Wicked Wolf Page 5

She honestly had no idea how her mom had done it, but now everyone was growing up, and it might be time for her to move out.

  Especially now that she had new responsibilities…and her wolf wanted a certain wolf she shouldn’t.

  When she walked into her home she smiled at her mom, Melanie, talking with Gina’s cousin, Brie, and Brie’s mother, Willow.

  While the men of the family were some of the most dominant wolves in existence, it was a well-known fact that the women of the Jamenson family were the heart and soul.

  Plus they could fight to protect what was theirs better than most wolves because they held that power.

  She might have come into the family through the most painful way possible, by losing her birth parents, but she’d never known a life without love or protection. For that, she was grateful. Even on days where she could barely breathe over the pain of her loss, she knew she had others to lean on when she couldn’t do it on her own.

  Mel turned to her and smiled. “You’re home. We were just talking about you.”

  Gina raised a brow, and Brie snorted. “Oh really? Should I be scared?”

  Willow smiled and squeezed Brie to her side. Willow was in her forties now, but looked to be in her twenties. That’s what happened when you were a wolf; genetics favored you. Soon all of the Jamensons would look the same age. The poor humans wouldn’t know what hit them.

  “We were just talking about roommates,” Willow said softly. She wasn’t a submissive wolf, but she also wasn’t a true dominant. Her aunt fell in that middle territory like so many other wolves, but she still held the same authority as her mate, Jasper.

  “Roommates?” Gina asked, then hugged her mom.

  Mel kissed her temple, keeping her arm around Gina’s waist. Though Gina had been on the verge of needing to shift after her talk with Quinn, just the fact that her mom was there now made things better.

  This was what she needed.

  “Well, Brie is almost ready to move out,” Willow said, her voice a little sad. “I still can’t believe my baby is getting older.”

  “Mom,” Brie mumbled, then rolled her eyes.

  “What? Your sisters are still young enough that I have a few more years, but the whole leaving-the-nest thing is starting.”

  “So why were you talking about me?” Gina asked, trying to help alleviate Brie’s embarrassment. Brie was a true submissive wolf, which had surprised the family. She wasn’t weak by far, but she did need to be loved and protected by dominants. In turn, she’d care for and protect the heart and soul of the dominant. A Pack needed both types of wolves, and Brie, former tomboy and Beta’s daughter, fit her role perfectly.

  “We were thinking that if and when you move out, you and Brie could be roommates,” Mel said.

  Gina smiled at the idea. “Oh, I could totally live with that. I was just thinking that it might be time to move out, and yet I didn’t want to be alone.”

  Brie smiled full-out. “Oh, thank the goddess. I was worried you might not want to deal with me.”

  Gina snorted. “As long as you don’t leave your socks and underwear around like Finn and the other boys do, I’m happy.”

  Brie snapped her fingers. “Darn it. So close!”

  Gina laughed then took Brie off to the side to talk places and timing. It would be at least a year until Brie was ready to move out, even though they were talking about it now. Gina could at least move out first and get the lay of the land. Mel and Willow would be there if they needed them, but everyone seemed to know that this was something the girls needed to do on their own.

  “Who is that?” Brie asked after they planned a bit.

  Gina looked out the window and frowned. “Who is who?”

  “That gorgeous wolf with the hot ass. Who is he?”

  Gina goggled. “Uh, honey, that is Gideon, the Alpha of the Talon Pack. And you’re seventeen. Stop staring.”

  Brie met her gaze with wide eyes. “I didn’t know the Alpha looked like that. He never comes around here, so I’ve never met him.”

  Considering Gideon usually made Mitchell or Ryder come into the den so they didn’t worry any of the wolves, that sort of made sense. Gideon, when he was around, usually came to only the Alpha’s house. Right then, he was just leaving the old studio her dad had in the back for when he was drawing.

  Gina closed her eyes and prayed that Willow and Mel were busy enough they didn’t hear that. “Well forget what’s going on in your head. He’s the Alpha of the other Pack. You’re a teenager. Stop thinking his ass is hot.”

