Taming an Alpha (Millersburg Sh - Alice Frost

Taming an Alpha

Millersburg Shifters Book 2

Alice Frost

Copyright Page Published by Tasha Hanson writing as Alice Frost. Taming An Alpha ASIN: B015DCH6XI Published December 1, 2015 All Rights Reserved. This book may not be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission from the author, except for brief quotations embodied in

reviews. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. All characters and storylines are the property of the author and your support and respect is appreciated. This book contains mature content and is intended for adult readers. This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

Welcome to Millersburg Welcome to Millersburg! Don't mind the shifters, they won't bite... much. If you're looking for work Leo Construction and Cougar Construction are constantly hiring. Not into construction? Stop by The Blue Moon Bar & Grill, they are always looking for

waitresses and the occasional busboy. Still not your forte? Cutie's Cupcakes or Bixby’s Restaurant might suite your needs. If you were wanting to work at the mine, then you might as well move on. It will be closing down soon. Not into shifter owned businesses? Then look for work in the next town over, because Millersburg is mostly shifter owned and run.

If you're here for the 4th of July, we have the annual Catfish and BBQ Festival. We also have the Fall Festival in September. Planning on staying long? Stop by the Wolf Haven Bed & Breakfast.

Just visiting? We offer many hiking trails in the Hoosier National Forest. Just stop by the ranger station and grab a

map. We offer plenty of camping space and have a number of cabins for rent. Remember to stop by Tea Table Rock and enjoy the view.

But please remember that not all animals you meet are shifters, we do have real bears, coyotes, wolves, and a number of other large animals roaming around the forest. Also, do not be

alarmed if you see any men or women streaking through the forest.

Chapter 1 Sparrow Williams expected the worst when she walked into Cougar Construction and she had seen a lot while working at Paranormal United Alliance. She had seen everything from drug dealing goblins to illegal organ trade run by Hags. But what she wasn’t expecting was the hottie sitting behind

the front desk. Everything from the top of his tousled golden blond head, down his powerful chest, and to his muscular tattooed forearms screamed sexiness. He probably even smelled sexy. Damn that vampire for breaking her nose three years ago. Reconstructive surgery had helped the healing process but hadn’t been able to bring back her sense of smell. She really wanted a sniff

of the sexy man beast in front of her. He exuded power, an alpha’s power. He was big and his broad shoulders hinted at how huge he would be when he stood up. He probably rivalled her brother Logan in size. A strong nose, broken once or twice, defined cheekbones and a square dimpled chin just added to his sexy man beast appeal. She could imagine tracing

the lines of his tattoos with her tongue and finding out where they led to. If she hadn’t been told she was working for shifters she would have thought he was a god. He definitely didn’t look like the owner of a renowned construction company but more like a biker and straight out of her wet dreams. Down kitty. We’re here to keep Jack Kale in

line not fuck every male in sight. “Can I help you? Strip for you maybe?” He looked up at her, his jade green eyes locking with hers. He smiled as she coughed and tried to compose herself. His eyes trail down her body, taking in curves made for loving, an ass to hold as he claimed her. He licked his lips thinking about how sweet her skin would

taste. He smelled the lingering effects of her heat, the faint acrid smell of the suppressant she was taking and her growing arousal. He could imagine spending time in bed with her as soon as he figured out what kind of shifter she was. Damn drug. “You must be Jack Kale. I’m Sparrow Williams, the new secretary.” She watched his flirty demeanor morph

into a cold blank mask. “Thank you for coming but I don’t need a secretary. Especially a female still dealing with the lingering effects of her heat and masked scent.” Damn his father for hiring such a tempting morsel. How was he supposed to keep his dick clean when all he wanted to do was sink it into his gorgeous new secretary? “I’m taking a suppressant and my

scent will be back to normal in a couple of days.” She bit her lip to keep from snarling at him. He glared at her. The woman really was too tempting. He wanted to sooth where she had bitten her lip and then bite it for her. Right before he laid her across his desk. “I don’t care. Leave.” For his own sanity. She snorted. If he treated all women

like this then she didn’t understand why she was needed to keep him in line. “Are you always and asshole? Or is it just me?” “Just you.” Only because I can’t fuck you into oblivion like I want to. She chuckled and sat down in front of him. “To think I was hired to keep your dick in your pants. I just need to keep you in this mood all the time.”

“Obviously you can’t take a hint. If you don’t leave in the next 30 seconds I’ll forcibly remove you from this office,” he growled. Or take you back to my den and never let you leave until you had at least three cubs. Fucking hell. “No you will not,” Lachlan said as he walked into the office stopping next to Sparrow. “I hired her to keep you in line, not for you to toss out the door.” He

looked at Sparrow with his jade green eyes that were just as mesmerizing as his son’s. “Miss Sparrow, I am Lachlan Kale. I am sorry for my sons appalling behavior. He thinks we don’t need a secretary.” “If you hadn’t fired Char we wouldn’t need one,” Jack growled. “If you had kept your dick in your pants instead of screwing every female

you meet I would not have had to replace her.” Lachlan looked at his son dispassionately. Sparrow chuckled. “All he has to do is treat the women like he did me, after he found out who I was.” “I usually have to beat them off with a stick,” Jack growled. Tempting little minx. Keep taunting the tiger and see what happens.

“Must have been the desperate ones,” she snarled. The thought of someone receiving any kind of affection from Jack angered her. She wanted to hunt them down and turn them into dog kibble. Damn this heat. Making her go psycho for an asshole. Interesting. Lachlan looked between the two of them and had to stop from chuckling. “If you don’t want me to call

your cousin Parker and have him come take over then I suggest you play nice with Miss Sparrow.” I’ll play nice all right. When she’s tied to my bed and wearing my mark. Fuck! “That lazy cougar would run this place into the ground.” Lachlan just stared at his son with a look asking if he really wanted to go there.

Jack snarled. “Make yourself at home Miss Williams. I’ll be on site if you need me.” Right after I go home and rub one out. He stalked out of the office slamming the door behind him. Lachlan had noticed the state his son had been in and wished that Moira was here to witness it. They would have both fallen over in laughter. He sighed at the thought of his missing mate. “I’m sorry

for my son’s behavior.” He pulled a sheaf of papers out from under his arm. “Here is the paperwork I will need you to fill out. A list of necessary numbers is included along with the computer password. I will bring you your own set of keys tomorrow.” “Thank you.” She accepted the sheaf of papers and moved around to the other side of the desk. She nearly moaned in

ecstasy as Jack’s scent enveloped her. She sat down in his vacated seat and hoped that Lachlan didn’t smell her arousal. “No thank you for taking the job. You were highly recommended by your superiors. I am hoping that Jack will have accepted your presence by next week.” “Next week? Why next week?” Her

mother always told her that curiosity got the kitty in trouble but in this case curiosity got explanations. “Yes. I am retiring from both the pride and the family business. At the end of next week I will be leaving for Jamaica.” And when he came back maybe he would have some grandcubs on the way. “If you need anything just call me. Lock up when you go to lunch. I

doubt Jack will be coming back to the office today.” He removed his office key from his keyring. “Just use my key until I am able to bring you your own.” She smiled at him as she took the key. He reminded her of her father before everything went to hell. “Thank you and I will.” She watched him leave before going out to her car and grabbing a small box of things she used to have at

her old desk. As she was walking back into the office she didn’t see the figure coming up behind her. “Hello.” Sparrow whirled around not expecting someone behind her. The petite woman behind her exuded happiness. “Can I help you?” “I’m Gabriella, Gabby for short. I’m the new electrician.” She paused and

Sparrow looked at her wondering if she needed anything. “My friends and I were wondering if you wanted to go to lunch with us. Sorta like a welcome to the neighborhood gesture.” Sparrow smiled at the perky woman. “Sure I would like that.” Gabby smiled widely. “Ok see you at lunch.” She bound away causing Sparrow to liken her to a puppy. She

chuckled and walked back into the office. At least she met someone nice today unlike a certain jerk of a boss. She growled at the thought of him. She refused to be treated like that again. Even if he was a sexy man beast.

Chapter 2 Sparrow had her head buried in the file cabinet when Gabby walked into Cougar Construction. “Ready for lunch?” Sparrow groaned as she sat up and stretched her aching muscles. “Yeah.” “These are my friends Rogue and Camilla.” Gabby said gesturing to the

two women behind her. “There are only two places on this side of town to eat. So the bar or Bixby’s?” “I vote Bixby’s. All the guys are going to the bar.” The woman that talked had a long mohawk cut dyed in an array of blues and greens. “I’m Rogue.” She held out her hand and firmly shook Sparrow’s. “Bixby’s it is then.” Gabby said as

they walked out to the cars. Sparrow locked up and followed behind them. She climbed into the back of Gabby’s SUV. The slender Hispanic woman next to her smiled and held out her hand. “I’m Camilla. It’s nice to meet you.” “Likewise.” “So what brings you out to Millersburg?”

“I was originally going to come out and just search for my sister but then Mr. Kale called me and offered me the job of being Cougar Construction’s new secretary.” “Sister?” Camilla asked. “She disappeared just to the south of here about six months ago. I’ve tried to convince my family that she just wouldn’t disappear like this but no one

believes me.” Sparrow thought about the happy woman her sister had been before her disappearance. So much different than the angry teen she had been. The drive to Bixby’s was quicker than originally expected but then Sparrow hadn’t had a chance to explore the town yet. The women climbed out of the truck and walked into the diner. It was very reminiscent of the hidden Mom

and Pop places hidden around Chicago. When she walked through the doors it was like going back in time to a 50’s diner minus the poodle skirts. Though the waitress uniforms were very similar to the cute skirts. A woman dressed in a pink uniform and a pair of saddle shoes walked up to them. “Afternoon, girls, if ya’ll want to grab a seat I’ll be with ya in a moment to take

yer order.” Sparrow followed Gabby to their booth and processed the smells of food, shifter, and human. “Is everyone in town a shifter?” “Not everyone but a majority of them are. We have several clans, some that are just family units and then there are the two prides, the bear clan, and my own wolf pack. Most of the inhabitants

of Millersburg are the family clans and loners,” Gabby explained. “Have you found a place to stay yet?” Camilla asked. “No. This move was very spur of the moment and I just packed all of my things into my car and drove out here. I left all my furniture back home.” Sparrow wondered if her father and brother had realized she had just up and

left. “You can stay at Wolf Haven. There are several vacancies right now,” Gabby said smiling at her. “How do you know?” Sparrow asked. “Wolf Haven is owned and operated by my pack. We all live there and we still have tons of rooms for guests. Well except for July and September. Then

getting a room at Wolf Haven is like winning the lottery.” Rogue chuckled at Sparrow’s confused look. “The town has two annual festivals plus all the tourism from the national forest.” Sparrow looked up as the waitress from before walked up to their table. “What can I get ya’ll?” “The usual,” chorused Gabby,

