He took a deep breath, scenting the air.
The night before he’d clearly identified Chloe’s wolf. The animal was strong in her, rising to the surface when he joined their bodies. Although he wanted to see just how powerful her wolf was by taking her again, he’d held his mate through the night as she’d slept, content to watch over her. There was a chance Chloe would be able to shift after all. He’d felt how strong her animal-half was, how the wolf wanted to take over and make her presence known. He’d have to wait until the moon was full to learn the truth but either way, it didn’t matter.
Even if his mate never shifted, she’d be a force to be reckoned with.
Despite the knowledge, he felt a flash of panic. Increased strength wouldn’t protect Chloe’s vulnerable skin from razor-sharp claws and fangs. He’d have to teach her how to defend herself. Even though he never intended to let her leave his sight, she needed to be shown how to eliminate potential threats.
She didn’t stir when he slid from the bed, her breathing even and deep. Despite the fact it made him an utter bastard, he felt a surge of satisfaction that he was the cause of her exhaustion. She carried his scent now, her shoulder bruised from the bite he’d placed there. The result of her acceptance in their mating would scar. He wanted every male she encountered to see his bite and know to stay the fuck away. No one else would ever touch her.
She was his female. There would never be another for her—ever.
A smile tugged at his mouth, a surge of pride slamming into him. Chloe might be a Halfling but she’d proven her worth. She’d accepted him without complaint, as willing and eager as any shifter female would be. Now it was time to organize, learn about her past and plan for what was to come.
He didn’t shower, wanting to carry her scent for as long as possible. He collected a pair of sweats from a drawer before leaving the bedroom. It was early, meaning he had just enough time to make important phone calls before he prepared breakfast for his female. It was the duty of a male to see to his woman after their mating. He’d feed her, pamper her and show her how important she was. He didn’t want anything interfering with the bonding that would soon occur. Now that the instincts of the wolf had taken root inside Chloe she’d need to be close to him. It was his responsibility to explain this new life to her. He alone would ease any fears she might have.
After he retrieved the phone from its cradle he quietly opened the back door and stepped onto the patio. Frost coated the grass, shimmering beads prismatic as a new day stirred to life. He dialed Declan’s number and bit back a chuckle when his Beta answered on the second ring.
“It’s about fucking time.”
“You didn’t wait up for me, did you?”
“Don’t even go there,” Declan grumbled. “You owe me.”
“How so?”
“Simone saw you leave. She started asking questions.”
His elated mood took a nosedive.
Simone.
The pushy female had been trying to talk Jackson into a mating to strengthen the pack for weeks. Her family was well-respected, their bloodlines going back hundreds of years. Although he’d told her he wasn’t interested, she hadn’t taken no for an answer.
“What did she want?”
“What do you think?” Declan released an annoyed snort. “That bitch wants you and she’s not going to let you brush her off.”
“How did you handle the situation?” If Simone suspected anything about Chloe, he’d be forced to rethink things. The female had a thirst for power that refused to be quenched.
“I managed to talk her into coloring some of her sleeve and took a break midway through to prevent an interrogation. She didn’t question me but I think she suspected something. You should probably take your female somewhere else for a few days.” Declan took a deep breath and said, “Unless you’re ready to introduce her to the pack.”
Raking his fingers through his hair, Jackson answered, “She doesn’t understand what’s happening to her. The moon heat was riding her too hard. I didn’t have time to explain.”
“Then I’d suggest talking fast. If the pack finds out about her from anyone but you they’ll feel betrayed. You can’t fuck with their trust on this. If you act like you have something to hide they’ll think your mate isn’t strong enough to guide the pack.”
Tell me something I don’t know. “I’m aware of that.”
“So what are you going to do?”
Excellent question. He’d planned on preparing Chloe’s first meal as his mate, running a bath for her to soak in and lavishing gentle affection on her all morning. That idea was crumbling to ash, taken without his consent.
Fuck, it pissed him off. Goddamn Simone pissed him off.
“Chloe doesn’t know about her lineage,” he said slowly, thinking ahead. “I need to find out what I’m dealing with. I need answers.”
“I’m listening.”
Time to balls-up. “I’m sure you noticed who she looks like.”
Declan hesitated before he replied, “I noticed.”
“I need you to find out what Gavin was up to a couple of decades ago. Everyone knows he chased pussy after he and Desiree mated. I wouldn’t be surprised if he got a human pregnant and decided to keep it secret.”
If Gavin had gotten a human pregnant, Desiree would have had her competition destroyed. She wouldn’t take the risk of another bitch carrying a pup of her Alpha’s. It was too dangerous. In fact, if the baby was a boy there would have been a good chance Gavin would renounce Desiree and claim the female who’d given him a son as his mate. Regardless of the problems it would have caused.
“Makes sense,” Declan mused. “If he cared for the woman he wouldn’t want to see her or his child harmed.”
“Either way, if he’s my mate’s father he has a lot to answer for.”
“This could change things.” There was tension in Declan’s voice, the words were strained. “Not necessarily for the better.”
Something else Jackson already knew. If Gavin was Chloe’s father, the elder Alpha had a right to meet his offspring. Jackson could protect her as a mate but he couldn’t prevent their introduction. Not to mention he’d have to take down any potential suitors Gavin felt were worthy for his daughter. Without an official announcement of his claim before the packs, Chloe didn’t completely belong to him. Gavin could try to use pack law to his advantage. Matings had been destroyed before to strengthen the bloodlines, even if it meant tearing a mated pair apart in the process.
Rage at the thought had him seeing red. “If anyone is stupid enough to challenge me, let them come,” Jackson snarled. “Chloe is an asset to any Alpha who takes her as a mate. She’s mine.”
“Even if she doesn’t shift?” Declan asked quietly.
Damn him.
Jackson understood why his Beta asked the question, even if the inquiry stoked his temper. By showing concern, Declan reminded Jackson he was as the Alpha of the pack. Big decisions impacted everyone who trusted him to keep them safe. He couldn’t make selfish choices. The lives of others hung in the balance. Doubt surfaced, creating a dead weight in his chest. He couldn’t tell Declan he thought Chloe would be a rarity—a half-human who would be able to accept the change. Not until he knew for certain what she was capable of.
“It doesn’t matter that she’ll never shift,” he answered cautiously. “If a pack knows about her parentage, they’ll want her. Her father’s bloodline is pure. Her children will be Alphas and Lupas.”