  Brie just smiled. “I can think it. That doesn’t mean I’ll act on it. I’m a submissive. He’s an Alpha. Those two don’t mix. Besides, I think Dad and the uncles might kill me.”

  “Or him,” Gina mumbled. That was so not something she wanted to think about. Considering she was on the council to promote peace and unity between the two Packs, something like that just might make her want to jump out of the nearest window. Again.

  They went to find their moms then talked for a bit before Brie and Willow headed out. As soon as they were gone, Mel rubbed the spot between Gina’s brows.

  “Okay, spill it, baby. What’s going on inside that head of yours?”

  Gina blinked back tears and shook her head. She wasn’t as dominant as her mother and knew if her mom pushed the issue she’d have to tell, but she didn’t want to.

  “Gina.”

  With that one word, Gina’s shoulders fell, and she told her mom all about the meetings and the dark-eyed wolf she couldn’t get out of her head.

  Melanie nodded along then sighed. “Oh, baby. While I want to kick that wolf’s ass for his tone, you know what this means, don’t you?”

  She shook her head. “That I should kick his ass on my own?”

  Her mom grinned. “Maybe that as well, but, honey, Quinn is your mate.”

  Gina froze. The thought hadn’t even occurred to her.

  She’d never felt like this before with another wolf, but this feeling wasn’t love or happiness. No, this was all frustration mixed with need and desire. It was only a craving. Quinn couldn’t be her mate. They didn’t even like each other. Plus, there hadn’t been mating between the Redwoods and the Talons yet. This trick of fate wasn’t possible.

  It couldn’t be.

  “Gina. Breathe.”

  She hadn’t even realized she was hyperventilating and going lightheaded until Mel took her hand and forced her to sit on the couch.

  “I…this can’t be happening, Mom.” She knew her voice came out as a whine, but she couldn’t help it.

  “He’s a potential from the way your wolf is reacting, sweetie.”

  She nodded, numb. “A potential doesn’t mean I have to do anything about it,” she whispered.

  “Gina.”

  At the snap of Melanie’s voice, Gina looked over, her brain finally starting to work.

  “You know the story of how your father and I met?”

  She nodded. It was one of legend, even though it wasn’t all honey and roses.

  “Kade had a potential mate before me. All wolves have more than one mate out there, though usually there are decades in between meetings, not a few months or days. Fate does give us a choice, though usually, we want the wolf meant for us in the first place. The woman your father could have mated had more than one potential at the same time. Kade’s friend was the one that other woman chose. Then Kade met me.”

  Gina nodded, knowing where the story was going.

  “I was so scared, Gina. So freaking scared that werewolves were real that I almost missed out on the best things in my life. Yeah, the things that went bump in the night were real, but I should have thought about it more than trying to run. I ran away from him and then met that asshole who thought he could be my mate as well. The fact that I had two wolves fighting for me scared me so much I couldn’t just come out and say what was in my heart—that I wanted Kade.”

  “And because we wolves are so bent on rules and tradition, Dad had to fight in a mating
circle for you.” She knew the story and hated this part as much as Mel did.

  Mel growled. “I still think it’s a barbaric custom, and when North had to fight Corbin in one later for Lexi? I wanted to find a way out of it, but those damn things are still there because it’s tradition. If we break one tradition, those wolves not happy with the hierarchy can try to break more, and then things can go bad. Really bad.”

  Gina nodded then leaned into her mom.

  “What I was saying before I went on my diatribe was that I got scared and ran away. I didn’t make a decision when I should have, and people got hurt because of it. It has taken many years for me to get over that, and some days I still feel like I need to prove to Kade that I was worth it.”

  Gina turned and kissed her mom’s temple. “You’re worth it, and Dad knows it.”

