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  Everything slowly came together, providing him with a clearer understanding of his mate. She hadn’t known the dreams were being shared. She hadn’t had a clue what was taking place between them. If that was the case, what in the hell was she doing here? Where had she come from?

  He drew a breath, taking in her scent. Pure feminine heat assailed him, clean and rich, the hot fragrance of her cunt slamming into his lungs. She smelled good enough to eat, as sweet and warm as honey. He’d drown in her, lapping at her slit until she came long and hard. Afterward he’d bury himself inside her, fucking them both to oblivion, claiming her in every way imaginable.

  What the fuck?

  His muscles tensed, his wolf growling in his head. He fought for control, trying to ice his desire. She was human, not wolf. He could scare her if he didn’t watch himself. If he wasn’t careful he could also hurt her, and a werewolf never harmed his mate. He was shaken by his lack of control, caught off guard by how she affected him. His primal urges rushed to the forefront, his wolf ready to take over.

  Realization hit, hard and fast.

  Damn. She’s on the brink of her season.

  A part of him wanted to rage at the injustice of her predicament. Due to her genetics, she might not able to shift. Most wolves considered the inability to change a weakness. Hell, it was one of the reasons humans weren’t mated with unless the man couldn’t resist the nature of his beast. Being half-and-half wasn’t easy, not if you lived a life among a pack.

  Fuck. The pack.

  It was very possible they’d shit a brick when he introduced her to them, especially if she wasn’t able to shift. Stability was always an issue when it came to wolves but with the tension between the packs in the area things had become worse. The men and women who looked to him for balance would expect their Alpha to do the right thing—to put their well-being over his—even if it meant turning his back on the one woman meant for him.

  He suppressed a snarl, fighting for control.He wasn’t letting his mate walk out of his life. Not after he’d waited so long for her. Somehow he’d make things work. It was his responsibility to protect his female and his people. At his age, he’d seen and survived a lot of shit. He’d be damned if he let his mating come in the way of what he’d worked so hard to accomplish.

  “My name’s Jackson.” He studied her closely, resisting the urge to reach out and see if her skin was as soft as it appeared. He didn’t want to frighten her more than she already was. “Do you know why you’re here? Do you understand what’s happening to you?”

  “What kind of question is that?” She frowned, her arched brows furrowing. “I’m here to get a tattoo.”

  Shit. She had no idea what was going on.

  “I’m afraid that’s not going to happen.”

  “Why not?” Frown lines deepened, tugging at the corners of her mouth. “This is so weird. I know you but I don’t. And I feel so strange. It’s like I took a trip down the rabbit hole.”

  He forced his hands into fists, trembling with the effort not to pull her into his arms. His fingers itched with the need to touch her, his cock straining against the sharp bite of his zipper. The metal teeth subdued his wolf, the sharp lance of pain into his engorged flesh more than welcome. She needed patient and gentle—two traits he seriously lacked.

  “Do you know what’s happening to you?” he repeated. Obviously she didn’t, but he had to know. He had to be certain.

  She cocked her head to the side, a puzzled expression on her face. “I don’t think so.” Something seemed to dawn on her. Her brows lifted, her plush lips parting. “Wait. Am I dreaming? Is that why you’re here?”

  “No, you’re not dreaming,” he replied, trying not to growl in pleasure as she turned to him for answers. Her insecurity made him want to shroud her in his strength, ensuring she would always be safe from harm. It was his responsibility and privilege to see to her needs, something he responded to on a primal level.

  “Are you sure?” She looked around the room and then peered up at him, her grass-green eyes wide, pupils dilated. Her legs shifted as though she was trying to stem her sexual excitement. “Because this doesn’t feel normal.”

  Talk about an understatement.

