“No. If you have a damn death wish you’d better shake that shit off.” He growled again. Alex bit of an ironic laugh.

  “I don’t have a death wish.” She tried to brush his hands away, but he wouldn’t let go. He was lowering her back down to the sofa as gently as he could and there wasn’t a damn thing that she could do about it.

  “Sure you don’t.” He growled every word. He was pissed off that she’d even considered walking back into harm’s way.

  “I need to be there if he shows up.”

  “Yeah, that sounds like a damn death wish to me.” He slid onto the cushion beside her, careful not to jog her too much.

  “I have to kill him.” Alex bit out. Then she heard her own words and rolled her eyes to the ceiling. “Ok, so that sounded insane.”

  “Yeah, because that’s my job.” Jackson watched her bring her eyes down to his. He saw the shock there. Watched as her brow furrowed.

  “No.” She shook her head.

  “I don’t think you get to argue…”

  “The fuck I don’t.” Alex bit out, raising her voice and making his bear growl inside of him.

  “Alex…”

  “I’m not getting you involved in this…” She bit down on her annoyance again. “Any more than you already are.”

  “This is…”

  “My damn fight and I will kill that bastard.” Alex assured him with the sound of steely determination in her voice that he admired.

  “What the hell did he do to you, Alex?”

  He saw her withdraw then. She bit down on her lower jaw and closed her eyes for a long moment. She didn’t want to share everything yet, and that was fine. But he needed to know one day…

  CHAPTER FIVE

  “Just know that he is everything that you are not.” Alex informed him and Jackson frowned.

  “I don’t know what that means, honey. Take pity on me, I’m male.” He gave her a small smile and was more than rewarded when she smiled back at him.

  “That right there, Jackson. You’re a damn good man and he’s a piece of shit. That’s it, that’s everything…”

  “Not everything. But the rest can wait.” Jackson assured her that he wasn’t going to push her just yet. It might not have been the best time with his bear being so damn antsy within him.

  “I need to go…”

  “Not a chance in hell.” Jackson growled out. “You need to tell me what this guy looks like. Who will come with him and anything else that you think I should know.” Jackson didn’t want to have to tie her down to his bed, but he would if she tried to leave. He already had Shane over at her house keeping a look out to see if anyone showed up, and she was staying put.

  Alex stared back at him. He could see the damn cogs turning in her mind and he waited patiently for her to sort through everything and come to the right decision, the only decision that he was going to accept. She might not have agreed to be his mate yet, but she would damn well listen to him while she was under his roof, and she wasn’t setting a foot outside without him.

  “It’s not your fight.” Alex said again on the shake of her head. Jackson thought it was past time that he made it clear to her.

  “You’re mine, Alex. If you want me then I’m here and will always be here for you. If you don’t want me then I’m here for you now. But, sweetheart. I’m going to kill that bastard and there’s not a damn thing you can do or say to stop me.” His bear roared within him. He’d more than staked his claim.

  Another knock on his cabin door made him growl in annoyance. He pulled himself up and stalked towards the door. He hadn’t expected to see Reece on the other side. He held up two flasks and Jackson raised his eyebrow on his forehead.

  “What?”

  “Chance said…” Jackson reached out and snatched the flasks.

  “Yeah, I got it. Thanks.” Jackson went to boot the door closed when Reece’s hand came out and held it open.

  “What?” Jackson demanded. Most days nobody knocked on his door, and now since Alex had been there things were getting busy.

  “How’s Alex?” Reece tried whispering as if Alex wasn’t supposed to hear him or something.

  “Bruised. Healing. Thanks. Bye.” Jackson kicked the door closed in Reece’s face and turned back towards Alex. He was heartened to see her sitting there with her hand in front of her mouth trying to hide her smile, but she couldn’t hide the light that had turned back on in her eyes. It warmed him.

  “Sociable little bugger, aren’t you?” Alex chuckled and Jackson groaned.

