Love at First Roar (BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Werebear Romance) (Grayslake Book 4) (26 page)

“Ruins the links and it’s harder to fix what was broken than to never have broken it in the first place,” Ty grumbled. “Fine. I’ll speak with the alpha and we’ll figure something out.”

Isaac glanced at Kira, noting her even breathing and slack mouth. “It’s good to have them anyway, Ty. Who knows if her family followed or tracked her. I’m damned thankful I was able to patch her up, but on the off chance Kira’s father or brother show up…”

“Yeah.” Ty nodded. “Do they know what happened to her? What they’re up against?”

“No. Not right now. You know what I know. I realize you found out about all of this in a roundabout way, but I
had
intended on telling you. I figured you and the alpha could disperse the information as you desired.”

“Gee, thanks,” he drawled.

Isaac grunted, sounding so like their father it was ridiculous.

Another vehicle roared down the street, fully blocking the road when it rolled to a stop beside Ty’s SUV. A large male climbed out, power and authority trailing in his wake. He exuded dominance in the overwhelming way of alpha wolves. Bears, for all their deadly ferocity, were more circumspect. They were slower to anger, but quick to destroy.

Wolves, dominant wolves, went balls to the wall one hundred percent of the time.

Kira shivered, body trembling and then she gasped, jerking away from Isaac. “Wha—” the male’s booted foot stomped on the first stair and she startled, jumping in her seat. “What’s… Who?”

Isaac tugged her close. “Just Ty and the Redby alpha. I’ve got you. You’re safe.”

The male finished his heavy trudging up the steps and stopped beside Ty, curling his lip at their Itan.

Yeah, mistake.

Ty returned the expression only, instead of a couple inches of fang, Ty revealed four and released a rolling, rumbling growl for good measure.

Which, of course—
of course
—had his mate off the swing and across the porch before he could blink. She was a streak of brown hair and curves and he raced after her. His little mole was wading into fang and claw fight with itty-bitty teeth.

She didn’t seem to care. Nope, she pushed her way between the two men and
she
snarled at
them
.

“What do you two think you’re doing?” She nudged Ty and elbowed the alpha. “My very best friend in the whole world is dying inside—” She wasn’t dying and Kira knew that, but he didn’t want to ruin her tirade. “And you two are snarling at each other. You’re about to fight and cause more drama. Not here. This is my porch, darn it.”

She stomped her foot, and he needed to remind her not to do that in public. It made her breasts bounce and it’d drawn the attention of other males. He’d hate to have to kill every man in town.

“Kira, you’re in Grayslake. As the Itan, I don’t need anyone’s permission to—”

“When you’re holding my wolves hostage, I have every right to—”

Ty and the wolf spoke over each other and Kira stomped her adorable, tit bouncing foot again. “
I
am not yet mated to Isaac which means
I
am not part of the clan which means
I
don’t have to let anyone in if I don’t want to.”

Ty glared at Isaac. “I could get a warrant.”

“To stand on my porch?”

Isaac hoped his brother realized how stupid that sounded. By Ty’s blush, he figured she’d accomplished her goal. Now she rounded on the alpha.

“And
you
. I don’t know where you learned your manners, but you don’t come barging into someone’s home and—”

“I’m on your porch.” The male pushed the words through wolfen teeth and his tone had both Isaac and Ty snarling at him. Which caused the wolf to snarl and they were back where they started.

Except then the front door opened and Flynn stuck his head out. “Alpha,” he tipped his head at the wolf and then looked to Ty. “And Itan. With all due respect, can you please keep it down? Our Alpha Bitch is resting and she’s been through a lot already.”

With that, the door swung shut and silence reigned in his wake.

The wolf trembled but Isaac didn’t delude himself that it was due to fear. Nope, the male was filled to the brim with anger. “The pack does not have an Alpha Bitch.”

Ty grinned, eyes sparkling. “You do now. I got a mole. You got an Alpha Bitch. I’m not sure which of us came out ahead, but I’m thinking it’s me. Have fun keeping her in line.”

Kira spoke up. “No one is keeping anyone in line. Zoey is staying here, with me.” His mate turned to Ty. “She doesn’t cause any trouble and she’s really sweet and I know she could be an asset to the clan.”

Isaac tugged her close, desperate to soothe away the growing panic in his mate. At the same time, he glared at Ty and urged the man to agree already.