  Those green peepers of hers indicated she was from one of the most respected packs in his area—the Worthington pack, to be precise. Only Worthington wolves had eyes the color of sunlit peridot, the shade easy to identify. Unfortunately he was at odds with their Alpha and any inquiries about his mate wouldn’t be welcomed. Territory wasn’t always easily established, especially when wolves started crowding each other. Whoever had impregnated Chloe’s mother would be in deep shit. Leaving behind a half-were infant was just asking for trouble.

  Who the fuck would do something so stupid?

  His rock-hard dick jerked inside his pants, fueled by his female’s scent. He hadn’t been able to see her face until now. That was the way it worked with dreamsharing. The big reveal didn’t happen until a couple came face-to-face. It was nature’s way of promoting a bond that defied all things superficial, bonding a couple together on a deeper mental level. She was more beautiful than he’d pictured. Even if she was slightly younger than he imagined—in her early twenties—she was more than he’d ever hoped for. Her hair was thick, curly and strawberry blonde, the color striking against her shiny green irises.

  He pictured her on his bed, those curls spread out on his pillows, her beautiful eyes glazed over as she watched him go down on her. She’d moan as he feasted on her, taking his time, licking her up like candy. He wanted to feel the sting of her nails in his scalp, hear her pleasure as she came against his tongue, the delectable taste of her cream flooding his senses. Even if she begged, he wouldn’t rush, keeping her right where he wanted her. He’d stay between her legs for hours, lapping at her cunt, taking what was his.

  A thought struck him, one he didn’t like, yanking him from his erotic musings. He studied his mate—really looked at her—starting at her head and working his way to her toes.

  Gavin Worthington—the Alpha of the Worthington pack—had similar coloring and features. Everyone knew he didn’t have children since Gavin and his mate despised each other. It was running joke in the area and a reminder why wolves didn’t usually mate unless they found the person intended for them.

  Jackson growled as instinct told him his intuition was spot-on.

  Gavin had mated Desiree Benson decades ago despite the lack of a mating bond, bringing two of the most prominent packs in the bordering states together. If Gavin had sex with a human and had left her pregnant, he wouldn’t have been able to say a word to his pack. He might even have left the female and his child to fend for themselves. Desiree would have challenged and killed a human female if her position as Lupa was threatened.

  A knock at the door had Jackson spinning around, his lips pulling back as his canines lengthened. He put himself between the door and his mate, the hair on his nape rising, the wolf within snarling to protect what was his. If Chloe was Gavin’s offspring, she had a claim to the bastard Alpha’s pack. Even if she couldn’t shift, she had a God-given birthright.

  That put her in danger.

  The door opened, revealing the identity of their guest. Jackson’s business partner and pack Beta didn’t move, standing in the open doorway. It didn’t take long for Declan to put two and two together. Jackson’s rage was easy to scent, and the fragrance of Chloe’s desire hung heavy in the room.

  “Oh shit.” Declan glanced at Chloe, his nostrils expanding as he took a deep breath and growled, “Oh fuck.”

  Jackson relaxed but remained where he was, partially shielding his female from view. He’d told the Beta about the female in his dreams, warning Declan life in the pack was about to change. Since he’d never gotten violent over a woman before, he was certain Declan knew the score.

  “Oh fuck is right.”

  “You’ve got to get her out of here. She’s almost in season.” Declan’s eyes shifted from brown to amber. “Her ma
ting scent is all over the place.”

  “Tell me something I don’t know,” he muttered and shook his head.

  It was hard enough keeping his hands to himself. Until he mated Chloe and marked her with his own scent she’d be like a drug to other males. Even if he stated she was his he’d have to fight any would-be suitor who wanted to take his place.

  “Actually, I think I’m going to go,” Chloe said and started to inch around him, the sharp smell of her fear spreading through the room. “Coming here was a bad idea.”

  I don’t think so.

  Jackson reached out, snagging her by the wrist.

  The contact did exactly what he knew it would.

  She whimpered and cried out, sagging as he tugged her toward him. The days preceding the full moon were difficult on a female in season. She had to be feeling the changes, drawn by the desire to mate, beginning the transformation to her other form if she was able to change. Until a male—preferably the female’s mate—spent his seed inside of her, the ache would only worsen.