Camilla, and Rogue. “And for ya, sweetheart?” the waitress asked. Sparrow glanced down at the menu she was holding. “A burger with fries and water, please.” The waitress scribbled her order down and smiled. “I’m Suzy. Haven’t seen ya in these parts before.” “This is Sparrow. She just moved to

town. She’s the new secretary over at CC,” Gabby explained. Suzy grimaced before looking at Sparrow pityingly. “Good luck to ya. That boy has been grumpier than a bear in winter and I should know.” She turned and left their table. “Why’d she say that?” Sparrow asked. Camilla sighed. “Our friend Charise

was the old secretary. She was fired because Lachlan wanted someone to stop Jack’s philandering ways. Jack feels horrible about getting Char fired, like he should, but he is being a complete asshole about it.” “I’m guessing none of you are very fond of him?” “He’s a good boss but as a person? Not so much. He has screwed more

women than I can count. The only good thing about him is that he won’t bed any of the women that work for him or are part of his pride.” “So he’s a major man-whore.” Suzy walked up and place a round of strawberry milkshakes in front of them. “Here ya go, ladies, courtesy of the gentleman at the counter.” They all looked over and saw a tall

man with dark chocolate skin, flashing green eyes, and a charming smile. “Loki. Ignore him.” Rogue growled and pushed her milkshake over to Camilla. “What’s wrong? I am an ex law enforcement officer. I can arrest him and forget where I put the keys to my cuffs,” Sparrow said. She didn’t like the look of anger on Rogue’s face. She especially

didn’t like the pain flashing through her new friend’s eyes. “When I was in my last year of high school I found out I was in the family way and my family kicked me out. I was struggling to make ends meat and ended up dropping out of school so I could get a full time job. One day Loki came walking into my work, saw me, and began purring. He walked up to me, saw

that I was six months pregnant and went ballistic. He called me every name in the book before storming out. Two months later Kylie was born. I’ve stayed away from Loki and his brother ever since then and I refuse to subject my daughter to that.” “I’m sorry.” Sparrow could sympathize. She had seen several battered women in her years at

Paranormal United Alliance. “It’s in the past. I’m over it.” Rogue sniffed and cleared her throat. Her eyes had gotten bright with tears as she had told Sparrow her painful memory. She blinked away the tears and pushed thoughts of Loki and his brother out of her head. “What did you do for a living before coming here?” “I was the senior field agent of my

team at PUA,” she said. They stared at her before Gabby coughed and asked, “You worked at Paranormal United Alliance? Why did you leave?” “I was severely injured on a case. My injury was bad enough to put me on the fast track to retirement. I had been sitting behind a desk for a little over three months when I got the call from

Mr. Kale.” “Well, I’m glad that you came to Millersburg,” Gabby said. “Me too,” Rogue and Camilla piped in just as their food arrived.

Chapter 3 Sparrow and her new friends were all laughing as they walked through the door of Cougar Construction. The sound of Sparrow’s tinkling laughter sent shivers of pleasure across Jack’s skin. It only made him more agitated. He needed to work on a new round of paperwork but highly doubted he would get any of it

done if he knew that Sparrow was sitting just outside his office door. “Welcome back. Any of you planning on working today?” he growled. “Why yes I do. When you pull your head out of your ass and start acting like a gentleman,” Sparrow said sweetly. She faintly heard her friends chorus of ‘bye’ as they retreated out the door. Jack laughed. His little kitten had

claws. “Having fun sharpening those claws of yours?” “It could be my teeth. Wanna find out how that would feel?” Jack laughed even more. “I get it. You think I’m an ass.” “I’m so sorry that I didn’t notice.” Sparrow smiled sweetly and tried to keep from grinding her teeth together. How could she be attracted to such an

asshole? Why couldn’t he have been some sweet accountant or something like that? “Was there something you were wanting?” If only she knew what he wanted. “I came to get a file but can’t seem to find it.” She pushed her purr of pleasure back and got back to business. She went to the filing cabinet and glanced at him over

her shoulder. “Name?” “Mazner.” His gaze trailed down her body, caressing her body like his hands itched to do. He finally landed on her heart shaped ass and could picture her bent over his desk or couch with that ass pointed up at him, waiting for his touch. Sparrow pulled out a file and handed it to him. “Next time try under the M’s in the file marked with this year.”

“You refiled everything?” “Yes I did. What did you expect me to do for three hours? Paint my nails?” “Why?” “Your filing process was just a standard alphabetical system. If you ever get audited then the auditor can now just go to the specific years instead of having to go through every single file, which in turn is every project this company has

ever done.” “It was fine the way it was,” he growled. “I’m sorry you don’t like the fact I changed your lover’s filing process,” she snarled. “Lover? Char wasn’t my lover. She’s my friend.” “Then why are you so angry about me changing things? And friends don’t

get friends fired.” Jack snarled at Sparrow’s words. “I didn’t get her fired!” She snorted. “Yes you did. Your actions caused your father to replace her with me.” “And how exactly do you plan on changing my ways?” She smiled so sweetly that Jack knew he had pushed her too far.

“Simple. You fuck the client I give their file to Leo Construction. In fact, you fuck anyone while I am your secretary I will nail your balls to the wall as a decoration.” “Bitch.” “No. I would be a queen. I’m not a dog.” “Jesus Christ, you’re completely nuts.”

“I never claimed to be sane but then no one with any sanity would be willing to work for you.” Jack growled. “Don’t you growl at me you overgrown pussy! You may get away with growling and snarling at everyone else but I refuse to be treated that way. You won’t be able to chase me out that door. I have something more important to

deal with than your overinflated ego!” “What is more important than my ego?” Sparrow huffed. There was no point getting into an argument with him. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter.” Jack could tell she was hiding something from him, which he would be finding out real soon. “I’ll be at home if anyone needs me. Lock up after you

leave.”

Chapter 4 Sparrow laughed as Gabby flung the office door and did her best impression of royalty. “I have come to pry you away from this loathsome place!” “Hey Gabby.” She put away some last minute paperwork and turned off the computer. “What did you say that had Jack

roaring and snarling before he went home?” “I called him an overgrown pussy and told him his ego wasn’t the most important thing I had to deal with. Then outlined what I would do to him if he slept with anyone while I was here.” “Ooh… Maybe that’s why he hasn’t been picking up his phone.” “Why?”

“Getting his booty calls out of his system before he has to go celibate.” Sparrow heard a growl and quickly looked around the office for the source. “What was that?” Gabby was staring at her wide eyed. “That was you.” “Let’s get out of here before I get any crazier.” “Your kitty likes Jack.”

“Whatever. Come on.” “Ok but don’t get your tail in a knot if we see him with someone else.” “Let me lock up so we can go.” Purposefully ignoring Gabby’s comment about Jack, Sparrow locked the office up and walked to her stuffed car. “If you want to follow me, we’ll get going.” They climbed into their cars and pulled out of the parking lot.

Wolf Haven was a short 20-minute drive from Cougar Construction and Sparrow could even walk to work if she wanted to. She could already imagine romping through the tall grass of the fields and climbing the trees of the forest. She and Gabby climbed out of their cars. Gabby smiled and swept her hand through the air. “Welcome to Wolf

Haven.” “This is huge.” Sparrow looked at the building in awe. For a small town this place was a mansion. “Yeah this is big even for a bed and breakfast but we got it for quite a deal. There’s even a few guest houses around back.” “What about hunters?” “We occasionally get them but they

mostly stick to deer. The only shifter that has been shot accidentally in the last couple of years was old man Fogey. But he was in his cougar form and was hunting the same deer that the hunter was.” She grabbed a few bags out of Sparrow’s car. “Now let’s get you checked in and settled.” Sparrow followed Gabby up the stairs and into the lobby. Gabby grinned at her when

she saw Sparrow’s look of awe. “Welcome home. Remy!” “What?” A tall, lean young man shouted as he came up to the front desk. “Sparrow, this is Remulus Dire, just don’t call him that, he hates it. He prefers Remy. He’s the brother of our esteemed alpha. Remy, this is Sparrow Williams, the new secretary over at CC. She needs a place to stay.”

Remy sighed. “Nice to meet you. Welcome to Wolf Haven Bed and Breakfast.” He pulled out a guest book and slid it across the counter to her. “Please sign here and if you will give me your ID I can get you into the computer system and get you a key.” “Remy I swear you need to be more cheerful instead of such a Debbie Downer.” Gabby walked around the

counter and grabbed a key off the wall. “God I hate this place.” He grumbled as he typed Sparrow’s info into the computer and handed her ID back before walking away. “Please excuse Remy, he didn’t want to move here and has been making our lives hell ever since.” “Thanks for helping me.” “That’s what friends are for. Now

let’s get your stuff up to your room and get you settled in.” Gabby handed her the key to her room. “I gave you room 205. It’s just across the hall from me and has an amazing view of the garden.” They lugged her bags up the stairs and to her room. Gabby hadn’t been kidding about the view. “Thank you so much.” “Hey no problem. I’ll come get you

for dinner.” Gabby dusted off her hands before walking out of the room. Sparrow walked over to the window and glanced over the garden and to the forest just beyond. “Robyn where are you?”

Chapter 5 Sparrow yawned as she walked down the stairs. She couldn’t believe that she had fallen asleep so early. She remembered Gabby saying something about dinner, grabbing a quick shower and then laying down on her bed. After that everything was dark. She stopped at the bottom of the

stairs and looked around for the kitchen. If she could find the kitchen she could get something to eat and stop the slight ache that besieged her. If all else failed she would shift and go hunting. Though bunnies didn’t sound nearly as appetizing as bacon. And the thought of how much shifting hurt made her really love bacon even more. A woman with long strawberry

blonde hair walked around the corner, stopping a few feet from her. “Hello. Can I help you find something?” “I’m Sparrow. I checked in last night.” “Oh yes the missing dinner guest. I’m Freya, Alpha of the Danu clan.” “Yea, I’m sorry about that.” Sparrow blushed. She really hadn’t meant to fall asleep.

Freya chuckled. “Don’t be. If what I heard is right you drove straight to town, did an almost complete shift at CC, and then followed Gabby here. If I did that I would have passed out too.” “I’m sorry I wasn’t there to meet everyone. Though I did get to meet your brother when I checked in.” She grimaced slightly. “He seems very pleasant.”

