Freakn' Shifters Bundle (3-in-1) (48 page)

The partially folded t-shirt in her fist shredded under the claws that popped out. Oops. Seemed her cat had jealousy issues. Well, so did Jiao. How to let Chris know she was interested? An honorable man wouldn’t intentionally seduce a married woman.
But I could drop hints that ours isn’t a match made in heaven. Maybe let him know I am open to cheating on my husband.
However, she’d have to keep it a careful secret. If Sheng thought for a minute she jeopardized them, he’d have Patricia relocate them faster than she could beg for forgiveness.

And I can’t let that happen. Not when I might have finally met my mate.
She needed to find a way to distract Sheng while she explored her reaction to the wolf. First though, she’d have to convince him to hire Chris for the basement project without letting on she rooted for him. How? She didn’t know, but she’d figure something out. Hopefully.

Chris bounded into his house with only one goal in mind. Winning. Consumed with thoughts of the woman he’d met, he whipped up a quote, then worked the numbers, massaging them into something only an idiot could refuse. Given Jack’s mental deficiencies, he then worked it some more, just to be sure.

Intent on his task, he ignored the pokes from his brother Stu, cajoling him to come outside and toss a pigskin. He ignored his bellowing father demanding to know who made the great big mess in the living room. Chris had, but as he was busy, he didn’t take the blame and instead pointed outside to his brother bouncing a ball off the house. The ensuing outdoor shouting match reached wicked decibel levels. Those distractions he ignored, but he moved his ass quick as a pup on the trail of prey when his mother quietly asked for a set of hands to help dry the dishes.

Only a stupid wolf got on his mama’s bad side. Five foot nothing, she looked sweet on the outside, but she ruled the roost with an iron fist. His mother beat all other mothers hands down. Literally. Didn’t believe his mother was tough? Just ask Katie Johnson. It took her weeks to grow back her front teeth. No one picked on Meredith Grayson’s babies. Except for her, of course. Not that she resorted to violence with her pups. Often. Chris knew only too well the agony of an ear in an unrelenting grip. But worse was her subtle punishments. Starch in his underpants. Oh, and the laxative the time he didn’t make it for Sunday dinner and came home stinking of booze looking for leftovers. The worst though, her sad sigh of disappointment, the one designed to make a misbehaving wolf tuck his tail and duck his head in shame.

Damn he loved her. Best mother ever!

Grabbing a dish towel, he dried by rote as his mama washed. Sunk in his thoughts, he tried to figure out what to do about his dilemma. Killing the competition? A little too drastic. Kidnapping his mate? Might freak her out. He could…

“Why is your mind churning a mile a minute?” his mother asked.

Should he keep the news to himself? Nah, he was too giddy, and he could use her opinion. “I met my mate today.” Well technically a few days ago, but seeing her again, he could now state it with certainty.

Crash. The plate hit the floor as his mother gaped at him. Chris ran for the broom and dustpan. As he knelt to clean up the mess, she asked, “Who? I thought you went through all the ladies in town. Or so their mothers have complained. Not my fault their daughters gave away the
milk
for free.”

Chris grinned. He’d sowed quite a few oats with the ladies. In some cases, twice. “She’s new to the area.”

“Have I met her yet? What’s her name?”

“Jill.”

“And?” His mother tapped her foot as she waited for more information.

“Oh, you want details.” He laughed at his mother’s arched brow. “She’s short like you, Asian heritage, cute as hell, oh, and married.”

Chris should have known better than to drop another bombshell so quickly.

“Come here.” Words quietly spoken, his mother crooked a finger beckoning him close.

Sighing, Chris crouched down and tried not to wince as his mother cuffed him upside the head. “Christopher Phineas Grayson. You’d better not have seduced a married woman!”

“I haven’t. Yet.”

He managed to avoid her next swing, but he caught the full brunt of her glare.

“I raised you better than this.”

