Reina's Mate Read online

“She doesn't particularly like or respect Manny. She's made some tentative overtures to join our pack, but dad doesn't think it would be politically expedient to take a female from Manny's pack.”

  That sounded like him.

  “So, she's willing to put everything on the line and back your play? What if this doesn't work and she gets caught? She won't have either pack to turn to.”

  “I guess she's willing to take the risk. I don't plan on leaving her out to dry. And I wouldn't exactly call her the meek type.”

  I chuckled.

  “Sounds accurate.”

  I kept driving. We passed the edge of Manny's territory as the sun began to climb in the sky.

  “Any word yet?”

  “No,” Reina said, frustrated. “I feel the urge to just rush through and get closer, but it would be smarter to wait and see if anything could be coordinated.”

  I thought about everything in the area.

  “There's a town about twenty minutes outside of Manny's territory. We could stay there, rest up until we hear back. Better to be as sharp as possible if we run into trouble.”

  That was a very optimistic way of looking at it.

  It would be more accurate to say when.

  “Yeah. OK.”

  I drove past the stretch of Manny's territory, feeling the same itch to act that Reina was no doubt suppressing.

  But we needed to be smart about this.

  Sofia depended on it.

  There was a small bed and breakfast that was exactly where I'd remembered it from the last time I'd been down this way. It was designed to attract the tourists with its gingerbread like charm and pretty rose garden.

  I parked in the small drive and we headed inside, the tinkle of the bell on the door soft and musical.

  The little old lady who came puttering out was round and plump, a sweet smile ready on her face.

  “Good morning! How can I help you?”

  “Can we have two rooms, please?”

  “Oh, well, I'm very sorry. We only have one available at the moment. There's a bird watching group that has booked up all the rest for the week, I'm afraid.”

  Bird watching? Was that a thing?

  “We'll take the one room then.”

  And hope that I didn't go crazy trapped in a room with Reina. With a bed right nearby.

  “Certainly!”

  I gave her my credit card and she showed us up to the room.

  It was a nice room. A little too lacy and floral-y for my taste, but it smelled nice and was clean.

  And it had a massive bed with a mattress that looked like it could handle four people.

  “Fresh towels are already laid out. Let me know if you need anything else.”

  “Thank you, ma'am,” Reina said, walking her back to the door.

  I went to the window and saw we had a good view of the driveway.

  “I'm going to take a shower while I have the chance.”

  “Alright.”

  I heard the bathroom door open and close and then the sound of the shower turning on.

  I turned to look at the thin, closed door.

  Reina was just beyond that flimsy barrier. Naked and wet.

  Fuck. I needed to get out of here.

  I took one of the keys and left the room, going down the stairs and outside. A walk to clear my head sounded like a good idea.

  I walked down the drive and turned on the street.

  The small town was nice. The other people walking gave me friendly smiles that I returned half-heartedly.

  I was still trying- unsuccessfully- to put Reina out of my head when the smell of food had me turning down a small side street.

  Fuel was a good idea.

  I went inside and ordered some burgers to go, knowing Reina probably hadn't eaten anything for even longer than me.

  Thanking the teenage boy at the counter, I took the heavy bag and started back for the bed and breakfast.

  I was just about to turn into the drive when I saw a black car parking on the street just around the corner.

  Something about it had the little hairs on the back of my neck rising.

  Ducking into a doorway, I watched as four men got out and walked cautiously toward the bed and breakfast's drive.

  One of them looked over in my direction.

  I froze, hoping my lack of movement would keep me hidden.

  He turned away, unaware.

  I recognized that face. Which meant that was actually four wolves.

  And someone had spotted us. I couldn't think of how else they would have found us again so quickly without someone tipping them off.

  As soon as they were out of sight, I called Reina's phone, hoping she still had the same number.

  I tried not to think too hard about why I still had it programmed into my contacts.

  “Hello? Griff?”

  The familiar nickname caused an uncomfortable twinge.

  “Four of John's men are coming up the drive right now. Unless you're willing to hurt them- and I mean badly- you need to get out of the room.”

  Her curse was muffled as I heard her moving.

  I kept the phone pressed to my ear as I back tracked and circled around.

  The place was toward the edge of town, which meant that the back faced the woods. If Reina could get down in time, she would try to come out that way.

  “I'm waiting out back, in the tree line.”

  “Got it.”

  She hung up and I slid the phone into my pocket, focusing on moving quietly.

  The smart thing to do would be to get in the car and wait for her. Or figure out a way to disable their car and then get into mine to wait for Reina.

  But I couldn't do the smart thing when I wasn't sure if she'd get out okay.

  I'd just gotten into position to see the back door when it opened and Reina ghosted out silently.

  Unfortunately, that was when two of the wolves I'd seen circled around to the back.

  Reina realized she was made the same instant I did.

  Heart in my throat, I made myself wait. They might not know that she wasn't alone. Which meant keeping the element of surprise could only help us.

  I was a short sprint away right now.

