Love, Always, Promise [Wolf Creek Pack 5] (4 page)

“How do you know?” Jace asked. “You don’t even know the man. You don’t know me.”

Nate turned and smiled at him. “I know.”

Jace turned to look at Joe in confusion, perplexed over the smile on Joe’s face. “What the hell is he talking about?”

“Jeez, Joseph Nash, why don’t you take out a fucking ad in the local paper? You seem to want to tell everyone we meet,” Nate growled, not even turning his head to look at his mate.

Joe chuckled. “It’s just because I’m so damn proud of you, baby.”

Jace watched Nate turn around and shake his knife at Joe, a small glare on his face. “I’d better get a blow job out of this.”

“Promise, baby,” Joe laughed as he turned back to look at Jace. “Nate has some—unusual abilities.”

“Abilities?” Jace asked skeptically. What the hell did that mean?

“Let’s say that he’s not just another pretty face.” Joe laughed.

“Uh uh, and this has to do with Ethan being my mate because?”

“Nate has the ability to tell if someone is lying or not. He can also read your emotions.”

Jace stared at Joe for several moments before looking over at Nate, then back, before he started laughing. “Well, that’s got to make your life a little more complicated.”

“Actually, no, I think it makes things a lot simpler. I know from the get go that I can never lie to him, so why even try? If I have something I can’t discuss with him because of work or pack business, I just tell him and he drops it. It also helps when I want him to know that I really mean what I’m saying,” Joe explained.

Jace nodded. “Okay, I guess I can see where that might help, but I still don’t know what this has to do with me.”

“Because it’s there, dummy,” Nate said as he turned around to glare at Jace. “Haven’t you been listening to a word Joe said? The memory of claiming Ethan is in your head. I can feel it. Your feelings of possessiveness that only a mate has? Those are there, too. Ethan is you mate, plain and simple.”

“Fuck!” Jace growled as he ran his hand through his hair. “What the hell am I supposed to do now?”

“Go get your mate? Live happily ever after?” Nate smirked. “And, if you’re real lucky, somewhere in between, you might even fall in love.”

Jace shook his head. “You don’t understand,” he snapped, slapping his hand down on the table. “I can’t be mated to a man, no matter how much I want him. It just can’t happen.”

“So, you do admit that you want him?” Joe asked quietly.

Jace gave a bitter laugh. “Are you blind? Even three sheets to the wind, he’s still the sexiest damn thing I’ve ever seen. Of course I want him. I just can’t have him.”

“You’re going to give up your mate?” Nate asked in astonishment, quickly crossing the floor to stand next to Joe, his hand reached over to touch his mate’s shoulder. “How can you even consider something like that? He’s your mate.”

“It’s not that simple, Nate. I—”

“It is that simple. He’s your mate. End of story,” Nate said, his voice starting to rise in anger.

“I can’t have a man for a mate!” Jace shouted. “I won’t make alpha.”

“My God, you are one selfish bastard. Maybe you’re right. Don’t claim Ethan. He doesn’t need an asshole like you in his life,” Nate yelled back. “He’s better off spending the rest of his life alone than with the likes of you.”

“Nathan!” Joe shouted.

“Oh please, it’s not like you weren’t thinking the same damn thing. Your
friend
is so worried about how this will affect him and his life. He’s never once thought about what this is doing to Ethan,” Nate snapped before he turned and stormed out of the room in a huff.

Jace lifted an eyebrow, watching Nate stomp out of the room.

Joe sure had his hands full with that one
.

His gaze returned to Joe.

“I’m sorry about that, Jace. Sometimes Nate gets a little riled when he feels strongly about something.” Joe chuckled.

“You think? Is he always like that?”

Joe shrugged. “Yeah, I guess, but I like it. He’s not afraid to tell me what he thinks, so I always know where I stand with him. That helps a lot. Plus, I think his biggest concern is the people around him are happy, including you."

“What does he care?” Jace replied. “He doesn’t even know me.”

“Doesn’t matter. He knows you’re one of my friends, and that’s enough for him.”

“Okay, besides the whole
let’s be happy
thing, why is he so concerned with me being with my mate?” Jace asked. It felt a little weird saying the word
mate
, but he guessed he might need to get used to it eventually.