  “No.” He growled out.

  “Noticed.” Alex offered back as a small chuckle escaped her lips. Jackson grinned. He held out the two flasks.

  “Whiskey.” She didn’t hesitate.

  ~^~

  “Hungry?” Jackson asked as he nosed inside his refrigerator to see what he could offer her. The thing was almost full and yet he couldn’t figure out how to get her to eat.

  “Not really, no.” Alex offered back to him as she flicked through another round of channels on the television. She was unsettled and he didn’t know how to make her more at ease. This time when there was a knock on the door Jackson groaned out loud. He wrenched open the door and caught the scent of food on the air. It smelled damn good…

  “Err.” Shane shuffled on his feet.

  “Aren’t you supposed to be at Alex’s house?” Jackson demanded as he took a step outside and eyed over the man’s shoulder at the makeshift barbecue that someone had resurrected in the open. There was food cooking over the fire pit and his stomach growled accordingly.

  “Marcus spelled me for a bit.”

  “What do you want?” Jackson growled. He heard Alex move behind him and turned to find her walking slowly towards them. “Sit.” Jackson growled out and Alex stopped in place and drew her head back on her neck as if he’d slapped her.

  “Do I look like a damn dog to you?” She shot back with a frown that told him that he’d screwed up again.

  “No, I just meant…” Jackson could have kicked himself.

  “We decided to cookout and wondered if Alex was hungry.” Jackson’s head spun on his neck and his eyes narrowed on Shane.

  “No.” Jackson answered.

  “Yes. It smells great.” Alex piped up and Jackson’s head snapped back towards her.

  “You are? You weren’t…” He narrowed his eye on her.

  “And now I am.” Alex gave him a quick smile as she started forward with a wince and a twitch of her top lip.

  “Do you want me to help you?” Shane offered and Jackson growled long and hard. “I mean him to help you.” Shane chuckled as he turned and strolled away before his alpha ripped his head off.

  Jackson didn’t move and neither did Alex. She’d been pretty much fighting against his help the whole time and he didn’t want to piss her off again by rushing to her side, not unless she was about to fall or she cried out in pain. Alex looked as if she had something to say. Then she nodded her head just once.

  “Yeah. I’d like you to help me.” Jackson was at her side in a heartbeat. His beast roared with pride that she’d asked. Jackson growled gently as he scooped her up into his arms and started off for the door. “Not what I had in mind.” She chuckled again and it was the sweetest sound that he’d ever heard in his entire life.

  “Why half arse it. If you are going to do something then do it properly.” Jackson grinned down at her and her smile was like sunshine.

  ~^~

  Jackson had never seen his clan like this. Gathered around the fired with the scent of good food in the air, chatting and getting on without anyone taking offence and swinging for anyone else. It was a minor miracle in his book and he guessed that it was all due to Alex being there.

  They all saw her as part of the clan now. Even if she wasn’t yet mated to the alpha, she was still one of them, and each man would do his bit to protect her. Jackson was glad of it, because if anything were to happen to him, then she would always have a place to be and someone to protect her.

  The best thing was that she was eating. He was more than grateful to his clan for that. The second best thing was the fact that the light had come back to her eyes, and even if she did forget herself every so often and remember what had happened the night before, well one of the idiots gathered around the fire seemed to jog her right back out of it.

  Chance was the biggest idiot of them all. His hot potato between his two large hands had her chuckling with tears in her eyes and he wondered just how much of that show had been put on for her benefit. Chance had been the one who had tried to stop her leaving, and he still needed to kick his arse for such a damn stupid thing to do, especially when his bear was uncontrollable at times, but the big man had shown that he was alpha material. Now all he needed to do was get his bear sorted out.

  Shane pushed up to his feet and nodded with his head towards the woods. He was signalling that he was about to go back and spell Marcus so that the man could eat. Jackson nodded as he noted Alex’s curiosity.

