Wicked Wolf Page 3

  She wasn’t ready for what he’d give her if she gave him the chance. Sure, she might be strong, dominant, and sexy as hell, but she’d break under the weight of his dominance.

  He stopped in his tracks, cursed, and then rubbed the bridge of his nose.

  What the hell was he thinking?

  Maybe he hadn’t been with a woman in so long that he’d finally lost his goddamn mind. He didn’t want that young girl who probably hadn’t even seen a naked man outside of wolf hunts before.

  He didn’t even like her.

  She asked too many questions and thought herself better than she was because of her family. She probably hadn’t even had to work for her position. No, she was the Alpha’s daughter; therefore, she could do what she wanted.

  So what if the goddess had given her dreams of her future gift and role as an Enforcer? All that meant was, yet again, her family connections had given her the power and prestige.

  She wasn’t like him. She hadn’t had to work for every scintilla of power and placement within the hierarchy as he had for his role as lieutenant. No, it had been given to her.

  In the back of his mind, he knew he was just making excuses. He was only lying to himself because he actually admired the way her mind worked, the way her wolf pushed forward when needed. Her family connections might have helped with the goddess, but even then, the power wouldn’t have shifted unless the wolf could handle it. In fact, she wasn’t even related by blood to the Jamensons. She’d been adopted into the royal family.

  He remembered that had happened during the Central War when the Talons had been dealing with their own turmoil. People had talked, gossiped, and tried to understand how the new Alpha of the Pack had been in his right mind when he adopted not only one, but two children. Wolves were usually very family-oriented. Orphaned children would have been adopted into a family. There was no way they would have been left alone. The fact that they’d been taken into the Jamensons without question though, was different.

  Blood conquered all, or at least that’s how some of the wolves thought. The fact that Gina and her brother, Mark, had been taken into the family with its attendant power and responsibility, was huge news. Not everyone had taken it well, although he hadn’t heard of the children being treated poorly.

  That didn’t mean it hadn’t happened though. For all he knew, Gina had fought for what she had because of it.

  Damn. Now look at him, he was making excuses for her and trying to soothe hurt feelings, even though she wasn’t even there.

  He clearly needed to go on a run and forget the pretty-eyed wolf.

  The pretty-eyed, hybrid wolf.

  Oh yes, he’d heard more stories about her than about her brother. Mark hadn’t gained any powers from his mother’s witch blood while Gina had apparently gained enough to become a true hybrid.

  Half wolf, half witch.

  Yet he didn’t know anything about her powers in that respect. He’d heard only whispers about strength and instability. That scared him even more. There was no way he wanted to work with a wolf he didn’t understand, and now his Alpha had put him in the position to do just that.

  Not that he wanted to spend time with her to understand her at all.

  No. What he was going to do was deal with her on the council until she became the Enforcer, and then she’d leave. He didn’t want to know her more than that. He didn’t want to have to find out all of her secrets. He’d leave that to the others. He didn’t need to know more about her because, honestly, he was afraid once he did, he’d want to know more. He didn’t want to want her. He was stronger than whatever his wolf thought he wanted.

  Now he needed to ensure his Pack was safe and if he had to work alongside the woman, then he’d grit his teeth through it.

  Just the thought of not doing everything to protect his Alpha and Pack burned under his skin, and he growled. Now look what that damned woman was doing to him.

  He cursed again and started moving toward his home. He’d caught a ride to the meeting with Mitchell and Gideon but had chosen to run back. The exertion hadn’t worked on the aggravation as well as he’d have liked, but at least he wasn’t ready to tear someone’s throat out.

  Or pound a certain wolf up against a wall.

  He cursed. He needed to get that image out of his head. She wasn’t for him. Frankly, no one was for him. He’d had his shot and had lost it when Helena walked away.

  He snorted.

  Walking away was such an inadequate term for what she’d done.

  She’d broken their mating bond.

  Quinn hadn’t thought such a thing was even possible.