“Yea, he wasn’t very happy about being relocated here.” Barbie Girl started playing and Freya pulled out her phone, grimacing at the caller ID. “Yes? Ok. I’ll be there immediately.” She smiled apologetically at Sparrow. “I’m sorry to cut this short but I’ve got to go.” She quickly left, leaving Sparrow searching for the kitchen. Again. Sparrow explored the house until she

finally came to the kitchen. Gabby was standing at the stove cooking. “Morning.” Gabby smiled. “Morning. Have you seen Freya?” “I met her in the hallway. She got a phone call and had to leave.” “Strange,” Gabby said frowning. Sparrow sat at the breakfast bar. “Is there a Council agent around that I could

possibly talk to?” Gabby giggled, placing a cup of coffee in front of Sparrow. “You already have. Freya’s the local Council agent.” “Hmm… She seemed rather frazzled about her phone call,” Sparrow said, pouring copious amounts of creamer and sugar into her coffee. Gabby sighed. “Probably the Council chewing her ass again. They

have been riding her hard for any information on the case she was sent here for.” “I didn’t realize the Council had an active investigation in the area.” “Freya noticed a pattern of disappearances in the area and petitioned the Council to investigate. She went above her superiors head and went straight to the Council. They decided that

our entire pack would come down here until the case had been solved.” Sparrow grew quiet. If the Council had sent Freya down, then why did nobody notice her sister’s disappearance? But then who would notice the disappearance of a tourist? “How long have you all been down here?” “Almost four years now.” Gabby

handed her a plate piled high with eggs, pancakes, and bacon. Mmmm bacon. “Would you like me to make you more?” Sparrow looked up startled. “Why?” “Your growling at the sight of bacon.” “I have an intense love interest with bacon. It brightens any day as soon as it hits my stomach.” Sparrow purred as she dug into her plate.

“What type of feline are you?” Gabby asked plating her own food before sitting down across from her. “Tiger. Why?” “I couldn’t tell by your scent. But you have an appetite like some of the bears I know.” “I’ve been taking a heat suppressant.” Sparrow finished the last of her food and sat back. She needed to

find out what her sister was doing before she disappeared. “Hey don’t worry about it, you’ll fit in around here. Though there are only two other tigers, Jack and Mr. Kale. The only thing you might have an issue with is some of the single men getting too close and personal while they are trying to figure out what type of shifter you are.” Gabby put their empty plates in the

sink. “Is Robyn a tiger like you?” Sparrow smiled, thinking about her sister. Robyn was a beautiful young woman and she had been a sweet but mischievous cub. “She took after our mother and is a lioness. Our brother, Logan, is the odd one and turned out to be a liger. If you think bears eat a lot just wait until you meet him.” “Sounds like you have an amazing

family.” “Yes. Dating was a traumatic experience. My brother is 10 years older than me and both him and my father were PUA agents by the time I even started thinking about boys. What about you? What’s your family like?” Gabby was silent, sadness flickering across her face. “I am an orphan, all of us are. I met Freya and Remy in foster

care. She had already met Jazz and Dejah. When I turned 18 they accepted me into the Danu Pack. We became a family and I wouldn’t change it for the world.” “You’re blessed.” “What?” Gabby asked. She had never heard it put that way. Idiotic and insane. But not blessed. “It’s something my mom used to say.

When things turn out for the better, you’re blessed. And that no matter what the storm will always pass.” “She sounds like a great woman.” Gabby wondered what it would have been like if she had never met Freya or anyone else from her pack. It would have been hell. She jumped as her phone rang. “Hello? Yes, sir.” She ended the call and glanced up at Sparrow. “Time

to go. The boss wants us to come into work and meet him on site today.” Sparrow looked at her questioningly. “Why so he can kill me?” Gabby laughed. “Quite possibly.”

Chapter 6

Jack waited impatiently for Gabby to show up with Sparrow. He saw Gabby’s truck coming up the drive and waved her down. They climb out of the truck and walk up the drive. He stared at Sparrow, watching the sway of her hips, thinking about how he wanted to caress her

curves. He shook his head. He really needed to get his brain out of his dick. “Glad you could join us ladies. Last night there was an incident and Charise was kidnapped by her stalker, Ares. She was retrieved unharmed, mostly, and Freya would like our help canvassing the area. Sparrow, since you’re a PUA agent I figured you would be able to help her investigate the cabin.”

“I hate to break it to you but anything I find would be just circumstantial evidence due to the fact that I am an EX agent.” “At this point I don’t think anyone cares.” He looked at Gabby. “You’ll be searching the surrounding area with me and the rest of the clans. The Ursus Clan and Shanbeel Pride are also helping with the search. Look for anything out of

the ordinary.” Gabby nodded and took off into the forest. Sparrow thought about all the protocols that were being broken but when push comes to shove she guessed it didn’t matter. She looked at Jack and found him staring at her, his eyes filled with a searing heat. “You going to show me where this cabin is or are you going to drag me off

to some secluded meadow to have your wicked way with me?” He stared at her in shock. He wasn’t sure if she was serious or joking but his cock was in agreement with her suggestion. He grabbed her and pulled her close, smirking at her wide eyed look. “Don’t tempt me. I might just take you up on it.” He could faintly smell the sweet aroma of her arousal wafting in

the air. “Let’s go help Freya before I really do drag you off and do all the wicked things my cat has been clamoring for me to do.” He turned on his heel and walked away. Sparrow stared at him in confusion. Where was the asshat that she met when she came to town? Maybe he had a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde complex. Wait. Didn’t they call that bipolarism? Maybe.

Was that a word? She shook her head. He had flustered her and now she was becoming scatterbrained. She jogged to catch up to him. “So…” She tried to think of what she was going to say but lost all train of thought as he turned to look at her. “Dammit stop looking at me.” He burst out laughing. “Why?” “You’re making me scatterbrained.”

He continued laughing. She really was something else. She was kind of like a firecracker. Slow to fizzle with a sudden bang when she got angry or thrown off balance. The cabin came into sight and he quickened his pace chuckling as she ran to keep up. “You’re an ass,” she said when they reached the front steps. “Have to keep you from thinking I’m

a gentleman.” She watched him speculatively. “I think you are a gentleman. You just don’t want anyone knowing. Might ruin your rap as a badass alpha male.” She was definitely smarter than she looked. He would have to watch what he said and did around her. He didn’t need her thinking he could be tamed. He knocked on the cabin door and waited

for Freya to answer. The door swung open revealing Freya’s somewhat frazzled appearance. She motioned them in as she stepped back. “Watch where you step.” She turned and handed Sparrow a set of latex gloves. “Thanks for coming. The sheriff has decided that since this was a shifter crime this is a shifter matter. He is leaving us to it. But the only person

that can help me is Sparrow. I am making you a temporary Council agent.” Sparrow nodded in understanding and pulled the gloves on. “I will leave you ladies to it. If you need me I will be helping search the surrounding area.” Jack turned and left leaving them alone. “The unsub held Charise in there until she was rescued by her mates. I

have found several hairs of varying colors and length. We won’t know if they are all from one person or multiples until I get them to a forensics lab. If you want to start in the bedroom, I’ll finish here in the living room.” Freya handed Sparrow a small forensics kit and headed to the far end of the main room of the cabin. Sparrow walked into the bedroom

and began looking for evidence. She found several hairs along with a few pieces of jewelry that were not characteristically worn by men. Unless they were crossdressers. She picked up a ring and her breath caught in her throat. “Is the cabin privately owned or a rental?” “According to my intel it is a privately owned cabin on 20 acres of

property that has been in the Ursus family for the last five generations.” “What about his mother? Alive or dead? Any sisters?” Freya came into the room, stopping just inside the door. “Mother’s dead. No sisters. Why? Did you find something?’ “The loving touches around this room. Doilies on the nightstands, a vase of flowers, accent rugs. Men don’t

usually think about things like that. He wasn’t a drag queen was he?” Freya shook her head. “From what everyone has told me he was completely heterosexual but maybe he hadn’t come out about his sexuality.” “Then we might be looking at multiple victims. I found these around the room.” She held up varying pieces of jewelry.

Freya picked up a bracelet. “This belongs to Camia Johnson. It was in the picture her mother gave me.” “And this belongs to my sister.” She held up the ring. “Dad gave this to her when she graduated high school.” “Your sister’s name is Robyn right?” At Sparrow’s nod she continued. “Gabriella told me about why you moved to town. I’m sorry that you had to

move here just to find out what happened to her.” “Didn’t you do the same thing?” Sparrow arched her brow knowingly. She had worked many cases that ended up going cold or that were deemed not important. Freya chuckled. “Yeah I did. I guess I was also looking for a home for my pack and now the thought of leaving

Millersburg just doesn’t sit right.” They placed their evidence in bags and finished looking around the cabin. They found more hairs and jewelry but it was the blood stain they found under the living room couch that really unsettled them. Jack returned to the cabin as they were finishing up. “There’s a warehouse just to the south of here. We can smell blood

emanating from it. My men investigated it further and found what looks like a makeshift fight ring.” Freya nodded. “Have your men stakeout the place and see if anyone comes back. If someone does do not apprehend them. We need to see if they can lead us to the missing women.” “Women?” He only knew of Charise being taken. How many others had the

sick bastard taken? “Two confirmed with possibly more. I won’t know until I get my evidence to forensics. One of the confirmed is Sparrow’s sister Robyn.” Freya put the evidence and kits in her truck and pulled out a roll of crime scene tape and padlock. She was oblivious to the tenseness growing around her. Jack looked at Sparrow. She hadn’t

told him about a missing sister. But then he hadn’t really given her a chance to talk to him without him being an ass. Hell. Looked like he might be apologizing for being a horse’s ass. “Sister?” Sparrow sighed and stepped off the porch. She walked down the drive towards Gabby’s truck but was deterred by Jack when he led her over to his. “My

sister disappeared six months ago from this area. No one believes that she wouldn’t just take off like this.” He helped her into the truck and got in. He revved the engine and pulled out of the drive. “I’m sorry that your sister was taken.” She nodded. If only she had come with her sister maybe they would both be at home right now. But as her mother

used to say, everything happens for a reason. “At least now I know she didn’t run away. I just wish I had gone with her like I was supposed to.” “Why didn’t you?” He may be an ass but he was curious about the woman that drew him. He wanted to know everything he could about her. Well almost everything because women had to have secrets just like men. Hopefully his

didn’t scare her too much. “On my last assignment I was shot while looking into a rape case. I caught a silver bullet in the hip, shattering my pelvic bone. The doctor's pinned my hip back together but couldn’t get all the silver out. I ended up a desk jockey because of the pain when I shift.” She absently rubbed at her hip, still feeling the lingering pain. “What should have

only taken a couple of months to heal ended up taking eight. Robyn and I were supposed to come down here for some sister time but since I was injured I couldn’t come. She wanted to just stay at home and look after me. We had already paid for our cabin and on such short notice they wouldn’t refund our money. I told her to come down and have fun. Meet new people. Party.” She looked up

at him with pain filled eyes. “I never thought about the danger she could have been in. I am a federal agent and I know about the dangers out there but I guess I always thought that nothing would ever happen to my family.” “You didn’t know this would have happened.” He grabbed her hand, smoothing his thumb over her soft skin. “We will find her.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” She smiled sadly at him. He really was trying to not be an asshat. He pulled into the parking lot of Wolf Haven, turning towards her after cutting the engine. If only things were different. But if they were she most likely would’ve never have met him. She looked so cute when she was deep in thought. He leaned across the

space separating them and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. It felt like silk. Would her tiger’s fur feel the same way? He had never felt like this with anyone else before. Could she be… He inhaled her scent, the harsh acrid smell of her suppressant was gone and in its place was the smell of fresh meadows and strawberries. She was a tiger shifter. His tiger growled as the

need to claim her washed over him. He clenched his teeth as he felt his incisors lengthen. Thank God she wasn’t looking at him at the moment or he would have looked weird as hell fighting with his inner beast. Turning into an oversized prehistoric tiger inside his truck would not have been a good thing. He would have squished her and possibly broken his truck. Fat ass cat.