“When I claimed Nate, we had a lot of shit to work through. We had the whole gay thing to going on with the rest of the pack. I’m the alpha’s son and my mate was male. While things have settled down now, it wasn’t received too easily in the beginning. On top of that, somebody was after Nate. We both almost died. We’ve learned to appreciate what we have together. I just think that Nate wants that for you and Ethan, too.”

“Shit!” Jace replied, sitting back in his chair as he stared at Joe in amazement.

Joe nodded. “He grew up in a type of prison dormitory thing run by the guy that was after him. Until we met, no one ever loved him or took care of him. I don’t think he understands how someone could consider giving that up for any reason. I’m not sure I can, either.”

“What do you think would happen if I took Ethan home? It’s dangerous enough just being next in line for the alpha position. If I brought a gay man home, mate or not, how long do you think it would be before someone tried to take one of us out? I can’t be there to protect him every second of every day, Joe.”

“I guess I can see what you mean, but is it so terribly important that you become the next alpha of your pack? You already told me you don’t like living there. Is it worth giving up your mate for them?”

Jace thought about it for a moment before shrugging his shoulders. “Honestly, right now I don’t know. I’ve just always known that I would be the next alpha. My father raised me around the idea. I don’t know anything else.”

“Okay,” Joe said as he leaned back in his chair, “answer me this, then. If you could do anything you wanted, anything, no matter how bizarre, what would you do?”

Jace chuckled. “I’ve always wanted to own a horse ranch, raise and breed horses.”

“You never told me that,” Joe said in wonder. “Why a horse ranch?”

“I love horses. I always have. I even have a couple back home. My father indulges me as long as I remember that my first duty is to the pack. But, if I had a choice, and mind you I said if, I would raise and breed horses.”

“That’s just it, Jace, you do have a choice. You don’t have to be pack alpha. From what you’ve told me, your brother wants it more than you do. Let him have it. Move here and be with your mate. I’m sure we can find you a nice ranch around here where the two of you can live.”

“Would it really be that easy, Joe? Just pack up and move my ass here, give up ever becoming alpha of my pack, and live happily ever after with a man?” Jace asked skeptically.

“No, it’s probably not that easy. But if you want it bad enough, it’s worth the fight. I can promise you that. Even after everything that Nate and I went through, I still wouldn’t trade a minute of it if it meant giving Nate up.”

“Trying to get back into my good graces, Sheriff?”

Joe and Jace both turned to see Nate standing in the doorway, a small smile on his face. His smile grew wider as he walked toward Joe. Nate moved around to sit down on his lap and looped his arms around Joe’s neck before cuddling in against him.

Jace watched Joe wrap his arms around Nate. Just before he buried his face in Nate’s neck, the most tender look Jace ever saw crossed Joe’s face. He seemed to be really happy with Nate.

Could it be that easy? Could he just give up being the next pack alpha to move back here with Ethan? He spent his entire life knowing that he would be the next alpha. He didn’t know anything else.

But was giving up his mate the answer? Sure, Ethan was a man, but he was also the sexiest looking man Jace ever saw. As much as he tried to suppress his desires for other men in the past, he could easily see himself with Ethan. Just the thought of sinking into his tight little body made his cock hard.

“Hey, Joe? Could you take me back into town to my car? I have some thinking to do,” Jace said after a few moments.

Joe turned to look at him, nodding his head. “Yeah, sure, Jace.”

Jace stood to his feet, reaching his hand out to Nate. “Thanks, Nate, and I’m sorry about lunch. Maybe we can do it again some other time?”

“Anytime, Jace,” Nate said as he stood to his feet and shook Jace’s hand.

Jace started to turn away then stopped, looking back at Nate. “Would you keep an eye on Ethan until I figure this all out?”

Nate smiled, nodding his head. “Just don’t take forever, Jace. While you’re out trying to figure things out, Ethan is living without his mate. You’ve already claimed him, and he needs you.”

Jace nodded his head. “I just—I need to think about some things, get this stuff right in my head, or I won’t be of any use to Ethan.”

