Page 6

6

JACOB

T he knock was a surprise. I hadn’t expected company at this late hour. The Pack knew I was safe, but would they come to my place, especially without calling? Oh, whoops. The mercenaries likely destroyed my cell phone.

This person had to be from the Pack.

I glanced around the living room and kitchen, making sure no visible sign of Kelly existed, aside from her scent. At least I’d showered a moment ago, or they would’ve smelled her on me.

I was keeping Kelly from the Pack for her own safety. If they discovered her before I spoke to the Council, they would put her to death. They had rules—strict, unforgiving ones. I wasn’t about to risk her life. Her introduction needed a finesse I lacked right now, especially when my Alpha forbade the creation of new werewolves. A rogue werewolf hadn’t made her. This was the scientists’ fault. She was a victim of their damn experiments.

Besides, she wasn’t ready to face the Pack. Hell, I knew I wasn’t. I should’ve called them or my family with the landline phone while Kelly was showering, but building up the courage was damn near impossible. Even the thought of leaving the condo felt like a risk.

What if someone was still out there looking for us? My gut clenched with fear, but I pushed it down. Later, when I was alone, I’d hit my home gym and release those emotions. Now wasn’t the time.

Near the front door, I drew in a deep breath. Before I even looked through the peephole, I knew who stood outside.

Shane. My older brother.

I had so many questions, but this wasn’t the best time for any of them. What if he sniffed out Kelly’s presence? I raked a hand through my hair, debating my options, but he knocked again, hard.

“Open up, Jacob. It’s late, and I know you’re in there. I can smell you.” Shane sounded like his usual irritable self.

That familiar grumpiness put me at ease, and I opened the door before leaning against the door frame, arms crossed. “Hey, I’m home. What are you doing here?” I enjoyed seeing my brother, even if we weren’t close. While I didn’t want to seem like an ass, I wasn’t about to invite him inside.

Shane’s assessing gaze swept over me, his scowl deepening. He raised an eyebrow. “What am I doing here? What do you think? You took off before anyone could talk to you. You just fucking vanished.” He shook his head, anger clear in the tight set of his jaw. “What the hell, dude? We came for you, and…” His eyes flicked past me, scanning the living room and kitchen like he was looking for something—or someone. “I swung by earlier, but you weren’t here.” He took a step forward, intending to force his way in, but I didn’t budge. “Let’s have this discussion inside instead of me standing out here.”

I glanced over his shoulder at the private hallway behind him. “Why? No one will overhear us.” As much as I hated to admit it, he was right. I shouldn’t have bailed, but my instincts had taken over. My focus had been on getting Kelly to safety, not on sticking around for a reunion.

Shane’s frustration shifted into something else—displeasure, then his expression became unreadable. I regretted acting like a jerk. He had been instrumental in the Pack learning about my abduction. I owed my brother my life. Being a dick to him wasn’t the right move.

I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose as a dull ache started forming behind my eyes. “Listen, I’m sorry. After being locked in a cage for the last month, I’m exhausted and pissed off. I need time to process what happened. I’ve been through hell, okay? That’s all. I need some alone time.”

Sympathy flickered through Shane’s eyes, and a scent of embarrassment wafted from him. Why would he feel embarrassed? He’d saved my life.

“You don’t have to apologize, Jacob.” He lowered his gaze to the tiled floor. “It makes sense. Hell, I probably would’ve done the same. It’s just…” He shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged his broad shoulders. “Mom and Dad are worried about you. Dad figures you need space, but after everything, I, uh…” His voice cracked slightly before he cleared his throat. “I wanted to check on you. See if you’re okay.”

“Didn’t know you cared, bro. I’m…” I shook my head, struggling to find the right words. “I’m just glad to be out of there.”

Seeing Shane this impacted by my safety surprised me. I’d figured he would help me with the mercenaries and inform the Pack, but maybe our distant relationship would patch itself. Maybe I’d finally have a good relationship with my older brother.

“Of course I care, dude.” But that hitch in his voice was back again. A human might not have noticed it, but I did. “So, I guess I should warn you. Mom’s caught up in Pack meetings about what happened. She said she’ll be coming by at some point—or calling, depending on her schedule.” He rolled his eyes, then handed over a new cell phone that looked almost identical to my old one. “The Pack’s tech guy transferred your old contacts. They found your phone broken and your car totaled at that lab. The car’s at Pack headquarters. If you need a ride, let me know, and I can take you over to grab your stuff.”

“Damn… Thanks.” I stared down at the phone in my hand, struggling to comprehend the support my family was offering. At least I’d be able to text Rosalind not to clean tomorrow before I went to bed. Dad even understood my need for distance. But more than solitude, I needed time alone to be with Kelly. Shit. Did I deserve their compassion?

Tucking the phone into my back pocket, I met Shane’s gaze. “Thanks for this… and for coming by. I appreciate you seeking the Pack’s help in bringing me home.” I pulled him into a bro hug, and every muscle in his body stiffened. Was it something I’d said or the hug? We rarely offered affection, but this was different. I needed to show my gratitude for him after he’d helped save my life.