His tiger snarled at him. Sparrow turned to thank him for bringing her home. She saw his eyes flash in the darkness and felt her tiger purr. He was still an ass even though he had been nice to her. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of adding a notch to his bed post tonight. “Thank you for bringing me home.” She opened the truck door. “I’ll see you

tomorrow at work.” He grabbed her hand before she could climb out. “I’ll pick you up in the morning. We have a lot to talk about.” Like finding a secluded spot along the road or going back to his lair and claiming her. But why didn’t she feel the connection? She was a shifter so why didn’t she acknowledge that he was her mate?

She narrowed her eyes and watched him curiously. “Ok in the morning then.” She climbed from the truck. “Goodnight Jack.” She closed the door and walked into Wolf Haven. He watched her ass jiggle with each step. This woman called to both the man and beast. “Goodnight kitten.” He would be claiming her soon. But would she accept him as her mate?

Chapter 7 The next morning Sparrow woke up early, earlier than usual. The moon had already set but the sun had yet to peak over the horizon. She rolled out of bed and quickly dressed in a comfy shirt and shorts. She may be going to work today but she wasn’t going to dress for it until after the sun had made its appearance.

She headed downstairs towards the kitchen. Remy was standing at the front desk talking to a new customer. “Morning Remy.” “Morning.” Remy mumbled as he wrote something down on a piece of paper and handed it to the customer. “Hello. I’m Nadia.” The woman smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes. Sparrow smiled in return. Her tiger

growled in agitation. Something about the woman was off. “Hi. I’m Sparrow.” She turned to Remy. “Do we have any hot chocolate in the kitchen?” “Should be some in the cabinet above the stove.” Sparrow looked back at the woman. “It was nice meeting you.” “Likewise. Maybe we’ll meet again.” She waved a perfectly

manicured hand and walked out the front door. Sparrow went to the kitchen and fixed a cup of hot chocolate before going back up to her room. She sipped at it as she looked out her bedroom window. The sun was just topping the trees and washing the garden in a soft light. She pulled out a pair of slacks and a blouse, laying them on the bed. She took

another sip of her drink before stripping and going into the bathroom. She turned the shower on and turned the knobs until it was just right before stepping in. She wondered what had caused Jack to do an about face with his attitude. She thought about what he had said about tempting him. If he knew just how hot she got when he came into close proximity with her.

The water sluiced across her naked skin, adding to the heat she was already feeling. She imagined Jack’s sensual lips kissing and nibbling along her neck and farther down. His calloused hands caressing her skin, cupping her breasts and moving down her waist. She moaned as her own hands cupped her breast, playing with the hardened tips. A hand drifted down her body,

fingers trailing over the swell of her hip then into the dip of her thighs, brushing against the sensitive skin of her pussy. She delved deeper and pressed against the hidden bundle of nerves there. A needy moan left her lips as she swirled her fingers around her clit causing sensations to spark through her. Her nails raked across her clit making her jerk with the sudden pleasure it

caused. It wasn’t enough, she needed more. She bit her lip as she thrust her fingers in her drenched pussy and began a slow in and out motion. She pressed her thumb against her clit with each inward motion, moaning as she started to shake. Almost. Her hand moved faster with each breath until she bit down on her lip to keep from screaming as her

release flooded through her. It left her weak and her legs gave out from under her. She slid down the shower wall until she was sitting down. She didn’t have the strength to wash herself but the thought of Jack finding her in the shower naked and covered in her own juices sent another spike of need through her. Damn. What was it about this man

that had her wanting more? Needing more? He was an asshole albeit an extremely hot one but still. He’s our asshole, her tiger purred. She hadn’t gotten a flash of instant recognition when she had met him. Isn’t that how it was supposed to work? She washed herself off and climbed out of the shower, quickly wrapping a towel around herself.

She thought about her mother and what she had told Sparrow and Robyn about meeting their father and how their mating went. She always assumed that it was like the fairytales where she would meet her mate, smell him and they would instantly fall in love and claim each other. But she remembered her mother saying that you may meet your mate

several times before both of you are ready for the claiming. And your animal wouldn’t let you know until you both sides of your duality were ready. She smiled at the thought of her mother. She wished she was here now, helping her understand why things were happening this way. But she knew what her mother would say, ‘It is fate. That’s why.’

She picked up her now cold drink and drained it. That was strange. She looked around the room and checked the door. Locked. So how did a tray of food make it into her room? She didn’t think any of the Danu pack would have waltz into her room without announcing themselves but then she didn’t really know them that well either.

Dizziness suddenly assailed her. She pressed a hand against her head as darkness crept into her vision. She heard the door unlock and in stepped the woman from earlier. “I told you we might be seeing each other again,” she said smiling at her cruelly. “Can’t have you looking for your little sister anymore.” Sparrow couldn’t hear what else

was said as she slipped into oblivion.

~ * ~ Jack pulled into the parking lot of Wolf Haven, hoping he was early enough to surprise Sparrow. The sun had risen only an hour ago but he wanted to take her to breakfast and get to know his mate. Mate.

Who would have thought that a man like him would be given a mate as beautiful as his kitten? A petite woman compared to him, with all the right curves. He could imagine taking her from behind, tugging on her hair and spanking her until her skin was nice and pink. That imagery had gotten him through the night after a cold shower and rubbing a few out didn’t help.

He climbed from the truck and walked into Wolf Haven. Remy was standing at the front desk pushing papers around, which was unusual but possible if his sister threatened him. “Hey Remy. Can you give me Ms. Williams room number?” Remy fidgeted for a moment. “She’s in room 205. She should be awake already. She was down earlier looking

for hot cocoa.” “Thanks.” Jack turned on his heel and climbed up the stairs. Her room wasn’t far from the staircase and he could see that her door was cracked open as he continued to make his way up the stairs. He rushed over and found clothes set out for today, a set that had been shucked when she undressed, and a damp towel.

He picked it up and pressed it against his nose. Sparrow and arousal. He dropped the towel and looked around the room. Her discarded cup was sitting on the nightstand and he grabbed it, sniffing at the rim. He almost missed it but there was a very faint smell of bitterness. He put the cup down and ran out of the room, dialing Freya.

“Sparrows gone. She’s not in her room and there’s a strange scent in the cup she drank out of this morning.” He stopped at the desk, snarling when he realized that Remy wasn’t there anymore. “Where the hell would your brother go if he isn’t manning the desk?” “I’m on my way back to Wolf Haven. If he’s not at the desk then he could either be in his room or the kitchen.”

Jack stuffed his phone back in his jeans and roared. “Remy!” The young man came racing around the corner followed by Gabby, Jazz and Dejah. “What’s wrong?” “Where’s Sparrow? She’s not in her room. Was anyone else here?” He growled in frustration as the young man sputtered. “Nadia. Nadia was here earlier

asking if I could help her drive the truck she rented for her stuff. I left for about half hour and came back but I haven’t seen her since.” “We’ll help you find her Jack.” Gabby said as she walked out the front doors. Freya drove up in her truck, screeching to a stop. She jumped out and ran up to them. “Find anything out?”

Jack nodded. “Nadia was here earlier asking Remy for help. He went out for a little bit and then came back but hasn’t seen her since earlier.” “Fuck,” Freya snarled. “Nadia’s the one that set up Charise’s abduction.” Jack roared as his shifter came over him. His clothes shredded and fell the ground as his giant form moved away from everyone. He was going to find his

mate even if he had to kill everyone that got in his path. Freya shook her head. What was it about this generation of shifters with all these throwbacks and abnormalities? Maybe they were just attracted to the area and that was why it seemed there were so many of them. She shed her clothes and shifted. The others not far behind her. They each took a direction

and split up, hoping to find Sparrow’s scent. Jack went around back and started at the back door. He caught her scent a few yards from there. He roared signaling he had found it and charged through the forest after her scent. He came to a small clearing and his heart almost stopped. There in the middle of the clearing laid a heap of

white with splotches of red. He could see his beloved kitten from where he was standing. She was slightly bigger than a normal tiger. Blood ran from her nose and several other cuts along her body. But he wouldn’t know the extent of her injuries until she shifted back.

Chapter 8 Jack ran over to her shifting as he came to her. “Sparrow.” She hissed as he touched her and took a swipe at him. He narrowly missed getting his face ripped off. “I can’t help you if you won’t let me.” She mewed like a kitten and then started to shift, roaring from the pain.

Her roar turned into a scream as her human shape became complete. She cried as the pain overwhelmed her. “Jack.” He pulled her into his arms. “I’ve got ya.” He brushed the hair out of her face, revealing a split lip and black eye. “Tell me what happened kitten. Please I need to know who did this.” So I can fucking kill them.

“They told me to stop looking into my sister’s disappearance. If I don’t they’ll make me disappear as well.” She cried against his shoulder as she remembered the cold gold eyes of her tormentor. He held her in his arms as he felt his tiger roar in anger. How dare they threaten what was his. He would find them and rip them to shreds.

Freya came into the clearing followed by the rest of her pack. She shifted and began checking the area. She motioned her pack to stay still until she was done. “Nothing. What the hell is going on? How can there not be anything to indicate where they went?” He was going to take her back to his den and never let her out. At least not until he was sure she was safe. No one

was ever going to touch his kitten again. He helped her to her feet and stepped back. He shifted, startling Sparrow. She stared at him. She had heard rumors of throwbacks but had never seen one before. Her sexy beast man was HUGE! His head was level with hers and she stood 5’6”! She hesitantly touched his feline

cheek, sliding her fingers into his baby soft fur. He purred and touched his nose to hers. She stroked the stripes on his face, tracing them down his chin. His fangs stopped several inches below his chin, reminding her of a saber-toothed cat. “You’re beautiful.” He chuffed at her and licked her shoulder. He flopped down on the

ground and nudged her towards his back. She looked at him in surprise. “Really? I didn’t think the first time I would be riding you would be like this.” She leaned down and nipped one of his furry ears. “Can I hang onto your ears?” He huffed at her and quirked his eyebrows. She chuckled and then groaned as she climbed onto his back. She wrapped

her arms around his neck and hung on as he stood up and sprinted back to Wolf Haven. Sparrow gingerly climbed down and waited as Jack shifted. She couldn’t keep her eyes dipping below the waist and looking at him in all his glory. Her sexy man beast was hung. If only she could do something about all that sexy yumminess right at the moment.

