Shifter In Ascent (Louisiana Shifters) (3 page)

Use your weakness to your advantage,
James had advised her on the drive to New Orleans.
Shifters are macho to the extreme, so the lady in distress hook pulls them in every time.
Tessa dropped her purse to the ground and buried her face in her hands. She didn’t have to affect the distress part, at least. Tessa just thought over the last two weeks of her life, imagined Camilla bound and gagged in some abandoned warehouse with a knife pressed against her throat. Tessa had led her little sister right into the Legion’s snare, and she was damned surely going to get Camilla out again.
The door creaked open just as tears began to threaten. Tessa looked up from her hands, feigning shock that she’d been followed.
The massive blond one who’d grabbed for her had to be McDonough, judging from the snapshot James had shown her.
And this… this was definitely Jace Copeland.
Copeland was also very tall, but less densely built than McDonough. He was muscular but lean, with wavy pecan-colored hair and chocolaty brown eyes. Intricate tattoos twined up his arms to disappear under the sleeves of his t-shirt. He was incredibly intimidating. He was also easily the most gorgeous man Tessa had ever met in person.
He looked even more gruffly sexy than in his photo, which seemed impossible. Not to mention unfair. She had the strongest urge to go to him and wrap her arms around him, to check whether he was real or just a fantasy.
That fact reminded Tessa that he was probably even more dangerous than she’d expected. Tessa understood men like Jace Copeland, knew that they took what they wanted without a second thought. Tessa wasn’t about to sacrifice herself if she didn’t absolutely have to do so.
The spray canister of animal tranquilizer James had given her was still in her pocket and unused. She slipped her hand into her pocket to grasp it now, ready to use it if the werewolf came too close.
The man raised his hands, to show that he was no threat.
“I just want to make sure you’re not hurt,” he said, raking his gaze over Tessa.
Tessa was unsure how to reply. Should she pretend to be injured? She didn’t want him calling the authorities. James had promised very painful repercussions if Tessa had somehow alerted the police.
“Miss?” the man asked again, a hint of worry in his tone.
“Er. Sorry. I’m a little shaken up, I think,” Tessa replied. That much was true. Tessa looked up at the man, and resolved to try to avoid outright lies. If the Legion’s sources were to be believed, these creatures could practically smell a lie. Besides, she was literally shaking. “Can I sit down?” the man asked.
“Okay.”
The man settled in the green plastic chair across from Tessa, dwarfing it with his size. He looked uncomfortable, but said nothing. Tessa was too busy trying to take in a few deep breaths to calm herself.
“About that big dog. He got loose from the kennel-“ the man started a rote recitation as if it were the thousandth time he’d used these exact words.
Tessa coughed, cutting Copeland off midsentence. She struggled for a full breath before speaking.
“That’s what you’re going with? You breed giant dogs right here in the city, and sometimes they escape?”
“Excuse me?”
Tessa leaned back nervously, hugging herself as she surveyed the man.
“Don’t spin that yarn for my sake, Mr… what was your name?” Tessa asked.
“Jace will do,” the man replied, leaning back and crossing his arms as if mirroring Tessa’s position. His eyes narrowed with suspicion, if not outright distaste.
“I’m sorry,” Tessa said, softening her tone and voice, “It’s a bad moment for humor. But I’ve run into that blonde gentleman before, and I know he’s not exactly as he appears.”
Not a lie, exactly. She had met McDonough at a bar last week. No need to mention that Tessa had arranged the chance meeting by following McDonough there and helping him spill his drink in her lap.
She’d used all her best flirting techniques on McDonough, then given him the cold shoulder at the end of the night. Tessa knew how to make her suitors take notice. And of course the Legion had given Tessa a lot of info about werewolves. It helped knowing that they were all basically alpha male personalities on steroids. Know thine enemy and all that.
The man studied her for a long moment, and then nodded his head.
“All right, then. Since I obviously can’t tell you anything, how about you tell me who you are?” he asked, his tone gone icy.