  “Bear’s gotta shit in the woods?” She asked and then winced at her possible mistake. Jackson’s laughter rumbled through him followed by everyone else around the fire.

  “The great outdoors, a bathroom behind every tree and bush.” Shane offered back and Alex grinned.

  She knew exactly where Shane was going. The same place that Marcus had been for the last few hours. She didn’t question it, there was little point. Not one of these men was ever going to let her stand against Blake.

  “Don’t wipe with the poison ivy.” She offered as she broke off another piece of roasted pineapple and popped it into her mouth. Shane grinned down at her as he strolled on by.

  “But finding a nurse to tend to my arse would be fun, no?” He chuckled to himself as he pushed his hands deep into his pockets and strolled away from the group.

  “Bed.” Jackson informed her and then bit down on his need to expand his vocabulary where she was concerned the moment her eyebrows shot upwards on her forehead.

  “Someone’s bedside manner leaves a lot to be desired.” Alex chuckled and Jackson sighed inwardly.

  “At least he doesn’t fancy it up. You’ll always get a fast, straight answer from him.” Reece chuckled and Alex smiled.

  “Always.” She echoed the word that bounced around her mind.

  “You’re staying, right, Alex?” Chance asked as he dropped his eyes down towards the fire. Jackson growled long and hard at his second.

  “No, Jackson. They have a right to know what’s going on.” Alex berated him and Chance risked a look at the man opposite him. Jackson just shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, Chance.” Alex offered sincerely.

  She’d enjoyed the night. She’d found them all good company when they weren’t growling and fighting each other. But she didn’t know how long this peace was going to last and she didn’t want to live in a damn warzone, she’d been doing that for two long.

  “Let’s just get through tonight, and tomorrow, and then the next and the next and not make any rash promises.” Jackson offered her that much and it sounded good. She nodded.

  “Sounds like a plan.” She smiled at him as he pushed up to his feet.

  “Now, bed.” He growled down and she couldn’t help but chuckle as he collected her gently into his arms and stalked back to his cabin with her.

  “You want a mate?” Chance asked as he tipped his head to one side and watched them go.

  “If you try to kiss me I’ll rip your head off and shove it up your damn backside.” Reece growled as he pushed up to his feet and stalked away.

  “Not what I meant and you know it.” Chance growled over his shoulder at him.

  “Then Jackson’s not the only one who needs to learn to use his words. Fool.” Reece growled back.

  ~^~

  “What are you doing?” Alex would have tried to hold onto her shirt as Jackson stripped it over her head, but it would have hurt her ribs too much to jar them that way. He was being infinitely gentle and she didn’t need to do herself any damage.

  “You’ve been wearing that for over a day, and you can’t be comfortable in that contraption.” He pointed to the black sports bra that covered her breasts from his gaze.

  “Don’t even think about it. You’ll have three paws the next time you shift.” She warned and he chuckled.

  “You can be mean when you wanna be.” Jackson’s eyes were full of amusement.

  “And I got a dead guy to prove it.” Alex bit out and then frowned.

  “Too soon?” Jackson teased her to try to raise a smile again.

  “I need clothes.” Alex changed the subject.

  “I got clothes, and one of my shirts will be like a tent dress on you.”

  “Fine, but I do it.” Alex groaned as she tried to move in place and she hadn’t even reached for the damn bra yet.

  “I’ll close my eyes.” Jackson lied. Then he called on his bear and flicked out his claws. Alex just stared at them.

  “What…?”

  “Well that bra thing isn’t going over your damn head and it doesn’t open without these…” He waved his claws at her and she frowned.

  “I need my…” She started and he groaned.

  “No, you don’t. I’m not going to look and if one of them tries then they’ll be taking that as their last image to the bear graveyard.” Jackson assured her.

  He wasn’t about to argue the point. He should have done it yesterday to give her ribs some relief. He lifted the band from her skin and saw her back stiffen from his touch. Then he used just one claw to tear the fabric apart and free her.