Jack looked at Freya. “This was a warning to all of us not just Sparrow. Are you going to listen?” She looked at him with narrowed eyes. “Are you?” Jack grinned, giving her all the answer she needed. They walked into Wolf Haven and gathered their clothes, quickly dressing. Freya called her superiors and his father,

telling them of the situation. He carried Sparrow up to her room and laid her on the bed. He cleared her things off the bed and climbed in, pulling her close. He let the fear he had been holding back wash over him. He almost lost her today. The thought sent a shiver of dread down his body. He was never going to let anyone harm his kitten again. Sparrow had been quiet since Jack

had found her. She wrapped her arms around him and let the tears fall. She had been almost completely helpless against Nadia and her goons. They both jumped when Lachlan charged into the room. “Dad, what’s wrong?” Jack asked. He hadn’t seen his father this upset since his mother left them. Lachlan sighed, seeing they were

both fine. Sparrow’s busted lip and black eye were slowly healing. But she was fine. “Checking on you before I go to the airport.” “A few cuts and bruises.” Jack glanced at Sparrow, narrowing his eyes at her. “But everything seems to be fine.” “Except for someone’s boiling rage.” Sparrow chuckled. Lachlan smiled while looking

knowingly at his son. “If it was me I wouldn’t be able to keep my rage contained either.” They all looked up as Freya walked into the room and shut the door behind her. “I got a call from one of my informants. I am letting all of the alphas know. We have a leak. Someone is relaying our every move to Nadia and her goons.”

Jack growled, his eyes flashing gold as he fought for control. “Have we found where she is hiding out?” Freya shook her head. “Not yet but I will be going back to that warehouse and scoping out the surrounding area. I’m still trying to figure out how Nadia and Nightshade are connected.” Jack pulled out his phone and called Ankou. “I need you and the rest of the

pride to help Freya out. She’s not getting any help from her superiors.” He paused for a moment, listening, growling the longer he listened. “Keep saying that and you’ll find out why I’m alpha and not you. Go to the warehouse and keep a watch out for anything unusual. Call me if anyone shows up.” “Trouble in paradise?” Freya chuckled.

Jack snarled causing Sparrow and Lachlan to laugh. “What did you expect from another alpha? Of course it doesn’t help that he is grumpier than you,” Lachlan said. He patted his son’s shoulder. “Just remember what the most important thing in your life is and you won’t go wrong. I’ll see you in a few months.” “You’re still going?” Sparrow

asked. “Yes. I have been waiting for my lovely Moira to come back for the last twenty years and sitting here waiting for something that will never come isn’t what I need right now. I’ll have my phone if you need anything.” Lachlan left, Freya following close behind him. Sparrow curled into Jack’s arms, chuckling at his miffed expression.

Freya ducked back into the room. “I have some information. I’m heading over the Libaax Pride house. Why don’t you two come with me so I only have to say this once?” “I can wait for my update.” Freya stared at him, her annoyance visible. “Let me get dressed and we’ll meet you there.” Sparrow climbed out of bed

and began pulling on her clothes from this morning. Nudity wasn’t an issue for her or most shifters but she was slightly self-conscious about the scars on her hip and leg. Jack sighed in frustration as he climbed out of bed. He helped Sparrow out the door and down the stairs. “My father saw your pink bits.” “When I shift everyone sees my pink

bits,” she chuckled. “Besides I can show anyone I want my pink bits. I don’t have a mate.” She couldn’t help teasing him. Jack growled. “Keep tempting me and see what happens. I’ll claim you on the front desk if need be.” “You wouldn’t.” She stared at him in shock. “Try me. When we are done at the Libaax Pride house we’ll be coming

back and packing your things up and moving you into my house. I refuse to let you out of my sight again,” he growled.

Chapter 9 They pulled up in front of the Libaax Pride house and Freya raised her hand to knock when the door was flung open by a petite brown haired woman with a vibrant smile. “Woman I swear I am going to tie you to the headboard if you don’t start listening,” said a man with black hair

and icy blue eyes. “Sparrow, meet Charise and Xavier, one of Char’s mates,” Jack said. Sparrow held out her hand. “Nice to meet you.” “Oh girl.” Charise hugged her. “I thought I would never see the day when someone tamed him.” Freya laughed as Jack scowled at Charise. “I don’t think she’s tamed him

just yet.” “But what male is ever truly tamed?” asked a man who looked like Xavier. “I’m Xander. Welcome to our home. Please come in.” They walked into the house and saw others sitting in the living room. “Sparrow these are my brothers Xerxes and Graeme.” Both men nodded at her. One had eyes only for Charise while the other

looked at her with keen interest. She wasn’t the only one who noticed. Jack snarled, picked Sparrow up and sat down in the nearest chair. “Ooh, has someone found their mate?” Charise asked as she sat down on the couch with her mates, which was more they were sitting on the couch and she was sitting on them. “No,” Sparrow said grinning at

them. “Mine.” Jack wrapped his arms around her and growled at Graeme. “Hey I won’t touch what’s yours,” Graeme said holding up his hands. “Though if she wants me to save her then I would be more than willing to sacrifice myself.” She laughed at his dramatic suffering. “Thanks. He may growl a lot

but he’s really just a big…” “Sparrow!” She looked at him teasingly. “Kitty…” She looked at Freya. “So what news do you have?” Freya took a breath and let it out slowly. “I called my superiors asking for assistance and was once again denied. According to them until I can make an arrest I don’t have enough evidence for

them to expend other resources.” “Even though two women have been taken; one drugged and the other beaten?” Jack snarled. “Yes. I have even talked to them about the possibility of there being a black market for shifters and even an illegal fight ring and slave trade.” “How do you know all that?” Graeme asked.

“Do you honestly think that I just twiddle my thumbs while I wait for my superiors to give me the go ahead?” Freya scoffed. “Since you need help investigating everything why don’t you let us help you? Each clan will take an area to search and report back to you,” Xander suggested. “I can call my brothers and let them

know what we are planning,” Charise said. “Just tell us what all we need to look for.” Freya outlined the plan and where each clan would be searching. Jack and his clan would be searching the warehouses and surrounding area. Xavier and his clan would be searching around Ares’ old cabin and the area to the north. Jaxon and his clan would be

searching to the south along the border between the Ursus clans. As the group dispersed Sparrow pulled Freya off to the side. “I can call my brother and let him know what the Council is doing. He would be able to get the PUA to send down agents to help.” “Thank you but I think I am going to hold off just a while longer on bringing

in the PUA. I’m sorry that you were taken from my home and beaten. It’s supposed to be a safe haven for people to stay and now someone has tainted that.” Freya sighed as she watched the horizon. “Hang in there. Things will work out.” Jack walked up to the women and wrapped his arm around Sparrow.

“Ready to grab your things and take them to my house?” Sparrow smiled, looking up at him. “Yeah.” She looked back at Freya. “If you need my help with anything Gabby has my number.” Jack steered her towards the truck and helped her in. Even though his kitten had claws and sharp teeth she was still sweet. He drove them back to Wolf

Haven and helped her pack everything into his truck. He made a call to Loki to come pick up her car and take back to the pride house. Soon they were on their way to his house, her new home.

~ * ~

Jack pulled into the driveway and turned off the engine. “Welcome to your new home.”

Sparrow stared in awe at the bungalow that he called home. It was something out of an ad for the Bahamas. “It’s almost like finding a lost paradise in the middle of nowhere.” “My father built this house 30 years ago, every few years we update it and add on to it. He modeled it after the house he and my mother stayed in when they went on their honeymoon.”

“It must have been extremely beautiful to inspire this.” “There’s a picture of it in the office at work.” She wandered around the house enjoying the luxuriousness of it. She never thought that something like this would be in Indiana, Florida or the west coast maybe, but in the Hoosier state? Jack watched her with ever growing

need as she trailed her fingers over the furniture, admiring the craftsmanship. Maybe he would get her out into the workshop with him and teach her. If she didn’t enjoy it he would definitely be teaching their cubs. The thought of her growing big with his cubs had him growing thick and heavy. He couldn’t wait to get her to the bedroom. Tied to his bed. Open to him.

He growled as he lurched across the room, tossing her over his shoulder. There was time to explore the house later. Much later. “What are you doing?” She wrapped her arms around his middle to stop from swaying. The last thing she needed was a bad case of vertigo. “Making you mine.” He climbed the stairs to his room. His pace faltering

when her hands moved down his abs to his pants. She flicked open his pants and skimmed her fingers just beneath the top. He made it to his room and tossed her on the bed. “I warned you about tempting me. Now you’ll pay the price, kitten.” He grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head, flinging it over his shoulder. He tugged at her shorts and pulled them off.

He climbed onto the bed, wedging her legs apart with his shoulders. “I’ve wanted to taste you since I met you.” He leaned down and breathed in her scent, groaning as his cock throbbed. He kissed the top of her mound his lips tickling her bare skin. He kissed and nibbled along her nether lips until she was soaked with need. He lowered his head and lapped at her clit. He pressed a finger into her,

then two as her hot channel clenched around him. He sucked on her clit and began purring as he fucked her with his fingers. She cried out as she clenched around him. She was on the cusp of her release. She pinched her nipples adding that small bit of pain to her pleasure, sending her over the edge. He lapped at her one more time

before pressing his lips against her thigh. “Mine.” He sank his teeth into her smooth creamy flesh, claiming her as his.

Chapter 10 Sparrow woke up to a cold bed. There was no huge furnace to cuddle with just a cold empty spot. Asshole bit me then ran off somewhere. The least he could do was bring me breakfast in bed. She climbed out of bed, pulled on his discarded shirt and headed

downstairs. She could hear voices in the kitchen and briefly thought about going back and putting her shorts on. But curiosity got the better of her and she walked into the kitchen. “We’ve searched the area and still haven’t found anything.” The man Jack was talking to had skin dark enough that Sparrow decided to call him Dark Chocolate. If she wasn’t mated or

searching for her sister, he would have been on her radar. But he just didn’t compare to the male she was mated to. Jack was standing at the stove in nothing but low slung jeans. She could see that his tattoos climbed his arms, over his shoulders and across his back. She wanted to follow those lines with her tongue and teeth. If only they didn’t have company.