  That’s why he’d held himself back, trying to give her space. The first touch had muddled her thoughts. A second would throw her completely off balance, until all she could think about was the sexual frustration she was sure to be experiencing.

  And the poor thing didn’t have a clue what she was dealing with.

  She didn’t fight or struggle, resting against his chest as he urged her closer. She felt perfect against him—exactly right. A growl of contentment carried up his throat, his wolf eager for her touch.

  “What’s the matter with me? This has to be a dream. I just have to wake up.”

  She sounded confused but aroused. He knew how she felt. At the moment—despite the uncertainty of their future together—he could have pounded nails with his dick.

  He brought her close, snaking his free arm around her waist and meeting Declan’s gaze. “She has no idea what’s going on.”

  “I kinda figured that,” Declan retorted, a smile on his face. “You didn’t tell me she’s human.”

  “Half-human,” Jackson corrected and narrowed his eyes, lowering his voice. “And keep that information to yourself. I’ll address the pack when I’m ready.”

  “You can’t hide her forever.” There was a warning in Declan’s tone, one that Jackson didn’t appreciate.

  “I don’t plan to,” Jackson reprimanded the Beta with a snarl. He put the male in his place by looking him in the eye, forcing Declan to lower his gaze. “I need some time to sort things out before I present my mate to the pack.”

  “Then I suggest you hurry. I have an appointment in fifteen minutes.” Declan took another step back, retreating into the hallway. “I’ll deal with the pack until the full moon.”

  There was a reason he trusted Declan. Despite his annoying tendency to run off at the mouth, the Beta was always reliable. “I’m taking the car. Put my bike in the garage and cancel my appointments. If there’s an emergency call my cell. I’ll be in touch.”

  Bending at the waist, he slid his arms beneath Chloe’s legs and back and lifted her to his chest. “Come on, sweetness.”

  “Whoa, wait.” She squirmed against him, slapping at his chest. “I can’t leave with you!” When he tightened his grip, she screamed, “What do you think you’re doing? Put me down! Right now!”

  “Oh man.” Declan laughed and moved to the side, giving Jackson room to pass. “You’re going to have your hands full with that one.”

  “Laugh it up,” he grumbled, wrestling with the female who was struggling to break free. If he’d had more time he would have been patient with her. Unfortunately he didn’t have that luxury. “One day this’ll be you.”

  “Let go!” Chloe shrieked. “Get your hands off me!”

  She landed an elbow to his gut but he didn’t stop, striding for the door. He had to get her out of here while he could. If word got out that he’d found his mate—that his mate was human, for fuck’s sake—he’d have to deal with the pack, the current discord with Gavin Worthington and his mate’s moon heat.

  Don’t get ahead of yourself. Focus on one thing at a time.

  They made it to his car without incident but the instant her feet touched the ground she tried to run. He caught her with ease, forcing her against the side of the vehicle. There was no time like the present to establish who was boss. He wedged his thighs between hers so she could feel the hard ridge of his cock. Her eyes went wide, her full lips parting in surprise.

  “I understand this is confusing but what you’re feeling isn’t going to go away. You need this.” He shoved his hips forward, pushing his pulsating length against her belly, grinding his teeth at the contact. “Over and over again. And you need it from me.”

  “This is crazy,” she whispered, fingers shaking as she rested her hands on his chest. The sweet smell of her pussy drifted to his nose. She might be shaken but she was also hotter than the asphalt in summer. “We don’t even know each other.”

  “Yes, we do.” He lowered his head and nuzzled her nose. “In fact, you and I have spent a lot of time together. I distinctly remember you sucking my cock a couple of nights ago.” She gasped and her whispered seductively, “Remember what I said? Do you remember what I promised?”

  Her cheeks turned an attractive shade of pink. “It was just a dream.” She shook her head, breathing heavy.

