Once Mated Twice Shy (3 page)

“I just saw Lettie
sir.  She was picking up a box.  She just left in a gold Buick.  If you hurry,
you might catch her.  Oh and she asked me to give you this key to the house.” 
Jordan nodded and said thanks as he backed out and turned back toward the
grocery. 

Jordan climbed the
stairs to her apartment.  He went over what he was going to say to her.  He
shook his head to clear it before knocking on her door.  She had the dishes
out.  He could hear the newspaper crinkling and the radio playing.  The door
clicked then opened.  When it opened, she’d looked young and happy but now she
just looked bitter and angry.  “Jordan.”  She spat.  She kept the door open
only a crack but he pushed his way inside.  Lettie skittered out of the way. 
She couldn’t stop him because he was so much bigger than her.  All she could do
was stay out of his way and hope that he didn’t hurt her.  There was a time
that she knew Jordan wouldn’t hurt her but those days were gone.  Now he was
twice that size and an alpha, she didn’t know what he was capable of anymore.  “What
do you want Jordan?”  She stayed between him and the hundred year old dishes. 
He scoffed.  They were still more important than anything else to her.  Jordan
closed the door quietly behind him.

“I want to talk to
you.”  He said calmly stepping inside the tiny apartment and closing the door. 
How could she breathe in here?  Besides the musty smell, it was as big as a
shoebox.  She was smaller than he was but still this was smaller than his
living room.

“I don’t want to
talk to you.”  Jordan edged closer and she put her arms out to protect her
China.  He wouldn’t ruin the only thing she had left of her Grams.

“I’m not here to
hurt your precious dishes Colette.”  Jordan crossed his arms over his huge
pectorals.  His biceps were still massive and if he wanted to, he could crush her
without any effort at all.  “I want you to come home.”  She shook her head. 
Why would he want that?  He’d left her.

“I live here now,
where I am productive.”  She spat the words at him.  That hurt.  She could
still cut him deeply when she wanted.  Lettie was a pro when it came to tossing
his words back at him.

“You can’t live in
a damn grocery store.”  Jordan sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. 
Why would she want to live here instead of with him?  This place was horrible.

“I live over one, there’s
a difference.”  She set her jaw.  He just wanted this to be over, to have his
mate back.  He wanted to lay her down and love her in anyway she’d let him.  This
wasn’t going well because she was defensive and angry, already. 

“Over, in, same
thing, still under the same roof.”  He edged even closer and her heart started
banging loudly.  He was going to hurt her.  She moved away from the dishes in
hopes that they wouldn’t be collateral damage when he did.  Jordan advanced
until she backed up against the bed.  “I came to tell you a few things Lettie.” 
She was going to listen.  He was going to make her listen to him.

“I don’t care to
hear anything you have to say.”  She crossed her arms mimicking his stance.  He
edged closer still and forced her to sit to get away from him.  Jordan took
advantage and pushed her back onto the bed.  Lettie swallowed hard.  He was
frightening and sexy all at the same time.  Lettie would always be attracted to
him.  She couldn’t help the way her body responded to him even if she hated
him.

“I’m going to talk
and you’re going to listen.”  His eyes flashed and hers flashed back at him. 
“I want you to come home.  I need you to help me balance the books.  I need
your help with the pack.”  He demanded.

“You rejected me
Jordan.  You left me to fend for myself.  I have no interest in helping you or
your pack.”  Lettie ground her teeth.  She was very angry with him. 

“Our pack.” 
Jordan countered.

“No.  Your pack. 
You kicked me out of the pack.  You’ve done everything you could to make me
unhappy and uncomfortable.  You took the money, the truck, the house, and my
pride Jordan.  You made me regret ever meeting you, regret ever being born.  You
rejected me and now you need my help?  No!”

“I didn’t reject
you Lettie.  I know what I said but I never meant it.  You have to know that. 
You have to feel it.  I never kicked you out of the pack either.  I wouldn’t.” 
He tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and she shrugged him off.  Damn, she
was pissed.

“All I feel for
you is hate, Jordan.  I was your mate, I was supposed to be more important than
anything else to you, but I wasn’t.  Pack politics are more important. 
Congratulations.  You’re in the thick of it now.”  Lettie tried to wiggle out
from under him.