Jack turned to look at her as she sat down at the breakfast bar. “Good morning kitten. Sparrow meet Ankou, my beta. Enjoy your nap?” “Plotting my revenge. Teasing a tiger isn’t fun for anyone.” She smiled sweetly at him. Oh she was definitely going to get her revenge for the bite on her thigh. “We’ll see who’s teasing whom

later.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before looking back up at Ankou. “As for the search grid Freya gave you. I suggest searching from the inside out. Look for anything unusual, unnatural. His den has to be here somewhere. Those women couldn’t have just vanished into thin air.” “They could have been moved by now. We don’t know who’s been helping

him acquire his little harem. Hell for all we know those women are dead.” Sparrow snarled at him, her eyes flashing gold. “I refuse to believe my sister is dead because you don’t want to spend any time looking for them.” “So sorry I can’t accommodate you princess. Maybe you should have kept a better eye on her,” Ankou snarled. Jack roared and leapt over the

breakfast bar at Ankou. They grappled for a few minutes until Jack grabbed him up in a headlock. “Watch what you say to my mate.” Sparrow got up from her chair and knocked them over. “Are you two done? I’m not going to clean up after you if you start bleeding all over the place.” They both looked up at her. “I didn’t know she was your mate until now.”

Jack grabbed the back of his head and smashed his face into the ground. “Mine.” “Don’t make me kill both of you,” she growled. She marched over to the stove, plated the food Jack had been cooking and sat back down at the breakfast bar. The men got up and brushed themselves off. Jack walked up behind

her and nuzzled her neck. “Knowing that you’re not wearing panties makes me hard as steel.” Ankou walked over to the stove. “She took all of the food.” She stared at him. “You even think of touching my plate I will rip your hand off and cram it down your throat.” “Keep talking dirty.” Jack nibbled on her ear.

She batted at him. “Down kitty! No pussy for you. At least not until Dark Chocolate leaves.” Ankou raised an eyebrow, grinning at Jack. “Dark Chocolate?” “My nickname for you.” Sparrow grinned as she felt the rumble of Jack’s growl vibrate through her. “I like you,” Ankou said. “I only have one mate. Go find

someone else,” Sparrow said. She nibbled on the last piece of bacon. “Are you always this grouchy?” Ankou asked. She glared at him. “I run mostly on caffeine and inappropriate thoughts. You’re the reason I woke up to a cold bed and keeping me from any kind of morning nookie. Plus, I’m nothing like your idiot brother.”

Ankou snorted. “I’ll be sure to tell him I’m not the only one who thinks he’s an idiot.” “Maybe you should also tell him that buying a milkshake isn’t a proper apology,” she growled. Ankou quirked a brow. “Apology? For what?” “Why don’t you ask him? Or better yet ask Rogue?” She watched him

closely. If he didn’t know about why Loki was apologizing then maybe he could be the buffer between the two. “Still hungry?” Jack asked leaning down and licking the corner of her mouth. “Not for food. I owe you for the lovely little bite mark that’s gracing my thigh.” Her cleft dampened at the thought of what would happen when they were

finally alone. She purred when Jack stroked his fingers down her arm. Ankou turned and walked towards the door. “I will go back to searching the forest for missing people.” “I thought he would never leave.” Jack scooped her up and carried her up the stairs. “You could’ve thrown him out.” Sparrow wrapped her arms around his

neck. “Not without killing him. He saw your pink bits,” he growled walking into the bedroom. “That seems to be a trend here lately.” He sat her down at the foot of the bed. “Crawl in for me, baby.” He leaned down and kissed her shoulder, scraping his fangs across her shoulder. “Quickly

before I go all prehistoric and claim you again.” Sparrow chuckled as she turned them and pushed him onto the bed. “We wouldn’t want that.” She stared at his wide shoulders and chiseled chest. She pulled her shirt off and leaned down to lick him. She didn’t even make it to the yummy V of his body before he flipped them and settled between her thighs.

His clawed hands held her own as he nibbled down her neck. He bit her nipple swirling his tongue around it soothing the sting he had caused. He pulled away long enough to shuck his pants and climbed back on the bed. He spread her legs, settling his hips between them. He pressed the head of his cock against her sopping pussy. He grinned as she squirmed in his grasp, not

letting her move enough to encase him. He grabbed the base of his cock and rubbed the head against her slit, tormenting her. “Is this what you’re wanting, kitten? You want my cock in you?” He pressed the head in and stopped. Sparrow moaned and writhed beneath him, trying to get closer. “Please.”

“Please what?” He was going to make her beg. “I want you. I want you to fuck me.” She cried out as his cock sank an inch deeper into her. He gripped her hips and pressed further into her tight, wet opening. He slid into her soft velvety heat groaning as her inner walls sucked at his cock. He stilled trying to gain back a semblance of

his composure. Growling when her body clenched around him, he pulled out until only the head was left in her heat. He sank back in groaning as she tightened around him. She bit her lip, holding back her cries of pleasure. She wanted this man. Oh how she wanted him. If only he would move a little faster. She arched her hips, sinking him deeper. He pressed

against the sensitive spot inside her. He roared as his restraint broke. His hips jerked forward moving at a fast deep tempo. “Come for me, kitten.” He slid his hand down to her pussy, fingering her clit as he increased his pace. She screamed as she came around him, sending him closer to the edge. She pulled him forward and sank her fangs

into his shoulder. His hips jerked forward burying himself in her as his cock throbbed and releasing his seed deep inside her. He sank his teeth into her shoulder. Marking her where the world could see because like hell was anyone going to see her pink bits again. He was going to have to kill Ankou for getting a peek at his mate’s pink bits.

Chapter 11 Jack pulled on his boots tucking the laces into the sides. He picked up his shirt and pulled it over his head. He felt Sparrow’s hands move along his back. He turned as she wrapped her arms around him. “Where do you think you’re going?”

She nuzzled against him. Maybe if she tempted him enough he’d crawl back in bed with her. He chuckled and grabbed her ass. “I am going to help investigate one of the warehouses that Ankou found locked. We’re hoping that we’ll find something useful to Freya’s investigation.” She perked up at that. “I’ll go with you.”

“I want you to stay here.” Her still healing face haunted him. He almost lost her. He still could. She narrowed her eyes. “Do you honestly think I’m going to sit here like a good little mate while you go out gallivanting around doing what I used to when I worked at PUA?” He felt his cock harden. Damn she was hot when she was angry. “I can’t put

you at risk again.” She smiled at him. Sometimes he was the sweetest man she knew. Until he pissed her off. Like he was doing right now. She rubbed against him. Chuckling when his cock pressed against her tummy. “How are you going to stop me from coming with you?” He growled at her as he thrust against her. “I’ll tie you to the bed, wet

and waiting for me.” She stroked his arms moving ever closer to his pants. Her hands dipped into his pants and gripped him. He pulsed in her hand as she stroked him. “If you ever want to get anywhere near my pussy again I suggest you rethink your ‘little woman’ image of me.” He groaned as her hand tightened on each down stroke. “Keep this up and I’ll

show you what happens to bad girls.” She rubbed her thumb over the head of his cock. “But it’s so much fun being bad. Besides my family thinks I am an angel.” She released him and removed her hands from his pants. He groaned in frustration. “Let’s go before I climb in with you.” He looked at her meaningfully. “But later be prepared. Now get dressed.”

Sparrow climbed out of bed and grabbed her go bag from when she was still at PUA. She pulled on the black pants, shirt, and jacket. She pulled on her socks and shoes. “Ready when you are.” He looked at her in surprise. He had been prepared to wait for her but the ten minutes it took him to call Ankou and tell him they were on their way was all

it took for her to be completely dressed and ready. They got into his truck and drove to the warehouse. Sparrow waved at Ankou when they reached the warehouse. He had a huge grin on his face. “I thought he was leaving you at home?” Ankou chuckled as they climbed out of the truck.

“He tried but didn’t succeed.” She laughed as Jack grumbled about bossy women. “Ankou, do you have anything to report?” “No movement inside but the place reeks of blood. We cut the deadbolt off but waited for you to arrive before we entered.” Jack glanced at Sparrow. “I guess

there’s no talking you into staying outside until I know it’s safe.” Her eyes narrowed. “I led my team at PUA. I was the first agent into a crime scene or dangerous situation.” He sighed in frustration. “Fine. Come on.” He motioned her towards the warehouse. He glared as Ankou snickered behind him. “Keep laughing. When you meet your mate just know that

you were warned.” Ankou cocked his head. “About what?” Jack hit him. “The thought of my mate being hurt infuriates me. And I’m willing to beat anyone who thinks it is funny.” Ankou growled and tripped Jack, which started a small brawl. Loki walked up to them and shook his head

laughing. He reached down and clonked their heads together. “Idiots.” Ankou snarled at his brother and stood up. Jack jumped to his feet and grinned unabashedly at his mate. Sparrow shook her head and walked to the warehouse. It reeked of blood, body odor, and other bodily fluids. She wished she had brought a vat of sanitizer. She stopped at the door and

waited for Jack and Ankou to catch up. Heat warmed her back letting her know that Jack was behind her. She motioned for them to enter and Ankou cracked the door open as quietly as he could. When they didn’t hear any movement from within they threw the door open and stormed in. What they found was not what they were expecting. In the center of a makeshift ring, lay

a dead body. Jack walked over and checked for a pulse. He shook his head and sighed. “This is Alex Dristcoll. He was the owner of the motel just outside of town. If he’s here we have bigger problems. He’s human and this place reeks of shifters.” Jack motioned to Ankou. “Call Freya and let her know what we have found.”

Ankou closed his phone. “She’s already on her way. So is the coroner.” “We need to search every inch of this place,” Sparrow said. She told the men what to look for and to try not to disturb anything. When the men dispersed she looked down at the man that had once been Alex Dristcoll. “This looks unplanned. I think this was either an accident or someone was forced to kill

him.” “Why do you say that?” He knew bringing her was a good thing. He wouldn’t have known whether or not something was intentional or accidental. Much less what exactly to look for. That didn’t mean he liked having her in danger. The skin between her eyes crinkled in concentration. “There’s hesitancy.

This possibly started as a fight but turned into a kill or be killed circumstance.” “Why would someone want to kill him? He’s human.” “Maybe he wasn’t supposed to be here? There are plenty of possibilities.” She checked his pants pockets and found a crumbled piece of paper with an address scrawled across it.

“Or it was blackmail.” Ankou walked up holding a stack of papers. “We found these along with other documents and an appointment book hidden in a safe in the office.” He handed her the papers. She read them over. What she read sent a chill down her spine. “They silenced him. He wanted his own ‘servant’ and half of all their future

profits.” She looked up at Jack, horror filled her gaze. “I think we may have found out what has been happening to all of the missing people.” Jack took the papers from her and read them over. “These are shifters we are talking about. How would a human be able to control them?” “Chain, beat and rape someone enough and shifter or not they will

break,” she said. She didn’t want to think of the horrors that those people would have to endure to break.

Chapter 12 Nightshade smiled as she sent a picture of the beautiful creature she had nearly acquired. The buyer had been looking for someone as exotic as the lovely sparrow. The phone rang just a few minutes after she had sent the text. “Hello sir.”

“I want her,” said the scruffy voice from the other end. She smiled. “Acquiring that particular trophy will have a high cost.” “I will give you whatever the asking price is.” She tsked. “Are you sure that’s your final offer?” “What is your employer wanting in exchange for her?”

