A Taste for a Mate (3 page)

“Oh stop being a baby, Kade.” Mel’s eyes danced. “He’s handsome, and he’s going on his first date with his mate. There’s no reason to be jealous. In fact, the better he looks, the more likely he is to come home with his mate. Once he’s all marked and mated, it’ll be one less male you have to growl at.” Mel sauntered up to Kade and whispered in his ear. Whatever she said must have been good because Kade’s eyes darkened as he took his wife’s mouth. A smidge of jealousy settled in Jasper’s stomach. Hopefully, he was about to do the same with Willow.

After a few minutes of them going at it, Jasper threw a pillow at them. “Seriously, you two need to get a room, and not one in my house.” He grinned and tucked his black button-down shirt into his new dark jeans. Jasper also had on his favorite black boots and kept his hair down. Whenever he refrained from his typical ponytail and left his shoulder-length hair loose and half-dried after a shower, the scent of Willow’s interest increased. He wanted to keep that up.

“Fine, fine. But I don’t want to hear anything when I do the same to you and Willow once she gets here.” Kade slapped his back in brotherly love, and Mel gave him a comforting hug before leaving him alone with his nervous thoughts.

He shouldn’t be nervous. Willow was his mate. Fate had designed them for each other. Though there were others that had the potential to be his mate, Willow was it for him. Her cinnamon scent had seeped into his soul. She was his.

“We will take care of her every need and pleasure her beyond comprehension. No problem
.”

Jasper snorted at his wolf. “You really need to stop saying shit like that. She’s human. This is going to be hard enough seeing how I have never mated before, and I don’t want to fuck this up. But add on the fact that I’m opening her eyes to a world of supernaturals from her nightmares… Yeah, this could go poorly.” That was the last thing either of them needed.

His younger brother, Adam, strode through the door without knocking, as all of his family was known to do. Over a hundred years of being together had dissolved most boundaries. “Jasper man, you really need to stop talking to yourself. And don’t worry. Just be yourself and everything will work out. On second thought, just be me.”

“I was just talking to my wolf. I don’t like talking in my head all the time. I look like a nutter, rather than just sounding like one.” As a werewolf, he shared a body with a wolf spirit much older than he. And if he asked this wolf, much wiser, too. The man was more dominant and chose when to shift, but the wolf always had an opinion. When he was in wolf form, he sometimes let his wolf take charge on a hunt, but Jasper was always present.

Jasper took a drink of water from the pitcher in the fridge and flipped Adam off. “And fuck you. You keep your dumbass away from my mate.”

And if he touched her, then Adam would pay. Maybe he’d make him watch
From
Justin to Kelly
then put Icy Hot on his balls.

Adam laughed and took a glass of water for himself. Adam was only about an inch shorter than him, and other than Adam’s shorter hair, they could pass for twins.

“You don’t need to worry about that. I know when someone’s staked his claim. But I do need a favor from you.” Adam straightened when he spoke as an Enforcer, rather than his brother.

“What’s up?” Jasper fell into his role of Beta, though thoughts of Willow were not far from his mind.

“One of the adolescents took a stroll through the woods near Main Street, where Willow’s bakery is, and thought he smelled something. It could be nothing, but I need to check it out. I figured since you were going down there anyway, I’d catch a ride with you and then wolf it back to search for scents.”

Jasper’s body went on alert. His heart beat in his ears. “When did you hear this? Why the fuck did you wait until now to come and get me? My scent is all over that bakery. If some lone wolf goes near Willow, they’re just going to think she’s meat. I haven’t claimed her yet.” Jasper could feel his wolf prowl, ready to attack the dangers surrounding his mate.

“Calm down. I just heard about it before I walked here. We can go together to check out the threat. But as I said, the pup wasn’t sure what he smelled. He wasn’t sure if it was a wolf or not. But seeing how it’s close to Willow’s, I thought we should go.”

Jasper grabbed his keys and had left the house before Adam had time to take another breath. He needed to check on her. If anyone came near her or even sniffed her, he’d kick some ass.

