Chapter Four
Thorn had nowhere to go at the moment. Instead of worrying about his destination, he decided to enjoy the journey. The cool air on his skin melted away the fatigue and tiredness from his body. As a Lycan, it wasn’t easy to die. An accident on the bike would hurt like hell, but shifting to a wolf during the fall would help. A Lycan, unnaturally strong and agile, could escape possible death.
Thorn let the wind blow through his thick black hair; the bandanna tied around his forehead secured it enough to keep it from lashing his face. The scenery around him was pale and gray. He gave the bike more gas and sped up toward the pass. He caught the sound of a motorcycle, this one, higher pitched than the Harley. It told him who and what kind of bike was fast approaching.
Najha passed him on the left, driving much too fast.
What the hell could he do with that child, he had no idea. Shaking his head, he sped up to catch her.
Both of his sons, Dante the oldest, was on his own as VP of their motorcycle club or MC as they’d shortened the name to. Jonas, his second child, was the president and major stockholder of many different companies in Seattle, Washington. He provided money to their pack but chose to do his own thing.
The only reason the clubs had been developed was to protect the Lycan and vampires from the humans and their hunters. On top of that, it had been difficult to hide all the evil and executions of the Bolnav and rogues. Something had to give for them, so they created the MCs and mayhem to end the creatures’ lives if they had to. It showed the people they dealt the punishment sometimes in crueler ways.
For centuries Lucien and Thorn and their people helped protect mankind. They had designed and built the city of Shades Run, their meeting place, and developed friendships with trusted humans who’d sworn their loyalties to their people for the protection they could provide.
Thorn turned his wrist and gazed at his watch. It was growing near darkness so Lucien and his people would be coming out. Hoping to catch up with him later on, he took the chance he’d run into his old friend in town. For now, though, he’d meet up with his men.
Apparently, they needed to clean house. Some riffraff had tried to move into town. These groups were trying to come in and cause mayhem. This was not allowed. The only ones allowed to kill a human to defend their people were the executioners. They were a group of men specially chosen to take on such a dreaded duty. These men had to have mates, or they couldn’t do the job.
Tonight, they would devise a plan to rid the town of these humans and either kill them or drive out of town.
Thorn’s reputation had carried its way out into the world and kept most of the criminals at bay, away from their territories. Every once in a while, a group took on the challenge to try to make history. The rules were simple. Never try to take over a businesses or land owned by either group. If it were a Vampire or Lycan turned, they would die by execution. Mayhem only blessed those who deserved it.
Thorn sped toward Shades Run, he watched the landscape turn from forest to town. He stayed in the south end of town, in Oregon. Whereas, Lucien and his people would come from North, Washington state. The town bordered both states which kept their territories separate.
A few times a month, Lucien’s and Thorn’s people gathered to meet. Wanting to keep the appearance of human, they stayed undercover as two different motorcycle clubs. The Lycan were Black Ice and Fire Brotherhood MC, and the vampires were Dark Tribal Salvation and Redemption Brotherhood MC.
Their cuts were worn with pride. The patches the MCs wore had been designed by their separate groups. The Lycan warriors’ patch, a large wolf head snarling set on top of a sword and blood dripping from the canines. The patch meant mayhem and death for the wolf.
The vampire patch was a skull on top of two daggers crossed, and long canines had blood dripping from the tips. This symbol meant the vampires lived in the world, but to humans, it showed a perverse way of death and mayhem.
Thorn parked his motorcycle on the street in front of the meeting place. He stepped off the bike and onto the sidewalk in front of the café. Looking to his right, he noticed for the first time a new little coffee shop being put in next door.
Axel from Anderson’s Mercantile was hanging a sign over his front door.
“Hey, Axel, what are you putting up there?”
Axel stepped off the ladder and faced him. “Hi, Thorn.”
Frank, the owner of Frank’s Hardware & General Store down the street, was helping the elderly man. “Oh hey, Thorn. We’re putting up the new sign. A young lady, by the name of Jayden Foster, purchased and remodeled the old ice cream shop into a coffee shop.”
“A coffee shop? Didn’t realize it needed a place like that around Shades Run?” Thorn shook his head. “Weird, they’d put the thing right next to the best pie and coffee right here.” He pointed to the diner.
“Me neither,” Frank mumbled. Waving over his head, he dismissed Thorn.
Thorn pulled open the heavy glass door entering the café, instead of walking into empty space, he suddenly found a tiny petite female propelled into his arms. Instead of knocking her onto her butt, Thorn quickly picked her up and swung her around so her backside faced the door he just walked through. “Well hello, darling.” He chuckled.
