Deliciously Mated (4 page)

Chapter Seven

They call her the Woman of the Woods. The Lady of Lake Haven. Wild hair, black as night. Skin, translucent as an angel’s…” Gash spoke in a low, wary tone. He wasn’t animated like you’d expect him to be, telling a group gathered around the blazing fire a ghost story. Which actually made it all the more scarier. Made it seem real. “Or a demon’s,” he said, peering distractedly off into the darkness of the trees.

Eagan leaned against the trunk of an oak and crossed his arms over his chest. The man was good. He’d give him that. The jagged claw mark down Gash’s left cheek made him the perfect person for the job of story teller. But every time he described the woman who supposedly haunted the woods of the lake, Eagan couldn’t help thinking of his thief.

“By way of magic, she can sneak into any house, through any locked door or window.” He lowered his voice to a dead whisper. “Nothing can keep her out. Not an ADT special. Not even the prayers of your great Aunt Susie who’s tight with Jesus, like this.” Gash held up his hand, two fingers crossed, for emphasis. “And when she doesn’t want to be seen, she won’t. And when she does… well, you should watch out, because the lady will be the last thing you ever see.”

Murmurs sifted through the crowd, eyes darting to the dark trees and back to the fire as Gash continued.

“She takes what she wants from you and then, when she has it all, when you have nothing else to offer, when your very existence is the only thing left…” He closed his eyes, his voice going monotone with dread. “She takes your
soul
. Right to hell with her. Where she keeps it forever and ever.”

Goddamn.

Eagan looked around, hoping the kids didn’t have nightmares tonight.

“Alright,” Magic boomed, clapping his hands together. “We have hot chocolate and cookies, right over there. Help yourselves.”

“But don’t go too close to the woods,” Gash warned, never breaking character.

Eagan watched over the drink and cookie supply in case they needed refilling, barely restraining himself from throwing the cookies at people so they’d leave faster.

Gash came to stand beside him, his eyes trained on Bailey as she served hot chocolate.

“Good story,” Eagan murmured.

Gash smirked. “You like that? It’s a modified version of the truth.”

“What truth?”

Gash stared at him. “Don’t tell me you’ve never heard about the Woman of the Woods.”

Eagan raised an impatient eyebrow.

The cat shook his head, exasperated. “I keep telling Magic, but he won’t listen. She’s haunting the lodge.”

Eagan let out a skeptical chortle. “You believe in all that?”

Gash blinked like he was stupid. “No, asshole, not the soul stealing shit. The Woman in the Woods is a legend. Not of the supernatural variety either. She’s a thief known for being practically invisible. There’s hardly a home or business in the lake area that hasn’t been her victim, but she’s uncatchable. Nobody’s ever seen her. Only felt the fear she instills. Some actually believe she’s a ghost.”

Eagan went cold. Mother of fuck, his woman was a legend. And not the good kind.

“A woman, huh?”

“The only reason the locals believe she’s a woman is because she’s taken beauty supplies and shit. I personally think it’s a couple. A man and a woman.”

Eagan jerked his head. “What makes you think that?”

Did his female have a man? Shit. Fucking shit.

Hellllll no. That would not stand.

Gash shrugged and Eagan struggled not to take him by the throat and wrangle all his secrets from him. “I dunno. Just seems like too much for one person to pull off.”

“But why do you think it’s a man?” Eagan ground out.

Gash frowned, staring at him with narrowed eyes. Then he laughed. “A woman couldn’t go that long without getting caught. No fucking way.”

Eagan caught Bailey’s glare. If Gash kept talking like that, he wouldn’t last long in their clan. There were too many strong females. And too many males that respected them.

He stepped closer to the cat. “I bet a woman gave you that.” Eagan gestured to Gash’s cheek and he stiffened. “Word to the wise, you’ll catch more females if you drop the sexist bullshit.” Eagan tipped his head toward Bailey, and Gash’s shoulders slumped.

