Soon after, Zane was finished and they dined at the small table. Jackie enjoyed the savory meal and couldn’t help exclaiming, “Mmmm.” Zane sucked in a breath and Jackie blushed slightly when she noted Zane’s reaction. He was gazing at her intently with his wolf eyes and his fists were curled on the table top. It took everything in his power not to get up, carry her to their bed and fuck her. He forced himself to close his eyes and take deep breaths to calm down.

  Feeling slightly guilty for unintentionally arousing Zane, Jackie tried to think of something to distract them. “Zane, what did you do in your pack?” Zane took a deep breath and opened his eyes. She could see the pride in his eyes. “I’m a tracker.” Jackie was impressed. Trackers were the highest ranking pack member, other than the Alpha pair. He must have worked very hard to achieve that status. Trackers had the difficult job of tracking and killing rogue wolves. Sometimes the Rogues stayed in the forest, but sometimes they hunted in the cities. That made tracking them more difficult because of the multitude of other scents that hid theirs. There was the added danger of being seen by humans. Trackers had to tread very carefully when hunting a Rogue in the city. Trackers were always alert, looking for any threat to their pack and other werewolves. Unlike soldiers, Trackers had more authority in the pack hierarchy. They answered only to the Alpha. Because they were extremely loyal to their Alpha, always putting him and the pack first, Trackers rarely had to obtain permission from their Alpha. It was a powerful position, not given lightly to any pack member. Trackers had to earn that position of power and respect.

  “What was the most dangerous thing you had to do as a Tracker?”

  Zane described how he had to hunt down two rogues who had planned on killing Blake, the Alpha of the Faeger pack. One of the rogue werewolves had been a former member of the Lost Souls Pack and Murdock, his Alpha, had ordered him to kill the rogue. Murdock feared that if Marcus successfully killed Blake, he would use his wolves to attack Murdock. At the time, he didn’t know that two wolves were involved in the plot to kill Blake. Jackie was intrigued with Zane’s tale of betrayal and conspiracy between so many wolves from dissimilar packs. Before either realized it, dinner was over and they had passed the time amiably. Side by side, they cleaned up the table and washed the plates, pots and pans. Jackie dried the dishes as Zane handed them to her, noting Zane’s light scent of happiness.

  Zane started a small fire at Jackie’s request. She went outside, found some long twigs and came back inside. She gathered the S’mores ingredients and knelt beside Zane in front of the fireplace. “What’s that?” he asked, indicating the ingredients she carried. Jackie gave him a puzzled expression. “Haven’t you ever made a S’more?” Zane shook his head.

  Jackie put a marshmallow on each end of the stick and showed him how to toast it over the fire. Zane spent too much time gazing at her profile and his marshmallow caught on fire. Jackie laughed as it went up in flames and grabbed the stick from him. He smiled, enjoying her laughter. She scraped off the burned marshmallow and replaced it with another. This time he paid attention to the marshmallow and when it was toasted just right, she showed him how to assemble a S’more.

  Zane bit into the odd looking sandwich carefully. The sugary sweetness of the warm marshmallow combined with the bittersweet melting chocolate and crunchy graham crackers was heavenly. Now he understood why Jackie grinned happily as she consumed her S’more. Zane finished his S’more and Jackie noticed a smidgeon of chocolate on the side of his mouth. She reached over and wiped it off with her thumb. Zane caught her hand, brought her thumb to his mouth and licked it. Jackie’s entire body came alive. Sharp spears of desire laced through her abdomen as her womb contracted and she felt a flood between her legs. Her breathing became shallow and she leaned in with a sudden urge to kiss him. “Jackie…don’t tease me, please,” Zane begged, his voice strained as he tried to maintain control.

  “Just one kiss, Zane. Just…one.” Jackie hoped she had enough control to stop at one. She leaned closer and just as her lips were about to brush his, they heard a loud knock on the door. Startled, they jumped apart and stared at the door. Zane swore and rose, walked over to the door. He opened it and a fist connected with his face. Zane fell backwards, ass hitting the floor and Jackie jumped up, rushed to his side. Zane wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and stood. His lip was cut and bleeding.

