Chapter Nineteen
Scath, Present Day
Con spent one night licking his wounds and feeling sorry for himself. Tark’s words had hit him hard. He was his father’s son. Feral was in his DNA.
So as fast as possible, he had raced from The Gin Room, Earth, and Rey. Particularly Rey.
The next morning, determined to fight his nature until it won, he summed up the mission for Dax. Afterward, he reported to the North Shelter stronghold and his job. He was still a Firebrand.
His commander wasn’t in his office. No surprise there. Nace wasn’t an office kinda guy. Like Con, he thrived in the outdoors, needing earth beneath his paws. It was a wonder Nace wasn’t feral. Rumor had it that he’d been close but had pulled back from the edge.
Con found the jaguar sunning himself on a large boulder in the middle of the training field. He appeared to be sleeping, but when Con approached, Nace stared at him through one sleepy eye. With a growl, he leaped into the air, landing on two feet. Naked. No biggie for shifters.
He slapped a meaty hand to Con’s back. “Glad to see you’ve returned. Let’s talk in the office. You look like shit, by the way.”
Con followed Nace inside, where the commander snagged a pair of denims out of a drawer and slipped them on. He gestured toward a chair in front of his desk. “How’d it go?”
“Got the guy. Tark. Part of that renegade group that ran with my dad in the day. The last one. I delivered justice.”
“The male you lost. Good job.”
“Thanks.”
Nace studied him, that piercing jaguar stare pinning Con to his seat. “What else?”
“It’s personal.”
Nace leaned back in his chair, kicking his bare feet onto the desk. “I got nowhere to be.”
Con gave up because Nace wouldn’t. “Your mate’s human.”
“Celene? Kinda. Part witch, too. Why?”
“I found my mate.”
“Why do I feel congratulations aren’t in order?” Nace stretched, lazy like a cat. Curious.
“Cause I have no intention to bond with her.”
“Damn stupid for a wolf. Why?”
“My wolf’s too close to my skin. He’s gonna get control of my male someday and keep it.” Con crossed his arms over his chest.
“All shifters face that problem. I don’t see you as a male that will give him permission.”
Con laughed. “Feral wolves don’t need permission.”
“Sure they do. I knew your father, Con. He didn’t have your strength, even if he was the alpha of your pack. He had a weakness inside him.”
“So do I. That’s why my wolf keeps prowling near the surface.”
“I doubt it. More likely, he’s a curious prick, wants to be in on your fun, but you’re the lead dog.”
“I wish I believed that.”
Nace relaxed into his chair, his fingers laced behind his head.
“I understand the pressure you’ve been under, Con.
It’s not been an easy road with your father’s legacy shadowing your ass.
Nor is it easy to struggle against your feral nature.
I understand that more than you know. Normally, you’re a good male, but you’re acting like a scared pup right now. ”
Con growled.
Nace waved off the warning sounds. “Now, tell me about your female.”
“Rey’s strong.”
“She’d have to be. Celene reminds me every day that I need her. A lesser cat would rebel, force her to submit. I don’t want that. I want her. I want her sassy, irreverent mouth putting me in my place. Can Rey do that?”
Con laughed. “Yep.”
“There ya go. Tell you what. I’ll make a deal. If you start to go feral, you’ll have over four hundred and fifty pounds of angry jaguar on your ass.” He grinned, displaying his sharp fangs. “You don’t want that. Your wolf doesn’t want that.”
“Is this supposed to be therapy?” Con dropped his arms to his sides, resting an ankle on its opposite knee.
“Hell, no. Reality. I’m a good judge of character. You won’t cave. You’re the brightest and best warrior in my command. Maybe my second could beat you in a fight. Maybe not. What I do know is this—you’re your grandfather. Not your father.”
“You met my grandfather?” Never having known the legendary Firebrand, Con was interested in what Nace had to say.
“I was a recruit. I’d never come across a bigger bastard in my life.
He was one of my trainers. Brutal but fair.
His wolf was always looking out of his eyes.
Damn scary. When I asked him about it, he said that his beast liked to keep an eye on things.
But there was never a doubt who was in charge.
You’re his spitting image. Now get out of here. I have real work to do.”
Con left with too many thoughts ricocheting around in his head.
****
New York, NY, Present Day
Rey answered her cell phone, even though she didn’t want to talk to anyone. A week had passed since Con deserted her, but the emotional wound was still fresh. She feared it would be with her for a long time.
She glanced at her phone. It was Chiara. Damn. She’d called every day. “Hi.” Rey’s voice sounded more cheerful than she felt.
“Hey. Dax told me you got your man. Or wolf.”
Yeah. Rey had gotten a killer. But not the wolf she wanted. Nonetheless, she wouldn’t bore Chiara with her love life. “Thanks to you.”
“Dax also told me that his guy looked like shit. What did you do to the poor man? Male.”
Oh, what the hell. She had nobody else to talk to. “I fell in love with him. And he ran as fast as he could.”
Chiara exhaled, her breath loud over the phone. “Unexpected. What’s his name? So I can put him on a hit list.”
Rey snickered. “Please don’t. His name is Conall.”
“All muscle. Gorgeous face, wicked eyes, and hair you want to tangle your fingers in?”
“Yes. How did you know?”
“‘Cause that’s what all Scath guys look like.”
“He’s not coming back.” Rey rummaged through the fridge until she found a Diet Coke. She’d prefer chugging multiple shots of whiskey, but getting drunk was bad for her depression.
“His loss. How heavy did you two get?”
She popped the tab. “He said he refused to mate me.”
“He used the word mate?”
“Yes.” Tipping the can, she swallowed. Cold. Good.
“Chicken shit.”
“I think he was afraid he’d hurt me.”
“That’s a strong possibility. Dax always worries about that. He also says the struggle is worth it, makes everything more fun. I’m going to mix up a potion and give your guy a bad case of the crabs.”
“No, Chiara. It’s for the best. I would have gotten old while he still looked like a very fit thirty-five.”
“I understand that a wolf’s bite extends your life a bit, keeps you looking younger. And there are spells. Didn’t he tell you that?”
“No. He was too busy running.” She rolled the cool can on her forehead.
“Like I said, he’s a chicken shit. But as far as mates go, he wouldn’t care if you had wrinkles and knobby knees. He’d still love you.”
“I’ll die before him. Although, according to him, he’s got about as many years left as I do.”
“Older man, huh? The bastard’s robbing the cradle. Age won’t matter much, though. With mates, whoever goes first, the other is not long after. That’s how things will work with Dax and me.”
“None of that matters, Chiara. He’s not coming back. I know it. I accept it.” Her voice quivered.
“Doesn’t sound like the Rey I remember.”
“This isn’t a movie. What do you expect me to do? Knock on his door, put my foot out so that he can’t slam it shut, and confess I love him?”
“Hmm. Sounds good. Do you want to come for a visit?”
“No.” She hesitated. “No. That would be crazy.” She tossed the empty can into recycling.
“It would. Whaddya think? I could pick you up at your place and bring you to Scath. I’ll even walk you up to his door. Don’t worry. I’d disappear before he answers.”
“Chiara, that’s schoolgirl stuff. We’re adults. I won’t chase after him.”
Another sigh from her friend. “Let me tell you about vampires. I bet wolf shifters are the same. They’re alpha males.
They carry around way too much baggage. If you don’t catch them, they run.
Especially from the women they know are their mates.
Their greatest fear is that they’ll hurt us.
But here’s a secret. They’d kill themselves before they’d harm one hair on our heads.
Unfortunately, they think they know best. But they don’t. We do.”