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“There you go. Just tell her you aren’t interested in a mate. Be firm. Problem solved.”
He nodded. “Yeah.”
Wen remained silent for a few seconds. “But? I hear a but. I know you too well. You’re freaked out over something. What is it?”
“I’ve never fucked someone like her before.”
“A virgin?”
“Yes.”
“Oh. I never would have guessed.”
“I liked older Lycan women when I was younger, before they left. Experienced ones. Then when I first took over the clan, our single women always came to me. They were experienced, too.”
“So you feel guilty. Maybe you were too rough or went too fast. Am I right?”
“Didn’t I say as much when I told you that she was in pain and I panicked?”
“It happens. Hell, the first time I had sex, I think I came in under a minute. It wasn’t ideal for the woman. My first virgin didn’t go so well, either. We’re big, and she was human. I used my eyes to distract her from the initial pain until she adjusted to me.”
“I’m going to go now. You’re not helping.”
“Talk to me, Trayis. I’m your friend.”
He took another sip of beer and sighed. “It was…intense, okay? The biting and fucking part. I’ve never come so damn hard in my life. It’s messing with my head. Plus, Arlis really is going to be mad. She’s someone he considers to be under his protection. My fucking her might piss him off. But the thing is, I like Shay. I don’t want to hurt her if she’s set on me mating her, but it wouldn’t work out.”
“Why not?”
“She’s more human than Lycan.”
“Not an issue.”
“She’s gentle and sweet.”
“You think you’d crush her spirit or something? That you’d be too strong of a personality for her to handle?”
“Maybe. I’m also not ready to settle down.”
“Tell her that. As for your brother, you said this female is an adult. Period. You didn’t force her to fuck you. She made her choice. End of story.”
“Right.” He sighed again. “I have to go.”
“I’ll keep my cell close. Call me if you need to talk.”
“Will do. And Wen? Don’t repeat any of this.”
“You have my word. Gerri understands there are things I can’t tell her. Important clan business.”
Trayis snorted and ended the call. He put his cell and the beer on the counter before returning to the bedroom. Shay still slept, looking entirely too innocent and vulnerable in his bed.
“What in the hell did I do…and how am I going to fix this?”
Chapter Three
Shay woke and stretched. There was a slight soreness between her legs…
One glance at the ceiling had memories returning in a flash and she sat up. She clutched at the covers, instantly realizing she was naked.
Trayis crouched against the wall in the corner of the room, sporting a pair of navy sweatpants and nothing else. His eyes were golden, revealing a lot of bright streaks in his irises. It made them appear predatory and dangerous, reminding her of a wild animal about to strike.
“How do you feel?”
His chilly tone sent a shiver up her spine. He didn’t look happy in the least, but not exactly angry, either. “Fine.”
“I’m trying to remain calm, Shay.”
She swallowed, clutching the covers tighter. “I should have told you I hadn’t had sex before but I was worried it would matter.”
A low rumble came from him.
“You might have changed your mind. But I wanted you. It’s really no big deal. I’ll get dressed and leave.”
He rose to his feet, hands fisted at his sides. She stared at his white knuckles and fear crept down her spine.
“Don’t do that,” he barked.
Her gaze shot to his face. Now he looked furious.
“Don’t you dare get frightened. I’d never hurt a woman. Even one who tricked me.”
That was just insulting. “I didn’t trick you. Did you tell me how many women you’ve slept with? No. The subject didn’t come up.”
“You were a virgin.”
“Not anymore. What do you want? A thank you?”
“Shay.” He growled her name.
“I said I’ll leave.” His reaction and his words hurt. She’d heard things could become a little awkward after casual sex encounters, but never this bad. She tried to hide her emotions as she shoved off the covers and crawled down the bed to avoid him. Her clothes were on the floor at the end of it where she’d left them. She refused to look at him, feeling vulnerable and exposed as she began to dress hurriedly.