“Oh gosh, I’m so sorry. I should have been looking.” The young woman looked up at him.
Thorn found himself staring into the bluest eyes he’d ever seen. He actually found himself seeing color for the first time. Why? He was color blind, right?
‘Oh, my God, it’s you.’
Thorn heard his angel touch his mind. ‘You?’
She nodded as she stared at him from her five feet and maybe two inches. She was really small compared to his giant and muscular frame. He stood well over six feet in height and weight almost three hundred pounds. He held her in his arms.
Her eyes were wide, and her hands were trembling as she put her hand over her mouth.
Aloud, he said to her, “My little angel, is it really you?”
“You are the man in my dreams. I’ve heard that voice a thousand times, just never saw your face,” she whispered.
Thorn slowly glanced from her beautiful face to her sexy, petite, and absolutely gorgeous body. He never once saw her image before, so he stood there and admired his prize. He heard her voice after all these years, and it shocked him how strong their connection had already developed. “I didn’t realize you were so young,” he murmured.
“Unhand me, sir.” She tried to pull out of his arms.
He didn’t want to let her go. Instead, his hands on their own accord surrounded her tiny waist as she stood stiffly in his arms. She had just the right amount of curves. “You’re very fit for such a small woman.”
“Are you calling me short?” she mumbled, staring down at his hands still holding onto her. “Take your hands off me, please.”
“I’m sorry.” He let go of her too quickly and she fell backward.
She recovered swiftly but put her hands behind her. She backed away further from him, even though the space didn’t allow her to move too far. “As long as you keep your hands to yourself.”
“Okay, I guess I will have to,” he mocked. Thorn had just enough room to barely keep himself from touching her. He took in a deep breath and inhaled her scent of lavender and vanilla. Her blouse and skirt reminded him of the old gypsy people from his mother’s side. Moving his eyes from her face to her neck, then slowly to her breasts which peaked up from the cleavage showing off the purple lace of her bra to the blue patterns of her blouse which set off her shoulders. The long flow of her skirt was multi-colored and reached down to the floor. By accident, he muttered, “What an odd outfit.”
“Seriously? First, you call me short, and now you’re insulting my clothes?”
He hadn’t meant to say anything, but her attitude seemed to rub him the wrong way. He seemed to be making a mess out of the conversation. “Sorry.” He reached out and pushed the wild out-of-control curls of her long auburn hair behind her ears.
When it fell back into her face, she shoved it back, blowing the extra strands out of her eyes.
So adorable, cute, and sexy all wrapped up into a beautiful package. Thorn tried to look away but gave up and focused on her face instead. “I have to say, you’re much prettier in person than I expected.”
Her widened eyes and pinched lips told him once again, he screwed up. “Sir, you’re just full of compliments today, aren’t you?”
This little spitfire with a sword for a tongue was his mate. He couldn’t help what happened next. His free hand moved recklessly to her neck. Pulling her closer to him, he tilted her head up to meet his eyes. He felt a warmth flow through him at the thought of finally, after four hundred years, he’d found his mate.
The darkness slowly lifted from his mind. In its place, color filled his world, so intense he closed his eyes to overcome the brightness. Evil and darkness inside him slowly dissipated, replacing it with lust and passion harder than he’d ever thought possible. His cock hardened enough to press against his jeans and leathers it hurt. If he didn’t get release soon, he might explode. His wolf lunged forward and wanted to take over the human, claiming her and taking her home with him. Now, with the wolf, confirmed she was his mate. A fragile human too, and if he didn’t control the beast within, he could hurt her, and she might leave for good.
Thorn knew the wolf would want to kill any other male within the vicinity of her. He either needed to claim her or get far away from her until he did so. He’d never in his life fought this hard with his wolf. “Can we start over, please?” he whispered. He reached up but didn’t touch her. When she actually looked up, he could tell she was a bundle of nerves but was trying to be brave. He appreciated her for that.
She smiled and nodded. “You can.” Her voice was shaky but calm.
He reached out with his hand. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I can’t believe you’re real.” Thorn couldn’t control what happened next. She swayed toward him, he reached out, cupped the back of her head and pulled her into him. His mouth swooped down and captured hers. She moaned and leaned closer, as he fought to end the kiss. Pulling away from her was both painful and nearly impossible, but he lifted his mouth from hers.
She reached up, her hand trembling as she touched her lips. “I can’t believe it’s you. What is your name?”
“My name is Thorn.”
