New Beginnings (7 page)

She laughed softly and felt stupid facing
away from him. “Sorry. I don’t make a habit of talking to my Alpha
when I’m naked and bathed in moonlight. It just didn’t seem like a
good idea, it was nothing personal.”

He let out a long deflating sigh. “I
understand. Call me if you need help with anything at the bar.”
Then she heard him walk away. She glanced back to see him turn
toward the front of the store.

Man, she felt like a bitch, but really,
getting closer to the man was just going to fuck with her head. She
needed to avoid him when possible, otherwise she would never be
able to resist. Being tied down to an Alpha, or any wolf just
sounded like a nightmare.

* * * *

Liam watched the uneasy conversation between
Jessica Abrams and Slater. Slater wanted her. That was plain to
see, whether or not the Alpha realized it. She knew it too, and yet
she seemed to be avoiding him. Perhaps he could drive a bigger
wedge between them and use that against Slater.

It was time to lead. Liam was tired of
wasting his time under an Alpha who threw away their friendship,
and thought better of humans than his own kind. Liam had paid his
dues, he had proven time and time again that he was a powerful
wolf, and yet he was no longer valued.

Sure he could move to another territory and
challenge that Alpha for the position, but his home was Edenton. He
didn’t want to leave the town he’d been in for a century. Liam knew
he couldn’t challenge Slater directly, he would never win. He had a
plan though.

No one seemed to notice him, so he slipped
out the back and made his way around the front before Slater could
get to his truck.

“Slater,” Liam said as he joined him.

“Morning. What’s up?” Slater’s gaze slid
over, he looked like he hadn’t slept. Seemed the new wolf was
already making his life difficult. How long before Slater chased
the woman? “Just saw your truck and thought I’d stop to talk.”

“You do have a phone.” Slater glanced at his
watch and then the store.

“True, but I hate the damned thing. I don’t
understand how you’re so quick to jump to technology when you are
nearly as old as I am.”

“Because times change, and if you don’t
adapt you get washed away. I would rather keep up with everyone
else.”

“Very true.”

“Why else are you here?”

“I want to introduce myself to the pretty
little wolf. Maybe give her a chance, like you suggested, and ask
her to coffee.”

Slater’s teeth audibly ground together.
There was a growl to his tone. “Good luck. She’s not looking for a
wolf.”

“Thanks.” Liam started for the hardware
store. When he glanced back, he saw the Alpha’s face darken, but
Slater made no move to leave, nor did he follow.

Good, he wasn’t sure how this was going to
play out but he wanted to talk to her. Maybe he could seduce her,
or at least make it look that way.

He strolled into the store, and found Jess
with a nearly full cart, walking to the paint counter. He sidled up
next to her and reached out to run his finger down her arm.

She sidestepped him, her big blue eyes
flashing as she looked up at him. “Don’t touch me.”

“I’m your second, and you will respect me,”
he snarled, but hadn’t meant to be so harsh.

Her eyes widened and her nostrils flared.
“Respect has to be earned,” she answered flatly. “For the record, I
know Slater told everyone I don’t like to be touched and with good
reason, so keep your hands to yourself.”

Taken aback by the natural command in her
voice, he took an involuntary step back. “You defy me?”

A smirk tweaked her mouth, “See, you may
technically have rank over me, but that doesn’t mean I have to let
you touch me, and it doesn’t mean you automatically deserve my
respect. Now, I’m busy, so you
will
let me get back to
work.”

“You little bitch,” he whispered harshly and
forced himself to take a step into her space.

She glared up at him. “You might want to
remember that it is perfectly legal to defend myself if you
threaten me. I’ll warn you now, I won’t be cowed. Now leave me the
fuck alone.”

The urge to walk away was overpowering.
“This conversation isn’t over.” He turned and not to run away.

“It is.” She was definitely pissed. He never
expected her reaction or her dominance.

The voices started screeching.

It
’s her.

She
’s the key.

Remove her.

* * * *

Jess slammed on the brakes, killed the
engine, and hopped out of the truck. She threw open the back door
of the bar and started to unload everything. She banged shit around
and kicked things as she went. It didn’t help, she wasn’t calming
down.

