Bryce Evans (15 page)

“
You mean sexually, right?”  Lexy blushed as she leaned forward listening to Declan tell her more about mates. 

Declan laughed because he could see Lexy blush when she said sexual.
  “Yes, Lexy, I mean sexually.  When I saw the look on my dad’s face, well, let's just say we knew supper would be late getting to the table,” Declan said. 

Lexy smiled as she watched Declan talk about his parents.  She envied Declan
’s parents.  She hoped one day that she could meet someone who would look at her like that and want her all the time.  “So what you’re saying is that I should be looking for a man who wants to sniff my hair and body to see if I smell good.”  Declan looked over at Lexy and they both burst out laughing. 

“
I guess so, Lex.  I guess so.  Just remember, there is a difference in taking a whiff of someone to scent them but when a shifter scents his mate, well, it becomes intense, and hell have no fury in trying to break up mates.” 

“
Thanks, Declan, for just being my friend.”

“
Sure thing, Lex.  I aim to please.”

Lexy reached over and grabbed Declan
’s hand.  He looked at her and saw the concern in her eyes and heard her say, “I hope one day you find your mate and she takes a big whiff of you and just knows what a special person you truly are, Declan Maxwell.” 

Declan smiled because he didn
’t know what to think of Lexy Redden.  She was a true, honest, and sweet woman.  She really believed that about him and her goodness flowed out of her. 

***

Reece sat on his couch flipping channels.  He felt restless as he flipped through more channels then he had ever had.  Star had gone to Nancy Johnson’s house.  Apparently Nancy was in charge of the young girls training in the pack.  Nancy was having a sleepover party with all the girls and Star was invited.  He had called to check on her, but she was having so much fun with the other girls she couldn’t talk to Reece long.  Reece was happy she had found friends and was having a great time. 

His thoughts kept going to Lexy and Mace, wondering what they were doing. 
Was she alone tonight in her cottage or was she with someone
?  He was about to go outside and find out when he heard a vehicle pull up in his driveway.  He walked to the door as Damen got out. 

“
Let’s go, buddy.  Tonight we drink and party,” yelled Damen. 

Nobody had to tell Reece twice.  He grabbed his keys, lock
ed the door, then jumped off the porch and into Damen’s truck.  “Where are we going?” Reece asked, excited to be out of the house. 

“
The Pub.  The absolutely best place to meet women,” answered Damen.

Reece would have jumped at that statement but now that he knew who his mates were, well, it felt kinda like he was cheating.  Reece knew he needed to meet more people in the pack so he decided to go along for the ride and
do just that.

***

Mace hung up the phone from talking to Selena about his vision.  He was feeling nervous about his sister.  He knew she would be there tonight with her mates so he wasn’t worried about her safety, but he needed to let her mates know so they could put more guards on her.  Plus she had a Warden guarding her and that fucker was damn right scary.  He got the feeling the Warden would always protect her.  Mace wanted to relax.  His muscles were tense and now these damn visions were plaguing him. 

***

Declan pulled up outside the Pub.  They had to park in the back parking lot because the Pub was crowded tonight.  It looked like the whole pack was here.  Declan turned off the vehicle then turned to look at Lexy.

She was looking at all the vehicles parked in the parking lot.  Declan could tell that it was making her nervous. 
“Hey, Lex, don’t you worry, you just stick with me tonight.  You’re going to be a big hit.”  Declan kissed her hand then got out of the truck.

Lexy muttered,
“I hope your right.”  Declan held Lexy’s hand as they walked into the Pub.  Lexy knew Peter was working tonight so she would always have a ride home if Declan found someone he wanted to take home tonight.

***

Mace was standing beside a table talking to Cade and Samson while drinking his beer.  He knew the moment Lexy walked into the Pub.  He could smell her strawberries and caramel scent floating through the air.  He couldn’t control the growl that came from deep within him.  His wolf eyes glowed as they took in Lexy’s body draped in a red baby doll dress.  It looked incredible on her. 

