Chapter Five
Finn bit back a groan. He couldn’t resist sliding his hand beneath her hair to cup her head, to stroke the soft skin along the back of her neck.
He’d never been as scared as he was today. Never been so ready to kill. Her voice on the phone had the wolf raring to hunt. But he needed to get to her, to Oscar, first. Even the wolf understood that. Seeing the car, hearing Brown’s reassurances, hadn’t eased him. Only pulling her close, capturing Oscar’s foot in his hand, had chased his panic away. And once she’d been pressed against him, he’d been unable to let go.
Her breasts crushed against his chest, her fingers gripped his shirt front, the curve of her hip fit in his hand. All of him, man and wolf, wanted this woman. It was powerful—too powerful. The thick silver chain around his neck felt hot against his chest, reminding him to keep his head. The need to hold her, to touch her, to taste her was overwhelming. Her full lips parted. He could lean in, claim her mouth.
His wolf demanded it. As far as the wolf was concerned, she was his.
But he fought his wolf, the silver medallion singeing his skin. Losing control with Jessa would be bad.
The car came to a stop, jarring them both.
She was out of the car before he could say a word, unclicking Oscar’s car seat and hurrying toward the elevator. He followed, the thrum of possessiveness still coursing through his veins. The elevator ride was silent, but he couldn’t keep his eyes off her.
What made it worse was knowing she wanted him. He could see the thrum of her pulse in her throat. Smell her arousal in her scent. His hands fisted as he failed to shut her out. Her green eyes, when she dared look at him, begged for his touch.
Brown stood between them, looking stoically ahead.
While he stared at her, she focused solely on Oscar.
Oscar.
The reason Jessa was here.
He drew in a deep breath, reminding himself of the truth. She was not his. He had no right to her. This was her job. He would not give in to this attraction—it would only do harm.
By the time they exited the elevator, he’d regained some sliver of self-control. “Brown,” he said, leading the man to his office.
“Mr. Dean.” Jessa’s voice stopped him.
He stared at her, wanting to buy as much time as possible. He was in control, for now, but he didn’t know what to do, not yet. When it came to Jessa Talbot, he and his wolf did not see eye-to-eye. But she had a right to have her questions answered. Some of her questions. “I’ll be there in a minute,” he told Brown, following Jessa and Oscar into her room.
She was agitated, that much was clear, but he didn’t know what to do about it. She said she trusted him. Now he needed her to do what he said. Watching her lift Oscar, press a kiss to his head, and place him gently in the crib, warmed his heart. She lingered, running a fingertip along Oscar’s cheek, before she turned those bright green eyes on him.
“My brothers and sister are all I have in the world, Mr. Dean,” she said. “If I’m to stay with you and Oscar, I need your word they will be safe.”
If I’m to stay… He swallowed, leaning against the doorframe. If she left… The wolf reared up in protest. Could he let her leave? Maybe he and the wolf did have something in common. He tried not to think about that too much.
He nodded. “They have my protection.”
“From?” she asked.
He ran a hand across his face, choosing his words carefully. “The man in the park.”
She wrapped her arms around herself, prompting him to reach for her. His hands covered hers, his thumbs stroking her satin skin. He didn’t like the fear in her eyes, or the way she wavered on her feet.
“Why is this happening?” she asked.
He released her, pacing the length of her room. He was still too caught up in these new feelings to respond right away. His wolf wanted her to know…everything. Hell, his wolf wanted her as his mate. He froze, letting that realization wash over him.
He looked at her, at how frightened she was. This was what he’d done to her. By bringing her into his world, he’d introduced her to fear. And as much as he craved her, he knew it was wrong—for Jessa. She was human, clueless to the bullshit that was his world. Telling her would change that, erase it forever. He searched her face. Maybe he should let her go.
“I need five minutes,” he said.
She nodded.
He had Brown dispatch bodyguards to the Talbot house, then he called Harry to explain the situation. Rather, that the paparazzi were getting a little determined and he thought some extra security was necessary. Harry sounded excited. Having a housekeeper, cook, and driver would make things easier, even if they would each have their own bodyguard for the time being.