  My hands clenched into fists. I dug my fingernails into my palms, using the pain to help ground me and keep me from rushing out there before I should.

  Wait, Griffith.

  Chapter 2

  Reina

  I stared at Singh and Saccone.

  I didn't want to hurt anyone who was just following orders, but if it meant the difference between me being able to get Sofia and not, they were going down.

  They stopped a few paces away, their hands up.

  “I'm not letting you take me back.”

  “That's not why we're here,” Singh said calmly.

  I moved to put my back to the side of the building as I heard two pairs of footsteps behind me.

  Xavier and Donald.

  I suppressed the hurt that wanted to take over. These were all good men. But I knew intellectually that they had an obligation to obey the Alpha.

  It still felt like a betrayal deep inside.

  “Why are you here then?”

  They all looked at each other.

  “We want to throw our lot in with you. We're here to help.”

  Here to help?

  “Here to help?”

  “Yes. Your father hasn't exactly won us over. This latest...incident...has us re-thinking our loyalties.”

  I felt completely blindsided.

  And then I started thinking about all they were risking.

  “This is too dangerous. Chances of success aren't exactly stellar. And if we do fail, you'll have just burned your bridges with your Alpha. Even if I succeed...”

  I shook my head.

  I hadn't really thought ahead to what would happen if I did succeed. I knew going back to the pack would be impossible. Disobeying direct orders and breaking a newly formed alliance like this just wasn't somet
hing that would be forgiven.

  And I couldn't trust that Sofia wouldn't just end up right where she was now.

  “We know the risks,” Xavier spoke up. “We think they're worth it. If things go south...we were playing with the idea of just leaving anyway. Guess that would be decided for us.”

  I looked toward the trees to find Griffith walking towards us.

  “They want to help,” I repeated.

  “I heard.” He looked the men over. “Why should we trust you? It isn't every day people are willing to betray their Alpha.”

  I watched as they all flinched slightly at having it put so baldly.

  “We're looking out for the good of the people in our pack. John is starting to lose sight of what's important. The people are the pack.”

  I looked at Saccone thoughtfully.

  He was right. Using Sofia in a political deal was just the latest example of how he used different people in the pack. Those incidents always made be feel uneasy, but he justified them by reiterating that the end result was good for the pack as a whole.

  It was passed time to rethink that mode of operation.

  The fact that it took something happening to Sofia to shake me up enough to actually do something didn't exactly show me in a good light.

  “Alright. Last chance- anyone having second thoughts?”

  All of them remained silent.

  “Fine. You're adults. You're allowed to make your own choices. I just hope this isn't one you regret later.” I took a deep breath and let it out. “Some information would be helpful. Has dad contacted Manny?”

  “No,” Donald said firmly. “And I doubt he will. Makes him look weak that he can't control his pack, especially his own daughter.”

  That sounded accurate.

  They filled us in on everything that had happened after I'd left. Apparently, they had orders to use any force they deemed necessary to bring me in.

  Not surprising, but still hurtful.

  And they'd all volunteered to come find me when the last group had to head back after they drove into that ravine.

  “OK. Well, we're waiting on some information right now. Hopefully it'll come in soon and we can move.”

  “Sounds good. It says no vacancy up front, so we'll find somewhere to stay nearby. Just give us a call if you hear anything.”

  I nodded, shaking each of their hands as they walked away.

  “That was really unexpected.”

  Griffith stepped up next to me.

  “Not to me.” I looked over at him, surprised. “Your dad isn't someone who generally inspires loyalty. And for good reason. But you...you're the kind of person someone could put their faith in.”

  I could tell he meant it.

  Even after he'd put himself out there for me all those years ago and I'd shot him down.

  He still thought that of me.

  Not knowing what to say, I kept silent as I followed him back inside.

  I could still remember the day he'd come to me. He'd laid his heart out fearlessly, willing to put our friendship on the line for the chance of something more.

  And I'd been too young and too afraid to take what I wanted.

  Instead, I'd done what I'd thought was right, what my father would have wanted me to do. He and Griffith had never really gotten along, and as Griffith got older, their relationship had worsened.

  With the perspective age had given me, I could see now that my father had lost Griffith's respect and he'd known it. The fact that Griff was so obviously a dominant in the making had just made the friction worse.

  And now here I was. Finally on the same page as Griffith about my Alpha, but only after something that affected me too personally happened.

  I didn't know if I was the kind of person that someone could put their faith in.

  But I knew that I liked that Griffith thought that. And I was going to try to live up to it.

  When we got back to our room, Griff headed to the shower and I collapsed onto the bed.

  I knew there was no way that I'd be able to sleep, but maybe my body could rest a little. If I didn't hear back from Bar in the next few hours, I might just call it and go in blind.

  This waiting was killer.

  The bathroom door opened and Griffith came back out in nothing but a towel.

  I almost swallowed my tongue.

  He'd filled out in all the right places, his torso lean and ripped, his shoulders broad. His arms and legs were thick with muscle.