Her eyes widened slightly. “You are the one. I’ve been with you for so long, I’d recognize that voice anywhere. I didn’t know though until you kissed me. Why did you kiss me?”
Thorn threw back his head and laughed loudly. He couldn’t help the joy that erupted inside his heart and mind. He instantly reminded himself she might be afraid. When he looked down at her, she had a small smile on her lips that slowly spread to a grin, showing her perfect white teeth and lush red lips. So absolutely stunning that he had to tell her, “You are beautiful and I already feel the connection, is that weird?”
She managed to shake her head slightly.
“You know who I am, don’t you?”
She nodded. “Yeah, I think so.”
He remembered their long conversations they’d shared in their dreams. “You tell me who I am and I’ll tell you if you’re right.” He chuckled leaning against the wall to give her a small space she might need.
She shook her head.
“Thorn Andreiko, president of the Dark’s and leader of the Lycan,” he stated finally.
“Oh shit, you can’t be a vampire, can you?”
Then Thorn felt her stir inside his thoughts. ‘I’m right?’
‘Oh, baby, you’re so right, it’s actually scary.”
‘So, you are vampire?’
He tried to dig deeper into her memories and thoughts, but she slammed up a brick wall that pushed so hard it gave him a headache.
She shook her head before talking out loud, “You really need to have some manners, leave my thoughts and speak to me normally.”
“Sorry,” he ground out between clenched lips trying to fight the pain she’d caused him. This little woman was a powerful little firecracker that could easily destroy him. She wasn’t a normal human for sure. “I’m not going to apologize though for kissing you.”
“I don’t expect you to. It is a male’s nature to take what he wants before asking permission. You, sir, are a normal male who forgets his manners.”
There’s no way in hell he could have a mate that back talked him like she’d done a few times already. His anger rose, and he steadily became even more flustered every time he tripped over what he was thinking but couldn’t speak clearly to her. He was unsure of what to say next, when he tried, “Maybe…” he tripped over his tongue. “Maybe, would you like…No, dammit…” Thorn looked down and found her hand on his.
“Please, try to calm yourself. It’s okay. I’m as nervous as you are and we shouldn’t be so shy around each other.”
He wasn’t shy at all, no Thorn had never been this unsure of anything in his entire life. This little tiny redheaded woman had him all flustered and totally out of his element. “Geez,” He scrubbed his face. The scars on his forehead and side of this head bothered him. He wasn’t a very handsome man, but rather harsh and unyielding, his looks scared most because he was a protector. His looks that of a man who’d fought many wars and took home the scars proving it. How could this small, petite and beautiful woman love someone like him?
“Well, if a cat took your tongue and you won’t talk to me, I’m going to walk out this door and leave you to your thoughts. Besides, I’m a little uncomfortable being stuck in an entryway of a restaurant with a Lycan male way bigger than I’ve ever seen one. Thorn, you’re huge but very handsome, maybe you should try just being yourself.” She put her hands on her hips, before nodding, turning, and pushing open the outside door.
He reached out and grabbed her arm. “Maybe you could give me a few moments to—”
She held up her other hand. “I need to compose my thoughts a little before I make a total fool of myself.”
Thorn let go of her arm, stepped back, and frowned. “Um…”
“Thank you.” She continued trying to leave, but her ankle rolled because the heel of her boot caught in the strip they’d used as a seal for the bottom of the door. “Oh, damn.” She tried to lift her boot, but her foot seemed to be stuck.
Thorn reached out and caught hold of her arm to steady her. “Here let me help you. Can you lift your foot up? I think it will come out.”
“Thank you.” She lifted her foot and it easily slid out. She immediately shrugged off his hand, spun around facing him and stepped right into his waiting arms.
Thorn tipped his head down and smiled. “I honestly thought you were a dream or a figment of my imagination. I’m relieved I’m not crazy, and you’re real.” He touched her cheek. “Who are you and where in the world did you come from?”
“I’m Jayden Rose Foster. I’ve lived my entire life with the vampires and have sworn my allegiance to protect and serve them.” She covered her mouth quickly.
“It’s okay. Hey, what’s wrong?” Thorn saw a tear slipping down her cheek. Jayden was a human. They would be just fine. He gave her a moment to compose herself. He didn’t want to embarrass or do something to scare her off. His heart thumped loud in his chest he could have sworn she could hear it. He couldn’t help the smile that curved his mouth, the joy of discovering who she was. She’d grown up with the vampire. She knew what a Lycan was. How lucky could he be?
She closed her eyes and inhaled.
