Once Upon a Shifter (80 page)

Feeling the slow rise and fall of his chest at my back, I placed my hand on his arm that was wrapped around me and snuggled in closer. Did I feel like I was cheating on Phoenix? No. None of this with Ace was sexual to me. I just needed him near me, touching my skin, sort of like a child with a security blanket. Would I feel like I was cheating on Ace if I could ever make myself leave his side long enough to go to Phoenix?

I sighed.

The answer to that one was a big, fat yes.

From the moment Ace had connected our souls, I had felt possessive, territorial and down right clingy. I didn't like the feeling at all—it wasn't me—but, like I said before, I was hoping it would calm down after a little time had passed. And I honestly meant
little time
, as in today. Being away from Phoenix was tearing me apart.

Phoenix hadn't called or texted—though I had no clue where my cell phone even was. It was probably still in his chamber. Nor had he knocked on the door of the room Ace was staying in, and I was afraid he was mad at me for not responding to him after I took control of my wolf and Ace carried me upstairs. I hadn't known what to say to Phoenix; I still didn't know what to say to him.

Ace consumed me, but my love for Phoenix was still there, stronger than ever. He had followed through on one of his promises, finding another Alpha to save everyone, but I was still waiting for the happiness he'd promised me. I wasn't happy. I was confused. I needed Ace, but I wanted Phoenix.

Easily enough, Ace had searched through my memories, and he knew how I felt about Phoenix. He wasn't happy about it, especially since I still had these feelings after bonding with him. I suppose he thought my love for Phoenix would just dissipate and wither away since our souls were connected. I knew it never would.

He discovered through my mind that a large number of my pack were hunting me, and he vowed to be by my side through it all. After everything I had overcome in the last few weeks, defeating Jessica and taking order over my pack seemed like a child's game now. Almost too easy. I prayed I wasn't wrong.

Andromeda? Yes, she was still there, but she had absolutely no control over me. The best part was that I didn't hear her voice in my head anymore. I knew I could call her whenever I wanted and she would obey my every command.

For the first time since I'd been bitten, I felt like an Alpha.

I could have changed the name she'd chosen after I called it out, and picked anything I wanted my new name to be, but I decided to keep it. It was pretty, for one. It fit my situation, too. Andromeda, daughter of King Cepheus and Cassiopeia, sentenced to death for being too pretty, but just as she was about to be eaten by a monster, Perseus sweeps in to save her.

I'd always loved that story, and I suppose my wolf chose that particular name as a joke. Well, the joke was on her now, wasn't it?

I sighed again as I thought of Phoenix. Ace, like Perseus, had been the one who saved me, but I wanted Adonis.

"He's giving you time,"
Ace said through my mind.

If I had been paying attention, I would have noticed his breathing pattern had changed. Too late now.

"I need food," I said out loud.

"Want me to fix you something?" he said, and then put his cheek against my shoulder, breathing in my scent.

"What time is it?"

He reached across my body to the bedside table and turned the alarm clock toward us. "3:42 p.m. There is food in the fridge. I'll make you anything you want."

As I started to turn toward him, my hand brushed against something soft under my pillow. My fingers closed around the item and I pulled it out, so we could both see.

Ace stared open-mouthed at a pair of girl's panties dangling from the tips of my fingers. I dropped them, feeling an unnatural heat rise to my face.

"I can explain those," he said quietly.

"No need. I already saw everything in your head last night."

"Right," he sighed, "no secrets anymore, at least not from you. I've never been ashamed before. It's not a great feeling. I'm sorry. I can feel that you're angry."

"I don't even know why I am—"

"Because I'm yours," he said, and I didn't have to look inside his head to know that he was being one-hundred percent truthful; it was written all over his face; he considered himself mine. He glanced toward the window as he finished. "It's the same feeling I get when you think about
him
. Because you are mine."

"I love him, Ace."

"I know, but I wish you didn't. It would make this a lot easier on both of us."

"I won't apologize for the way I feel."

