Chapter Eight
Finn tried not to tense as he pulled into the driveway. It wasn’t that he was unhappy to see Dante and Anders. It had been a few years since they’d all been together, and a day didn’t go by that he didn’t feel their absence. But the circumstances of their reunion were far from ideal. All too soon they’d face a full moon. Damn, he was tired.
“Hollis was at your apartment. Who are the other two?” Jessa asked from beside him in the truck cab.
“The big one next to him is Anders. He thinks he’s hilarious.” Anders waved, grinning. Dante crossed his arms and leaned against the porch railing, watching them. “And the other is Dante.”
“How do you know one another?” she asked.
“College,” he said. “We were all pretty close. Before I attacked them.” Not anymore. Now he had no idea what they thought about all of this.
The passenger door opened before he’d unbuckled his seat belt.
“You must be Jessa.” Anders was all smiles. “Nice to meet the girl who didn’t run away screaming.”
Finn saw Jessa’s smile and calmed. “Does that happen a lot?” she asked, laughter in her voice.
Anders nodded. “Hell, yes. You start sprouting pointy ears and a bunch of extra teeth, and you’d be surprised at how fast a gal can run in heels.”
Finn saw the shock on Jessa’s face before she said, “Maybe you should save that for the second or third date?”
Anders chuckled. “I’ll think about it.”
“Got here just in time.” Hollis was at his door.
Dante stayed where he was. “Snow’s coming in.”
He glanced at the white sky. “Estimates on how much?” he asked, sniffing the air. He didn’t want them trapped here. But a few feet of ice and snow would slow down anyone who might be looking for them—and cover their scent and tracks.
Dante shrugged.
Finn climbed out of the truck, unbuckling the car seat and pulling it with him. He saw the question on Jessa’s face and nodded slightly. No, he didn’t normally carry Oscar. But now, he needed his son close to meet his family.
Hollis smiled. “He’s growing.”
“Looks small to me,” Dante argued.
“Babies generally are,” Jessa said.
Dante’s eyes narrowed, his gaze sweeping over Jessa from head to toe. Finn’s wolf went on alert.
She shivered, her gaze seeking his. “It’s cold.”
“No wonder. Where’s your coat?” Anders asked.
Which reminded Finn what she was wearing—and her lack of bra. “Here.” He shrugged out of his flannel shirt and draped it over her shoulders. It helped, but not enough. “Inside,” he snapped, anxious to find her something to wrap up in. He stayed close by her side as they made their way into the massive wood cabin he considered his real home.
Jessa was rubbing her hands together by the time they were inside.
He tried not to stare at the hard, tight evidence of just how cold she was. And his wolf was pissed as hell that the others were seeing it, too. “Fire’s this way,” he said, nodding into the great room.
“I should probably clean up Oscar first,” she said. “And get his bottle ready.”
The other three seemed to be circling, equally curious about Oscar and Jessa, and the energy had his alpha on high alert. He’d get Jessa and Oscar settled then deal with the other three.
“My room’s this way,” he said, carrying Oscar with him.
He could breathe easier once he’d closed the bedroom door behind them.
“Is everything okay?” she asked, her soothing touch a whisper across his forearm.
He looked at her, covering her hand with his. “Why?”
“You’re tense. I thought being here would be better.” Her green eyes searched his.
He loved the way her hand tightened on his, like holding on to him made her calmer, too. He shook his head. “It’s been a long time since we’ve all been together.” Well, almost all. Mal wasn’t here. “Takes some time for us to adjust. The wolves need to settle down.” He set the car seat on the bed.
“Go. Get adjusted.” She smiled. “I’m pretty sure Oscar would like some wriggle time out of that seat.”
“I’ll go.” He paused. “But I’d feel better if you stayed in here with me.” He saw the way she looked around the room. “I can sleep on the floor.”
She glanced at him, her cheeks coloring. “Do you want to sleep on the floor?”
He swallowed. “No.”
“You don’t have to sleep on the floor,” she whispered, shivering slightly, her gaze locking with his.
Sleeping with her the night before had been equal parts heaven and hell. And tonight he’d endure it again if it put her back in his arms. “Cold?” He took her hands in his. Soft and ice-cold.
She shrugged.
He grinned. “Give me a sec.” He dug through his clothes, pulling out some flannel pajamas, thermal underwear, and an old sweatshirt. “They’ll be big, but warm.” He liked the idea of her wearing his clothes.
She took the clothing. “Warm is good.”
He nodded, making his way to the bedroom door. “You have what you need for Oscar?”
She nodded.
“I’ll be back.” He paused. “Stay here.”
She frowned, then nodded, and he closed the door behind him.
They were waiting for him in the great room.
“She’s the nanny?” Dante asked, clearly not buying it.
“She’s his mate,” Hollis interrupted.
His wolf agreed. But Finn wasn’t ready to admit defeat. Jessa deserved better.