But news that Greg was found, his neck broken, in a dumpster a few miles from the park had him raging. Cyrus had been with Jessa, so he hadn’t been the one to kill the guard—meaning Cyrus hadn’t been alone.
After splashing some cold water on his face, he returned to Jessa.
She was sitting in her rocking chair, eyes closed. If she didn’t have a death grip on the chair handles, he might think she was sleeping.
He sat on the footstool and looked at her. “Once you know this, it will change everything.”
She opened her eyes. “Everything’s already changed, hasn’t it?”
“Guess so.” He shook his head.
She frowned. “Tell me why this is happening.”
He rested his elbows on his knees. “When I graduated from college, I took some time to find myself. I drank and partied and made bad choices. But one good thing I did was help my brother on a dig in Montana. He was an archeology buff. Loved it.” He stood, pacing in front of the windows. “I found a bone, not all that surprising on a dig but exciting nonetheless. It was old, very old. My brother was excited because he couldn’t tell what it was—whether it was human or something else. He wanted it to be something else, something that would get him in a textbook or journal.” He ran a hand over the back of his neck. “A dust storm blew in and we ran for cover, but the terrain was uneven and none of us could see. I fell on the bone.” He lifted his shirt, showing her the puncture scar along his side.
She frowned.
“When I woke up, I was sick. My brother and the rest of the team were worried. But we were high up, the storm was going on, and no help was coming anytime soon. I remember passing out—” He broke off. “And I remember waking up…”
She stood. “What happened Finn?”
He looked at her. “My brother and his fiancée were dead. Mauled by an animal. A wolf. My friends had been attacked, too, though they were alive.”
She frowned. “I’m so sorry, Finn. That’s horrible. I had no idea.”
“No one did. We couldn’t tell the truth. People would lock us up and throw away the fucking key. A wolf attack? There had never, ever, been an attack like this.” He agreed. “That bone was infected—made me infected. And, so far, there’s no cure.”
“Infected with what?” Her brow dipped. “But surely—”
“No cure. I’ve learned to control it, for the most part.” He pulled the medallion from his shirt, holding it tight. “But it’s there, a part of me, something I have to fight against every day.”
“What do you mean, control it?” she asked, her expression wary as she eyed the medallion.
“The world thinks my brother and his fiancée died in a car accident. But I did it.” He watched her. “I was the wolf that attacked, Jessa. Me.” He waited, watching the disbelief on her face. “I was the one that killed my brother and his fiancée. That infected the only friends I’ve ever had. Me.” He waited.
She shook her head. “I don’t understand.”
“You do,” he argued. “But you don’t want to.”
“You’re serious? You mean… Like werewolves?” Her voice was high-pitched, unsteady. “Finn, you can’t believe this… Werewolves don’t exist. It’s impossible.”
“I wish you were right.” He glanced at her. “He’s one, too.”
Her eyes widened. “The man in the park?”
He nodded.
She sat down, then, staring blindly around the room.
“You knew something was wrong. You felt it, didn’t you?” he asked.
She nodded. “But this?”
“Cyrus wants to track down me and those I turned. To kill us, keep us caged, I’m not sure. But the birth of my son seems to have Cyrus and his pack on alert.”
Her green eyes fixed on him, but she stayed silent.
“This is all about control. They, the Others, want ultimate control.” He paused. “Jessa?”
“What happened to Oscar’s mother?”
“She died in a car accident,” he said.
“Did she?” she asked. “Like your brother and his fiancée?” It was a whisper but her point was made.
He opened his mouth, then closed it. “Hollis isn’t sure what happened to her. She was found in a wrecked car.” He waited, hoping she wouldn’t ask about Greg. It was too much.
“What you’re telling me—this is real?”
He reached for her hands. But she recoiled, tucking her hands under her thighs and leaning back into the cushion. He stiffened, nodding once. “It is.”
She nodded. “This is a lot to take in, Mr. Dean.”
The “Mr. Dean” was a kick to the gut. “And harder to believe?”
She didn’t say anything—she didn’t have to. The confusion on her face, processing everything he said, was plain to see.
“Cyrus wants Oscar?” She paused. He felt her panic, her fear. “Will Oscar change?”
“We don’t know. None of us were born this way,” he admitted.
“How will you know?” she asked.
“The full moon is next week. Anything is possible.”
