Leave Janelle by Sarah Spade

9

Though it’s been a little more than two weeks since I made my escape from the Wolf District, just like that I’m the same feral she-wolf who jumped into the raging river to avoid Jack’s wolves getting their paws on my pup.

Saving my daughter is all that matters.

I’m out of the kitchen in a flash, running right toward the dining area where Paul is playing with Gemma. Both of them are frozen in place, heads turning in the same direction, ears cocked as they listen to the echo of Jack’s howl.

At any other time, I’d think how my daughter is mimicking an alpha is as adorable as it is worrisome; anyone looking would see that she’s acting exactly like Paul. But not right now. I’m too concerned with getting to her before Paul can.

“Gem. Come here, baby girl.”

My pup shakes off her stupor, bounding right over to me.

Paul glances my way. The terror in my eyes is plain to see.

“Corinne.”

“Yes, Alpha?”

Alpha. Not Paul. Not baby bro.

She knows this is as serious as we do.

He gestures at Gem with his chin. “Take the pup. Keep her safe.”

“Of course. Janelle? Tell Gemma to come to me.”

Because Gem can tell that I’m losing it. She won’t willingly leave my side unless I tell her to.

I’ve only just met Corinne, but I can sense that she’s one of the few I would trust with my pup at a moment like this. Nodding, I bend low enough to run my shaky fingers through Gem’s fur before telling her, “Go on, baby. Mama says stay with Corinne, okay?”

She yips, obviously confused, but the fact that Corinne’s another omega helps her decide. Even Gem can sense she’s safe and after hurriedly rubbing her flank against my ankle, she trots over to Corinne.

Paul’s sister picks her up, holding her close. “We’ll wait right here, Alpha, until you tell us otherwise. Should I get the others?”

“Call Marcus. Tell him to be ready, but don’t interfere unless Walker wins the challenge. Whatever happens, don’t let him take them. Tell him to guard the girls, and guard the pack.”

“I will.”

It doesn’t hit me that Paul’s talking about what would happen if he lost an alpha challenge until he grabs my hand, squeezing it in assurance. “Stay here, Janelle. Marcus is a good Beta. He’ll keep you safe if I can’t.”

He can’t mean what I think he means—

“Where are you going?”

Before I know it, Paul has dropped my hand, giving me one last lingering look before he started toward the door.

This isn’t supposed to involve him. This is my problem. Jack’s here to get to me.

But Paul is the Alpha of the Lakeview Pack. And as much as I wish it were otherwise, I know the meaning behind that howl.

It’s a challenge, and he can’t challenge me. Unless he’s challenging my baby, there’s only one alpha here who must answer that call.

No.

“Paul, no—”

“I have to. This is my territory. If Walker thinks he’s going to challenge me, he’s going to discover just how far I’m willing to go to protect it. Willing to protect you.” His eyes lock on my face again, telling me more than he can with just his gaze. “I won’t let him get you or your daughter. I promise you that, Janelle.”

A promise is just words. He won’t mean to break it, but with Jack out there? He might not have a choice.

I left my mate. I ran. Though the idea has my knees shaking, I know that if I don’t face him now, I’m only buying time. He won’t stop, and it’s not fair of me to hide behind Paul when I know that I’m the one Jack’s targeting.

Me and Gem.

“I’m going with you.”

It’s Paul’s turn to say no. “What? No. I won’t let him get to you. I promised you that you’d be safe here. I’m Alpha. I stand by my word.”

He’s more than that to me. I could care less if he was an alpha wolf, a beta, or even a delta. My experience with alphas has all been shitty—until him.

Jack took too much from me over the years. I won’t let him take Paul, too.

“Do you trust me?”

“You have my heart, Janelle. What kind of male would I be if you didn’t have my trust?”

A foolish male, I think, since he’s allowed himself to care for me despite my baggage and the risk I present to the rest of his pack. But even though it’s been no time at all in the grand scheme of things, I also know that Paul is the best male I’ve ever known.

“Then, please. Trust me. I… I have to do this.”

He runs his gaze over my face, trying to understand. Maybe he does. Maybe he doesn’t. Though he tightens his jaw, like he wants nothing more than to order me to stay back, he nods.

“Okay,” he says. “Just stay behind me, okay? When we meet up with Walker.”

