Cursed, p.10
Cursed, page 10
His smile died.
If Shawna had let him change her, she’d heal while she napped, but human Shawna was going to be tender when she woke.
Thinking about it made the wolf in him irrational, so he turned away to take a shower. Jazz took his time under the water, letting the warm spray ease some of the tension he felt rolling under the surface.
He assumed Shawna would be up by the time he was done, but still she slept. She was exhausted. Half of him was proud of that fact, while half of him worried. He’d probably taken her too many times. He should have been gentler, but Shawna responded so passionately, even without his blood in her system. It was impossible to not lose control. Shawna was his woman.
His mate.
He turned away once more, wanting her to get the rest she needed. He dressed quietly in a pair of sweats and walked out of the bedroom, keeping his steps light.
The house was silent and dark.
Jazz turned on lights in case Shawna woke, knowing she couldn’t see like he could. He went to the kitchen, still thinking about his mate. Shawna needed to eat. He needed to eat. It was just after ten at night, and he decided on an early breakfast instead of a late dinner.
He started pulling out the ingredients for his special omelet. All the guys at the pack house asked for seconds and thirds when he made it. It was a favorite, one of those things he saved for really special occasions.
His mate was home.
He couldn’t think of a better reason to celebrate.
He was just finishing cutting onions when movement caught his attention. He grinned and turned, expecting Shawna.
It wasn’t her.
His smile died. He’d been so lost in his thoughts that he’d missed hearing the other woman approach. The strong scent of onion probably didn’t help either.
“Hey, Krystal.” Jazz shook off his shock and went back to cooking. “What are you doing here?”
“You can’t avoid me forever, you know.” Krystal grinned at him, her gaze raking over his body. “We need to make some decisions about the anniversary party for Desmon and Amber. You’re Desmon’s best friend and co-alpha. Tag, you’re it.”
“Please just plan it and I’ll pay for it. Tell me how much to make out the check to you.”
She leaned against the doorway and put her hands on her hips. “Ah. You’re being a man.”
“Yeah, well, I am guilty.” He looked down at himself with an arched eyebrow, and then reached for the bell pepper on the counter. “You plan it and I’ll pay for it. Fair deal. There’re plenty of other wolves you can recruit for help.”
“Fine. I can do that.” Krystal laughed and eyed the food. “Hungry?”
“You have no idea.” He thought about Shawna again and smiled. “I missed lunch and dinner.”
“Want something besides food? I miss you, Jazz.” Krystal walked in the kitchen. She hopped gracefully onto the counter, opened her thighs wide and scooted to the edge as her mini skirt hiked higher. “Why don’t you drop the sweats and come say hello.”
He frowned. “Krystal…”
Shawna was pissed. She’d stood on the stairs, listening to Jazz and the woman from the pack house.
Krystal.
Jealousy, curiosity, and a healthy amount of distrust had Shawna standing there fuming—until that bitch made it clear she was after more than party money. Something much darker than distrust swept over Shawna then, and she moved fast, storming into the kitchen.
Jazz spotted her and paled. “This isn’t what it looks like, babe.”
The woman on the counter slammed her thighs shut, just as Shawna grabbed the knife where Jazz had laid it down after cutting his vegetables. She tested the weight in her hand for a split second before letting it fly.
It sank hard into the cupboard about three inches from the other woman’s face.
Shawna was furious. “Get out—or the next one won’t miss.”
Krystal paled. Her gaze flew to the knife stuck in the cupboard near her face, before she glanced back to Shawna with wide eyes.
“I’m serious. Get the fuck out. And by the way, leave the key,” Shawna snarled in warning. “You ever walk into this house again without being invited, I’ll take you out. Got me? And keep your damn legs shut around Jazz. He’s mine.”
“Shawna, I was just about to tell her. Krystal didn’t mean anything.”