"I'll never ask you to."

God, why did I feel like shit all of a sudden?

"Food."

He nodded, sensing that I needed the subject to change. "What would you like?"

"I want to go out and get something. I've been locked in a cage for two weeks. I need to shower first. Do you mind asking Lea to bring me some of my clothes from Phoenix's closet? I'm not ready to see him yet, and I know he will want to talk."

Running his palm down my arm, he laced our fingers together. Our anxiety rose at the thought of us being apart for only the length of time it would take me to shower. I was torn between wanting the bond to ease up and being terrified that it would. It scared me how much I needed him to be close to me, but I could feel that he was experiencing the same emotion. At least I wasn't alone in this, though I wouldn't wish something like this on my worst enemy.

"I'll be right back." He squeezed my hand one last time then threw back the covers and walked to the door. Chaos jumped up from his pallet and followed after him.

Ace had on pajama bottoms and a t-shirt. I guess he thought it would make me uncomfortable if I woke up with him naked beside me. It wouldn't have bothered me, really. Like I said before, there wasn't anything sexual between us. I wasn't ready to let my mind go there. I'm sure the sex would be great, but—

"It would be… mind-blowing,"
Ace said, breaking into my thoughts.

I huffed as I threw back the cover and stomped to the bathroom.
"A little privacy would be nice!"
Memories of the last uninvited mind-guest surfaced, although this was so different, they dissipated almost as quickly as they came.

He snickered.
"I'll be quiet and let you fantasize about me nekkid."

I growled in frustration as I flipped the shower lever up to HOT.

"Andra?"

I sighed.
"What?"

"You're sexy when you're irritated."

I laughed.
"Piss off, Ace."

His chuckle sounded low, like he was far off or in a tunnel. That was different.
"Ace?"
No response.
"Ace!"
Still nothing from him. Panicking, I shut the water off and ran for the door, but just as I got there, it burst open and he ran into the room, his face white with panic.

"What is it?" he shouted.

I trembled as he wrapped me in his arms. "I couldn't hear you anymore. I couldn't feel you."

Breathless, he swore silently as his fingers gently rubbed my back. "I know. The mind-reading thing has a short range on it. I'm okay. We're okay."

I rested my ear against his chest and listened to his heart pound. This damn bond was going to drive us mad as hatters.

"Go shower. I haven't found Lea yet. I'll go get your clothes if I have to. I'll be back, Andra. Five minutes tops."

I nodded, and he kissed the top of my head before leaving the room.

v''''v

Mena

I was freaking starved!

I ignored Ace's amused expression and the server's there-is-no-way-in-hell-you're-going-to-eat-all-this look as he jotted down my order.

Food had been brought to me while I was locked up, but my wolf refused to eat any of it, convinced she was doing a good job of punishing me for betraying her.

Fifteen days! Fifteen days, she tried to starve me to death. What a bitch!

I would have eaten something last night after the bonding, but I was too exhausted and so confused by everything that I didn't have an appetite.

It was back full force now.

Ace scratched his eyebrow with his thumbnail. At the same time a shy smile curved his lips. "I guess this is our first date. I'm really glad you're not a salad and water girl."

I smiled. "I like salad."

He laughed. "I know, but usually girls act like that's all they eat until they've got a guy hooked, then they start ordering steak, lobster and cheeseburgers."

"Well, I've already got you hooked, so we can call this the fourth date, if you like." I smiled at him, while my eyes were glued to his. They were the color of amber, the gemstone hardened from tree sap, millions of years old, gaining beauty as it aged. It was probably appropriate, as Ace was over a century old, and had more wisdom than he let on. But that thought filled me with a pang of shame. Even though I knew it was the bonding, I was still turning my back on Phoenix. And it hurt. That I could be that woman.

His expression turned somber as he whispered through my thoughts.
"How many dates do you make the guy wait before you have sex with them? 'Cause if it's four, I'm totally onboard with this being our fourth date."