Picking up the empty cookie trays, he pushed past Gash and headed for the lodge. He had a meal to prepare.

After considering his options all day, he’d realized he couldn’t just hunt his female down like he wanted. For one, it would probably scare her and send her farther into the woods. For two, it would get his animal amped up and wanting to mate. And that was unacceptable.

He had to think of the pact, of his clan, but he also had to think of her. He’d agreed to the pact
because
he desperately didn’t want to end up like so many males of their kind. He didn’t want to be a cheating asshole. Sure, many of them considered it their right. Mate was important. The
most
important. If she had needs, it was the male’s duty to fulfill them, to keep her safe and protected, along with any young he gave her. And in return, he was free to bed as many as he wanted.

Many of Eagan’s generation saw the pain this way of living caused, and wanted something different for their future. But Magic was living proof that wanting things to be different doesn’t necessarily override a werecat’s given instinct to prowl. And because of his past and what happened when he’d tried to mate, he watched Bethany even more closely than Renner did. If she ever showed any hint of distress, he’d skin Renner and hang him by his toes from the nearest tree.

Eagan shoved the dirty trays into the wash sink, and gathered the ingredients for his mate’s meal. Dinner for his clan and their guests had been grilled chicken and salmon, which didn’t make for a good reheat, so he was going to make her something fresh. He was practically famous for his pasta concoctions. He’d keep it simple tonight. Alfredo with sun-dried tomatoes and chicken.

He bit his lip.

Did she like white sauce? In his experience, most people liked pasta. And most preferred a cheesy sauce. Maybe his female was the exception though.

Damn it. He knew so little about her.

He shook his head and got to work filling a pasta pot with water and chopping the leftover chicken into thin strips. He functioned like a well-oiled machine. The kitchen was really just an extension of his soul as he poured himself into preparing food that would fill his female’s belly.

When he was plating the dish, his phone rang. He juggled the hot pan and pasta fork back to the counter and then fished his cell phone out of his pocket.

Magic’s number flashed on the screen.

“Yeah,” Eagan answered.

“You busy?”

“Almost done. Why, what’s up?”

Magic’s tone was some weird cross between jovial and furious. “Come to my office. I have something to show you.”

His words set Eagan’s scruff to tingling.

“Give me a minute.”

“Yeah, hurry.” The line went dead.

There was no reason to believe Magic’s call had anything to do with his mate, but without knowing her whereabouts—or anything at all about her—he couldn’t shed the feeling of dread.

He finished packaging her food and then filled a cup with their special harvest sweet tea and a chunk of lemon.

Eagan sighed. It wasn’t enough, but it would have to do.

Pulling her notebook from his back pocket, he jotted her a new note.

I can’t return your book. If I do, you’ll steal from someone else, and I can’t be part of that. I will get you anything you need. Make a list.

Quickly, he shoved the dirty dishes in the washer and started it up. Then he turned off the main lights and hurried to Magic’s office.

He found his leader and Gash huddled over his computer monitor.

“I think we caught her this time,” Magic murmured, his squinting eyes never leaving the screen.

Eagan’s steps faltered.

Gash nodded his head, grinning. “Run it back again.”

Eagan rushed forward to see the video they were reviewing. A woman wearing jeans and a dark shirt shown through the grainy footage as she walked quickly away from the lodge and disappeared into the line of trees that bordered the parking lot. Her hair was down and flowing freely this time, but there was no doubt this was the female he’d caught in the kitchen.

“When was this?” Eagan asked, his eyes taking in every blurry feature. There wasn’t much of her face. Just a brief glimpse of her profile. Magic and Gash would never be able to pick her out of a line-up.

“Last night,” Gash said.

“Anything go missing?”
Please say no
.

Magic frowned, finally pulling his gaze away from the screen. “No, actually. Nothing.”