  Mel gave her a small smile. “Thank you, baby. And about Quinn? You can’t know how he will react until you face it. I’m not saying you should mate with him or even tell him. He will be feeling it too, so that decision might be out of your hands. I will say that my running away from your father was the worst decision I’ve ever made. If it wasn’t for your mother, Larissa, pushing me into thinking, I don’t know what I would have done.”

  Gina’s eyes watered at the memory. It hurt sometimes to hear Mel talk of Larissa since both women had raised her. She had two mothers who loved her with every ounce of their being. She counted herself lucky.

  “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

  Mel nodded. “You don’t have to decide right now.” She hugged her hard. “No matter what happens, we’re on your side, your Dad and I. I won’t tell him or your brothers anything though. I don’t want them to interfere.”

  Gina sighed. “God, they’re going to freak out if I mate with Quinn because that’s what overbearing male family members do. And if I don’t? They’re going to freak out even more and kill him or something.”

  Mel patted her hand. “This is why we’re going to let you handle it without their interference.”

  She nodded then sat there in silence. She needed to think. This was good for the Redwoods and Talons. She knew that. The whole point of the council was to find a way to make the Packs work more closely together. Gideon had said the Talons hadn’t had a mating in years, and yet here she was, a potential mate for a Talon.

  This could be the answer.

  Maybe they were finally goddess-blessed.

  She swallowed hard.

  But she wasn’t a pawn, and this wasn’t something to check off a list.

  This was a decision about people. People who, frankly, didn’t even like each other. Quinn growled at her and treated her as though she was nothing more than a nuisance. If he was even feeling the mating urge, he was clearly fighting it.

  What she did know, though, was that she couldn’t run and hide from it. She couldn’t ignore it. She wasn’t like Mel, who was newly introduced to wolves. She’d grown up with them, so she didn’t have that excuse.

  No, she’d tell Quinn.

  Tell him that he could be her mate if they both chose.

  She knew he had a problem with her being a witch. He’d cursed her for it just that day. She might not know why he hated witches, but she’d find out…or walk away when he rejected her. She couldn’t help the blood in her veins, the power in her soul.

  Her hands shook, and she clenched them. No matter what he said, she’d do right by herself and tell him that. She didn’t know what she wanted to do afterward, but if he knew, if he also knew there was a choice, then it was something.

  She just prayed that when she told him he wouldn’t break her.

  She’d leave herself open, bare to anything his wolf chose, because she knew if she didn’t, she’d regret it for the rest of her life.

  If he left her bloody and broken…then she’d have to live with it.

  Somehow.

  Chapter Four

  Quinn didn’t want to deal with another meeting. He didn’t want to have to sit in a room with that wolf and her sweet scent. His wolf practically purred like a goddamn cat when she was around¸ and that couldn’t be allowed to happen. Instead of walking toward the meeting area, he’d rather go for a run and burn through every ounce of adrenaline currently flowing through his veins

  That was a better idea than dealing with that blasted hybrid wolf.

  He couldn’t seem to get her out of his mind or her scent off his skin. He hadn’t even touched her like his wolf wanted to, yet he could still sense her. Of all wolves, why did it have to be her? Why did he want this one?

  He hadn’t been with a woman since Helena left. It had been five long years since he’d let himself get close to someone else, and he knew it still wasn’t enough time. Helena had broken him, shattered every ounce of the man he’d once been. She’d stripped him of half his soul and broken their bond. When it had first happened, he’d passed out from the agonizing pain. The only reason he’d woken up was because he’d heard Jesse cry for him. His little boy had been only a newborn yet had pulled himself from his own nightmare.

  By the time he’d healed what he could within himself, he’d been focused on his son and not on the world around him. Gideon had let him remain in his position, and he’d had to fight off dominance challenges since people thought Helena had also damaged his wolf.

  Too bad for them that they were wrong about that.

  Helena had only strengthened his wolf. He’d had to keep everything sane and strong so he could survive. He hadn’t had the time or inclination to find a female to scratch the itch for him. Yeah, wolves needed touch and to release or they’d bottle up too much aggression, but he’d dealt with that. He had his hand to take care of himself when the need arose, and he could run off the adrenaline if needed.