  He kept his word as he stood behind her and didn’t try to get a bird’s eye view of her breasts even though he damn well wanted to. He eased the fabric down her arms before he dropped his shirt over her head and covered her with it. He heard her catch her breath when the backs of his knuckles grazed her breast but he didn’t comment. The saving grace to the whole thing was that the shirt was so large it was easy to manipulate to get her arms inside.

  “Better.” Alex offered him as validation for his idea and he grinned to himself.

  “I’m not just a sexy shifter.” He watched as she slowly turned back towards him. He liked the look of her in his shirt. He knew he’d like it better if she was naked, but she was injured and any thoughts of that was put on the back burner.

  “And who says you are?” She raised her eyebrows at him.

  “There’s been talk.” Jackson shrugged. His past with women wasn’t something he wanted to share with her then. It seemed they both had truths that they didn’t want to talk about.

  “Well, if I hear any more talk like that there’s going to be trouble.” Alex turned back so he couldn’t see the amusement in her eyes. He leaned in over her shoulder but he didn’t touch her.

  “It doesn’t matter who finds me attractive, Alex, you’re the only woman I will ever want. I won’t stray and I’ll never hurt you.” That was a truth that he didn’t mind sharing.

  A moment later and he was lifting her up again and gently easing her down onto his bed. He couldn’t help the growl that rolled through his chest at the sight of her with her head resting on his pillow. It was where she belonged and he intended to show her that. To hell with letting her go, he was keeping her. She just didn’t know it yet.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Alex woke to the sound of Jackson’s breathing. He’d buried his face against her hair at the back of her neck and his body was curled around hers protectively, warm and safe, she didn’t move a muscle for fear of waking him. She wanted to hold onto this feeling just a while longer, keep it as a memory, and remember her safe haven in case she needed that place to cling to in her future.

  The Jackson that had been with her the last two days was not the same man that had tried to woo her. He wasn’t sticking out his chest, flexing his muscles, and showing her that he was the alpha. Not really. Sure, he needed a little work on his people skills, but she’d seen a different side to him.

  Right now he seemed more Carebear than Werebear, and she liked it. That wasn’t to say that she didn’t like the other side of him too, all man muscles and gung-ho, she did. But it felt good to know that he could be like this, unafraid to show her his softer side when things went bad. Now if she could just get him to use more words…

  “How’s the pain level?” His gravelly voice sent a jolt straight to her womb and a rush of excitement within her.

  “I haven’t moved yet. There’s a big old bear curled around me and I kind of like it.” She was being honest. It was about time that she let him in. “And from the feel of what’s pressed against my lower back, you kind of like it too.” Her soft chuckle warmed him.

  “That’s not my fault.” He lifted his head and gently rested his chin against her shoulder. She could feel the prickle of his morning stubble through the thin cotton shirt. She liked that too.

  “Is that me or just nature?” She was teasing.

  “Nature started it, but you made it harder than hell.” He wanted nothing more than to pull her over onto her back and press his cock inside her, slowly to start, back and forth until she was good and ready for him to thrust hard and fast and take them both into insanity together.

  “Good to know.”

  With the feel of his hand slowly running up and over her hip she felt her muscles tense and the throbbing pain in her ribs started again. Damn, but she wanted more. She wanted him. It seemed like a waste of a perfectly good bed, not to mention a perfectly good man, not to do what came naturally, and yet her ribs still hurt.

  “I can scent that you want me, Alex.” His words came out on a growl that made her toes curl. It was good to know that something didn’t damn well hurt, but what good were toes when she wanted the feel of him pressed inside of her body?

  “Wanting you has never been a problem, and now I can’t have you.” There was an edge to her voice that he didn’t understand. He wasn’t a people person, because he’d kept himself away from humans on the whole, but right then he wished he knew what was going through her mind.

 

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