“I did those
things for us.”  He shifted his weight and trapped her beneath him so that she
couldn’t move.  He was not letting her get away.

“You did those
things for you.  I never wanted those things.  I wanted you then you rejected
me.  You spit in my face and you said the words.  You did everything that you
could to make me feel your rejection.  She struggled again ineffectively.

“I know.  I…damn
it.  I didn’t mean any of it.  I know that I made you angry but I just didn’t
know how to…”  He closed his eyes and took a calming breath.

“Do you remember
the last week that we lived together?  You marched across my floor with muddy
boots not once, not twice but six times Jordan and then you ruined one of the
two things that my Grams left me.  You knew how much she meant to me, you knew
she was the only one that ever made me feel like someone loved me and you
stomped your nasty muddy boots over my rug.  You knew how much I loved that rug
and you ruined it.  Look at it!”  She pointed down.  Her voice was cruel and
nasty as he glanced down at the beige rug with the big pink and yellow roses on
it.  Pink and yellow roses stained with red clay.  He grimaced.  He’d done
that.  He ruined something that she loved.  He’d been cruel and inconsiderate
that night, many nights.  “You shit on everything I had worth having Jordan. 
You didn’t care about my feelings then and you don’t care now.  You’re the
alpha and you’ve found yourself in a mess that you can’t figure out.  You want
me to get you out of it just like when we were young and you couldn’t do your
homework.  No.  I reject you Jordan Giroux.  I didn’t say the words before but
I will now.  I reject you and your pack.  Get out of my place Jordan and don’t you
ever come back here.” 

“You can’t live on
your own without a pack.  Who will protect you?  Who will take care of you?” 
His eyes flashed dangerously at her.  His chest heaved and he was near to
losing control of his wolf. 

“It’s funny Jordan
but living on my own doesn’t feel much different than living with you.”  She
hissed calmly but her pulse pounded at the base of her throat.  “Except that
there’s less cooking and less mopping.”  She’d had enough of this and of him.

“If there’s no one
to protect you Lettie, things can happen to you.  Men can do things to you.” 
He ground his hips viciously into hers and she sneered at him.  “If there’s no
one to take care of you, a man could do anything that he wanted to you.”  Her
face calmed and she whispered.

“Go ahead Jordan. 
You’ve taken everything else, take my dignity too, and then you’ll have it
all.  You make me understand suicide.”  Lettie showed him her throat.  If he wanted,
he could rip it out and end it all.  Jordan swallowed and pushed off of her. 
He stood and turned on one heel but stopped when he got to the door.  He didn’t
turn around but his voice was eerily calm when he spoke.

“I’m sorry for
what it’s worth Colette.  I do love you and I always will.  I’ll let you have
your life but if you ever come to your senses and change your mind, you know
where to find me.”  He stepped through the doorway and closed the door
quietly.  Lettie shuddered.  She’d never seen him like that, utterly defeated. 
Lettie thought she would feel triumphant but she didn’t.  It made her feel
empty but it was finally over.  His mark was fading.  She could feel it leaving
her skin.  Hurrying to the mirror and pulling her shirt aside she watched it
disappear.  She was free.

Lettie opened her
door and shifted into her wolf.  It was nearly one and someone was in the
grocery store below.  The store closed hours ago.  Whoever it was would get a
shock.  Most robbers wouldn’t count on running into a wolf when breaking into a
grocery store.  She’d already called Mister Thompson and he was calling the
police.  She loped down the stairs and up the diaper aisle.  The coffee aisle
would’ve been closer, but she couldn’t scent in that aisle, only coffee would
fill her nose.  Lettie crept around a corner and met three enormous wolves. 
She was the one who was shocked instead.  The biggest turned and snarled then
yipped alerting his pack.  Lettie turned and scrambled for the back.  She
didn’t know them.  They weren’t from her pack.  She whizzed past a blur of
merchandise.  There were rumors of a trio of rogue wolves in the area but she’d
paid the rumors no mind.  She was safe in her bungalow among her pack.  It
wouldn’t surprise her if Jordan sent them just to prove a point.  Lettie
skidded around the end cap and came face to face with two more.  The other
three were still running down the coffee aisle trying to head her off.  Lettie
was quick but not as quick as she should have been.  The floor was extra slick
tonight because Mister Thompson had it buffed earlier after closing.  Damn it! 
Lettie tried to turn but the trio blocked the way.  Five of them altogether,
the rumors weren’t true.  It was often the case.  Another paced up behind the
two.  Six of them, what was this a rogue pack?  Crap!  Where were the police? 
Where was Mister Thompson?  Maybe if he turned the lights on it would scare
them away.  Lettie whimpered.  The wolves shifted into men and she tried to
bolt but they had her pinned.  “Shift!”  The biggest commanded.  He was dirty,
she could smell his unclean body, and it assaulted her wolf’s nose.  He was
their alpha and she had to submit.

