Defying Pack Law (13 page)

The true wonder to John was the fact she even
contemplated it.

The gentlemanly thing to do would involve
walking away and allowing her to make a choice without influence.
That, however, required a selflessness that John discovered he
didn’t possess. He wanted Dana, and while he wouldn’t force her, he
also wouldn’t just step aside and allow her to forget his interest.
And with Nathan striking out with his heavy-handed tactics and
scaring her in the process, he needed to step his seduction up a
bit to show her a better alternative to flight. John didn’t kid
himself. He could see it in her eyes—Dana still hadn’t decided if
she should stay or go.

Given her probable angst this morning, John
decided not to wait for a moment or for fate to intervene. He
created his opportunity and snuck into her room, which wasn’t as
simple as it sounded. Nathan had spent the night on the floor in
front of her door after she kicked him out, while Kody had bunked
down in the bushes outside her window. With her two exits covered,
it was John who had resigned himself to a good night’s sleep the
evening previous—not that his plan to rest worked with his mind
working overtime. He’d tried, though, knowing he’d require all his
wits about him to deal with not only her, but his pack brothers.
The situation called for a delicate dance through emotions and
jealousy where one misstep could signal disaster.

John bided his time so that when Nathan
staggered off with stretching and creaking limbs to the bathroom,
John used the opportunity to slide into her room. He still didn’t
know what he would do or say as he approached the bed on silent
feet, the lump in the middle not moving—at all. With only that as
his warning, he managed to brace himself when his feet ended up
swept out from under him.

He hit the floor hands-first and scissored his
legs around to catch her before she could flee. It took some fast
moving, but he maneuvered himself to act as a landing pad for her.
She crashed into his body with a startled squeak. For good measure,
John wrapped his arms tight around her and then grinned. “Morning,
Dana.”

She tried to look angry, but he could see the
struggle. So he kissed the tip of her nose.

She giggled and relaxed on top of him. “Damned
werewolves and their super senses.”

“
Don’t tell me you actually thought
you could flee?”

She shrugged and bit her lip. “Not really, but
a girl’s got to try. Am I in trouble?”

“
Not in the least. Actually, I’m
kind of happy you’re determined to keep my skills honed. A man
should always be on his toes in case of danger.”

Her lips tilted in a smile that made his heart
do a somersault. “And am I dangerous?”

“
Most definitely. But I like it,” he
said with return grin. “Actually, I like a lot of things about
you.”

When she ducked her face under his chin, her
warm breath feathering his neck, his already interested cock turned
rock solid. It took more strength of will than he would have
imagined to resist pressing himself against her. He tried to change
the direction of his thoughts. “How are you feeling this
morning?”

She lifted her head and peeked at him,
exhibiting a girly coyness that seemed at odds with her usual tough
bravado. He wondered if she was putting on an act for him to lull
his senses or if she felt comfortable enough around him to drop her
tough-girl façade. Only time and actions would tell, he
guessed.

“
I feel great. The soreness in my
ribs is gone, and the last of the bruises seem to have faded
overnight.”

“
Excellent. Although, I’ll admit,
I’m going to miss catering to my favorite patient.”

“
Ha!” she scoffed. “Anyone ever tell
you that you’re an ass kisser?”

“
No, but I could be,” he replied
with a leer.

She laughed again, the sound like music to his
ears. When she stopped, in the sudden silence, her stomach growled,
and she blushed endearingly. John lost the battle with himself. He
brushed her lips with his, a soft embrace that lasted only a
fleeting moment, but made him want to forget good manners and flip
her over, tear off her clothes, and plow her sweet
pussy.

“
I guess we should get you
downstairs so we can feed you,” he said, his voice low.

He let his arms fall to the side, mentally
urging her to move before he took advantage of her like his cock
demanded. To his surprise, she didn’t immediately move off
him.

She stared down instead, a look of puzzlement
creasing her brow. “I don’t get you. I can feel you’re happy to see
me.” She ground her hips against him in a delicious way that made
his eyes almost roll up in his head. “And yet, you don’t push me,
or even try to cop a feel, or a real kiss. Why? I thought you
wanted me. Or was I mistaken?”

John raised a hand and ran a finger down the
side of her face, enjoying the softness of her skin but even more
the way she tilted her head against his hand. “No mistake. I want
you. I want to lick every inch of you and then make love to you
until you scream my name.” He swallowed hard when her eyes dilated
and her lips parted on a breathy sigh. He allowed himself only one
chaste kiss before continuing. “I want to claim you as my mate and
raise pups with you. But, I told you, I won’t force you. When you
decide you’re ready, I’ll be here, ready to love you silly. If you
want my mark, I will give it to you gladly. But you make the
choice. You decide when.”

His words mirrored the ones she’d said to
Nathan the previous night, but he intended no subterfuge. He meant
them. He wouldn’t force himself on her if she was unwilling. They’d
both end up miserable otherwise.

Besides, if he was right about her, she’d
eventually come to him. He just had to survive the wait.

He could see he’d stunned her, and then the
most wondrous thing happened. She leaned forward and pressed her
mouth to his, a fleeting embrace, but one freely given. “Thank
you,” she whispered.

Then she kissed him again, deeply,
her lips sliding over his in a way that made him tremble to control
himself from doing what both his wolf and body demanded.
Claim her. Mark her. Make her ours.
John clenched his fists to his sides, not trusting
himself to even hug her. He let her set the pace of the kiss, which
ended too soon—not soon enough.

She got off him and stood up. John could only
lie there stunned. He gazed up at her with what was surely a hungry
look. Her eyes also appeared bright, and he could scent her
arousal. With an impish grin, she offered him her hand, which was
how Nathan found them when he walked in.

