“Are you the flavor of the month?” She tottered toward him. “If you know what’s good for you, don’t get comfortable. My girl isn’t the settling type. She knows the score when it comes to men. I made sure I raised her right.”
I just bet you did.
For weeks he’d wondered about his mate—her past, her family, her upbringing. His worst imaginings hadn’t come close. This woman—Rachel’s fucking mother—was a total lush. More than likely she woke to alcohol and not coffee each morning. He tamped down his temper, telling himself not to judge. He didn’t know the woman and his mate hadn’t told him enough about her history for him to make assumptions.
“I’d better go,” he said, making a rush to get the hell out of the woman’s path.
“Hey, don’t run,” she said, grasping his biceps. “Damn. I bet you’re in the gym all the time. Is that a farmer’s tan or does your skin look that good all over? I can see why Rachel took an interest.” She squeezed his arm, inspecting his muscles, giving him a grin. “Why don’t we sit down and have a drink? I’m always happy to meet Rachel’s friends.”
“Her husband,” he snarled, ripping away from the disgusting press of her hand. The retort had come to him naturally. Wolves declared partners as mates. Humans declared them as husbands and wives. “I’m not just a friend.”
“Husband?” She blinked, staring at him. Then she started laughing. “Rachel? Married? Give me a break.” She guffawed, her stained teeth gaining his attention. “Don’t try to pull the wool over my eyes. My girl ain’t the marrying kind.”
“Apparently you don’t know her very well,” he replied briskly and tried to leave again.
“Hold up, you son of a bitch,” she snapped, grabbing his arm again. “Don’t tell me I don’t know my own child. I had her. I raised her. I know her better than anyone. Do you hear me?”
Rachel was asleep in his backseat. The wolf inside him wanted to return to her. Fighting off the beast had drained her physically but she’d wake soon. He didn’t want her to come to awareness alone. She needed him there to anchor her, offering her any and all of the support she needed.
Enough of this shit.
“Believe me.” Staring at the woman, he let the beast peer through his eyes. He knew his irises would shift color, clueing her in on what he was. “I know her. Very well.”
She paled as she gazed into his eyes, releasing him immediately. “What the fuck!” Backing toward the couch, she grasped a glass paperweight on a nearby table and lifted it into the air. “Where’s my daughter? What the hell have you done with her?”
“I’ll tell her to call you.” He avoided the questions, preparing to get the fuck out of the decrepit home. Trying to be courteous, he dipped his head in a display of respect. “It was nice meeting you, Mrs. Gentry.”
“I’m calling the police.” She rushed to the phone on the table next to the couch. Her jaw dropped when she saw the carpet, staring at the bloodstains covering the floor. Her hand trembled as she reached for the phone, fear evident in her face. “If you’ve hurt her I’ll make sure you get what’s coming to you. I’ve seen your car. I know what you look like. And I know what you are. Tell me where she is or I’ll make sure they hunt you down.”
It was a bluff and they both knew it. The human police would investigate but once they learned what Declan was they’d turn everything over to the packs. They knew not to get involved with supernatural creatures. It was a give and take that had allowed everyone in the area to coexist in peace.
“Rachel’s fine,” he replied, keeping his composure. “But if you want to call the police, feel free.”
“You son of a bitch!” She threw the paperweight at him. He moved aside, easily avoiding the object. As soon as it hit the wall the glass made a loud crack and broke into several pieces.
The female has lost her mind. Get the hell out.
Declan’s nose picked up Rachel’s scent. He turned in time to see her standing in the hallway, her blue eyes haunted. He didn’t like how sad she looked, seeming almost broken. Her shoulders were hunched, her posture radiating pain and misery.
“Hello, Mother.”
Rachel wanted to crawl beneath a rock and die in shame.
Her enhanced sense of smell told her that Mommy Dearest had been drinking. She picked up traces of tequila and beer. The horrible stench of sweat and cigarettes clung to Cindy Gentry’s unkempt and dirty clothing. Her mother hadn’t showered in days. No doubt she’d been on a binge. This wasn’t the first time she’d paid Rachel a visit after a few days of heavy drinking, asking for money to buy food and more booze.
She didn’t look at Declan, keeping her gaze on her mother.
What must he think of her now? Was he humiliated? Upset?
She didn’t want to see pity in his eyes.
Over the years she’d stopped trying to make friends. She didn’t want anyone to know what she dealt with on a regular basis. It was bad enough that Chloe had witnessed Cindy on a binge. Unfortunately Declan knew the truth now. He’d seen it firsthand. She’d known it would cut like a knife but she hadn’t anticipated feeling so ashamed.
Her ego—fragile as it was—couldn’t take much more.
Something inside her shifted, warming the chill that had overtaken her. Her despondency didn’t vanish but it did lessen, becoming less powerful somehow.
The wolf.
Her inner beast offered comfort, giving Rachel strength and balance. For the first time she was grateful for the presence, thankful to have something to rely on without asking. The shame remained but it wasn’t as harsh, keeping her from breaking down in a useless wash of tears.
“Rachel,” the concern in her mother’s face abruptly changed to anger, “what are you thinking? Do you know what he is? Don’t you remember the things I’ve told you? This is because of Chloe, isn’t it? I told you that girl is no good now. You need to stay away from her.” Rushing over, she stopped in front of Rachel and grasped her arms. “Tell him to leave. We need to have a serious talk.”
Rachel glanced at Declan. He hadn’t moved, letting her handle the situation.
Sighing, she tried to move away from the hands clutching her arms. “I’m not in the mood to talk right now. Don’t worry, he’s leaving.” She heard Declan growl and hurried to clarify. “In fact, we’re both going to go. We have somewhere we need to be.”
Undeterred, the tipsy woman dug her fingers into Rachel’s arms. “You’re not going anywhere,” she snapped, bloodshot eyes wild. “If you think I’m going to let you leave with him you’ve got another think coming.”
“What do you need this time?” Rachel snapped, fed up after all she’d endured the last couple of days. “Money? A place to crash?”
She reached down, ready to dive into her pocket for cash. She didn’t have much but she was willing to hand over what little she did. She wanted Cindy to leave. She wanted to forget this entire ordeal. Her fingers drifted over the sweatpants Declan had given her. So much for that. She lowered her hand, shaking her head.
“It’s not going to happen. Not today. I have more important things to deal with.”
“Don’t you dare speak to me like that, you selfish little shit.” Indignant, her mother moved closer and lowered her voice, “I’ve done everything for you. Everything.”
“Get out of my face.” The order came out as a snarl. The wolf inside her rose up and that odd shade of red changed the colors in the room. “I’m not in a very good mood. You don’t want to piss me off.”