Chapter Three
Jackson made her keep the jacket. He could tell that she was freezing, and he didn’t have the heart to take it away from her. She glared at him the entire time he drove home, but he ignored her. Her essence soothed him, and he found it dangerous to even look at her. Until he knew for certain what was going on, he needed to stay far away from Natalie.
Brent met him at the entrance. The black iron gates that separated the housing development from the rest of the territory swung open immediately. Jackson rolled down the window, and Brent leaned in.
“Bring a guest?” Brent asked as he eyed Natalie.
“I want to keep her close until I know what’s going on,” Jackson said quietly.
Brent nodded. “I did a bit more digging into Paul’s pack.” He handed him a file. “Let me know if you want me to pursue it any further. Also, while you were gone, de’Massier called. There are a few more amendments to the treaty that they want Micah to look over.”
Jackson sighed. “Did Micah call?”
Brent nodded. “They are still on schedule. Want me to let him know about the amendments?”
“No. That man deserves to enjoy the rest of his break. Email me the changes, and I’ll look them over. Does de’Massier know that Micah is still out?”
“Yes. I told him that it might still be a few days until we have all the signatures. Do you want me to prepare a room for her?”
“I already called Lynette. She has the guest apartment already set up.” He turned his head to stare at her. “Make sure whoever is on duty tonight keeps an eye on her. She’s not to leave the territory.”
“You’ve got it, boss,” Brent said easily. Jackson rolled his eyes and pulled away. Micah, Brent, and Jackson were all best friends growing up, and while Micah was technically the most powerful of the three, they all considered each other on equal grounds. Micah and Jackson were groomed into their position from birth, but they had all agreed that they did nothing without Brent. It made for an easygoing relationship, and the whole pack benefitted.
Natalie made a disgruntled sound next to him, and he rolled up his window and drove until he got to the condos in the back. He and Micah had possession of the two penthouse condos, and Brent’s condo actually took up the whole floor underneath. As they pulled into the parking, Natalie whistled low under her breath. “My local pack didn’t have this kind of set up.”
“Micah is the alpha shifter. He and I co-own G&S Industries. It’s a multi-billion dollar company now, so we make sure that everyone in our pack is well taken care of. Every kid gets work experience at the company, and if they keep their nose out of trouble and get good grades, we’ll fund their entire college tuition. We take care of our own here.”
He watched her shift uncomfortably. He got the idea that Natalie was used to taking care of herself. It was clear that nobody had looked out for her for a long time. “How did you know I was a shifter?”
She looked out the window and avoided his gaze. “I saw your eyes change.”
“Lies. I didn’t even begin to partially shift. Even if I had, you would never have known which animal. How did you know I was a bear?”
“I dated one. I recognized your scent.”
Jackson turned off the car and knocked his head back against the headrest. “You’re still lying to me. And that’s fine. You don’t have any reason to trust me. But it’s clear that you’re in trouble, and I’d like to help you.”
She snorted. “Sure, you want to help the woman you caught stealing from your store. I’ve got new for you. The real world doesn’t work that way. Everyone wants something from someone. So you just tell me what you want from me, and we’ll be on our way.”
“The truth,” he said softly. “I’d like the truth.”
She continued to stare out the window. With a sigh, he opened his car door and came around to open hers. “Come on. I’ve got a room for you tonight.”
She glared at him. “I’m not sleeping with you.”
A smile tugged at his lips. “You’ll get your own room. I may not know much about you, but I can tell you’re dangerous.”
As she got out of the car, she brushed up against him. He nearly groaned in frustration. Not only was she dangerous, but she also sparked a violent chain reaction in him that, if he wasn’t careful, would only end up with them tangled in the sheets.
***
Alone in the expansive condo, Natalie paced. Mixed emotions twisted inside of her. Logic told her that she was prisoner of the pack, but her empathy power wrapped her in feelings of safety.
Stealing the jacket was a stupid idea. She saw that now. What were the chances that she’d be caught by a bear shifter? But she’d been freezing, and she knew she’d never make it to the city without the extra layer of clothing. She’d waited outside the door for the last employee to leave, and she knew she had a chance when she didn’t see them activating the alarm. It was a simple enough to pick the lock.
Obviously, she’d chosen the wrong store to rob. A lump formed in the back of her throat, and Natalie fought to keep her panic from rising. Bear shifters were loyal to each other. Jackson was probably calling Paul right now to tell him where she was. She’d be dead by morning.
Her empathic abilities were spotty at best. Convinced that she was in danger, she raced to the window to see what her options were. She was on the eighteenth floor, so climbing out the window wasn’t exactly an option. Crossing the room, Natalie slowly opened the front door. No one was standing guard. Taking a deep breath, she bolted for the stairwell.
And ran straight into a solid body.
Bouncing back, she looked up into Jackson’s eyes. He gripped her arms. “Trying to escape already?
“What are you doing out here?” she said as she froze in his arms. Sparks seemed to fly whenever he touched her. “Are you stalking me?”
He frowned and released her. She immediately stumbled into the wall. “I could feel your panic. I thought maybe something was happening to you.”
“Feel my panic?” She laughed in a hollow voice. “Of course you can feel my panic. I’m your prisoner.”
He cocked his head. “You’re not my prisoner. If you want to leave so badly, then be my guest.”
“I can go. You won’t stop me?”
“I won’t stop you.”
She eyed him warily. “I don’t believe you. Why go through all of this if you’re just going to let me go.”
“Because if you’re in danger, I want to help you.”
Without warning, all of her emotions broke. She slid to the floor and finally released everything inside of her. Fear of Paul. The pain that he had caused. Fear for her friends. Fear for her life. They all bundled up inside her until she could take no more. She wrapped her arms tight around her knees and sobbed.
Jackson crossed the hall instantly. She felt him gather her in his arms, but she didn’t have the strength to push him away. Murmuring softly, he carried her back to the room and quietly shut the door.
When he laid her down on the bed, she pushed at him, but it was futile. “Go away,” she cried. “Please, just leave me alone.”
He didn’t say a word as he pulled her shoes off. Carefully, he unzipped both jackets, and she didn’t fight him as he pulled them off her. He pulled the covers over her body and lay down next to her. They were both fully clothed, but he still made sure that the covers were a barrier.
She felt no sense of lust or desire in him. Only comfort. And as his warmth and his arms circled her, she finally cried herself to sleep.