I nod. That’s probably for the best.

“I won’t let anything happen to the pup,” vows Corinne.

Paul’s sister has a swipe of flour on her cheek, but the friendly smile she’d been wearing all day is gone. In its place, I see a mother wolf who will do anything to protect a pup, even when it isn’t one of her own.

“Thank you,” I whisper before blowing Gem a quick kiss, then bolting toward the door.

Paul’s already two steps ahead of me. He pulls it open, yanking it shut as soon as I run through it.

Before he can follow after me, I spin around, throwing my arms around Paul. I press the length of my body to his, nuzzling his chest with my cheek, rubbing my arms up and down his back. I throw every bit of my omega aura at him that I can spare.

He doesn’t react. He just lets me molest him, sure that I must have my reason.

And I do.

I pull back, reminding him, “You trust me.”

He tips my head back with his finger. “I trust you.”

“Good. Now let’s go.”

I know instinctively which way to go. My shifter’s hearing has already pinpointed where Jack’s howl came from, but my wolf has always been able to sense Jack. From the moment he appeared in my home pack, claiming me as his fated mate, the thinnest of bonds had sprung up between us. It’s so much weaker than it ever was—a new, stronger one taking its place, stretching between me and Paul—but it’s still there.

By the end of today, it won’t be. Either because I broke it or Jack did, I swear it’ll be gone.

There are only two ways to get rid of it. So long as we haven’t performed the Luna Ceremony, a bond can only be broken when one of the mates fully rejects the other—or one of them dies.

I don’t know what’s going to happen next, but that realization doesn’t change anything. If I survive this, I won’t be tied to Jack any longer. I’ve left him. Refused him. In all ways but the one that counts, I rejected him.

He’s not my mate.

He’s just a monster.

I wish he looked like one, though. I really do. As Paul follows my lead, knowing without acknowledging it how I’m able to race right to where Jack’s waiting for someone to answer his challenge, I use the dwindling bond to bring us to the river border that separates the Wolf District from Lakeview.

Part of me expected that he’d be waiting near the hill that I spent all those days in. He’s not. Instead, he’s made his stand about twenty feet from the edge of the river at a different point entirely, yet firmly in Lakeview territory.

I should’ve known.

Paul told me that he went back to the cave where I’d stayed with Gem, marking it repeatedly until it smelled entirely of him; he’d done the same thing as soon as he figured out we were hiding up there, determined to conceal us from any predators who might be a threat to us before he could convince us to join him at the den. After I told him about Jack, he encouraged his enforcers to do the same. Over the layers of fresh urine, no one would ever be able to track us there.

He wouldn’t need to use his nose to find us. Like me, all he had to do was acknowledge our bond. I guess he finally decided to come looking for us himself because there he is, looking as beautiful—and as dangerous—as ever.

The bastard has the nerve to smile enticingly when he sees me slow my approach, keeping a healthy amount of distance between us. And though his wolf would’ve caught the scent of Paul running with me, the smile develops a sharp edge when the dark-haired Alpha moves in front of me.

Jack’s golden gaze flickers over Paul before it settles on me.

“I thought that would be enough to bring you running, my mate.”

Not your mate.

I choke over the words. I want to say them, I want to mean them, but he’s using his alpha nature against me. I can barely breathe, let alone defy him.

And, damn him, he’s enjoying it.

Wearing that cocky, cocky smile I know too well, his gaze glances over me. Over Paul. He dismisses both of us quickly before his brow furrows. His smile wavers. “I don’t see the little bitch. Where is she?”

Paul growls under his breath. Hearing him stand up for my baby gives me enough courage to peer up at Jack through the fringe of my eyelashes.

And I lie.

“She’s… she’s gone.”

Paul goes silent. He doesn’t contradict me, though.

“Gone?” Jack snaps. I’ve caught him by surprise. Thank the Luna. That might be the only advantage I have. “You mean dead?”

I swallow.

If it was anyone else, Jack would know that I was lying through my teeth. Alphas seem to have a sixth sense when it comes to people being untruthful, whether it’s a scent thing or instinctual. I don’t know. If I had the ability, I never would’ve left with Jack in the first place. As an omega, I can sense emotions and somewhat manipulate them, but when someone lies with such alacrity, I’m clueless.

