Betrayed (Wolf Gatherings Book 6) Read online

  Drake turned to the women. “Dad’s on his way in. He has some results from the blood test.”

  Marcus’s ears perked up. Just knowing the outcome would go a long way.

  The screen door slammed again, and Jerome entered with Natalie. “Ah, you’re all here.” He held up a piece of paper as he approached Marcus and then sat on the coffee table in front of him. He looked at Marcus directly as he spoke, which was impressive, respectful, considering Marcus was in wolf form. He was still a human under the furry exterior. And Jerome knew it.

  Marcus’s heart beat wildly with the stress. He wanted to know what was in the bloodwork at least as much as anyone else in the room.

  “There are no traces of drugs in your system. I’d venture to guess if you were drugged, it’s been a while since you were last injected. You’re completely free of any foreign substance. We can’t know for sure if you received rohypnol or scopolamine because they would have flushed out of your body quickly, especially in wolf form.”

  Marcus cocked his head, unsure what those drugs were.

  Jerome continued. “Those were the drugs the women we rescued had been given. Kinda similar to date-rape drugs.”

  Marcus’s eyes widened. Something that would make me want to take a woman against her will? It would explain a lot.

  “I’ve sent the blood off to another location for more testing. There’s still the possibility your genetic makeup has been tampered with. Were you aware of that?”

  Marcus shook his head. He doubted that was the case since it had been over six years since he’d been used as a guinea pig. Though from listening to his grandfather, he knew other men had been subjected to such testing.

  “Huh. Well, I can’t see any particular reason why you can’t shift. So I’m guessing you have your motives.” Jerome stood. “You can stay here. We would never turn away someone’s mate. But please seriously consider the long-term ramifications of remaining in such close proximity to your mate without claiming her. It has to be hard on you, but not nearly as difficult as Heather in human form. If you can’t or won’t shift, I suggest you leave her to move on with her life. This is no way to live.”

  A hand landed on Marcus’s back and dug into his fur. He glanced back at Heather. Tears filled her eyes but refused to spill down her cheeks. She wiped them away with the back of her other hand.

  His throat clogged. He couldn’t stand it another minute. Even though he may have to suffer the wrath of several people, he needed to shift for his mate’s sake.

  He stood and nudged Heather’s good leg. No way was he going to shift here in the living room. He wanted to be alone with his mate when he met her for the first time. God and everyone didn’t need to be present.

  His mate stood also. “Listen, mutt, I hope you’re ready to reveal yourself. I’m exhausted from the one-way conversations.” She limped from the room, her leg much stronger than earlier in the day.

  Marcus followed on her heels. When she entered the room he’d first met her in, still convinced it wasn’t strictly her room, she shut the door behind them. She hobbled over to the bed and climbed into the center, crossing her legs beneath her. She narrowed her gaze at him.

  He thought about shifting right there and then. But he couldn’t imagine how he might look without a shower and a comb. Instead, he turned from her and headed toward the bathroom, nudging the door open and pushing his way into the small space. He turned to look back at her before shutting the door.

  She nodded and smiled, encouraging him to go on.

  Marcus nosed the door shut with a resounding click.

  Even though it had been weeks since he last shifted, in moments he was standing in her bathroom in human form staring down at himself. Thank God he’d gone with this option. He was dirty, and his hair was a mess. He flipped on the shower and stepped in before it warmed up.

  He set his hands on the tile wall and let the water sluice over him. He tried to catch his breath.

  The trouble was this room was filled with the scent of his mate, and the moment he’d shifted and taken his human form, he’d been slammed with her smell permeating the air. His cock jumped to attention. He hadn’t had sex in a long time with any woman, but never had he been this instantly aroused.

  Holy shit. He closed his eyes and took his dick in his hand. If he didn’t bring himself to a quick orgasm before he left this bathroom, he wasn’t sure he could control himself after exiting.

  I’m not sure I can control myself even after getting off in the shower.