A dizzy spell hit as she bent, and she almost fell on her ass. Trayis lunged and wrapped his arm around her waist, hoisting her off her feet. He sat on the bed, planting her across his lap. She tried to stand again but his arm tightened, locking her there.
“I’m fine. I just moved too quickly.” She tried to wiggle off his lap.
“Keep doing that, and we’re going to have a problem. You’ll make me hard again. Hold still.”
She froze, staring at his face inches from hers.
“Why me, Shay? Why come to my bed?”
“Why not?”
A muscle in his jaw flexed as his lips pressed together tightly. He glowered at her with narrowed eyes.
“You’re attractive, nice, and we have things in common.” She shrugged. “Happy? I’m fine, Trayis. You can let me up. I’ll be out of your hair within a minute and you never have to see me again.” She tried to get off his lap once more.
She gasped when he twisted his upper half and her back hit the bed, then he pinned her under him. He adjusted his big body, throwing a leg over her to press hers down. He leaned in, almost nose to nose with her, as he stared deeply into her eyes.
“That’s it? You find me attractive? You didn’t want to guilt me into making you my mate?”
Her mouth fell open on another gasp as shock rolled through her. “What?”
He scowled.
She put her hands on his warm, solid chest and gave a hard push. It didn’t budge him an inch. “I’m not like the Bitch Trio. I don’t play mind games, and I sure as hell would never try to trap a guy. I brought condoms, remember? To prevent me from getting pregnant. That’s not how a woman forces a man into mating her. Get off me!”
He rolled away, releasing her in a flash.
She sat up and found herself in the bedroom alone.
He hadn’t gone far, though, since she glimpsed him down the hallway through the open door. She stared at his back as she grabbed her remaining clothes on the floor, putting them on.
He turned as she left the bedroom and blocked her way to the exit door. “Do you want to cause trouble between Arlis and me? Were you lying when you said you didn’t feel anything for him? Was fucking me payback because he mated Ginny?”
Her mouth opened as myriad emotions—from anger to shock to disbelief—all slapped her at once. “You’re insane!”
“Am I?”
“If you believe any of that bullshit, then yes. You are! Paranoid, too. I don’t feel that way about Arlis. I never have. He’s more of a father figure to me than anything else. What is wrong with you?”
“You were a virgin,” he snarled.
Anger vibes rolled off him and her knees weakened, almost collapsing her. She locked her legs and her fear spiked. None of the dominant Weres had ever made her almost buckle before. It meant he had to be stronger than all the Weres she’d ever known—including her alpha. Arlis had never unleashed his vibes her way, but she’d been close before when someone else had pissed him off.
“It doesn’t make sense. Why me, Shay?”
“Why not you?” She pushed down the fear, battling her instincts to cower. She didn’t think he was doing it on purpose, but his rage still affected her. “You were always nice to me, Trayis. You saved me from getting bullied when I was ten. Do you even remember that? It was at a party and the other kid
s were being mean. You walked up and snarled at them. They scattered and left me alone. And when you were here for the welcome party for the twins five years ago, I watched you from the trees all day. I was just barely legal and had a huge crush, but I couldn’t work up the nerve to approach you.
“And now you’re back to celebrate the birth of our alpha’s newest son, and I found myself even more attracted than ever. I wanted the first and probably only man I let touch me to be someone who’d leave me with a good memory. I thought that would be you. Boy, was I wrong! Now get out of my way, and stop trying to intimidate me with your temper.”
The anger faded from his expression and the vibes coming off him instantly halted.
She dropped her gaze to his chest. “I want to leave now. Don’t worry, Trayis. I won’t tell anyone you touched me. Ever. You can just forget it happened.”
He stepped aside, pressing his body against the table.
She had to brush against him in the tight space but she made it past him. The door was locked when she tried to jerk it open to escape. She flipped the lock and finally got the door open, breathing in fresh air. The sun was about to go down, the woods around them shadowing.
“Shay?”