“No problem, Jacob. I’ll let you get some sleep. Like I said, if you need a ride to Pack HQ, I’ll drive you over.” He ducked under my arm and turned, but he glanced back at me. His lips pressed into a thin line. “Speaking of, Jared will go on trial in a couple of days. You’re expected to be there. Pack traditions, you know.” Without another word, he jogged off to the stairwell. The door slammed shut behind him, sharp and final.

My hands curled into fists. Fuck. I had so many questions. What had Jared done to need a trial? Regardless, I didn’t love the idea of going back to the Pack so soon. Besides, I couldn’t just leave Kelly to fend for herself. She deserved my protection. Who’d look after her if I was busy with the Pack?

Something about Shane’s visit didn’t feel right, but I couldn’t put my finger on what was wrong. The way he’d tensed up and seemed almost apologetic felt odd. Maybe I should reach out to Mom, or perhaps Chad. But I didn’t want to bother Mom with all of her meetings, even if I needed to talk with her. Besides, that asshole was one of my best friends. He might know what was up with Shane.

Shane was acting weird. More than usual. But hell, what happened couldn’t have been easy for him. I shook off the thought. Now wasn’t the time to overthink this.

A soft touch brushed my arm, and I whirled on Kelly. My fist stopped an inch from her face. Her eyes widened like large, round dinner plates. Adrenaline pumped through my veins, making my hand shake as I lowered it. I’d been so consumed by my thoughts that I hadn’t heard her approach.

“J-Jacob? Are you okay?”

I blinked, shoving my trembling hands into my pockets. “Sorry, I’m fine.”

Her gaze trailed over me, as if she wasn’t sure what to believe. “You’re sure?” She tugged at the hem of her shirt and tilted her head to the side.

Shit. No, I wasn’t okay, but she didn’t need to be worried about me. How could I explain this? If I lied, she might sense it. But if she’d listened in, she’d already know I was hiding shit from her.

“What’s up? There’s a lot on my head right now.” My attention dipped to Kelly’s outfit. She wore a tank top that clung to her curves while her toned legs stretched from a pair of short shorts. My mouth went dry as the memory of being between her thighs and tasting her core hit me hard.

Now wasn’t the time for those thoughts.

Concern creased her forehead, and her lips pursed. “I asked who that was?” She raked her gaze over me, then hugged herself as if cold.

“That was my brother, Shane. I… wasn’t expecting him.” I rolled my neck to ease the tension.

“Your brother? I didn’t know you had one.” Her gaze slid to the floor before she looked me in the eye again. “I guess I don’t know a lot about you other than you’re great at math and science, you’re a werewolf, and you saved my life. Small things like that.” A smile ghosted over her lips.

She wasn’t wrong. We’d shared classes at university and talked sometimes, but we knew little about one another. That needed to change.

“You’re not missing much. He’s the elder child and a pain in the ass.” I smirked, even if the humor didn’t reach my eyes. “Do you have any siblings?”

The small smile on her lips slipped, but she recovered fast. “No, I was an only child. Guess I was… spared the headache.” Her nostrils flared as she glanced over my shoulder. “Are both of you werewolves?”

“My whole family is wolves.” Talking about them stressed me out, but if I wanted her trust, I had to let her in. “We’re all part of the same Pack. You’ll get to meet them when you’re ready.” Hopefully, at least.

Her brows knitted together, and she shifted in my hold. “Oh, cool. Wow… I guess I didn’t realize it ran in families like that. Not with getting…” She clawed the air with her nails, her frown deepening.

“Being scratched or bitten isn’t an uncommon way of becoming a werewolf, but it’s both.”

Kelly pursed her lips. “Right… That makes sense. So, uh, I’ll just… meet your family when I’m ready?” She fidgeted with the hem of her tank top again. “That sounds… overwhelming. What if they don’t like me?” She laughed sheepishly and shrugged her shoulders.

“Don’t worry about that, babe.” I wrapped an arm around Kelly’s shoulders and pulled her against me. “They’ll like you. I know it.” If they didn’t, they’d have me to contend with. My lips brushed the top of her head, and I enjoyed the citrusy scent of her hair. “I’d like to learn more about you too. What if we talk tomorrow after getting some rest?” I leaned back to look down at her face.

“I’d like that. A lot.” She wrapped her arms around my waist, just staying close to me. “Not that I’m interesting or anything.” The quick beating of her heart and the soft scent of her worry filled my senses. “Mmm… I am pretty tired. You wore me out earlier.”

“You’re intriguing to me, whether you agree or not.” I scooped her into my arms, carrying her to my bedroom. She snuggled against my chest, her fingers trailing patterns over my skin.

Keeping her away from the Pack would only hurt her in the long run, but I needed to talk with Mom. As a member of the Pack’s Council, she’d know how to handle this. I didn’t know what I’d do with myself if my Alpha executed Kelly. My feelings for her ran deeper than I’d ever believed possible. My own parents had a marriage of convenience rather than love and true mating. I’d figured that would be my future too. None of the female werewolves had satisfied me the way Kelly did.

My wolf growled low in my chest, sensing my unease. Only Kelly’s warmth kept me grounded. If I just knew how to open up to her about all of this. How could I tell her that the very people who rescued us might also decide she needed to die?