“So, that’s real? Next week?” She brushed past him to the crib, peering down at Oscar. She stared at his son with such love it tore at his heart. “Oh, little one.”
“I know.” The words stuck in his throat. “Brown’s concerned that Cyrus will think you are my mate. You told him you were waiting on Oscar’s father?”
“I wanted him to leave,” she said, her tone defensive. “If anything, he’ll think I was with Brown—considering how hard I was holding on to him.”
“Your scent,” he started, breaking off. He had to tell her, if only to keep her close. “Your scent is mingled with mine. And Oscar’s.”
Her features tightened. “He smelled me,” she whispered. “I thought I’d imagined it.”
Then he knows you’re mine.
He shook his head and stood, unable to take the distance between them any longer. “The wolf’s sense of smell is important. They can scent pack relations—enemies, allies, and mates.” He moved to Oscar’s crib, content to be close to them both. “You are my pack. He’ll know that now.”
“What if I don’t want to be part of your pack?” she asked.
Her words cut through him. “It doesn’t matter what you want.” His gaze held hers. “It has nothing to do with want. It’s a fact.”
“So you’re saying I don’t have a choice?” she asked, her eyes wide with horror.
“I won’t make you stay, Jessa,” he admitted, even if the wolf howled in protest. “But I’m asking you to. Oscar needs you. And so do I.”
She tore her gaze from his. “I’d like to lie down while Oscar’s still asleep.”
“Just a minute. Come with me, I’ve something to show you,” he said, going through the bathroom that adjoined Jessa and Oscar’s rooms. He waited, pleased that she eventually followed him. “There should be no reason to use this, but it’s here.” He pushed open Oscar’s closet, sliding his finger along the release of the hidden door inside.
The wall slid back, revealing a small safe room.
“Are you kidding me?” Jessa’s voice wavered.
“You saw how the release works?” he asked. “The emergency release is here. There’s a keypad in my office—it’s the only other way to open the door. Other than from the inside, of course.”
She stared inside.
“Jessa?” he repeated. “Did you see how the release works?”
She nodded.
“Hit this button and the door slams and locks,” he said, pointing to a red button just inside the door. “It can only be opened from the inside, here,” he pointed at the keypad. “The code is here.” He showed her, watching her eyes get wider and wider. “Do you have any questions?”
She shook her head, backing out. She stared around Oscar’s nursery almost blindly before heading through the bathroom to her room.
He followed, regretting everything. He shouldn’t have told her. He should have made something up. But it was too late now. “Jessa…” How could he make her understand?
“This is a lot to take in.” She stared past him.
That’s the understatement of the year. “Are you okay?”
“I honestly don’t know.” She shook her head. “I don’t know how to believe anything you’re telling me.”
“I know—”
“I don’t think you do,” her voice wavered. “This is normal for you. It’s the furthest thing from normal for me.”
Everything she said was right. He hated it—hated feeling helpless. “Is there anything I can do?”
“Please. Give me some time to myself.” She wouldn’t look at him.
He left, closing her door behind him. He lingered, pacing, the need to watch over them pressing in on him. And when he heard Jessa’s soft crying, the wolf was ready for a fight.
…
“A few more minutes,” Jessa said, bouncing Oscar in the sling she wore, walking the length of the apartment again. The order she’d placed yesterday, before her disastrous walk, hadn’t been delivered on time. Now her world was upside down and her nerves were shot. And while Oscar was a sweet-tempered baby, he couldn’t go without formula. It was her fault—she’d been shaking so badly, so distracted, that she’d knocked the remaining formula onto the floor before she could make Oscar’s bottle. Now Thomas wasn’t responding to her texts or calls, so she’d used Klemps’s emergency delivery hotline. She’d laughed at its existence once—now she just hoped the formula would arrive before Oscar’s patience ran out.
She had to finish packing if they were going to leave in the morning. And she had to decide if she was going with them. Or if she’d be saying good-bye to Oscar and Finn. She’d talked to Harry and her brothers, who were excited over their fancy living arrangements. They thought it was to avoid paparazzi—if only that were true. The truth? Her eyes burned from a sleepless night and too many tears.
The doorman buzzed, “You have a delivery from Klemps’, Miss Talbot.”
