Jett's Wild Wolf (Mystic Wolves 3) (14 page)

A rumble came from the cat, and then the sound of a vehicle broke the silence of the night. Taya found herself pinned between the car and the cat. “What the fuck? You realize that is a really rude way to greet someone, right?”

An older model car roared into the parking lot, making the cat leap off her. Taya’s legs shook and she felt like crying. Her wolf hadn’t come out to help her. Not since she’d been taken and used like...again, she pushed the memories away. She’d come here to heal, or hide, depending on how you looked at things.

“Taryn, come here, baby.”

Taya heard the deep voice of a man, but her name wasn’t Taryn, it was Taya, so she ignored him. She reached behind herself, attempting to open her door and make her escape. The smell of wolves scared the hell out of her, and made her question the sanity of coming to South Dakota without calling first. Maybe leaving the safety of the Iron Wolves wasn’t the safest thing she’d ever done. She didn’t know if this pack even recognized the hierarchy of her pack, or the significance of the badasses that were Kellen and Xan. If she called her alpha and the second, they’d come and exact revenge on her behalf, she had no doubt. Of course, these wolves could kill her before she ever had the chance to find her phone.

“Where do you think you are going, little mouse?”

“I’m sorry. I mean you no harm. I’ll just be going.” She tried to step around him.

Not a sound had accompanied the big man’s presence, yet he’d spoken from right next to her.

He shook his head. “Sorry, luv, but we can’t let you go. It’s too dangerous.”

His voice sent a shiver through her. “Listen, you can’t keep me here.” Her voice quivered.

“Wanna bet.” He caged her in with his big body in front, and the car behind her, while looking all around.

She noticed several other equally large men had poured out of the vehicle, and the damn cat was rubbing up against the leg of one of the sexiest looking men she’d ever laid eyes on.

The man caging her growled. “Eyes on me, luv.” His large fingers tugged her head back around.

Taya did the only thing she could think of. She raised her head, and looked up, and up some more. Holy fuck, the man had to be over six and a half feet tall. Yeah, she was so out of her league, she opened her mouth to scream, to beg, to do something, but his big hand covered it, which didn’t calm her one iota. Fear, and memories skated to the surface. Her mind and body went back to the past, to the days that she was locked up, tied up, and at the mercy of men who had none. Tears of shame and fear leaked out of her eyes, and she wished for death.

“Son of a bitch,” the big man cursed, cradling her to his chest like she was a child, but she couldn’t move.

Seeing the small filthy room with the full sized bed again, she wrenched her eyes open, only to jerk as she heard the sound of howls coming from the woods.

“Shit, we need to move. Get her out of here, Bronx.”

“She’s fucking wigging out on me.”

Vehicle engines roared to life. The man called Bronx held her closer to his chest. His voice turned soothing.

“Here, let me take her.” Another voice offered.

“Mine,” Bronx growled.

“Fine, but let’s move.”

She waited for the blows to begin, and then blissful darkness descended and she welcomed it.

––––––––

J
ett wanted to end the battle here and now, but with the new wolf who looked eerily similar to his Taryn, and his woman there, he couldn’t. They loaded the newcomer into his vehicle, while Torq took the time to grab her belongings out of the small compact car that was clearly hers. They didn’t want to risk driving the slow vehicle in case they were in for a chase. He executed a U-turn, and watched in his rearview as wolves poured out of the woods.

His Taryn barely escaped being caught, making his wolf snarl. She sat in the front seat, still in her cat form, which he was sure she could have changed back to human, but was scared of his reaction. He reached over and rubbed between her ears with one hand. “You scared the shit out of me. Why didn’t you go to the room I told you about?”

Blue eyes blinked at him in the dark, while the four in the back kept quiet. Bronx held the passed out woman, while Torq and Dev pretended not to notice the large cat sitting in his car.

“You might as well shift, Taryn. Come on, now. Don’t make me add another five to the spanking you’ve already got coming.” He kept his voice light.

She chuffed.

He saw when she decided it was no use staying in her present form, and in seconds his wild woman was sitting with a militant expression on her face, daring him to say something stupid. Jett, was definitely not a stupid man. “Why didn’t you tell me you had more than one form? Or are you more fey than wolf? Never mind,” he held his hand up. “Let’s wait until we get to the alpha’s house.