  And if that wasn't enough, he'd gotten tattoos. An intricate black one on his left shoulder and another one along his ribs on the opposite side. The artwork was gorgeous, fluid and difficult to pin down.

  And fucking sexy.

  I unconsciously licked my lips as I forced my eyes back up his body to his face.

  To find him looking right back at me, his light brown eyes darkening.

  “Don't look at me like that unless you mean it,” he growled, turning away and walking over to the window.

  I stared at his wedge-shaped back, his shoulders hunched in the slightest bit.

  He was still vulnerable to me.

  He was still vulnerable to me, but he'd said yes to helping me without a second thought.

  I felt so humbled.

  And...and I felt hope.

  Maybe...

  “I mean it,” I said quietly, sliding out of bed.

  His back tensed as I came up behind him. I stared at my hand as I raised it and placed it gently on the smooth, golden brown skin of his back, between his shoulder blades.

  He raised his arms and braced his forearms against the glass of the window.

  “Reina, you're not thinking straight right now. You're under a lot of stress-”

  “Bullshit.”

  He took in a shaky breath.

  “That's bullshit. Do you think this is a spur of the moment decision for me? Do you think I haven't lain awake in bed at night and thought about what I'd given up when I didn't take what you were offering? When you were offering me fucking everything?”

  I smoothed my hand down the deep furrow of his spine, still slightly damp.

  His head dropped between his arms.

  “But if you can't forgive me, or you don't want me anymore, just say the word. I won't disrespect you like that.”

  I waited, my hand resting on the soft skin at the small of his back, covering the two shallow dimples there on either side. My hand practically itched to move lower, down to the round curves of his ass covered only by the cream-colored towel.

  He shook his head. His collar length hair was drying, the sunlight gilding the edges of the wavy honey and chocolate covered strands.

  I let out a breath, my heart sinking as I slowly withdrew my hand.

  “OK.”

  His hand clamped down on my wrist, stopping me from stepping back.

  “No.” He turned around, resting his back against the windowsill. “I was shaking my head at myself. You make me crazy. So crazy that I'm willing to risk being hurt again.” He smiled, the edges of it a little sad and self-deprecating. “There you go. Pathetic, huh?”

  I shook my head, stepping in closer until our fronts were just touching.

  I looked into those eyes that were still just as familiar to me as my own. I'd seen them full of mischief, anger, happiness. And in the end, I'd seen them heartbroken and known that I'd done that.

  I cupped his face. It was older than it had been, the planes and angles more sharply defined, the stubble adding to that rugged, masculine face. But those eyes were still the same.

  Those eyes belonged to my best friend.

  “No. It's not pathetic. It's brave. You always had more courage than I did. It was one of the things I always admired about you. Your bravery and the conviction you always seemed to have in your beliefs.”

  He closed his eyes, reaching up to hold my wrists.

  “Yeah, well, one of us had to be irresponsible and selfish.”

  “Don't sell yourself short. You weren't either of
those. Well, not any more than any kid is. You were exactly what I needed to balance out.” I stopped, thinking about how life had changed from one day to the next when he'd left. “It was really hard when you left.”

  His eyes opened and he let go of my wrists. He kept eye contact as he closed his hands over my hips and pulled me even closer.

  He was only an inch taller than me at a couple of inches over six feet. The eye contact was almost painfully intimate this close up.

  “I've waited a long time for this. I can't wait anymore.”

  He closed the distance and set his mouth over mine, softly at first, brushing his lips against mine.

  I made a sound in my throat and moved one hand to the back of his neck, sinking my fingers into the soft hair there.

  He groaned.

  And let go.

  His mouth turned voracious, his tongue sliding into my mouth, hot and silky.

  He clamped a hand on my ass and slowly moved us back until my knees hit the edge of the bed. I fell back with him on top of me.

  He pulled on my shirt impatiently and I backed up to get it off, as frustrated with it as he was.

  As soon as it was off, he was back on top of me, our mouths attacking each other.

  My hands were all over him and his were all over me. I felt like I needed more hands just to touch everything I wanted to all at once.

  Griff ground his erection against me through the towel that had somehow magically stayed on this whole time.

  I slid my fingers along his waist until I found the tuck and pulled it out.

  Yanking on it, I managed to get it off his back, but it was still stuck between us. Too impatient to work on it immediately, I reached down with both hands to cup that round ass.

  Oh. Oh, yeah.

  I dug my fingers into the resilient flesh, kneading it as I slid my tongue against his.

  He broke the kiss and reared up.

  “Take off your pants.”

  Roger that.

  I unbuttoned and unzipped as he took my shoes off. He came back up to hook my jeans and underwear and pull them down, getting rid of the towel at the same time.

  He stopped with them midway down my thighs and leaned down to give a firm lick up my center, his tongue flicking against my clitoris.

  My eyes rolled back in my head.

  “Shit.”

  He laughed as he finished pulling down the last of my clothes.