“I just have one bit of advice for you before you go, Jace. Think about who is going to be more accepting of you, your pack or your mate. Who is going to care more about your happiness and not what you can do for them? And who is going to love you no matter what?”

Jace stared at Nate for several tense moments before nodding his head. The man was a fountain of knowledge. He seemed to know all the right things to say to confuse Jace.

“I’ll think about it, Nate.”

Chapter 3

Jace’s mind reeled as he drove home. Something deep inside of him told him that Ethan was indeed his mate. Jace didn’t know if that excited him or scared him.

The man looked gorgeous. There was no doubt about that. In any other circumstances, that fact would have thrilled Jace. Having a beautiful mate for the rest of his life was not a bad way to go. Ethan also seemed more than willing to be in their relationship, whatever that was.

Jace just wasn’t sure being with Ethan would be his best choice. Being the alpha of a pack seemed to be what every werewolf wanted out of life. Jace wondered if something about him that made him different. He really didn’t want to be alpha. He just wanted to settle down somewhere and live a peaceful life with, well, Ethan.

A small chuckle slipped from Jace’s lips. He gripped the steering wheel tighter. More laughter slipped out until Jace had a full belly laugh going. He pulled over to the side of the road and laughed until tears streamed down his face.

As the laughter slowly dwindled, Jace wiped the tears from his face. He leaned forward and rested his head on the steering wheel. He just answered his own dilemma. He didn’t want to be alpha. He wanted Ethan. His decision was that simple. He could do what everyone else wanted him to do, or he could do what he wanted and be happy.

Jace sat up and drove his truck back onto the road, heading for his home. His mind already planned what he needed to do when he got there. He knew once he told his father of his decision and left, he’d never go back.

Exhilaration filled Jace as he drove down the road toward his house. He tapped his hands on the steering wheel to the beat of the music from the radio. Now that he made his choice, Jace felt like the weight of the world had lifted from his shoulders. He felt excited about what their future would be like.

Would Ethan like living on a ranch? Did he even like horses? Jace pictured the two of them riding horses together, sitting on a porch and cuddling as the sun set, even running through the woods in wolf form. So many new things opened up now that he wouldn’t be under his father’s thumb. Jace couldn’t wait.

He pulled into his driveway and turned off the motor. Jace had a little bounce in his step as he made his way to the front door. He needed to pack as fast as possible and get back to his mate.

Jace opened the front door and walked in, his forehead crinkling in confusion when he heard voices coming from the living room. He often had people drop by, but he could have sworn he locked the front door. Come to think of it, he didn’t need to unlock it when he came in.

Jace followed the voices until he stood in the archway of the living room. He didn’t recognize the statuesque blond walking around the room, pointing here and there. Another young woman stood behind her writing on a notepad.

“Those will have to go,” the blond woman said as she pointed to a matching set of horse head bookends. “They’re just horrible. Who decorates with this stuff?”

Offended, Jace cleared his throat. “That would be me. And those bookends were a present from my grandfather.”

The woman whirled around, surprise on her face for a brief moment before a serene smile covered her lips. “You must be JD,” she crooned. “I’m so happy to finally meet you.”

“Who are you and what are you doing in my home?” Jace asked. He crossed his arms over his chest, ignoring the hand the woman held out.

“Oh, I’m Susanna,” she replied.

“And you’re in my house without my permission because?”

“Not to worry, darling, your father brought me.”

Darling? Jace racked his brain to figure out if his father ever mentioned Susanna before, but he came up blank. He had no idea who this woman was and why she was in his house.

“Why would my father let you into my house?”

Susanna looked confused for a moment, but then she smiled. Jace took a step back at the look on her face. It unnerved him. He felt like prey to a hunter, and Susanna was the hunter.

“Your father moved me in. Your father told me I could change anything I didn’t like.” Susanna waved her hand around the room. “Most of this will have to go, of course. There’s no way I can live in a house with this stuff. I haven’t had time to look over the rest of the house, but I’m sure most of it will have to go, too. It would be better if we just moved to a bigger house, but I suppose this will do for now.”

“Lady, I don’t know who the hell you are, but you’re not changing one damn thing in my house!” Jace snapped. “Get the hell out.”

The woman bristled. “Your father brought me here. I was under the understanding that I would be welcomed.”