Eagan sighed in relief. “Then maybe this isn’t our thief after all. I mean, obviously if this is her, and she was here last night, she would’ve taken something. Don’t you think?”

“Whatever, man,” Gash scoffed. “This is the Woman of the Woods. Layna doesn’t recognize her as a guest, and you
know
she never forgets a face.”

Eagan shrugged, trying for nonchalance. “Maybe she’s here with someone else. An overnight guest. Layna doesn’t keep track of who our visitors are fucking does she?”

Gash looked to Magic, who seemed to be contemplating the situation.

“So why was she rushing out to the woods?” Gash asked, throwing his hands in the air.

“How the fuck would I know?” Eagan laughed. “I’m just saying, this isn’t evidence. Especially since nothing was taken from the lodge last night.”

“The camera didn’t catch her returning from the woods,” Magic argued. But it was half-hearted.

Eagan shrugged. “Probably came back another way. Look, we can’t be getting all up people’s asses in our quest to find whoever’s taking shit. People come here expecting a modicum of privacy. We start monitoring their every move, that’ll be as bad for business as a thief.”

His heart pounded in his chest and he hoped the others couldn’t hear it. His logic was sound, but still, it stung him to be leading his brothers in the wrong direction on purpose.

Magic sighed, yanking his floppy man-bun down and redoing it. When it sat tight atop his head again, he muttered, “Eagan’s right. Shit.”

Gash nodded reluctantly. “But I have a feeling about this. Something isn’t right about this female.”

Eagan ground his molars at the cat’s impression of his mate.

“Fucking hell,” Magic grumbled. “I guess it’s time to start patrolling. If the cameras can’t do the job, then we’ll have to.

“You mean night security?” Gash asked. “Should we hire someone?”

Magic shook his head. “No. We do this ourselves. Can’t bring anyone else in on this. We have our secret to protect. It would be hard to do that with an outsider. Besides, we don’t know how much this thief knows about us.”

Gash nodded.

“I’ll take the first watch. Tonight. We’ll take turns. I’ll get Renner and Owyn to help.”

“And Mason.” The cat was too mellow for his own good, but Eagan knew he wouldn’t hurt the female if he caught her. If it came to that. Which it wouldn’t because he was going to catch her himself.

Magic tipped his head. “Keep your eyes peeled and your noses scenting. We’ll find this person. And when we do…” He ended with a growl that left chills on the back of Eagan’s neck.

But they wouldn’t learn of her. Not if he had anything to do with it. Because somehow, he was going to stop her. And he was going to do it without mating her. Somehow.

Somehow.

Chapter Eight

Clara read the words over and over again. The cook wasn’t giving her book back. Not without a fight. But she didn’t want to fight him. She stared at the food he’d left for her.
Again
. What did it mean, him feeding her like this? Once was charity, which she both appreciated and loathed. But twice? Twice was something else.

Clara crumpled the note into a ball and tossed it away. She looked around at the empty kitchen contemplating her next move. She really didn’t want to do this, but she didn’t see another way.

Her shoulders sank with defeat. She was going to fight. Fight the kind man who would feed her instead of turn her over to the police.

Yeah. This was the only way to get back what was hers.

“Be strong, Clara,” she whispered. “Be tough. Be the badass you’ve always been. You can do this.”

With a deep breath, she rushed over to his desk. She had to find something of his. Something important. Something to hold for ransom. She’d start here, and if she didn’t find anything, she’d locate his room. Tear it apart until she had him by the balls. He’d give her book back then. He’d have to.

She rummaged through the drawers, not bothering to keep quiet. There was no one around. If he’d meant to catch her, he would’ve done it already. With her hip, she shoved the drawer closed to move on to the next one. She might be thinner than before, but her hips were still broad, and they sent the drawer soaring home with a loud slam.

Shit
.

She hesitated for only a second before she began shuffling through the next drawer. There were papers galore, pens and markers, rubber bands, but nothing personal. Nothing that she could use against him.