“Bullshit! She’s a wolf, isn’t she? Don’t tell me she couldn’t smell me all over this house!” Shawna rounded on him. “How many other bitches have keys?”
Jazz flushed a little.
“Jesus. How many?”
“A few.”
“Asshole.” Shawna wanted to lash out at him…but she knew it wasn’t actually his fault that he’d been lonely. She turned to Krystal instead. “Out—and don’t come back!”
Krystal hopped off the counter with werewolf grace and dashed quickly out of the kitchen.
Shawna followed after her. “Don’t forget to leave the damn key!”
Krystal reached into her purse. She dropped a key on the table by the door and fled, slamming the door behind her.
Shawna stood there in the ringing silence until she felt Jazz behind her.
She turned and gave him a long look.
“I’ll get the keys back and let them know we’re together,” Jazz said quickly. “I didn’t invite her to come over, and I promise I would’ve told her to get off my counter if you’d waited two more seconds. I was about to tell her about you.”
“I may have been married twice, but I never had a string of men climbing into my bed.” She glared up at him. “I didn’t hand out my house keys like a doctor does lollipops.”
His frown deepened. “Shawna…why are you really so upset? Do you think I would have taken her invitation? Did you see me moving toward her? No to both.”
“You were talking to her.” Shawna’s voice cracked. “Like it was no big deal that she let herself into your house!”
“We’re all pack. We walk in and out of each other’s houses all the time. You know that. I didn’t even think she wanted anything else until she hopped up on the counter. Babe, you know how wolves are.”
“I know.” She fought the urge to cry. “I’m just pissed. Get the damn keys back—and the next woman I find in the kitchen flashing you is dead.”
She stormed toward the stairs.
Jazz softly cursed and followed after her.
She stopped at the top and folded her arms over her chest. “I want you to take me to my motel.”
“No. I didn’t cheat on you. Damn it, I was making us dinner! Krystal let herself in. I didn’t know she was coming. We were talking about this party for Des and Amber. Having a mated alpha couple is a big deal to the pack. They like celebrating their anniversary. It’s a surprise thing they’re planning. When the conversation turned, I was going to tell her to leave.”
“I want you to take me to my Jeep.”
“You aren’t leaving me,” Jazz growled. “Not over this. I would never cheat on you. I’m sorry for what happened. I had no idea she would come over. I have no interest in her at all. I’m a wolf. You’re my mate. You know how all that works.”
“And that is the only reason I didn’t use that knife on you. I want to be taken to my Jeep, then the motel.”
“Babe,” he growled.
“Don’t you babe me!” she snapped at him. “I want my guns.”
He blinked. “You aren’t leaving me?”
“I want my guns.” She folded her arms stubbornly. “She’s a were. In a fight, she’d tear me up. I’m defenseless without my shit, Jazz. Since your house seems to have an open-door policy to all your ex-fucks, I need my weapons.”
He stared at her. “I’ll have the locks changed. I’ll call every damn female I’ve slept with in the past ten years and let them know they aren’t welcome anywhere near me. Please calm down.”
“Tell me how calm you would have been if this was my house, and you walked into the kitchen and found a man you knew I’ve had sex with standing there with his pants around his ankles.”
His blue eyes narrowed, and a low growl rumbled from the center of his chest. “I understand.”
She cursed and stormed into his bedroom, looking for her clothes. They were on the floor. She yanked off the borrowed shirt of Jazz’s and started to get dressed.
Jazz suddenly grabbed her, throwing her on the bed. She fought, but he was stronger. He pinned her under him, holding both her hands above her head.
“Babe,” he whispered, rubbing a thumb against the inside of her wrist. “Please calm down. I belong to you. I’m sorry.”
She narrowed her eyes at him.
“And you are anything but defenseless.” He arched an eyebrow. “You ran Krystal right out the door. She was afraid of you. You don’t have my sense of smell, but trust me, she was terrified.”
“I’m pissed, Jazz.” Shawna sighed and shut her eyes. “I know it’s not reasonable. I know that…but I’m still angry.”