“I told you there
was a she wolf in here.  Party time boys!  Lettie shifted and they were on
her.  They were far too strong to fight off and they were going to do whatever
they wanted to her.  Surely even Jordan wasn’t this cruel.  The most that she
could hope for now was for Mister Thompson to come with the police.  She hoped
that they hurried.  Why didn’t she stay in her apartment and hide?  Just
because she was a wolf in human territory didn’t mean that she was powerful and
they were proving it.  The world lost focus.  Shapes blended, pain spread
through her and she could hear someone screaming.  She thought it might be her.

***

Lettie’s nose
twitched. 
Jordan
.  She struggled to open her eyes but couldn’t.  Her
body hurt.  She groaned.  They’d beaten her.  They’d bitten her, repeatedly.  Had
they raped her?  They’d taken turns at her?  Lettie shivered.  The images were
fuzzy and the details were unclear.  These things happened she was sure but the
details…the devil was in the details.  Her head hurt.  She had a fever, strange
for a wolf.  Wolves didn’t get sick but she was sick.  “It’s okay.  You’re
okay.”  His words were soft and he mopped her brow with a cool wash cloth. 
What was she doing in Jordan’s bed?  How did she get here?  She had to get out
of here before he did more of the same to her as the rogues.  Lettie struggled
to get up.  Her mind blurred and she still couldn’t open her eyes.  Why
couldn’t she open her eyes?  The world spun.  “You’re not well Lettie.  You’re
bruised and swollen.  You have a fever and you need to lay still.  The doc has
been checking on you but he’s got you on some strong meds.  You can’t be alone
so just stay still.  Get some rest.”  She drifted off.

“How is she doc?” 
She heard Jordan.  He sounded concerned, not at all like his usual self.  How
long had she slept?

“I’m concerned
Jordan.  I’ve never seen a wolf this sick.  What they did to her is beyond
disturbing but I’ve never seen this strain of bacteria in a wolf.  If this
fever doesn’t break soon…”  Doctor Lee sounded more concerned than Jordan, not
at all like his usual self either.  Usually he was a happy go lucky kind of guy
but then really why wouldn’t he be?  He delivered babies and played golf.  Once
in awhile someone got a little sick with a virus and he had to actually be a
doctor.  Today sounded like one of those days.  No golf today doc.

“I know doc.  I
wish that I knew what to do for her.”  Jeez, she really was sick, they both
sounded like she was limping to the grave.  Lettie tried to talk but it only
came out as a moan.  Jordan squeezed her hand.  What the hell was wrong with
her?  “So many fucking bites, what were they trying to accomplish?”

“They were trying
to kill her Jordan.  It’s simple.  Don’t worry yourself sick about it too. 
There are enough wolves around here stressed out over what happened to Lettie. 
Just be glad they’re gone.”  Jordan grunted.  “I’m going to check on Lynnie,
she should be close to delivery by now.  I’ll come back by later to give her
another shot just leave the front door unlocked so I don’t wake you if it’s
late.  Meanwhile, she needs to break the fever.  I saw that your mark is
gone.”  Jordan grunted again.  “I knew you guys were having problems but I
didn’t know it had gone that far.  It would be best if you got in the bed with
her and kept her warm.  I know you are no longer mated but if she’s going to
survive…” 

“I’ll take care of
it doc.”  Lettie drifted off again. 