“A favor. Though you still have to pay the finder's fee,” she chuckled. “Fine. I expect her to be part of my collection by the end of the week,” he growled. “Thank you. It was nice doing business with you Mr. D.” She closed her phone and tucked it into her pocket. She raised to binoculars and watched as the warehouse where she had once done

business, was searched. “Soon little Sparrow you will join pretty little Robyn in the collection.”

Chapter 13 Jack paced the Libaax Pride house living room like a caged tiger. After Freya had arrived at the warehouse they had found concrete evidence of an illegal fight ring. That combined with the documents they had found painted his childhood town in a dark light. There had been several references to

Nightshade and after talking to the other alphas they all agreed that taking out Nightshade would lead them to the missing people. Now all they had to do was wait as Freya talked to her superiors at the Council. Why they had to wait for a bunch of old geezers he would never know. At least he wasn’t the only one getting agitated by the wait. “Sit your ass down. You’re wearing

a hole in the rug,” growled Xavier. Jack glared at him, snarling at the order. “Jack,” Sparrow purred, patting the seat next to her. “Come sit with me.” He prowled over to her, sat down and pulled her into his lap. “Aw honey, look at how cute Jack Sparrow is.” Everyone stared at Charise until Xander started chuckling.

He pulled her close, nuzzling her head. “I don’t see any pirates in the room but if you want me to plunder your booty later I will.” “They look nothing like Johnny Depp,” Jaxon said from across the room. He and Jason had been talking about everything that had happened since Charise had come back to town. She glared at her brother. “I hate you

sometimes, you know that?” “Want to go find some buried treasure with me?” Jack murmured in his mate’s ear. “Only if it involves a bed,” she giggled. He stood up and started towards the door. “Where are you going?” Xavier growled. Jack grinned mischievously. “To find

my booty. I am a pirate after all.” Sparrow and Charise started laughing as the men groaned at the horrible pun. Sparrow kissed him on the cheek. How she loved… Loved? Yea she loved her mate. The thought of living life without him scared her. “I love you,” she whispered. “I love you too, kitten,” Jack said kissing her softly on the lips.

“Aw how cute.” The room dissolved into laughter. “Sit back down. You can find your booty later,” Jaxon snorted. “You just wish you had some booty to find,” Jack chuckled. He sat back down with Sparrow in his lap. “I have plenty of booty. I just don’t think my sister wants to hear about my sexual escapades.” Jaxon smirked as

Jason started laughing. It would be both of their escapades since they rarely ever had sex without the other being there. Charise gagged. “I think I just threw up a little.” She grabbed Xavier’s face. “Quick, kiss me and banish the horrible images in my mind.” Xavier chuckled and softly kiss her on the lips. It didn’t take long before he was dominating the kiss and she was

moaning. “Just because you don’t want to hear about my escapades doesn’t mean I want a front row seat to yours,” Jaxon said, gagging. Jason had closed his eyes and plugged his ears, softly singing some little tune to cover his sister’s moans. Everyone erupted into laughter. After all of the laughter had died down, Freya still wasn’t done with her

phone call to her superiors. By then Jack wasn’t the only one wearing a hole in the carpet. Xavier growled. “I can’t wait any longer. How much longer do you think they are going to give her the run around?” “I don’t know but this is ridiculous.” Jaxon pulled his phone out and quickly dialed in a number from memory. “Hey, I

need a favor. I need you to pull some strings for me. Council Agent Freya has been trying to get help out here and her superiors just keep giving her the run around.” Silence filled the room as everyone stared at him. “Thanks.” He stuffed his phone back in his pocket and leaned against the nearest wall. “Hopefully that helps.” A few minutes later Freya came into

the room a grim look on her face. “The Council has decided to send out a superior to assess what I have been working on. If he deems it important enough they will send backup.” “This is such bullshit.” Sparrow pulled out her phone and sent off a quick text to her family explaining the situation. “That will get us a few PUA operatives down here. Though we may

regret it.” Jack looked at her curiously. “Why’s that?” “I messaged my family and told them what is happening. My brother and dad will most likely be here in the next couple of days.” She sighed. And then shit would hit the fan when they got here. Freya smiled at her in relief. “Thanks.”

“No problem.” Sparrow smiled at her. No one should have to take on cases like this alone. Everyone stood up to leave. “How about we all get together later to celebrate?” Charise suggested. “Celebrate what baby?” Xavier asked. “Getting Freya some help. Finding clues on this fucked up case. We need to

celebrate the little things. And if you don’t want to do that then we can celebrate Jack’s mating. The man-whore will no longer be stealing clients from us,” Charise said. Her mates all stared at her before grinning, maybe a little too widely. “That is a perfect reason to celebrate.” Sparrow snorted. “I’m not sure I want to let him loose on the general

public yet. He hasn’t shown me that he’s mended his man-whore ways or if he’s completely house broken.” “Hey I’ve mended my ways. The only pink bits I want to see are yours and I’m house broken. Mostly.” Jack growled and nipped at her ear. Sparrow laughed as he tickled her neck with his nose before moaning as he gently bit her shoulder.

“Great now we have front row tickets to their escapades,” Jason groaned. “Don’t you mean their kinkypades?” Xander laughed. Jack stood up trying to get her out of there before he got into any more trouble. Sparrow chuckled and wrapped her arms around him. “But I like kinky.”

He was definitely in trouble but the best way possible. Jack nodded his agreement to meet later at the bar. “6 o’clock.” He ushered his mate out the door and into his truck. He drove like a bat out of hell back to their house. Sparrow went to take a shower after they got home. She left a trail of clothing from the living room up to the bathroom. She could hear Jack moving around

downstairs, checking the house as was customary for him. She climbed under the hot spray of the shower and moaned as she felt the kinks in her muscles loosen. Jack followed the trail of clothes his mate had left him, growing hard and heavy with each step. He couldn’t help thinking about her lush body and how he could spend the rest of his life exploring

every inch of it. He stripped out of his clothes when he heard the shower running. He walked towards the bathroom purposefully, his cock swinging before him. She looked like a goddess as he stepped into the shower. He pulled her out of the shower spray and kissed her shoulder. She turned in his arms and wrapped hers around him, tucking her head under

his chin. She sighed happily. “I love you.” He tipped her head back and kissed her. “I love you too.” He moved them under the spray and began washing her, memorizing every dip and curve. He smoothed his hand over her abdomen. He couldn’t wait to see her round with his cubs. She grabbed the soap out of his

hands and lathered his chest up, washing him in return. Her fingers followed the lines of his body until she reached the ever yummy V that led to even more yumminess. She smirked as she washed every bit of him but his cock. Every few moments it would bob and leak precum. Jack growled playfully. Two could play this game. He caressed her body, paying special attention to her erogenous

zones until she squirmed away from him when he found a particularly ticklish spot. When the teasing had become almost too much to bear he rinsed them both off and carried her to their bed. This time their lovemaking was slow, each holding the other close, cuddling after they had reached their peak. How could one person complete the other so much?

Jack looked down at the woman snuggling in his arms. He now understood why his father still waited for his mother to come back. He wouldn’t be complete without his precious mate. He pulled her tight against him as sleep came.

Chapter 14 Sparrow laughed as Jack circle the parking lot for the third time. They were late to meet the others. Mostly because when they had woken they weren’t ready to get out of bed. He finally found a parking space and pulled in. He climbed out and rounded the front of the truck before she could open the door and

opened it for her. He helped her out of the truck, smirking as he slid her down his body. The bar was packed. Through the smoky din they saw Charise and her mates along with Gabby and several others sitting in the back corner. Jack steered Sparrow through the crowd, growling when she received several appreciative glances.

“Jack Sparrow! You made it.” Charise chuckled as groans erupted around her. “I’m glad you suggested it. I haven’t had a chance to explore the town like I want to yet,” Sparrow said grabbing a seat. “We’ll go touring around town tomorrow if you want,” Jack said tugging on a strand of hair.

She nodded and smiled as Jack was pulled away by the men for a game of pool. Charise and Gabby introduced her to some of the other women from the clans. They ordered drinks and food, just having fun. At one-point Sparrow started to feel a little drowsy. She got up and went to the bathroom figuring she had a little too much to drink. She had only made it to

the bathroom door when her vision began to dim and she swayed. She felt someone grab her and move her along the hallway of the bathroom. It wasn’t until they went out the back door that she realized that she just might be in danger. She looked at her captors and felt her stomach bottom out. Remy was helping kidnap shifters. The men took her to a white cargo van and shoved her

in through the back door. She lost her balance and fell, landing at Nadia’s feet. Nadia chuckled. “Oh little Sparrow. You just had to continue searching for your sister. Now you’ll pay the price. I guess one good thing comes from this though. You’ll get to see her again.” She pulled a syringe out of her clutch and stabbed Sparrow in the arm with it, pressing the plunger.

“Bitch,” Sparrow murmured as the drug took effect and knocked her out completely.

~ * ~

Gabby looked at her watch. Sparrow had been gone for ten minutes, way too long for a pee break. She went to the bathrooms and checked each stall. She even checked the men’s room. Nothing.

Not a sign of Sparrow anywhere. She maneuvered through the crowd towards Jack and the other alphas. “We have a problem. Sparrow’s missing.” The roar that erupted from Jack was deafening. The crowd parted as Gabby led him to where she had last seen Sparrow. They all searched until finally someone caught her scent. “We need to call Freya. There’s been

a complication,” Xavier said as he moved everyone away from where he had found Sparrow’s scent. Xander and Xerxes both had a hold of Jack. Charise was standing in front of him, telling him how they would find his mate. They would get her back even if they had to tear apart the entire town. “Freya, Sparrow’s been kidnapped. There’s a problem. We found her scent but Remy’s

and Nadia’s is with it as well.” He pulled the phone away from his ear as she howled in rage. “Follow the scent and let Jack tear them apart. I can’t handle this one because of my brother. But if he dies in the process of getting her back then so be it.” She hung up the phone and threw it against the wall. Xavier tucked his phone back in his

pocket and turned to his brothers. “Let him go. If he can follow her scent to where she’s at then we’ll be one step closer to finding her.” Xander and Xerxes let Jack go and grabbed Charise, pulling her away from him. Jack roared as he shifted. His tiger was enraged. No one had seen his shifter form except Freya. When he shifted into a huge prehistoric tiger they stared at

him. He was twice the size of a normal tiger shifter and had fangs reaching below his chin. If only they knew most of his pride was made up of nature’s little oddities and throwbacks. He inhaled and found his mate’s scent and why Xavier didn’t want him closer to where she had been kidnapped. He roared and took off after his mate. The trail led back to the warehouse that

they had searched earlier. He burst through the door and found his mate strung up from the ceiling in the center of the makeshift ring. Several men were standing staring at him as they waited for him to move. He sniffed the air. Humans. Humans were helping kidnap shifters and sell them into slavery. He didn’t care what anyone said, those who helped create this

darkness would die. He charged across the room and circled himself around his mate. The humans scattered, some grabbing guns others running for their lives. He saw Xavier and his brothers, Jaxon and Jason, along with every member of their clans’ flood through the warehouse door. Some were already shifted others shifting as the humans open fired on

them. He felt a sting in his shoulder and realized he had been shot. He swung his head towards his attacker and found Remy standing there with a Glock in his hands. He would die tonight. Him and anyone else who came near his mate. Jack hissed as Remy shot at him again. He charged the young man and swiped at him, catching him across the

midriff. Remy snarled in pain and shot at Jack again. He sneered, took aim at Sparrow and shot her, catching her in the hip. Jack howled at his mate’s agonized cry and charged Remy again. Remy shot Sparrow again as Jack came closer. He aimed for her head and cocked the gun. He would kill her if he

had too. Jack stopped in his tracks when he saw the determined glint in Remy’s eyes. He backed away slowly, turning towards his mate. Blood streamed from her hip. She had been shot twice in her injured hip. He glared back at Remy and watched him slip away before anyone could catch him. Jack maneuvered underneath

Sparrow until she was sitting on his back. He huffed, catching the attention of Gabby. She came over, tears falling freely from her eyes when she saw the condition her friend was in. She released Sparrow’s hands and laid her across Jack’s back. She whistled at Dejah, waving her over. She was going to need help to fix what had been done to her friend.