Adrianna, Jacob, and Sleepy were all sitting at the table watching Mace as he tried to control the mating pull.  Then they watched as Mace
’s demeanor changed when he watched Declan kiss the side of Lexy’s cheek.  Cade and Samson both grabbed Mace, telling him to calm down.  Mace’s eyes had turned to yellow and were glowing as he tried to control the wolf from coming out and tearing into Declan. 

Declan and Lexy walked up to the table
, they both turned to see an almost feral Mace.  His nostrils were flaring in and out.  Declan removed his arm from around Lexy.  He could tell that Mace was fighting for control of his wolf and he knew Lexy wouldn’t understand.  Adrianna asked Lexy to sit down as he walked up to Mace and bowed his head.  He whispered, knowing that Lexy wouldn’t be able to hear what he said.

“
Mace, look at me.  I wouldn’t hurt her or touch her like that.  I know she is your mate, but you better get your head out of your ass and do something about it before someone who isn’t like us wants her.  She is a good girl and she deserves to be happy and not strung around by you not accepting what is right in front of you.” 

Everyone looked up at Mace, whose eyes turned back to green.  He finally started to relax and listened to what Declan said to him.

“I’m telling you, my brother, that she is worthy of being your mate.  If I thought for a second that my true mate wasn’t out there, I would sweep that girl off her feet and take her away from you.  She is that special and deserves so much better.  You better make her happy or so help me, Alpha or not, I’ll beat the every living shit out of you,” Declan finished. 

Mace didn
’t know what to say about how Declan was talking to him.  First Jacob, then Damen,
and now Declan
. 

Declan walked over to the table and leaned down to say something to Lexy. 
“Hey, Lex, you want one of the Pub’s famous margarita?”

“
Sure,” Lexy answered.

“
What flavor do you want?” Declan asked.

“
Strawberry sounds good to me.”  Declan nodded then leaned up, making eye contact with Mace, who was watching Lexy.  He walked to the bar to get Lexy a drink. 

“
I’m okay, Cade,” Mace said and Cade and Samson let go of his arms.  Cade walked over to the table and sat down beside his mate. 

“
Listen, Mace, I know how you feel.”  Mace looked up, surprised at Samson’s comment.  “You see, at first I fought my attraction to Adrianna, but the fates knew she was meant to be my mate.  It was hard to finally realize that she was the one and only one.  I stop and think about how I almost lost her and that…  Well, let’s just say, life wouldn’t have been worth living without her in it with me.  So if you feel it for her, and it’s written on the wall, buddy, that she is your mate, then tell her and accept it.  Lexy means a lot to me, Mace.  She is part of my family, too, and I don’t want to see her hurt anymore.” 

The
‘anymore’ part was what got Mace.  He wanted to know who hurt his mate.  He couldn’t believe he just said it. 
I called her my mate
.  Mace stared at Lexy.  Samson was right.  Lexy was his mate.  Mace’s wolf jumped up and down inside him.

Lexy tried not to look up at Mace, but she couldn
’t help taking little peeks at him and every time she looked up, he was staring at her with hooded eyes. 

“
Here, Lex.”  Declan handed Lexy a strawberry margarita then sat down beside her.  Mace continued to stand beside the table as he leaned against the end of the bar watching Lexy. 

Mace watched as Lexy took a sip of the strawberry margarita.  Her pink little tongue slipped out, licking the side of the glass with the salt on it.  Mace had to look down as he groaned
aloud, making everyone at the table turn to him.  He closed his eyes, trying his best not to think of Lexy and that sweet little tongue of hers, licking certain parts of his body.  When Mace opened his eyes, Lexy was staring at him with concern in her eyes so he quickly looked away.  He didn’t want to act weak toward Lexy.  He wanted her to feel the same way as he did.  He knew she wasn’t a wolf, but surely she should feel the same way, or at least feel something toward him.