Clara yelped as a hand wrapped around her mouth from behind.

“Shhh,” a mouth hissed at her ear. “You have to trust me right now, okay?”

He didn’t wait for her to respond. With his other hand, he reached forward, sweeping his arm along the surface of the desk and knocking everything to the floor. In a swift move, he twisted her until she was facing him, and lifted her to sit on the desk like she weighed no more than a feather.

“Wrap your legs around me,” he urged.

Clara barely found his face for the way her head was spinning. It was her cook. His dark brows furrowed over slate gray eyes. His expression was urgent, demanding. What was happening? She was caught, she knew that much. But what the hell?

“Do it.” He shot a look over his shoulder to the door. “Follow my lead.”

Grabbing her legs behind the knees, he pulled them up around his hips, and for some reason, she did exactly what he’d told her, locking her heels in place. Like this, they were too close. Too intimate. The hard planes of his chest pressed against her stomach, stealing her breath. His steely arms banded around her waist, pulling her in even closer until there was only a breath separating them.

Touching. They were touching. She was touching another human being. Something she hadn’t done in ages.

Her breath came stiffly. Too much. Too little. Too much…

He touched her face. So carefully, even though the rest of his actions were urgent and rushed.

“Shit,” he said under his breath, his eyes closing for a moment. When they opened, he looked resigned. “I’m sorry.”

Clara tried to find her voice. “For wha—”

His lips crashed down on hers, cutting off her rasped question. They were firm and demanding, and hers gave way to his easily. His hot tongue swept inside her mouth like he was trying to taste her, and the sensation was so decadent, she didn’t even try to fight. Hand under her jaw, he angled her head so he could push in farther, bending her backward over the desk.

She’d never been kissed like this. Not ever. Sure there had been lovers before she’d taken to the woods. Several. But none of them had ever kissed her like they needed to consume her to survive. Like she was simply…
everything
.

The door to the kitchen swung open with a bang and Clara tried to pull away, but her cook held her steady against his working lips.

An agitated throat cleared, and he lazily broke their kiss, sucking at her lower lip on his way out. His gaze burned into her, eyes swirling with emotion she couldn’t read. He seemed to promise her something with just that look.

“Go away,” he growled, and she jumped at his sharp tone. But his eyes softened, and she could feel his thumb sweeping a soothing pass over the pulse in her neck.

“Like hell,” the man at the door seethed. She couldn’t see him, but she knew he was angry. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“What does it look like?” her cook snapped, and then flashed her a warning look. Clara bit her lip as he peered over his shoulder at the other man. “Do you mind?”

“Fuck yes, I mind. The kitchen isn’t exactly the place to bone a rando, Eagan. Get a goddamn room.”

His grip on her tightened.

“Serious cock block, Magic, I swear to god.” He pulled her off the desk and let her slide down his muscular body until she stood on her own shaking legs.

Holy crap. What was happening to her?

“You know,” the man said, “I expect this shit from the others. But not from you. Since when do you hook up with guests?”

Eagan kissed her head, his palm on the back, keeping it tucked against his chest. God, he smelled good. Something woodsy and dark like leather. And garlic.

“Come on, baby. Let’s get out of here.” He squeezed her close to his side with one last press against her head. She got the hint. Keep your head down.

She let him walk her toward the door. They were almost free, but then what? What would her cook do to her then?

Clara felt the moment when things changed. The air in the room went utterly still just before it crackled with energy. It reminded her of the atmosphere right before a thunderstorm. Tense with foreboding.

“Oh, you’ve
got
to be kidding me,” the other man—Magic? Was that his real name?—snarled. His voice was like a roar in her ear even though she was feet away.

Before she could think to run from the danger, Eagan, shoved her backward, behind him.

“What the fuck is this, Eagan? You covering for a
thief
? Someone who stole from your clan? Your
family
?”