  “Let’s go, Jackie,” Damian commanded. Damian and his two friends walked into the cabin. All three of them were at least a foot taller and each about a hundred pounds heavier than Zane, all pure muscle. “What the hell are you doing here, Damian?” Jackie asked, annoyed at the intrusion, irate at his blitz attack on Zane.

  “We had a date, remember?” He sniffed around, caught the lingering scent of sex and his eyes glowed with anger. “How can you fuck this boy after you’ve been with a man like me?” He sneered at Zane. Zane stiffened, trying to control his resentment and jealousy as he watched Jackie’s lover.

  “Zane isn’t a boy. He’s a man and he’s my mate!” Damian and his two friends gaped at her then laughed. “A man? Look at this runt. My brother just hit puberty and he’s bigger than your mate.” They all laughed at his small stature. Zane was used to being mocked for his small size. ‘Runt’ had been the nicest thing his pack mates had called him. Jackie wasn’t used to such cruelty. She clenched her fists, angry that her pack mates could be so vicious.

  “Get out of here!” she demanded. Damian and his friends stopped laughing. “You can’t be serious? You’re coming with me, Jackie. I was planning on fucking you tonight and I still intend to.” He stepped forward as Jackie protested, “Didn’t you hear me? He’s MY MATE. That means you and me are done.” She couldn’t believe Damian’s arrogance. What had she seen in him anyway?

  “That little man can’t possibly satisfy you, Jackie.”

  “How does he measure up, Jackie?” Richie asked and the others snorted as they laughed. Zane had enough of their childish taunts. He knew he could satisfy his mate, had done so twice already. Would have done it again if they hadn’t been interrupted. “My mate asked you to leave. We won’t ask again.”

  “Oh, really? What do you intend to do, Little One?” Damian gave him a challenging look.

  “I’ll call Lucien and he’ll deal with you,” Jackie turned, intending to pick up the satellite phone. Zane grasped her arm and she turned to face him. “Don’t bother the Alpha, Jackie. It’s late and I’m sure they’re already in bed. Besides, his mate needs her rest,” Zane said quietly. Jackie was touched at Zane’s thoughtfulness about Lanie, who only recently became his Alpha Bitch.

  Zane released Jackie then turned to Damian and his friends. “Leave on your own or I will make you,” Zane said in a dangerously quiet voice. Jackie was surprised at the determination she heard in his voice.

  “You?” they laughed at Zane, disbelieving he could do anything to any of them. Wanting to return the favor, Zane moved swiftly and sucker punched Damian, hitting him squarely in the throat. He staggered backwards, almost out of the cabin. Zane quickly turned to one of the men and threw a punch. Josh dodged the punch as Richie tackled Zane from behind. Soon all three of them were on the floor rolling around, grunting and punching each other. Damian recovered, stomped over to the pile of bodies and kicked Zane in the ribs. Jackie heard the distinct crack as his rib broke. She heard Zane, “Ooof,” as he sucked in air.

  Zane rolled onto his back, grasping his rib. They took advantage of his momentary distraction and began pummeling him. Jackie was stunned at the melee in front of her. Damian moved his leg back to kick Zane again. Zane grabbed his leg before it connected and pulled, sending Damian onto his back. His head hit the floor with a loud THUD and he swore loudly. Zane moved quickly on top of him and began punching him in the face, broke his nose, split his lip and gave him two black eyes. Richie and Josh were momentarily stunned by Zane’s swift attack on Damian. They recovered and each grabbed an arm, pulling Zane off of Damian. Damian moaned in pain.

  Richie and Josh maneuvered Zane so that Richie was holding both of his arms behind his back as Josh punched him in the stomach. Zane brought his foot up, connecting with Josh’s crotch. As Josh doubled over, Zane kicked him in the face and he was knocked out cold. Zane threw his head back, connecting with Richie’s nose. Stunned at the impact, Richie released him and Zane turned around, punched him in the stomach several times. He punched Richie in the mouth, splitting his lip. Zane spun and kicked the back of Richie’s knee, dropping Richie onto his back.

  Zane breathed heavily trying to regain his breath and Jackie stood frozen, mouth hung open, surveying the scene in front of her. Her mate not only survived an attack by three very large males, he kicked their asses! Zane was certainly full of surprises. After seeing him in action, she could believe that Sean underestimated Zane. Zane had defended himself against her much larger, much stronger brother and won.