“I don’t usually share that information with strangers,” she said, her tone clipped.
A tic pulsed in the man’s jaw.
“And what can you share? What exactly do you think you know, human?” he said, spitting out the last word like poison.
“Well. I know that massive creep has been following me around for a while. I know that something isn’t right with him, mentally. I also know I just watched him change into an oversized wolf. I watch TV. I can put two and two together,” she said. All true.
“Besides,” Tessa said coolly, “I’m not worried. You don’t look all that scary to me.”
The man laughed, the sound sending shivers down her spine.
“Jesus, you humans. You never take anything seriously. Jasper McDonough is not someone you want following you around.”
“I’m just not sure what I’m supposed to do about it,” Tessa replied. A lie. She could have worded that differently.
Jace cocked his head to the side, studying her again. Tessa’s face heated under his gaze, but she didn’t back down.
“I know there are groups of people like us. I know that my bloodline was tainted, and that I’ll become a werewolf soon. I know that I’m supposed to find a pack to take care of me,” Tessa I’ll become a werewolf soon. I know that I’m supposed to find a pack to take care of me,” Tessa

said, reciting information from the packet James had given her. It had proved quite the interesting read.
“You do need protection,” was all he said.
“Funny, I’ve been hearing that a lot lately, but no one’s exactly offering.”
“I’m offering, if you’d listen.”
Tessa looked up, startled.
“How are you planning to do that? The protection, I mean,” she asked, genuinely curious.
“I belong to the Louisiana pack. We have places to lay low here in town,” he said, eyes dark.
Jesus, he was serious. She’d known this guy for two minutes and he was already offering to save her. If only she’d met him instead of James, things would be very different. Savior complex, indeed.
“I don’t exactly know what to say. I think I’d be bringing a lot more baggage than you know. My situation is- well, it’s complicated,” Tessa finished lamely.
“Human,” Jace said with no little aggravation, “I’m not sure who your source on Shifter info is, but I hope they at least explained that you’re an Ascendant and what that means.”
“That someday soon some Shifter is going to hunt me down and drag me off like a caveman? How I’m supposed to just accept it and carry on the legacy? How my genes are supposed to make me like it? The whole thing is creepy.”
Tessa gave a dark laugh, trying to disguise the fact that she was terrified of the idea.
“Yeah, they told me about that,” she said bitterly.
“Let’s back up for a second here. Ascendants are often sought after by Shifters, but they’re cherished in our culture. They get their choice of the pack. It’s not some weird date-rape scenario. The males fight for your attention, and of course you females fall all over them.”
“But not you?” Tessa asked, looking up from under her lashes. The man was either already married, or very conceited.
“No,” was all Jace had to say on that. The scowl of disgust on his face spoke volumes, though.
For some reason, that stung. Tessa knew she wasn’t exactly a runway model, but she really didn’t need to be called unattractive right now. Especially by a guy who looked like Jace. Tessa needed Jace unable to resist her, unable to think. She needed him dumbstruck enough to walk right into the Legion’s trap.
Tessa didn’t know exactly what would happen after she turned him over, but it probably didn’t bear thinking on. A little shiver crept up her spine, and she studied Jace again. A wave of guilt hit her hard when she thought of screwing over someone who would offer help to a total stranger.
Tessa steeled herself against the feeling. She would do whatever she had to do to save her sister. She tried to think what James would tell her to do in this situation, how to play her cards just right.
Brushing away a tear that was slowly building, Tessa stood up abruptly.
“I have to go. Thanks for the offer. You really ought to give it to someone who deserves it,” she said.
Again, not a lie.
Tessa turned and started toward the patio’s back exit, steeling herself not to look back.
A chair scraped loudly behind her, and a heartbeat later a huge hand grasped her by the arm. She was spun roughly around and suddenly she was pressed flush against Jace’s warm, taut She was spun roughly around and suddenly she was pressed flush against Jace’s warm, taut

His skin against hers wasn’t merely warm, it was almost scalding. He stepped forward, crowding her up against the patio’s wall. His arms came forward and braced on either side of her, like a cage. He looked down at her steadily, as if the fact that her breasts were nearly touching his chest didn’t affect him in the least.