“Let me drive, man,” Adam said as he reached the driveway. “I don’t want you to take us off the road. You’re a little edgy now.”

Jasper tossed him the keys and climbed into the passenger seat of his Jeep.

The smell of other wolves reached his nose before his eyes registered the front door ripped off its hinges. He jumped from the Jeep before it stopped, with Adam following close behind. Jasper entered the bakery and took in the scene. Broken chairs lay on their sides among wooden splinters and gouges on the floor. Glass shards littered the carpet, creating a landscape of destruction.

“Mate?”

His wolf clawed to the surface, begging to be let out. The need to find her and demand retribution rode Jasper hard. Fuck. He’d kill anyone who dared lay a hand on her.

Jasper took a deep breath. There wasn’t any blood. Thank God she wasn’t bleeding. She could still be injured, but it was a good sign there wasn’t blood. Two wolves had been there. Their scent lingered. But they weren’t lone wolves. No, worse. They were from his Pack’s rivals – the Central Pack.

His soul fractured as his heart clenched. His blood boiled and his temples throbbed. He slammed his fist into the wall and growled in agony. He was too late.

“Where is she, Adam? Why the fuck did they take her? How the hell did the Centrals get in our territory and take my mate?” He breathed heavily and paced throughout the chaos.

“I don’t know, Jasper, but believe me, we’re going to find her then kill any wolf that touched her.” Adam had lost a mate years before when a rival attacked her. Jasper knew he would do anything to save Willow.

Adam was already on the phone with their father and brothers while Jasper searched for any clue. The Centrals were ruthless, and their leader, Hector Reyes, was a sadistic bastard who believed in the superiority of wolves over humans and witches. There were rumors he’d killed his wife when she tried to protect their daughter from being sold.

Adam closed his phone and caught Jasper’s attention.” North and Reed on are their way. Mom and Dad are going to stay behind with Cailin, Mel, Kade, and Maddox, as well as the stronger of the Pack’s wolves to protect the territory in case this is just the first assault. The four of us will go to Central territory to retrieve her.”

Jasper should have thought more for Willow’s safety. He should have put plans to protect her in place. He hadn’t even marked her. He’d already failed his mate. Once he saved her, and he would, he’d make sure he never failed her again. No matter what.

“They’re going to be here soon,” Adam said. “We need to get outside. Are you ready? We’re about to violate the treaty by entering their territory without permission.”

Like he gave a shit. He paced the length of the room, his muscles twitching with anxiety and aggression. Barely suppressing the urge to pound another fist into the nearest wall, he said, “They came here and kidnapped her. I have no idea if she’s alive or dead. We aren’t fully mated; she doesn’t carry my mark. I can’t feel her in here!” He slapped his fist to his chest above his heart.

A stormy look flashed across Adam’s face, and Jasper immediately regretted his tirade.

“I’m sorry, Adam, I wasn’t thinking about Anna. I’m so sorry.”

“It's okay, Jasper. I, above all, know what you are feeling now. But this will be different. We’re stronger now. We will find her.” Adam gave him a rough hug before he left the shop. The sound of a car outside signaled the arrival of his brothers.  Time to kick ass and find his mate.

Chapter 4

A slam of a car door woke Willow.

Where am I? What happened?

Head pounding, her thoughts collided then slowly coalesced. The scratchy surface of a torn fabric rubbed against Willow’s bound wrists behind her back. She craned her neck to the side and discovered faded upholstery. She was in the backseat of a car.
Well, at least I’m not in the trunk.
Sarcasm aside, terror churned in her belly. An unwelcome friend in a dire situation.

Why couldn’t she be the kick ass heroine of one of those newer, cheesy romance novels? She could take the knife tucked in her boot, free herself, and kill anyone in her path. Okay, maybe not kill, but seriously maim nonetheless.

Willow inwardly winced. Damn, she was officially going crazy. Who were those men that had taken her? Isaac and Reggie. That’s right. What did they want with her? She was just a bakery owner with no family to speak of.

