gray by the time he bought a goddamn clue.

  So annoyed by the whole thing, Jess answered her phone without even checking caller ID.

  “This is Jess.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  Jess’s feet dropped to the ground and she frowned, the southern accent that slithered through the phone making her hackles rise.

  When she didn’t speak, the male voice continued, “I thought about calling Maylin directly, but she couldn’t decide her way out of a wet paper bag. And I need decisions.”

  Jess slowly stood and walked down the porch steps. “Decisions about what?”

  “About how my daughter will spend the next two years of her life. With y’all? Or with me and mine?”

  Jess continued to walk away from the house, a potent rage singing through her veins. “You don’t want her.”

  “No, but I’ll take her. The courts are real kind about that sort of thing. Especially when a father’s been kept from his child.”

  She didn’t bother to argue the point with him. They both knew it was a lie, arguing would waste her breath.

  “So what do you want?”

  “A lot. I want a lot.”

  “That’s awfu
lly vague.”

  “I can be much more specific…in person.”

  She stopped walking. “I’m sure you can.”

  “We can keep this nice and simple, you and me. Just between us.”

  Jess gave a short snort.

  “What’s so funny?”

  Turning, she faced the Pack house. Not surprisingly, a good majority of the adults stood there, listening. Their wild-dog hearing clueing them in, their loyalty to each other leading them.

  “You really don’t know what you’ve done, do you?”

  He laughed. “Ain’t no little runt dogs gonna scare me.”

  “I know,” Jess sighed out. “But that’s because you’re stupid.”

  She hung up before he could say anything else, her gaze focusing on her Pack. She had one shot to fix this before all hell broke loose. Then it wouldn’t matter who Wilson’s Pack was tied to, who his kin was.

  None of it would matter once the damage was done.

  “Move that ass, Sissy Mae.”

  “Hold your damn horses, Bobby Ray.”

  Sissy Mae ran down the stairs, her traveling bag slung over her shoulder. “I don’t see what the big rush is.”

  “It’s a rush when I say it’s rush. Now move!”

  She muttered something mighty offensive and stormed out of the house. Smitty started to follow when his phone rang.

  “Yeah?”

  “Hi. It’s Jess.”

  His very soul immediately soothed just from the sound of her voice, Smitty smiled. “Hey, darlin’. What’s up?”

  “I hate to bother you and you can say no—”

  “What do you need, Jessie Ann?”

  “Wilson contacted me.”

  Smitty let out a breath. “And?”

  “And we either pay him or he’s going to try and take Kristan. That can’t happen.”