“I don’t think it’s unreasonable,” he argued. “She let herself into my house and offered herself to me. It happened so fast that I didn’t see it coming, or I would have cut her off when she started talking about Desmon and Amber. I would have told her about you immediately. I assumed she could smell you too.”
Shawna snorted. “You think she couldn’t? I hate to break it to you, but that’s why she did it.”
“You’re probably right.” Jazz looked apologetic. “I’m so sorry.”
Shawna didn’t say anything after that. She kept her eyes closed and fought her temper. She knew he’d slept with other women. Hell, she’d been married twice in the years they were apart. But that woman had walked into Jazz’s place like she owned it and offered herself to him with Shawna still in the damn house.
“Babe?” Jazz leaned down and nuzzled her neck with his lips. “I love you. You’re the only one I want.”
She shook her head. “Let me be alone for a little while. I’ll calm down.”
“I’m not leaving you alone. And I’m not taking you anywhere tonight. I’ll change the locks tomorrow, and I meant it about making sure everyone knows we belong together. They’ll all know you’re the woman I want, the only woman I want. I’m yours. Look at me, Shawna. Please?”
She opened her eyes, seeing the torment in Jazz’s brilliant blue gaze. If only it didn’t hurt her so much to see him sad.
“I understand your anger. Trust me. I’m putting myself in your shoes, and I get it,” Jazz went on, not releasing his hold on her wrists. “I hate thinking about the two husbands you had. Just thinking about them touching you pisses me off. I’d go more than a little crazy if I walked into a room to see a man you used to sleep with trying to seduce you. I promise I get it, babe. I should have called everyone right away and told them. That was my mistake. I’m really fucking sorry. I was too caught up with you. I never once thought that anyone would come over here.”
Some of her anger eased. “It hurt,” she acknowledged.
He hugged her. “And I don’t ever want to hurt you.”
She nodded into his chest, and he kissed the top of her head. “How can I make this better for you? Do you want me to make those calls right now? You can listen to every word.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to know how many damn calls you have to make, Jazz.”
He tensed. “Okay. Good point.”
She slapped his arm hard. “Slut.”
“I was single. If I knew you were coming back into my life, I would have lived like a monk.” She heard amusement in his voice. “Honest.”
“Asshole.”
He chuckled. “Is that an offer? Because I would love to try that with you.”
She punched him and laughed. “No way, no how, Jazz. You’re huge.”
“Fair enough.” He sighed. “Now, I’m starving. Let me go finish our dinner and we’ll have a picnic on the bed.”
She nodded. “Okay. I think I should avoid the kitchen for a little while.”
“Good idea.” He caressed her cheek. “I love you.”
“I love you too…slut.”
He grinned. “Not anymore.”
“Only because you want to live.”
He laughed. “Damn straight. My woman is fierce.”
“And good at throwing knives,” she reminded him.
“Let me go get the food.” He caressed her cheek once more. “If you’re really good, I’ll turn on the television and let you have the remote. See how much I love you? I’m a man offering up the remote control.”
“Okay.” She gave him another side-eyed glare, while trying and failing to resist the smile tugging at her lips. “I so get the remote after that kitchen scene.”
He grinned. “Yeah, you do.”
10
The early morning sun was hidden by the trees, but sparks of it found their way through. The glimmers danced on the muddy forest floor, casting ominous shadows as Miles Nightwind walked quietly through the woods, keeping his steps light.
He lifted his bow and arrow, wishing he had his lever-action Winchester rifle instead. He just hadn’t expected to smell trouble when he set out before the sun rose to hunt. Now he was tracking the scent of blood and death instead of a cougar that had been lingering around the area.
Most Nightwind wolves avoided this side of the north border, and not just because it bordered Goodwin land. This section of the woods was particularly dense, which left things wet and mossy. The scent of mildew permeated the air, making it hard to smell anything else for most wolves. Losing a sense was scary, which was exactly why Miles had built his house here.