Lettie nuzzled the
warm chest that her face pressed against. 
Jordan. 
Was it all a dream? 
He was so warm.  His arms were around her, comforting her.  It felt so nice. 
She nuzzled him again and sighed.  His big hand stroked her spine gently.  She
loved it when he did that.  Lettie scooted closer and kissed his chest.  Warm,
bare, smooth, and perfectly spiced skin rubbed against hers.  He was so sexy. 
Her tongue sneaked out and tasted him.  “Mmm.”  She moaned. 

“Easy girl.” 
Jordan pushed her away a little and she came awake.  “Don’t do that again. 
Next time I won’t stop you.”  It was a dream, sort of.  Lettie brought her hand
up her body.  One of them had bitten her breasts.  “You’re okay.  You’re whole
again.  You’ve healed.”  Lettie tried to open her still swollen eyes and she
could see now.  The light hurt and she decided to keep them closed.  “You’re
going to be okay but the doc wants you to stay in bed and rest.”

“I can do that at
home.”  She murmured and tried to get up but he held her down easily.  “Let me
go.”  She mumbled.

“Colette you are
in no shape to go anywhere.  The doc has you on his strongest brew so you won’t
be able to walk a straight line let alone hold a shift.  Don’t try to move
again or I will be forced to restrain you.”

“You would.”  She
mumbled and drifted off again, she heard him chuckle.

“How are we doc?” 
Lettie heard Jordan ask, his voice rumbled in his chest against her cheek.

“Well, Lynnie had
a ten pound boy and she named him Isaiah.”  Something stuck Lettie in the hip
and she groaned.  “This one is getting better.  Her color is good.  Her heart
beat is good, lungs are clear and most of the bruises are gone.  I just wish
this fever would break.  Its low grade now but I want it to break.  How do you
feel about getting really hot?” 

“What are you
talking about doc?”  Jordan’s voice rumbled again and she nuzzled his chest. 
She felt him look down at her.

“I want to try
something.  I want to put you two under a few quilts and bump the heat up in
here.”

“I’m dying now
doc.”  Lettie scooted closer.

“I know it’s a lot
to ask.  She isn’t even your mate anymore.  Maybe I should move her to the
infirmary.  Then you would have your privacy back.  You’ve done more than
anyone would expect from a wolf that has been rejected.”

“I rejected her
doc.”  Jordan said.

“Yeah.”  The doc
shook his head.  “No Jordan.  The mark faded when she rejected you, she still
had her mark two months ago when she had the piece of metal stuck in her foot.  So,
in the past two months Lettie has rejected you.  If you’d really rejected her
it would’ve been gone but it wasn’t.”

“Okay doc, don’t
let me keep any pride at all.”  Jordan chuckled.

“There is no pride
between mates Jordan.  You should know that.  Now do you want me to take her to
the infirmary or do you want me to gather the quilts?” 

“Get the quilts
doc.  I want to see it through.  I’m going to go get something to eat.  Will
she be okay on her own for awhile?”

“I think so but
don’t be long.”  Jordan grunted and moved away from her.  Lettie tried to speak
but it came out as a whimper.  Jordan scoffed and she heard him leave the
room.  Lettie opened her eyes and looked around.  It was a nice room.  It was
big with antique looking furniture.  The iron bed that she was in was high and
comfortable.  Expensive sheets covered it and they smelled like Jordan.  She
would never admit it but Jordan was her favorite scent in the world.  Lettie
tried to sit up and got woozy.  She steadied herself and swung her legs over
the side.  Where was the bathroom?  Her bladder was screaming.  Lettie slid off
the side and immediately dropped to the floor in a crumpled heap.  She groaned
and rolled to her side.

“Shit.”  She
hissed.

“What the hell are
you doing?”  Jordan snarled at her and she whimpered.

“I have to go.” 
Her words were slurred and her eyes begged.

“You don’t have to
go.  Damn it Lettie.  I told you to stay in bed.”  He picked her up easily and
put back into the bed.

“I have to go
Jordan.  Let me go.”  She pushed at his chest.

“I said no.  She
scrambled frantically.  “I will cuff you to this damn bed Lettie.  Stop it.” 
He ordered.