I took a drink of my soda and thought about it. I had only been with two men, not counting Alex. I refused to make that mark on my bedpost; it hadn't been me he'd had sex with. I was seventeen and a virgin when I'd met Marc, and there had been many more than four dates before he even got close to my panties. Phoenix, on the other hand, well, we'd never actually gone on a real date, but it was over two weeks from the time we met before we had sex the first time.

"You could just sift through my memories and find out for yourself. Why ask?"

"Isn't the fun part of being in a relationship getting to know someone? I'm really trying to stay out of your head. I respect your privacy, Andra."

"A lot more than four dates," I said, and watched as his grin spread.

"I knew you were going to make me work for it."

"We're not having sex, Ace. Our relationship doesn't have to be like that. You know I'm with Phoenix. You can be with whomever you like."

Feeling someone's anger was a lot different from seeing it. I had to look away from him as he glared at me. My hands trembled on the table, so I placed them in my lap and curled my fingers in as his fury swept through my body. Idly, I watched the waitress as she filled coffee cups, listened to the clanging of silverware, all in an attempt to escape his anger. As soon as he spoke, though, I realized the futility of my little exercise.

"Do you honestly think you wouldn't want to kill any girl I take to my bed from now on unless that girl is you? Do you really think I could even touch any other girl but you? It makes me sick to even think about it. What I don't understand is how you can. I know you're feeling just as much of this shit as I am."

"I'm sorry—"

"You know what I think?" He didn't wait for a theory from me. "I think that you remember you loved him and you want to want to love him again so badly that you're miserable trying to make it happen."

My eyes locked with his, and I shook my head. "I still love—"

"How do you know, Andra? You haven't been to see him. You haven't asked for your phone so you could call him. Seems to me that when someone loves another person, they would at least make that much effort."

"You know I can't—"

"You can't what? Go to him? Because of me? I'll take you back to him right now if that's what you want, but what will happen if I leave the room? Huh? It won't be sex, I'll tell you that much. Do you know why you won't be able to have sex with him?" He pointed at his chest as he spoke. "Because he's not me!"

"That's not true," I whispered, and felt the hot tears as they slid down my face. "What Phoenix and I share is more than sex, but how do you explain that to someone who's never experienced love?"

Ace sighed as he leaned back. "Sadness has got to be the worst fucking emotion ever. Guys don't have this problem. Girls get sad if it fuckin' rains or a butterfly dies. It sucks! How the hell do any of you get out of bed in the mornings?"

"Stop giving me reasons to be sad and I won't be, jerk!"

Ace closed his eyes, drawing in a deep breath then letting it out slowly before looking at me again. Instead of speaking, he reached halfway across the table, his palm up, inviting me. I hurriedly grasped his fingers and felt instant relief.

"I'm sorry, Andromeda. I won't interfere anymore. Some things people just need to see for themselves before they will believe them."

"You're wrong."

He shook his head. "Don't hate me for hoping I'm right. You'll be happier if you will just let him go."

"I'll never let him go."

The server chose that moment to bring out our feast. I didn't want to let go of Ace's hand, knowing the uneasiness would return.

From his memories, I knew he used his right hand to do most things, but he held onto my hand with his right and picked his fork up with his left, and then began eating.

Guess he wasn't ready to feel like crap, either.

Chapter 58

Phoenix

Mena's phone chimed, signaling a text message.

Phoenix picked it up off his nightstand, seeing she had several missed texts, most from Daryn, as was the one that just came in.

Mena,

I really need you to call me. Everyone in the pack has gone rogue. I told you this would happen. We need our Alpha. Where are you? Are you with him? That damn vampire is going to cause you to lose everything. ~ Daryn.

Phoenix rubbed a hand over his chin as he read the text again. This little shit had been a thorn in his side from the very beginning. Maybe Mena would consider transferring him to another pack if he asked her to. It was either that or Phoenix would end up killing the bastard. That option was even more appealing, so he decided to just let the chips fall where they may.