“But, ma. She’s my mate. I swear it. It’s just like dad said it would be. My wolf went nuts. I got a shock when we touched. I can’t stop thinking of her. The whole nine yards.”

His mother frowned. “But she’s married. So does that mean you’re going to be in a polyamorous relationship like your brother?”

“Hell no. Not me.” Chris wanted only one dick in bed.
Why couldn’t she have been married to a girl?
That he could have handled.

“Well, exactly what do you plan to do if he’s not just her husband, but her mate? Matings are for life.”

“I guess killing him is out of the question?”

“Christopher!”

He grinned. “Just kidding.” Mostly.

“Perhaps, you’re mistaken. It’s been a while since you came home smelling like a bottle of cheap perfume. Maybe someone needs to get laid.”

A grimace crossed his face. “Ma!”

“Don’t
ma
me. You’re a grown man, and like all males, you need sexual intercourse to keep your brain functioning.”

“We are not having this discussion,” Chris growled.

“Hey, you were the one who wanted to talk.”

He gaped at her. “I did not. You made me tell you.”

She blew a raspberry. “Oh please. Any idiot with half a brain could see you had exciting news.”

“Dad didn’t notice. Or Kendrick. Or Stu.”

“I said an idiot with half a brain, not empty space.”

They both snickered.

“So you think I should try dating someone else?”

“Date. Screw. Whatever you want to call it. And avoid this woman. If you manage to stay away, then chances are it’s not the mating fever.”

“Yeah, staying away is not a likely option given I just sent her husband an awesome quote to do a job. He’s sure to accept.”

His mother shook her head. “You’re playing with fire, my son. Even if she is your mate, if you start flirting, or more, with this man’s wife…” His mother shook her head with a woeful expression. “Don’t come crying if you get hurt. A husband is well within his right to kick the ass of an interloper, possible mate or not.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve got a plan to keep him distracted while I see what’s up with Jill.”

Actually, he didn’t have any ideas as to what to do other than the fact he intended to get to know Jill better. Naked preferably so he could mark her. Then once she was his, well, then he’d deal with the repercussions.

*

Several days later, Sheng balled up yet another quote and tossed it at the garbage can. Six contractors other than the wolf he’d had in. Five gave him exorbitantly high quotes, much higher than expected, and one didn’t contact him back at all. He expected it from the humans, damned crooked thieves looking to make a heap of money, but the second and third shifter he called for numbers came in even higher. Only one quote shone amidst the rest.

One problem. He didn’t like the wolf behind it.

The moment he met Chris, Sheng smelled trouble. He’d not missed how his sister and Chris looked at each other with moonstruck eyes. Talk about a complication he didn’t want or need.

He knew Jiao thought them safe, his fault really because he’d done his job as protector too well. Sheng and Patricia, the RCMP shifter with connections who’d helped them disappear when they escaped the mountains, had helped him hide the evidence of Kaleb’s continued interest in their whereabouts. She noted inquiries made into their identities, and if too frequent, changed their name and moved them. She monitored reports of suspicious shifter activity. When she moved from one RCMP office to another, Sheng and Jiao moved with her, using the change of scenery as another chance to further muddy their trail with a new name and life. However, despite the fact they appeared safe, Sheng knew with a certainty that often woke him with sweating, heart pounding nightmares, that Kaleb would never let them go. He’d never give up looking, not when Sheng and Jiao were so valuable as the last two of their kind, shifter kind at any rate.

Their pretend marriage kept them safe. Or so Patricia thought. Kaleb was looking for a brother and sister, not a married couple. By sticking together they protected each other. At least that was the plan, however, only an idiot wouldn’t notice his little sister chafed at their false marriage. Truthfully, Sheng chafed too.

As a man, it wasn’t easy to take care of his sexual needs when he had to do so in a manner that wouldn’t come back to bite him. Playing the role of married man meant acting the part, and not getting caught cheating. It sucked. A lot. What Sheng wouldn’t give to be able to have a real girlfriend that he could see on a regular basis. One night stands, all he could indulge in for the moment, left him feeling more alone sometimes, and dirty. What did those poor women think when he never called them back?