“I’m going to wet
myself Jordan, please?”  She begged.  He stared at her blinking.  Damn it he
thought she was trying to escape and it was simply a bodily function.  He
needed to pay more attention to her and her needs.  A good mate would.

“Oh.  Sorry.”  He
lifted her from the bed and carried her to the bathroom in the hall.  He let
her feet drop to the wooden floor.  “Hold onto me.”  He tugged her panties down
and her face heated.

“I can do it.” 
She shoved at him.  Could this be any more embarrassing?

“You’re on some
really strong meds, if I let you go, you will fall.”  He eased her down on the
toilet.  “I’ll give you some privacy.”  He turned and closed the door behind
him.  She sat there for what seemed like forever emptying her bladder.  Nothing
had ever felt better and she shivered.

‘Wow.’  She
breathed.  Jordan came back a few minutes later to get her.  “Can I shower?  I
feel gross.”  Maybe the water would warm her, she felt like she was freezing.

“I don’t think you
can stand long enough for a shower, how about a bath?”  She nodded.   Jordan
filled the tub with hot water.  “Do you think you can eat?  I can make you some
soup.”  She nodded again.  Jordan pulled her tee shirt over her head and she
immediately crossed her arms over her breasts.  He lifted her from the toilet
and put her down into the water.  “I’ll make your soup.  If you need anything
just yell.”  Jordan left her alone.  Lettie looked down at her body.  The tears
oozed over her cheeks.  She looked like she’d been through a war.  There were
bite marks all over her.  Fading black and purple bruises covered most of her
and she ached.  She sank down into the water and let it cover her head.  “Fuck
Lettie!”  Jordan picked that moment to come through the door.  He hauled her
out and wrapped her in a towel.

“I wasn’t
finished.”  She whined.

“I’m not letting
you finish that job.”  He carried her back into the bedroom and put her in the
middle of it.  He’d changed the sheets and there were more blankets now.  How
long was she in the tub?  It felt like seconds.  How long had she been under
water?  Not long.  Right?  The doc’s meds were messing with her sense of time
and her thought processes.  He covered her with several quilts and propped her
up against the headboard.  He brought a tray of chicken noodle soup and
crackers.  “Eat what you can.  The doc said you may not be very hungry but that
you can try.  Then he wants you under a pile of covers.  We need to break your
fever.”  Lettie sipped the soup.  She was so tired.  It was hard to lift the
spoon but she managed to eat half of it.  She felt Jordan take the spoon away
and lift the tray from her lap.  Soon he was back and arranging her in the
bed.  He climbed in with her and pulled her close.  She whimpered trying to
tell him she didn’t have her clothes on yet.

Lettie tried to
move but there was too much weight on her.  It’s so hot.  She thought.  A cool
cloth touched her forehead and mopped her face.  She shivered.  “It’s not
getting better doc.”  Jordan’s voice rumbled against her cheek.

“I know.  I think
this is more than what happened to her.  I think this is her giving up.”  What
was the doc talking about now?  She hadn’t given up but she was so tired and
cold again.

“Nah.  Lettie
never gives up.”  He pulled her tightly to his chest.

“I don’t know Jordan. 
It’s the only explanation.”  His voice sounded sad.

“You’re wrong
doc.  Give her another shot.”  Lettie felt it prick her hip.  She wished he
would stop that, it hurt.  She whimpered again. 

“I need to check
on Isaiah, he’s jaundiced but I’ll be back in twelve hours or so to check on
her.”  Jordan nodded and pulled her closer to stroke her back.  The front door
closed and Lettie nuzzled him.  Jordan wished that she would stop doing that,
it was torture.  He’d been hard for days it seemed.  His body did not get the
memo that she didn’t want him anymore.  Lettie kissed his chest and he
groaned.  This sexual torture must be payback for all of the shit he’d done to
her, it had to be.  Her pink tongue tasted his flat male nipple and she
moaned.  Jordan tried to think of anything else besides her pretty tongue
touching his skin.  Her hands were on him now skimming over his heated flesh. 
She moaned again.  God.  When she made those noises, sounds that he hadn’t
heard for years, sounds that his body craved, he couldn’t resist her.  Her
hands were on him, her fingers wrapping around his girth, stroking him.