“What about her.” She pointed her thumb toward the back. “There is something familiar about the wolf chick.”

Bronx growled. “Be nice. I’m sure she has a name, and she’s scared shitless.”

“Tone, boy. That’s my woman you’re growling at.”

Taryn gasped. “What the hell are you talking about? You can’t claim me, Jett.”

Dev and Torq laughed, but didn’t say a word. Smart wolves.

He reached across the space separating them and brought her hand to his thigh. “You know as well as I do, there is no denying our connection. Now, hush so I don’t have to talk about feelings in front of dumb, and dumber back there.”

“Maybe you want a blanket, you know, in case you’re cold or something,” Dev stated.

Jett was the one to growl this time.

The woman in Bronx’s arms stirred at the sound, and he shot Jett an accusing look.

He had to release her fingers to shift gears, pleased when she kept her warm palm on his thigh. Through the harrowing drive down, all he’d imagined was finding a beaten, or worse Taryn. His wolf clawed to get out and exact revenge, yet Niall and Emerson said they needed more information.

The mystery sleeping in Bronx’s arms puzzled him, but Taryn didn’t seem to know her, and she didn’t smell tainted, meaning she wasn’t an imminent threat. He’d reserve the right to kill her until he knew for sure. A husky laugh sounded in his head.

“You laughing at me woman?” He placed his hand back over hers, entwining their fingers.

“Your thoughts amuse me.” Only he could feel her exhaustion and need to flee beating at her.

Jett gave her hand a gentle squeeze. When it was time to downshift, he picked their hands up and maneuvered the shifter with hers below his, earning him a groan from the back.

“I’d give you the bird, but you aren’t even worth a little feather. Honey, show him your pinky. That, is the little feather you are worth, not the entire bird.” Jett laughed at the outraged growls from the back.

Turning off the highway into Emerson’s long drive, he slowed to a speed more forgiving on his suspension. Every light in the house appeared to be on, with a huge bonfire in the back. He looked around the circular drive, counting cars. Jett pulled his vehicle in alongside the other ones already there, many of the pack had come on four legs.

Emerson and Niall had obviously called in everyone near and far.

They bounced over a hole, and the woman in the back cried out.

“Shit, take it easy, Jett.” Bronx hit the back of Jett’s seat.

Taryn turned in her seat. “Hit his seat again, and I’ll claw your eyes out and eat them for lunch. Now, who are you?”

Jett chuckled, earning him a little rub on his knee. What he really wanted was for the group in the back to disappear so he could reacquaint himself with the one sitting next to him.

“My name is Taya. Who the fuck are you?” Her voice broke on the last words.

“Watch your tone, girl. Bronx, don’t give me that look. I don’t give a flying fuck who she is, if she disrespects what’s mine, I will not like it, and neither will she. Feel me?” He turned the car off. Instead of allowing Taryn to slide out her side, he opened his door, stood and then looked back inside, reaching for her.

With the agility of her cat, Taryn climbed over the center and into his seat, the leather pants showcasing exactly how curvy she was. He gripped her under the arms, and hauled her up and out. “Wrap your legs around my waist.”

“I can walk you know?” she said, but did as he instructed.

Jett fisted one hand in her hair, the other he allowed to trail down to the swell of her ass. “When this is over, I am going to tie you to my bed for days.” The light rubbing he gave her made her shiver. He waited a beat and then he swatted that perfect ass. “You are in so much trouble, little girl.” Licking the shell of her ear, he rubbed the sting away, inhaling the sweet scent that was all his woman, honey and spice.

“How about I spank you and we call it even?” She dug her fingers into his hair and pulled his head back for an all-out assault on his lips.

Yeah, he could totally get down with a mutual fighting of the wills. He would come out on top, or bottom, as long as he was inside her welcoming heat.

“Get a fucking room, dude.” Torq stomped by them, a smile on his face.

Taryn seemed to forget they were on his packs lands, and tried to slide down from him. He was having none of it, and held her more firmly.

Without looking back, he knew Bronx would be bringing the newcomer with him. Niall and Emerson would want answers. In all honesty, Jett did, too. The sound of heavy footfalls followed him, and the unfamiliar scent of the woman who looked so much like Taryn was getting closer as well.