Samson reached over and grabbed Adrianna
’s hand.  “Come on, baby, let’s dance.”  Adrianna grinned then got up and went to the dance floor.  Mace turned to watch his sister dance with one of her mates. 

Lexy couldn
’t help but watch Mace as he watched his sister and her mate, then she watched the smile form on his face for his sister as she danced.  Lexy loved watching Mace smile.  She knew she needed to turn her head before Mace caught her looking at him. 

“
Hey, Lexy, let’s go and show these old folks how to dance.”  Jacob had stood up with his hand out to Lexy.  She took his hand as he led her out to the dance floor.  The music turned to a fast song, bringing more screaming people on to the dance floor.  Lexy had never danced with anyone except Mike from dance lessons, but she was having too much fun with Jacob to care.  Lexy had taken dance lessons for swing dancing when she lived in Greenville.  She loved it and loved the dance moves.  Lexy knew Jacob had also taken lessons because he had shared that with her one night at her house so together they were having a ball.  Eventually everyone cleared the floor, watching Lexy and Jacob swing dance.  Everyone sitting at the table had turned their chairs around so they could watch them dance.  Even Mace was smiling as he watched.  The crowd had thinned out so they could have more room.  When the song ended, Jacob grabbed Lexy and flipped her over his arm.  She landed gracefully on her feet to a standing ovation from the crowd of people surrounding them.  Everyone on the dance floor crowded in after they had finished the dance so they could meet the pretty new girl of the Ashland Pack.  Mace clapped and whistled as they finished dancing.  He could feel how happy Lexy was feeling and he couldn’t deprive her of the happiness, no matter how much he wanted to strangle Jacob for touching her. 

Jacob held Lexy
’s hand as he escorted her back to the table.  Everyone clapped and stood up at the table when Jacob and she walked back.  Lexy blushed and giggled at the cheers from her table.  They both bowed to the table of friends then sat down laughing.  She took a big drink of her strawberry margarita then she immediately grabbed her nose pinching it.  “Oh God, brain freeze.”  Declan laughed as he put his arm around Lexy.

“
So, Lex, tell us where you learned to dance like that?” Declan asked.

“
Well last year when we lived in Greenville they had a class at the local YMCA for swing dancing.  I loved it when I watched it on TV and I knew nobody knew me so I went thinking that I would just stand in the corner and watch.  However, the instructor had other plans.  Everyone had a partner but me, and the instructor, Mike Grenn, didn’t so I became his partner.  He made us practice all the time and I just got better each time, but I had to because of Mike.  He wanted us to go to some clubs to try out some new moves and I did.  It was so much fun, but when we moved I had to give it up,” Lexy said.

“
Well, Lex, all I can say is, you were great.”  Lexy smiled and blushed as everyone at the table agreed with Declan.

“
Hey what about me?” asked Jacob, laughing, so Lexy reached out and grabbed his hand.

“
You were great, too, Jacob,” everyone said at the table.

“
I know you guys are going to think this is funny, but my brother over there knows how to swing dance.”  Mace had been watching Lexy when everyone turned and stared at him. 

“
What?” Mace said as everyone, including Lexy, stared at him. 

“
You can swing dance?” Declan asked with a grin on his face.

“
Yes, smartass, I can swing dance,” Mace replied as Lexy smiled at him.

“
How and where did you learn to swing dance, because this is a story I have to hear?” Declan asked as he scooted up further to hear the Alpha’s story.

“
When Cade and I were in the service, I got into a little fight and knocked over the drink of the COs wife, which landed in her lap.  So the CO asked her what kind of punishment I should get, and since her husband wouldn’t take her to swing dance lessons, I had to take her.  The CO didn’t want to go so hence the punishment.  I thought it would suck, but we had a great time and I learned a lot.  It saved the CO from having to go and it saved me from the Brig.”  Mace frowned as he looked at his family, who were staring at him in shock. 

“
Well it was fun,” Mace muttered.