But I’m also his mate—unfortunately. He’s spent three years bending me, twisting me, breaking me to his will.

He’d never expect me to lie.

I’m so glad I thought ahead to rub my scent on Paul and his on me. I was banking on the fact that Jack wouldn’t be able to recognize Gem’s scent, and that he’d be more distracted by “his” female’s scent mingled with another male—and another alpha.

He has no proof that Gem’s alive. So, inwardly crossing my claws that this will work, I tell him that she’s not.

“Yes.” And, thinking of how terrified his threat made me, how heartbroken I’d be if anything happened to Gem, how I’ll sacrifice everything to keep my daughter safe, I bring tears to my eyes. They’re furious tears, but Jack’s too much of a sociopath to tell the difference. “You bastard. You said you’d drown her, but you never got the chance, did you? The river did it for you.”

It’s obvious how little of a threat he thinks Paul is. During a challenge, an Alpha will never take his eyes off of an opponent; it’s a sign of submission. But as my angry words wash over him, Jack turns, appraising the rushing waters of the river behind him.

And then he shrugs. “You gave me one pup. You’ll give me another. And, when you do, maybe I’ll be gracious enough to forgive you for healing my marks.”

Paul’s rumble becomes a full-throated growl. “Like hell she will.”

“Paul—”

Jack lets out a throaty laugh that had the hairs on the back of my neck standing straight. “I’ll get to you in a minute, boy.”

Boy, as if Jack is so much older than Paul. He’s probably got five years on Paul, that’s all, but it’s not about age. It’s about respect.

I tug on the back of Paul’s shirt. Though he’s bristling with rage on my behalf, he really is the perfect partner. Instead of snapping at me to get back, reminding me that I said I would, he nods.

I move to stand at his side. And then, using his strength to bolster my own, I dare to look Jack dead in the face.

“You’re not my mate,” I tell him.

His eyebrows rise. “Excuse me?”

The bond between us quivers.

It’s never been strong; already the one that’s been forming between me and Paul is twice as sturdy. I don’t know why I’ve held onto it so long, but I know that I can’t. Not any more.

So I let go of it.

“You’re not my mate,” I tell him again. Stronger this time. Undeniable. “You’ll never be my bonded mate. I don’t choose you, either, Jack. I… I reject you.”

If only it was as easy as that.

“You’re mine, Janelle.” He laughs, like the idea of my actually having any say in my mating is funny. “Whose gonna stop me from taking what’s mine?”

“Me.”

“Paul, no.”

I had hoped that Jack’s challenge really had been meant for our daughter. When Jack barely paid any attention to Paul, I clung to that hope. And even if he did, that doesn’t change who Paul is.

I’m an omega, but Paul Booker is an alpha. The Alpha of the Lakeview Pack. He gave me sanctuary and Jack is a threat.

I can’t stop him.

As much as it pains me, I force myself to fall back as he moves in front of me again.

“This is my pack, Walker,” he booms. “She’s under my protection.”

If Jack’s surprised that Paul’s accepting his challenge, he hides it well with his scoff. “Why are you wasting your time with an omega? She’s not worth losing your pack.”

“Who says I’m going to lose my pack?”

“When I rip out your throat, I’ll fuck her over your corpse,” taunts Jack. “She might think she can reject me, but she’s mine. I’ll bend her over, fill her with my seed, and wipe your scent off of her completely.”

I’m used to Jack talking like that. And I know that he means every word he says. Wearing Paul’s scent to hide Gem’s was a calculated move, but after all the time we’ve been spending together lately, it would’ve been embedded in my skin anyway. Not to mention that kiss…

I want to defend Paul. Tell Jack it’s not what he thinks. That Paul and I have never mated.

But then Paul steps forward and says solemnly, “A mate chooses. Any honorable Alpha knows that,” and I keep quiet.

He doesn’t need me to defend him. He’s an Alpha. My Alpha. And he’s going to defend me.

Another cocky smile tugs on Jack’s lips. “I’ve never been honorable.”

Paul bows his head, as if conceding the point. “Fair enough.”

Jack’s smile turns feral. “Never been fair, either.”

“Good to know,” Paul says conversationally a split second before he breaks into a sprint.