Bold Mercy by Laken Cane

Chapter Six

Jared’s wolves were still restrained around me, but they were not overly rude or disrespectful. Not to my face, anyway. They didn’t want to risk their alpha’s ire. But I could see the resentment in their eyes when they looked at me—some more than others.

I was directed to the witchwolf, who I found in her beautiful herb garden with another woman. The sun was weak and there was a chill to the air, but the garden was full of color and peace, and for a few moments I stood quietly soaking it in. After my encounter with the alpha, I needed a little calm and quiet.

But both women turned toward me, pulling in my scent. It was difficult to sneak up on a wolf. Lennon’s face was serene, but the other woman frowned slightly.

“Kait,” Lennon called. “Come inside.”

I pushed open the gate and walked down the path toward them, enjoying the greenery and the pots of herbs and the statues and fountains. Walking the garden was immediately calming, and I felt my tensions melting away. Probably Lennon had spelled it to bring calm and peace, but whatever the reason, I was grateful.

The seer introduced the woman with her as Jeanette Lister. She was a small blonde with sparkling green eyes and a ready—though somewhat hesitant—smile. She seemed friendly enough, especially considering most of Jared’s wolves had a grudge against me, warranted or not, because I’d been forced from my own pack when my father had betrayed our alpha. It was hard to recover from that. Wolves had long memories, and I was apparently guilty by association. It didn’t matter to them that I’d been a child when my father had brought shame to my pack.

Fuck ‘em.

Jeanette excused herself after a couple of murmured words and left me alone with Lennon. While not unfriendly, she’d avoided my eyes and seemed…jumpy, somehow.

“What was wrong with her?” I asked Lennon.

Lennon sighed. “You smell strongly of our alpha, Kait. We have good noses, you know.”

Heat spread up my neck and landed in my cheeks, and I pretended interest in a plant with long, gray leaves so I could hide my face. “I just had a conversation with him.”

“A conversation,” she murmured. There was a smirk in her voice. Then she sobered. “Jeanette is the young lady who was tentatively matched with Jared as his future mate.”

I jerked around to face her, shock fighting with the immediate and dark possessiveness that clutched at my heart. I opened my mouth to say several things but dismissed them all. I had no right to say anything.

“You believed there weren’t young ladies eager for such a position?” she asked. “The alpha needs a mate.” Then she softened. “They don’t love each other. It would be a match of convenience.”

“An alpha’s mate isn’t his equal,” I said finally, flinching at the disdain in my voice. “I would never want such a relationship.”

Lennon shrugged. “She has a heart of steel and a fierce love for her people. She would make a good, solid mate for Jared.”

“It’s no business of mine who he ends up with.” I forced my anger away.

She changed the subject, but there was a sparkle in her eyes. A sparkle that looked a little cold, if you asked me. “What do you need from me?” she asked.

“Axton’s human servant is going to cause trouble. Since I killed her master, she’s coming after me. She’s going to hurt people I care about. I need whatever protections you can give me. Wards on my house, spells…” I hesitated. “And I need you to surround Jared with protection. He won’t be careful.”

“No,” she agreed. “He will go after her before she can come after you.”

“So will I,” I said, “but it’s not me I’m worried about.”

“I’ll come to your house tonight.” She squeezed my arm. “Don’t worry about Jared, Kait. He can take care of himself—and you need to trust your alpha. We want to make sure you’re protected.”

“My friends,” I said. “They’re the ones who need protection. Axton’s former human slave is in my house. She’s going to go after him. And Lucy…” I ran my hand over my face. “And the detective. Shit. He can’t take another encounter with a vampire.”

“About you and Jared…” She took my hand and pulled me from the garden, and as soon as we were outside the gate, the stress came back.

“There’s nothing about me and Jared.” I shrugged. “He just has some strange rules.”

“Rules? What did he say?”

I shook my head and ignored the question. I didn’t want to have a conversation with Lennon—with anyone—about the fact that I wanted the alpha’s body and he was reluctant to give it to me. Then it dawned at me that she was casually holding onto my hand. “How are you touching me without a reaction?”

Her smile was just this side of secretive. “I’ve built up protections since the last time. I’m prepared.” She squeezed my hand. “And it goes both ways.”

Meaning it wouldn’t kick my ass either, the way it had done the first time we’d inadvertently touched. “I’ll see you tonight,” I said. “I’ve got to catch this bitch before she hurts someone.”

But she wasn’t ready to let me go. “Kait, listen. You need to trust him to do what’s right. He knows what he’s doing. He knows what’s best.”

“Of course he does.” I pulled my hand away and hurried back to my car. I would rather take on three crazed human servants than have girl talk about the alpha. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but it pissed me off to think that she seemed to know more about it than I did. She was a seer though, so of course she knew things.

And maybe my wolf needed a little distance from Jared before she embarrassed us both further.

But was I strong enough for that? I was fiercely drawn to him, and that was part of the reason why I wanted to resist him. Not his body, but him. He had too much power over me, and that made me weak. It wasn’t getting any better. Just the opposite. “I’m going to back off,” I muttered, a vow my wolf didn’t like at all. But I would back off, and if Jared got himself straightened out, he knew where to find me.

I drove out of the sleepy community, forcing my thoughts from the alpha and putting them back where they belonged—on a couple of deadly enemies who wanted to take me on.

“Bring it,” I whispered, and eagerness tightened my belly. I was ready for a good fight. Always.

And I imagined my father peering over my shoulder, smiling and proud.