Tessa swallowed, caught in his flashing mahogany gaze. Maybe her false resistance had worked a little
too
well.
“You aren’t going anywhere.”
Tessa swallowed, unable to move. Tipping her head back, she looked up at her captor, biting her lip.
Jace’s eyes drifted down to her lips and then back up, his gaze so intense it felt like she was burning.
“The thing is, I claimed you in front of Jasper,” he said, leaning down closer until his warm breath whispered over her ear.
“I.. okay,” was all she could get out, drowning in his warmth and maleness and closeness and…
“So under our law, I am your protector. Anything that happens to you is my fault,” he explained, his jaw brushing the top of her ear and sending little fissions of heat down her spine.
“That’s very… medieval,” Tessa murmured, unable to come up with a better response.
“Shifters aren’t especially known for caring about human opinions,” he intoned, raising his head to look in her eyes again.
“I never would have guessed,” Tessa said, her attempt at sarcasm undermined by her soft, breathy tone.
“We can stand here all day discussing this, just let McDonough track us down. The point is still going to be the same. You need protection, and you can’t go to the human authorities. ‘See, sergeant, this crazed werewolf is out to get me because I smell so good’. They’ll send you to the nuthouse, or worse. And that’s not even mentioning the shit I’ll be in for letting you get caught.”
“You’re an Ascendant, I’m your protector. Those are the only two factors here,” Jace insisted. “Think of it as a trial basis. As soon as you’re safe, I’ll hand you over to the pack and let you sort things out with them. Whatever you’re mixed up in, it’ll be resolved. You’ll be safe.”
Tessa bit her lip again, the truth of the matter on the tip of her tongue.
You’ll be safe
, he’d said. It made her think of Camilla, and of Camilla’s safety. She knew what she had to do.

All Jace could do was hope she’d choose the path of least resistance. This would be twice as hard if he had to protect her and kidnap her at the same time. The girl looked genuinely torn, indecision evident in her face. Finally her shoulders sagged in resignation, decision made.

The human was nothing if not proud. Jace could definitely understand and sympathize with that.
“Best decision you’ve made all day, human,” he said.
The girl just bit her lip and looked worried, which didn’t exactly bolster Jace’s confidence.
Jace gripped Tessa by the arms, staring down into the stormy gray of her eyes. Something had made him come after her; the expression on her face, or maybe the self-loathing in her voice when she’d turned to leave.
Whatever it was, Jace felt the need to protect her. It was what Shifters ought to do for Ascendants, he told himself. Nothing personal, but they really did need protection. Especially one that smelled like Tessa did. She was a walking cocktease, and clearly not acting in her own self-interest.
“Tessa…” he said, trying to explain himself. He couldn’t very well explain something he didn’t understand. All he knew was that he felt an incredibly strong pull towards her, nearly physical in its intensity, and that plus his white knight complex meant he just couldn’t walk away from her.
She shifted uncomfortably, and brought her hands up to push him back a half step. That brief touch had him tensed to close the small distance between them. And having enough space to really look at the girl wasn’t helping. She had a nice body for a human. Long and lean but with generous enough breasts and a sweetly shaped ass. Hair that looked like it was made to fist a hand in when you were
“How do you know my name, exactly?” Tessa cut in on his thoughts. Jace was unsure how to respond, imagining the true answer in his head.
Well, see, I smelled you at a gas station in downtown, and you smelled and looked so wonderful that I didn’t even realize you’re human. Then I creepily followed you back to this way and since then I’ve been essentially stalking you, trying to convince myself to either approach you or leave you alone. Nice to finally meet you. Did you know that you look and smell really delicious?