  He did it anyway. A few quick thrusts and he shot his come against the wall. His breathing increased until he was panting. And every breath he took drew more and more of his sweet mate into his system.

  This was nothing like the lust he’d felt toward Mackenzie or her sister at The Gathering just over a year ago. His grandfather had steered him very much astray. Intentionally. Why? He wanted to slam his fist into the wall, but it would solve nothing. And besides, his first order of business was confronting the woman who indeed was his mate. He’d deal with the rest after.

  •●•

  “Are you going to stay in there all day?” Heather squirmed against the mattress where she sat, restless. Impatient.

  She knew he was finally in human form. Besides the shower and the rummaging around she could hear, she’d sensed him the moment he’d shifted. Even through the closed door she could smell his personal musk, and she was anxious to meet him.

  He didn’t respond. She could hear the toilet flush, the sink run, and the distinct sound of him brushing his teeth. It made her smile. Was he using her toothbrush?

  She glanced down at herself. Maybe she should have dressed nicer. In jean shorts and a tank top, she was very ordinary today. Self-consciousness seeped into her skin. Goose bumps rose in its wake.

  She rubbed her arms, crossing them in front of her.

  Maybe he had some sort of deformity he didn’t want her to see. No. That wasn’t likely. She’d have seen evidence in his wolf form. A scar, though. That would have been covered with his fur.

  She didn’t have to wait any longer. She flinched as the door opened and lifted her gaze.

  Heather froze. She held her breath to control her reaction.

  Whether her initial reaction was caused by Fate or lust or her secret inner desires, the man who emerged from the bathroom took her breath away.

  Her mouth fell open. His expression was serious as he approached, his brow furrowed. He was deeply tanned in stark contrast to her own pale skin. His chest bulged with muscles. He wore nothing more than a towel wrapped around his waist, low and precarious.

  She wished it would fall.

  She lifted her gaze to his face again. Dark hair, almost black, slicked back from his forehead. He’d combed it, but it was wet. Probably in need of a cut. But right then all she could think of was weaving her fingers into it. Would it fall across his brow when it dried?

  His eyes penetrated hers. Deep chocolate, as she’d seen in his wolf form.

  He stopped midway across the room and stared at her for long moments.

  Heather sat up straighter, gripping her knees with both hands to avoid flinging herself at him. Never had she been so drawn to another human being. Her entire body went on full alert in reaction to his presence only feet away from her. In human form his pheromones brought the mating instinct closer to the surface. She needed him to claim her right now.

  Why wasn’t he moving?

  A deep inhale caused her to breathe in more of his scent until she grew dizzy with lust.

  She licked her lips. “You don’t talk any more in human form than in wolf form.”

  The dark man lifted his gaze from perusing her body to meet her eyes. He smiled…more like half smiled. “Marcus.”

  Marcus. She rolled the name around in her head. It suited him. Better than wolfboy or mutt, anyway.

  She couldn’t hold still and found herself squirming around until she was on all fours, climbing across the mattress in his directio
n. “Are you just going to stand there?”

  Marcus stepped back a pace, shocking her. He groaned and rolled his head toward the ceiling, swiping a hand down his face. “Stop that. You’re distracting me.”

  She froze, glancing down at her body to realize what a sultry pose she’d assumed en route to her mate. She didn’t drop the position, however. Let him suffer.

  “We need to talk.”

  She lifted her gaze back to meet his. “We do. This is true. How about later?” Whatever the hell possessed her to be so bold, her cheeks flamed at the internal admission. She swallowed and shook the insanity from her head, trying to come up with something to say that wouldn’t make her sound so…needy. “I mean, there are so many things I want to know about you, but it won’t change the facts.”

  “It might.” He stiffened, his eyes furrowing as he watched her.

  Heather flinched. She swiveled around and sat on the edge of the bed. Why was this so difficult? She’d never met a man in her life who would turn down such a blatant offer for sex. Was this man not as attracted to her as she was to him? Surely fate wouldn’t fuck up something as important as this.