Thorn wanted to kiss her again, but couldn’t be sure if he would be able to stop this time. He wanted to pick her up, carry her back to his den, and make her his own. His wolf wanted to claim her before anyone could possibly take her from them. “Well, it’s nice to meet you.” He reached to touch her.
Again, she flinched away.
“What is going on with you?” His voice sounded harsher than he intended.
Her eyes flashed gray to blue, her lips pinched together as she ground out, “Well if you insist on being so rude, I’ll leave you be.”
He stared at her, his mind couldn’t fathom how she thought he was being rude. But this entire conversation had gotten out of hand, and he didn’t or couldn’t figure out how to resolve it. He pulled open the café door and looked around for Lucien. But the man wasn’t here yet, it figured. “Look, I don’t even know what to say to you, Jayden. Maybe if we could meet again, I can show you I’m not rude.” He sensed before he actually felt the soft touch of her hand on his arm. He looked down and found her staring up at him.
“I’m sorry, Thorn. I’m shocked and a little nervous to finally meet you. I didn’t realize I was in the dreams of a Lycan leader, the Alpha of an entire race.”
Jayden’s confession surprised him. He wasn’t sure if it was the fact she knew exactly who he was, or nervous to be with him because he was a Lycan and a leader. “Well, I suppose, I can let someone beat the snot out of me and take over the leader status. Then I can be just a normal Lycan.”
Jayden’s eyes twinkled with merriment and something else, maybe trust?
Thorn didn’t know. But then she touched her stomach, leaned over and giggled. He couldn’t believe how lucky he was. This woman was absolutely a joy to be around. He couldn’t contain the humor in the entire situation they’d found themselves in. “Damn, you’re so right.”
“You are seriously,” she air quoted, “the great and powerful, Thorn Andreiko?”
He chuckled. “Uh huh.”
Jayden choked, coughing and covering her mouth with her hands, she smothered her reaction.
“Why are you so surprised?”
“I’ve heard he’s a horrible beast of a man. You know, too ugly…”
He reached out and pried her hand away from her mouth to witness a gorgeous and pure smile.
“A beast who likes to scare children and make men piss their pants. You’re not at all, I think you’re adorable.” Jayden’s eyes twinkled with humor.
Thorn wanted to show her who and what he was, but not scare her into submission. He wanted her to respect him as a leader and as his mate. They would have to gain a partnership of some kind. She would be the Beta leader of the entire Lycan when they eventually had their claiming ceremony. He cleared his throat. “People actually say that?”
She nodded, smiled then reached out touching his powerful and large chest covered in a dark black sleeveless t-shirt showing off all his tats, muscled arms and hands. Staring up at him, she whispered, “I think you are definitely a strong, loving, and handsome man.”
“What happened to the woman who wanted nothing to do with me because I was rude?” he joked.
“Well, you’re definitely still rude, but you know,” she giggled, “I’m discovering you’re a great big teddy bear or should I say, a Wolfe, maybe?”
Those words struck him as humor. She seemed to have a special talent to take any situation and make it her own using humor and loving words.
Jayden on her own moved in and up against him. Without her even being aware, Thorn gently wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tightly against his body. Her body on its own rubbed against his crotch and his cock hardened immediately, straining to be released from the tightness of the denim. The movement almost caused him to orgasm, which never happened before. Instead, he reacted swiftly, grabbing her ass he ground her body up against his and used their friction to relieve some of the strain in his dick. It only made it worse, and he swore his body was engulfed in flames which he’d never experienced before either.
Knowing the moment, she knew what was going on by the widening of her eyes as her mouth opened slightly and she panted. Groaning, she stood up on her tiptoes and welded their mouths together.
Yes, what he’d wanted all along.
Her mouth opened as her tongue danced with his.
Instead of keeping control, he fooled himself. His reaction caused him to lose control. Her warmth and scent encircled his aching body. Trying not to fuck her right here and now in the doorway, he backed away from her. “Darling, we need to part ways, or I’m not going to be able to let you walk away from me.” He meant every word, this woman had the power to dominate his Alpha maleness and send him to the ground to grovel at her feet. Growling, he groaned, “Jayden, you should probably back away.”
Her eyes widened as she whispered, “I’m trying, believe me. What is happening?”
“I am Lycan, and you are my mate, period. We’ll resolve these issues, but not in public and inside an entrance to a diner.” He guided her to the door. Then as he pushed it open, he touched her back. The fire spread rapidly and nailed him right in the end of his cock.
He gently pushed her out the door then backed away hitting the other door with his back. Turning away from the sight of her retreating form, he decided a cold shower was what he needed right now, not the men he’d planned on meeting.