Jace stopped himself. She had lovely deep-set eyes, if she didn’t look so crazed at the moment. Humans never crossed the line from attractive to sexy for Jace, although Tessa was tempting. It was probably her Ascendant pheromones. They screamed at him that she needed a good, hard
“Mr.. uhh.. Jace? Aren’t you supposed to be telling me how you know my name? Or about how you sprout hair and howl at the moon?” said the girl, and waved her hand in front of his face.
“It’s just Jace. And I don’t howl at the moon, human.”
He totally did, but she didn’t need to know that.
“And my name?” she prodded.
“I know a lot of things about a lot of people,” Jace answered.
Tessa crossed her arms, looking more irritated than scared by this point. She didn’t respond, merely pressed her lips together to indicate dissatisfaction. She was testy, but Jace preferred feisty women. He just didn’t need the distraction of this one at this particular moment.
He really didn’t need a female around at any time, to be truthful. They were all brazen temptresses, using the lure of sex to trap men in the webs they called relationships. They would flaunt their bodies and even the bravest men would fall prey. Jace wasn’t about to make that mistake. He was just here to protect.
Jace’s wolf took a big gulp of the pheromone-perfumed air and grumbled in a pleased tone. The wolf didn’t understand why Jace hadn’t dragged Tessa to a more private place by now and mated her. Jace ignored his wolf’s seedy thoughts and focused on proving himself to the girl. Again, just here to protect.
“Are you coming with me or not? Because I can just let Jasper claim you as his mate. Maybe the forced mating and degradation from his pack would be way less awful than I’ve heard,” he snapped.
Then the tears stopped threatening and started falling, but somehow the girl just looked furious instead of scared. She opened her mouth to retort, but Jace stiffened and looked around suddenly. The human followed his lead, furtively wiping away her tears.
“We can’t talk about this anymore. McDonough is here. I can smell him. He’s back in human form, but he’s probably got friends. You’re going with me or you’re going with him. You’re going either way, Tessa.”
She looked up at him with big eyes, all the fury of a moment ago buried. Then she nodded silently. Good decision.
Jace grabbed her elbow and pulled her toward the back exit. He paused before the back alley, trying to get a bead on McDonough’s location. He listened hard for a few seconds, but he couldn’t hear much over the street traffic and the scattered conversations of the pedestrians that strolled the streets of the busy shopping district.
Jace stepped out first, swinging the door wide to avoid any surprises. When he found the alley clear, he pulled the girl outside and instinctively went left.
How the hell was McDonough already moving freely? He couldn’t already be healed. He must truly be desperate for a new mate if he’s willing to risk a run-in with the human authorities over an Ascendant.
This thought only made Jace more concerned. His motorcycle was parked just a few blocks away behind a local grocery store. If they could make it to his bike, Jace could lose their pursuers easily.
“We need to move faster,” Jace advised the girl.
“Your legs are twice as long as mine. I can’t help that,” she retorted.
Jace looked at her expression for a split second, and then let it go. Arguing with the human wasn’t going to get them out of here. He led the way, cutting across a couple of yards. Weaving between houses might keep their pursuers confused.
They made it almost two blocks before Jace knew they were in trouble. He could see someone far down the street, moving toward them with supernatural speed. If one of the pack members saw them, he could signal the others.
Too late, actually; Jace suddenly heard several men behind them only half a block back.
What nearly ended the chase was a gunshot. It didn’t actually hit Jace or Tessa, but Jace had assumed that they wouldn’t use guns because the human was fragile. He apparently had them all wrong.
That meant they were planning to mate the girl right away. Ascendant females were few and far between, so it made a sick kind of sense. Probably not good news for Tessa, though.
Jace pushed Tessa forward so he could block her from gunshots, but she slowed down significantly. She’d seen the man approaching from the front, then.
“They’re going to trap us!” she said.
“Maybe not.”
Jace grabbed the girl and simply lifted her up, taking a sharp right into a densely vegetated yard. Just before he hit the shrubbery, Jace swept Tessa’s legs up so he could carry her in a cradled position.
He tucked her head in toward his chest, and then burst through the small thicket. The He tucked her head in toward his chest, and then burst through the small thicket. The