The rest of her day was uneventful, except for the sideways glances she got from Ms. Lansing. James was right. She was going to be a problem. He was at her desk promptly at quitting time.

“Hey, I like your desk job. You have regular hours and you get to drive me home.” He winked. Jess grabbed her jacket and put it over her arm. She wasn’t as cold-natured as before her change, but having a sweater or jacket was a habit for her.

“Lucky for you I can drive you home and back in the morning, so your car can stay here. We can carpool every day when I don’t have meetings like this morning.” They climbed into James’s SUV, then he leaned across and buckled her seatbelt when she didn’t do it immediately. “I want you safe, sweetheart.”

“I’m with an Alpha policeman. How much safer could I possibly be?” She batted her eyelashes at him, and he grinned. She loved that smile. It was so perfect and sincere.

“If on the way home, a drunk in a speeding pickup truck T-bones us, my being Alpha and a cop are not going to help you. At that point, the only things that will help you are seatbelts and airbags. It’s like locking the door, sweetheart. I’m sure you’ve heard that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

She was beginning to feel like an errant child.

“And I am fully aware that you are wolf now and that you will heal quickly, but I do not like to take chances with my best girl. Besides, we are not immortal. We can die.”

“Okay, okay.” She threw her hands up. “Lock the door, wear the seatbelt. Fine. I know you’re right.”

He leaned over and kissed her. His lips were warm against her skin. She loved that feeling. All of her insecurities fled with that feeling.

“That’s my girl.” He started the motor and shifted into drive.

Suddenly, Freddie was at his window, frantically banging.

“Cap, I got double duty today.”

James rolled the window down.

“I have double duty. Hi, Jess.” He smiled broadly and waved.

She smiled back and lifted her hand.

“Point?” James asked.

“It’s my turn to grocery shop. There is no food in the house. I can do it when my shift ends, but if you guys want to eat…”

“Gotcha,” James said. “Be careful tonight, Freddie. I’ll see you in the morning. Make sure you stop for those groceries or get someone to cover you.”

“Yes, sir.” Freddie waved at Jess again and turned when someone called his name from the next aisle of the parking structure. He jogged away.

Jess saw Ms. Lansing a few rows over in her car, watching them. She was definitely going to be a problem. Jess silently hoped that Lolly got rid of her soon.

James started the truck and pulled out of the garage, then blended into traffic smoothly.

Jess loved sunset almost as much as sunrise. The sky at sunset got all fiery and gold. The golden beams of light filtered between the thick clouds in sharp rays and gave the clouds so much color. It was beautiful. She was excited about running with James later under that same beautiful sky.

They’d not run often, but when she had, she liked it. She liked tearing through the woods at breakneck speed, chasing him, and she liked their games. He was a beautiful and cocky wolf. She loved his wolf, whether she was herself or Big Red. She grinned at her new nickname. She marveled at how far she’d come since he’d shown up in her life. A year ago she would’ve cowered at Ms. Lansing’s demands, but today she’d said no. She sighed. No. It was a power-giving word. No, I will not cave to your demands. No, you are not more important than I am. No, I am not your damn whipping post. Hello, backbone, glad to finally meet you.

“Hey.” James touched her hand. “Are you okay?”

She turned to him and smiled. “I was just thinking about how I never would’ve told her no a year ago. You did that for me.”

“How?” His brow furrowed.

“You made me believe that I’m worth something and that my needs are important, too. That I am not weak and that I am in control of my little universe.”

“Good. Because, sweetheart, you are worth a lot more than something—you are worth everything.”

She laughed. “Sweet talk like that will get you laid, Captain.”

He growled lightly, and she laughed again.

 

They grabbed burgers on the way home, and Jess was glad for her new metabolism. Her burger, which was loaded with cheese and mayo, had to contain enough calories for an entire day, but it was so good that she ate every bite, plus fries.

Later, James drove her to a state park. He usually brought the pack, but tonight he said he wanted to be alone with his female.

Jess shifted as soon as the SUV stopped and she’d climbed out. She raced ahead and ducked into the thicket. She loved for him to search for her. They had their own game of hide and seek. She’d hide, then he’d find her and fuck her. Jess loved this game, because he was at his most Alpha right after he’d shifted. He howled off in the distance, and she stayed silent until he howled again. It was a different sound. This one was wrenched with pain. Jess tore out of her hiding place and bolted in the direction of his call. She was nearly sick with that sound. James was hurt.