He liked places where it was easy to hide his scent. In the swampy darkness of his tiny corner on the north border, only the best trackers could use their noses to survive.
It gave him the edge.
And for a werewolf who couldn’t shift, tracking, staying in the shadows, knowing his enemy before he could see them—these things were all vital to survival according to Miles.
That meant he was likely the only one who could smell the faint odor of fresh decay on the wind. He decided to deal with it now because situations like that only got worse with time.
It didn’t take him long to find the problem.
He stepped over a rock, now lingering right on the edge of Goodwin land, where he spotted blood on the roots of a towering redwood. This wasn’t a wild animal like he’d hoped. It scented of werewolf blood—one that seemed vaguely familiar. He turned on his heel, trying to find a body, but the smell of it was everywhere.
That’s when he stepped on a hand—just lying there on the forest floor, all by itself.
“Oh hell.” He whipped his head around and spotted a lone ear hiding under some leaves. “Fucking werewolves.”
He stopped looking and reached for his phone instead, knowing the discoveries were only going to get more gruesome. Since this was clearly a message and not a full-blown attack, he set his bow down and put the arrow in the quiver on his back. Then he called his cousin.
Desmon answered on the second ring. “You’re calling me. That’s not good. What time is it? Am—”
His mate Amber answered, “It’s seven-fourteen.”
“Oh Jesus. That’s too early,” Desmon grunted into the phone. “I’m going to have to leave the house without coffee—I already know it.”
“Are you done?” Miles sighed with annoyance.
“Is it a serious issue?”
“Well, yeah. I’m calling you at seven in the fucking morning, Des,” Miles barked at him. “I found a body near the north border, right past the big redwood on the east end.”
Desmon groaned out loud. “What kind of body?”
“The werewolf kind.”
“One of ours?”
“Smells like it.” Miles sniffed the air again. “It’s familiar, but I can’t place it.”
“And you can’t just look at it?”
“That’s part of the issue.” Miles winced as he glanced around. “The body’s kind of—scattered.”
Desmon was quiet for a long moment. “It’s a message.”
“Very likely.” Miles hated to admit it. “I found it right on the edge of the border. Obviously the Goodwins are getting serious about this territory war—enough to break laws.”
“I thought they were trying to be good for the Alliance. They’ve been kissing political ass since everything that went down with Amber. Now they’re just tossing dead wolves over the border and ruining their supposed good reputations?”
“Yup,” Miles agreed.
“I have to go meet Miles up by his place,” Desmon huffed to his mate over the rustle of sheets being pulled back. “This is a big problem.”
“I figured.” Amber sounded concerned. “You sure you don’t want me to make you some coffee before you go out?”
“No, I’m running up there in fur. Miles, try to find out who it was.”
Miles grunted, but started searching again, using his nose as a guide. He stomped around the woods for a few minutes while Desmon bitched and moaned about putting on a harness, which would allow him to run in fur and carry weapons in case he needed them.
Miles spotted light blond hair in the mud and walked over, finding a head. He moved it gently with his booted foot, grimacing as he looked down, finally placing a face with the scent. “It’s Scotty, that new wolf from Santa Barbara we accepted in.”
“Oh, God. He was on guard duty last night.” Desmon sounded gutted. “He was a seasoned enforcer. He had years of experience, but maybe with the territory still being new he was caught off guard or something.”
Miles glanced away, feeling guilty too, wishing he would’ve heard something last night, but his place was too far. “Des, it’s not your fault. They crossed our border and probably ganged up on him. We didn’t expect them to pull any shit right now with them kissing Alliance ass.”
“Yeah, good luck proving it. They’ll just tell the Alliance he wandered into their territory. They’ll make up some bullshit and claim it was their right to kill him.”
“They left an old-school war message,” Miles reminded him. “That’s serious.”
