Page 21 of New Blood

Danielle nodded. Sometimes Flora spoke to her as if she were a child, or stupid, or both. Well, she was neither. She bit back a snide comment. It wasn’t worth it to start an argument. What would be the purpose of it?

Perhaps it had been a mistake to follow her mother’s advice to seek help from the Gallagher pack should she get into trouble. And she had gotten into trouble not long after her mother’s death when she’d been twenty-three years old. A few months before her mother’s death, they’d been invited to join a pack in Southern California, and her mother had thought it would provide them with the protection they needed. Two female werewolves were prime targets for any pack that wanted to strengthen their ranks.

Her mother had been in an abusive relationship with a human man, who wouldn’t take no for an answer. Carl had been a drunk, and Danielle hadn’t liked him from the start, but her mother had been happy for a while. However, it hadn’t lasted. His constant promises that he wouldn’t drink anymore had been mere lies to pacify her mother. Instead, he’d eventually gotten violent. After a particularly violent episode, she and her mother had done what was necessary and left in the middle of the night, glad that they’d gotten away with their lives. But they’d realized at the same time that they needed protection, and only a werewolf pack could provide it.

When they finally found a pack in Southern California that was willing to take them in, they stopped running. Finally, they were safe and had everything they needed. But it was only an illusion. Her mother’s death had been a tragic accident. A drunk driver had plowed into her car, killing her instantly. While she was still grieving, Danielle had overheard two pack members talk about her future. She was to be mated to one of the pack members, one that she’d always disliked because he was cruel. But she wouldn’t comply. She’d seen her mother suffer in an abusive relationship, and she wasn’t going to repeat history. So she did what she had to: she fled. A letter from her late mother in hand, she traveled north to William Gallagher. She didn’t know what the letter said, but when William read it, he gave her a roof over her head and promised to protect her. She’d finally felt safe again when she’d joined his pack. But her world was being upended again. A new alpha and an uncertain future loomed over her. Was she destined to run all her life?

14

Entering the foyer, Jude waved at Wendell Loveland, who stood at the entrance to the living room. The massive werewolf wore a tight-fitting black T-shirt that showed off his impressive biceps. His permanent scowl prevented many people from addressing him for fear he’d lash out, but Jude knew him better. He was reserved and private, and preferred the company of animals to that of people.

“What’s up?” Wendell asked.

“Call a meeting with the Gallagher family members in half an hour. I want our entire team to take part.”

“Consider it done.” Then he pointed to Jude’s sleeve. “What happened there?”

“Flying ember from the fire.” He shrugged as he looked at the hole the fire had burned into his sleeve. “So much for my favorite shirt. I’d better get changed quickly. I should have another one in my bag.”

Wendell nodded. “Austin said they’ll bring our trunks back on their flight tomorrow.”

“Yeah. Let the others know to call him if there’s anything in particular they want transported here. There’ll be sufficient space on the plane.”

“Guess we’ll be staying here for a while, huh?” Wendell asked.

“Yeah, well, I guess it’s permanent for me. But once everything has settled down here, I’m sure the Alliance will pull some of you from this assignment.”

After all, every member of his team was trained as an alpha-in-waiting. In the meantime, they helped those new Alphas who were taking over a rogue pack. He’d done the same before in Washington State. There, he’d assisted an alpha-in-waiting bring a rogue pack under control and had seen firsthand how difficult this undertaking could be. However, the Washington State pack in question had finally seen the error of their ways and submitted to their new alpha. Now, the pack was prospering, and by all accounts, everybody was happy and getting along fine despite the difficulties at the beginning.

Remembering that assignment made him feel more confident that the Gallagher pack would eventually also fall in line, and everything would work out for the best.

“Back in a few minutes,” Jude said to Wendell and headed for the stairs.

He took two at once, hurrying to the master suite. In the dark, wood-paneled corridor, he already undid the buttons of his shirt. When he opened the door and entered, he shrugged off the shirt and tossed it on a nearby chair. His chest bare, he walked to the large walk-in closet that was more like an old-fashioned dressing room. The previous night, he’d tossed his travel bag on the floor there, not bothering to unpack anything but his toiletries.

At the open door to the dressing room, he came to an abrupt halt. His heart instantly began to race at double its normal speed. The room wasn’t empty. Danielle, her back to him, dressed in tight-fitting jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt that showed off her slim figure perfectly, was busy folding William’s clothing and placing it in large cardboard boxes. She hadn’t heard him yet, and he used the brief moment to roam his eyes over her. Damn, she looked fine. He inhaled her scent, and with it, he felt his pants tighten around his groin, his cock demanding more space to expand.

A breath escaped him, and Danielle spun around, gasping in shock. He could see her chest rising and couldn’t help but notice her nipples hardening under her T-shirt.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said quickly, her cheeks flushing. “I didn’t know you’d be here at this time. I’ll come back later to finish.”

She made a step in his direction, but he didn’t budge, didn’t make space for her to be able to reach the door. Her gaze trailed to his chest, and her lips parted. In the silence between them, he could only hear their breathing and his own heartbeat.

“I apologize. I know I’m not supposed to be here when you’re in your room,” she said, her voice shaking as if she expected to be scolded.

“It’s not a problem,” he said gently, while continuing to block the door.

“But you said I should not be seen—”

“I said what?” He stepped closer, his naked skin now prickling in anticipation.

“That I should only work in your room when you’re not here.”

He shook his head. “I never said that.”

“But Flora—”

“She must have misunderstood me,” he interrupted. “I have no problem with you being here while I’m here.”