She refused to glance back. “I’ll avoid you when you visit in the future.”
“I took more blood from you than I’d intended. Eat something with red meat. Maybe drink some orange juice. Will you let me walk you home?”
“I don’t need an escort. Goodbye, Trayis.”
She fled, slamming the door behind her.
It was easy to avoid the pack by staying off the regular trails until she reached her cabin. She punched in the code for the keyless lock she’d installed and entered.
Tears streamed down her face once she was alone. She’d made an even worse mess out of her life.
“Good going. You did the impossible,” she muttered aloud.
His scent probably lingered on her. She made her way to the bathroom and stripped, tossing her cloths in the trash, never wanting to see that outfit again. It would remind her of Trayis. She didn’t even wait for the water to warm before she was in the shower to wash down her body and hair. Too bad the memories wouldn’t disappear down the drain, too.
He hated her…he had accused her of horrible things.
None of it made sense. Maybe he hadn’t figured on her being a virgin, but she’d been the one to suffer the pain. Not him. He’d also bitten her and gotten blood as well as sex out of the deal.
“Why was he bitching?” she grumbled.
The cabin held no answers for her.
She finished her shower, put on her pajamas, and tossed a frozen pizza in the oven. It was tempting to call Marcia to pour her heart out to her bestie, but she didn’t reach for the phone. Her word was solid. Trayis didn’t want anyone to know what had happened between them. She would keep it a secret. Even from her best friend.
She got the pizza out of the oven, poured herself some soda, and flipped on her TV. “I’ll just forget. Pretend it didn’t happen. I hope things went better for Marcia.” She put her plate on the coffee table and plopped down on the couch.
She winced as she landed on the cushion, a reminder that she was still a bit tender in that area. “He’s a dick. A big painful one, in every sense.”
* * * * *
Trayis drank his sixth beer and finally returned Arlis’s call. “What’s up?”
“I was going to invite you to dinner but you missed that. Ginny can warm you a plate if you want to come by. I thought you’d planned to spend as much time as possible with us while you’re here.”
“I’m sorry. I was on the phone with my clan. I had some things to deal with.” He hated lying to his younger brother. But the truth wasn’t an option. At least not until he got his head on straight about Shay. “It put me in a bad mood. It’s best if I come by in the morning.”
“Is everything okay in Alaska?”
“Just typical stuff. You know how it goes. I’m sure you have internal struggles with your pack.”
“Always. I had to settle a dispute half an hour ago.”
“What kind?”
“One of my females came to me with a problem.”
He tensed, hoping it wasn’t Shay.
“Maggie dumped Tom, and he wasn’t taking it well. He’s been lurking around her place, being a general pain in her ass. I had to warn him to keep his distance. I don’t put up with that stalker bullshit.”
He relaxed on the couch. “Do you think he’ll listen?”
“He better or I’ll lock his ass up for a week.”
“He’d go nuts.”
“Exactly. It put the fear in him. They weren’t together long, but he said she was good in bed. As if that’s a valid excuse to harass anyone. I reminded him that there are plenty of other single women for him to sleep with. He’s not a bad guy. Just a bit pussy whipped and thinking with his dick.”
Trayis wondered if Tom would go after Shay next. She was single…
He clenched his hands, almost breaking the beer bottle he held. The idea of some horny Lycan sniffing after her didn’t sit well with him. “Speaking of internal issues, I got a glimpse of one today.”
“What happened?”
“I ate lunch with Shay, and three women came up to us, talking shit about her. They said they wanted to warn me about her, but it seemed more like they wanted to hurt her feelings.”
“Let me guess. A blonde showing off way too much cleavage, a redhead with a rude mouth on her, and a brunette who really needs to gain some weight?”
“One of them was named Barbie.” He smiled, remembering what Shay had said to her. She had a quick mind for insults.
Arlis sighed. “I told them to leave Shay alone. That poor girl has enough to deal with. I’ll talk to them.”