  When wolves mated, they not only found someone to spend the rest of their forever with, but also someone who became a vital part of their soul. Their wolves bonded through the mating bite, and their humans bonded through sex, as long as the male came deep within her. There were only a few potential wolves, humans, and witches in the world that a wolf could mate with and the union be blessed by the goddess. The fact that the Talons hadn’t had that within their own pack in years was troubling enough. The fact that his former mate had destroyed their connection made him feel as though he’d lost part of his life.

  His wolf had lost his other half, and the man had lost much more. He’d lost the mother of his child, the woman of his heart, and his trust of all things with a future.

  He’d lost half his soul when Helena had forcibly shattered their mating bond. He wasn’t right for anyone—let alone a little wolf from another Pack.

  There was no way he’d put himself in that position again.

  Quinn left his shirt off after his run, his body slick with sweat. Some of the unattached female wolves he passed gave him the eye then looked away, scared. They should be scared. He wasn’t whole anymore.

  He ignored the stares from other packmates and made his way home. Walker would be there watching Jesse, so he needed to relieve him.

  “Dad!” Jesse, his five-year-old son, ran to him as he shouted his name.

  All of Quinn’s negative thoughts disappeared, and he opened his arms to catch the little boy who had jumped into his arms like there was no tomorrow, with no worries that Quinn could or would ever drop him.

  Jesse wrapped his little arms around Quinn’s neck and held on tight. Quinn hugged him back then held Jesse on his hip so he could make his way back inside to a waiting Walker. He was the Healer of the Talon Pack, younger brother to Gideon, and also happened to be one of the Brentwood triplets. Between Walker, Brandon, and Kameron, the three guys pretty much had a firm hold on power and responsibility.

  “Hey, buddy,” Quinn said to his son, who bounced in his arms. They chatted about Jesse’s day, or rather Jesse chatted and Quinn listened, soaking it all in. It was nice to see Jesse with so much energy and enthusiasm. Those days were becoming harder and harder to come by. He squeezed his son, careful of his strength.

  When Helena had done the unthinkable and left the way she had, she’d not only shattered Quinn’s world, but she had done something to their son as well. The woman had not only walked away from Quinn, but their newborn as well. Jesse hadn’t been healthy from that day on.

  Walker and Quinn had no idea how to fix it. Jesse was just…weak. He had trouble shifting to his wolf—something that scared the shit out of Quinn. Wolves weren’t supposed to get colds or the flu, but Jesse did and often. It was as if when Helena left Quinn broken open, she’d stolen part of Jesse, too. The bond between mother and child wasn’t as strong as a mating bond since the mother-child bond faded over time when the child grew up, but it was still crucial to the child. If a parent died, then the bond would sever, but the child would live a full life—if not a sad one.

  Yet Jesse was different.

  This whole situation was different.

  His little boy was only five years old, and yet Quinn didn’t know how much longer Jesse could hold on. It was tiring to be an active little pup. It was even more tiring when his body was fighting itself.

  He h
eld back his sigh then walked into his home. Walker leaned against the kitchen island, his large arms crossed over his even larger chest. While Quinn was one big wolf, the Brentwoods were even bigger. The other man’s dark hair was usually cropped close to his head, but it looked as if the Healer hadn’t had a cut in a while. Walker’s younger sister, Brynn, would probably be after him with shears soon.

  “Thanks for watching Jesse,” Quinn said as he put his son down. Jesse gripped his leg then leaned into him. Quinn smiled down at his son and ran a hand over his soft brown hair.

  “No problem. The little guy and I finished our book, so we’re on the lookout for the next one. I’ll download a good one soon.”

  Since Jesse got tired so easily, he couldn’t go out and roughhouse with the other pups in the den. It killed Quinn inside that he couldn’t let his son go out and be a normal little pup, but if he did, Jesse would just grow weaker faster.

  He had no idea what to do, and the fact that no one had been through this before made him feel so damn helpless. Helena had not only killed a part of him when she’d left, she’d irrevocably changed the way their son would grow up.

