ChasingCassie (2 page)

Chapter Two

“What are you doing sitting over here?” Laney sat on the log
beside Cassie and took a sip of her beer.

Cassie smiled a little as she stared over at the werewolves
currently charring meat on the grill. Jay and his brother Marcus were standing
shoulder-to-shoulder in front of the grill while Cain, Dusty and some other
pack members stood around them drinking.

In other words, Jay was surrounded by a whole heap of, umm,
cock-blockers.

“Just thinking,” she answered. “How was Cooper?”

Laney sighed. “He was ringing to say he won’t be home until
tomorrow, he’s run into a few problems with some of the other council members.”

“You mean they’re not immediately jumping to do what he
wants?” Cassie was only half-joking. The Shadowpeak Alpha exuded power and
authority. Cassie wouldn’t want to get on his bad side.

Laney snorted. “I know. It’ll do him good. Knock down his
ego a peg or two. But unfortunately for me, it means I get some housemates
again tonight.”

“The enforcers still haven’t found out who sent you that
hate mail and slashed your tires?” Cassie asked.

Laney shook her head. “Rye’s certain HAW is to blame,
though.”

“Oh no, really?” Humans Against Werewolves was a vocal,
sometimes violent group who believed werewolves shouldn’t be allowed anywhere
near humans. Many of the extremists longed to annihilate every werewolf on the
planet. Cassie felt sick at the thought of them targeting Laney.

Laney continued, “I can understand them sending the hate
mail, but the slashed tires and the rattlesnake—”

“Whoa, hold on,” Cassie interrupted her. “Rattlesnake? What
rattlesnake?”

“Oh,” Laney replied, looking a little sick. “Didn’t I tell
you about that?”

“You most certainly did not.”

Laney sighed. “A couple of weeks ago, I was getting into my
car when I heard this noise. I peered beneath the driver’s seat and, well, I
was lucky the snake was under the seat and couldn’t strike out.”

“Laney.”

“I know, I know. I thought Cooper was going to lock me in
our bedroom for a month. After what happened with Justin, these latest
incidents have put him into overprotective mode.” She shook her head but her
voice was full of obvious love for her mate. Cassie knew Laney still struggled
over the fact that a few months ago her half brother, whom she’d had no idea
even existed, had tried to kill her.

“And Ryan thinks HAW is behind everything? They don’t have a
group here do they?” Cassie was alarmed. Laney could have been seriously hurt
or worse by a cornered rattlesnake. This was a big step up from hate mail.

Laney shrugged. “Cooper has been working hard to build up
good relations with the residents in town and it’s happening, slowly. He
believes integration is the only way forward for the pack. Most people tolerate
us, some even like us, but not everyone. There are always going to be those who
detest or fear us.” She spoke matter-of-factly.

“Is that why you decided to open the bookstore? To help
foster ties between the pack and the residents of Landon?”

Laney snorted and shook her head. “Cooper was totally
against the store when I first brought the idea up. Oh, he’s all for the pack
owning more businesses. But he was not impressed by the idea of me working in
town. If Cooper had his way, I’d never leave the house. Believe me, I had to
fight hard and long to get him to agree, and then I had to compromise by
promising to always have at least two enforcers with me. Until they find who’s
behind these threats, that is. I’m hoping he’ll ease up after that.”

“Can’t blame him. Seems like someone’s always trying to kill
you. They don’t know something I don’t, do they? You’re not a tiny tyrant, are
you?”

Cassie grinned as Laney gave her the finger.

“I am not a tyrant. As far as we know there’s no HAW group
here in town, but they wouldn’t necessarily live here. Rye’s got some of the
pack keeping an eye out for strangers, anyone who looks suspicious or anyone
known to be associated with HAW.”

“Sounds a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack.”

“Yeah, so for the foreseeable future I’m stuck with my
guards. Cooper thinks that it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

“He really loves you.” A pang of envy hit her as she gazed
over at Jay, who was chatting to Dusty as he flipped meat on the grill.