  Zane grabbed Josh’s calves and hauled him out of the cabin, dumping his still unconscious body onto the ground outside. He returned to the cabin and Richie scooted backwards, palms out, “I’b leabing, I’b leabing!” Zane narrowed his eyes and growled and Richie slowly got up and ran out the door. Damian stood, glared at Zane, then followed Richie out of the cabin. Zane walked to the doorway, watched as the two men picked up the third and carried him to their car. Once they settled him in the back seat, they drove off. Zane closed the door softly, locked it and turned around, nearly bumping into Jackie.

  Jackie reached up and stroked his cheek. “I’m sorry they were such assholes, Zane. Our pack isn’t usually like that. It’s my fault for not telling him about you.”

  “You told him here and still he refused to accept it.” Zane paused then asked, “do you regret that he’s no longer your lover?” Zane watched her carefully, held his breath as he waited for her answer.

  “No. I honestly don’t know what I saw in him in the first place. He was such an arrogant son of a bitch! I…we…” She didn’t know what to say to Zane.

  “We are mates, Zane. We have some issues to work out, but I would never seek another lover. My wolf would never let me, and I…I wouldn’t want to.” She stroked his cheek with her thumb.

  “What about you, Zane? Was there someone else?” Zane shook his head. “Our pack has few females and they have all been given to strong males who support the Alpha. Besides, who would want me? I am a runt. It’s why my parents abandoned me. Females want big, strapping males who can protect them.”

  “You were abandoned?” Jackie was astonished that any parent would abandon its child, especially since so few wolves reproduced.

  Zane said nothing and she saw the hurt in his eyes. She realized he expected her to abandon him as well, simply because he was smaller than typical male wolves. She felt even guiltier for pushing him away after they had been intimate. How could she have hurt her mate so deeply?

  “Zane…you were amazing. I’ve never seen anyone fight like that. You were outnumbered and yet, you kicked their asses!” She grinned and hugged him. He grunted and she remembered his cracked rib. “I’m sorry! I forgot. Come, let me see...” Jackie held his hand and pulled him to their bed. He sat down and watched her pick up a medical kit and set it on the bed next to him. She unbuttoned his shirt and carefully removed it. She bit her lip as she surveyed the damage to her mate. His belly was black and blue in several spots. His side had a massive bruise where Damian had kicked him. Tenderly she touched his rib and he winced.

  “I think you have a fractured rib.” Zane nodded, it wasn’t his first fractured rib, nor would it be his last. “I just need some ibuprofen and an ice pack. I’ve had worse.” Jackie blinked, “Seriously?”

  “It was only three of your pack mates. Once, a dozen of my pack mates decided to show me how weak I was.” His voice was bitter as he remembered the beating he had taken. He had lain on the ground in pain with multiple broken ribs, two black eyes and a broken arm for two days before Delia had managed to sneak out in the middle of the night, bringing him stolen painkillers and tending to his wounds. He had been seventeen. As he lay there, praying for death to take him, he had wondered why his pack mates hated him so much. He had wondered if anyone could ever accept him, or if he would forever be their punching bag. Delia had been punished for helping him and he vowed that he would never put her in that position again. He worked on his strengths instead of focusing on his weaknesses. He was smaller and faster than his pack mates and used that to his advantage. He learned how to defend himself and before long, they left him alone.

  The bitterness in his voice and the way he clenched his fists made Jackie ache for him. She stroked his cheek gently and kissed his forehead. “I’m sorry Zane,” she said softly. She got up and searched the freezer. Finding an ice pack, she brought it over to him and he held it against his rib. He stiffened suddenly at the cold sensation against his warm skin. He took a deep breath and steeled himself against the pain in his side. She brought him some ibuprofen and a cold drink.

  While he took his medicine, Jackie opened the medical kit and removed some antiseptic and a few cotton swabs. She poured the antiseptic on the tip of one swab and swiped it across the cut on his lip. Once all of the blood was gone, she saw the tiny cut, already beginning to heal. By morning it should be a small scar. She looked at his hands, bloody and slightly swollen. She pulled him into the bathroom and washed his hands gently under warm water. The skin on some of his knuckles had scraped off and she applied antiseptic to those areas. She led him back to their bed and once again he sat down. She took out some bandages and wrapped each damaged finger. His fingers would be tender in the morning but fully healed by the next evening.