Jack carried his mate out of the warehouse and laid down so she could get the medical attention she needed. He thanked God that the clans were as friendly as they were otherwise Sparrow would be in trouble. He stayed as quiet and still as he could as Acacia from the Libaax pride, Dejah from the Danu pack, Carmen from the Ursus clan, and Ashleigh from his own clan worked on

his mate. They were finally done by the time the warehouse had been cleared out and searched again. They had given her more sedative while they pulled all the shrapnel from her hip. When they finished they had pulled more than just the two bullets from her hip but every piece of silver and the pins. They reassured him that she was healing

remarkably well and should be fine in a few days. He shifted and pulled her into his lap. He had almost lost her again. How was he supposed to be an alpha with such a weakness? He brushed her hair out of her face and looked at her. She was his heart and soul, and he would protect her until his dying day. He stood up and carried her over to

the closest vehicle. He held her as someone drove them home. He took her up to their bed and tucked her in. He pulled on a pair of jogging pants and called his pride together. They reported their findings and reported that Freya would be talking to him tomorrow about Remy. He nodded and released them to go home. He went back up to his room and climbed in bed with his kitten. He

finally fell asleep while staring at her sleeping face.

~ * ~

Freya showed up on the Shanbeel pride house doorstep three days later. She knocked on the door and patiently waited. She needed answers. A lot of answers.

Jack opened the door. Fatigue lined his face. He motioned for her to sit down and shut the door behind them. “I have questions,” she said, sitting down on the couch. “Is my brother dead?” He shook his head and sat down in the chair across from her. “Unfortunately the little rat got away after shooting Sparrow.”

She nodded. “Ankou called me and told me that humans were working with Remy. I’m going by the warehouse later today with the council agent and PUA agent that have been sent down. I thought I should let you know that Logan is in town asking about his sister. It won’t be long before he frightens someone enough to tell him where you live.” Logan’s here? Shit That’s just what

he needed. An oversized rampaging liger trying to protect his little sister. Freya nodded her head. “He wasn’t far behind me. I sicked Gabby on him but I don’t know how long she will be able to hold him off. How’s Sparrow doing?” “She still hasn’t woken up. She’s completely healed though.” He sighed in frustration. “I don’t know what to do.

I’m going crazy. I want to go after the people that did this to her but I don’t want to leave her side and leave her vulnerable to any kind of attack.” “I’m sorry, Jack. I hope she wakes up soon.” She stood up. “I’ll hold her brother off as long as possible.” “Thanks.” Jack escorted her out and closed the door firmly behind her. Sparrow had made many new friends

since she had moved her. If only she would wake up and could see it. Ash and Dejah came by daily to check her injuries and Gabby came to see if there had been any change. According to Dejah, she should have woken up by now but each shifter was different and to not lose hope. He had called his father and left a message on his phone, briefly telling him

what had happened but he had yet to get a phone call. He sighed as he thought of living another day without his love. He climbed the stairs to his room only to find it empty. His heart froze as fear that she had been taken again. The shower turned on and elation flooded through him. He opened the bathroom door and there she was, standing beneath the spray

of the water as if she hadn’t been asleep for almost four days. He stripped and climbed in with her. He wrapped his arms around her and laid his head on her shoulder. “What’s the matter?” Sparrow asked. “You’re never leaving my sight again. Not even to go to the bathroom,” he said turning her around. “I’m fine.” She reached up and held

his face. She looked up at him questioningly. “What happened?” “You were kidnapped from the bar. I almost lost you… Again.” He sighed and hugged her. “We found you at the warehouse hanging from the ceiling. As we were trying to rescue you, you were shot twice in the hip. The healers did everything they could. They removed the bullets, several shards of silver and the

pins for your hip. You’ve been asleep for the last three days.” She looked at him as tears poured down her face, mixing with the shower water. She hugged him tightly. “I’m so sorry.” He cupped her face. “Don’t be. You’re alive and awake. That’s all that matters to me.” He kissed her, softly. “I’ll warn you now. I am changing things

in the pride. You will have a constant bodyguard until after all of this is over.” “As long as I am with you,” she said cuddling against him. “Until the day I die.” He turned off the shower and carried her into their room. “I had a lot of time to think while you were asleep.” He laid her in the middle of their bed. He grabbed something from the top drawer of his

dresser. “Will you marry me?” “Yes.” She leaned up and kissed him. He climbed onto the bed and began worshipping her. He didn’t plan on leaving the bed for a while. Though a change of scenery wouldn’t hurt. As long as he was with her he didn’t care where they were.

Chapter 15 Later that afternoon awoke to the sound of someone pounding on the front door. Sparrow groaned and sat up. “Who the hell would be pounding on the door like that?” Jack didn’t know if he should tell her now or wait for her to figure it out when they answered the door.

“Sparrow!” The roar vibrated the walls. So much for the surprise. He looked at Sparrow. Maybe not. Her eyes grew big and she shrieked as she realized just who was pounding on the front door. “Oh my god. My brothers here?” She jumped out of bed. “If he comes in the house he’ll destroy everything.”

“Why?’ he asked pulling on a pair of pants. “He is more aggressive when he gets angry.” She tugged on her shorts and grabbed the closest shirt she had on hand, which happened to be Jack’s. “How long was I asleep?” “Three long agonizing days.” He pulled her into his arms and hugged her close.

“My poor baby.” She wrapped her arms around him. When she pulled back she looked around the room. “We really need to talk about your house cleaning skills.” “You already knew I wasn’t completely house broken. So sorry that they aren’t to your standards. I had other things on my mind, like whether or not you would wake up.” She placed her

hand on his cheek touching the rough growth of his beard. “I’m sorry that I worried you.” He smiled and rubbed his cheek against her hand. Another roar shook the house followed by a resounding crash. “Your brother is going to be fixing our door.” “I like the sound of that,” she murmured.

“What?” he looked down at her curiously. “Our door.” “I love you kitten.” Another roar echoed through the house. “Now let’s go stop your brother before he destroys everything and I have to kill him.” They raced down the stairs and came to the living room landing. The living room was in shambles. In the

middle of the destruction stood a highly annoyed looking liger. “Logan Joshua Williams! What the hell do you think you are doing?!” Sparrow roared as she saw the destruction. Logan stopped and turned to look at his sister. He chuffed and moved towards until he noticed Jack. He snarled and started towards him with

deadly intent. Sparrow stepped between them. “You will not attack my mate! If you do I will tell Daddy.” Both males huffed at her. “Don’t you two huff at me. If you want to fight and beat up on each other take it outside.” She pointed a finger at Logan. “You will be cleaning up this mess.”

Logan shifted and crossed his arms. “Maybe.” “Yes you will. You may be my big brother but like hell will you get out of fixing what you destroyed,” she snapped. Logan smirked. “I’ll destroy whatever I want. I’m more than happy to PAY to have it fixed. That’s how the economy works nowadays.”

Sparrow looked at him drolly. “You are such an ass. Get dressed. No one wants to see your tootsie roll.” He scoffed indignantly. “Tootsie roll? It’s never been small enough to be called that.” “I would pack it away if I were you. Jack’s is much bigger,” Sparrow snorted, smirking at her brother. Jack laughed and kissed her

neck. “You are hell on a man’s ego kitten.” She winked at him. “The only ego I’ll cater to is yours.” Logan narrowed his eyes at her. “I’m your big brother, you should be nice to me.” She cocked her hip and looked at her older brother. “Fine. Put you pencil back in your pants.”

“Brat.” He walked towards her, opening his arms to hug her. She shrieked and hid behind jack. “Don’t you even think of putting your nasty man parts on me.” He pointed at Jack. “He put his nasty man parts on you.” “He’s my mate, not my brother, so he can put his man parts on me.” She wrapped her arms around Jack’s torso

stroking his abs and working her hands into the waist band of his pants. “In fact I enjoy having my sexy man beast’s man parts on me.” Logan growled. “I’m going to spank your butt, you little brat.” He then proceeded to chase her through the house. Jack laughed, watching Sparrow run from her brother, his junk still

swinging in the wind. Being a part of this family was going to be a lot of fun. Now they just needed to find Robyn and then their family would be complete. At least until the next generating came along. His laughter turned to amazement as Sparrow shifted without any visible signs of pain. Her beautiful white tiger tackling her shifting brother to the

ground. They both got up and bounded around the pool, playing like a couple of cubs. His family was truly blessed. He shifted and joined in the fun, knocking the squabbling siblings into the pool before jumping in with them.

Chapter 16 Nadia walked into the room. Remy had accomplished more than she had expected. He had proven himself worthy of her trust, being an asset to her and relaying his sister’s every move. Too bad his cover had been blown. Now to relay her findings to her boss.

She sat down across from her employer and waited to be acknowledged. Her employer turned and looked at her. “You did very well on finding a new piece for Mr. D’s collection but you lost it. Tell me how you lost this piece.” “Sparrow Williams is mated to nonother than Jack Kale. Our resources had told us that he was a tiger shifter. What

they didn’t report was that he is a prehistoric throwback.” Her employer leaned back. “A prehistoric throwback? He would bring in even more than his little mate.” There was a pause as her employer looked at her thoughtfully. “Do we know if she has become pregnant yet?” Nadia shook her head. “Not yet.” “When she becomes pregnant have

her watched. If the cub is a throwback as well, then we can train it to do as we say.” The chair turned away from Nadia. “Oh and Nadia. If you screw up one more delivery you will be the product to replace it.” “Yes ma’am.” Nadia stood up and left the room. She vowed to make the lives of the Millersburg shifters hell for putting her in this position.

Continued in book 3