  Her shoulders slumped as she exhaled, biting her bottom lip between her teeth.

  “Heather, there are things you need to know. I can’t claim you. It would be insensitive.”

  “What?” she nearly shouted the word before she could rein it in. She closed her eyes, fighting the urge to scream in frustration. “Is this a one-way street?” she whispered.

  “A one-way street? Oh. Hell no. Baby, I’m as attracted to you as you are to me. More so, I’m sure.”

  “Really?” She opened her eyes, narrowing her gaze on him. Sarcasm oozed out with the one word. “Because I’m thinking you must be mistaken. If you were half as interested in claiming me as what I’m feeling, you wouldn’t be standing so far away staring at me as though I were a piranha.” That wasn’t entirely true. His look projected frustration more than anything else.

  Marcus cleared his throat. “I’m not some random shifter who happened upon you in that field, baby. I was there on purpose. I came to talk to the Spencers. Encountering you wasn’t on the agenda.”

  She flinched and then scooted back on the bed to put a bit more space between them. Obviously he wasn’t consumed with the same lust slamming into her. Her heart beat so loud, she thought he might be able to hear it.

  He stepped forward. “That didn’t come out quite right.” He ran a hand through his hair, disheveling it more than it already was and making her fight against moaning at the sexy look he unintentionally brought on.

  Damn him. In addition to lust, she now felt a certain level of anger. And what was worse was it didn’t dampen the desire. The only saving grace so far in this conversation was the endearing way he kept calling her “baby” as though she truly did mean more to him than his stance and reluctance would indicate.

  Marcus continued. “I’ve done some things I’m not proud of.”

  “Haven’t we all?”

  “Perhaps, but I think I win this time.” He took another step toward her. “You deserve to know more about me before you commit to me for life.”

  At least he wasn’t discounting the idea of claiming her. She couldn’t imagine what he could say to dissuade her.

  Another deep breath from Marcus. “My name is Marcus Cunningham.”

  So?

  “Does that ring a bell?”

  She shook her head.

  “My grandfather is Melvin Cunningham. He’s a member of The Head Council.”

  “Oh. Right. Of course.” What was he trying to say? That he was too good for her?

  “He’s the leader of this estranged group that calls themselves the Romulus.”

  Her eyes shot open wide. She scrambled backward now, putting more space between herself and Marcus. Perhaps Fate really had fucked up this time.

  “See? Now do you understand the need for conversation? Or did you still want me to claim you right this second?”

  She didn’t move an inch. Her breath was shallow. Fear ate a hole in her. If she screamed, would the Spencers still be in the other room to hear her?

  He held out a hand. “I’m not going to hurt you, Heather. Ever. As of yesterday, you’re the most important person in my life, and I would never do anything to jeopardize that. But you deserve to make your own choices, and mating with me might not be on your short list. I assume it won’t. But I’m not a big enough asshole not to acknowledge that and provide you with the option to beg out.”

  Heather didn’t move a muscle. She tried not to breathe deeply. Every time she did, his scent scrambled her brain. Her damn body didn’t give a hoot who he was or what he might have done. It wanted him anyway. Her belly was tight with arousal.

  “To avoid redundancy, it would be best if I spoke to the Spencers at the same time as you. They need to hear everything I have to say also.”

  She nodded, both relieved he wasn’t going to pounce on her and aggravated they needed to leave the room and face other people without mating. Was he a member of the Romulus himself? Why wasn’t he a superwolf?

  Marcus turned toward the door to the bedroom and opened it. A second later, he reached down to grab something and spun back around. “The Spencers are good people, aren’t they?” he asked, holding up a pile of clothes.

  Heather nodded again. “The best.” Of course they would leave him something to wear outside the door.

  Marcus ducked back into the bathroom and returned moments later wearing loose jeans and a T-shirt. Not perfect fitting, but close.

  She tried not to groan over the fact he was no longer nearly naked, his delicious chest now covered with cotton.