“Her name is Zoey?” the wolf spoke.

“Yes.” Isaac didn’t know much else, but he knew
that
.

“And she is Reid Bennett’s long lost sister?” The alpha’s lips formed a grim line.

“Yes. At least, Flynn thinks so.”

“He’d know. Reid’s still doing time with Terrence, but when he finds out… I’m not sure how long anyone can keep him away from her.”

Isaac agreed and Ty didn’t look too happy with the prospect of having the unstable, homicidal male in his territory once again.

The alpha closed his eyes and breathed deeply, once, twice, and on the third time, yellowed eyes met Isaac’s. “Is there only one wolf in there that doesn’t belong to the Redby pack? Is that the female? Zoey?”

Isaac nodded. “Yes, I recognized the others as belonging to you. There’s just Zoey.”

The alpha drew in more of the scent and then turned to Ty. “Itan, I’m asking for your hospitality from Alpha to Itan. I have need of your clan’s protection and care.”

Ty looked as confused as Isaac felt. The Alpha’s words were ceremonial and exacting, a quote from the laws themselves.

Ty voiced the question spinning through Isaac’s mind. “Why?”

The wolf’s body seemed to grow in size, nearing Ty’s width and breadth while gray fur peppered his skin. “Because you do not just have an injured wolf on clan lands. Nor is she simply a member of the ex-alpha’s family. Your Zoey is not yours. She is
mine
.”

“Oh, shit snacks.” A familiar feminine voice—
Zoey
—cut through the ensuing silence, drawing their attention to the bandaged and battered woman standing in the doorway. “With a side of fries and a strawberry shake.”

Kira peeked through Isaac’s drapes, nudging them aside enough to spy on the house next door.
Her
house next door. The house she was currently not residing in so Zoey could spend wolfy time with the local pack. It hurt her a little, stinging her heart, even though it shouldn’t. Back at home, her best friend often did werewolf things that didn’t involve an itty-bitty weremole.

But they weren’t with their old pack anymore, and Zoey didn’t even
have
a pack. Now Kira was the woman’s pack and why…

Why was she alone again?

Her mate encircled her waist with his arms, the warmth of his chest sinking into her and heating the skin that’d cooled without him. He surrounded her with his care, attention, and protection.

Maybe she wasn’t entirely alone.

A wolf trotted between Isaac’s and Kira’s homes, the silver fur gleaming in the lessened light. Its nose hovered over the ground, obviously sniffing and hunting for a scent that didn’t belong. Finally it huffed out a breath and moved along, searching for any other threats.

Damp lips brushed her neck, Isaac nuzzling her throat and more of his flavors sunk into her. “She’s going to be fine, you know,” he murmured against her skin.

“No, I know.” And she did know. Mostly. “I just worry.”

“You know how wolves are. You know they’ll protect and care for her. Especially if…”

Especially if the alpha, Bates, was Zoey’s mate. Considering that werewolves found their mates by scent alone, she didn’t have much of a doubt. Especially after they’d all traipsed into the house and she’d witnessed her best friend’s reaction to the male. She wasn’t going to say Zoey was drooling but… Kira had handed over a tissue or two.

That was the only reason she’d left her home and let the wolves overrun the place.

Most packs weren’t like Kira’s. Most alphas cared for their pack and protected them. There was no violence outside of challenges. They did not allow one wolf to pick on weaker wolves. Bates assured Zoey
and
Kira that was the case in Redby.

The alpha had not been happy having to justify his treatment of his pack to a
mole
. He almost put voice to the words, but Ty and Isaac stepped forward, their massive bodies backing her up.

When all was said and done, when all assurances were given and accepted, and a handful of calls were made to check Bates’ references (that annoyed the hell out of him), they left Zoey to the care of the pack. Isaac and Kira retreated to his home to spend the night, promising one and all, Kira would be back first thing in the morning to check on her best friend.

Bates looked pissed off that she didn’t trust him while the others stared at Kira as something akin to a ghost. They couldn’t believe she existed. She was prey who’d lived with wolves and survived. Not only survived, but she’d become
best friends
with another wolf.

Kira didn’t want to know what happened to other prey shifters. At all. Flynn tried to assure her they were merely run out of Redby, but she’d also heard murmurings about the now-dead beta Morgan and what he’d done…

No matter what, she was here and Zoey was there, and they had a long night stretching before them.