  He’d dealt with it all because he was not given a choice. The only reason he hadn’t gone off the deep end was because Jesse needed him.

  That little boy had saved his life, yet Quinn couldn’t do a thing to save him.

  He closed his eyes and cursed. No, he would not think like that. Jesse would be fine. Once he grew older, he’d get stronger. That was just what would have to happen because the alternative couldn’t be in the realm of possibilities.

  “Quinn?”

  He stiffened at Gina’s voice and fisted his hands. Of all people, it had to be her. Why couldn’t anyone else come up on him and pull him out of his funk? No, it had to be the fucking witch. He couldn’t trust her or her powers, but his wolf sure as hell wanted to try.

  What the hell was wrong with him?

  Plus, why hadn’t he scented her coming up? Even when he was in his mind, he could always feel someone entering his space, yet he hadn’t with Gina. His wolf liked having her there, so he hadn’t warned him. Her scent was already in his pores, so he hadn’t noticed it coming back.

  What the fuck?

  God, he needed his head examined.

  “What?” he growled then cursed. His problems with her had to stop. He knew he was being an asshole, but something about her rubbed him the wrong way. If he didn’t start acting better, he’d screw up this whole thing with the Talons and Redwoods. Even though, for some reason, she put him on edge, he wasn’t going to let his Alpha down because of it.

  “Sorry, I was just thinking. What’s going on?” he asked. There. That was civil.

  She tilted her head and stared at him. There was something different about her today, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. He also didn’t know why he cared about that. He’d work with her because he had to then go back to the den and ignore her. It was the best way for both of them.

  “My Alpha just called. He needs Parker for something right away, so he won’t be here, and Farah’s son got hurt on the playground because he was trying to climb high in the trees. So it will just be me in the meeting. Do you want to reschedule?”

  He narrowed his eyes. “So the Redwoods are getting out of their responsibilities so quickly?”

  Gina growled. “Fuck you,
Quinn. Parker was needed by his Alpha. That trumps us. And hello...Farah’s pup is hurt. That trumps us as well. Get over it. I’m here.”

  He immediately felt like an ass. “The pup okay?”

  Her face softened marginally. “Yes. He broke his arm, so he’s going to shift to try to fix it. Hannah will be there just in case. When they’re young, they don’t like using Healing all the time just in case shifting can help. That way they learn to use their wolf rather than rely on outside sources.”

  “I know. My son is five, and we try to make him shift when he’s hurt.” He didn’t know why he mentioned Jesse, but it had just slipped out.

  Gina looked as though he’d slapped her, and she swayed on her feet. He quickly reached out and gripped her elbow. He sucked in a breath at the heat of her skin. His wolf rubbed along their touch, panting for more.

  “What’s wrong?”

  She shook her head then moved from his touch. His wolf whimpered. “I…I didn’t know you were mated.”

  He frowned at her reaction, but he understood her unasked question. Wolves couldn’t have children unless they created a mating bond. Sometimes, if people married and loved each other enough, over time, a bond would form with the humans first and the wolves would eventually follow. That was the only way for them to have children.

  “I’m not mated.” His words were clipped, and he didn’t elaborate.

  Confusion covered her face, but she didn’t ask why. She’d think that Helena had died, and, in every sense of the word, she had for him. If Gina hadn’t heard the story of Helena’s betrayal, he wasn’t going to enlighten her.

  Gina licked her lips then shook her head. “What do you want to do about the meeting?”

  Glad she had changed the subject, he took out his phone. “I’ll tell Lorenzo and Kimberly not to come. The two of us are early, so they probably haven’t left yet.”

  She nodded but didn’t leave his side as he messaged the others.

  “When do you want the next meeting?” he asked. He needed to get out of her presence or he’d do something horrific, like let his wolf have what it wanted.

  “In a couple days should work, but let me get back to you on that.”