  God, please don’t ruin my life by aligning me with the enemy…

  •●•

  Marcus held her gaze as he stepped toward the door again. He reached out a hand and then dropped it just as fast, wiping his palm on his jeans. “Sorry, baby. I wish there was another way.” He ducked his head. “Come.”

  The second he opened the door this time, he heard voices. The Spencers were waiting. Not surprising.

  Heather followed behind, but not close enough to touch him. He couldn’t blame her.

  “Oh good. You’re human,” Drake teased, the first to speak. His face fell immediately however.

  Naturally. Marcus imagined the look on his face was enough to sober everyone.

  “I’m Drake.” He extended a hand, his smile gone, replaced by a serious furrow of his brow.

  “Marcus.”

  Jerome stood. “Welcome.” He and Natalie came in from the kitchen area of the great room and sat on a love seat. “Please, sit.” He motioned toward the couch.

  Marcus sat on the couch where Jerome indicated, but Heather didn’t sit next to him. Instead she chose an armchair nearby. Marcus waited for Scott to grab a seat. He figured Scott was about twenty-four. Drake was closer to thirty. And Marcus knew there was another son missing who fell between them in age.

  Jerrod was no longer in the great room. Neither was Kenzie. Relief gave Marcus the courage to continue. At least he didn’t have to tell his tale in front of a young teen or the woman who would immediately recognize him from last year.

  “First of all,” Marcus began, “let me thank you for taking me in, especially under the strange circumstances. I admit I have been wandering your property for several days trying to figure out a way to approach.” He glanced at his mate. “Heather ended that pretty quickly.” He glanced at her and then back at Jerome. Just having Heather in the room was a challenge. He needed her like he’d never craved anything in his life. It took every ounce of his strength to face these people first and let Heather decide if she was willing to give him a chance.

  Before shifting, he’d envisioned Heather running from the room and never looking back. Now, however, he prayed to every imaginable god she might be able to give him a chance. That was how much stronger the mating call slammed into him once he was in human form.

  �
��You’re welcome.” Jerome nodded. His brow was furrowed. “What brought you here?”

  “Refuge, initially. I didn’t know where else to go. I don’t know how much of what I have to say you already know, but I suspect not all of it. And I’m sure you can shed light on several questions I have too. I’m very concerned about the direction of the shifter population.”

  “As are we,” Jerome said. “It’s a mess, for sure.”

  “Let me start by telling you my last name.”

  Scott leaned forward. “What is it?”

  “Cunningham.” He waited for his surname to sink in.

  “As in Melvin Cunningham?” Natalie asked.

  “The very one, yes. Do you know him?”

  “Not personally,” she began, “but I’ve met him a few times. I know he’s one of the five Head Council elders.”

  “Yes. He’s my grandfather. Though I’d hesitate to claim him as a blood relative these days.”

  Jerome gasped. He leaned forward. “I didn’t realize he had a son?”

  “He doesn’t. He has a daughter. My mother, Lora. But since she’s his only child and my father is a bit…well, let’s just say, he’s Granddad’s lackey, he took the name Cunningham when they married.”

  Jerome furrowed his brow. “Okaaay. Go on.”

  “The man has not been a good influence on me, that’s for sure.” Marcus glanced at everyone in the room as he spoke, gauging their reactions. So far no one was judging him. They all took his information in stride. Even Heather, whom he didn’t make eye contact with for fear he wouldn’t be able to continue.

  “I’m not going to sugarcoat this. The man is a vile excuse for a living being. He pumped me full of drugs for years in my youth, telling my parents it was for my own good, that he was trying to bulk me up. That I was too skinny.” Marcus licked his lips, wishing he had a glass of water. Bile rose in his throat at the thought of his grandfather.

  He continued. “When I was about nineteen, I started faking it, hiding the pills anywhere I could and not taking his weird concoctions. I know now he was using me for his experiments, like a guinea pig.”