“Thank you,” she said, smiling at Oscar in the fabric sling she was wearing. “See, I wouldn’t let you go hungry little man.”
Oscar regarded her with his wide, light eyes.
“You’re welcome,” she murmured. It would be easier to choose if she didn’t love Oscar. But she did, more than she’d ever imagined possible.
He gurgled, making her smile
She opened the door to find Thomas carrying a box of supplies. “Hi, stranger,” she said.
“Hi Jessa.” He coughed.
“You sick?” she asked, shifting Oscar’s sling to her other side.
“I’m not sure,” he answered, following her into the hall. “Something’s going on.”
Something was going on. Thomas looked terrible. His complexion was waxy and pale—almost grey. A light sheen of perspiration across his brow and upper lip, and his eyes… It was as if the color had faded out of them. He noticed her examination and scowled, stalking into the kitchen—moving so swiftly, Jessa jumped.
That was when she noticed Oscar. He’d gone silent and motionless, burrowing against her.
The stroke of warning along her spine was quick, but unmistakable. Even though she knew Thomas was no threat, that there was no reason to be so damn jumpy, she tightened the sling holding Oscar—freeing her hands but anchoring him against her.
“Jessa,” Thomas called from the kitchen.
She followed, taking a deep breath. “Adjusting Oscar,” she explained. “He’s hungry.”
“He’s growing.” Thomas said, stepping closer. “Looks like you’re doing a great job with him.”
“Thank you.” She smiled, once more thrown by his appearance. “Want some water? An aspirin?”
“I’m fine.” He shook his head. “You know, we need to plan our date.” She saw the slight tremor of his hand as he rested it on the counter.
“We will,” she said. The baby was too still, too quiet. Something was wrong. She swallowed, looking Thomas in the eye. The color. Just like Cyrus. Her chest felt heavy, compressed. “Did something happen to you?”
His smile was slow. She saw the hardening of his face, the pinched tightness about his eyes as he said, “Yeah, you could say that.” He shrugged. “I got mugged last night. Jumped on my way home from work. Damn dog bit my leg.”
The hairs on her arm stood straight up.
“A dog?” she repeated.
“I guess. Damn thing almost tore my leg off.” He shrugged. “I’ve been feeling weird ever since.”
“Did you go to the doctor?” she asked, moving to the other side of the island and pulling out a baby bottle. Three days ago, she’d be worried about rabies or infection. Not now.
Finn’s words haunted her. I infected the only friends I’ve ever had. Me.
Had Thomas been infected?
She’d jolted awake last night, nightmares about Cyrus’s near colorless eyes, and Oscar’s reaction terrifying her. Now Oscar was just as still and quiet, like he was hiding. Because of Thomas.
Panic pressed in, clenching her chest and abdomen.
Thomas isn’t Cyrus.
“I’ll go,” he said. “But I had this need to see you first. And Oscar. All I’ve been able to think about today is seeing you two.” He followed her around the kitchen island, carrying a canister of formula with him. He placed it on the counter, but didn’t let go. “You smell as sweet as a tulip, Jessa. You know that?”
She tried to smile as his colorless gaze bore into her own. She touched his arm, startled by the heat of his skin. “I’m worried about you. Can you go to the doctor this afternoon? I can make you an appointment.”
He paused, a hint of sadness on his face. “No. I have to do something first.” He shook his head. “Something that might be hard for you, Jessa.” He cleared his throat, his tone shifting, thickening into an almost-growl. “I need Oscar, Jessa. He said he’d leave you alone if I gave him Oscar.”
She couldn’t freeze up. She couldn’t fall apart. Oscar needed her. She swallowed. Her phone vibrated in her pocket, but she couldn’t reach for it.
“You’ll have to call them back later,” Thomas said.
What the hell was she supposed to do?
“I don’t understand,” she said, hoping her panic wasn’t obvious.
“I think you do,” he argued. “I know about the park. He told me.”
She shivered involuntarily. She had to think. Calm. Stay calm and focus. She couldn’t run. There was no place to hide… Wait. The safe room. It was close. She could get Oscar inside—if she was careful. “He who?” she asked, stalling.
Thomas frowned. “Cyrus. He said hi, by the way. That he’s not the bad guy here, Finn is.”