“She’s not stealing anymore,” Eagan spoke carefully, but the muscles of his back were tensed as if waiting to strike. “Let this go, Magic.”

Clara peered around him to look at the other man. He had shoulder length dark hair that hung in his face, causing his dark eyes to look dangerous. He was angry. Maybe even confused.

“Let this go? What is wrong with you?” Magic shook his head, pulling his phone from his pocket.

“Magic.
Stop
.” Eagan seemed to vibrate with fury.

Shit, she was in trouble. If she escaped this, she’d go back to the woods and never come back. She’d forget about her book and making amends and the man who helped her.

“No,” Magic barked, shaking his head and pressing the phone to his ear. “I’m calling the others and we’re going to deal with her.”

“Nobody will deal with her,” Eagan roared, stepping forward, his fists clenched. “She’s
mine
. That means
I
will deal with her.
Me
. So put the damn phone away.”

Mine? His?

The conversation was like a foreign language, but whatever Eagan said, it worked. Magic slowly pulled the phone away from his ear.

“What do you mean she’s yours?”

Yeah. What did that mean?

“She’s my mate,” Eagan said, not even tripping over the words. “And I’m claiming her.”

Ah. This was more of the act. Damn, he was good at this. If it worked, she’d say her thank-you by never coming back to the lodge again.

“You’re
what
?” Magic asked, his brows flaring. “What the fuck was that? I think I heard you wrong.”

“I’m claiming what’s mine,” Eagan spoke clearly. “And that means no one touches her. Anyone tries, I shred them.”

Magic looked like he’d been slapped, but Eagan hadn’t gotten close enough to touch him.

“Bullshit. You won’t break the pact.”

“You bet your ass I will.”

Magic shook his head in disbelief, and then his troubled gaze met hers. “What’s she got to say about this? Huh? You ready to let this cat fuck you like some prized pussy?”

Clara gasped.

“She doesn’t exactly have a choice does she?” Eagan ground out, and Magic’s gaze snapped back to him.

“You can’t do that.” But those words weren’t snarled as the others were, and instead, he looked broken. Crushed, really. For a split second, Clara felt sorry for him.

“Of course I can. I’m a goddamn male werecat. Not only
can I
, I’m
supposed
to. And I will.”

The room fell silent. There was only heavy, angry breaths, and Clara’s terrified ones.

It was a slow build from broken to shaking with fury, but when Magic reached fury, Clara felt it like an explosion in the room.

“You…” He shook his head, swallowing disgust so he could speak. “You would hurt your female like that?”

“I’m protecting her.”

Magic’s fists clenched and opened, clenched and opened. “After all these years… I thought I knew you. But you’re no better than the other males, the ones we grew up under. You just needed your fucking female to come along and turn you into a monster. You make me
sick
.”

Eagan’s jaw ticked with each word.

“I want you gone.” Magic pointed a threatening finger at him, backing blindly toward the door. “You’re done here. Hear me? I want you gone, before I kill you.” He looked at Clara and his face flashed between pity and warning. “You better run, little girl. You’d better hide.”

With one parting look of disgust at Eagan, Magic disappeared through the door, leaving it swinging on its hinges.

Clara was breathless with the seriousness of his warning. She looked at Eagan. Werecat. Not human. Kind, or not. She didn’t know. Couldn’t tell. Maybe he was only gaining her trust with his kindness so he could prey on her.

Fuck her like a prized pussy.

Oh, shit.

Fear clawed her throat, strangling her breath.

Run. Hide.

His back was to her. She could run like before. Out the back door. Get lost in the building like before while he chased her outside. Would he fall for that again?

Her eyes fell to his jeans. Something rigid stuck out from the back pocket.

The notebook. Sweet Jesus, it was her notebook.

She saw the path, and how easy it could be. Grab the book, run like hell, reach the creek and swim so he couldn’t track her. She could do it.

On the count of three.

One.

Two…