Bronx grunted as he passed them, the woman’s hand in his much larger one. “Fucking wolves mating and getting all tied up in knots,” he muttered.

Torq turned around, walking backwards and laughed. He dragged a hand down his face, his humor at the situation as plain as day. “Hello pot said the kettle.”

Green eyes laughed out of Torq’s face until Bronx got next to him. Jett knew without seeing Bronx’s bright blue eyes they were not laughing at Torq in turn.

Jett’s mouth twisted in a wry smile, waiting for the little battle, shocked when Bronx continued on by without an acknowledgment.

“Damn, you just got a free pass, boy.” Jett laughed at the bemused expression.

Torq swung around. “Fuck that. Hit me now instead of making me wonder when you are, man.”

He held Taryn closer as Torq jogged to catch up to Bronx and the mystery woman.

“Your friends are crazy, you know that, right?” Taryn made it a statement.

He didn’t loosen his hold on her fine ass, rounding the house to see dozens of wolves in human form from young to old. Shit just got real.

––––––––

E
merson stared at Bronx as he walked around the side of the house holding the hand of a young woman. He inhaled and nearly howled at the familiar scent, barely there, but he could scent the familial link. His head swung back to see Torq and then Jett holding another young female with a scent that again he recognized. He found himself crossing to Bronx and the first woman before he could stop, Payton on his heels.

“Hello, my name is Emerson.” He’d thought he’d seen some disturbing things in his long life, but two women who resembled each other enough to be twins, yet not, and smell like family, rendered him gob smacked.

“Alpha, this is Taya. We sorta rescued her in Sturgis. Taya, this is our old alpha, Emerson. He can still kick all our asses,” Bronx said.

“Uh, hi,” Taya muttered.

“And who is this, Jett?”

Without warning, Niall strode into the group. “This is Taryn. Keith’s daughter. I have no fucking clue who Taya is. What the hell is going on, boys?”

Bronx cursed, putting the woman named Taya next to his large frame. Emerson took the lead and held his hand up. The opportunity to really look at both women as they were next to each other gave him the ability to investigate them more closely. The one Bronx tried to hide was a few years older if he had to guess, and was all wolf, while Taryn was something more.

“Chill, Bronx. Nobody is going to hurt the woman, unless she means us or our pack harm. However, I don’t get that scent from her.” Niall spoke with the authority of the alpha.

Jett let Taryn slide down his body, and cursed loud enough for the entire pack to hear. Emerson was pretty sure Niall was ready to smack them all for the antics, but his mate Payton clapped her hands, bringing all their attention to her.

“All right, now let’s all quit with the bullshit. Boys, bring the women to the bonfire and make them comfortable. We don’t have all the time in the world. Taya, I am sorry you have come at a bad time, but happy to have you home.”

It would seem his woman knew just what to say and when to say it, after all, she was the perfect wolf and woman, and as the old alpha, the responsibility still fell on them to council the young.

A snort sounded in his head.
I’m far from perfect, my love, but I’m glad you think so. You recognize Taya and Taryn, yes?

Yes, although, Taryn is a mystery on many levels.

Taya sucked in her bottom lip, but held onto Bronx’s hand while he led her to the group.

Jett kept a firm arm around his mate, and although there was no mating mark, she was his. They both flicked him a wary glance, but followed in the others path.

He held Payton’s gaze and then pulled her into his arms. “A war is coming to us. We need to be ready, my love. I thought I could send you away.”

She silenced him with a kiss. “You will need me.” Her tongue flicked out and licked his. Emerson loved his mate with all his heart, and would die before he’d allow anything, or anyone to take her from him.

He frowned. “Who has Nolan?”

“He is safe with the fey and they have strict orders he is not to be allowed to leave unless you, me, Niall, or Alaina come for him.” She patted his chest.

“We will all go get him together.” Emerson’s heart stirred, contracting at the thought of the battle and what could happen. Clearing his throat, he stepped next to Niall. “Now, I know you all are aware of the danger to the pack that has plagued us for some time. What you don’t know, is the mastermind behind it all is my older brother Keith.”