  “Not just a dream,” he corrected and brushed his lips against hers. “It’s called dreamsharing. There’s a difference.”

  “Dreamsharing?”

  Lights appeared down the road and he pulled away. In seconds he had the passenger door open and his mate seated in the car. She brought her trembling hands together in her lap, shifting from side to side.

  “I’ll explain everything. You have my word. I just need you to trust me, Chloe. Give me a chance to tell you why you feel the way you do. There’s a reason you found me.”

  “I just came here for a tattoo. I need to call a cab and go home.”

  Fucking hell. “If you want a tattoo I’ll give you one. And if you want to go home after we’ve talked, I’ll take you. Right now we have to go. Do you understand? We can’t stay here.”

  He slammed the door closed and rushed around the car. Panic made him think she’d bolt. Thankfully she didn’t, remaining safely inside the car. The headlights down the road weren’t far away now. Declan’s client was probably going to pull into the lot within seconds.

  “You promise to take me home? You’re not going to do anything I don’t want?”

  “Baby, if that’s what it takes to get you to listen to me, I give you my fucking word.” He removed the keys from his pocket and shoved them in the ignition. Time was ticking down. Each second created another risk he wasn’t ready to take. “Now buckle your seat belt. We’re getting out of here.”

  To his immense relief, she did as he asked. He managed to put the car in reverse and pull onto the road just as a car slowed down and stopped in front of his building. Despite his enhanced vision, he couldn’t see through the tinted windows to identify who it was.

  Worry about that shit later.

  He put the car in gear and hit the gas, shifting in his seat, trying to get comfortable as he rushed from the shop. His board-stiff cock strained against his pants, his heart hammering a dent in his chest. Another minute and he’d have had to explain the situation to Chloe with witnesses to cement the deal. Not something he was keen on. Thank God she’d listened and didn’t try to run. At least now he had a leg to stand on.

  Talk about cutting shit close.

  Chapter Two

  I’ve officially lost my mind.

  What in the world had possessed her to get into the car and drive to Jackson’s home? Why hadn’t she fought? Why had she sat quietly without questioning his motives? It hadn’t taken long—no more than ten minutes—to make the trip. But during that time she’d found it hard to concentrate. His enticing cologne seemed so much more powerful in the confines in the car, wrapping around her like a comforting
cloud and making everything hazy.

  Hazy. Now there was a word to describe how she felt.

  From the moment he’d touched her at the tattoo parlor, nothing had made sense. It was as if something had come to life inside her, taking over rational thought. She’d wanted to argue or deny what she experienced but couldn’t formulate the words. All she could think about was how wonderful he smelled, how amazing his fingers felt against her skin.

  How delicious he would taste.

  The dampness in her panties increased as she stepped past the threshold into his home. It was impossible to think clearly when she visualized the dream he’d mentioned. They’d touched each other before, using their hands to give each other pleasure, but they’d never used their mouths. Until he’d challenged her, daring her to get on her knees and suck his cock. She’d balked at first, embarrassed at the thought. Then she remembered it was only a dream. She could become unleashed. Lust had taken over and she’d given him exactly what he asked for.

  Heat rushed through her bloodstream like liquid fire at the remembrance.

  She’d sucked and licked, finding that she wanted more of his taste in her mouth, anxious to feel him surrender to his desire. There wasn’t enough—not nearly enough. He’d groaned in pleasure but stayed still, allowing her to take her time and explore. Just before the dream had ended he’d promised to do the same to her. Just thinking about it had gotten her soaking wet.

  He’d growled and started pumping into her mouth, telling her to get ready…

  She’d woken writhing and sweaty, so close to climax she could almost taste it. He’d been venturing to the land below, his teeth raking against her skin, when her eyes opened and she greeted a new day. That was the last dream she’d had of him. She went to bed each night hoping for his return, only to wake horny and unsatisfied the next morning.

  Now he was here—walking, breathing and very much real.