“She’s hot.” Anders grinned, flopping into one of the large leather armchairs and propping his booted feet on the coffee table. “Damn hot. My wolf likes her. A lot.”
Finn shook his head, ignoring his wolf’s irritation.
“Oscar’s so damn little.” Dante’s concern was surprising. “The change could break him into a million pieces.”
Finn didn’t argue. Fear had a vise grip on his heart, shredding his insides to bits. He’d never dreaded a moon so much in his life.
“If we can do it, he should be able to,” Hollis interrupted again. “Oscar is part of us.”
“Poor kid,” Anders joked.
“Not really. He was born this way. He has a distinct advantage over us.” Hollis smiled. “Speaking of disadvantages. When Jessa and Finn bond, she’ll have almost as much sway over you as he does. Alpha. His mate.”
“Great,” Dante said.
“She’s not going to be my mate,” Finn snapped.
All three of them looked at him.
“You can’t fight instinct, man.” Anders shook his head. “If we can feel what’s going on with you two this strong, I can only imagine what you’re fighting.”
Finn ignored the comment.
“So we’re all supposed to pretend she’s not one of us? She’s up for grabs?” Dante asked. “Meaning she’s fair game? Like Anders said, she’s hot.”
Finn glared at him, hands fisted, jaw clenched.
Dante and Anders exchanged a look, laughing.
“And Oscar?” Hollis asked. “He’s bonded with her. He clearly looks to her as mother.”
Finn nodded.
“She’ll need protection,” Dante sighed. “She needs to know what’s coming.”
“She has an idea,” Finn said, sitting.
“What’s the plan?” Anders asked.
“Keep them safe. Rest a few days, before the change. I…I need to stay with them,” Finn said, staring into the fire. His wolf would do whatever was necessary to protect him, he knew that. There had been no sign of the Others, but he had to stay close, he knew that. “Can you run the perimeter?”
Anders and Dante nodded.
“The pack will help,” Hollis offered.
Ever since they were infected, Hollis read everything he could find on wolf habits, packs, and hunting, as well as werewolf lore. So far, their pack shared more of the true wolf’s sensibilities that those of the Hollywood werewolf. Something Finn was thankful for. The only distinguishing difference between his pack and the native timber wolves that populated the refuge was size and strength. His pack was bigger, with longer snouts, pointier ears, larger teeth and claws, and brutal strength. What he was capable of in wolf form was hard to accept. Out of fear or respect, the native wolves welcomed them into the pack when the moon ruled.
“I’m counting on that,” Finn nodded.
“As a point of safety…” Hollis’s tone drew Finn’s attention. “You need to be focused, Finn. You’re the alpha. If you’re distracted, we’re distracted.”
“So, do the deed. Make her one of us.” Anders grinned.
Finn rose, pacing before the fire. “I wouldn’t have wished this on any of you. You expect me to ask her to be part of this clusterfuck?”
“Seems to me she already is,” Dante said. “If you didn’t want her involved, why the hell did you bring her here?”
“To protect her,” Finn snapped.
“Back up.” Dante sighed. “Why hire her in the first place?”
“I needed a nanny. She has life-experience—”
“No, at the company. Before Oscar,” Dante pushed.
“I didn’t. I don’t hire every employee at Dean Industries. Believe me, I wouldn’t have.” But it was a lie, and he knew it. Her scent was all it had taken. If she’d come in for an interview with him, he would have known then. She was important, someone he needed to keep close—but not too close. Now he couldn’t keep his distance. When she was near, he wanted to touch her, to hold her, to reassure himself that she was there, safe, at his side. His wolf and his heart had already claimed her.
“Right.” Dante stood. “I’m going to bed.”
But after they’d turned in, Finn sat drinking a scotch and staring into the roaring flames of the fire. His wolf put Jessa’s safety in jeopardy. He ran a hand over his face, trying not to remember the feel of her body beneath his hands. He closed his eyes, drawing in the echo of her scent, the sigh she made in her sleep. Until he got a firm rein on his hunger, he’d stay where he was—away from her.
He played a game of pool against himself, threw darts for the better part of an hour, and stared out the window at the falling snow until his eyelids grew heavy. Only then did he knock back the last of his scotch and head to his bedroom.
Oscar was sound asleep in a portable crib. And Jessa slept in the rocker, twisted awkwardly, her long hair spilling over the chair arm to the floor. He hesitated, knowing he should leave her—not touch her—but unable to stop himself. When he lifted her in his arms, she turned into him, her breath warming the cotton of his white undershirt and making his medallion hot. It didn’t matter. The damn thing could burn a circle on his chest and he’d still be yearning for the feel of her curves pressed against him. He lay her on the bed, staring down at her. His wolf was pacing, hoping, and craving. So Finn headed for a long cold shower and ignored the wolf’s temper.