She hoped like hell that the rest of the day
would be nice and quiet without too many crazy interruptions.
Whoever that chick was, she was nuts. And Slater… she didn’t know
what to make of Slater. Then there was his second, Liam, who was
just an asswipe. Where the hell did he get off trying to touch
her?

Jess was on her third trip to the truck when
Brody stepped up to the door and nearly startled her out of her
skin.

“Need a hand?” He asked with a raised
brow.

“Sure,” she muttered. “I’m in a bitchtastic
mood.” She jabbed him in the chest. “Oh, consider yourself warned.
You have a stalker who will probably freak if she sees you anywhere
near me.”

Brody groaned. “Ignore Dacia. I do.”

“I have every intention of it. Seriously
though, she showed up at the hardware store, pissed as hell, and
dressed up like some snotty LA bitch.”

“Yeah, that’s her alright.” He grabbed more
than his share of supplies. “Anywhere in particular?”

“Just in the main room for now. I have to
figure out what I’m doing.” She set her load down and glanced at
her watch. Looking at Brody, she shook her head. “Isn’t it early
for you? Or do you not have any bikes to work on?”

He glanced up with a sheepish shrug. “Not
today, unless I want to work on Dacia’s pussy assed little
Ducati.”

She snorted, “Those are fast.”

“It’s not a Harley,” he grumbled.

“Oh, you’re a Harley snob.”

He ducked his head, “Maybe. I just really
don’t want to deal with her, so I closed up for the day and came
over for some real work.”

“Good. I’ll make us some Panini’s later.
Anything you don’t like?”

“I’m easy. Just tell me what you need done,
and we’ll see how fast we can have this place ready.” He went back
to the truck and came back with the rest of the tools that she had
left for last.

“You know, I’m going to owe you big.”

He almost smiled and shook his head. “Nah. I
need the distraction. If I sit around doing nothing, I think too
much about the past.” The pain clouded his eyes.

She couldn’t resist and patted him on the
back.

His gaze slid to her. “Thought you avoided
touch?”

Shrugging, she explained, “After the first
touch, the damage is done. It sort of opens the door for visions
about that person. They don’t go away. I still have visions about
people I know who are back down in San Francisco.”

“I see.”

“The first week at the bar will be the
toughest. Can’t always avoid touch when handing out drinks and
taking money.”

She moved to one of the cheap diner tables
and pulled it from the wall. She needed to remove the drywall to
make it look more like a log cabin.

Almost two weeks had passed and Jess was
doing anything to keep him at a distance. It was driving Slater
crazy. He wanted to make things right, but she wouldn’t talk,
wouldn’t let him help, and always had an excuse to leave if he
showed up.

There was a knock at his door. A thrill of
hope that Jess had come by spun through him. That died quickly when
he found Victoria standing on his porch with her luscious dark
waves and classic silk dress.

Shit, he’d forgotten all about her since
Jess showed up. He had no clue what to say and just stood there
like a fool.

Her raspy voice brushed over him and it
didn’t have the same effect. “I haven’t seen you, haven’t heard
from you. I had to check on you. Everything alright?”

As usual, she looked like she had stepped
off a forties movie set. Normally, he would be eager to see her.
Now, he wasn’t interested.

“Sorry. Been busy,” he answered.

One perfectly manicured brow arched. “I hear
you have a new wolf. Pretty little thing, if a little rough around
the edges. I thought you only went for ultra-feminine.”

“I’m not chasing my wolf.” Except, he sort
of was, wasn’t he?

She smiled slowly. “It’s all right, Slater.
What we had was simply a release for both of us. Clearly, you’re
ready to move on from it.”

“Vickie, I didn’t say that.” His voice fell
flat.

“No, Slater, you don’t have to. We’ve played
this game for decades. I knew this day would come, though honestly
I thought maybe I would find a man first.”

“I’m not a man?” Slater snorted.

“You know you are.” A wicked gleam
brightened her eyes. “However, we stuck with each other because
neither of us was in danger of falling in love. You know it’s true
as well as I do. We were never meant to be.”