  He would never be able to forgive her for deciding that she didn’t want to be a mate and mom anymore.

  That was, if he could ever find her.

  She’d run away and cut ties with the Pack by using a dark witch. That fucking witch and her powers had ruined everything in his life, and he was only now able to pick up the pieces.

  Just another reason he wanted nothing to do with Gina. He didn’t trust witches. Not when they had the power to hurt his son and any bond he might have had. He didn’t know what Gina could do, nor did he want to bother learning. The more he learned about her, the more she could learn about him, which would give her more power to hurt those he loved.

  He was done being a doormat for those who wanted something better.

  That little Redwood wolf would just have to deal with him in meetings and then go home. He wouldn’t be finding out more about her, wouldn’t be learning how she worked or what she did in her free time.

  He’d do his duty because his Alpha had ordered it, and then he’d leave.

  He couldn’t afford to follow the path his wolf seemed to want. Oh yes, he felt the way his wolf brushed up against his skin, wanting contact, wanting the brunette Redwood wolf.

  Well, that wasn’t going to happen. His wolf would just have to deal with the hand they’d been dealt five years ago. It had worked so far, and he wasn’t going to chance fate and his son’s life again.

  “Daddy? Uncle Walker says you are going to be on a council. What’s a council?” Jesse asked and Quinn bent down so he was at eye level with his son.

  He ran a hand over Jesse’s hair and smiled. “It’s a group of wolves that works together for a common goal. I’m on one now with the Redwoods and some of the Talons you know.”

  Jesse nodded, his little face serious. “Do you think I can be on a council when I get older?”

  Something inside Quinn clutched at the thought of his little boy older but he pushed it away. “Of course. You can be anything you want to be.”

  Jesse grinned then looked over at Walker quickly. “Cool. Because Uncle Walker said if you could do it, anyone can.”

  Quinn growled, gripped his son around the stomach. “I think it’s time for you to learn what happens when you listen to Uncle Walker. It’s the tickle monster!”

  Jesse giggled and tried to get away, but Quinn didn’t relent, tickling his son until they were both laughing and out of breath on the floor.

  “No mercy!”

  “Please, Daddy!”

  “Tell me I’m the master of the universe!”

  “You’re the master of the universe!”

  “Tell me Uncle Walker stinks!”

  “Uncle Walker stinks!”

  Quinn grinned over his shoulder at Walker, then patted his son’s stomach. “You were saved. But remember, I am always watching.”

  Jesse yawned and Quinn shook his head to clear his thoughts. Already the new council and one of its members were distracting him from what was really important in his life. Yes, the Pack and the danger from within and what seemed to be coming was number two on his priorities. His son was number one.

  Gideon knew about the broken mate bond and had given Quinn leeway when it came to Pack responsibilities.

  Quinn was one of Gideon’s lieutenants, in essence, a bodyguard. He would willingly lay down his life to save his Alpha’s. Though that would leave Jesse alone without him, he knew the Brentwoods would take him in as one of their own.

  The parallel to Gina’s own history was not lost on him.

  That didn’t mean he’d listen to those thoughts.

  Instead, he pushed them aside and picked up his son. Jesse mumbled something intelligible in his ear then fell asleep on his shoulder. Quinn sighed, gave Walker a look, and then went to go tuck his son in.

  It wasn’t even dark yet and Jesse was asleep. Quinn knew Jess was deteriorating, but it was as though Jesse—and Quinn for that matter—were trapped in quicksand. No matter what he did, nothing helped. Whenever he tried to find a way to help his son, he and Walker ended up in pain, and his son was no better.

  There had to be a way to keep Jesse from fading away, but Quinn didn’t know what it was.

  Maybe, just maybe, if they found favor with the moon goddess again, she’d save his son.

  He didn’t hold out much hope for that, though. He’d given up on fate long ago, but if it meant that his son would live a healthy life, he’d do everything in his power to make that happen.