“You know she’s just teasing you, don’t you? About your
name.”

“My name, my clothes, my hair, my job… Yep she’s having real
fun with me. Can’t you find her another job, get another bodyguard?” Cassie
complained. “I mean, she obviously dislikes me. Why make her spend time around
me?”

“Actually, Dusty keeps volunteering. I think she likes you.”

“Get real, Laney. She’s bored, and picking on me gives her
something to do.”

Laney shook her head. “I’m being serious, she likes you. If
she didn’t, she’d either ignore you or be outright nasty. This is just her
having fun.”

“Having fun? It’s as though she’s a cat playing with her
favorite toy, and her claws aren’t sheathed.”

Laney winced. “Not a good analogy. Wolves don’t like being
called cats.”

“I still feel like she’s eyeing me up as a tasty snack.”

“So bite back.”

“That’s what she’s after.” Besides, Cassie had spent so long
teaching herself not to bite back she wasn’t sure she’d know how.

“Maybe. I still think you should do it. You’ll feel better
and I think she’ll back off a bit.”

Cassie sighed, watching Jay laugh and give Dusty a high
five.

“Do werewolves ever take humans as mates?”

Laney was quiet for a long moment. “Ahh, yes they do.”

“Are there any living on the estate?”

“No, Zachary banned all humans from the estate. But Cooper’s
lifted that ban now, of course.”

“Oh.”

“She’s no good for him, you know. Plus, she’s not interested,”
Laney murmured.

“Hmm?”

“Dusty. Even if she were attracted to Jay, she’s not right
for him.”

Cassie gazed at the others joking and laughing behind her.
They all belonged together. A unit. She was the outsider.

“He thinks she is.”

Laney snorted. “Does he? He’s an idiot. He’s convinced
himself that he needs a werewolf as a mate and he’s blinded himself to everyone
else around him.”

Cassie forced herself to smile through her pain. “She’s
gorgeous.”

“Yes, she is,” Laney agreed. “She’s also argumentative,
bitchy, provocative and scrappy. She requires someone a lot calmer and a lot
more stubborn than Jay is. Hell, I don’t think one man would even be enough to
catch Dusty.”

Cassie frowned. “Jay seems pretty calm to me.”

“Most of the time he is. But still, he and Dusty would be
fighting within a week if they hooked up—no doubt about it. Jay would try to
smother her, pamper her. Dusty would end up trying to kick his ass, and I’m not
sure who would come out on top. Jay needs someone he can take care of, he always
has. He’s a good listener. You can open up with him, trust him.”

Cassie frowned over at her friend suspiciously. “Are you
suggesting what I think you’re suggesting?”

“Come on, who are you trying to fool, Cass? You’re into him.
Hell, you can barely speak when he comes near you, you’re so tongue-tied. And
the way you look at him… Well, it’s as if he’s a stallion and you’re in—”

“Laney,” Cassie whispered, blushing. She dropped her
forehead onto her upturned palm. “Oh God, does everyone know?”

“Well, it’s kind of hard to miss,” Laney remarked, throwing
a log on the fire.

Shame held Cassie frozen until her lungs screamed for air.
She forced herself to take a shuddering breath, then another. For a few endless
moments she sat there and absorbed the humiliation of knowing she’d put her
desire on display for the whole pack to see. She should have realized. She knew
they could hear and smell things humans couldn’t. But she’d never thought about
them sensing her arousal. Blinking back tears, she finally found the courage to
speak.

“I’ve got to go.” She jumped from the log, prepared to flee.
But Laney grabbed her arm firmly and Cassie knew she wasn’t going anywhere. She
might be bigger than the small blonde, but Laney was a lot stronger.

“Don’t be a fool, Cassie, you’re perfect for him. Go for
it.”