Jess heard them before she saw them. Cats, big damned cats. Cats like that were not indigenous to this area. She wasn’t sure what she was dealing with. This was not a scent that she was familiar with, but she knew it was dangerous. They had James flanked, and there were five of them. Five big black cats with huge fangs and sharp claws were trying to tear him apart. He saw her then and yipped in warning to stay away. Jess was suddenly faced with one of the cats. A female was swaggering toward her. It hissed and growled then snarled through its nose. Jess stayed still and studied its movement.

Something was familiar about this big cat, something that she scented triggered a memory. Jess knew this cat. This cat was a shifter, no doubt about it, and was someone that she knew, but who? Its massive paw took a swipe at her, and she heard James give her a yap to run. She didn’t. Weren’t cats afraid of dogs, well, wolves?

Jess stood her ground and snarled at the female. She saw James in her peripheral vision, and he was holding his own against the other four, but she still wished that they’d brought the pack. If they had, this would’ve been over already. The female in front of her hissed again and took another swipe at her. Jess moved out of the way gracefully. Big Red was ferocious and would not put up with this for long. Jess had learned in the last few weeks how to stay conscious inside her head, and usually that was handy, but not now.

Right now she needed Big Red to use her instincts and fight this bitch. Jess let her take over. She stepped back in her mind and out of the way. The wolf was smarter in this situation. The wolf was more vicious, too. Jess watched from behind her eyes. She watched the cat try to swipe at her with its claws then lung at her with its sharp fangs. Jess felt the claws connect with her shoulder, but the wolf ignored the pain and whipped around on her. Big Red sank her fangs into the cat’s neck and tore her throat out without a second thought. Eww, Jess thought, feeling the warm blood in its mouth, and suddenly she knew who the cat was. Margaret Lansing.

Jess stared down into the cat’s eyes as the life fled her and the fur disappeared. Her muzzle shrank back into her face and left the face of her boss. James yipped then. He needed help. She gave Ms. Lansing one more glance, then threw herself into the fray with James.

Within seconds, she took down two of the big cats, and James killed another. The last ran away. Her two were out cold but not dead. She wanted to see who they were, so she waited, but Big Red wasn’t interested. She’d come out here to play, run, and fuck. She nudged James’s muzzle, then nipped at his ear. He gave her a look that made her wolf submit. She lay down and rested her head on her paws.

First, one of them shifted into Debbie from payroll. The other, Jess did not know. Maybe he was her brother, because he resembled Debbie. The third, she’d never seen before and she didn’t know who he was. James yipped at her and trotted off in the direction of the SUV. He shifted when he got there and held the door open for her. Jess shifted into her human self and climbed in.

“I’m proud of you. You did well in your first fight.”

“Did you see who that was back there? Did you see who I just killed?”

James nodded.

“Did you know that she was a panther?”

He shook his head. “And shame on me for not knowing. I don’t know why I didn’t scent her… why none of us did. She and the girl from payroll must wear something to mask it. Even when I got out of the truck, they were close, but I didn’t scent them.”

“She was here for me,” Jess said quietly. “She meant to kill me. What happens when she doesn’t show up tomorrow?”

“Probably nothing until someone finds the body.”

“She has kids.”

“She has teenagers, and only one of them lives with her. The oldest, I think he’s eighteen now. Don’t worry about it. She didn’t.” He gave her hand a squeeze.

Jess stared out the window. She heard his phone then. He was dialing.

“Freddy,” he said quietly. “Are you alone?” He put his turn signal on and got into the left lane to head home. “We were at the state park. Things went bad with some cats. You’re going to get an anonymous tip that there are two bodies up there in about three hours, okay?” James pulled into their driveway a few minutes later. “Yeah, that’s the place. See you tomorrow.” He turned the vehicle off and climbed out. Jess sat there, still in shock. He came around and opened her door. “Come on, sweetness. It’s over. We’ll play indoors tonight.” Jess slid out of the truck and let him wrap her in his arms.

“I don’t want to ever do that again.”

He nodded and guided her inside.

“I can’t believe that I…”

“You didn’t, she did. She had to. It was kill or be killed, babe. Your wolf did exactly what she should have done. She protected you. It was smart to let her have control. You did the right thing. Only instincts would’ve prevailed in that situation. I have the feeling that Margaret chose to stay in control, they all did. Too much ego. Big cats are vicious and very hard to kill if they are in control.” James led her inside and straight into the bedroom from their entrance.