“Why do they treat her that way?”
“Did you notice how the three of them dress? That their hair colors aren’t natural? How much makeup they wear?”
“Not really.”
“They’re shallow. More concerned about their looks than anything else. Meanwhile, the three of them don’t have a fully functioning brain between them. Shay’s the only pack member they can pick on without getting their asses handed to them in a fight. I take it Marcia and Rod weren’t around?”
“No. We were eating alone.”
“I’m surprised those three even worked up the nerve to pick on her after the last time they pulled a stunt. Her foster siblings are very protective of Shay. About five months ago, the three of them cornered Shay and really upset her.” He chuckled.
Trayis felt rage. “You think that’s funny?”
“Let me finish. Her grandparents didn’t want Shay after she was orphaned. Marcia and Rod’s parents took her in. As the two youngest children, they bonded with Shay. All three of them are tighter than shit. Marcia and Rod decided to get even with those bitches by putting blue dye in Lucinda’s Jacuzzi. It wasn’t the kind that washed off easily, either. The trio likes to soak every night and get drunk, talking trash about other pack members.” He chuckled again, darkly. “It left their skin colored for almost a week before it faded away. Marcia took full responsibility, but I know Rod helped. She stood in my office not one bit sorry, and told me they deserved it for being trolls. I don’t allow physical fights unless it’s to protect from harm. I couldn’t disagree with her reasoning. I laughed and dismissed her without punishment.”
Trayis had calmed but he still wasn’t amused. “What do you mean, the grandparents didn’t want Shay? She has family?”
“Mildred and Elvis. You’ve met them in the past. They used to run the pack store for decades. Their only child was Marcus, Shay’s father.”
“Why didn’t they raise Shay after he died? Did they leave your pack before she was born?” He could understand being hesitant to hand over a pup into the care of an unknown alpha, especially since Shay was half human. Some packs were prejudiced.
Arlis sighed. “No. They were still pack memb
ers. I knew they were grieving but it was messed up. They viewed Shay as tainted, said I should put her down. They were bitter and upset when I rejected their request. Then I demoted them after they made threats. No way in hell did I trust them to supply groceries to the family that did take in Shay, or even trust them enough to live near her. I worried about them trying to hurt her.”
Trayis jerked into an upright position and put his beer on the floor. “Put her down? Tainted? What the fuck?”
“They couldn’t stand the sight of her, or the fact that she looked so much like her mother, Layla. Let’s just say they weren’t happy when Marcus mated a human, and they took their grief out on Shay when he died. They blamed her, as if any of that shit was her fault. It wasn’t fair or right. They made actual death threats against a two-year-old after I refused to put her down myself. I’ll tell you flat out that if anyone was to blame for their son’s death, it was Mildred and Elvis. They treated their son’s mate like shit and made her life miserable until Layla broke.
“Shay was an innocent child and cute as shit. Hell, I would have adopted her if I’d been mated. Instead, I transferred the grandparents to the far north sector and stuck them in a cabin to be lookouts. It’s fucking miserable out there. Regardless, when Shay hit puberty and still hadn’t shifted, they reached out to friends to petition me to banish her. They claimed Shay wasn’t eligible to be part of the pack. That’s when I’d had enough of them stirring up shit and kicked them out of the pack. It would be a death sentence for Shay to be on her own in the human world.”
“Damn.”
“Shay’s had it rough. Probably always will. I’ve done my best to make certain she’s not harassed.”
By writing laws just for her. He couldn’t say that, though, in case Arlis asked how he’d found out. “She seems nice.”
“She’s a sweetheart. Not that she’s a pushover. She’s got backbone. Always had to. She’ll stand up for herself, but there’s not much she can do against other women who could rip her to shreds with their claws. No one in the pack is allowed to touch her that way.”
“Who are you talking about?” came Ginny’s voice over the phone.
“Shay. The wannabe models were at it again today,” Arlis explained to his mate. “I’m talking to my brother.”