Her stomach tightened. Finn was the bad guy? She remembered the anguish in his face when he’d confessed what he’d done to his brother. She couldn’t imagine seeing remorse in Cyrus’s pale gaze. Not that it mattered. She wasn’t handing Oscar over to anyone. She needed time. She needed room to maneuver. “Oh?”
Thomas shook his head. “He stole their ancestor’s bone, Jessa. Stole their mojo, you could say. And he won’t give it back. And his pack? They’re bad guys. More than a third of the missing persons in San Antonio? Finn’s pack. And they’re not missing, they’re dead. He’s a murderer. Your boss is a murderer. He killed his own family, for Christ’s sake.” He shook his head. “You’re not safe here.”
Thomas’s mounting agitation made it hard to breathe. She wouldn’t listen to him—she couldn’t. Finn wasn’t a murderer. He couldn’t be. “You want to keep me safe?” she asked.
He nodded. “I care about you.”
The sincerity in his voice tore at her heart. Whatever had happened to him, he was still Thomas. Surely she could reason with him—after Oscar was safe. She stared at him. “You do? Give me a few minutes to pack him a bag?” She turned and headed down the hall, hoping he wouldn’t follow—hoping he wouldn’t pick up on her out-of-control pulse.
By the time she’d reached the nursery, she was vibrating with nervous energy. She picked up a bag, cradling Oscar close in the sling.
“I don’t think he’s going to need much,” Thomas said behind her, making her jump.
She didn’t want to think about what that meant. All she could focus on was getting Oscar to safety. Then she and Thomas could talk this out, could make sense of what was happening, and how they’d both been caught up in a world that shouldn’t exist.
“I’ll pack light.” She smiled at him, heading for the closet. She pulled an item from the hanger, running her finger across the small emergency latch that released the panic room door. It slid silently open. She had to hurry. But before she could free Oscar, her head snapped back, her hair gripped tightly, a searing pain forcing tears from her eyes. Panic came crashing in.
“Jessa,” Thomas’s desperation washed over her. He tugged her hair. “I can’t let you keep him. Give him to me.”
The sling was too tangled. It took all her strength, all her focus, to ignore her fear and pain. There wasn’t time to be scared. She gripped the closet doorframe and pushed off, shielding Oscar as they fell into the safe room, and kicking the red button with all her strength. Thomas lunged forward, the flash of fury on his normally friendly face terrifying her. The door slammed shut, the resounding thud of him bouncing off metal echoing in the small, concrete room.
“It’s okay, Oscar,” she whispered to the baby, gulping down air. Finn. She pulled her phone from her pocket, but there was no service in the room. He’d know, surely he’d know. He’d sensed it before when they were in trouble. The small space felt cramped, claustrophobic and isolated. And safe. Now she needed to come to terms with what happened.
This was Thomas. Thomas was her friend…
But one look at the monitors mounted on the wall told her otherwise. Thomas writhed on the floor—a twisted scream choked out. His body was contorting, twisting in a hideous way—shredding his clothes and his skin. She didn’t want to watch, to see what was happening, but she couldn’t look away. She stared, horrified and transfixed by what she saw. What was left wasn’t human at all.
“Oh, Thomas,” she whispered. But he was gone. In his place was a large wolf. A very angry, very aggressive, wolf. And he was charging the door. The metal shook, the impact echoing in the room. Over and over the animal charged the door, hell-bent on getting in. She crawled across the room, huddling in the corner and cradling Oscar close. Terror was a new experience, all-consuming and paralyzing.
“It’s okay,” she said, patting his little back. “We’re safe.” If she kept saying it, maybe she’d believe it.
But Thomas—the wolf—wasn’t giving up. He paced back and forth before the door, scratching up the flooring, ripping the baseboards free and chewing through the drywall. The power of his attack left her shaking, pressed tightly into the corner. When he was done there, he destroyed the room. She watched, scanning the monitors for some sort of help.
But, if help came, they’d have to face Thomas. The wolf lifted his head up, and howled.
Oscar shuddered.
“Daddy’s coming,” she said. “All you have to do is wait. He’ll be here.” She knew it was true. Knew nothing would stop Finn.