Nathan’s brows beetled together, and John
waited for him to say something stupid and jealous, but he held his
tongue. “Breakfast is ready,” he announced curtly and turned on his
heel to march out.

Dana sighed. “For a man who used to be okay
with the idea of sharing me, he’s gotten awfully
jealous.”

“
Nathan is scared of losing you.
That you’ll turn to one of us alone and leave him out in the
cold.”

“
If he keeps up that attitude, it is
a definite possibility,” she grumbled.

John slapped her on the ass. “Behave. Just like
you, Nathan’s working through some heavy emotional shit. Give him a
break.” John held out his arm and bit back a smile of satisfaction
as she linked hers in it. Baby steps. “Let’s go feed you. We’ve got
a busy day ahead. Nathan wants to show you the compound and all the
changes he’s made.”

“
I’d like that. And what are your
plans?” she asked, not looking at him.

John smiled at her roundabout way of asking if
she’d see him. “I’m going to be with you, of course. Unless you’d
prefer I stay behind.”

Her hand squeezed his arm. “I’d like it if you
came, too.”

They went downstairs and found Nathan making
breakfast while Kody poured the juice.

“
Morning, darling,” Kody said with a
wink. “I hope you slept like crap all by yourself.”

Dana sucked in a breath and laughed. “You are
incorrigible.”

“
Yes, yes I am,” Kody replied in a
deadpan tone. John saw the twinkle in his eye and waited for him to
get even more outrageous. “Anytime you want to correct me, let me
know. I’d bend over gladly for you.”

John laughed at the look on Dana’s face. Even
Nathan ruefully chuckled.

“
Sit down and shut up, Kody, before
I bend you over for my belt instead of her hand,” Nathan
threatened, but with a smile.

Dana shook her head at their banter, but the
laughter ended up a good start for the day, and breakfast went by
with ease.

After breakfast, Kody announced he had to run
into town for supplies, and Dana, with a pointed look at Nathan,
said she’d write him a list of things she required since she wasn’t
given time to pack.

The compound was comprised of a gated community
with family homes, a rec center, and a basic corner store.
Groceries and other staples required a drive of about forty-five
minutes into town. But these things did require funds. To earn a
paycheck, some of the males worked in the nearby environs, but
given the size of most families, a lot of the wolves went for
employment that gave them time away, trucking being the most
prevalent. Truckers could be gone from one day to several weeks at
a time, so it eased sometimes crowded living conditions and gave
the females breathing room. Given the multimate status of most
families, the females had no need to work, although some of the
older ones whose pups had progressed to school age chose to do so
to combat boredom.

As pack alpha, Nathan didn’t have a job per se,
not that he needed one. A great-great-grandfather of his had done
well financially and invested his earnings. Nathan maintained those
accounts, somewhat depleted during his father’s tenure, and had
managed to add to them by doing odd jobs for the Lycan council.
Mostly rogue hunting, a dirty, dangerous job that paid quite
lucratively, especially in recent years with the increase in
rogues. Thinking of those miscreants made John vaguely wonder if
Nathan had obtained any leads on the whereabouts of the remaining
shifters who’d abducted and abused Dana. The rogues’ rabid behavior
needed addressing, and John hoped to be a part of the group that
meted out their punishment.

John waited in the living room with Nathan for
Dana to finish with her list.

“
I don’t suppose I could ask you to
stay away from her?” Nathan asked in a quiet voice.

John looked over at him. “Nope. I know what she
means to you, Nathan. I won’t keep her to myself if that’s what
you’re afraid of. You and I both know that if you want to avoid
troubles with the Lycan council, it would be best if she ends up
mating with all of us.”

“
I’ve wanted and chased after her
for so long that the idea of sharing just isn’t sitting well,”
Nathan admitted.

“
I’d quote pack law to you, but you
already know it. You know the Lycan council won’t turn a blind eye
to anyone flaunting that law, not given the low birth rates we’ve
been experiencing. Even if it weren’t for pack law, I wouldn’t back
off. She calls to me and my wolf. I can’t stop thinking about
her.”
And wanting her.
John kept that part to himself.

“
Do me a favor, and give me a chance
to claim her first. I realize that to keep her, I’m going to have
to share. It’s funny because twelve years ago, the roles were
reversed, with me wanting it and her vehemently opposed. I’ll get
over it. I have to if I’m going to keep her and stay with the pack.
In a sense, I’m glad it’s going to be with you and Kody instead of
some of the others in the pack.”

Nathan’s honesty and the difficult truths he
admitted out loud touched John. “Things will work out, Nathan. Now
keep in mind, though, I can’t promise you’ll be first marked. The
choice is Dana’s. But, I won’t pursue her hard until you’ve given
it your best shot.”

“
Fair enough,” Nathan
agreed.

“
Once you’ve marked her, though, all
bets are off. I will woo her.”

“
Understood. But do me a favor,”
Nathan said, turning to him with a half smile. “If she really has
done a one-eighty and decides to take us all to bed at once, keep
your dick away from my ass.”

John gaped at him and then laughed. “Make sure
you keep yours pointed in her direction, and you’ve got a deal.” He
held his hand out, and Nathan gripped it tight.

Dana took that moment to come down the stairs,
and she eyed them oddly, probably because they couldn’t stop
snickering.

“
What’s so funny?”

Nathan stared at the ceiling, a ruddy color
suffusing his face. John covered for him. “Just wagering if Kody’s
going to be able to buy those feminine products you asked for or if
he’s going chicken out.”

Dana smiled wickedly. “Actually, he says they
won’t be a problem at all, especially once I told him he’d also get
to pick me up some underwear since Nathan forbade me from leaving
the compound.”

Nathan shifted uncomfortably. “Only until
you’ve mated with us. I’m still not convinced you won’t
flee.”