  He tucked Jesse in then went back into the kitchen where Walker sat with two beers. Though they were wolves and their metabolism burned through alcohol quickly, it was the symbol that mattered. Plus, he just liked the taste.

  Walker sipped his beer and studied him. Quinn just sighed and let it happen. The other wolf always seemed to do that. He was a thoughtful Healer who used his quiet nature to put his patients at ease, unlike the Redwood Healer, Hannah, the witch who used her smiles and soft words to help her den. Quinn had only met the woman a few times over the years, but he’d had no qualms about her or her two mates. They were a true triad, and their bond helped Hannah’s Healing.

  Walker had only himself, and sometimes Quinn thought the other wolf figured it wasn’t enough.

  The fact that no one could heal Jesse made it seem only more evident.

  Maybe when Walker took a mate, things would be better.

  Just another reason they had to figure out what was wrong with their Pack.

  “Gideon is on his way,” Walker finally said.

  Quinn took a sip of his beer, letting the amber ale settle on his tongue before he swallowed. Right then, if he could find a way to get drunk without drinking a couple of bottles of tequila, he’d eagerly take it.

  As it was, he was forced to deal with his warring thoughts and the fact that his Alpha had put such trust in him. He didn’t know that he was worthy.

  He wasn’t the same wolf he’d been before Helena. He was only forty-five, yet he felt so much older.

  “Did he tell you about what the meeting covered?” Quinn finally asked. He needed to get his head out of his ass and actually pay attention to the man in front of him, rather than a past he couldn’t change.

  Walker nodded. “Yes. You’re leading a new council.” He raised a brow. “Or, rather, co-leading with Gina.”

  Quinn scowled at the way the other man said her name. As if he knew her more than he should or something.

  “How do you know Gina?”

  Walker took a sip of his beer, his gaze on Quinn. “She sometimes works with Hannah when she’s not working with Adam.”

  Quinn frowned. “I thought she was going to be the Enforcer. Not the Healer. Why would she need to work with Hannah? And how did I not know you work with Hannah?”

  Walker rolled his eyes then put his beer down. “First, I work with Hannah because she’s the closest Heal
er to me. It’s nice to have another person who understands the bonds I hold with the Pack. Though her power is different because it comes from her witch blood, rather than being a wolf, it has the same basic premise as mine. As for Gina, she works with Hannah because Hannah is not only family, but a witch.”

  At Quinn’s dumbfounded look, Walker shook his head.

  “Gina needs guidance when it comes to her powers. She’s only in her twenties, so she has a lot to learn. Hannah had not only her own mother to teach her how to use her powers, but the coven as well before she left years ago. Years before she even met the Redwoods and her mates. Gina doesn’t have a mother who can show her the ropes. I believe Gina’s mother, Larissa, was just beginning to get to the baser parts of their magic when she and her mate, Neil, were killed.” Walker sighed. “Melanie might be a strong and powerful Alpha female and a fantastic mother, but she is not a witch. She can’t show Gina what she needs because it’s not inherent to her. So Hannah helps.”

  “That’s nice of her,” Quinn mumbled.

  Walker snorted. “The whole Jamenson family works as a unit. I mean, all of them are mated, and most of them have two or three children. Kade and Melanie have seven kids, just like Kade’s parents had. They’re a huge family. They might be around our age, but they’re further along than the Brentwoods when it comes to matings and procreating.”

  Quinn sighed. “Well, they also had a previous Alpha pair who knew what the hell they were doing. Edward and Patricia were wolves of legend.” He shook his head. “Our previous Alpha? Not so much.”

  The fact that Quinn was talking about Walker’s father was not lost on him. Then again, there was no love lost with that family tale and the history of the Talons.

  Walter just lifted a brow then picked up his beer for another drink.

  Quinn looked over when he scented his Alpha and Beta at the door. They didn’t bother to knock since he hadn’t locked the door behind him. Plus, they were always welcome in his home because they helped protect his son.