Slater took a couple of steps to the couch
and flopped down. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize.” She sighed and sat down
in the chair across from him. “Good luck with her.”

He dropped his head in his hands. “Yeah,
look, it’s not like that. She doesn’t want any part of me. I
already shoved my foot in my mouth and she doesn’t seem real
forgiving.”

“You could try apologizing to her.”

“Did that, didn’t help.”

“Maybe try being honest with her.”

“I don’t want to take a risk on a wolf. I
still remember what happened to Clara.”

Always the voice of reason, Victoria asked,
“This Jess has been a wolf how long?”

“Fourteen years.”

“So she knows she’s not having kids, and
I’ve seen her around. She doesn’t strike me as the moping type.
More like the kind to kick anyone’s ass who messes with her.”

He smiled a little. “Certainly seems
so.”

“And what is it you feel for her?”

Scrubbing a hand over his face, he took a
deep breath. “I don’t know. Something about her calls to me. I hate
that she won’t talk to me. Every damned instinct I have is yelling
at me to go in and claim her, but I already told her I don’t want a
wolf.”

“Then just tell her you changed your
mind.”

“She doesn’t want a wolf,” he just about
screamed it before shaking his head and squeezing his hands into
fists. “If I pursue her, I have to take it slow and earn her trust.
She is a dominant wolf, she’s not going to roll over and just let
me claim her unless it’s what she wants. Even then, she would be my
equal.” A smile pulled at his lips. “Honestly though, I want an
equal partnership.”

“I know.” Victoria stood. “I wish you the
best, and don’t you dare apologize. Our time together was great,
but now it’s over. You will always be my dearest friend.”

“I’ll always be there for you, Vickie.” He
walked her to the door and watched as she took off into the
night.

Hayden pulled into the driveway with Brody
next to him in the SUV. Another thing forgotten, their barbecue. He
was tempted to order pizza. Maybe he could convince Jess to come
over though. Then it wouldn’t just be him, maybe it wouldn’t be too
awkward.

He waved as they started for the porch.
“Hey.”

“Slater,” Hayden said plainly, but there was
a curious glint in his eyes.

Brody nodded in greeting, his nose
wrinkling. “You didn’t start the grill?”

“Sorry, forgot. I’ll take care of it now.”
He walked around the back of the cabin, pulling his phone out as he
went.

It only rang twice. Jess sighed in
exasperation. “Yes?”

“I’m about to start the grill. Brody and
Hayden are here. You’re welcome to join us.”

“I’m busy. Thank you for the offer.” Then
the phone went dead.”

Brody caught up and paused, a confused look
on his face.

“What?” Slater barked.

“Just curious what has you so riled.”

“Jess is avoiding me.”

“Why?”

Slater sighed and told them both the whole
story.

* * * *

Victoria hurried into the woods just in time
for Hayden and Brody to show up. She knew about Slater’s plans but
wanted to see for herself that things were over. It wasn’t that she
was jealous. She honestly wasn’t.

Slater had been there through the hardest
times in her life and undeath. She wanted the best for the one man
who was always there for her. Any other man and their sexual
relationship would have ruined their friendship.

Not Slater. Sex was just sex with him. She
perched far enough away and downwind so they wouldn’t catch on to
the fact she was nearby, but she wanted to hear what was said. She
needed to know that Jess was a good match for Slater.

By the time Slater was finished detailing
how Jess avoided him, she had to wonder the reason. If it was fear
of mating, she could understand and had a feeling Jess would come
around. If it was disinterest, then maybe she needed to have a talk
with Slater. Either way, Victoria had Slater’s best interest at
heart.

She silently moved through the woods to the
cabin Jess resided in. She was on the phone.

“Damn it Greg. How many fucking times do I
have to tell you it’s not happening?” Jess shouted and slammed the
pan on the stove.

Victoria couldn’t help wondering who Greg
was.

“Too little too late, dumbass. I told you,
I’m not coming back. I don’t care if the bar fails. It wasn’t mine.
Remember, you wouldn’t sell it to me.”