There were other cars outside, and she knew the pack was home—well, mostly. Some were still at work. It didn’t matter if they were in the house, this end of it was private. They only shared kitchen space, and that was only for now. Soon the rest of their part would be completely renovated.

James pulled his clothes off and tossed them into the baskets Jess had lined up. The clothes were separated into the basket by colors. It saved her time when doing the laundry. She went into the bathroom to brush her teeth. James came in shortly afterward and stood behind her. His eyes flared. Hers flared back, and he smiled. Still watching her, he bent to kiss her shoulder, his hands resting on her hips.

A little thrill raced through her as it always did when he did these things. When she bent to spit, her bottom snuggled against him, and she felt the delicious hardness of him. Jess rinsed her mouth, then turned to face him. Her arms snaked around his neck, and he pushed her back against the counter.

“Here or there?” James nuzzled her neck.

She sighed.

“I know, sweetheart, but that wasn’t an option tonight. Tonight we only have here or there.” She felt him smile against her skin, and a small shiver raced through her. “I think there,” he said, and lifted her. Her legs wrapped around his waist, and he carried her to the bed and rested her on the side. “I want to take my time.”

She sighed again.

“Jess?” He glanced up at her, and she knew that he saw disappointment there. It was how she felt. She couldn’t hide it. She’d wanted wild and free, outdoors. He was always a little rougher outdoors. “Tell me.”

She gave him a little shake of her head.

His left eyebrow rose, and he gave her that look that always shook her to her core. He was the Alpha and she would submit.

“I wanted outside.” She pouted. “I know, it’s not an option tonight.”

“Tell me why. What is it about outdoors that is so much better for you?”

She didn’t answer him. How could she? It was so naughty. She felt her cheeks pink.

“Jess. Tell me. You can tell me anything. I won’t judge you, and I only want to satisfy you, sweetheart.”

Jess was looking at his sternum because he was in the way of her looking at the floor.

His knuckles brushed her cheek. “We can sit like this all night,” he murmured.

“It’s better.”

“Why is it better?” He kissed her forehead.

“Because you’re not so gentle or understanding out there.”

“Ah,” he said, and she looked up into his eyes. “You want the untamed Alpha that chases you.”

She nodded so slightly he could have missed it if he hadn’t been watching like the predator that she wanted. James suddenly yanked her shirt off and ripped her bra away from her breasts. Jess’s heart went into overdrive and her breath heaved in and out of her. He pushed her down roughly and took her pants and panties at once. She’d already removed her shoes. James threw her up toward the head of the bed and climbed up behind her. Her bra was lying on the pillow beside her head. He grabbed it and tied her hands together with it, then tied them to the headboard.

“James,” she protested, not sure what he was up to and not sure if she liked it. He flipped her over suddenly and hauled her to her knees, then slapped her ass. Hard.

“James!” she cried.

He slapped her backside again.

“James!”

His eyes flared at her again, and this time, he was Alpha. Her heart tried to jackhammer its way out of her chest.

An electric current raced over her skin, radiating from the spot where his hand met her bottom. She felt his face against the warm spot there, then felt his tongue. It slid from her tailbone down to her wetness.

“Oh James,” she panted, her arms nearly crumpled beneath her. He thrust into her then, balls deep, and she cried out. James pounded into her, and Jess loved it. She loved the way she was so full of him, the way he controlled her body and its sensations. This was what she needed. She needed him to dominate her, to make her submit, for him to take her. He reached around to pull and roll her nipple. She nearly crashed. His deft fingers found her clit next and tugged.

Gentle and patient was nice sometimes, but not on the nights when the wolf was out. When she came out to play, it made Jess wild for a while, and she needed the release. The wolf needed to submit; it calmed her. James pushed her face down and angled her hips back more sharply.

The climax started low and tingling, then worked its way violently through her. It crashed through her womb. The clenching and squeezing of it was too much, and Jess moaned loudly until it turned into something near a howl. She felt his climax begin and heard him roar behind her. Yes! That was what she needed.

Jess collapsed on the bed beneath him, but he stayed inside her until there were no more tremors or shudders left in either of them.

“Better?” he asked, kissing the back of her neck and unfastening the bra from her wrists at the same time.

“Much better,” she murmured.

“Anything you want, sweetheart, and it’s yours. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want or need. Ever. I’m more than happy to oblige.”

“Okay,” she mumbled incoherently, and she felt him smile against her skin again just as sleep claimed her.