Jasper.

They’d tossed his name about before they knocked her out. But why? What did he have to do with it?

The car door opened abruptly, the sound of the metal grinding against metal piercing Willow’s ears. Her breath stopped, fear taking over.

“She’s awake.” A man – no Isaac – spoke to people she couldn’t see before leaning in the car. He reached beneath her to pull Willow out by her tied hands. The rope dug into her flesh, and she felt the faint trickle of warm liquid down her hands. Oh God, they’d broken the skin. A whimper escaped her, as Isaac pulled her to his chest.

“You smell sweet. We’re going to have fun with you.” Like in her shop, his breath assaulted her face. Distress trailed up her chest, seeping into her bones.
Don’t let this man be the last face I see, please.

He pulled her, not at all struggling with her weight, toward a drab gray building.

A wolf walked out the door, leading her down a dimly lit hall.

They keep wild animals here?

The wolf growled, then its body rippled. Its bones crunches and muscles tore, finally reshaping into a naked man.

“Hello, Willow. I’m Hector, the Alpha, leader of the Centrals. And I’m going to be the last thing you see.” He smiled.

Willow screamed as he backhanded her, throwing her into the wall. At the sound of the man called Hector’s laughter, she fell into blessed darkness with some last conscious thoughts.

Werewolves are real.

And they are going to kill me.

Bracing herself, Willow cracked open only her right eye because her left one had been swollen shut and took in her surroundings. Water trickled down the aging stone walls and dripped against concrete floors. A draft from the small crack under the door cooled the room and froze Willow’s bones. She was locked in a basement or cellar of some sort with no windows and only a steel door as a way out.

The handcuffs currently digging into her wrists and ankles deterred any thought of moving. Hector had knocked her out cold with his fist, and she hadn’t woken until they dropped her on the cold floor, naked and chained with a collar around her throat. The lack of an ache between her thighs was a blessing as she knew she’d escaped being raped – for now.

After trying to stay awake for what seemed like hours, she drifted in a" wnd out of consciousness until hands tugged at her chains, jostling her awake again.

“Get up,” a gravelly voice ordered. “Time to speak to the Alpha.”

What was an Alpha? Why couldn’t she sleep? Her eyes felt heavy and exhaustion pulled at her, but she couldn’t rest. Oh God, she didn’t want to see the werewolves again.

Trying to conserve the last of her dwindling energy, she let them drag to a room on one of the upper floors.

“Ah, my pet. I’m happy to see you here. I’m Corbin, the Alpha’s son.” He smiled a cruel smile and Willow curled up into a ball. His hands rubbed along her arms and legs, trailing her stomach and breasts.

She fought the urge to shudder.

Oh God. This isn’t happening.

“Little human, do you know why we took you?” Another voice spoke and Corbin lifted his hands.

Willow lifted her head, following the sound of the voice to meet the eyes of their Alpha.

Little human? Oh God. It wasn’t a nightmare.

Although something inside told her to lower her eyes in submission, she refused to give him the satisfaction. Most likely of Hispanic ancestry, he looked to be about thirty-five with tan skin and mangy brown hair. His eyes were such a deep black they sent shivers down her body. Dressed in slacks and an expensive button down shirt, he didn’t look like the gang leader she’d thought him to be. He looked more like a muscular business man on his way to a lunch meeting.

The slap across her face echoed through the room and forced her to whimper.

“Lower your eyes, bitch! You are not fit to be in my presence, let alone to look into my eyes. You’re lucky I don’t kill you on the spot. But then that would be putting an end to my fun, wouldn’t it? No, little human, you’re going to be my toy to play with before we kill you. Then your Jasper is going to know who is master won’t he?” No longer did he sound the angry leader, he sounded like a malicious, sadistic man. Bile rose in her throat as her fear almost overpowered her. He gave her a menacing snarl then tugged at the chain on her collar to pull her toward him.