“He doesn’t want me, he wants Dusty. Obviously he already
knows how I feel about him, so if he was attracted to me he would have made a
move. Let me go, please, I’m embarrassed enough. I can’t believe you all know
that…that…” She took a deep breath, willing herself not to cry.

“I’m sorry, Cassie, I handled this badly. I didn’t tell you
to embarrass you. It’s not what you think—”

“What?” she interrupted angrily. “You weren’t all talking
about me, laughing at the foolish little human lusting after the sexy, gorgeous
werewolf?”

Laney let her go when she began to struggle. Once free,
Cassie ran past the house to the track leading to the road. She’d have to hitch
home as Laney had driven her here.

Her spurt of temper didn’t last long. She slowed down, upset
with herself. She’d given them something else to talk about. They’d all known.
They’d all talked about her behind her back. For someone who avoided attention
at all costs, it was mortifying.

“Cassie! Cassie, wait up!” She groaned at the sound of Jay
calling out.

“Go away,” she called back. She needed to be by herself to
lick her wounds. He moved up beside her, his stride immediately matching hers.
Damn man wasn’t even winded, while she was definitely starting to feel the
strain of keeping up this speed.

“What’s wrong?” His concern was easy to see, but Cassie had
decided she was ignoring him. If she didn’t acknowledge him, he’d go away.

“Cassie.” He grabbed her arm, turning her to face him,
easily holding her struggling body still. “Did something happen?” He peered
down into her face, swearing at whatever he saw there.

“Let me go, leave me alone.” So much for her plan to ignore
him.

“I don’t think so, not until you tell me what’s going on.”

“I said let me go, y-you son of a gun!” She yanked her way
free before running off again. She sprinted into the forest but she didn’t get
far. Jay quickly grabbed her from behind. Locking his arms around her waist, he
lifted her from the ground as she kicked and squirmed, infuriated.

“Son of a gun? You need to learn some better insults.”

“Fine!” she screamed, trying to kick back at him, attempting
to wiggle free. But his hold never slipped. “You bastard. Jerk, wanker,
asshole!”

She fought for as long as she could before she was forced to
stop from sheer exhaustion.

“Done now?” He turned her in his arms before pushing her
back against a tree. Looming over her, his eyes glowed amber and she swallowed
heavily.

“Don’t ever run from me, Cassie. I like to chase, but you
might not like what happens when I catch you.” The threat stunned her even as
it intrigued her.

“If you hurt me, Cooper will be really unhappy,” she blurted
out.

He jolted back, looking at her in surprise. “I don’t want to
hurt you.”

“Too late.”

He frowned. “I bruised you? You were fighting pretty hard.”
His hands reached for the bottom of her sweater. She slapped at him to no
avail.

“I wasn’t talking about bruises. Will you put my sweater
down, please?”

She took a deep breath, attempting to calm her raging
heartbeat as he let her top drop and then raised his hands, placing them on the
tree behind her head. Leaning down, he stopped when his lips were a mere breath
from hers.

Thinking he was going to kiss her, she moved her head to the
side. But he licked along her jaw, blowing lightly in her ear. Her knees
weakened and, to her horror, she actually whimpered.

“I can hear your heart beating.” He rested his large, rough
hand against her chest. “Don’t be frightened.”

Frightened?
Try terrified, confused, aroused. If not
for the tree behind her, she may well have collapsed from the fire racing
through her veins.

“I won’t bite. Much.”

He grasped her chin, turning her head gently so his lips
could brush hers, licking his tongue across her lips. He was coaxing her,
wooing her, a direct contrast to his intimidating stance.

No part of him touched her except his mouth, yet his heat
surrounded her, creating a staggering swirl of sizzling sparks across her skin.
He nipped at her mouth, making her groan. He tugged her bottom lip down and
swept his tongue inside, exploring, stroking. This raw passion, this intense
rapture—she felt so removed from her normal, reserved self that it astounded
her.

“No!” She pushed at his chest. “Y-you can’t win me over with
sex. Not after you all laughed at me behind my back.”