But despite how he felt, Sheng would do anything to keep Jiao safe. He’d promised his father, and he would keep his word.

“Lee! No!” his mother’s cry of panic almost had Sheng dropping his sister as they practiced their routine on the practice rope strung only two feet from the ground. Without speaking a word, Sheng and Jiao raced out of the gymnasium to the courtyard. The harsh sobs of their mother slowed their steps, but it was the coppery stench of blood which halted Sheng. Not so Jiao.

With a cry she flew to their mother and dropped to her knees, her tears falling as freely as her sobs. Throat tight, Sheng clenched his fists at his side, warring with an urge to run away, to deny what happened in front of him. But his father didn’t raise a coward.

Stiff legged, his back ramrod straight, he stalked to the huddled group, ignoring the indifferent gazes of the guards milling around. Show no weakness, he could almost hear his father’s say the words. He’d heard them so often, he knew better than to display any emotion. He wouldn’t give the guards or Kaleb the satisfaction. But damn, it was hard.

His mother and sister made room for him as he arrived. The shock of seeing his father’s face, pale and covered in blood, obviously dying, sent Sheng to his knees.

“No.” He whispered the word, tried to deny the evidence of his father’s impending mortality.

Hearing him, his father turned his head, and caught his gaze. A wan smile crossed his face. “My son.”

“What happened? I thought you were out leading a hunt. Did someone mistake you for the prey?”

“No mistake. I was the prey. My punishment for getting old.”

Shock sent Sheng rocking back on his heels. “Kaleb did this to you?”

“In a sense. But it’s not important. I’m dying, Sheng.” The words made his mother and sister wail louder. His father winced and beckoned him closer. Sheng bent down to hear.

“Promise me. Promise me you will take care of your sister and mother. Do not let Kaleb hurt them. Find a way to escape. Find the courage I lost to regain your freedom.”

“But how? He’s too strong. I need your help. You’ll heal. You always do.”

A cough wracked his father’s body, a violent spasm that once completed left his father’s lips sprinkled with bright red. “They used silver buckshot. I won’t be healing. Once I die –”

“No. You can’t die!”

“Too late,” his father stated, his certainty firm, sending Sheng’s mother into hysterics. “You need to escape. Have to. You’re smarter than I, Sheng. You’ll find a way. You must. Promise me.”

Death lingered close by, the chill of the grave already reaching for his father. Tears hot in his eyes, Sheng nodded, what else could he do? He whispered. “I promise.” Eyes closed shut in an attempt to stem the pooling moisture, Sheng didn’t need to look to know when his father died. He heard it. Heard the last rattle of breath leaving is body. Heard the heart wrenching screams of his mother. The soft sobs of his sister.

The weight of his promise hung heavy on his young, narrow shoulders, but at the same time, they gave him strength. His father believed in him. He’d live up to that promise.

If only he could have given some of that will to survive to his mother.

Shaking his head to dispel the sad memories, Sheng hardened his heart. So what if Chris was possibly Jiao’s mate? Sheng didn’t believe in the mating fever and Jiao’s safety would always come first, whether she appreciated it or not.

Despite the spark he’d sensed between his sister and the wolf, despite the fact she might resent his actions, Sheng would keep them apart. Keep them from destroying the charade that protected them. Even if it meant dishing out more money and working longer hours for the home gym he’d promised her, a safe place for her cat to exercise away from prying eyes.
I will protect her from herself.

Problem was, when he tried to call the overpriced contractors, not a single one could take the job. One cited a full workload, despite previously claiming he could start within a day. Another had a family emergency. No answer for the third or fourth. As for the fifth, the only other shifter who’d bothered to send in a price? He claimed he’d under quoted and wanted to double the money.