  Jackie knelt down, removed his shoes and socks and he lay on the bed on his side. She went back to the fireplace, threw the twigs into the fire and cleaned up their S’more mess. She went into the kitchen and put the items away. Jackie took a quick shower then returned to their bed. She lay beside Zane, caressing his face, occasionally running her fingers through his sandy blond hair. He couldn’t resist her soothing touch and soon he was fast asleep. Jackie fell asleep a short while later.

  Chapter 6

  Jackie woke up and found the bed empty. She heard the shower running and was tempted to join him. When she remembered their ‘no sex’ agreement she sighed, dressed in a t-shirt, pulled on a pair of jeans then went into the kitchen to make breakfast. She set up the coffeemaker and decided she would make French toast for breakfast. She gathered the ingredients and began assembling the batter.

  Zane walked out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel. The moment he opened the bathroom door, the tantalizing scent of his mate hit his nose. He inhaled deeply, enjoying her scent. Silently, he watched her cooking as he dressed. He pulled on a pair of boxers then a pair of jeans. Wanting, needing, desperate to see her reaction to his half naked body, Zane decided against a shirt. He returned the towel to the bathroom and joined her in the kitchen.

  Knowing it was foolish, he walked up behind her, slipped his hands around Jackie’s waist and kissed her gently on the shoulder. He pressed against her, holding his body tight against hers. “Good Morning, mate,” Zane said softly and Jackie relaxed against him. She grinned, “Are you happy to see me or happy to have breakfast?”

  Unable to resist, he replied, “I’d be happy to have you for breakfast.” She sucked in a breath and held onto the stove as her knees became wobbly. “Zane…” she whispered, her voice tight with a sudden need. Her belly tingled as her womb contracted in anticipation. Zane kissed his way across her shoulder, stopping to nibble on her neck. “Ohhhh….” She bit her lip and couldn’t stop from grinding her ass against his crotch. She felt heady when she felt his erection pressing into her. Jackie dropped the spatula and reached back to caress Zane through his jeans.

  Zane bit her neck gently, leaving a mark. He enjoyed the feel of her fingers as she stroked him through the thick fabric of his jeans. He fought his instincts to unbutton her jeans and push them down so he could slip his fingers inside of her. Knowing he wouldn’t stop with just his fingers, he allowed his hand to wander down the front of her jeans, stroking her between her legs. The roughness of the jeans pressed into her clit and Jackie gripped him a little tighter. She gasped as his fingers caressed her roughly.

  He rubbed his cheek against hers then whispered in her ear, “We’d better stop, Jackie. Or I might fuck you right here.” Jackie nodded in agreement. Was she agreeing that he should stop or that he should fuck her? She wasn’t sure anymore. All she knew was that her nerve endings were on fire and she didn’t want to stop touching Zane. She wanted him naked and over her. Or naked and under her. She didn’t care which as long as he was inside of her. She released him, reached over and shut off the gas stove. She moved the pan over and turned around to face Zane.

  Zane felt Jackie’s soft lips press against his and his mind went blank. The pain in his side vanished as her tongue brushed against his and her hands slid up his arms, locking behind his neck. His hand slid up to the back of her head and his fingers threaded through her hair, massaging her scalp. He felt her soft hand caress his cheek and she pulled away, breathing heavily. Jackie licked her lips and stepped back, taking his hands in hers, she pulled him to their bed. It would take at least two weeks for his rib to heal, so vigorous sex was not possible. That didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy her mate, or that he couldn’t enjoy her.

  Jackie turned Zane so that the bed was behind him and she reached for his jeans. She unbuttoned his jeans and slowly unzipped it. Grasping both his jeans and boxers, she slid them down his legs. She moved so she was kneeling and looked up at him. “Jackie?” She licked her lips, held his cock and slipped it into her mouth. Her head slid away then returned, swallowing him almost to the back of her throat. Zane could hardly believe his eyes. His mate was on her knees, worshiping his cock, sucking him deep into her mouth. Jackie’s mouth was hot and wet around him. She sucked him tightly and released him to lick the slit at the top of his cock. She made eager little noises as her tongue discovered the ridge that circled his crown. His fingers weaved through her hair and he fought hard not to push her head or hold her still so he could pump his hips, filling her mouth completely.

 

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