“Kira?” Isaac whispered into her ear.

“What? Sorry. I was thinking about Zoey and Bates and what their mating would mean.”
To me
. She didn’t add that part. “Bates is only the temporary alpha. I worry…”

“Bates may seem like a mean and gruff male, but even the meanest are putty in their mate’s hands. If Zoey wants to stay, I imagine he’ll figure out a way to make that happen. Even if it means taking over a small patch of nowhere in Georgia.”

Isaac seemed so sure and solid, and Kira let herself feel a small ray of hope.

“Now, c’mon. I wanna shower, and I think you could use a good soak in the tub.” He nibbled her earlobe. “It’s got jets and I’m sure it’s big enough for two.”

“Jets?” She tilted her head and gave him more room.

“Uh-huh. Zoey is safe, you’re safe, there are—knock on wood—no dangers hanging over our head. At least not immediately. I know they’re still out there, but we’re surrounded by wolves. I figure we can relax enough to finish what we started.” He ended the sentence with a low, husky whisper that traveled straight to her core.

“Finish…” He captured her earlobe and tugged, forcing a whimper past her lips.

“If you’re willing. Only if you’re willing, Kira. No matter what, you’re mine. Today or two weeks from now, I’ll eventually make you mine.”

His. She wanted to be his more than she could say. Now it was time to make it a reality. Was she ready?

Yes. No question, no hesitation. The answer was yes.

She wanted to be Isaac’s.

Even more, she wanted Isaac to be hers.

“Yes,” she slowly turned in his arms, meeting his gaze as she clutched his shoulders. “Yes.”

“Yeah?” A grin teased his lips.

“Yeah.”

That grin spread to a blinding smile, one that was accentuated by lengthened fangs and deep, midnight eyes. The bear had come out to play, probably encouraged by Kira’s acceptance of their claim.

“C’mon then.” He stepped out of her embrace and extended his arm, hand open and waiting for her.

There was no hesitation when she reached for him and slid her palm over his. She twined her fingers with Isaac’s and easily followed him as he led her through the house. The sounds of the home followed them, the shift and creak of the old walls and aged floors. The steps whined as Isaac and Kira climbed, but it did nothing to bank the growing arousal.

The closer they came to his room, the higher her need climbed. She’d felt his mouth on her, but now he’d be everywhere, he’d touch everywhere, he’d… see everywhere.

Would it disgust him? She’d already felt his scarring and she couldn’t care less.

Would he be the same way? He hadn’t said a word about her marred flesh after their almost love making in the forest, but she didn’t think he’d truly had a moment to look, either.

Now he would.

Kira’s heart stuttered, fluttering with the prospect of being bare and revealing all. She knew that he was her mate, that they were meant to be together forever, but… But lifelong insecurities were very hard to banish. Hell, these weren’t even lifelong. They were about ten years old.

They stepped onto the landing, padding toward their destination, when Isaac stopped. She nearly tripped, tumbling into him, but he caught her with ease.

“Isaac? Wha—?”

He whirled and grasped her by her forearms. “We don’t have to do this.”

“Huh?” She wrinkled her brow. “I thought you wanted… Did you not want…? But…”

“I can scent your emotions just as you can discern mine. I know what I’m smelling, Kira, and it isn’t an overwhelming wave of need for me.” His voice was rough, the bear’s growl making it rumble even more.

“You scent… You don’t think I want you?” She shook her head and sighed. Still holding his hand, she strode past him and tugged
him
along.

“Kira.” Another growl followed by a snarl.

“No, you don’t get to drive this train anymore.” She returned his gruff tone and kept walking. When his steps slowed, she yanked harder. “I am the captain of this ship to Matetastic Island. Let’s go.”

“I thought we were on a train.” She heard Isaac’s suppressed chuckle and released a small, relieved sigh. Laughing was better than backpedaling. She managed to get him through the bedroom door before he slowed once again. “Kira, I know what you said, but I also know what I scented.”

Kira swallowed her groan and released him, turning as she did so. “God, you’re going to make me be unsexy and blurt this all out aren’t you.”

“I don’t—”

She held up a hand, silencing him. “You know how you didn’t want me touching your face? Because of your scars? You were afraid I’d turn away from you like everyone else.” She asked the questions, but didn’t give him a chance to interrupt. “Well, that emotion and self-consciousness isn’t reserved just for you.”